title: Electromyographic assessment of pullover exercise variations and javelin throw on nine upper-body muscles

authors: Washif, Jad Adrian

abstract: Exercise choice is one important variable for attaining athletic training aims. Pullover exercises are integrated into resistance training programs of javelin throwers to develop event-specific strength. We examined the electromyography (EMG) signals during four pullover exercise variations: conventional (CONV), straight-arm (STR), bent-arm (BENT), and conventional on unstable surface (UNS); and javelin throwing (JAVT) using an 800 g standard implement. Generally, BENT elicited the highest peak activity of all muscles (22-89% MVC), except for the rectus abdominus which was highest during UNS (106%). In contrast, CONV tended to produce the lowest peak muscle activation (12-77%), except for the pectoral and middle deltoid muscles. It was noteworthy that despite being the same exercise, performance on the unstable surface elicited higher peak muscle activity than CONV, except from the pectoralis muscles. Peak muscle activation in JAVT ranged from 29 (posterior deltoid) to 124% (latissimus dorsi), with the relatively high peaks in the deltoids and latissimus dorsi not being matched during the pullover exercises. Surface EMG of five national male javelin throwers were recorded from nine muscles on the throwing-arm side: upper trapezius; anterior, middle, and posterior deltoid; triceps brachii; clavicular and sternal portions of pectoralis major; latissimus dorsi, and rectus abdominus. In a randomised fashion, all throwers performed six repetitions of each pullover variation using a free-weight curl-barbell against an external load at 85% of 1-repetition maximum, while EMG signals were recorded during both the concentric and eccentric phases of the movement and subsequently normalized to a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). The throwers then performed three maximal javelin throws and the one with the greatest throwing velocity was used for analysis. It has been noted that pullover exercise emphasize chest muscle activation, i.e. pectoralis major (Marchetti & Uchida, 2011). Here, the level of activation depended on pullover variation, and BENT elicited the highest overall peak muscle activity. Strength and conditioning specialists should be aware of the impact of different pullover variations on muscle activation levels, and note that additional exercises to target the musculature of the shoulder and upper back should be incorporated in the training of javelin throwers.

text: Electromyographic assessment of pullover exercise variations and javelin throw on nine upper-body muscles Exercise choice is one important variable for attaining athletic training aims. Pullover exercises are integrated into resistance training programs of javelin throwers to develop event-specific strength. We examined the electromyography (EMG) signals during four pullover exercise variations: conventional (CONV), straight-arm (STR), bent-arm (BENT), and conventional on unstable surface (UNS); and javelin throwing (JAVT) using an 800 g standard implement. Generally, BENT elicited the highest peak activity of all muscles (22-89% MVC), except for the rectus abdominus which was highest during UNS (106%). In contrast, CONV tended to produce the lowest peak muscle activation (12-77%), except for the pectoral and middle deltoid muscles. It was noteworthy that despite being the same exercise, performance on the unstable surface elicited higher peak muscle activity than CONV, except from the pectoralis muscles. Peak muscle activation in JAVT ranged from 29 (posterior deltoid) to 124% (latissimus dorsi), with the relatively high peaks in the deltoids and latissimus dorsi not being matched during the pullover exercises. Surface EMG of five national male javelin throwers were recorded from nine muscles on the throwing-arm side: upper trapezius; anterior, middle, and posterior deltoid; triceps brachii; clavicular and sternal portions of pectoralis major; latissimus dorsi, and rectus abdominus. In a randomised fashion, all throwers performed six repetitions of each pullover variation using a free-weight curl-barbell against an external load at 85% of 1-repetition maximum, while EMG signals were recorded during both the concentric and eccentric phases of the movement and subsequently normalized to a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). The throwers then performed three maximal javelin throws and the one with the greatest throwing velocity was used for analysis. It has been noted that pullover exercise emphasize chest muscle activation, i.e. pectoralis major (Marchetti & Uchida, 2011). Here, the level of activation depended on pullover variation, and BENT elicited the highest overall peak muscle activity. Strength and conditioning specialists should be aware of the impact of different pullover variations on muscle activation levels, and note that additional exercises to target the musculature of the shoulder and upper back should be incorporated in the training of javelin throwers.

