Analysis of the Muscular Activity, Peak Torque in the Lower Limbs, and Static Balance after Virtual Rehabilitation in Women with Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Controlled Study

Gamification in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This study is a narrative review aiming at evaluating the current literature of the last 5 years on gamification and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. The article search involved the following MeSH terms at PubMed: "gamification," "exergaming," and "rehabilitation." Original studies in English language were included.

RECENT FINDINGS

After careful analysis of the search results, 17 articles were included in this review. The use of games for rehabilitation was investigated in musculoskeletal rehabilitation conditions such as shoulder surgery, impingement syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, low back pain, fibromyalgia, fracture, and ligament reconstruction. Results were similar or superior to conventional physical therapy or home-based exercises, with the additional benefit of improving motivation to the exercise program. Improvements in quality of life and perceived health status were also observed. The cost-effectiveness of this type of technology was also mentioned as an advantage of exergames in musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Studies involving gamification in musculoskeletal rehabilitation stress the potential of this resource in several aspects of physical fitness, health, and quality of life, also improving motivation and adherence to the exercise treatment.

Microvascular Adaptations to Muscle Stretch: Findings From Animals and the Elderly

Microcirculation in skeletal muscle is disturbed with advancing aging, causing limited capillary blood flow and exercise incapacity. Muscle stretch has been widely performed in physical therapy, sports medicine, and health promotion. However, the effect of stretch on microvascular reactivity and muscle blood flow remains unknown. This review focuses on stretch-induced microvascular adaptations based on evidence from cultured cells, small animals, and human studies. Vascular endothelium senses and responds to mechanical stimuli including stretch. This endothelial mechanotransduction potentially plays a vital role in the stretch-induced microvascular adaptation alongside hypoxia. Aging impairs microvascular endothelial function, but muscle stretch has the potential to restore it. Muscle stretch may be an alternative to improve vascular function and enhance exercising blood flow, especially for those who have difficulties in participating in exercise due to medical, functional, or psychological reasons.

Benefits of exergame training for female patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of exergame training on female patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), and outcome measurements mainly include overall functioning, pain perception, quality of life, exercise capacity, health perception, kinesiophobia and fatigue severity.

DATA SOURCES

Five electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, PsycInfo, Scopus, and Cochrane Library) were searched from inception until June 24, 2021. In addition to search reviewing the reference lists of relevant papers by hand. Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias was used to evaluate the risk of bias in the included studies.

STUDY SELECTION

Articles were collected with the following study inclusion criteria: (1) randomized controlled trials (RCTs) design. (2) participants were female patients with FMS aged > 18 years. (3) participants from experiments groups received exergame training using any modality. And (4) outcome measures include overall functioning, quality of life, exercise capacity, health perception, kinesiophobia and fatigue severity.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Nine randomized controlled trials, including 466 female patients with FMS, were included in the analysis. Exergame training had significant positive effects on overall functioning (standardized mean difference [SMD] = -0.52; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.77 to 0.27; p < .0001), pain perception (SMD = -0.49; 95% CI = -0.97 to -0.02; p = .04), quality of life (SMD = 0.77; 95% CI = 0.44 to1.10; p < .00001), exercise capacity (SMD = 0.58; 95% CI = 0.32 to 0.84; p < .0001), health perception (SMD = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.38 to 1.01; p < .0001), and fatigue severity (SMD = -0.97; 95% CI = -1.55 to -0.38; p = .001). However, exergame training did not have significant effects on kinesiophobia (SMD = -1.13; 95% CI = -2.88 to 0.62; p = .21) .

CONCLUSIONS

Exergame training has beneficial effects on the overall functioning, pain perception, quality of life, exercise capacity, health perception and fatigue severity of female patients with FMS. Exergame training is a potential non-drug therapy for the treatment of patients with FMS.