Purpose: The purpose of the current study was to examine a model specifying that military, athlete, exercise, and disability identities would predict life satisfaction as mediated by physical activity (PA). Methods: Seventy-one military veterans (N = 71) with impairments participated and completed Exercise, Athlete, Disability, Military, identity scales and Life Satisfaction and PA questionnaires. Results: A mediation model indicated the indirect effect of the four identities on life satisfaction through PA was not significant However, PA was predicted by the 4 identities, [F (4, 66) = 2.49, p = 0.05] and accounted for 13% of the variance, with disability identity having the only significant beta weight. Life satisfaction was also predicted by the 4 identities and PA ([F (5, 65) = 4.88, p = 0.001] and accounted for 27% of the variance. However, only the military and athletic identities had significant beta weights. Conclusions: Our findings provide preliminary support for the value of military veterans maintaining a military identity and holding an athletic identity. The current findings suggest that sport psychologists and rehabilitation professionals take a more nuanced and open-minded perspective about veterans who desire to maintain a military identity when becoming civilians.
Increasing the physical activity and sport participation rates of people with disabilities has been one of the most important targets of sport policy both at national and international levels. The purpose of the current investigation was to assess participation in sports or physical activities among Iranian veterans with extremity musculoskeletal disorders. Data were obtained from health needs assessment studies conducted among Iranian veterans with musculoskeletal disorders in a 12-year period between 2005 and 2017. The collected Information on sport or physical activity participation was analyzed using χ2 test, independent t-test, partial correlation coefficient and binary logistic regression (p < 0.05). Studies on 2644 veterans with extremity musculoskeletal disorders indicated that 37.6% (n = 994) of them participated in at least one type of sport or physical activity. The highest percentage of sport participation was 65% in bilateral upper limb amputees. Results from logistic regression analysis indicated that the chance of sport participation decreased with ageing while it increased with "Disability Percentage" assigned by the medical commission of the Veterans and Martyrs Affairs Foundation which is responsible for determining the disability rate of the veterans in Iran. It was observed that veterans with a higher "Disability Percentage" had a higher duration and frequency of sport or physical activity participation. The most popular sports among the subjects were track and field (20.1%, n = 192) and swimming (15.6%, n = 149). Generally, more than a third of the subjects participated in sports or physical activities in total and sport or physical activity participation was greater in the high-level lower extremity amputation group.
- MeSH
- amputovaní MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- muskuloskeletální nemoci MeSH
- odhad potřeb MeSH
- para sportovci MeSH
- pohybová aktivita * MeSH
- sporty pro handicapované * MeSH
- veteráni váleční MeSH
- zapojení do společnosti MeSH
- zpráva o sobě MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Írán MeSH
BACKGROUND: Although evidence suggests that resistance training should be prescribed as a method to enhance or maintain physical fitness, these findings are mostly based on research on younger men. Studies investigating responses by sex and age to resistance training, especially in war veterans aged ≥50 years, are lacking. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to examine whether a 4-week resistance training program would have similar effects on body composition, muscular fitness, and flexibility in men and women aged 50-80 years. METHODS: Seven-hundred and sixty-four participants were recruited and categorized into two groups each of men and women aged 50-64 and 65-80 years. The training intervention lasted 4 weeks and consisted of three 60 min sessions per week. All participants were tested for each of the following physical fitness components: body composition, push-ups in 30 s, chair-stands in 30 s, sit-ups in 30 s, and a sit-and-reach test. RESULTS: Over the intervention period of 4 weeks, body weight (p = 0.002) and the percent of fat mass (p < 0.001) decreased, while the percent of lean mass (p < 0.001) in push-ups in 30 s (p < 0.001), chair-stands in 30 s (p < 0.001), sit-ups in 30 s (p < 0.001), and sit-and-reach (p < 0.001) increased. Significant time*age interactions were shown for push-ups in 30 s (F1,763 = 4.348, p = 0.038) and chair-stands in 30 s (F1,763 = 9.552, p = 0.002), where men and women aged 50-64 years exhibited larger time-induced changes compared to their older (65-80 yr) counterparts. Effect sizes were similar between sex- and age-specific groups. CONCLUSIONS: The 4-week resistance training produced similar pronounced positive effects on body composition, muscular fitness, and flexibility, while men and women aged 50-64 years displayed significantly larger improvements in upper and lower muscular fitness compared with their 65-80-year-old counterparts.