year: 2016

title: Medicinal cannabis for neuropathic pain

authors: McKinnon, Marion

abstract: Neuropathic pain is caused by a dysfunction of the nervous system. It differs from normal pain sensations as it is no longer protective and can be present in the absence of a stimulus. It affects eight percent of the population worldwide and has several causes. Diabetes is the most prevalent cause, with about half of those diagnosed developing diabetic neuropathy. Other causes are genetic diseases (e.g. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease), immune disorders or medications (e.g. chemotherapy drugs) or injury. Neuropathic pain, regardless of its cause, is often poorly managed leading to poor quality of life for those patients. The currently available analgesic options show little efficacy and are often dose-limiting due to adverse effects. Treatments that improve efficacy or offer lower adverse effects need to be investigated; one such potential treatment is medicinal cannabis. To this end, cannabis isolates and a high CBD whole extract were tested to determine efficacy to relieve neuropathic pain symptoms in a pre-clinical mouse model of neuropathy.
A dose-response trial using gene expression biomarkers was completed in wildtype mice. This was to determine what doses of orally administered CBD (25 - 150 mg/kg) in an olive oil vehicle had a biological effect in the dorsal root ganglia of peripheral nerves of mice. CBD (6.25 - 100 mg/kg), a high CBD whole extract (containing CBD 12.5 mg/kg and THC 0.867 mg/kg) and a pure CBD:THC mix (at the same concentrations) were then used to determine efficacy in ameliorating neuropathic pain in a CMT2A mouse model. Finally, a single high-dose streptozotocin-induced diabetic neuropathy mouse model was characterised to determine the parameters of peripheral neuropathy and neuropathic pain symptoms in male wildtype B6:D2 mice. 
A pure isolate of 12.5 mg/kg CBD showed the greatest efficacy in treating thermal hyperalgesia symptoms in CMT2A mice. This paralleled a clinically relevant dose of gabapentin (40mg/kg) in efficacy for improving thermal hyperalgesia, both as a single dose and in multiple doses across eight hours. Of the cannabinoids tested, high CBD whole extract showed greater efficacy in improving thermal hyperalgesia symptoms in CMT2A mice, with a wider therapeutic window than either CBD alone or CBD:THC. This indicates that in addition to THC, other components in cannabis may contribute to efficacy, or be the result of an entourage effect. 
Characterisation of the diabetic neuropathy model was completed, with two-thirds of the mice developing high blood glucose (≥ 17 mmol/L) within two weeks of a single high dose of streptozotocin. All diabetic mice showed thermal hyperalgesia symptoms and 40% of those also developed mechanical allodynia; with symptoms evident from as early as week four post- streptozotocin. There was no loss of motor function seen across the trial period of 13 weeks. Sciatic nerve tissue taken from these mice showed a marked loss of acetylated alpha-tubulin in both proximal and distal sciatic nerves when compared to the wildtype control group.

text: Medicinal cannabis for neuropathic pain Neuropathic pain is caused by a dysfunction of the nervous system. It differs from normal pain sensations as it is no longer protective and can be present in the absence of a stimulus. It affects eight percent of the population worldwide and has several causes. Diabetes is the most prevalent cause, with about half of those diagnosed developing diabetic neuropathy. Other causes are genetic diseases (e.g. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease), immune disorders or medications (e.g. chemotherapy drugs) or injury. Neuropathic pain, regardless of its cause, is often poorly managed leading to poor quality of life for those patients. The currently available analgesic options show little efficacy and are often dose-limiting due to adverse effects. Treatments that improve efficacy or offer lower adverse effects need to be investigated; one such potential treatment is medicinal cannabis. To this end, cannabis isolates and a high CBD whole extract were tested to determine efficacy to relieve neuropathic pain symptoms in a pre-clinical mouse model of neuropathy.
A dose-response trial using gene expression biomarkers was completed in wildtype mice. This was to determine what doses of orally administered CBD (25 - 150 mg/kg) in an olive oil vehicle had a biological effect in the dorsal root ganglia of peripheral nerves of mice. CBD (6.25 - 100 mg/kg), a high CBD whole extract (containing CBD 12.5 mg/kg and THC 0.867 mg/kg) and a pure CBD:THC mix (at the same concentrations) were then used to determine efficacy in ameliorating neuropathic pain in a CMT2A mouse model. Finally, a single high-dose streptozotocin-induced diabetic neuropathy mouse model was characterised to determine the parameters of peripheral neuropathy and neuropathic pain symptoms in male wildtype B6:D2 mice. 
A pure isolate of 12.5 mg/kg CBD showed the greatest efficacy in treating thermal hyperalgesia symptoms in CMT2A mice. This paralleled a clinically relevant dose of gabapentin (40mg/kg) in efficacy for improving thermal hyperalgesia, both as a single dose and in multiple doses across eight hours. Of the cannabinoids tested, high CBD whole extract showed greater efficacy in improving thermal hyperalgesia symptoms in CMT2A mice, with a wider therapeutic window than either CBD alone or CBD:THC. This indicates that in addition to THC, other components in cannabis may contribute to efficacy, or be the result of an entourage effect. 
Characterisation of the diabetic neuropathy model was completed, with two-thirds of the mice developing high blood glucose (≥ 17 mmol/L) within two weeks of a single high dose of streptozotocin. All diabetic mice showed thermal hyperalgesia symptoms and 40% of those also developed mechanical allodynia; with symptoms evident from as early as week four post- streptozotocin. There was no loss of motor function seen across the trial period of 13 weeks. Sciatic nerve tissue taken from these mice showed a marked loss of acetylated alpha-tubulin in both proximal and distal sciatic nerves when compared to the wildtype control group.

year: 2024

title: Māori Psychology Workforce & Māori-Focussed Course Content Review

authors: Waitoki, Waikaremoana

abstract: The Ministry of Health (2014) acknowledges that inaccurate and unreliable workforce data collections have been an issue for some time. This is a particular issue for the psychology workforce, with there being no single data set able to accurately and reliably describe the psychology workforce in detail. The annual psychology workforce survey was discontinued post 2010, although District Health Board (DHB) Shared Services does provide a dataset pertaining to the DHB psychology workforce. This report details the paper presents data relating to the: Current Māori psychology workforce; and describes the inclusion of Māori focused content within university psychology department courses.

text: Māori Psychology Workforce & Māori-Focussed Course Content Review The Ministry of Health (2014) acknowledges that inaccurate and unreliable workforce data collections have been an issue for some time. This is a particular issue for the psychology workforce, with there being no single data set able to accurately and reliably describe the psychology workforce in detail. The annual psychology workforce survey was discontinued post 2010, although District Health Board (DHB) Shared Services does provide a dataset pertaining to the DHB psychology workforce. This report details the paper presents data relating to the: Current Māori psychology workforce; and describes the inclusion of Māori focused content within university psychology department courses.

year: 2015