Isometric thumb extension exercise as part of a multimodal intervention for de Quervain's syndrome: A randomised feasibility trial

Introduction: de Quervain's syndrome is a painful condition commonly presented to hand therapists. Exercise is utilised as an intervention, but isometric exercise has not been investigated. We aimed to assess the feasibility and safety of isometric thumb extension exercise for de Quervain's syndrome and to explore differences between high-load and low-load isometric exercise. Method(s): This parallel-group randomised clinical feasibility trial included individuals with de Quervain's syndrome. All participants underwent a 2 week washout period where they received an orthosis, education, and range of motion exercises. Eligible participants were then randomised to receive high or low-load isometric thumb extension exercises, performed daily for 4 weeks. Feasibility and safety were assessed by recruitment and drop-out rates, adherence, adverse events, and participant feedback via semi-structured interviews. Secondary outcomes included patient-reported outcomes for pain and function, and blinded assessment of range of motion and strength. Result(s): Twenty-eight participants were randomised. There were no drop-outs after randomisation, and no serious adverse events. Adherence to exercise was 86.7%, with 84% of participants stating they would choose to participate again. There were clinically and statistically significant improvements in pain and function over time (p < 0.001) but not in range of motion or strength. There were no statistically significant between-group differences. Conclusion(s): Isometric thumb extension exercise within a multimodal approach appears a safe and feasible intervention for people with de Quervain's syndrome. A large multi-centre trial would be required to compare high- and low-load isometric exercises. Further research investigating exercise and multimodal interventions in this population is warranted.Copyright © The Author(s) 2023.

Comparison of High-Intensity Interval Training to Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training for Functioning and Quality of Life in Survivors of COVID-19 (COVIDEX): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) for feasibility, safety, adherence, and short- and long-term efficacy in improving functioning and health-related quality of life in survivors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: COVIDEX is a two-pronged, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial with an 8-week training intervention. The study participants will be 94 patients aged >18 years, admitted to a specialized post-COVID center. Participants will be randomized to HIIT (4 × 4 minutes of high-intensity work periods at 85% to 90% of peak heart rate) and MICT (47 minutes at 70% to 75% peak heart rate) groups for biweekly sessions for 8 weeks. The participants will undergo 2 phases of supervised training (phases 1 and 2) of 4 weeks each, in a public, specialized, post-COVID center. In phase 1, we will assess and compare the feasibility, acceptability, and short-term efficacy of HIIT and MICT intervention. In phase 2, the long-term efficacy of HIIT and MICT will be assessed and compared regarding function and health-related quality of life. To prevent any expectation bias, all study participants and assessors will be blinded to the study hypotheses. Group allocation will be masked during the analysis. All statistical analyses will be conducted following intention-to-treat principles. IMPACT: This study is the first randomized controlled trial that will compare the feasibility, safety, adherence, and efficacy of the HIIT and MICT intervention programs in this population. The findings will potentially provide important information and assist in clinical decision making on exercise to optimize the benefits of clinical health care in survivors of COVID-19.

Safety, tolerability and efficacy of up-titration of guideline-directed medical therapies for acute heart failure in elderly patients: A sub-analysis of the STRONG-HF randomized clinical trial.

