THE CURRENT SITUATION OF MUSCULOSKELETAL ULTRASOUND EDUCATION - A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

BackgroundThe use of musculoskeletal ultrasound improves patient care by increasing diagnostic and therapeutic safety. With its growing application and increasing evidence of its value, the demand for standardized training in musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSUS) rises rapidly.ObjectivesIn this systematic literature review, we aim to provide a general overview of the various aspects of musculoskeletal ultrasound education worldwide, including target groups, teaching staff, didactic methods, and course formats, as well as to reflect on existing problems and future opportunities. No restrictions were made regarding the educational level of the course recipients nor the specialization of the course instructors.MethodsIn our methodological approach, we followed the PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies[1]. In January 2022, the databases Embase, PubMed, and Google Scholar were considered with all publications to date and were filtered for relevant publications using previously defined keywords. Title and were then screened independently by two authors for inclusion using relevant study characteristics determined in advance according to the PICO scheme[1]. Finally relevant information was filtered from the full text version of the sixty-seven included publications.ResultsThe range of training programs has increased greatly in recent years, primarily aiming at residents in rheumatology, radiology and physical medicine and rehabilitation. However, MSUS is also receiving more attention as a training tool for medical students. Due to the COVID pandemic, didactic approaches using distance learning via simulators and handheld devices have gained additional importance. Given the existing lack of sufficient equipment and trained teaching staff, those approaches should continue to be explored post-pandemic. Another still existing problem is the low international comparability of MSUS training and competency assessment. Therefore, several international institutions, including the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and the Pan-American League of Associations for Rheumatology (PANLAR) have proposed guidelines for training curricula to promote standardized ultrasound training.ConclusionThere is a broad consensus that the development of standardized curricula improves training and facilitates the implementation of new training centers. The development of alternative teaching methods incorporating e-learning, peer teaching, and distance learning on mobile ultrasound devices and the determination of international guidelines could facilitate overcoming the remaining major obstacles still to be passed.Reference[1]Liberati A, Altman DG, Tetzlaff J, et al. The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate healthcare interventions: explanation and elaboration. BMJ 2009;339:b2700. doi:10.1136/bmj.b2700Acknowledgements:NIL.Disclosure of InterestsNone Declared.

A Validation Study to Confirm the Accuracy of Wearable Devices Based on Health Data Analysis

This research article presents an analysis of health data collected from wearable devices, aiming to uncover the practical applications and implications of such analyses in personalized healthcare. The study explores insights derived from heart rate, sleep patterns, and specific workouts. The findings demonstrate potential applications in personalized health monitoring, fitness optimization, and sleep quality assessment. The analysis focused on the heart rate, sleep patterns, and specific workouts of the respondents. Results indicated that heart rate values during functional strength training fell within the target zone, with variations observed between different types of workouts. Sleep patterns were found to be individualized, with variations in sleep interruptions among respondents. The study also highlighted the impact of individual factors, such as demographics and manually defined information, on workout outcomes. The study acknowledges the challenges posed by the emerging nature of wearable devices and technological constraints. However, it emphasizes the significance of the research, highlighting variations in workout intensities based on heart rate data and the individualized nature of sleep patterns and disruptions. Perhaps the future cognitive healthcare platform may harness these insights to empower individuals in monitoring their health and receiving personalized recommendations for improved well-being. This research opens up new horizons in personalized healthcare, transforming how we approach health monitoring and management.

Burnout syndrome and remote learning strategies during the pandemic of COVID-19: a longitudinal study of Agrarian Sciences students

