Distinct effects of long-term Tai Chi Chuan and aerobic exercise interventions on motor and neurocognitive performance in early-stage Parkinson's disease: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by movement disorders and probable cognitive impairment. Exercise plays an important role in PD management, and recent studies have reported improvement in motor symptoms and cognitive function following aerobic and Tai Chi Chuan exercise. AIM: To explore the different effects of Tai Chi Chuan and aerobic exercise on the clinical motor status and neurocognitive performance of patients with early-stage PD. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Parkinson's Disease Center at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and National Cheng Kung University Hospital. POPULATION: Patients with idiopathic PD. METHODS: Fifty-six patients with PD were recruited and divided into three groups: aerobic exercise (AE, N.=14), Tai Chi Chuan exercise (TE, N.=16), and control (CG, N.=13). Before and after a 12-week intervention period, we used unified Parkinson's disease rating scale Part III (UPDRS-III) scores and neuropsychological (e.g., accuracy rates [ARs] and reaction times [RTs]) and neurophysiological (e.g., event-related potential [ERP] N2 and P3 latencies and amplitudes) parameters to respectively assess the patients' clinical motor symptoms and neurocognitive performance when performing a working memory (WM) task. RESULTS: Compared to baseline, UPDRS-III scores were significantly lower in the AE and TE groups after the intervention period, whereas those for the CG group were higher. In terms of the neurocognitive parameters, when performing the WM task after the intervention period, the AE group exhibited significantly faster RTs and larger ERP P3 amplitudes, the TE group exhibited an improvement only in ERP P3 amplitude, and the CG group exhibited a significantly reduced ERP P3 amplitude. However, neither the TE nor the AE group exhibited improved ARs and ERP N2 performance. CONCLUSIONS: The present study supported the distinct effectiveness of Tai Chi Chuan and aerobic exercise for improving motor symptoms and providing neurocognitive benefits in PD patients. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: These results have important implications regarding the use of these exercise interventions for managing PD, particularly in the early stages.

Neurocognitive performance of badminton players at different competitive levels in visuospatial attention tasks.

Visuospatial attention (VSA) is a cognitive function that enables athletes, particularly those engaged in open-skill sports, to allocate attentional resources efficiently to the appropriate target and in the appropriate direction. Studies have indicated that expert players exhibit superior cognitive performance to that of novices. However, no study has investigated differences in VSA performance among elite, expert, and intermediate badminton players or the potential neurophysiological mechanisms underlying such differences. Accordingly, the present study explored neuropsychological and neurophysiological parameters during VSA tasks among badminton players of varying competitive levels. The study included 54 participants and divided them into three groups according to their competition records: elite (n = 18), expert (n = 18), and intermediate (n = 18). Their neuropsychological performance and brain event-related potentials (ERPs) during the Posner cueing paradigm were collected. Although the three groups did not differ in their accuracy rates, ERP N2 amplitudes, or N2 or P3 latencies, the elite and expert groups exhibited notably faster reaction times and more pronounced P3 amplitudes than did the intermediate group during the cognitive task. However, we did not observe these between-group differences when we controlled for the covariate training years. Additionally, the elite and expert groups exhibited comparable neurocognitive performance. These findings indicate that badminton players' competitive levels influence their VSA. However, the beneficial effects on neuropsychological and neurophysiological performance could stabilize after a certain level of badminton competence is reached. Year of training could also be a major factor influencing badminton players' neurocognitive performance in VSA tasks.

Acute resistance exercise combined with whole body vibration and blood flow restriction: Molecular and neurocognitive effects in late-middle-aged and older adults.

Limited research exists regarding the effects of resistance exercise (RE) combined with whole body vibration (WBV), blood flow restriction (BFR), or both on the neuropsychological performance of working memory (WM) in late-middle-aged and older adults and regarding the physiological mechanisms underlying this effect. This study thus explored the acute molecular and neurophysiological mechanisms underlying WM performance following RE combined with WBV, BFR, or both. Sixty-six participants were randomly assigned into a WBV, BFR, or WBV + BFR group. Before and after the participants engaged in a single bout of isometric RE combined with WBV, BFR, or both, this study gathered data on several neurocognitive measures of WM performance, namely, accuracy rate (AR), reaction time (RT), and brain event-related potential (specifically P3 latency and amplitude), and data on biochemical indices, such as the levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), norepinephrine (NE), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Although none of the RE modalities significantly affected RTs and P3 latencies, ARs and P3 amplitudes significantly improved in the WBV and WBV + BFR groups. The WBV + BFR group exhibited greater improvements than the WBV group did. Following acute RE combined with WBV, BFR, or both, IGF-1 and NE levels significantly increased in all groups, whereas BDNF levels did not change. Crucially, only the changes in NE levels were significantly correlated with improvements in ARs in the WBV + BFR and WBV groups. The findings suggest that combining acute RE with WBV, BFR, or both could distinctively mitigate neurocognitive decline in late-middle-aged and older adults.

