Acting and Dancing during the COVID-19 Pandemic as Art Therapy for the Rehabilitation of Children with Behavioural Disorders Living in Socially Disadvantaged Environments

Art therapy is employed in numerous ways in rehabilitation. This study focuses on an art and movement therapy project carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic. Acting and dancing methods were adapted to produce a short musical film series for ten children from disadvantaged social backgrounds displaying nonorganic behavioural disorders. The aim was to acquire novel ways of expression on the part of the participants to release painful emotions in a safe setting using the method of catharsis through acting and dancing, triggering relaxation as a physiological response and improving their attitude. This study retrospectively analyses the changes in the children's behaviour and their active participation in the project through quantitative and qualitative research. The children improved their attention and self-esteem, their behaviour became less aggressive and impulsive, and half showed increased empathy. The active participation rate during the project was 82%.

Genetic causal association between physical activities and epilepsy: A Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND

Despite numerous investigations into the relationship between physical activities (PA) and epilepsy, the causal effects remain contentious. Thus, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to assess the potential causality.

METHODS

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) predisposed to self-reported moderate and vigorous physical activities (MPA and VPA) and overall acceleration average (OAA) calculated through wrist-worn accelerometers were selected as exposure instrumental variables. Five subtypes of epilepsy, including all epilepsy, focal epilepsy and generalized epilepsy (with or without each other), focal epilepsy-strict definition and generalized epilepsy-strict definition (without overlap), were chosen as the outcomes. The MR study utilized the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method as the primary analytical tool, supplemented by MR-Egger, simple mode, weighted mode, and weighted median methods. Cochran's Q and MR-Egger intercept tests were employed to assess heterogeneity and pleiotropy, while MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier and leave-one-out analyses were conducted to identify potential SNP outliers.

RESULTS

The study indicated that OAA was genetically linked to a decreased risk of both focal epilepsy (OR = 0.812, 95% CI: 0.687-0.960, p = .015, IVW) and focal epilepsy-strict definition (OR = 0.732, 95% CI: 0.596-0.900, p = .003, IVW; OR = 0.749, 95% CI: 0.573-0.979, p = .035, Weighted median). Genetically predicted MPA and VPA did not exhibit a causal association with all epilepsy or its subtypes (p>.05). No evidence of heterogeneity, pleiotropy, or SNP outlier was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggested that PA with accelerometer monitoring may potentially reduce the risk of focal epilepsy, while there is no evidence supporting causal association between self-reported MPA or VPA and either focal or generalized epilepsy.

Mechanism and physical activities in bone-skeletal muscle crosstalk

Bone and skeletal muscle work in coordination to maintain the function of the musculoskeletal system, in which skeletal muscle contraction drives the movement of the bone lever system while bone provides insert sites for skeletal muscle through the bone-muscle junction. Existing evidence suggests that factors secreted by skeletal muscle and bone mediate the interaction between the two tissues. Herein, we focused on the relationship between skeletal muscle and bone and the underlying mechanism of the interaction. Exercise can promote bone strength and secrete osteocalcin and insulin-like growth factor I into the blood, thus improving muscle quality. In addition, exercise can also promote myostatin, interleukin-6, Irisin, and apelin in muscles to enter the blood so that they can act on bones to maintain the balance between bone absorption and bone formation. There is a special regulatory axis interleukin-6/osteocalcin between myokines and osteokines, which is mainly influenced by exercise. Therefore, we pay attention to the important factors in the bone-muscle intersection that are affected by exercise, which were found or their functions were expanded, which strengthened the connection between organs of the whole body, highlighting the importance of exercise and contributing to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of osteoporosis and sarcopenia in the clinic.

Unveiling the Dichotomy of Urinary Proteins: Diagnostic Insights into Breast and Prostate Cancer and Their Roles

This review covers the diagnostic potential of urinary biomarkers, shedding light on their linkage to cancer progression. Urinary biomarkers offer non-invasive avenues for detecting cancers, potentially bypassing the invasiveness of biopsies. The investigation focuses primarily on breast and prostate cancers due to their prevalence among women and men, respectively. The intricate interplay of urinary proteins is explored, revealing a landscape where proteins exhibit context-dependent behaviors. The review highlights the potential impact of physical activity on urinary proteins, suggesting its influence on tumorigenic behaviors. Exercise-conditioned urine may emerge as a potential diagnostic biomarker source. Furthermore, treatment effects, notably after lumpectomy and prostatectomy, induce shifts in the urinary proteome, indicating therapeutic impacts rather than activating oncogenic signaling. The review suggests further investigations into the double-sided, context-dependent nature of urinary proteins, the potential role of post-translational modifications (PTM), and the integration of non-protein markers like mRNA and metabolites. It also discusses a linkage of urinary proteomes with secretomes from induced tumor-suppressing cells (iTSCs). Despite challenges like cancer heterogeneity and sample variability due to age, diet, and comorbidities, harnessing urinary proteins and proteoforms may hold promise for advancing our understanding of cancer progressions, as well as the diagnostic and therapeutic role of urinary proteins.

Participants stories about long-term achievement 60-months after attending a Healthy Life Centre programme (the VEND-RISK study) - a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Experiences of long-term achievement in participants attending programs for changing health habits including diet and physical activity interventions aiming for weight reduction is lacking. This study aimed to explore how participants experienced their own achievement of healthy habits 60 months after attending a Healthy Life Centre programme in the Norwegian primary healthcare.

METHODS

An explorative qualitative design with an inductive approach was employed. Individual semi-structured interviews were performed with 20 participants attending a Healthy Life Centre programme 60 months ago. They were aged 30-72 years, and 55% were females. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using systematic text condensation.

RESULTS

Two main themes emerged from the interviews with three subthemes each. The first theme "Changes over time" includes "Nutritional changes", "Physical activities adjusted to own presumptions" and "Health habits incorporated into life with manageable goals". The second theme "Barriers to fulfil changes" includes "Life circumstances with health issues influences the continuity to adjust to changes", "a busy everyday life" and "a lack of external drive when not having commitment to the Healthy Life Centre".

CONCLUSIONS

Focusing on changes adjusted to participants' own everyday lives and having an approach with small goals can facilitate long-term changes in health habits.

Positive impact of social relationships fostered by physical and/or cognitive group activity on older people's quality of life: PRISMA systematic review

Introduction

This review identified and examined the research literature on the effect of participating in physical and/or cognitive activities on older people's quality of life, to establish whether the social relationships fostered by these activities can be a vector of better physical, mental and social quality of life.

Method

A systematic review of the literature was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We searched four databases (MEDLINE, APA PsycArticles/PsycInfo, PubMed, and Web of Science) for articles published between 1975 and 2022 using search terms related to psychosocial, population, and intervention topics. Studies were eligible if they involved older adults, participation in at least one activity (physical or cognitive), and at least one quality of life related outcome measure.

Results

We selected 20 articles published between 1990 and 2021, the majority concerning studies conducted in English-speaking countries. Ten studies were interventional (introduction of program of activities), and 10 studies were observational (60% quantitative, 40% qualitative). Overall, results revealed a positive impact of the activities on every aspect of quality of life (i.e., cognitive, physical, social, psychological, and quality of life in general).

Conclusion

The present review confirmed the beneficial impact of practicing physical and/or cognitive group activities on older people's quality of life, but the contribution of social factors and social relationships remains underestimated and not well defined in researches.

The Feeling of Pleasure for Overweight Children during Different Types of Physical Activity

The feeling of pleasure during physical education (PE) could increase with physical activity participation and adherence for overweight children. While traditional games are known to have positive benefits on motor skill development, especially for children with poorer motor skills, and on the body mass of children, little is known about overweight children's feelings of enjoyment when playing these games. To identify a program of physical activity appreciated by overweight children, we tested the effect of different activities, namely soccer (SO), shot put (SP), and traditional motor games (TMGs), on the feelings of pleasure for 28 overweight male children (aged 12.11 ± 0.63 years, BMI 26.89 ± 0.15 kg·m-2) participating in a 3-month cross-over study. To measure affective responses to exercises, we applied a validated feeling scale. The data were collected during eight PE lessons, which were organized for each cycle taught. Post hoc pairwise comparisons revealed a significant difference (Z = -3.195, p < 0.01) between the mean feeling score reported after the SO cycle (2.48 ± 0.41) and that after the TMGs (3.04 ± 0.32). A similar significant difference (Z = -3.304, p < 0.01) was found between the mean feeling scores reported after the SP cycle (2.27 ± 0.32) and the TMGs (3.04 ± 0.32). There was no significant difference between the mean feeling scores reported after the SO (2.48 ± 0.41) and SP cycles (2.27 ± 0.32). In conclusion, the findings of the present study suggest that TMGs may have beneficial effects on the feelings of pleasure for overweight children. Therefore, TMGs might potentially be considered as an alternative to conventional physical activities.