Purpose:We aimed to evaluate the levels of Burnout Syndrome (BS) in Agricultural Sciences students, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic period.Design/methodology/approach:We accessed 77 students for Burnout Syndrome using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS) on two occasions, the first in February and the second in October 2020. Sixty-three students completed both phases. The data were analyzed in a mixed factorial scheme (Three-way ANOVA;p < 0.05).Findings:Academic efficacy improved over time without interference of sex or physical activity frequency (p < 0.001). The emotional exhaustion domain significantly reduced over time in women who declared to practice physical activity (p = 0.037). A similar effect was observed in both men and women for the cynicism domain (p < 0.001). Online teaching strategies and the regular practice of exercise were associated to reduced levels of BS during the pandemic.Practical implications:The adoption of the emergency remote education system (ERE) associated with the practice of exercise can mitigate the harmful effects of the COVID-19 quarantine on the mental health of students.Theoretical implications:The ERE can be an effective strategy to mitigate BS levels in Agricultural Science students in the post-pandemic period.Originality/Value:This is the first study that presents results of BS in students of Agricultural Sciences, comparing before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Factors Influencing Physical Activity and Exercise in Older Adults during COVID-19 in South Korea

Physical activity and exercise participation among older adults have decreased dramatically because of the physical distancing measures implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, even in the face of unforeseen environmental changes, physical activity and exercise for older adults must be sustainable. This study aimed to identify the influencing physical activity and exercise participation among older adults in 2020 when varying levels of quarantine were in place as a protective measure against the COVID-19 pandemic to build a foundation for sustainable older adult health strategies. We utilized a large-scale dataset from the 2020 National Survey of Older Koreans conducted in 2020. Twenty survey questions were used as predictors, and logistic regression and decision tree analyses were utilized to identify influencing factors. Through a logistic regression analysis, 16 factors influencing exercise participation were identified. Additionally, through a decision tree analysis, 7 factors that influence exercise participation and 8 rules were derived through a combination of these factors. According to the results of this study, the use of ICT technologies, such as ‘smartphone or tablet PC', can be a useful tool to maintain or promote physical activity and exercise by older adults in a situation like the COVID-19 pandemic. In conclusion, physical activity and exercise intervention strategies should be developed with comprehensive consideration of the influencing factors to ensure that physical activity and exercise among older adults can be sustained uninterrupted in the face of unforeseen circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Online 8-Form Tai Chi Chuan Training and Evaluation System Based on Pose Estimation

Exercise at home has already been a common behavior in the current world, especially in the post-COVID-19 era, even some athletes need to do physical fitness at home to keep their state due to the quarantine. So, the importance of online physical training and evaluation is highly increasing. In this work, we build an online 8-form Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) training and evaluation system, which provides a platform for coaches and users to conduct TCC training and evaluation online. Coaches formulate an evaluation rule and upload coaching videos to the platform, then users watch videos online and submit their own recordings, finally, users will get a score of their recordings. To complete this task, we propose a video capture method to record users' sports exercise videos from different perspectives, construct a 3D pose estimation model to identify human pose from captured video, and propose an evaluation model which can judge users' performance and assign a score to each video. To test our proposed models, we make a dataset consisting of key pose frames of TCC, and the key pose frames are extracted from users' TCC exercise videos. We use the dataset to train our models and assign scores to key poses, then compare the results with scores given by professional TCC players. In addition, we add all key pose scores from every single user together and obtain the whole score of an exercise video. The experiment results show that the error between scores assigned by our models and scores given by professional players does not exceed 1.6 in most scoring of a whole exercise video, and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) is about 0.75 in the scoring of each key pose. © 2022 IEEE.

Physical performance and compensation strategies of older adults to maintain physical fitness and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.

INTRODUCTION: During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, worldwide restrictions in social life, including the closure of sport facilities, led to a reduction of physical activity and subjective well-being. The aim of this study is to describe physical training habits, and subjective well-being in relation to objective training data from a chip-controlled fitness circuit in the rural area of Oldenburg, Germany. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Overall, 35 older adults (20 women 71 ± 6 y/o and 15 men, 72 ± 7 y/o), regularly exercising in a chip-controlled fitness circuit before the lockdown in March 2020, were interviewed. The training data from February to August 2020 from six strength and two endurance exercise devices were extracted and compared to data before and up to three months after the lockdown. Additionally, participants' personal characteristics, physical activities and quality of life before, during, and after the first lockdown were assessed. RESULTS: The leg score (pre, postJune, postJuly, postAugust: 1207 ± 469 kg, 1248 ± 477 kg, 1254 ± 516 kg, 1283 ± 493 kg; p = 0.137) and endurance scores (ergometer: 0.93 ± 0.35 min- 1 · watt- 1, 0.86 ± 0.31 min- 1 · watt- 1, 0.86 ± 0.31 min- 1 · watt- 1, 0.85 ± 0.28 min- 1 · watt- 1 ; p = 0.442) were not significantly different, in contrast to the rowing score (1426 ± 582 kg, 1558 ± 704 kg, 1630 ± 757 kg, 1680 ± 837 kg; p < 0.001). A significant increase of total energy expenditure (p = 0.026), mainly through gardening, walking, and bike riding was observed. The greatest personal limitation reported, was the loss of social contacts. CONCLUSION: The presented data did not show a decrease in training performance, but a slight trend towards an increase. A compensatory increase in regular outdoor activities seems to have a protective effect against a loss of training performance and may have the potential to stabilize subjective well-being during lockdown periods.