The relationships between motor skills and executive functions in children with and without autism spectrum disorder.

To date, information on associations between motor skills and executive functions (EF) in autistic children is limited. The purpose of this study was to compare motor skills and EF performance between autistic children and typically developing (TD) children and to examine the relationships between motor skills and EF in these two groups. Forty-eight autistic children and 48 TD children aged 6 to 12 years were recruited for this study. Motor skills were measured with the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2 (BOT-2). EF was assessed with the Stroop Color and Word Test, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST), and the Test of Attentional Performance: Go/No-go test. Independent sample t-tests were used to compare the BOT-2 scores and EF measures between autistic children and TD children. Pearson product-moment correlation and regressions were conducted to assess the relationships between the BOT-2 scores and the EF measures for each group. Results showed that autistic children scored significantly lower than TD children on all four BOT-2 composite scores and a total motor composite. Autistic children also demonstrated significantly lower levels of performance on all EF measures than TD children. Further, autistic children showed more significant associations between motor skills and EF than TD children, particularly pronounced in the domains of fine manual control and manual coordination to cognitive flexibility, as well as manual coordination and inhibitory control. Continued development of motor skills and EF in autistic children is important. The relationships between motor skills and EF were significant among autistic children, suggesting future research on promoting EF through motor skill interventions in autistic children is required.

The predictive relationships between advanced dynamic balance and physical activity/quality of life in Parkinson's disease.

Gait and balance problems commonly occur in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, balance tasks with only one performance objective (e.g., sit-to-stand) may not be sufficient, compared to dual motor tasks (e.g., carrying a tray while walking), to be applied to the assessments and interventions which are designed to promote PD patients' balance functioning, physical activity (PA) and health-related quality of life (HQoL). The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine whether advanced dynamic balance, measured by a demanding motor-motor dual task, is a significant predictor of PA/HQoL in older adults with and without PD. Participants with (n = 22) and without (n = 23) PD were assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the single leg hop and stick series task (SLHS), the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), and the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ39). We calculated the R2 change, namely the incremental validity, between the multiple regression models before and after adding the scores on the BBS/SLHS. While controlling for biological and socioeconomic covariates, competence in the SLHS task provided moderate and large levels of incremental validity to PA (ΔR2 = 0.08, Cohen's f2 = 0.25, p = .035) and HQoL (ΔR2 = 0.13, Cohen's f2 = 0.65, p < .001), respectively. In particular for participants with PD, the SLHS explained significantly more variance in HQoL in relation to psychosocial functioning (ΔR2 = 0.25, Cohen's f2 = 0.42, p = .028) compared to the BBS (p = .296). Assessing advanced dynamic balance by means of a highly demanding dual-task paradigm was not only strongly associated with PA but also covered a wider spectrum of HQoL components. This approach is recommended for use in evaluations and interventions carried out in clinical and research settings in order to promote healthy living.

Application of New Al-Si Welding Filler with High Concentration of Copper and Magnesium: High-Temperature Strength and Anti-Corrosion Mechanism.

Currently, the primary commercial aluminum alloy fillers used are 4043 and 5356. However, when welded with high-strength work pieces like 6061 and 7075 aluminum alloys, the strength of weld beads significantly lags behind that of the original welded material. Both 4043 and 5356 aluminum alloys cannot be strengthened through heat treatment. The strength difference between the weld bead and base material doubles after heat treatment. In this study, an Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloy (SCM) filler modified using a heat-treatable A319 aluminum alloy was employed to investigate the post-welding microstructural and mechanical properties of specimens under room- and high-temperature conditions and after prolonged exposure in a saltwater environment (3.5 wt.% NaCl). The aim was to demonstrate that commercial aluminum alloy fillers could be substituted with a high-silicon aluminum alloy boasting excellent solidification and mechanical properties. The results revealed that, after heat treatment of the weld bead, dendrites were not eliminated, but the tensile strength increased to 310 MPa, closely matching that of commercial 6061 aluminum alloy. The strength of the weld bead remained higher than 250 MPa in high-temperature (240 °C) and saltwater environments. These findings underscore the potential application of this material.