Habitual physical activity and sedentary behavior as predictors of dynapenia in older adults: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Dynapenia is a risk factor of mortality. Therefore, the development of low-cost and easy-to-apply tools is essential to optimize the health surveillance actions of older people.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the time spent on habitual physical activity (HPA) and sedentary behavior (SB) among dynapenic and non-dynapenic older adults and ascertain the predictive ability of these behaviors on outcome.

DESIGN AND SETTING

A cross-sectional population epidemiological survey was conducted involving 208 older adults.

METHODS

HPA and SB were quantified using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and dynapenia was identified by handgrip strength (women: 18.37 kgf; men: 26.75 kgf).

RESULTS

The prevalence was 24.50%. In both sexes, dynapenic individuals reported a HPA median time of 70.00 minutes/week (min/wk), while non-dynapenic women and men reported HPA median times of 240.00 and 280.00 min/wk, respectively (P < 0.05). For SB among dynapenic individuals, a median of 388.75 min/day was observed in women and 428.57 min/d in men. In contrast, non-dynapenic women and men had 291.42 and 274.28 min/day in SB (P < 0.05), respectively. The best cutoff HPA to discriminate the outcome was 150.00 min/wk in women (sensitivity: 73.30%; specificity: 60.67%) and 140.00 min/wk in men (sensitivity, 71.43%; specificity, 61.54%). The best cutoff SB was 381.43 min/day in women (sensitivity, 53.30%; specificity, 84.80%) and 351.43 min/day in men (sensitivity, 71.43%; specificity, 73.85%).

CONCLUSION

Older individuals with dynapenia spent less time on HPA and more time in SB. Furthermore, HPA was found to be a better discriminator of dynapenic individuals, and SB better discriminated non-dynapenic individuals.

Effect of Nighttime Exercise on Sleep Quality Among the General Population in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction Engaging in physical activity has been proven to have health benefits, with a positive impact on sleep quality. While the timing of exercise plays a significant role in determining its effect on sleep, nighttime exercise still needs to be explored, especially in Saudi Arabia. This study assessed the effect of nighttime exercise on sleep quality among the general population in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on people performing physical exercises in the gym, training, and walking places using a self-administered questionnaire evaluating exercising behaviors and sleep quality. Comparisons were performed using the Chi-square test and ANOVA, and p<0.05 was considered for significance. Results We enrolled 385 participants, among whom 53.8% were male, and 47.2% were female. The mean age was 28.2±7.85 years, and mostly aged 25-29 years (24.7%), followed by 20-24 years old (21.3%). Most had university degrees (61.3%) and were also employed (60%). Of all participants, the majority were overweight and obese (61.3%). Most (n=225) participants practiced vigorous physical exercise, and the mean Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) global score was 7.37±3.49 points. Evening vigorous (r= 0.25, p=0.038) and moderate (r=0.30, p=0.025) physical exercise sessions lasting > 90 min had a significant positive correlation with poor sleep quality (high PSQL score). There was no statistically significant correlation between sleep quality and other variables (p>0.05). Conclusion This study found that participants had poor sleep quality, and lengthy, intense evening exercises had a negative effect on sleep. Incorporating regular exercise tailored to individual preferences and encouraging people to widen the time interval between exercise and bedtime could improve sleep quality.

The Effects of Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents with Developmental Coordination Disorder

The purpose of this literature review was to detect and study the effectiveness of therapeutic intervention programs, such as physical activities and sports, on children and adolescents with Developmental Motor Coordination Disorder (DCD) to improve their motor skills. The sample for this study consisted of 48 (100%) papers, specifically, 40 (83.5%) articles, 3 (6.2%) doctoral theses, 2 (4.1%) master's theses and 3 (6.2%) papers from conference proceedings from the year 2014 to 2022. To search the sample, the following terms were used: DCD or dyspraxia, physical activity programs, intervention, physical intervention, physical education, etc. The results for the existence of statistically significant results and internal validity of intervention programs using physical activities and sports in children and adolescents with DCD showed that a large number of intervention programs improved the children's motor skills as well as their daily functionality. In contrast, other interventions failed to improve dynamic and static balance. The negative result could be due either to the short duration of the interventions or to the improper suboptimal design-organization of the methodology of these programs-such as the heterogeneous intervention samples and the use of inappropriate and reliable assessment tools.

A Role for Advanced Glycation End Products in Molecular Ageing

Ageing is a composite process that involves numerous changes at the cellular, tissue, organ and whole-body levels. These changes result in decreased functioning of the organism and the development of certain conditions, which ultimately lead to an increased risk of death. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are a family of compounds with a diverse chemical nature. They are the products of non-enzymatic reactions between reducing sugars and proteins, lipids or nucleic acids and are synthesised in high amounts in both physiological and pathological conditions. Accumulation of these molecules increases the level of damage to tissue/organs structures (immune elements, connective tissue, brain, pancreatic beta cells, nephrons, and muscles), which consequently triggers the development of age-related diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, neurodegeneration, and cardiovascular and kidney disorders. Irrespective of the role of AGEs in the initiation or progression of chronic disorders, a reduction in their levels would certainly provide health benefits. In this review, we provide an overview of the role of AGEs in these areas. Moreover, we provide examples of lifestyle interventions, such as caloric restriction or physical activities, that may modulate AGE formation and accumulation and help to promote healthy ageing.

Is Social Participation Associated with Successful Aging among Older Canadians? Findings from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)

The present study examines various activities of social participation (i.e., church or religious activities; educational or cultural activities; service club or fraternal organization activities; neighbourhood, community, or professional association activities; volunteer or charity work; and recreational activities) as contributing factors to successful aging. Successful aging in this study includes the following: adequate social support, no limitations with respect to Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), no mental illness in the preceding year, no serious cognitive decline or pain that prevents activity, as well as high levels of happiness, and self-reports of good physical health, mental health, and successful aging. Methods: The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is a large, national, longitudinal study on aging. A secondary analysis of the baseline (i.e., 2011-2015) and Time 2 (i.e., 2015-2018) data of the CLSA was conducted on a sample of 7623 older adults who were defined as "aging successfully" at baseline and were aged 60+ at Time 2. Binary logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the association between engaging in various social participation activities at baseline and aging successfully at Time 2. Results: In a subsample (n = 7623) of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) Comprehensive Cohort who were aging successfully at baseline, the prevalence of successful aging at Time 2 was significantly higher among the participants who participated in volunteer or charity work and recreational activities compared to those who were not involved in these activities. After adjusting for 22 potential factors, the results of the binary logistic regression analyses reported that participants who, at baseline, participated in volunteer or charity work and recreational activities had higher age-sex-adjusted odds of achieving successful aging (volunteer or charity work: aOR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.33; recreational activities: aOR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.32). Conclusions: Among six types of social participation activities, people who participated in volunteer or charity work and recreational activities were more likely to achieve successful aging than their counterparts who did not engage in these activities. If these associations are found to be causal, policies and interventions encouraging older adults to participate in volunteer or charity work and recreational activities may support older adults to achieve successful aging in later life.

Association among Olfactory Function, Lifestyle and BMI in Female and Male Elderly Subjects: A Cross-Sectional Study

Physical activities seem to counteract the age-related physiological decline of the olfactory function which, influencing the food choices and eating behavior, can affect the body weight of individuals. The main purpose of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the relationships between olfactory function and BMI in female and male Elderly Subjects (ES), according to the level of their lifestyle activities in physical, cognitive, and social terms. Considering weekly physical activities, the adult elderlies who decided to participate in this study were divided into active ES (n = 65) and non-active ES (n = 68). Assessment of weekly activities and olfactory function were performed by means of face-to-face interviews and the "Sniffin' Sticks" battery test, respectively. The results show that ES who are overweight and with a non-active lifestyle achieved lower TDI olfactory scores than normal weight ES and those classified as active. Hyposmic and non-active ES showed a higher BMI than normosmic and active ES. Sex-related differences, with females performing better than males, were evident in the presence of at least one of the following conditions: non-activity, hyposmia, or overweight. Inverse correlations were found between BMI and TDI olfactory score and between BMI and hours/week spent on physical activities, both when subjects were considered all together and when they were divided into females and males. These findings suggest that a higher BMI is related to the olfactory dysfunction linked to active or non-active lifestyle and the sex-related differences, and the condition of hyposmia is related to the increase in body weight due to lifestyle and sex differences. Given that the relationship between BMI and non-exercise physical activities is comparable to that between BMI and exercise physical activities, and this may be of particular importance for ES with limited mobility.

Efficacy of Tango Argentino for Cancer-Associated Fatigue and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Persistent impairments of quality of life-in particular, cancer-associated fatigue-are a major limitation for breast cancer survivors. As physical activity and mindfulness interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing fatigue symptoms, we investigated the efficacy of a six-week Argentine tango program.

METHODS

A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 60 breast cancer survivors diagnosed with stage I-III tumors 12-48 months prior to study enrollment and who had increased symptoms of fatigue. The participants were randomly assigned with a 1:1 allocation to either the tango or the waiting group. The treatment consisted of six weeks of supervised weekly one-hour tango group-sessions. Self-reported fatigue and further quality of life parameters were assessed at baseline and six weeks post-baseline. Longitudinal changes, correlations, Cohen's D (d) effect sizes, and association factors were also calculated.

RESULTS

Superiority of the tango intervention over the waiting list control was found in terms of improvement in fatigue (d = -0.64; 95%CI, -1.2 to -0.08; p = 0.03), especially cognitive fatigue. In addition, a superiority of the tango intervention over the waiting list was found in the improvement of diarrhea (d = -0.69; 95%CI, -1.25 to -0.13; p = 0.02). A pooled pre-post analysis of the 50 participants completing the six-week tango program revealed a close to 10% improvement of fatigue (p = 0.0003), insomnia (p = 0.008) and further quality of life outcomes. Adjusted multivariate linear regression analyses revealed the greatest improvements for participants who were more active in sports. In particular, survivors who received endocrine therapies, were obese, or had no prior dance experience seemed to especially benefit from the tango program.

CONCLUSIONS

This randomized controlled trial demonstrated that a six-week Argentine tango program improves fatigue in breast cancer survivors. Further trials are warranted to determine whether such improvements lead to better long-term clinical outcomes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

trial registration number DRKS00021601. Retrospectively registered on 21 August 2020.

Electroencephalography (EEG) Physiological Indices Reflecting Human Physical Performance: A Systematic Review Using Updated PRISMA

BACKGROUND

With the advent of portable neurophysiological methods, including electroencephalography, progress in studying brain activity during physical tasks has received considerable attention, predominantly in clinical exercise and sports studies. However, the neural signatures of physical tasks in everyday settings were less addressed.

METHODS

Electroencephalography (EEG) indices are sensitive to fluctuations in the human brain, reflecting spontaneous brain activity with an excellent temporal resolution.

OBJECTIVE

In this regard, this study attempts to systematically review the feasibility of using EEG indices to quantify human performance in various physical activities in both laboratory and real-world applications. A secondary goal was to examine the feasibility of using EEG indices for quantifying human performance during physical activities with mental tasks. The systematic review was conducted based on the updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

RESULTS

Out of 81 studies, 64 task studies focused on quantifying human performance concerning physical activity, whereas 17 studies focused on quantifying human performance on physical activities associated with mental tasks. EEG studies have primarily relied on linear methods, including the power spectrum, followed by the amplitude of Event-related potential components, to evaluate human physical performance. The nonlinear methods were relatively less addressed in the literature. Most studies focused on assessing the brain activity associated with muscular fatigue tasks. The upper anatomical areas have been discussed in several occupational schemes. The studies addressing biomechanical loading on the torso and spine, which are the risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders, are less addressed.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the recent interest in investigating the neural mechanisms underlying human motor functioning, assessing the brain signatures of physical tasks performed in naturalistic settings is still limited.

Genome-wide assessment reveals a significant association between ACSS3 and physical activity

Recent genetic studies have identified physical activity (PA)-susceptible loci in European ancestry subjects; however, due to considerable genetic differences, these findings are not likely extendable to East Asian populations. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify significantly associated PA-susceptible loci using genome-wide association studies (GWASs) with East Asian (EAS) subjects and to generalize the findings to European (EUR) ancestries. The mRNA levels of genes located near the genome-wide significantly associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were compared under PA and control conditions. Rs74937256, located in ACSS3 (chromosome 12), which primarily functions in skeletal muscle tissues, was identified as a genome-wide significant variant (P = 6.06 × 10^-9 ) in EAS. Additionally, the rs2525840, also in ACSS3 satisfied the Bonferroni corrected significance (P = 3.77 × 10^-5 ) in EUR. We found that rs74937256 is an expressed trait locus of ACSS3 (P = 10^-4 ), and ACSS3 mRNA expression significantly differs after PA, based on PrediXcan (P = 7 × 10^-8 ) and the gene expression omnibus database (P = 0.043).

Physical activity, lifestyle, sociocultural factors and prevalence of excess weight gain among postmenopausal women: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Most women experienced postmenopausal symptoms during the menopause transition, and they are a common reason for seeking medical attention and lifestyle modification during this phase of life.

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed the physical activity, lifestyle, and sociocultural levels-associated prevalence of excess weight (overweight and obesity) among postmenopausal women (PW) in Bono-East (Techiman) region, Ghana.

DESIGN

This is cross-sectional study.

METHOD

This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Bono-East regional capital, Techiman in Ghana over 5 months. Self-administered questionnaires were used to obtain sociodemographic data, physical activity, lifestyle, and sociocultural associated prevalence of excess weight. Anthropometric indices including ((body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)) were assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 393 postmenopausal women with a mean age of 60.09 ± 6.24 years participated in the study. When reporting prevalence, obesity, and overweight were distinguished. Using the anthropometric parameters (BMI, WHtR, and WHR) as measured for being overweight, the prevalent rates were 35.7%, 21.7%, and 9.0% respectively. Also, when using obesity, the prevalent rate was 37.8%, 70.1%, and 82.0% using BMI, WHtR, and WHR, respectively. Over 55 (55.2%) of the study participants engaged in moderate physical activities, 23.1% were low and 21.7% with high physical activities. Housewives and unemployed participants are shown to have a higher risk of gaining weight (obese) especially when assessed with WHR and WHtR. Most participants responded that cultural beliefs prevent them from losing weight. Most participants had a poor attitude toward their eating habits.

CONCLUSION

According to the findings, postmenopausal Ghanaian women showed a high level of obesity and a moderate level of being overweight. The cultural perception of beauty influences Ghanaian postmenopausal women's physical activity level and dietary habits.

Musculoskeletal disorders among secondary school teachers in Douala, Cameroon: The effect of the practice of physical activities

Introduction

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) represent an important threat to public health in both developed and developing countries, and are present in many occupational sectors including education. Regular practice of physical activity (PA) is known elicit preventive effects on the occurrence of MSDs.

Objective

This study aimed at determining the prevalence of MSDs and the preventive impact of PA on their occurrence among secondary school teachers.

Participants and Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 179 teachers in five government secondary schools in Douala, Cameroon. The Nordic and Ricci-Gagnon questionnaires were used to determine MSDs and to assess the level of PA, respectively.

Results

The 12-month and 7-day prevalence of MSD (PMSD-12m and PMSD-7d) were 84.3% and 69.3%, respectively. The most affected body regions by MSDs were neck (PMSD-12m = 54.2%, PMSD-7d = 33.5%), lower back (PMSD-12m = 43%, PMSD-7d = 33%), and shoulders (PMSD-12m = 35%, PMSD-7d = 22.9%). Compared to female, males were protected against MSDs during the last 12 months (OR = 0.37; 95% CI 0.16-0.93; p = 0.04). The risk of MSDs during the last seven days was higher in teachers aged 30-40 years (OR = 2.86; 95% CI 1.14-7.14; p = 0.02) and 40-50 years (OR = 4.28; 95% CI 1.49-16.29; p = 0.008) than those under 30 years. This risk was tripled in inactive teachers (OR = 3.07; 95% CI 1.40-6.78; p = 0.005), compared to their active counterparts.

Conclusion

MSDs are prevalent among secondary school teachers and associated with aging, gender, and lower level of PA.

The impact of built environment on physical activity and subjective well-being of urban residents: A study of core cities in the Yangtze River Delta survey

Objective

In cities with high population density in China, the impact of built environment on human health is rather complicated. Physical activities are an important factor in promoting people's health. This study is aimed to explore ways of enhancing the residents' intensity of physical activities and psychological health in a limited built environment. For this purpose, this study conducted research on 1875 residents from cities in the Yangtze River Delta in China to clarify the complicated correlations among the residents' physical activities, the multi-dimensional geographic environment characteristics, and subjective well-being.

Methods

First, Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS-A), International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF), and Subjective Well-being Scale for Chinese Citizens (SWBS-CC) were used to measure built environment characteristics, intensity of physical activities, and subjective well-being. Second, the correlations among built environment, physical activities, and subjective well-being were analyzed, which reflected different effects of built environment characteristics on physical activities and subjective well-being. Third, physical activities were viewed as a mediating variable in SEM to analyze the influence mechanism of each built environment characteristic on the subjective well-being of residents.

Result

Residents with different individual characteristics may have different levels of perception and usage of built environment. The intensity of physical activities has significant positive correlations with proximity to supporting facilities, accessibility of destinations, and public security, while no significant correlation with overall environmental aesthetics and street connectivity. The residents' subjective well-being has significant positive correlations with accessibility of destinations, overall environmental aesthetics, and public security, while no significant correlation with proximity to supporting facilities and street connectivity. Physical activities not only have a direct effect on subjective well-being, but also a mediating effect on the correlations between subjective well-being and built environment characteristics.

Conclusion

In the future, more research could be conducted on the optimization of correlations between residential built environment characteristics and physical activities as well as subjective well-being, so as to gain a deeper understanding about the impact of residential built environment on people's physical and mental health.

Post-COVID-19 Status and Its Physical, Nutritional, Psychological, and Social Effects in Working-Age Adults-A Prospective Questionnaire Study

BACKGROUND

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the evolution of physical and daily routine, dietary habits, and mental and social health in individuals with recent COVID-19 infection.

METHODS

A qualitative prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from 01 October 2021 to 01 March 2022, which included 80 working-age adults from the territory of Central Serbia who had PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in the previous six months. Two structured pre-coded closed-ended questionnaires were submitted to the participants: a questionnaire about post-COVID-19 status (pCOVq) and a shortened version of the World Health Organization's Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF).

RESULTS

The presence of the COVID-19 disease in the previous period of 6 months among the working-age participants significantly affected the duration of aerobic, anaerobic, and high-intensity physical activities, but also the possibility of performing certain activities such as walking, which represents basic aerobic activity and a measure of general health among middle-aged participants. In the majority of cases (78%), in the post-COVID-19 period, participants indicated a decline in educational and productive activities.

CONCLUSION

Post-COVID status in working-aged participants consists of reduced physical activity, lower quality of life, and similar nutritional habits. Health policies should be more focused on these findings.

Physical Activities and Learning Experience of Higher Education Students: Mediating Role of Quality of Life and Physical Self-Esteem

The impacts of physical activities (PAs) on psychological and physical health consequences have been examined in both nonclinical and clinical contexts. Although PAs' influences on physical consequences are regularly beneficial, the psychological positive impacts are less well-understood. This study investigates the effects of PA on physical consequences (i.e., physical self-esteem) and psychological and cognitive consequences (i.e., quality of life and learning experience). PA has been found to improve quality of life (QOL), learning experience (LP), and physical self-esteem. Mixed findings from prior studies suggested that the relationship between these variables might be direct or indirect. Data were collected via a self-administrated questionnaire from 510 higher education students in different Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) universities. The collected data were analyzed by structural equation modeling (SEM) and the SmartPLS 4 program. The SEM results show that PAs directly help in enhancing the student learning experience. The results support the mediating role of student physical self-esteem and quality of life in the relationship between physical activities and learning experience. Several theoretical and practical implications were elaborated on and discussed, along with limitations and further research opportunities.

Physical activity and mental health in sports university students during the COVID-19 school confinement in Shanghai

Background

In 2022, Shanghai was seriously affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The government implemented citywide static management for 2 months, as well as all universities in Shanghai, which changed the normal learning and living style of sports students and led to a decline in physical activity level. As the physical activity has a strong correlation with mental health, this study aimed to investigate the current state of physical activity (PA) and mental health of the students in Shanghai University of Sport. It will try to reveal the correlation between PA and depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, fear of COVID-19 and smartphone addiction.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a random sample of 400 students who came from six different majors in May 2022 at the Shanghai University of Sport. Respondents completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF), the Chinese version of the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the Chinese version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), the Chinese version of the COVID-19 Fear Scale (FCV- 19S), and the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS-SV). Demographics, PA, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, fear of COVID-19, and smartphone addiction were compared. A binary logistic regression model was used for the further analysis.

Results

A total of 376 college students were included in the final analysis. Binary logistics analysis showed that moderate physical activity (MPA) was negatively correlated with depression (OR = 0.95, 95%CI = 0.93-0.98), anxiety (OR = 0.97, 95%CI = 0.95-0.99), fear of COVID 19(OR = 0.99, 95%CI = 0.98-0.99)and smartphone addiction (OR = 0.94, 95%CI = 0.9-0.98) (all P < 0.05). Sedentary behavior was positively correlated with smartphone addiction (OR = 1.01, P < 0.01, 95%CI = 1.001-1.004).

Conclusion

There was an association between the presence of MPA and depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, fear of COVID-19, smartphone addiction, and sedentary behavior associated with smartphone addiction levels. Clarifying the causal relationship between PA and mental health will require further research.

Health Promotion and Identity Construction in Norwegian Kindergartens - A Qualitative Study on Children with and without Disabilities

This article focuses on how children, independent of abilities, create healthy identities and spaces in kindergarten,and is based on a qualitative CGT-study carried out in Norwegian Kindergartens. Data sources include Life-forminterviews with 24 children, with and without disabilities. Children placed health in the context of their daily-lifeexperiences. They underlined the importance of aspiring to social well-being and creating healthy spaces throughinternally driven physical exertion and child-controlled activities. Children described how they relate to the staff?srestrictions and legal requirements as "the staff" versus "we, the children?. They advocate for the staff?sengagement in play and activities.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10643-022-01382-7.

Energy Expenditure Estimation in Children, Adolescents and Adults by Using a Respiratory Magnetometer Plethysmography System and a Deep Learning Model

PURPOSE

Energy expenditure is a key parameter in quantifying physical activity. Traditional methods are limited because they are expensive and cumbersome. Additional portable and cheaper devices are developed to estimate energy expenditure to overcome this problem. It is essential to verify the accuracy of these devices. This study aims to validate the accuracy of energy expenditure estimation by a respiratory magnetometer plethysmography system in children, adolescents and adults using a deep learning model.

METHODS

Twenty-three healthy subjects in three groups (nine adults (A), eight post-pubertal (PP) males and six pubertal (P) females) first sat or stood for six minutes and then performed a maximal graded test on a bicycle ergometer until exhaustion. We measured energy expenditure, oxygen uptake, ventilatory thresholds 1 and 2 and maximal oxygen uptake. The respiratory magnetometer plethysmography system measured four chest and abdomen distances using magnetometers sensors. We trained the models to predict energy expenditure based on the temporal convolutional networks model.