Physical Activity and Post-COVID-19 Syndrome in Older Adults: A Systematic Review

Background: Physical activity (PA) may play a significant role in managing post-Coronavirus Disease (COVID)-19 syndrome, a significant public health concern among older adults. This study aimed to systematically review the evidence on post-COVID-19 symptoms, signs, risk factors, and the effects of PA programs in managing post-COVID-19 syndrome among older adults. Method: This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendation. The systematic search was conducted in August 2022 using Scopus and MEDLINE (via PubMed) databases. Results: There were 51 documents screened, among which 10 (7 observational and 3 experimental studies) met the selection criteria. The reported post-COVID-19 symptoms and signs associated with physical health included dyspnea, fatigue, diarrhea, and sarcopenia, abnormal lung function, cardiac pathology, immunological changes, reduced physical performance, respectively, while those associated with mental health included depression, poor concentration and memory, and anxiety. Patients with higher body mass indexes were more likely to experience more symptoms. Older patients had greater difficulties in performing daily activities and mobility. A multidisciplinary-based PA program is suggested to be feasible and effective in improving fatigue, ability to walk, balance, and cognitive function. For patients with sarcopenia, a low-intensity aerobic training exercise appears to improve muscle strength, kinesiophobia, and quality of life. Conclusion: Various post-COVID-19 symptoms have been reported along with their risk factors, and PA programs are potentially used for managing these symptoms. More research, however, is recommended to explore the PA program for specific post-COVID-19 symptoms.

Advancing global health with occupational epidemiology

This presentation will explore the essential role of occupational epidemiology in global health. Our field provides critical perspectives – relevant not only for the identification of health hazards at work but in global health more broadly – on the identification of risk factors for disease in populations, the weighing of evidence for causality, and the design and implementation of public health interventions. This presentation is informed by analyses of recent health crises including the COVID-19 pandemic, the epidemic of ‘deaths of despair' in the U.S. and the increasing toll of heat illnesses on a warming planet.In addition to study design and data analytic methods, occupational epidemiologists are trained to understand the physical and social environments in which work is conducted as well as the biological processes that link exposure to disease, and how all this impact population health. This multi-disciplinary training enables occupational epidemiologists to identify hazards and interventions that may be overlooked by other disciplines. Occupational epidemiologists learn that economic and political forces have powerful effects on the work environment, and this shapes their perspective on how evidence is weighed in public health decision-making. Rather than using rigid evidence to decision frameworks inspired by randomized controlled trials, evaluating evidence for action uses triangulation among diverse types and qualities of evidence to guide prevention. In occupational epidemiology, the precautionary principle can be understood as one aspect of the fundamental perspective that there is no pre-defined level of certainty that is needed before taking preventive action;instead, there are different amounts and qualities of evidence that are sufficient for each specific proposed intervention.A continuing supply of occupational epidemiologists is needed to respond to future global health challenges. Professional training programs are needed to ensure this workforce;training which includes epidemiology and biostatistics, physiology, occupational hygiene, engineering and the social and economic aspects of work and health. Occupational epidemiology should be core training in global health programs.

The effects of mental and physical (MAP) training on teacher stress and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pilot study

Teachers experience significant job-related stress that can lead to burnout and attrition. Existing teacher stress may have been increased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, interventions to target stress and promote mental health and wellbeing may benefit this population. Mental and Physical (MAP) Training combines meditation with aerobic exercise to improve mental and physical health outcomes. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual MAP Training on reducing stress and improving outcomes in teachers. K-12 educators were recruited from schools in the Northeastern region of the United States. Participants were randomly assigned to the MAP Training group (n = 35) or waitlist control condition (n = 13). The effects of the virtual MAP Training program on self-reported psychosocial, cognitive, and health outcomes were examined after six weeks. The long-term impact of training (i.e., one month after intervention end) was investigated in exploratory analyses. There were no significant differences between groups in pre-intervention (i.e., baseline) or post-intervention ratings of psychosocial, cognitive, or health functioning. However, participants within the MAP Training group reported significant improvements in trauma and mood symptoms (ps = .001-.004, ds = .53-.66), anxiety symptoms (p = .002, d = .57), ruminative thinking (ps = .003-.016, ds = .43-.54), perceived stress (p = .035, d = .38), and self-compassion (p < .001, d = -.82), while no significant changes were observed within the waitlist control group. Participants within the MAP Training group also reported improvements in executive functioning and cognitive flexibility (ps = < .001 - .023, ds = -.41-.94) and fewer sleep disturbances (p = .002, d = .57) following training, while again no within-group changes were observed among waitlist control participants. Among MAP Training participants, 24% experienced a clinically significant reduction in depressive symptom severity, while 31% reported meaningful change in anxiety symptom severity. Outcomes did not differ between treatment adherent (i.e., attended four or more live training sessions) and non-adherent MAP Training participants;however, adherence factors were associated with greater improvement in executive functioning. Importantly, improvements in self-compassion were maintained by MAP Training participants one month after intervention end. These data demonstrate the effectiveness of a virtually-delivered meditation and aerobic exercise program (i.e., MAP Training) in improving teacher mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Ski Training and Orienting i n a Module-Based Program of Physical Culture and Sports

Together with the general health care, the training classes in Physical Culture and Sports for non-majors should focus on personal self-fulfillment thorough various forms of physical culture and sports. This has always been in the universities' academic plans, and the current State Educational Standard (3++), which provides with 400 academic hours for Physical Culture and Sports, is not an exception. These days, the outdoor classes for students are more relevant than ever against the background of the ongoing COVID-19 and restrictive social and sanitary measures (social distance). This work presents a module-base program and methodological support of teaching within the framework of Physical Culture and Sports discipline, including ski training, orienteering and general physical training. Each training module, which includes 8–13 comprehensive classes, is designed to implement an independent part of educational material following specific natural and climatic conditions. Its usefulness is tested through a pedagogical experiment on the students of Polytechnic School, Siberian Federal University. © Siberian Federal University. All rights reserved.

Special Recommendations for Home-Based Physical Training: Impact of Sedentary Due to Stay at Home Covid-19 Pandemic on Physical Fitness

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of sedentary stay at home due to the covid-19 pandemic on physical fitness and to examine the effects of home-based physical activity on physical fitness levels during the covid-19 crisis in Indonesia. This study used a mixed method sequential exploration design consisting of a quantitative stage and a qualitative stage. The sample used was 228 children and adolescents aged 5-17 years, n = 143 adults and elderly > 17, n = 85 people, participated in this study voluntarily. Sampling was carried out for the experimental group at random (n: 143) and the control group (n: 85). The experimental group engaged in 8 weeks of home-based physical activity delivered in person and via WhatsApp groups. Data were collected through the Indonesian Physical Fitness Test and semi-structured interview questions. Data analysis using a two-way mixed ANOVA was used to determine the effect of home-based physical activity carried out for 8 weeks with a duration of 3 times/week on the participants' physical health. Results: preliminary data descriptively show the level of physical health during the stay at home Covid-19 pandemic is in the poor category. After being given a form of home-based physical activity either directly or through a WhatsApp group, a significant increase was observed in the level of physical activity of children and adolescents 5-17 years, adults and elderly > 17 years in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results provide evidence that home-based physical activity with a duration of 15 - 30 minutes, has a positive effect on physical fitness levels during the covid-19. © 2023 Eskisehir Osmangazi University. All rights reserved.