AIMS: STRONG-HF examined a high-intensity care (HIC) strategy of rapid up-titration of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) and close follow-up after acute heart failure (AHF) admission. We assess the role of age on efficacy and safety of HIC. METHODS AND RESULTS: Hospitalized AHF patients, not treated with optimal GDMT were randomized to HIC or usual care. The primary endpoint of 180-day death or HF readmission occurred equally in older (>65 years, n = 493, 74 ± 5 years) and younger patients (53 ± 11 years, adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73-1.43, p = 0.89). Older patients received slightly lower GDMT to day 21, but same doses at day 90 and 180. The effect of HIC on the primary endpoint was numerically higher in younger (aHR 0.51, 95% CI 0.32-0.82) than older patients (aHR 0.73, 95% CI 0.46-1.15, adjusted interaction p = 0.30), partially related to COVID-19 deaths. After exclusion of COVID-19 deaths, the effect of HIC was similar in younger (aHR 0.51, 95% CI 0.32-0.82) and older patients (aHR 0.63, 95% CI 0.32-1.02, adjusted interaction p = 0.56), with no treatment-by-age interaction (interaction p = 0.57). HIC induced larger improvements in quality of life to day 90 in younger (EQ-VAS adjusted-mean difference 5.51, 95% CI 3.20-7.82) than in older patients (1.77, 95% CI -0.75 to 4.29, interaction p = 0.032). HIC was associated with similar rates of adverse events in older and younger patients. CONCLUSION: High-intensity care after AHF was safe and resulted in a significant reduction of all-cause death or HF readmission at 180 days across the study age spectrum. Older patients have smaller benefits in terms of quality of life.

Abstracts from the 6th International Symposium of Advanced Topics in Exercise Physiology: Interval Training as an Efficient Strategy to Overcome the 21st Century Diseases with Emphasis in the Mental Brain Diseases

The proceedings contain 14 papers. The topics discussed include: lifestyles and their relationship with the psychological status of postgraduate students in the area of physical activity;impact of a remote supervised moderate interval training on cognitive functions in Mexican older adults. a preliminary study;bone diameters and their association with causes of health risk in college athletes;an online home exercise program changes lower body strength, nutritional status but not depression scores during the COVID-19 in Mexican elderly;anxiety symptoms in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Intervention of physical exercise through social networks;leger test as a specific protocol to estimate the maximum oxygen consumption in the urban search and rescue division of the fire department of Tijuana, Mexico;effect of physical exercise on natural killer cells;effects of a 16-session high intensity interval training program on body composition in sedentary subjects;and resistance training using time under tension improves the muscle quality and muscle mass in healthy-young women. a preliminary study.

Remote Workers' Privacy Concerns, Psychological Climate for Face Time, and Organizational Affective Commitment

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the shift to high-intensity remote work-three days or more a week-accelerated the digitalization of work processes and the blurring of boundaries between work and personal life through videoconferencing and the use of personal devices for work. This paper explores the relationships between high-intensity remote workers' information and communication technologies (ICT) privacy concerns, psychological climate for face time, and organizational affective commitment. Building on organizational support and social information processing theories, we argue that ICT privacy concerns and perceptions that an organization values physical presence in-office may undermine commitment to the organization. Based on a two-wave study of 1065 remote workers in a large multinational bank, we find that ICT privacy concerns and psychological climate for face time reinforce one another and are negatively associated with subsequent affective organizational commitment. © 2023 IEEE Computer Society. All rights reserved.