RESULTS

The respiratory magnetometer plethysmography system provided accurate energy expenditure estimation in groups A (R² = 0.98), PP (R² = 0.98) and P (R² = 0.97). The temporal convolutional networks model efficiently estimates energy expenditure under sitting, standing and high levels of exercise intensities.

CONCLUSION

Our results proved the respiratory magnetometer plethysmography system's effectiveness in estimating energy expenditure for different age populations across various intensities of physical activity.

The Effectiveness of Interventions to Increase Participation and Physical Activities in Parks: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Although a variety of interventions in many countries have been developed to increase park use and to improve public participation in physical activities in parks, knowledge of their overall effectiveness is lacking. A systematic literature review was undertaken to further understand the effectiveness of various interventions that aim to increase the use of parks and physical activity participation in parks. This systematic review utilized the standard Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis procedure, and of the 3801 studies identified, 60 studies were reviewed in-depth, with 44 studies assessed for quality of evidence and risk of bias. Most of the 44 reviewed studies found that various interventions had positive impacts on park use and physical activity participation in parks. Interventions were classified into both demand and supply, with more studies focusing on the supply side. The strongest evidence on the effectiveness of various interventions was found for park prescriptions; safe access to parks; playgrounds, and park renovation and renewal/design. However, the assessment of quality of evidence and risk of bias showed that most studies suffer from potential biases and evidence weaknesses, suggesting a need to further establish external validity.

Relationship between physical activity, screen-related sedentary behaviors and anxiety among adolescents in less developed areas of China

This study aimed to explore the association between physical activity, screen-related sedentary behaviors, and anxiety. The current study used latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify homogenous subtypes of anxiety among adolescents in less-developed areas of China. Data were aggregated from 6 schools in the less-developed areas of China in September 2018. In total, 900 students were evaluated using the 100-item Mental Health Test (MHT) and Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) questionnaire. The LPA was conducted to explore the potential classification of anxiety, which makes full use of all the sample data and explore heterogeneous classifications within groups. Logistic regression was used for the multifactor analysis. A P value <.05 was considered statistically significant. The entropy value suggested that the model with 3 latent profile was the best choice. There were 223 adolescents in the severe anxiety group, accounting for 24.78%. Logistics regression analysis of anxiety revealed that the risk of severe anxiety in boys was lower (odds ratio [OR] = 0.317, P < .001) than in girls. Students had a significantly lower probability of suffering from severe anxiety in using cellphones or computers ≤ 2 hours/day than those used cellphones or computers＞2 hours/day (OR = 0.391, P = .004). Decreasing screen-related sedentary behaviors should be a target of community and school-based interventions, because high screen-related sedentary behaviors were associated with higher odds of anxiety among adolescents in less developed area of China.

Breast Cancer Survivors' Motivation to Participate in a Tailored Physical and Psychological Intervention: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis

Purpose: Participants’ engagement in a project requires intrinsic motivations, which may evolve during the intervention thanks to lifestyle changes and positive challenges. Over the years, tailored programs based on physical activity and psychological sessions have been promoted to support the quality of life and well-being of breast cancer survivors. Personal expectations and needs are essential to predict participant adherence to the intervention as well as their possibility to reach positive outcomes. This study presents a preliminary understanding of the differences between motives and outcomes obtained after an integrated physical and psychological intervention conducted by professional trainers and psychologists. Methods: Forty-five women with a history of breast cancer answered some questions before and after the program, and the results were analyzed in accordance with the procedure of the thematic analysis. Results: Physical and psychological well-being are the two main themes that emerged from the participants. Interestingly, some differences emerged between the two data collections. Themes such as aesthetic evaluation interest and the need to learn psychological strategies disappeared at the end of the intervention; on the other hand, the need to make a distance from the illness experiences emerged as an obtained outcome. Conclusions: The discussion explains these differences and highlights the importance of considering breast cancer patients’ needs and motives to take part in interventions to promote quality of life.

How Can Physical Inactivity in Girls Be Explained? A Socioecological Study in Public, Subsidized, and Private Schools

In the last few years, the World Health Organization has highlighted that physical inactivity is a global issue affecting women to a greater extent than men. Faced with this, different nation states have developed public policies to reduce physical inactivity at school; however, the biomedical and individualistic models used have generated widespread criticism, as figures remain the same. In the context of failed interventions on increasing levels of physical activity, this study utilizes a socioecological model to analyze and understand how physical inactivity is reproduced in girls in the Chilean education system. A qualitative study was implemented, as it allows a focus on the entailed meanings, context, and processes. Active semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 groups comprising headmasters, teachers, non-teachers, students, and families. The results show that physical inactivity is linked to factors that go beyond the individualistic model; that is, consideration must include intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, community, and public policy dimensions. Furthermore, gender stereotypes gain relevance in physical education classes, in addition to friendships and family, teaching, and administrative work, access to safe play areas, use of spaces, and widespread cultural factors associated with men and women. This study concludes that the assessed gender differences should be approached from a pedagogical perspective beyond common sense, further reporting that the individualized explanation for physical inactivity is irrelevant to answer why women are more inactive than men.

Effects of a Multicomponent Exercise Program on Improving Frailty in Post-COVID-19 Older Adults after Intensive Care Units: A Single-Group Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: Older adult patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome present greater physical impairment accompanied by frailty than younger patients, which is why multicomponent exercise programs (MEP) are recommended for their positive effects on improving frailty and physical capacity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a short MEP (Vivifrail; <4 weeks) on improving frailty in post-COVID-19 older adults after intensive care units. Methods: To develop a retrospective cohort study, data were collected from the functional gait training program based on selected Vivifrail MEP in a single-group and applied to patients admitted with a diagnosis of post-COVID-19 functional impairment. The MEP was carried out for 3 weeks, with daily sessions lasting 40 min. Patients included were assessed at the beginning and at the end of the protocol by using the Short Performance Physical Battery (SPPB), the number of falls in the last year, the number of falls with medical attention, the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, the presence of dementia, the Trunk Control Test (TCT), the Tinetti balance and gait test, Barthel Index, Medical Research Council Sum Score (MRCSS) and handgrip strength dynamometry. Results: The results of this study show statistically significant improvements in physical fitness and frailty with increases in the Short Physical Performance Battery (Z = 9.12, p < 0.001) by means of the MET applied in its short version (<4 weeks) showing even clinically relevant improvements (>2.5 points). Statistically significant improvements were also found in Medical Research Council Sum Score (Z = 12.345, p < 0.001), Barthel Index Score (Z = 12.272, p < 0.001), Trunk Control Test (Z = 12. 36, p < 0.001), Tinetti−POMA (Z = 12.293, p < 0.001) including the balance (Z = 12.11, p < 0.001), gait (Z = 12.164, p < 0.001) subscales and in the hand dynamometry (Z = 12.172, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The selected Vivifrail MEP is effective and safe for improving frailty in post-COVID-19 older adult’s patients.

Young Women as Change Agents in Sports and Physical Activities in the Punjab (Southern) Province of Pakistan

Women's empowerment is a concept describing the promotion of women doing things independently and in their own interests, being more conducive to their future and physical and mental development; this includes participation in different outdoor activities, including sports. This qualitative study presents data collected from 18 young female students at sports and physical education universities in Southern Punjab (SP) in Pakistan, selected using a snowball sampling technique. The current study explores their gendered and lived experiences of playing sports and engaging in physical activities in patriarchal systems by emphasizing the concept of women's empowerment in the context of feminism in sports theory. The findings suggest that the participants faced typical gender stereotypes in their families and communities, which position sports and physical activities as being not feminine. The chances for women to participate in sports and physical activities decrease as they grow up. However, the participants used a range of strategies to advance their interests and academic careers in sports and physical activities by resisting and incorporating dominant discourses of women's participation in sports and physical activities, which also has implications in the internal and external policy domains at the local and national levels. The participants displayed great resilience and optimism, empowering them to enter the male-dominated domains, and thus we labeled them as change agents.