- MeSH
- cvičení fyziologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- odporový trénink * MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- složení těla MeSH
- tělesná výkonnost fyziologie MeSH
- veteráni váleční * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
War refugees and veterans have been known to frequently develop neuropsychiatric conditions including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety disorders that tend to leave a long-lasting scar and impact their emotional response system. The shear stress, trauma, and mental breakdown from overnight displacement, family separation, and killing of friends and families cannot be described enough. Victims often require years of mental health support as they struggle with sleep difficulties, recurring memories, anxiety, grief, and anger. Everyone develops their coping mechanism which can involve dependence and long-term addiction to alcohol, drugs, violence, or gambling. The high prevalence of mental health disorders during and after the war indicates an undeniable necessity for screening those in need of treatment. For medical health professionals, it is crucial to identify such vulnerable groups who are prone to developing neuropsychiatric morbidities and associated risk factors. It is pivotal to develop and deploy effective and affordable multi-sectoral collaborative care models and therapy, which primarily depends upon family and primary care physicians in the conflict zones. Herein, we provide a brief overview regarding the identification and management of vulnerable populations, alongside discussing the challenges and possible solutions to the same.
The main purpose of the study was to analyze the associations between health-related physical fitness and fasting blood glucose in war veterans. In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 764 men and women aged 45-75 years, who were part of the Homeland War between 1990 and 1995 (33.5% women). Health-related physical fitness included: (1) fat mass and fat-free mass (body composition), (2) push-ups in 30 s (muscular dynamic endurance of upper extremities), (3) sit-ups in 30 s (repetitive upper body strength), (4) chair-stands in 30 s (lower body strength), (5) sit-and-reach test (flexibility) and (6) the 2-min step test (cardiorespiratory function). Laboratory measurement of fasting blood glucose was performed according to standardized procedures in resting seated position after a 12-h overnight fast. Generalized estimating equations with multiple regression models were used to calculate the associations between health-related physical fitness and fasting blood glucose. In men, fasting blood glucose was significantly correlated with fat-free mass (β = - 0.25, p < 0.001), push-ups in 30 s (β = - 0.55, p < 0.001), chair-stands in 30 s (β = - 0.50, p < 0.001), sit-ups in 30 s (r = - 0.45, p < 0.001), the sit-and reach test (r = - 0.46, p < 0.001) and the 2-min step test (r = - 0.19, p < 0.001), while fat mass was positively correlated with fasting blood glucose (β = 0.14, p = 0.004). In women, fasting blood glucose was significantly correlated with fat mass (β = 0.20, p = 0.002), fat-free mass (β = - 0.15, p = 0.014), push-ups in 30 s (β = - 0.49, p < 0.001), chair-stands in 30 s (β = - 0.43, p < 0.001), sit-ups in 30 s (β = - 0.52, p < 0.001), the sit-and reach test (β = - 0.40, p < 0.001) and the 2-min step test (β = - 0.35, p < 0.001). This study shows that fasting blood glucose may be predicted by health-related physical fitness test in war veterans.
- MeSH
- krevní glukóza * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- omezení příjmu potravy MeSH
- průřezové studie MeSH
- tělesná výkonnost MeSH
- veteráni váleční * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to examine separate and combined associations between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and musculoskeletal fitness (MF) with hypertension. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, participants were 764 men and women aged 45-75 years, who were part of the Homeland War between 1990 to 1995 (33.5% women). CRF included the 2-min step test, while MF was consisted of push-ups in 30 s, chair-stands in 30 s and sit-ups in 30 s. The prevalence of hypertension was defined according to new American College of Cardiology and American Hearts Association Blood Pressure Guidelines for systolic and diastolic blood pressure of ≥130 mmHg and/or ≥80 mmHg. RESULTS: In models adjusted for sex, age, fatness and fasting blood glucose, we found a graded inverse association between CRF and MF with hypertension. Less cardiorespiratory and muscular fit individuals were more likely to have hypertension. When CRF and MF were combined, individuals with high MF and low CRF, low MF and high CRF and low MF and CRF were 1.77, 2.15 and 7.09 more likely to have of hypertension. CONCLUSION: Both CRF and MF are associated with the prevalence of hypertension, while the magnitude of the associations between MF and hypertension was more pronounced.