Working Group for Myositis within the Swedish Rheumatism Association

The Swedish Rheumatism Association, our umbrella Organization: In Sweden, there are approximately one million people with different rheumatic diseases, and about 1400 of them have a myositis diagnosis. In addition to several local associations, there are 3 nationwide diagnostic groups for systemic inflammatory diseases: Working group for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Working group for Systemic Sclerosis and Working group for Myositis. Goals and vision: We form opinion and influence politicians and decision-makers at all levels in issues that are important to us, such as access to rapid care and opportunities for rehabilitation. Knowledge and Education: We educate: * Representatives who can share knowledge based on their own experience and to provide support and help for people living with rheumatic disease. * Volunteers for patient schools. * Patient Research Partners since 2008. Research and fundings: : * We are the single largest private funder of Swedish rheumatology research. * Patient Research Partners should become obvious members in research projects. Working group for Myositis was established in 2020 and most of our activities have been on-line. The number of members is growing as we spread out the information. We will continue with our on-line events and together with our experts arrange our first patient conference in 2022. We are a member of the Swedish Rare Disease Association and European Network ERN ReCONNET. We have now three Patient Research Partners with myositis and we will continue to participate in international research projects, such as IMACS, Rehabilitation & exercise SIG. Our mission is to give support to myositis patients and their families, share knowledge of their disease, facilitate meeting with others with the same diagnosis for an exchange of experiences or just for fun. Our goals are to: * Inform through newsletters, patient meetings, website and webcasts. * Arrange lectures by myositis experts. * Arrange annual patient conference. * Raise awareness for the disease in society and inform healthcare professionals within primary care units. * Contribute to that all patients receives equally good care all over the country. * Inform about research results, ongoing studies and update information on new treatments and drugs. * Contribute to that all newly diagnosed patients have access to patient education and written information material about myositis. * Contribute for opportunities for rehabilitation, such as training in warm water pools and access to rehabilitation facilities in warm climate. * Collaborate with the Youth organization of the Swedish Rheumatism Association for Juvenile Dermatomyositis and provide support for parents, children and adolescents. * Collaborate with the myositis organizations in other countries. Our Webinars: The experts who have shared their knowledge on our webinars are: Ingrid Lundberg, Professor;Maryam Dastmalchi, MD, Rheumatologist;Helene Alexanderson, PhD, Associate professor, PT;Malin Regardt, PhD, OT;Balsam Hanna, Specialist Rheumatology;Dag Leonard, MD, Rheumatologist;Antonella Notarnicola, MD, Rheumatologist;Fabricio Espinosa, Rheumatologist, PhD candidate;Kristofer Andreasson, PT, PhD candidate;Jonatan Sjogren, OT;Lars Nordelv, CBT Therapist, also a patient;Helena Andersson, MD, Rheumatologist;Hanna Brauner, PhD, Dermatologist. Among the topics our webinars have covered so far are: Diagnostic criteria of myositis, new research findings, existing treatments and ongoing studies, Physical activity and its effects on depression, safety of high-intensity interval training, Occupational therapy, Patient Reported Outcomes, Myositis Associated Antibodies and how to deal with anxiety, cardiac involvement and osteoporosis in myositis, clinical findings and treatments for Antisynthetase syndrome skin involvement in Dermatomyositis, Covid-19 and vaccination.

Physiological effects of regular CrossFit® training and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic-A systematic review.

CrossFit® is a functional fitness training program known for its day-to-day varying "Workouts of the Day" (WOD). In accordance with the 'CrossFit® Level 1 Training Guide', regular CrossFit® training sessions consist of Warm-up, Mobility, Skill/Power training, WOD, and Cool-down. Despite the fast-growing and widespread popularity, data on the practical implementation of the training program based on scientific evidence are rare. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to systematically review the existing literature on the physiological effects of regular CrossFit® training in full extent instead of stand-alone WODs and to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the training behavior of CrossFit® athletes. A systematic search was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines in April 2022 and updated in July 2022 using the following databases: PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, and Web of Science. Using the keyword "CrossFit", 1,264 records were found. Based on the eligibility criteria, 12 studies are included and separated by topics: acute-short term physiological response (n = 8), and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 4). The results show that studies of regular training sessions were rarely conducted and contradicted the existing knowledge of the physiological demands [e.g., heart rate (HR)] of CrossFit®. In detail, included studies demonstrate that training sessions last 30-60 min and provide a progressive increase in cardiovascular load up to maximal effort activity (>90% HRmax), differing from stand-alone WODs exclusively at high-intensity. Also, scarce research exists on COVID-19-pandemic-induced effects on training behavior, and studies are of moderate to low quality. There is still a lack of comprehensive analyses on the acute physiological effects of regular training sessions and the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in the scientific literature. Moreover, the inconsistent terminology used in CrossFit® research complicates generalized conclusions. Therefore, future research on the training methodology of CrossFit® needs to overcome terminological inequalities and examine scientifically the implementation of the concept by considering regular training sessions under practical settings.

Response and Adaptation of the Cardiac Autonomic System to Functional High-intensity Interval Training with Respiratory Facemasks: Impacts of the Training Period and Facemask Modality During a COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Following the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in 2019, medical face masks were widely recommended for large numbers of people and for long periods of time. The effect of wearing surgical and N95 face masks during long-term high-intensity interval training on the cardiac autonomic system has not been reported. Methods: Eighteen healthy men were randomly divided into three groups (surgical mask, N95 mask, and no mask) and performed high-intensity interval training with (80-90%-heart rate max) intensity three times a week, three repetitions in a session for four weeks. Heart rate variability parameters were evaluated with an electrocardiogram device and Kubius software. The R-R interval was recorded for 5 minutes in a sitting position in the pre-and post-modified Bruce test before and after four weeks of interval training to extract parasympathetic (RMSSD, HF, SD1), sympathetic indices (LF, LF/HF) and RR mean. We used the two-way ANOVA test and the Bonferroni post hoc test. Results: In all groups, four-week functional HIIT exercises increased the resting parasympathetic indices (RMSSD, SD1) compared to baseline levels. This increase was more evident in the N95 mask group than in the surgical mask group. In addition, the five-minute recovery of the cardiac autonomic system after a modified Bruce test following functional HIIT exercise increased parasympathetic tone (RMSSD, HFn.u) in all groups compared to baseline levels. Therefore, a four-week adaptation to HIIT exercises leads to faster recovery of sympathetic indices (LFn.u, LF/HF) in the Nomask group, as compared to the surgical and N95 groups. Despite the above, there was no significant difference in the recovery and resting values of cardiac autonomic system indices between the two types of surgical masks and N95 compared to the control group (No mask). Conclusions: Four weeks of high-intensity interval training using surgical and N95 face masks improved the cardiac autonomic nervous system. This data is important for recommending the use of face masks during physical activity. © 2023, Author(s).

Eosinophilic fasciitis triggered by intensive exercise

A 59-year-old white female who was previously fit and well, developed gradual tightening and thickening of the skin on her forearms progressing to the abdomen, chest and lower legs associated with restricted movement. She also noticed bruise-like patches on her trunk. There were no systemic symptoms and no history of Raynaud syndrome. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown, the patient had engaged in increasing amounts of exercise compared with normal;this included yoga once weekly for 75 min, high-intensity interval training for 20 min on alternate days, running three times weekly for 45 min, lifting 2.5 kg weights for the arms every day and regular long walks. Examination showed a 'groove' sign on her forearms and a peau d'orange appearance of the skin with a woody induration and hardness on palpation. Symmetrical and circumferential involvement on the forearms and lower legs and bruise-like indurated patches on the abdomen were noted. Differential diagnoses included eosinophilic fasciitis (EF), morphoea, EF/morphoea overlap, scleroderma, scleromyxoedema and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. Blood investigations showed an eosinophilia of 1.2 x 109 cells L-1, erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 31 mm h-1, a C-reactive protein of 20 mg L-1 and negative autoimmune and viral serology. She underwent two incisional biopsies down to fascia. The first was taken from the back, which showed an interstitial inflammatory cell infiltrate composed of lymphocytes, plasma cells and very occasional eosinophils. The subcutaneous septa were minimally thickened. The second biopsy taken from the left forearm showed striking thickening of the subcutaneous septa, with an associated inflammatory cell infiltrate, composed predominantly of lymphocytes and plasma cells. This process was deeper and more established than that seen in the biopsy from the trunk. The appearances were clearly those of a sclerosing process of the dermis and subcutis and consistent with eosinophilic fasciitis. Our diagnosis was EF with morphoea overlap and she was treated with oral methotrexate 15 mg weekly and oral prednisolone 50 mg once daily (weight 60 kg), reducing the dose by 5 mg every 2 weeks. An 80% improvement was seen in functionality within 3 months, but the skin remained tight and thickened and therefore the patient was referred for phototherapy [ultraviolet A 1 (UVA1)] as combination therapy. We present a rare case of EF, which appears to have been triggered by intensive exercise. Other causes include insect bites, radiation, infections (Mycoplasma and Borrelia) and paraneoplastic. Haematological associations have been seen, including aplastic anaemia and lymphoma. Treatment options for EF include prednisolone, UVA1/psoralen + UVA, immunosuppressive systemic agents (including ciclosporin and methotrexate), biological agents (including infliximab and rituximab) and physiotherapy.

COVID-19 pandemic: regular physical activity and respiratory exercises at home as prevention and treatment

The main question in the field of exercise and rehabilitation medicine is whether physical activity and therapeutic exercise are suitable activities for CoVid-19 patients who are recovering at home. There have been few public health guidelines provided about what people can do in relationship with exercise and respiratory care. For this reason, it is necessary that physical therapists give some recommendations concerning safe respiratory and physical exercises that could be executed by people with confirmed, suspected, or probable CoVid-19 who stay at home.Copyright © 2022 University School of Physical Education in WrocAaw. All rights reserved.

Tolerability and safety of high-intensity continuous and intermittent exercise in COVID-19

Aim: We assessed safety of high-intensity [IV1] constant-load exercise (CLE) and intermittent exercise (HIIT) in 14 post-severe-COVID-19 patients (63+/-13 years;78.6% male;BMI: 28+/-5, without comorbidities) between July 2020 and April 2021 after 55+/-22 days of COVID-induced acute respiratory failure. Method(s): The crossover study balanced exercise intensity between CLE at 70% of peak work rate (WRpeak) to the limit of tolerance (Tlim) and HIIT including 1 min exercise at 100% WRpeak, alternated with 1 min at 40% WRpeak to Tlim. Gas exchange, ventilation, electrocardiography and symptoms were assessed. Result(s): Exercise endurance time and total work output were not different between HITT and CLE (Table 1). At Tlim, none of the ventilatory or cardiovascular responses differed between HITT and CLE and there was no difference in the intensity of symptoms (Table 1). Conclusion(s): Individuals with ongoing symptomatic COVID-19 could safely undertake high intensity exercise performed continuously or intermittently.

Awareness of Cosmetic Procedures among Adults Seeking to Enhance Their Physical Appearance: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study in Central Jordan

The increase in urban society in the use of cosmetic practices to rejuvenate oneself or obtain a more appealing appearance has influenced the practices of cosmetic dermatologists, general medical practitioners, plastic surgeons, and dental practitioners, among others. The pharmaceutical industry has evolved to meet customers' desire to be more physically attractive irrespectively of age and gender. This study aimed to preliminarily explore Jordanian adults' awareness of dental, facial, and other cosmetic procedures. The reasons for undergoing such cosmetic procedures and self-reported knowledge of the side effects or risks associated with these interventions were also explored. The results show that the participants had undergone various procedures to enhance their looks, attractiveness, and confidence. None of the female participants wanted to emulate a celebrity. Most participants were aware of the side effects associated with cosmetic procedures, which may be attributed to their educational backgrounds, as the participants' minimum qualification was 12th grade and their easy access to information services such as electronic media. A multicenter, large-scale, regional study is required to determine the associations, correlations, and recommendations for individuals seeking cosmetic treatment, cosmetic health providers, and policymakers.

Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2023

The annual ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal® worldwide survey to determine industry trends by health and fitness professionals is now in its 17th consecutive year. The COVID-19 pandemic certainly made an impact on the 2021 survey and continued for 2022, but for 2023, some current trends are emerging whereas others are weakening because of the world's recovery from the isolation caused by COVID-19. The #1 trend for 2023, as it was for 2022, is wearable technology. Home exercise gyms was #2 for 2022 but has dropped to #13 for 2023. Fitness programs for older adults will make a comeback in 2023, breaking the top 10 at #4. Functional fitness training, a popular form of exercise for the older adult, is the #5 trend for 2023. Apply It!: From this article, the reader should understand the following concepts: • Explain the differences between a fitness fad and a fitness trend • Use the worldwide fitness trends in the commercial, corporate, clinical (including medical fitness), and community health and fitness industry to further promote physical activity • Study expert opinions about identified fitness trends for 2023