Return to Physical Activity Following Flatfoot Reconstruction

BACKGROUND

Progressive collapsing foot deformity (PCFD) is a debilitating condition encompassing several interrelated, progressive deformities requiring a combination of reconstructive procedures. Few studies investigate returns to activity following flatfoot reconstruction, and existing studies only examine 1 or 2 of the numerous procedures employed. This study aims to provide the first generalizable assessment of returns to sports and physical activity following reconstruction surgery in patients with flexible flatfoot deformity.

METHODS

Patients aged 18-60 years who underwent reconstructive surgery between February 16 and May 19 for symptomatic flexible-stage flatfoot deformity were identified by registry review. Eighty-two of 113 eligible patients (73%) were reached at a mean 2.9 years (range, 2.0-5.4) of follow-up with mean age at surgery of 48.9 years (range, 18-59). Returns to physical activity were evaluated with a sports-specific survey. Clinical outcomes were evaluated with Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scores.

RESULTS

Patients reported participation in 21 specific sports and activities. One-fourth (25.6%) of patients (21/82) reported increased difficulty with physical activities postoperatively, 15.9% reported equal difficulty, and 58.5% (48/82) reported decreased difficulty. Median return times were 9-12 months for participation and 12-18 months to reach maximum preoperative participation levels. Improvements in Physical Function (P= .001), Pain Interference (P < .001), Pain Intensity (P <.001), and Global Physical Health (P = .004) were associated with increased satisfaction with respect to sports and physical activities.

DISCUSSION

This study investigated participation in specific sports and physical activities following flatfoot reconstruction. Our findings suggest mixed outcomes, where many patients reported life-changing improvements but many also experienced prolonged pain and difficulty after surgery. Some patients reported increased difficulty or inability to return to their preoperative maximum level of participation, indicating that flatfoot reconstructions can lead to athletic limitations.

CONCLUSION

Although flatfoot reconstruction can be a powerful tool to increase patients' capacity to engage in physical activity, in our cohort many patients had reduced physical activity outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, retrospective case series.

Using mobile health applications to enhance physical activity in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study on users' perceptions

BACKGROUND

This research aims to assess the users' perceptions of usability and quality of mobile health applications used for promoting physical activity in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

This was a quantitative cross-sectional study. A survey was developed based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) and distributed among the Saudi population through social media to assess the users' perceptions of using mobile applications to enhance physical activity. The survey questionnaire consisted of 27 questions in six sections, including demographics (nine items), perceived usefulness (three items), perceived ease of use (three items), attitudes (three items), user experience (six items) and subjective quality (three items). All the participants were in Saudi Arabia and >15 y of age.

RESULTS

A total of 195 m-Health users participated in the survey. Of the total participants, 25.1% were overweight and 21.0% were obese. The workout frequency of most users was rarely (32.3%) and three to four times a week (29.2%). In addition, 55.9% of the users agreed that the application they use served all fitness levels and >80% either agreed or strongly agreed that it was easy for them to learn how to use the application. More than 70% of users agreed or strongly agreed that the application enhanced their knowledge of workouts and physical activity and >90% would recommend the application to others. There were no differences identified between the male and female participants and younger (<40 y) and older (>40 y) participants with respect to perceived usefulness and ease of use, attitudes, experiences and subjective quality. However, significant differences were observed between participants <40 y and >40 y of age in terms of perceived ease of use of mHealth applications.

CONCLUSION

mHealth users across Saudi Arabia believe that the mHealth applications have good usability and quality factors. As a result, they can motivate people and help them achieve their goals in relation to physical activities.

Lockdowns and Physical Activities: Sports in the Time of COVID

As aging causes challenges in several countries globally, more and more people are suffering from bad health conditions. Nowadays, COVID-19 causes many problems—and one of the root causes of these problems is the isolation of people from each other. The aim of our article is to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on people’s physical activity. Physical activity is strongly correlated with health status and health preservation is very important to minimize the negative effects of the pandemic. In order to investigate this topic, we prepared an extended literature review, citing the most important sources of COVID-related health-preservation issues. Our results showed that the negative economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic have caused a decrease in physical activities in several cases. A reduction in possible physical activities has a potential negative effect on the life expectancies of elderly people. In order to underline the importance of physical activities, we prepared an extended literature review, aiming to summarize the available knowledge related to COVID-19. As a conclusion we recommend to strengthen, maintain, and develop available sporting possibilities for people. The most important of these recommendations is the development of physical activities that are available for free.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdown on Anxiety, Depression and Nursing Burden of Caregivers in Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia With Lewy Bodies and Mild Cognitive Impairment in China: A 1-Year Follow-Up Study

BACKGROUND

Many countries have adopted lockdown strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of the pandemic on anxiety, depression and care burden in caregivers of nursing patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), over a one-year period.

METHODS

We collected data on consecutive patients and their caregivers recruited at T0 (from 30 September to 31 December 2019) before the pandemic of COVID-19 at the memory clinic of Tianjin Huanhu Hospital. The patients and caregivers were followed up on face-to-face at T1 (from 30 September to 31 December 2020) during the pandemic to assess changes in physical activity, social contact, sleep quality, caregiver burden, anxiety and depression.

RESULTS

A total of 105 AD, 22 DLB and 50 MCI patients and caregivers were enrolled. A total of 36.6 % of the AD, 81.6% of the DLB, 38% of the MCI caregivers had worsening ZBI, whereas 31.7 % of the AD, 54.4% of the DLB, 26 % of the MCI caregivers had worsening GAD-7, and 29.6 % of the AD, 54.4% of the DLB, and 32 % of the MCI caregivers had worsening PHQ-9. DLB caregivers exhibited a rapid deterioration of ZBI (by 4.27 ± 5.43, P < 0.001), GAD-7 (by 2.23 ± 3.26, P = 0.003) and PHQ-9 (by 1.32 ± 2.25, P = 0.003) compared to AD and MCI caregivers.

CONCLUSION

Social isolation, physical inactivity and sleep disturbance after lockdown for at least 12 months were significantly related to increased caregiver burden and worsened psychological states of caregivers of AD, DLB and MCI sufferers, especially among DLB caregivers.

The relationship between movement self-screening scores and pain intensity during daily training

Background : Various musculoskeletal screening and functional performance tests are used to evaluate physical condition. However, validated analysis tools that can identify gaps in pain knowledge during athletes' daily training are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between pain intensity in athletes during their daily training and the KOJI AWARENESS™ test in order to determine whether body dysfunction is related to pain among athletes. Methods : This cross-sectional study was conducted in a fitness center at the authors' affiliated institution. Thirty-five athletes (17 women and 18 men) aged 20-40 years were selected for study participation. KOJI AWARENESS™ self-evaluated test scores and pain intensity during daily training, as assessed on the numerical rating scale (NRS), were recorded. Results : The KOJI AWARENESS™ score showed a strong negative correlation with the NRS score for pain intensity during daily training (r = -0.640, P < 0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between KOJI AWARENESS™ and NRS scores, even when body mass index, sex, and age were entered as control variables. Conclusions : KOJI AWARENESS™ was highly accurate in detecting pain in athletes during their training. J. Med. Invest. 69 : 204-216, August, 2022.

A Cross-Sectional Study on the Cross-Talk of the COVID-19-Related Degree of Loneliness and the Etiological Factors Among the Elderly in Central China

BACKGROUND

The outbreak of COVID-19 has undoubtedly influenced the normal lifestyle of people worldwide, including the Chinese population. This study attempted to do supplementary research to the current situation of loneliness as well as the related risk factors among the elderly in the province in central Chinese during the COVID-19.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study in one of the central Chinese provinces (Henan Province) from December 2020 to March 2021 using a multistage sampling method, and 568 elderly people without cognitive impairment were interviewed. The UCLA Loneliness Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), and Quality of Life Questionnaire SF-36 were adopted to collect information. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regressions to analyze the factors resulting in severe loneliness among the elderly with seldom or regular participation in physical exercises.

RESULTS

During the epidemic in central China, the elderly suffering from loneliness syndrome accounted for 34.2%, of which 15.5% were severely lonely. Risk factors for severe loneliness were quality of life (OR: 7.129), sleep quality (OR: 3.778), seldom exercise (OR: 4.170), poor economic status (OR: 1.769), and negative attitude toward the prospects for the epidemic control (OR: 4.033). By grouping the participants in terms of physical activity, we found that the quality of life (OR:5.778) was a significant risk factor than sleep quality (OR:2.939) in the seldom exercise group, while the only risk factor in the regular exercise group was the quality of life (OR: 5.021).