Levels and patterns of physical activity and sedentary behavior in adults with and without visual impairment.

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on objectively measured physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) among adults with and without visual impairment (VI). OBJECTIVE: To compare PA and SB levels and patterns in adults with and without VI and to examine how these differ based on sex and day of the week. METHODS: Thirty-two participants with VI and 32 participants without VI participated in this cross-sectional study. PA and SB were assessed using GT3X ActiGraph accelerometers during waking hours for 7 days, and variables were examined in terms of disability group, sex, and day of the week. Nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used, and significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: PA did not differ in terms of sex or day of the week in participants with VI. The PA of participants without VI was significantly higher for men than it was for women and was significantly higher during weekdays than on weekend days. Total sedentary time and the duration of SB breaks were significantly longer for female participants with VI than for those without VI. The number of sedentary bouts lasting ≥10 min during weekend days was significantly higher for participants with VI than for those without VI. CONCLUSIONS: Most adults with and without VI did not meet the recommended levels of daily PA and spend a large portion of the day being sedentary. Interventions to enhance PA and reduce sedentary time in adults with and without VI are required.

Acute Effects of Different Exercise Intensities on Executive Function and Oculomotor Performance in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Moderate-Intensity Continuous Exercise vs. High-Intensity Interval Exercise.

A wealth of evidence has shown that a single bout of aerobic exercise can facilitate executive function. However, none of current studies on this topic have addressed whether the magnitude of the acute-exercise benefit on executive function and oculomotor performance is influenced by different aerobic exercise modes. The present study was thus aimed toward an investigation of the acute effects of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) vs. moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE) on executive-related oculomotor performance in healthy late middle-aged and older adults. Using a within-subject design, twenty-two participants completed a single bout of 30 min of HIIE, MICE, or a non-exercise-intervention (REST) session in a counterbalanced order. The behavioral [e.g., reaction times (RTs), coefficient of variation (CV) of the RT], and oculomotor (e.g., saccade amplitude, saccade latency, and saccadic peak velocity) indices were measured when participants performed antisaccade and prosaccade tasks prior to and after an intervention mode. The results showed that a 30-min single-bout of HIIE and MICE interventions shortened the RTs in the antisaccade task, with the null effect on the CV of the RT in the late middle-aged and older adults. In terms of oculomotor metrics, although the two exercise modes could not modify the performance in terms of saccade amplitudes and saccade latencies, the participants' saccadic peak velocities while performing the oculomotor paradigm were significantly altered only following an acute HIIE intervention. The present findings suggested that a 30-min single-bout of HIIE and MICE interventions modulated post-exercise antisaccade control on behavioral performance (e.g., RTs). Nevertheless, the HIIE relative MICE mode appears to be a more effective aerobic exercise in terms of oculomotor control (e.g., saccadic peak velocities) in late middle-aged and older adults.

Molecular origin of the effects of mutation on the structure and mechanical properties of human epithelial keratin K5/K14.

Epithelial keratin, a type of intermediate filament (IF) protein, is one of the key components in maintaining the stability of the cell nucleus in the epidermis of the skin, the largest organ in the human body. It absorbs water and withstands external pressure, affecting the structural stability and mechanical properties of the skin. Epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) is a rare genetic skin disease related to genetic mutations in epithelial keratin K5/K14. The resulting structural defects can cause keratinocytes in the basal layer to become fragile and rupture when subjected to mechanical stress. Its pathological feature is that the skin and mucous membranes are extremely fragile, and wounds and blisters occur under even slight external force. In this study, we focused on the amino acid sequence of the wild-type human keratin K5/K14 and sequences with point mutations, beginning with a full atomistic model of the K5/K14 heterodimer and proceeding to the higher hierarchical structure of the tetramer model. For the heterodimer, the structures of the wild type and the mutants share a high degree of similarity, and the helical structure is preserved. Then, based on the heterodimer model, we considered the keratin tetramer model with the ID1 contact from previous experimental observations. Our results suggested that in the wild-type tetramer, the hydrogen bonds formed in the middle and contact regions provide extra stability to tetramer 2B-2B interactions during IF assembly. The probabilities of hydrogen bond formation are lower in the mutant tetramers than in the wild-type tetramer in the contact region; the point mutations do not necessarily affect the structure for dimer formation, but changes in the interactions of amino acids may affect the higher-order assembly of IFs. We observed that the structures of the tetramers with point mutations were loosely stacked, and the mechanical properties were weaker than those of the wild-type tetramer. We further compared our results with the latest experimental measurements and discussed the relationship between the genotype of EBS disease and the atomic-level mutated structures. The atomistic model allowed us to study point mutations at the molecular level. The results can be further applied to reveal the effect of point mutations on EBS disease.