CrossFit during lockdown. The promises and pitfalls of digitally mediated training for leisure-time physical activity

The COVID-19 pandemic led to nationwide lockdowns and rigid measures of social distancing in Denmark. Such a situation provides the unique opportunity to study interruptions in training routines and scrutinise the significance of physical attendance, face-to-face interactions and collective engagement for sport and leisure-time physical activity. Drawing on Randall Collins' micro-sociological theory of 'Interaction Ritual Chains', this article focuses on CrossFit – an activity, which is not only known for members' high-intensity workouts but also for a tight-knit community. Specifically, we explored how CrossFitters in Denmark made sense of and experienced the changes of their leisure practices throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi-structured interviews with 20 CrossFitters recruited from different CrossFit boxes showed that not only activity levels but also emotional energy and group solidarity dropped considerably during COVID-19 as members lacked interactions within the CrossFit boxes which had been crucial for their participation before the pandemic. Notably, new training situations, specifically online workouts, could not replace the highly successful interaction rituals in the CrossFit box, which stresses the significance of face-to-face interactions for continuous leisure-time physical activity. In so doing, this article contributes to discussions about whether online workouts and digitally mediated communities can complement or replace physical training. [ FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of physical training on functional, clinical, morphological, behavioural and psychosocial outcomes in post-COVID-19 infection: COVID-19 and REhabilitation study (CORE-study)-a study protocol for a randomised controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic remains ongoing, with a significant number of survivors who have experienced moderate to severe clinical conditions and who have suffered losses of great magnitude, especially in functional capacity, triggering limitations to daily autonomy and quality of life. Among the possibilities of intervention for disease rehabilitation, physical exercise training stands out, which can benefit several health outcomes and favours the adoption of healthier behaviours. Therefore, the aim of the study will be to analyse the effects of physical training on the functional, clinical, morphological, behavioural and psychosocial status in adults and the elderly following COVID-19 infection. METHODS: A randomised controlled clinical trial is to be conducted in parallel, with the experimental group undergoing an intervention involving a multicomponent physical rehabilitation programme, carried out at the Sports Center in partnership with the Academic Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, in Florianópolis, Brazil. Participants will be adults and the elderly, of both sexes, in a post-COVID-19-infection state, who were hospitalised during the infection. The intervention will have a total duration of 24 weeks and will include a multicomponent physical training programme, which will have gradual progression in frequency, duration and intensity over time. Regarding the outcomes, before, at the 12th and after 24 weeks of intervention, functional (primary outcome = functional index of aerobic capacity), clinical, morphological, behavioural and psychosocial outcomes will be assessed. DISCUSSION: This study will contribute to a greater understanding of the safety, adherence and benefits of physical training in the rehabilitation of post-COVID-19 patients. The results of this study will be disseminated through presentations at congresses, workshops, peer-reviewed publications and local and international conferences, especially with a view to proposing a post-COVID-19 rehabilitation care protocol. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ReBEC, RBR-10y6jhrs . Registered on 22 February 2022. 2015.

Influence of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Exercise on Fatigue and Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that leads to a great deterioration in the quality of life. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the effectiveness of two individual programs, one based on transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and another based on the effect of physical exercise on fatigue and quality of life in patients with MS. METHODS: A total of 12 patients with relapsing-remitting and progressive secondary MS participated. Fatigue and quality of life were assessed before and after intervention. The exercise program and tDCS were carried out over a 4-week period, with a washout period of 5 months. RESULTS: The results show significant improvements in the different quality of life subscales after the application of tDCS, activities of daily living (r = 0.625; p = 0.037) (g = 0.465), psychological well-being (r = 0.856; p = 0.004) (g = 0.727) and coping (r = 0.904; p = 0.18) (g = 0.376), and in those after the application of exercise, activities of daily living (r = 0.853; p = 0.003) (g = 0.570) and psychological well-being (r = 0.693; p = 0.041) (g = 0.417). After the application of both therapies, more than 50% of the subjects did not have a positive fatigue score on the MFIS scale. CONCLUSION: The major findings suggest that the application of both therapies produces a beneficial effect with significant improvements in the quality of life of this sample.

