The Influence of Body Mass Index on Self-report and Performance-based Measures of Physical Function in Adult Women

Purpose: Little is known about limitations in physical function across BMI categories in middle aged women using both self-report and performance-based measures. Furthermore, the impact of BMI on the measurement of function has not been explored. The purpose of this study was to assess physical function in adult women across BMI categories using self-report and performance-based measures and determine the influence of BMI on the relationship between the measures. Methods: Fifty sedentary females (10 in each BMI category: normal weight, overweight, obese class I, II, and III) aged 51.2 ± 5.4 years participated. Assessments included demographics, past medical history, physical activity level, BMI, and self-report (Late Life Function and Disability Instrument) and performance-based measures of physical function (6-Minute Walk Test, timed chair rise, gait speed). Physical function was compared between BMI categories using analysis of variance. The influence of BMI on the relationship of self-report and performance-based measures was analyzed using linear regression. Results: Compared to those that were normal weight or overweight, individuals with obesity scored lower on the self-report measure of physical function (LLFDI) for capability in participating in life tasks and ability to perform discrete functional activities. On the performance-based measures, the individuals with obesity had slower gait speed compared to the normal and overweight weight groups. For the 6-Minute Walk Test and timed chair stands, individuals with obesity had poorer performance compared to those who were normal weight. Linear regression analyses revealed that BMI attenuated the relationship between the self-report and performance-based measures by approximately 50%. Conclusions: While those with severe obesity were most impaired, adult women with less severe obesity also demonstrated significant decrements in physical function.Key Words: obesity, physical function     

Material and surface effects on the spin and launch angle generated from a wedge/ball interaction in golf

Backspin rate and friction coefficients have been studied for a range of commercially available wedges and multi-piece golf balls using a mechanical golfer and a modified pin-on-disc tester. Analysis of shot characteristics for wedges with three different surface roughness values and two golf ball types (two-piece ionomer covered and three-piece polyurethane covered) was carried out using the mechanical golfer, whilst pin-on-disc testing was performed to determine the friction coefficient between the different golf ball covers (with a range of hardness values) and steel discs with a range of surface roughness values seen for different wedges. It was found that the polyurethane covered balls (lower hardness) showed greater backspin than the ionomer covered balls (higher hardness), and showed higher friction values during the pin-ondisc testing. During the mechanical golfer tests, however, it was observed that the ionomer covered balls showed an increase in friction coefficient for increasing surface roughness, although the effect of differences in cover material types was greater than that of surface roughness variation for the same cover material within the range of commercially available wedge face surface roughnesses.     

Elements of Chord-Reading in Music Notation

Random assignment of students to innovative educational programs is not always possible in establishing proper and adequate control groups; therefore, it is recommended that the biomedical model of adjusted statistics designed to overcome the well-known difficulty educational investigators face when attempting to randomize subjects be adopted. The model’s utility is demonstrated by using hypothetical data for fifth grade students tested by criterion and norm referenced tests. Results indicate that the adjusted discrepancies between group statistics are considerably smaller than is indicated by inspection of raw, or unadjusted, sample values. The educational analogue of the biomedical model of adjusted rates provides a way to obtain a more accurate estimate of program success or failure when comparisons across classrooms or other units are desirable.