@article{WinterBrandesMuelleretal.2010, author = {Winter, Corinna and Brandes, Mirko and M{\"u}ller, Carsten and Schubert, Tim and Ringling, Michael and Hillmann, Axel and Rosenbaum, Dieter and Schulte, Tim T.}, title = {Walking ability during daily life in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee or the hip and lumbar spinal stenosis}, series = {BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders}, volume = {11}, journal = {BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders}, number = {233}, doi = {10.25974/fhms-16867}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-168673}, pages = {1 -- 7}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Background Degenerative musculoskeletal disorders are among the most frequent diseases occurring in adulthood, often impairing patients' functional mobility and physical activity. The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare the impact of three frequent degenerative musculoskeletal disorders -- knee osteoarthritis (knee OA), hip osteoarthritis (hip OA) and lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) -- on patients' walking ability. Methods The study included 120 participants, with 30 in each patient group and 30 healthy control individuals. A uniaxial accelerometer, the StepWatch™ Activity Monitor (Orthocare Innovations, Seattle, Washington, USA), was used to determine the volume (number of gait cycles per day) and intensity (gait cycles per minute) of walking ability. Non-parametric testing was used for all statistical analyses. Results Both the volume and the intensity of walking ability were significantly lower among the patients in comparison with the healthy control individuals (p < 0.001). Patients with LSS spent 0.4 (IQR 2.8) min/day doing moderately intense walking (>50 gait cycles/min), which was significantly lower in comparison with patients with knee and hip OA at 2.5 (IQR 4.4) and 3.4 (IQR 16.1) min/day, respectively (p < 0.001). No correlations between demographic or anthropometric data and walking ability were found. No technical problems or measuring errors occurred with any of the measurements. Conclusions Patients with degenerative musculoskeletal disorders suffer limitations in their walking ability. Objective assessment of walking ability appeared to be an easy and feasible tool for measuring such limitations as it provides baseline data and objective information that are more precise than the patients' own subjective estimates. In everyday practice, objective activity assessment can provide feedback for clinicians regarding patients' performance during everyday life and the extent to which this confirms the results of clinical investigations. The method can also be used as a way of encouraging patients to develop a more active lifestyle.}, language = {en} } @article{MuellerBrandes2015, author = {M{\"u}ller, Carsten and Brandes, Mirko}, title = {The effect of kinesiology tape applications on performance in amateur soccer and team handball}, series = {Journal of Human Kinetics}, volume = {49}, journal = {Journal of Human Kinetics}, number = {1}, doi = {10.25974/fhms-16855}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-168553}, pages = {119 -- 129}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Evidence supporting performance enhancing effects of kin esiotape in sports is missing . The aims of this studywere to evaluate effects of kinesiotape applications with regard to shooting and throwing performance in 26 amateursoccer and 32 handball players, and to further investigate if these effects were influenced by the players' level ofperformance. Ball speed as the primary outcome and accuracy of soccer kicks and handball throws were analyzed withand without kinesiotape by means of radar units and video recordings. The application of kinesiotapes significantlyincreased ball speed in soccer by 1.4 km/h (p=0.047) and accuracy with a lesser di stance from the target by -6.9 cm(p=0.039). Ball velocity in handball throws also signific antly increased by 1.2 km/h (p=0.013), while accuracy wasdeteriorated with a greater distance from the target by 3.4 cm (p=0.005). Larger effects with respect to ball speed werefound in players with a lower performance level in kick ing (1.7 km/h, p=0.028) and throwing (1.8 km/h, p=0.001)compared with higher level soccer and handball players (1.2 km/h, p=0.346 and 0.5 km/h, p=0.511, respectively). Inconclusion, the applications of kinesiot ape used in this study might have beneficial effects on performance in amateursoccer, but the gain in ball speed in handball is counterac ted by a significant deterioration of accuracy. Subgroupanalyses indicate that kinesiotape may yield larger effects on ball velocity in athletes with lower kicking and throwingskills.}, language = {en} } @article{Mueller2023, author = {M{\"u}ller, Carsten}, title = {Personality Traits and Physical Activity: Insights from German University Students}, series = {European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education}, volume = {13}, journal = {European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education}, number = {8}, doi = {10.25974/fhms-16872}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-168729}, pages = {1423 -- 1440}, year = {2023}, abstract = {This study explores the intriguing relationship between personality traits, self-rated fitness (SRF), and physical activity (PA) variables among German university students (N = 4244) and sheds light on the impact of personality on adherence to PA guidelines. Employing an online cross-sectional study, the short-form of the Big Five Inventory-2 assessed five domains of personality traits (Extraversion, Negative Emotionality, Agreeableness, conscientiousness, and Open-Mindedness). PA, including sitting time, was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (short-form). SRF and muscle-strengthening activities (MSA) were assessed with one item each. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses examined associations of individual personality trait domains and all domains combined with SFR, PA variables, and adherence to PA guidelines, controlling for sociodemographic, behavioral, and (mental) health covariates. Most reliably, Extraversion and Conscientiousness revealed positive associations with PA variables, while Negative Emotionality yielded inverse relationships with PA variables. For instance, each unit increase in Extraversion corresponded to an additional 17 min of weekly MSA. On the contrary, daily sitting time was unrelated to personality. Of note, high Open-Mindedness was associated with lower odds for adhering to current PA guidelines. The findings have implications for developing targeted interventions that promote a physically active lifestyle and support students' well-being and academic success.}, language = {en} } @article{MuellerWinterRosenbaumetal.2010, author = {M{\"u}ller, Carsten and Winter, Corinna and Rosenbaum, Dieter and Boos, Joachim and Gosheger, Georg and Hardes, Jendrik and Vieth, Volker}, title = {Early decrements in bone density after completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in pediatric bone sarcoma patients}, series = {BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders}, volume = {11}, journal = {BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders}, number = {287}, doi = {10.25974/fhms-16866}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-168661}, pages = {1 -- 8}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Background Bone mineral density (BMD) accrual during childhood and adolescence is important for attaining peak bone mass. BMD decrements have been reported in survivors of childhood bone sarcomas. However, little is known about the onset and development of bone loss during cancer treatment. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate BMD in newly diagnosed Ewing's and osteosarcoma patients by means of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) after completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods DXA measurements of the lumbar spine (L2-4), both femora and calcanei were performed perioperatively in 46 children and adolescents (mean age: 14.3 years, range: 8.6-21.5 years). Mean Z-scores, areal BMD (g/cm2), calculated volumetric BMD (g/cm3) and bone mineral content (BMC, g) were determined. Results Lumbar spine mean Z-score was -0.14 (95\% CI: -0.46 to 0.18), areal BMD was 1.016 g/cm2 (95\% CI: 0.950 to 1.082) and volumetric BMD was 0.330 g/cm3 (95\% CI: 0.314 to 0.347) which is comparable to healthy peers. For patients with a lower extremity tumor (n = 36), the difference between the affected and non-affected femoral neck was 12.1\% (95\% CI: -16.3 to -7.9) in areal BMD. The reduction of BMD was more pronounced in the calcaneus with a difference between the affected and contralateral side of 21.7\% (95\% CI: -29.3 to -14.0) for areal BMD. Furthermore, significant correlations for femoral and calcaneal DXA measurements were found with Spearman-rho coefficients ranging from ρ = 0.55 to ρ = 0.80. Conclusions The tumor disease located in the lower extremity in combination with offloading recommendations induced diminished BMD values, indicating local osteopenia conditions. However, the results revealed no significant decrements of lumbar spine BMD in pediatric sarcoma patients after completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Nevertheless, it has to be taken into account that bone tumor patients may experience BMD decrements or secondary osteoporosis in later life. Furthermore, the peripheral assessment of BMD in the calcaneus via DXA is a feasible approach to quantify bone loss in the lower extremity in bone sarcoma patients and may serve as an alternative procedure, when the established assessment of femoral BMD is not practicable due to endoprosthetic replacements.}, language = {en} } @article{MuellerElAnsariElAnsari2022, author = {M{\"u}ller, Carsten and El-Ansari, Kareem and El Ansari, Walid}, title = {Cross-Sectional Analysis of Mental Health among University Students: Do Sex and Academic Level Matter?}, series = {International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health}, volume = {19}, journal = {International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health}, number = {19}, publisher = {MDPI}, doi = {10.25974/fhms-15695}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-156952}, pages = {12670 -- 12670}, year = {2022}, abstract = {University students' mental health and well-being is a growing public health concern. There is a lack of studies assessing a broad range of mental health domains by sex and academic level of study. This cross-sectional online survey of BSc, MSc, and PhD students (n = 3353, 67\% female) enrolled at one university in Germany assessed a wide scope of mental health domains, covering positive (i.e., self-rated health, self-esteem, student engagement) and negative aspects (i.e., perceived stress, irritation, and screening positive for depression, anxiety, comorbidity, and psychological distress). We evaluated differences in mental health by sex and academic level. Overall, although self-rated health did not differ by sex and academic level, females and lower academic level were associated with less favorable mental health. Males reported higher prevalence of high self-esteem, and higher engagement (all p ≤ 0.04). Conversely, mean perceived stress and cognitive/emotional irritation were higher among females, as were rates for positive screenings for anxiety, anxiety and depression comorbidity, and psychological distress (p < 0.001 for all). Likewise, lower academic level (BSc) was associated with lower rates of high self-esteem (p ≤ 0.001), increased perceived stress (p < 0.001), and higher prevalence of positive screening for depression, anxiety, comorbidity, and psychological distress (p ≤ 0.002 for all), while higher academic level (PhD) was linked to increased student engagement (p < 0.001 for all). Although the effect sizes of sex and academic level on student mental health were modest, these findings support a need for action to establish and expand early detection and prevention programs, on-campus advisory services, and peer counseling that focus on the sex-specific and academic-study-level-specific factors, as well as mental health and career development resources for students. Academics and policy makers need to consider multipronged intervention strategies to boost confidence of students and their academic career.}, language = {en} }