Effects of Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Program in Patients with Long COVID-19: Post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation (PCR SIRIO 8) Study.

Up to 80% of COVID-19 survivors experience prolonged symptoms known as long COVID-19. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program in patients with long COVID-19. The rehabilitation program was composed of physical training (aerobic, resistance, and breathing exercises), education, and group psychotherapy. After 6 weeks of rehabilitation in 97 patients with long COVID-19, body composition analysis revealed a significant decrease of abdominal fatty tissue (from 2.75 kg to 2.5 kg; p = 0.0086) with concomitant increase in skeletal muscle mass (from 23.2 kg to 24.2 kg; p = 0.0104). Almost 80% of participants reported dyspnea improvement assessed with the modified Medical Research Council scale. Patients' physical capacity assessed with the 6 Minute Walking Test increased from 320 to 382.5 m (p < 0.0001), the number of repetitions in the 30 s Chair Stand Test improved from 13 to 16 (p < 0.0001), as well as physical fitness in the Short Physical Performance Battery Test from 14 to 16 (p < 0.0001). The impact of fatigue on everyday functioning was reduced in the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale from 37 to 27 (p < 0.0001). Cardiopulmonary exercise test did not show any change. The multidisciplinary rehabilitation program has improved body composition, dyspnea, fatigue and physical capacity in long COVID-19 patients.

Special Recommendations for Home-Based Physical Training: Impact of Sedentary Due to Stay at Home Covid-19 Pandemic on Physical Fitness

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of sedentary stay at home due to the covid-19 pandemic on physical fitness and to examine the effects of home-based physical activity on physical fitness levels during the covid-19 crisis in Indonesia. This study used a mixed method sequential exploration design consisting of a quantitative stage and a qualitative stage. The sample used was 228 children and adolescents aged 5-17 years, n = 143 adults and elderly > 17, n = 85 people, participated in this study voluntarily. Sampling was carried out for the experimental group at random (n: 143) and the control group (n: 85). The experimental group engaged in 8 weeks of home-based physical activity delivered in person and via WhatsApp groups. Data were collected through the Indonesian Physical Fitness Test and semi-structured interview questions. Data analysis using a two-way mixed ANOVA was used to determine the effect of home-based physical activity carried out for 8 weeks with a duration of 3 times/week on the participants' physical health. Results: preliminary data descriptively show the level of physical health during the stay at home Covid-19 pandemic is in the poor category. After being given a form of home-based physical activity either directly or through a WhatsApp group, a significant increase was observed in the level of physical activity of children and adolescents 5-17 years, adults and elderly > 17 years in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results provide evidence that home-based physical activity with a duration of 15 - 30 minutes, has a positive effect on physical fitness levels during the covid-19.

Social-Ecological Factors Predict College Students’ Physical Activities and Sedentary Behavior

Guided by the socio-ecological model, the aim of this study was to investigate the predictive strengths of individual, social, and physical environmental factors toward different intensities of physical activity (PA;vigorous PA, moderate PA, walking) and sedentary behavior (SB) among college students. A cross-sectional research design was used. There were 287 college students (Mage = 20.75 ± 2.91;54% female) recruited from a public research university in the Southwestern United States. Participants completed previously validated questionnaires assessing their PA, SB, and perceptions of self-efficacy, social support, and physical environment variables. Correlation and hierarchical regression analyses were performed to examine the associations and the relative contributions of those individual, social, and physical environmental factors to PA and SB, respectively. The findings indicated that self-efficacy, social support from friends, and convenience of using exercise facilities were positively correlated with vigorous PA. Self-efficacy and physical environmental factor such as convenience of using exercise facilities were significantly associated with students’ moderate PA. Physical environmental factors, including convenience of using exercise facilities, satisfaction with neighborhood services, ease of walking to public transportation stop, and detached single-family residence were significantly related to walking, while only detached single-family residence was associated to SB. The results highlight PA interventions may do well to focus on the promotion of individual and environmental variables to increase PA in college students. More evidence is needed to determine the relationships between social ecological factors and SB.