Effects of a Floor Hockey Intervention on Motor Proficiency, Physical Fitness, and Adaptive Development in Youths with Mild Intellectual Disabilities.

This study examined the effects of a 12-week floor hockey training program on the motor proficiency, physical fitness, and adaptive development of youths with mild intellectual disabilities (IDs). A total of 54 youths with IDs were divided into two groups: a floor hockey exercise group (EG; n = 27; age, 16.59 ± 0.56 years) and a control group (CG; n = 27; age, 16.65 ± 0.63 years). The participants in the EG attended sessions of a floor hockey training program 3 times per week over a 12-week period. The CG group maintained their standard activities of daily living. The participants' scores on the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition, Brockport Physical Fitness Test, and traditional Chinese version of the teacher form of the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Second Edition, were obtained before and after the intervention. The results of the study indicate that the 12-week floor hockey training program significantly increased the participants' scores for most indicators of motor proficiency (p < 0.01), physical fitness (p < 0.01), and adaptive development (p < 0.01). The findings provide evidence that physical activity interventions focusing on floor hockey training are a viable therapeutic option for treating youths with IDs.

Acute effects of high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous exercise on BDNF and irisin levels and neurocognitive performance in late middle-aged and older adults.

The purposes of the present study were (1) to explore and compare the acute effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE) on neurocognitive performance and molecular biomarkers in late middle-aged and older adults, and (2) to examine the relationships of HIIT/MICE exercise-induced neurocognitive changes with changes in circulating irisin and BDNF levels elicited by different acute exercise modes. Using a within-subject design, twenty-one participants completed an acute bout of 30 min of HIIT, MICE, or a non-exercise-intervention (REST) session in a counterbalanced order. The neuropsychological [i.e., accuracy rate (AR) and reaction time (RT)] and neurophysiological [i.e., event-related potential (ERP) P3 latency and amplitude] indices were simultaneously measured when the participants performed a working memory task at baseline and after an intervention mode. Blood samples were also taken before and after the intervention mode. The results showed that, although ARs were significantly increased only via the MICE intervention mode, the acute HIIT and MICE interventions improved RT performance and increased ERP P3 amplitudes in the late middle-aged and older adults under consideration. Serum BDNF levels were significantly increased with the acute HIIT and MICE interventions, and significant irisin level increases were only observed following the HIIT intervention. However, changes in the levels of Irisin and BDNF pre- and post-intervention were not correlated with changes in neurocognitive performance, with the exception of the correlation between the changes in irisin levels and RTs with acute exercise in the MICE intervention mode. The present findings suggested similar beneficial effects on neurocognitive performance (i.e., RTs and ERP P3 amplitudes) and peripheral BDNF levels following MICE and HIIT interventions in the middle-aged and older adults. In terms of ARs and irisin, the two acute exercise modes appear to induce divergent effects. Irisin may play a potential facilitating role in the neuropsychological (e.g., RT) performance of working memory in such a group. However, the mechanisms remain to be determined.

Sedentary Time, Physical Activity Levels and Physical Fitness in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities.