CONCLUSION

There was an increase in the degree of loneliness among the elderly during the epidemic, and physical activity played an active role in relieving the severe loneliness of the elderly. Therefore, for the sake of the elderly, regular participation in physical exercises should be encouraged during the duration of the epidemic.

Reallocation of time spent on sedentary behavior by time spent on physical activity reduces dynapenia in older adults: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Dynapenia is characterized by mobility limitations in the older population when combined with aggravating behavioral factors that can increase the risk of morbidity and mortality.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the hypothetical effects of reallocation of time spent on sedentary behavior (SB), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sleep on dynapenia in older adults.

DESIGN AND SETTING

A prospective cohort study using exploratory surveys in Alcobaça City, Bahia State, Brazil.

METHODS

In total, 176 older adults (≥ 60 years) of both sexes participated in this study. Dynapenia was assessed using the handgrip strength test with cutoff points of < 27 kg for men and < 16 kg for women. MVPA and SB were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and sleep was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

RESULTS

Effects on reallocation were found for the shortest times, such as 10 minutes (odds ratio (OR) 0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.85-0.99); substituting MVPA with SB increased the chances of dynapenia by 58.0% (95% CI: 1.01-2.49). Analyzing the substitution of 60 minutes/day of SB with 60 minutes/day of MVPA revealed a protective effect, with a lower OR for dynapenia of 37.0% (OR 0.63; 95% CI: 0.40-0.99). The reallocation of sleep time did not significantly reduce dynapenia.

CONCLUSIONS

Substituting the time spent sitting with the same amount of time spent on MVPA can reduce dynapenia, and a longer reallocation time confers greater health benefits in older adults.

Understanding the Interactions of Happiness, Self-Rated Health, Mental Feelings, Habit of Eating Healthy and Sport/Activities: A Path Model for Abu Dhabi

Understanding the interactions between happiness, self-perception of health, healthy eating behaviors, physical activities, and psychological feelings or symptoms of mental health provides necessary inputs for social policymaking. Using data from the second cycle of the Abu Dhabi Quality of Life survey, this study examined a path analysis of Abu Dhabi residents’ nature of assimilations between these variables. The results point to the significant association between happiness and self-rated health. In addition, the results portray significant direct paths to happiness from three mental feeling variables—“feeling calm and peaceful”, “having lots of energy”, and “feeling downhearted and depressed”. The variable of “often feeling rushed or pressed for time” shows a direct path to self-rated health only. Eating healthy food is significantly associated with both happiness and self-perception of health. In addition, “often doing physical activities” positively influences happiness. The present study enhances and refines policymakers’ understanding of the considered factors on happiness and self-rated health with further elaborations of the mediating roles of specific well-being determinants. Limitations and future research directions are also discussed.

Weight control practices among the Saudi Arabian population during the Covid-19 lockdown

Objectives:

Physical activity appears to be essential to maintain health during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically for those at high risk, because of its advantages mentally as well as physically. This study determines weight control behaviors among the Saudi population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods:

The study was a cross-sectional survey of Saudis aged 18–60 and residents in the country during the lockdown period. The study sample was 384 people obtained from the Leslie formula for sample size calculations. The population covered all Saudi regions.

Results:

A total of 397 people responded to the survey. Among these people, 196 (49.4%) were male and 201 (50.6%) were female. The majority of them were urban residents (288; 72.5%). One hundred seventy-five (44.1%) had engaged in healthy behavior for weight control during the COVID-19. Factors that significantly affected these healthy behaviors were gender, employment, and educational level (P value <0.05). During pandemic, certain activities and behaviors were affected (P value < 0.05), including smoking (36; 9.1%), exercising (255; 64.2%), dieting for weight loss (98; 24.7%), dieting for weight maintenance (102; 25.7%), regular dieting before COVID-19 (112; 28.2%), and maintaining exercise after pandemic (194; 48.9%). Other significantly affected healthy behaviors were decreasing food intake (301; 75.8%; P value 0.01) and eating less meat (200; 50.4%; P value 0.00).

Conclusions:

Healthy behavior for weight control during the COVID-19 pandemic was reported by less than half of the study population. Minority (15.6%) engaged in at least one unhealthy or extreme weight loss practice. Healthy behavior was significantly influenced by gender, employment, and educational level.

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome: a rare case report of a female child emphasizing physiotherapy on gross motor function

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RSTS) is a chromosomal segment 16p13.3 microdeletion syndrome and is characterized by CREBBP gene mutations, delay in the development of height and weight, distinctive facial features, broad and sometimes angulated thumbs and halluces, short stature, and intellectual impairment that is mild to extreme. Current literature emphasizes mainly medical, dental, and psychiatric issues in RSTS and there is no retrievable literature on physiotherapy and its role in improving motor function in RSTS. The present case report is of a baby girl of 17 months suspected case of RSTS, presented with all the features of RSTS. Delay in the acquisition of skills and development were the chief complaints. We designed a 12-week treatment regimen that concentrated mainly on transitions using principles of neurodevelopmental therapy. Gross motor function measure (GMFM 88) was taken pre- and post-treatment which showed tremendous improvement. This is the first study on the role of physiotherapy in RSTS.

The Dose-Response Relationships of Different Dimensions of Physical Activity with Daily Physical Function and Cognitive Function in Chinese Adults with Hypertension: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to explore the dose-response relationships of different dimensions of physical activity (intensity, time, frequency, capacity, and metabolic equivalent) with daily physical function (DPF) and cognitive function (CF) in Chinese adults with hypertension.

METHODS

The 6216 hypertensive patients included in this study were from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), which was conducted in 2015. Physical activity (PA) was divided into vigorous PA (VPA), moderate PA (MPA), and light PA (LPA). Linear regression models and binary logistic regression models were established to assess the associations with indicators.

RESULTS

Patients with VPA have a lower probability of impaired DPF; however, patients with VPA had lower CF scores. Patients with nearly all the aspects of MPA have lower rates of impaired DPF and higher CF scores (p < 0.05). Patients with LPA have a lower probability of impaired DPF and higher CF scores. In addition, patients with between 1800 and 2999 MET-minutes per week had the lowest rates of impaired DPF (OR = 0.10, 95% CI 0.02, 0.39) and the highest CF scores (β = 3.28, 95% CI 2.25, 4.31).

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that patients with hypertension with moderate-intensity physical activity (nearly all aspects) and LPA had better DPF and CF. The best daily physical function and CF was with METs of 1800-2999 min per week. However, VPA should be recommended with caution in Chinese adults with hypertension.

The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on brain metabolism

This study aims to evaluate the impact of French national lockdown of 55 days on brain metabolism of patients with neurological disorders. Whole‐brain voxel‐based PET analysis was used to correlate ¹⁸F‐FDG metabolism to the number of days after March 17, 2020 (in 95 patients; mean age: 54.3 years ± 15.7; 59 men), in comparison to the same period in 2019 before the SARS‐CoV‐2 outbreak (in 212 patients; mean age: 59.5 years ± 15.8; 114 men), and to the first 55 days of deconfinement (in 188 patients; mean age: 57.5 years ± 16.5; 93 men). Lockdown duration was negatively correlated to the metabolism of the sensory‐motor cortex with a prevailing effect on the left dominant pyramidal tract and on younger patients, also including the left amygdala, with only partial reversibility after 55 days of deconfinement. Weak overlap was found with the reported pattern of hypometabolism in long COVID (<9%). Restriction of physical activities, and possible related deconditioning, and social isolation may lead to functional disturbances of sensorimotor and emotional brain networks. Of note, this metabolic pattern seems distinct to those reported in long COVID. Further longitudinal studies with longer follow‐up are needed to evaluate clinical consequences and relationships on cognitive and mental health against functional deactivation hypothesis, and to extend these findings to healthy subjects in the context of lockdown.