Rehabilitation of Post-COVID Patients: A Virtual Reality Home-Based Intervention Including Cardio-Respiratory Fitness Training

The post-COVID syndrome is emerging as a new chronic condition, characterized by symptoms of breathlessness, fatigue, and decline of neurocognitive functions. Rehabilitation programs that include physical training seem to be beneficial to reduce such symptoms and improve patients’ quality of life. Given this, and considering the limitations imposed by the pandemic on rehabilitation services, it emerged the need to integrate telerehabilitation programs into clinical practice. Some telerehabilitation solutions, also based on virtual reality (VR), are available in the market. Still, they mainly focus on rehabilitation of upper limbs, balance, and cognitive training, while exercises like cycling or walking are usually not considered. The presented work aims to fill this gap by integrating a VR application to provide cardio-respiratory fitness training to post-COVID patients in an existing telerehabilitation platform. The ARTEDIA application allows patients to perform a cycling exercise and a concurrent cognitive task. Patients can cycle in a virtual park while performing a “go/no-go” task by selecting only specific targets appearing along the way. The difficulty of the practice can be adjusted by the therapists, while the physiological response is continuously monitored through wearable sensors to ensure safety. The application has been integrated into the VRRS system by Khymeia. In the next months, a study to assess the feasibility of a complete telerehabilitation program based on physical and cognitive training will take place. Such a program will combine the existing VRRS exercises and the cardio-respiratory fitness exercise provided by the ARTEDIA application. Feasibility, acceptance, and usability will be assessed from both the patients’ and the therapists’ sides. © 2022, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Advancing Public Health and Preventive Medicine

Largely because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States experienced a decrease in life expectancy from 2019 to 2020, with a disproportionate burden among Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black populations.1 COVID-19 has also illustrated and continues to show the "fault lines" in public health, including inadequate surveillance systems, underfunding of public health and primary care, structural inequities, misand disinformation, and the intrusion of partisan politics into public health practice.2,3 In addressing the many opportunities and challenges for public health and preventive medicine, Matthew Boulton and Robert Wallace have assembled an impressive set of 186 chapters across 11 sections, authored by world-class experts on each topic. Global Health, Health Disparities & Vulnerable Populations, Nutrition & Physical Activity, and Mental Health & Substance Use. Across the many sections and chapters in this book, competencies can be mapped to academic course work, clinical rotations, short courses, practica, and on-the-job training programs for professionals in public health and preventive medicine.8,9 IMPLEMENTING KNOWN SOLUTIONS As described in multiple chapters, but particularly in the chapter on implementation science, the decades of scientific progress in medicine and public health have too often not been translated into equitable improvements in population health.10 By influencing how scientific evidence is scaled up into practice, implementation science has great potential to accelerate progress toward achieving public health goals by seeking to understand and influence how scientific evidence is put into practice.11 Evidence in multiple forms, but particularly evidence-based interventions, is the foundation of implementation science and progress in public health.12 FOCUSING ON HEALTH EQUITY Concepts of health disparities and health equity are more prominently featured in this new edition, across many chapters but particularly in section 3 on health disparities and vulnerable populations.

Cognitive Empathy in Preprofessional Students

The Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test, a test of cognitive empathy, requires individuals to assess the emotional state of a person by looking only at the eyes. A shortened version (svRME) was used in this study to assess the differences in cognitive empathy between preprofessionals in two healthcare fields and in one non-healthcare field of study. Students from a Doctor of Physical Therapy program, a nursing program, and an engineering program (n = 224) were asked to complete a short demographic questionnaire and the svRME. No significant differences in scores were noted between the students of physical therapy and nursing;however, both had scores significantly different than those of the students of engineering. This study questions if people with higher cognitive empathy choose health-related professions and if this fact could be used in career counseling for collegiate level students. It also questions if the svRME could be used to assess cognitive empathy before and after training designed to improve cognitive empathy in a pre-professional health-related program. J Allied Health 2022;51(2):116-120.