Browsing by Author "Vētra, Janis"

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    Estimation of body weight and stature in Latvian hospitalized seniors
    (2015-10-21) Balode, Aija; Stolarova, Anda; Villerusa, Anita; Zepa, Daina; Kalnins, Imants; Vētra, Janis; Department of Public Health and Epidemiology; Department of Physics; Department of Morphology
    Introduction. Weight and height are important measurements for many medical procedures. They are difficult to measure in bedridden patients. They can be estimated through equations based on anthropometric measurements generated in other countries, however their adequacy in different ethnical groups has been poorly studied. Objective. To confirm the adequacy of formulae suggested in literature and to develop weight and height predicting equations for Latvian hospitalized seniors which use a tapeline as only tool and include no more than one measurement require turning bedridden patient. Methods. Anthropometric measurements were taken from hospitalized seniors (≥65 years) admitted to the Gerontology Centre, Riga East University Hospital. Actual body height and weight were compared with their estimates calculated from Chumlea, Rabito, Bernal, Lorenz, Crandell equations. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to create weight and height predictive models. The estimated and actual values were compared through a paired sample t-test. Results. 223 hospitalized seniors, 169 women and 54 men, were assessed. There was no significant difference between actual and estimated mean weight by Rabito in females. The Chumlea formula estimated height in both genders. The Chumlea, Bernal underestimated, but Lorenz and Crandell formula overestimated the mean weight. The best weight predictive models which included only circumference measurements and no more than one measurement requiring to turn bedridden patients were 0.709*abdominal circumference +1.425* arm circumference (AC)+1.083*calf circumference (CC)-68.968, R2=0.962 for males and 0.853* hip circumference+ 1.405*AC+0.499*CC–79.355, R2=0.870 for females. The adjusted height formula was 76.146–4.961* gender-0.151* age+1.245* hemispan, R2=0.732. Conclusions. The suitable equations for the studied population body weight estimation were Rabito and Chumlea equations but for females only. The height was predicted by the Chumlea formula in both genders and by the Rabito equation in males. The best predictive body weight model which uses circumference measurements from which only one requires to turn bedridden patients were created and differed in females and males in the use of hip or abdominal circumference respectively. The height estimating equation which uses a tapeline as the only tool was adjusted for the study population. Validation of created equations is needed in a larger Latvian senior population.
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    Significant change in muscular strength based on the head and neck position
    (2017-07-04) Vētra, Janis; Skļarevičs, Vladimirs; Anoufriev, Gregory; Kalninš, Imants; Umbraško, Silvija; Vētra Jr, Jānis; Kotovs, Vladislavs; Beilina, Larisa; Department of Morphology; Biomehānikas zinātniskā laboratorija; Department of Physics; Rīga Stradiņš University
    We present our study of the influence of the head 30 degrees flexion position on the changes in the muscle strength of the upper extremities. This position is typical for a person working in front of a computer.The study involved 100 healthy volunteers and was performed at the Department of Morphology in Riga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia. For measurements we have used the MicroFET2 Hand Held Digital Muscle Tester to determine the strength of the muscles of the hand and the arm (M. del-toideus, M. biceps brachii, M. triceps brachii, M. abductor pollicis longus). The results of measurements were then used to analyze the difference in the strength of the muscles innervated by the spinal cord cervical region (C5–C8 nerves)for the same person sitting in the vertical position and sitting with the head flexed at 30°. The results of our study support the hypothesis that the changes in the strength of the measured muscles are related to the mechanical distension of the spinal cord, which leads to changes in spinal cord’s blood supply. The kyphosis position of the cervical spine during head flexion at 30°extent shows that in the spinal cord segments C5, C6 and C7 are form mechanical distension, but the changes in segment C8 were not detectable. Using our statistical study, we can conclude that there is strong relation-ship in the strength change in most of the observed muscles between the vertical position and the flexion of head at 30 degrees.