Physical activity and sedentary behavior levels among individuals with mental illness: A cross-sectional study from 23 countries.

People with mental illness tend to present low levels of physical activity and high levels of sedentary behavior. The study aims to compare these levels in mental illness patients, exploring the role of socioeconomic development and treatment setting. This cross-sectional study used accelerometers and the Simple Physical Activity Questionnaire (SIMPAQ) to assess physical activity and sedentary behavior in mental illness individuals living in 23 countries. Two-way ANOVAs were used to evaluate the interaction between socioeconomic development and the treatment settings on physical activity and sedentary behavior. A total of 884 (men = 55.3%) participants, mean age of 39.3 (SD = 12.8), were evaluated. A significant interaction between socioeconomic development and treatment settings was found in sedentary behavior (F = 5.525; p = 0.019; η2p = 0.009; small effect size). Main effects were observed on socioeconomic development (F = 43.004; p < 0.001; η2p = 0.066; medium effect size) and treatment setting (F = 23.001; p < 0.001; η2p = 0.036; small effect size) for sedentary behavior and physical activity: socioeconomic development (F = 20.888; p < 0.001; η2p = 0.033; small effect size) and treatment setting (F = 30.358; p < 0.001; η2p = 0.047; small effect size), showing that HIC patients were more active, while MIC patients were more sedentary. Moreover, despite of inpatients had presented higher levels of physical activity than outpatients, they also spent more time sitting. Socioeconomic development plays an important role in sedentary behavior in patients with mental disorders, warning the need to develop new strategies to reduce these levels in this population.

Exercise-based and pain education program for adults with chronic low back pain in Brazilian Primary Care: feasibility study / Programa de exercícios físicos e educação em dor para adultos com dor lombar crônica na Atenção Primária brasileira: estudo de viabilidade

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Low back pain is the leading cause of disability in Brazil. Most of the evidence on interventions for chronic low back pain (CLBP) comes from high income countries. The objective was to investigate the feasibility of conducting a program based in exercise and pain education in Primary Health Care supported by low-cost mobile technology for adults with CLBP (versus waiting list) and to explore the profile of patients who adhered compared to those who did not adhere. METHODS This is a feasibility study with adult residents of Fortaleza, Brazil with CLBP. The Intervention Group consisted of strategies such as physical exercises, pain education, phone calls and support messages to participants. The Control Group was based on a waiting list. Primary outcomes included retention and adherence rates, comprehension of the intervention, credibility, and satisfaction with the intervention. Secondary outcomes included clinical and demographic factors such as pain intensity, disability, recovery prognosis, and physical activity, described according to adherence behavior. RESULTS Forty-five individuals were allocated to the Intervention Group and 24 to the Control Group. Overall, 57.8% of participants adhered to the intervention. Retention rates were 53.33% and 58.3% for intervention and control, respectively. The other primary feasibility outcomes were satisfactory. Longer time spent sitting and level of schooling differed the profile of those who adhered to the intervention from those who did not. Higher pain intensity and poorer recovery prognosis, measured at baseline, influenced non-adherence to home exercises. CONCLUSION The feasibility of the protocol was adequate for the comprehension of the components, however, adherence to the protocol and the follow-up of the participants were low. The profile of individuals adhering to the intervention includes higher schooling and more time spent sitting at baseline. Characteristics such as higher pain intensity and the influence of psychosocial factors influenced non-adherence to home exercises. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (REBEC RBR-5wqr2j).

RESUMO JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS A dor lombar é a principal causa de incapacidade no Brasil. A maior parte da evidência sobre intervenções para dor lombar crônica (DLC) advém de países desenvolvidos. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a viabilidade de conduzir um programa baseado em exercícios e educação em dor na Atenção Primária à Saúde para adultos com DLC (versus lista de espera) e explorar o perfil dos pacientes que aderiram comparado aos que não aderiram à intervenção. MÉTODOS Este é um estudo de viabilidade. Foram incluídos adultos com DLC e residentes em Fortaleza, CE, no Brasil. O Grupo Intervenção foi composto por estratégias como exercícios físicos, educação em dor, ligações telefônicas e mensagens de suporte aos participantes. O Grupo Controle consistiu em lista de espera. Os desfechos primários incluíram taxas de retenção e adesão, entendimento da intervenção, credibilidade e satisfação com a intervenção. Os desfechos secundários incluíram fatores clínicos e demográficos, como intensidade de dor, incapacidade, prognóstico de recuperação e atividade física, descritos segundo comportamento de adesão. RESULTADOS Quarenta e cinco indivíduos foram alocados para o Grupo Intervenção e 24 para o Grupo Controle. Em geral, 57,8% dos participantes aderiram à intervenção. As taxas de retenção foram 53,33% e 58,3% para intervenção e controle, respectivamente. Os demais desfechos primários de viabilidade foram satisfatórios. Maior tempo sentado e o grau de instrução diferiam o perfil dos aderentes dos não aderentes à intervenção. Maior intensidade de dor e pior prognóstico de recuperação, mensurados na avaliação, influenciaram a não adesão aos exercícios domiciliares. CONCLUSÃO A viabilidade do protocolo apresentou-se adequada para entendimento dos componentes. Entretanto, a adesão ao protocolo e o seguimento dos participantes foram baixos. O perfil dos indivíduos aderentes à intervenção incluiu maior instrução e mais tempo sentado na sua avaliação inicial. Características como maior intensidade de dor e influência de fatores psicossociais influenciaram a não adesão aos exercícios domiciliares. Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos (REBEC RBR-5wqr2j).

Physical activity supported by mobile technology program (PAT-Back) for older adults with back pain at primary care: a feasibility study protocol

Abstract Aim: Low back pain (LBP) is disabling in older adults. Although physical activity interventions positively affect LBP, older adults are underrepresented in the literature. We aim to investigate the feasibility of conducting a study to evaluate a primary care program of exercise therapy and pain education, supported by mobile technology, for older adults with chronic LBP (compared to best practice advice). Methods: In this parallel, two-arm randomized pilot trial, we will recruit adults aged 60 years and older with chronic LBP. The experimental group (Physical Activity supported by low-cost mobile technology for Back pain-PAT-Back) will consist of an 8-week group exercise program based on pain education, exercises, graded activities, and in-home physical activity. Text messages will be sent to promote adherence to home exercises. The control group will receive an evidence-based educational booklet given during one individual consultation. Outcomes will include recruitment rate, adherence and retention rates, level of understanding of the intervention content, perception of the utility of mobile technology, compliance with the accelerometer in a sub-sample of patients, and adverse events. Discussion: The results of this study will form the basis for a large randomized controlled trial. This innovative approach to managing LBP in the primary care setting for older adults, if proven to be effective, can bring an important advance in the knowledge of chronic LBP management to this population.

The Brazilian Back Complaints in the Elders (Brazilian BACE) study: characteristics of Brazilian older adults with a new episode of low back pain.

OBJECTIVE: Low back pain (LBP) is little explored in the aging population especially when considering age-relevant and culturally dependent outcomes. We aimed to describe socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of Brazilian older people with a new episode of LBP presenting to primary care. METHODS: We sourced baseline information on socio-demographic, pain-related and clinical characteristics from 602 older adults from the Brazilian Back Complaints in the Elders (Brazilian BACE) study. We analyzed differences in pain, disability, functional capacity and psychosocial factors between sub-groups based on age (i.e. participants aged 55-74 or ≥75 years), education (i.e. those with four years or less of schooling or those with more than four years of schooling) and income (i.e. participants who reported earning two or less minimal wages or three and more). RESULTS: Participants presented severe LBP (7.18/10, SD: 2.59). Younger participants were slightly more disabled (mean difference 1.29 points, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.03/5.56), reporting poorer physical health, and less fall-related self-efficacy (mean difference of 2.41, 95% CI 0.35/4.46). Those less educated, and those with income equal or less than two minimum wages had more disability, pain catastrophizing and worse functional capacity. CONCLUSIONS: This was the first study showing that Brazilian older adults with LBP present high levels of functional disability and psychological distress, especially those with low socioeconomic status.

Multidimensional features of pain in patients with chronic neck pain / Características multidimensionais da dor em indivíduos com cervicalgia crônica

Abstract Introduction: Chronic neck pain is associated with significant health costs and loss of productivity at work. Objective: to assess pain and disability in individuals with chronic neck pain. Methods: 31 volunteers with chronic neck pain, mean age 29, 65 years, were assessed using the McGill Pain Questionnaire in Brazilian version (Br-MPQ) and Neck Disability Index (NDI). The Br-MPQ analysis was performed based on the numerical values associated with the words selected to describe the experience of pain (Pain Rating Index - PRI), and present pain intensity (PPI). NDI was used to evaluate the influence of neck pain in performance of everyday tasks. Finally, we investigated the association between PPI and NDI. Results: PRI revealed that the most significant dimension was the sensory pain (70%), and the number of chosen words was 10 (2,62) out of 20 words. Mean PPI value was 1,23 (0,76) in five points; 40% of participants described pain intensity as moderate. NDI score was 9,77 (3,34), indicating mild disability. There was a positive association between disability and pain intensity (r = 0,36; p =0,046). Pain intensity and duration of pain were not associated. Conclusions: Findings of this study identified important information related to neck pain experienced by patients when suffering from chronic neck pain, moreover, the association between disability and pain intensity reinforces the importance of complementary investigation of these aspects to optimize function in them.

