Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Nutrition And Exercise Resources For Uninsured Patient Populations, Sabrina Marie Paparo, Samantha Plasner, Runi Patel, Wendy Briaguez

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Proper nutrition and exercise is integral for the prevention and management of chronic diseases such as type two diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease. However, health care disparities in the United States, such as lack of access to primary health care, has been an ever growing problem. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a correlation between being uninsured and having worse health outcomes, and to determine if there is a need for accessible nutrition and/or exercise resources for this population. To conduct this research, a survey was distributed at the Cherry Hill Free Clinic …

Effects Of Exercise On The Cardiovascular Health Of Adolescents And Young Adults With Down Syndrome, Samarth Gupta

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Introduction: It is known that the incidence of Down Syndrome has increased over time and that this condition is associated with congenital heart defects, lower cardiorespiratory capacity, and increased rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes. It has been shown that individuals who have congenital heart defects but not Down Syndrome have increased cardiorespiratory function after engaging in exercise. Unfortunately, the role of exercise in improving cardiovascular health outcomes among individuals with DS is not yet fully understood.

Results: Exercise has been found to improve several health outcomes among individuals with Down Syndrome. For example, moderate to vigorous treadmill exercises …

Effect Of Exercise Intervention On Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (Fshd), John Desrochers

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) is a common muscular dystrophy. The facial muscles, shoulder girdles, and upper arms are notably affected.¹ A common presenting symptom is asymmetrical scapular winging and further symptoms may include but are not limited to: loss of pectoral muscles, fatigue, severe pain, pathologic spinal curvatures, and foot drop.² It is a particularly debilitating muscular dystrophy, with 20% of people >50 y.o. requiring a wheelchair.³ With no approved therapeutics, patients are managed symptomatically.³ This review sought to determine the effect of different exercise interventions on patients with FSHD. It is hypothesized that exercise may …

Resistance Training Improves White Matter Structural Connectivity In Older Adults At-Risk For Cognitive Decline, Ryu Lien

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Diabetes is a global health concern that impacts 415 million people worldwide. Individuals who are at-risk for diabetes (characterized by high blood glucose and/or being overweight) have white matter atrophy, decreased cognitive function, and an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recently, resistance training (RT) has been shown to lower white matter atrophy and white matter lesion volume. However, investigating changes in white matter tracts is complex, hence previous findings remain inconclusive. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) serves as a highly sensitive tool that enables visualization and characterization of white matter tracts and has the potential to combat this complexity. The …

The Effect Of Type 1 Diabetes On The Metabolic Response To Exercise, Theres Tijo

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disorder that results in insufficient endogenous insulin production. Regular exercise has numerous health benefits for individuals with T1DM, however, most insulin-dependent diabetics avoid physical activity due to the fear of exercise-induced hypoglycemia (low blood glucose/BG).

The risk of hypoglycemia in this population may be partly due to lower liver glycogen stores which is a major source of blood glucose during exercise. However, the mechanism that leads to lower glycogen stores in T1DM is unknown.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an acute bout of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise …

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Pediatric Obesity In School-Aged Children, Amaani Faizal, Maryanna Schweininger, Suzanna Hosein

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The prevalence of childhood obesity in those aged 2-19 in the United States was 19.3% in 2017-2018. Childhood obesity is a major health concern with growing rates of incidence. Being overweight or obese put children at risk for developing several chronic conditions such as coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and asthma at a younger age. Studies have shown that higher BMI numbers in childhood added an increased risk of being obese as an adult.

The pathophysiology of developing obesity includes several complex factors ranging from nutrition, physical activity, genetic background and lifestyle preferences. Among children, nutrition and …

Trends In Pediatric Obesity Of School-Aged Children During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Maryanna Schweininger, Amaani Faizal, Suzanna Hosein

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, children have been more sedentary due to nationwide school closures resulting in classes being held virtually. Due to restrictions, children could no longer participate in physical education classes and after school activities at the same frequency. The pandemic also placed a disproportionate burden on low-income families thus, potentially amplifying food insecurity. The aim of this study was to identify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on childhood obesity.

Physical Activity As A Means Of Improving Quality Of Life In Individuals With Chronic Pain, Tracy Tauro

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Pharmacologic management of chronic pain has variable results, sometimes resorting to ineffective and dangerous opioids that can potentiate substance abuse in a vulnerable population.

Exercise is unique in its ability to positively impact both the molecular and psychological aspects of chronic pain. Its role in decreasing inflammation as well as improving mental health make it an excellent option for improving quality of life.

Physicians should work with their patients to develop a patient-centered exercise plan to manage chronic pain.

The Effects Of Estrogen In The Glucoregulatory Response To Exercise In Type 1 Diabetes, Mitchell James Sammut

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Regular exercise has shown to benefit the health of individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). However, a barrier to regular exercise for this population is the fear of low blood glucose (BG) levels, also known as hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia can result in short and long-term side-effects, such as recurring loss of consciousness or in severe cases death.

In non-diabetics, sex-related differences in fuel selection during exercise are well established. Women shift towards using fats as fuel whereas men rely mostly on sugars (i.e., carbohydrates) for energy production. Exercise during the luteal phase of the female menstrual cycle, where estrogen levels …

Effect Of High Intensity Interval Training Vs Low Intensity Training On Fat Loss In Patients With Obesity, Jonathan Aaron Deck, Adarsh Gupta

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Nowadays, there are several exercise modalities to lose weight, retain, and or build lean body mass. A widely known training philosophy that has gained increased popularity is high intensity interval training (HIIT). HIIT is based on exercising at submaximal or maximal intensity for a brief period then reducing work to minimal intensity for a longer duration in a series of repeated bouts. The benefit of HIIT is to increase fat loss through the scientific principle of EPOC (excess post exercise oxygen consumption). Low intensity training (LIT) also has its benefits in that it is more sustainable but with the caveat …

The Impact Of Exercise On Pregnant Women Aged 18-40 And Fetal Development, Jinisha Patwa

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

68% of those who performed minimum level exercise prior to pregnancy stopped completely during early pregnancy.

Women stop exercising during pregnancy due to worries about the impact it may have on the development of the fetus.

Starting moderate-intensity, weight-bearing exercise early in pregnancy increases placental growth rate and volume.

Exercise reduces the risks of excess gestational weight gain and high maternal body weight before pregnancy.

Physical exercise reduces the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus.