Projects
Clinical field tests as predictors of cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiometabolic risk in Psoriatic Arthritis. KU Leuven
This project will study the use of clinical field tests, the six minute walk test (6MWT) and handgrip strength test (HGS), as predictors of maximal cardiorespiratory fitness in PsA. Moreover, we will evaluate the relationship between the fitness outcomes of clinical field tests and disease activity, cardiometabolic risk and quality of life in PsA-patients. Next, we will assess maximal cardiorespiratory fitness in PsA-patients and study its ...
Integrative computer modeling of cardiorespiratory fitness for personalised profiling and prevention of early-stage heart failure KU Leuven
The surging burden of heart diseases on our society calls for tools that can adequately detect and control heart diseases before disease symptoms present. Clinical exercise tests could improve the characterisation and management of subclinical stages of cardiac disease. Yet, current practice only considers a limited selection of cardiopulmonary exercise indexes in isolation. To utilise the full value of clinical and exercise testing data, in ...
Behavioural change based on the self-categorisation theory: promotion of physical activity among sedentary older adults (intervention study among older adults on intrinsic and social determinants of physical activity and health-related behaviour). KU Leuven
Physical functioning en physical activity in patients with lung cancer Ghent University
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a highly prevalent cancer type with poor prognosis. Nevertheless, a relevant proportion of patients has an extended survival nowadays due to improvements in treatment. Some small studies suggest that these patients have a decreased physical activity (i.e. all activities that a person performs during a day) and decreased physical fitness (i.e. the ability to perform activities). This is thought to ...
Optimising physical education teachers’ motivating style via an online tailored approach: what are the effects on students’ motivation and physical activity, and teachers’ well-being? Ghent University
Regular exercise is beneficial for youth’s physical and mental health. Still, the majority is insufficiently active. Physical education teachers and more specifically their motivating style play a crucial role in motivating young people to be active. Hence the need for effective interventions targeting teachers’ motivating style. Current Self-Determination-Theory-based interventions are mostly workshop-like one-size-fits-all programs. In this ...
Biomechanics of childhood obesity: implications for the musculoskeletal system and role of physical exercise KU Leuven
There is evidence indicating that the presence of overweight/obesity induces alterations in movement biomechanics, body posture and movement competence of children and adolescents, with severe health consequences for their musculoskeletal system. Physical exercise could be a promising treatment to reverse all these alterations in children with overweight/obesity and therefore prevent the onset of associated musculoskeletal disorders, however, ...
Home-based PHysical rehabilitatiOn after livEr traNsplantation and Impact of eXercise intensity: a Randomized Controlled Trial [PHOENIX-RCT] KU Leuven
Home-based physical rehabilitation after liver transplantation and impact of exercise intensity: a randomized controlled trial KU Leuven
Liver transplantation constitutes the only curative treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease. Advances in the field have led to favourable short- and medium term (1-3 year) post-transplant survival rates, but improvement in long-term survival rates remains disappointing. Due to the immunosuppressive therapy, a sedentary lifestyle and a poor recovery of post-transplant physical fitness, the proportion of liver transplant recipients ...