Resumo Introdução: A cervicalgia crônica está associada a importantes gastos em saúde e à perda de produtividade no trabalho. Objetivo: Avaliar aspectos de dor e incapacidade de indivíduos com cervicalgia crônica. Métodos: Trinta e um voluntários com cervicalgia crônica, com média de idade de 29, 65 anos, foram avaliados por meio do questionário de dor de McGill em versão brasileira-Br-MPQ (Br-MPQ) e pelo Índice de Incapacidade Relacionada ao Pescoço (NDI). A análise do Br-MPQ foi realizada baseando-se nos valores numéricos associados com as palavras de descrição da experiência da dor (Pain Rating Index - PRI), e na intensidade da dor presente (Present Pain Index - PPI). O NDI foi utilizado para avaliar a interferência da cervicalgia pelos participantes no desempenho de tarefas cotidianas. Finalmente, foi investigada a associação entre o PPI e o NDI. Resultados: A dimensão mais significativa de dor no PRI foi sensorial (70%), e número de descritores escolhidos para descrevê-la foi 10 (2,62) em 20. O valor médio do PPI de 1,23 (0,76) em cinco pontos; 40% dos participantes descreveram a intensidade de dor como moderada. A pontuação do NDI foi de 9,77 (3,34), indicando incapacidade leve. Houve associação positiva entre intensidade de dor e incapacidade (r=0,36; p=0,046); mas não entre intensidade e duração da dor. Conclusão: Os resultados identificaram características importantes diante da experiência de pacientes com cervicalgia crônica e, além disso, a associação entre incapacidade e dor observada reforça a importância da abordagem destes itens de maneira complementar destes fatores para favorecer a funcionalidade destes pacientes.

Association between Physical Activity and Disability in patients with low back pain

Abstract AIMS Physical activity levels could be related to chronic low back pain (LBP) in those who suffer from it; thus the purpose of this study was yo describe the physical activity levels in patients with chronic LBP, and to investigate whether physical activity levels are associated with LBP related disability and pain intensity in them. OBJECTIVES To describe the physical activity levels in patients with chronic LBP, and to investigate whether physical activity levels are associated with LBP related disability and pain intensity in them. METHODS This is a cross-sectional study with 36 patients with chronic LBP, both sexes, aged between 18 and 70 years. The main outcomes evaluated in this study were physical activity levels, LBP-related disability and pain intensity. RESULTS Participants were predominantly classified as active (53%) and irregularly active (42%). Mean pain intensity was 4.81 (± 2.72) points, while mean LBP-related disability was 13.19 (± 6.95). Physical activity and disability were negative and moderately correlated. CONCLUSION Physical activity and disability are inversely related, indicating that patients with chronic LBP that have lower physical activity levels had higher levels of disability.(AU)

Inflammatory mediators, muscle and functional performance of community-dwelling elderly women.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation and association between inflammatory mediators and muscle and functional performance in elderly women. We conducted a cross-sectional study. Plasma concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble receptor for tumor necrosis factor alpha (sTNFR1) were determined by enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay. The muscle performance was measured using a isokinetic dynamometer and assessment of handgrip strength was performed using a Jamar® dynamometer. Functional performance was assessed through a walking speed test. Statistical analysis was performed using the Pearson or Spearman correlation. The association between the variables was determined by multiple regression analysis. 221 volunteers (71.07±4.93 years) participated in the study. Plasma levels of IL-6 (0.87pg/mL) correlated with the power of the knee extensors (r=0.14; p=0.03) and the power of the knee flexors (r=0.16; p=0.01); the plasma levels of sTNFR1 (1051.70pg/mL) did not correlate with any dependent variable. The regression models showed that the variables IL-6, level of physical activity and depressive status explained 5.5% (R(2)=0.055, p<0.01) of average power of knee extensors variability. For the average power of knee flexors, the final model showed that the factors IL-6 and level of physical activity explained 4.1% (R(2)=0.041, p<0.01). There was no negative correlation between inflammatory mediators and muscle or physical performance in elderly women. These results may be explained by the fact that the cytokine levels did not reach the threshold needed to influence the muscle tissue and functionality of the participants.