The findings from this study indicate that the vertebral centroid measurement of lumbar lordosis is more reliable than the Cobb method for assessing lumbar lordosis. The vertebral centroid measurement of lumbar lordosis also can be used to evaluate the actual lumbar curvature in outline at various angles of trunk flexion.

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The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between the scores collected from Borg's rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale and the heart rates (HR) of young Taiwanese men. Three exercises types (dynamic, partially dynamic, and static) were performed by 12 participants (six were familiar with Borg's scale and 6 were unfamiliar) under nine test conditions of three load levels for each exercise. The effect of familiarity on the relationship between RPE and HR was also examined. The results showed that the familiarity of the participants regarding the Borg's scale did not affect the scores. The relationship between Borg's RPE 6-20 scale and the HR values during dynamic exercise was described by the regression equation HR = 8.88 x RPE + 38.2 (beats/min). The HR had lower correlations with RPE values when the participants performed both partially dynamic and static exercises. The findings may serve as a reference when using Borg's RPE scale to evaluate the physical exertion of young Taiwanese men.

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This preliminarily study was made to examine the differences in sweat excretions from human eccrine and apocrine sweat glands in dynamic exercise and heat conditions. Sweat samples were collected from six young males while they were either running on a treadmill or sitting in a sauna cabinet. Sweat samples of at least 5 mL from the eccrine (upper−back) and apocrine (armpit) sweat glands were collected during a 20−min running (or inactive overheating) period. The samples were then analyzed for urea, uric acid, and electrolyte (Na+, Cl−, and K+) excretions. The results from a two−way repeated−measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the secretions of urea and K+ were significantly higher during running than during inactive overheating for both glands, as were Na+ secretions for the apocrine glands (all P < 0.05). Under the same sweating conditions, urea and K+ excretions from the apocrine glands were also higher than those from the eccrine glands (all P < 0.05). Significant differences were observed between the Na+ secretions of the apocrine and eccrine glands under the running condition. The effects of various sweating methods and sweat glands on Cl− secretions were nonsignificant, and little uric acid was excreted. A higher urea excretion level during running rather than in hot conditions could be attributed to an elevated metabolic rate.

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