BACKGROUND: There are 20 million living US armed forces veterans; however, the organ donation attitudes of veterans have not been examined. METHODS: Over a 17-month period, a convenience sample of 1517 veterans in New England completed a survey to assess attitudes about organ, tissue, and vascularized composite allograft (VCA) donation. RESULTS: Most veterans (96%) supported the donation of organs and tissue for transplantation, and 59% were registered as an organ and tissue donor. Being younger (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.960.970.98; P = 0.01), female (aOR: 1.061.462.03; P = 0.02), non-Hispanic white (aOR: 1.302.073.30; P = 0.01), Hispanic (aOR: 1.282.434.61; P = 0.01), and having more trust that the transplant process is fair and equal (aOR: 1.191.401.65; P = 0.01) were predictive of donor registration. Also, most veterans were willing to donate their face (57%), hands/arms (81%), legs (81%), penis (men: 61%), and uterus (women: 76%) at time of death; donation willingness was higher for upper and lower limbs than for face or genitourinary organs (P < 0.001). Those unwilling to donate VCA organs expressed concerns about identity loss, psychological discomfort of self and others, body integrity, funeral presentation, and religious beliefs. Most (54%) felt that VCA donation should require permission of legal next-of-kin at the time of one's death, even if the decedent was a registered donor. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high level of support for organ, tissue, and VCA transplantation and donation among veterans, despite limited educational campaigns targeting this population. There is high potential among veterans to further increase donor registry enrollment and raise awareness about VCA benefits for severely injured service members.
- MeSH
- altruismus MeSH
- dárci tkání psychologie MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- náboženství a lékařství MeSH
- postoj ke smrti MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- transplantace orgánů * MeSH
- transplantace tkání * MeSH
- vaskularizovaná kompozitní alotransplantace MeSH
- veteráni váleční psychologie MeSH
- zdraví - znalosti, postoje, praxe * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. MeSH
- srovnávací studie MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Nová Anglie MeSH
Purpose: The current study aimed to investigate the normative data for blood pressure. Materials and Methods: From 2017 to 2020, 2032 men and women classified as 'war veterans' were recruited (mean age ± standard deviation (SD): 60.97 ± 7.98 years; mean stature: 172.50 ± 9.10 cm; mean body mass: 90.25 ± 36.45 kg; mean body-mass index: 29.66 ± 5.59 kg/m2; 29.9% women). Their systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured three times. The procedure was carried out according to the American Heart Organization. The sex-specific and age-specific normative data for the 5th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentiles for systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse pressure (measured as SBP-DBP) and mid-BP (the average of SBP and DBP) were presented. Results: The men had higher SBP (p < 0.001), DBP (p < 0.001), pulse pressure (p < 0.001) and mid-BP (p < 0.001) compared to the women. The age-specific differences showed that older individuals had higher values of SBP (p < 0.001), pulse pressure (p < 0.001), and mid-BP (p < 0.001), while no significant differences for DBP (p = 0.496) were observed. Conclusions: This is the first study providing sex-specific and age-specific normative data for blood pressure in war veterans.
- MeSH
- hypertenze * diagnóza MeSH
- krevní tlak MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- měření krevního tlaku MeSH
- tělesná výška MeSH
- veteráni váleční * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
The Veterans Health Administration provides health care for 9 million American armed forces veterans every year. The system is currently undergoing transformation to personalized, proactive and patient-driven health care. One part of this transformation is called Whole Health for Life and is discussed in this article in greater detail with an emphasis on holistic approach and using some complementary and alternative methods, such as for example yoga. It could be inspiring for health care about both the veterans and patients with chronic health conditions in the Czech Republic.
- MeSH
- individualizovaná medicína MeSH
- komplementární terapie metody MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nemocnice pro veterány MeSH
- veteráni váleční MeSH
- zdravotní služby pro veterány * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Spojené státy americké MeSH
