ABSTRACT
Background: Physical activity (PA) has shown to have beneficial effects on children's health and development. However, a reduced focus on PA programming in schools and home environments may contribute to the increasing prevalence of mental health problems among youth, particularly following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we report preliminary findings from an ongoing randomized controlled trial of acute exercise (light-intensity or moderate-intensity) and meditation on mood and affect in youth. Method(s): Youth participants recruited from the Metro Detroit area (N =25: 52% female, 48% black;Mean + SD age =12.92 + 2.18yrs) were randomly assigned to a single 30-minute session of either (1) moderate-intensity treadmill walking, (2) light-intensity stretching, or (3) a seated meditation session. Mood and positive and negative affect were measured pre- and post-session. Result(s): There was a pre-to-post-session reduction in negative mood and affect scores and an increase in positive affect (p's<0.05, d's 0.42-0.67). However, no significant main effects of condition or condition x time interaction were observed (p>0.05). Youth with higher negative baseline mood scores showed greater reductions in negative mood following the 30-minute session, as compared to youth with lower negative moods (r=0.87, p< 0.001). Conclusion(s): Acute light and moderate-intensity exercise, as well as meditation, were associated with reductions in negative mood and affect and increases in positive affect. Further, the antidepressant effects of acute exercise and meditation were more pronounced among youth with poorer baseline moods. These findings have implications for the use of PA and meditation-based interventions to combat mental health problems in youth. Funding Source: Wayne State University, National Institute of Mental Health, and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Keywords: Affect, Adolescent Depression, Mental health, exercise intervention, Mindfulness MeditationCopyright © 2023
ABSTRACT
Higher education institutions today have offered a range of postsecondary transition programs for adults with.intellectual disabilities (ID). Applying the social-ecological framework, this study was aimed to analyze qualitative data about the experiences and perceptions of physical activity (PA) among eight college students with ID at a post-secondary transition program in the United States. The phenomenological approach was utilized to describe participants' lifeworld experience of PA. Results indicated that the most PA opportunities on campus merely derived from the availability of adapted programs. Only one participant met the minimum requirement of engaging moderate-intensity exercise weekly. Based on the analysis using the social-ecological framework, the results include twelve themes at the intrapersonal level (self-efficacy, personality, emotion, past experiences, knowledge, and time), interpersonal level (family support and friend support), and institutional level (specifically, university recreation center, available adapted programs, adverse weather, and COVID effect) that influenced their PA participation. The current transition program seemed to promote sedentary behaviors during school hours. Strategies to enhance PA engagement for this population should include increasing students and parents' knowledge of PA and health, providing adequate social support from college mentors and more adapted PA opportunities and alternative options on campus. These recommendations could boost PA self-efficacy and overcome barriers at multiple levels in students with ID.Copyright © The British Society of Developmental Disabilities 2023.
ABSTRACT
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.
ABSTRACT
Background: Chemotherapy (CTX) for breast cancer (BC) can have a detrimental effect on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), as measured by VO2max. This decline may be attenuated by physical activity, which can also reduce mortality risk and improve quality of life (QoL) for patients (pts) with BC. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many have pivoted to home-based exercise routines, which have been shown to be safe and feasible for pts with BC receiving CTX. We conducted the STRENGTH Trial to evaluate the effect of a 12-week virtual supervised exercise program in BC pts receiving CTX on CRF. Method(s): This is a single-center, prospective, single-arm study designed to evaluate the effect of a 12-week virtual supervised exercise training program on CRF in BC pts receiving CTX. Participants aged >=18 years with stage I-IV BC who were planned to receive at least 12 weeks of CTX of investigator's choice were eligible for inclusion. Participants were asked to complete a total of 150 minutes (min) of moderate intensity physical activity/week, as a combination of a 45 min weekly virtual personal training session and workout classes streamed from the Peloton Digital platform (i.e. walking, running, cardio, yoga, strength training, and cycling). The primary endpoint was the distance walked on a Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), an accepted surrogate marker for VO2max, at the start and completion of the program. Secondary endpoints included assessment of QoL using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G) and symptom assessment using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI) questionnaires at the beginning, middle and end of the study. Exploratory endpoints included treatment adherence, toxicities, completion and response. Result(s): 33 participants signed consent for the clinical trial and 2 withdrew voluntarily prior to beginning the program. 