Parents' Perspectives on Adaptive Sports in Children with Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities

Children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) need adaptations to participate in sports and it is more difficult for them to access these activities. We investigated the effects of adaptive sports in children with PIMD as perceived by their parents. The parents answered a postal questionnaire exploring the effects of adaptive sports during the 3 days following an activity. The questionnaire explored twelve domains of children’s daily lives, such as sleep and appetite. We calculated a composite score, including all of these domains, to assess whether the children globally benefited from adaptive sports. Of the families, 27/63 responded (participation 42.9%). Four domains improved after the sports activity in an important proportion of children (improvement in 64.0% of children for wellbeing, 57.6% for mood, 56.0% for comfort and 48.1% for sleep). Among the majority of children, the other eight domains remained mostly stable. Three quarters of parents reported a globally positive effect of adapted physical activities on their child. These findings support the further development and provision of adaptive sports for children with severe neurological impairments.

Age-Related Olfactory Decline Is Associated With Levels of Exercise and Non-exercise Physical Activities

Objective: This cross-sectional study evaluates the impact of active or non-active lifestyle in terms of physical, cognitive and social activity on the olfactory function in Elderly Subjects (ES) and aims at looking for a correlation between the time devoted to life activities and the score obtained during the olfactory tests by each individual.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-two elderly volunteers were recruited in Sardinia (Italy) and divided into active ES (n = 60; 17 men, 43 women; age 67.8 ± 1.12 years) and inactive ES (n = 62; 21 men, 41 women, age 71.1 ± 1.14 years) based on their daily physical activities. The olfactory function was evaluated using the “Sniffin’s Sticks” battery test, while the assessment of daily activities was made by means of personal interviews.

Results: A significant effect of active or inactive lifestyle was found on the olfactory function of ES (F_(1,120) > 10.16; p < 0.005). A positive correlation was found between the olfactory scores and the number of hours per week dedicated to physical activities (Pearson’s r > 0.32, p ≤ 0.014) in both active and inactive ES.

Conclusions: High levels of exercise and non-exercise physical activity are strongly associated with the olfactory function and, consequently, with the quality of life of the elderly. Given the limited physical exercise of elderly people, they can benefit from a more active lifestyle by increasing non-exercise physical activities.

The higher, the better: Cognitive reserve contributes to lifestyle activities in older age

The study aimed at investigating age and gender differences in cognitive reserve (CR) and whether CR can contribute to everyday and physical activity and fluid reasoning in older adults. Participants (N = 294), categorized into three age groups: young-old, middle-old, and old-old, completed the Cognitive Reserve Index questionnaire (CRIq), the Everyday Activity Questionnaire (EAQ), the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), and the Unbalanced Structure Test (UST). The old-old had significantly lower scores on CRI-Total, CRI-Working activity, and CRI-Leisure time compared to young-old and middle-old. Men showed higher scores than women on all CR subscales except for CRI-Leisure time where no significant difference was found. Younger age and higher CRI-Leisure time predicted higher scores on PASE, EAQ, and UST, while higher scores on CRI-Education predicted EAQ and UST. Higher CR seems to enable a more active and healthier lifestyle, while CRIq is a useful tool in the assessment of cognitive potential in the elderly.

An Evaluation of a Kansas Open Streets Event's Impact on Businesses

Introduction

Open Streets is an event that promotes physical activity among populations by encouraging city residents to walk and bicycle in streets blocked from motor vehicles. Engagement of businesses is a critical component of Open Streets. This study sought to evaluate the Open Streets ICT 2019 event's impact on adjacent businesses.

Methods

A 12-item novel survey was developed for this study. Businesses eligible for study participation included retail and non-retail (e.g., non-profits, churches) sites along the Open Streets ICT route in Wichita, Kansas. To understand how Open Streets ICT impacted businesses, the survey used Likert scale questions to prompt respondents to report sales and visitors experiences during the event. Additionally, respondents reported a percent difference in sales compared to a typical Sunday. A phenomenological approach was used to convey the experiences among study participants during Open Streets ICT.

Results

A total of 102 surveys were completed, a 42% response rate. Most businesses (56%, n = 56) reported being open during Open Streets ICT. Many businesses (72%) reported having "more" visitors compared to a typical Sunday. More than half reported they experienced new and regular visitors (54%, n = 30) from the event. Most businesses (64%, n = 36) reported a positive financial impact, and (52%, n = 29) having more sales than a typical Sunday.

Conclusions

Open Streets ICT increased sales and the number of visitors among businesses. Respondents reported they plan to participate in the 2020 Open Streets ICT, and if Open Streets ICT was offered twice a year. Finally, most participating businesses reported they recommend that other businesses participate in Open Streets ICT.

How Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Changed BMI Status and Physical Activity - Its Associations with Mental Health Conditions, Suicidality: An Exploratory Study

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has psycho-socially impacted people of all age groups. The consequences related to this crisis may increase the suicide mortality rate as reported in prior pandemics. Although many studies have been conducted identifying suicidal behavior attributing factors, there is a lack of knowledge on the associations of body mass index (BMI) and physical activities, their changes, and suicidal behavior, which were explored herein for the first time.

METHODS

An online-based, cross-sectional study was carried out with a total of 324 Bangladeshi people (mean age = 26.99 ± 8.17 years). The measures included questions on socio-demographics, health-related variables, physical activities-related variables, and mental health problems (eg, depression, anxiety and suicidal behavior).

RESULTS

About 41.0% and 29.3% of the participants reported being depressed and anxious, respectively, whereas suicidal behavior after the pandemic's inception was found to be 6.5%. Although the role of BMI status either prior to or during the pandemic in mental health conditions was not statistically significant, the changes of BMI status were (that is, those with decreasing BMI status compared to no change in BMI status were at greater risk of depression and anxiety, which was followed by increasing BMI status). Besides having no outside space for exercise and performing more physical activities prior to the pandemic were reported to increase anxiety levels, but no significant associations between changes in physical exercise frequency and other mental health problems were observed.

CONCLUSION

In summary, the present findings showed that people with either decreased or increased BMI status after the inception of the pandemic were at greater risk of mental instabilities, which is a concern which should be considered when adopting any preventive approaches.

How Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Changed BMI Status and Physical Activity - Its Associations with Mental Health Conditions, Suicidality: An Exploratory Study

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has psycho-socially impacted people of all age groups. The consequences related to this crisis may increase the suicide mortality rate as reported in prior pandemics. Although many studies have been conducted identifying suicidal behavior attributing factors, there is a lack of knowledge on the associations of body mass index (BMI) and physical activities, their changes, and suicidal behavior, which were explored herein for the first time.

METHODS

An online-based, cross-sectional study was carried out with a total of 324 Bangladeshi people (mean age = 26.99 ± 8.17 years). The measures included questions on socio-demographics, health-related variables, physical activities-related variables, and mental health problems (eg, depression, anxiety and suicidal behavior).

RESULTS

About 41.0% and 29.3% of the participants reported being depressed and anxious, respectively, whereas suicidal behavior after the pandemic's inception was found to be 6.5%. Although the role of BMI status either prior to or during the pandemic in mental health conditions was not statistically significant, the changes of BMI status were (that is, those with decreasing BMI status compared to no change in BMI status were at greater risk of depression and anxiety, which was followed by increasing BMI status). Besides having no outside space for exercise and performing more physical activities prior to the pandemic were reported to increase anxiety levels, but no significant associations between changes in physical exercise frequency and other mental health problems were observed.

CONCLUSION

In summary, the present findings showed that people with either decreased or increased BMI status after the inception of the pandemic were at greater risk of mental instabilities, which is a concern which should be considered when adopting any preventive approaches.

Enrichment Protocol for Rat Models

An environmental enrichment (EE) cage consisting of a broad living area and various stimulators triggers social, cognitive, and physical activities. EE has been utilized in a wide range of neurological and non-neurological studies. However, the details of the environmental enrichment protocol were not well described in these studies. This has resulted in uncertainty and inconsistency in methodology, which may thus fail to replicate environmental enrichment effects, influencing the study outcome. Here we describe the basic guidelines and present an easy-to-follow protocol for environmental enrichment in rat models. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol: Environmental enrichment housing.