The effect of a high-intensity interval training program on combat soldiers fitness

Running helps maintain aerobic and anaerobic fitness and normal body weight in combat fighters. However, alternative training methods are necessary to maintain combat fitness when conditions do not allow running, be it service-related or, recently, coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic-related limitations. This prospective interventional, unblinded, nonrandomized controlled study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a high-intensity interval training program that excluded prolonged running in maintaining physical fitness and bodyweight. The study included 60 compulsory service male soldiers, aged 20.45 ± 0.48 years, divided into equal matched intervention and control groups. The three weekly workouts in the control group comprised 5–8 km running. The intervention group underwent three weekly workouts that included agility and strength training at short, intense intervals with brief recovery times between sets. The groups were compared before and after six weeks of training. At the start and end of the six-week program, the groups were similar at a significance level of P < 0.05 for bodyweight, body fat and muscle percent, background characteristics, Army Fitness Test (3-km running, pull-ups, squats, dips), agility, and maximal oxygen consumption. Our findings showed that the intervention training program was as effective as the standard running program in maintaining the participants aerobic and anaerobic fitness and normal bodyweight. The suggested high-intensity interval training program could be a viable fitness strategy when running is not possible in combat soldiers and civilians alike. (English) [ FROM AUTHOR]

Impact of 3 months of detraining after high intensity exercise on menopause-related symptoms in early postmenopausal women - results of the randomized controlled actlife project.

Regular exercise might reduce postmenopausal symptoms, however even short-moderate periods of absence from exercise training might significantly reduce these positive effects. The aim of the study was thus to determine detraining effects on postmenopausal symptoms after a 3-month detraining period in early post-menopausal women. After 13 months, the exercise group (EG: n = 27; 54.6 ± 2.0; 23.6 ± 3.3 kg/m2) had to abruptly stop their supervised, facility-based, high intensity aerobic and resistance group exercise conducted three times per week due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding lockdown of all training facilities in Germany. In parallel, the control group (CG: n = 27; 55.6 ± 1.6 years, 25.2 ± 5.2 kg/m2) had to terminate their low-intensity exercise program performed once per week. Study endpoint as determined after 3 months of detraining was menopausal symptoms as determined by the Menopausal Rating Scale II (MRS II). The intention to treat principle with multiple imputation was applied. After 13 months of intense multicomponent exercise and significant exercise-induced effects on menopausal symptoms, a further 3 months of detraining resulted in non-significant deteriorations (p = .106) in the exercise group, while non-significant improvements were observed in the control group (p = .180). Corresponding group differences were significant (p = .036) after detraining. Of importance, self-reported individual outdoor activities increased by about 40% in both groups during the three-month lock-down period. Three months of absence from a supervised high-intensity group exercise protocol resulted in detraining effects on postmenopausal symptoms even when outdoor physical activity was increased significantly. Trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03959995.

Unwanted Indoor Air Quality Effects from Using Ultraviolet C Lamps for Disinfection

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is known to inactivate various viruses and bacteria, including SARS-CoV-2, and is widely applied especially in medical facilities. This inactivation results from the high photon energies causing molecular bonds to break, but when nonpathogen molecules are affected, unwanted effects may occur. Here, we explored the effect of a commercial high-intensity (∼2 kW) UVC disinfection device on the composition and concentration of gases and particles in indoor air. We find that the UVC (254 nm) caused dramatic increases in particle number concentrations, and nearly all (∼1000) monitored gas phase species also increased. These responses were unsurprising when considering the typical impacts of UVC on atmospheric chemistry. High particle concentrations are associated with adverse health effects, suggesting that the impact of UVGI devices on indoor air quality (IAQ) should be studied in much more detail. The high-intensity device in this study was intended for short durations in unoccupied rooms, but lower-intensity devices for continuous use in occupied rooms are also widely applied. This makes further studies even more urgent, as the potential IAQ effects of these approaches remain largely unexplored. © 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.