5 participants discontinued prematurely due to a diagnosis of COVID-19 (N=3) and pulmonary embolism (N=2) and were not included in the primary endpoint. One participant remains on study at this time. Median age 49 yrs;range 33-68. Mean BMI 29.55;range 18.1-46.5. 13 HR+/HER2-, 7 HR-/HER2-, 11 HER2+. 14 (45%) pts had Stage I, 11 (35%) pts had Stage 2, 5 (16%) pts had Stage 3, 1 (3%) pt had Stage 4. 23 pts (70%) received either an anthracycline or HER2-based therapy. 19 pts (61%) received neoadjuvant CTX on study, 11 pts (35%) received adjuvant CTX and 1 pt (3%) received treatment in metastatic setting. The average number of exercise min per week per participant was 123.2 min (95% CI, 104.1-142.2), with a relative dose intensity of 82%. In the pts that completed the study thus far (N=25), there was no statistically significant difference between the distance walked during the 6MWT at the start and end of the study (median difference= -10m, range: -129-150m, p= 0.67). There was no statistically significant difference in the FACT-G score at the start and end of the study (median difference= -1.0, range -17.83- 30.0, p=0.54). Pts scored higher on the MDASI (median difference= 0.33, range -1.55-4.62, p=0.04) at the end of the exercise program compared to the beginning. There were no new or unexpected treatment toxicities observed. Conclusion(s): Pts who participated in a 12-week virtual supervised exercise program during CTX for BC did not experience a statistically significant difference in the distance walked during the 6MWT between the beginning and end of the exercise program. Exercise may attenuate the decline in cardiorespiratory function that has historically been observed with CTX for BC. Some pts were not able to adhere to the recommended 150 min of exercise/week suggesting a potential need for modified exercise targets for pts with BC undergoing CTX. This study is limited by a small sample size and larger, randomized clinical trials are needed to further evaluate optimal exercise recommendations for patients with BC undergoing CTX in order to maintain and potentially, even improve, cardiorespiratory function.
ABSTRACT
Pulmonary rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary intervention recommended by international guidelines in managing COVID-19 patients and/or post-COVID-19 conditions with mid-and long-term complications of the initial illness. Physiotherapy-based pulmonary rehabilitation has received considerable attention since the COVID-19 pandemic, with supervised exercise training probably the most important component. Current guidelines clearly encourage low-to moderate-intensity exercises for COVID-19 recovered patients and discourage high-intensity/vigorous exercises. However, the ongoing interest in high-intensity interval training (HIIT) has extended to post-COVID-19 rehabilitation based on its efficacy and safety in other patient populations. In this perspective, several reasons behind the possibility of the inappropriateness of the HIIT in post-COVID-19 conditions will be discussed and supported by evidence. In addition, the key points for safe exercise after COVID-19 illness will be listed.
ABSTRACT
Background and Aim: It is well known that Fontan patients tend to a sedentary lifestyle with low physical activity levels and their objec-tive exercise capacity is reduced. Currently the COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on the physical activity levels of the whole population. This study investigates physical activity lev-els of Fontan patients during the COVID-pandemic, and their relationship to exercise capacity, heart rates, cardiac function at cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), and biomarkers. Method(s): CMR, exercise testing, 24h-ECG, and blood samples were prospectively performed in 38 Fontan patients, of which 15 were females (40%) and 18 (47%) had a single left ventricle (LV). Time interval from Fontan operation was in median (IQR) 10 (8-15) years. Physical activity was assessed by accelerom-eter during 7 consecutive days of regular school/work. Moderate intensity physical activity was defined as gt;2296 counts/minute and vigorous physical activity as gt;4012 counts/minute. Patients with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) below 60minutes per day were categorized as inactive as recom-mended by the WHO. Parameters of exercise capacity included maximal oxygen uptake, maximum work rate, and maximal heart rate. Result(s): Daily MVPA was in median (IQR) 40.2 (27.6-56.5) minutes and 7/18 (39%) patients reached the recommended 60minutes/day of MVPA. Daily minutes of MVPA did not cor-relate with gender, age, single left ventricle, years from Fontan sur-gery, mean heart rate, ventricular volumes, and ejection fraction at CMR, cardiac biomarkers, or exercise capacity. Conclusion(s): Only 39% of the Fontan patients meet the recommen-dation for daily MVPA. The MVPA during the pandemic in our patients' cohort is lower than the one reported in Fontan patients before the pandemic. These current changes in behavioral habits may increase the risk for habitual sedentary lifestyles in Fontan patients.
ABSTRACT
Aims. The aim is to study the incidence rate of anxiety and depressive disorders and their relationship with the everyday activity at the H.M. Berbekov Kabardino-Balkarian State University (KBSU) medical faculty students a year after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. As a part of a cross-sectional observational study, a survey of 425 students at the Faculty of Medicine was conducted. The average age of the surveyed students was 20.9±2.1 years. The Spielberger-Khanin questionnaire, the HADS anxiety and depression scale, as well as a questionnaire specially developed by the authors to clarify some indicators of students' activity were used. Results. The prevalence of high levels of situational anxiety (SA) was 1.4%, personal anxiety (PA) 30.8%, anxiety 29%, depression 21.6%. High levels of SA were statistically significantly more common among students with higher education (p = 0.0417), living in rented apartments (p = 0.0136), countryside residents (p = 0.0005), with debts (p = 0.0122 );high levels of PA were identified among students who assessed their living conditions as satisfactory (p=0.0001). Clinically pronounced depression was statistically significantly more common among students with higher education (p=0.0258), who assess their living conditions as good (p=0.028), have debts (p=0.0001), employed (p=0.0001) and practiced low physical activity (p=0.0001). Associative relationships were detected between the levels of SA, PA, anxiety, depression and students' activity parameters included in the study. Conclusion. The results obtained can be used to improve the academic process and preserve the mental health of the KBSU medical faculty students.
ABSTRACT
Background: Chemotherapy for breast cancer can have a detrimental effect on cardiorespiratory fitness. VO2max (maximal oxygen consumption measured during exercise) is a key predictor of cardiovascular risk and has been found to be lower in women with a history of breast cancer compared with healthy women. Chemotherapy is associated with a decrease in VO2max but these decreases may be attenuated with exercise training, such as resistance, aerobic and high-intensity interval training programs. Physical activity may reduce the risk of mortality for breast cancer patients, improve quality of life (QoL) and reduce weight. All gyms and fitness studios had to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and while some have re-opened, many patients are not comfortable returning to an exercise facility now and are incorporating virtual exercise into their routine. Prior studies have demonstrated the safety, feasibility and potential benefits of home-based exercise programs for breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. However, many of these programs are self-reported, which can create bias and to our knowledge, there is no existing data on the effect of home-based exercise programs for breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The goal of the STRENGTH Trial is to evaluate the effect of a 12-week virtual supervised exercise program in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy on cardiorespiratory fitness. Study Description: This is a single-center, prospective, single-arm study designed to Sevaluate the effect of a virtual supervised exercise training program in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy on cardiorespiratory fitness. All participants are assigned to a 12-week virtual supervised exercise program and asked to complete a total of 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week, as a combination of a weekly virtual personal training sessionand workout classes streamed from the Peloton®Digital platform (i.e. walking, running, cardio, yoga, strength training, and cycling classes). Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, cardiorespiratory fitness cannot be assessed using a cardiopulmonary exercise test. As such, the co-primary endpoints are resting blood pressure and heart rate and distance walked during a Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), which is measured at the start and completion of the 12-week supervised exercise program. Secondary endpoints are QoL as assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) and symptom management assessment by the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI). Several exploratory clinical endpoints will be collected including adherence to the program, type of fitness classes completed, and treatment toxicities. Eligibility Criteria: Patients aged ≥18 years with stage I to IV breast cancer who are planned to receive at least 12 weeks of chemotherapy of investigator's choice are eligible for inclusion. Patients who have an ejection fraction on echocardiogram <40%, symptomatic heart failure, myocarditis, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, pulmonary embolism or COVID-19 infection within past 3 months, severe, uncorrected valvular disease, uncontrolled hypertension and/or uncontrolled arrhythmias are excluded. Statistical Methods: Continuous and categorical variables measured in this study will be summarized. The distributions of the data collected in the study participants from the 6MWT, FACT-G and MDASI will be evaluated. Based upon the findings, either paired t-tests or nonparametric Wilcoxon signed-rank tests will be performed to analyze the differences observed between the pre-exercise intervention data and the post-exercise intervention data. P values <= 0.05 will be considered statistically significant. Accrual: At this time, 20 patients have enrolled out of a planned 30 participants.
ABSTRACT
SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) is a new virus causing respiratory illness outbreak. Nowadays, COVID-19 has spread to several countries around the world and is presently a major global concern. It appears that no certain effective pharmaceutical agent is currently available for it. It seems that obesity is one of the biggest risk factors related to COVID-19 hospitalization and critical illness. The strengthening of the body systems by non-drug ways is very important especially in obese people. On the basis of some indirect evidence, it seems that moderate physical activity can be recommended as a non-pharmacological, inexpensive, and viable way to cope with corona. On the other hand, recommending higher intensity exercise needs further consideration to make final decision in this regard.