Home-based high-intensity interval training can improve physical performance in young female athletes during a quarantine

Abstract Aim: To verify the effects of a 2-week of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on physical performance in young female athletes. Methods: female rugby players (n = 13; 15.92 ± 0.76 years old) participated in an 8-session of HIIT supervised through online video calls for two weeks. They were evaluated pre- and post-HIIT for 3-min of burpees, 1-min of sit-ups, maximum push-ups, and 1-min of squats. Perceptions related to training protocols were collected through the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) post-intervention. Results: Significant improvements in burpees (pre:54.15 ± 18.03 and after: 63.15 ± 15.18), sit-ups (pre:24.38 ± 13.38 and after: 31.15 ± 13.15), push-ups (pre: 9.46 ± 6.59 and after: 13.85 ± 7.33) and squats (pre: 48.00 ± 8.37 and after: 54.85 ± 8.79) were observed. PACES revealed positive perceptions related to the enjoyment of participating in this HIIT. Conclusion: Virtually supervised HIIT improved physical performance in young female athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic, and maybe an efficient strategy for the quarantine period.

Can we hit prenatal depression and anxiety through HIIT? The effectiveness of online high intensity interval training in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In recent years high intensity interval training (HIIT) has grown in popularity. However, it rarely represents training interventions in experimental studies in pregnant populations. Therefore, in this study we aimed to assess changes in depressive symptoms, fear of childbirth, fear of Covid-19 and quality of life after an 8-week supervised online HIIT program, compared to an educational (self-performed physical activity) program. METHODS: We conducted a randomized control trial among 54 Caucasian women in uncomplicated, singleton pregnancy (age 32 ± 4 years, 22 ± 4 week of gestation; mean ± SD). There were 34 women in the experimental group, who participated in an 8-week high intensity interval training program (HIIT group). The comparative group was constituted of 20 pregnant women who attended 8-week educational program (EDU group). RESULTS: The most important finding was that mental health improved somewhat in both groups after the intervention, but only the HIIT group improved statistically significantly. The positive trends in lowering the severity of depressive symptoms, fear of childbirth, and fear of Covid-19 were observed in both groups. However, the positive response to the intervention was stronger in the EDU group. As a secondary outcome, there was a significant decrease in cardiorespiratory fitness level in the EDU group, while the HIIT group maintained unchanged level of maximal oxygen uptake. CONCLUSIONS: HIIT seems to be beneficial for women with uncomplicated pregnancies to maintain adequate quality of life and mental health. However, more research is needed to determine the effectiveness of prenatal HIIT in pregnant women in various psychological conditions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: We conducted this study in Poland, in 2021. It was approved by the Bioethics Commission at the District Medical Chamber in Gdansk (KB-8/21). The full study protocol was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05009433).

Motivation and Emotions in a Health Literacy Game: Insights from Co-occurrence Network Analysis

Accumulating evidence indicates that game-based learning is emotionally charged. However, little is known about the nature of emotions in game-based learning. We extended previous game-based learning research by examining epistemic emotions and their relations to flow experience and situational interest. Sixty-eight 15–18-year-old students played the Antidote COVID-19 game for 25 min. Epistemic emotions, flow, and situational interest were measured after the playing session. These measures indicated that the game engaged students. Students reported significantly higher intensity levels of positive epistemic emotions (excitement, surprise, and curiosity) than negative epistemic emotions (boredom, anxiety, frustration, and confusion). The co-occurrence network analyses provided insights into the relationship between flow and situational interest. We found an asymmetrical pattern of the "situational interest-flow” co-occurrence. When situational interest occurred, the flow was always co-occurring. This co-occurrence suggests that situational interest could be a prerequisite or a potential trigger for flow experience but not an adequate state ensuring a high flow experience. Further, flow and situational interest co-occurred mainly with positive epistemic emotions. The findings imply that flow and situational interest are similar constructs and share several characteristics. The study also demonstrated that epistemic emotions, flow, and situational interest can be used as proxies of engagement. Implications of the findings are discussed. © 2022, The Authors.