Purpose: This cross-sectional study assessed the associations of gender, age, level of intellectual disabilities (IDs) and of daily sedentary and physical activity (PA) time with physical fitness in adults with ID. Materials and methods: Sixty adults (mean age = 39.19 ± 11.70 years) with ID participated in this cross-sectional study. PA was monitored for 7 days using an ActiGraph GT3X monitor. Physical fitness was measured with a 6-min walking test, isometric push-up test, modified curl-up test, handgrip strength test, and back-saver sit-and-reach test. Results: (a) An age of ≥39 years and female gender were associated with lower performance in multiple aspects of physical fitness. (b) More moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) was associated with greater muscular strength and endurance (modified curl-ups: ß = 0.36, p < 0.01; handgrip strength: right, ß = 0.52, p < 0.01; left, ß = 0.52, p < 0.01). (c) More light-intensity PA (LPA) was associated with greater upper-body muscular endurance (ß = 0.42, p < 0.01) and greater flexibility (right leg: ß = 0.36, p < 0.01; left leg: ß = 0.38, p < 0.01). Conclusion: LPA may be as beneficial as MVPA to the physical fitness of adults with ID. Future studies should focus on developing effective PA interventions for adults with ID, especially for women and individuals aged ≥39 years, by incorporating both LPA and MVPA.

Physical and Sedentary Activity Patterns in Youths with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Little is known about the patterns of sedentary behavior and physical activity (PA) within different school levels (i.e., primary school and secondary school) and on different day types (i.e., weekdays and weekend days) among youths with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The sample was recruited from one city in Taiwan. A total of 68 male youths with ASD, aged 6-17 years, participated in the study. PA was assessed using an ActiGraph accelerometer, and sedentary behaviors (i.e., TV viewing, computer use, and reading time) were determined using a self-report log. The main findings were that (a) primary school youths with ASD were more active than secondary school youths with ASD on both weekdays and weekend days, but primary school youths with ASD also had more sedentary time than did secondary school youths with ASD on both weekdays and weekend days; (b) secondary school youths with ASD were more active but also more sedentary on weekdays compared with weekend days, but they had more screen use on weekend days compared with on weekdays. Future interventions are required to decrease sedentary behavior and increase PA to improve the health of these youths according to school level and day of the week.

The Relationship Between Physical Activity and Inhibition in Children With and Without Motor Impairments.

BACKGROUND: To examine the relationship between physical activity (PA) and inhibition in boys and girls with motor impairments compared with children with typical development. METHODS: The participants were 58 (26 motor impairments and 32 typical development) children aged 7-12 years who met the inclusion criteria. PA was assessed using accelerometers for 7 consecutive days. The time spent in PA of different intensity levels (light, moderate, and vigorous) were analyzed for weekdays and weekends. Using a visuospatial attention paradigm, inhibition was evaluated by the difference in reaction time between invalid and valid cue conditions. Generalized linear mixed models were used to determine the associations of inhibition with PA and motor ability by sex. RESULTS: Boys and children with typical development had shorter reaction times in inhibition than girls (P < .001) and children with motor impairments (P < .05), respectively. Motor ability (b = 189.98) and vigorous PA on weekdays (b = -43.18) were significant predictors of inhibition in girls only. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate a positive relationship between vigorous PA (on weekdays) and inhibition in children (girls), moderated by sex and motor ability. Effective interventions that promote vigorous PA for children both in and out of school should be designed to foster their executive function development.

Joint position sense of lower extremities is impaired and correlated with balance function in children with developmental coordination disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the joint position sense of the lower extremities and its relationship with motor function in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and typically developing (TD) children. METHODS: A total of 56 participants were recruited; 28 children with DCD (age 10.86±1.07 years; 13 females, 15 males) and 28 TD children (age 10.96±1.18 years; 12 females, 16 males). Knee and ankle joint position sense were assessed using a Biodex isokinetic dynamometer. Joint position acuity was measured by position error (PE) and position error variability (PEV). Motor function was examined using the 2nd edition of Movement Assessment Battery for children (MABC-2) and quantified via sub-scores from 3 MABC-2 domains. RESULTS: Both PE and PEV at knee and ankle joints were significantly greater in children with DCD compared with TD children. In addition, both PE and PEV were significantly greater at the ankle joints than the knee joints in children with DCD. For children with DCD only, joint position acuity in the lower extremities significantly and negatively correlated with MABC-2 balance sub-score. CONCLUSION: This study verifies that lower limb proprioception is impaired in children with DCD. Also, children with DCD displayed greater proprioceptive deficits at the ankle compared with the knee joint. Children with DCD who had poorer joint position acuity, i.e. greater PE and PEV, in the lower extremities tended to perform less well in balance function.

Promoting Physical Activity in Group Home Settings: Staff Perspectives through a SWOT Analysis.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to investigate perceptions of staff about the promotion of physical activity (PA) in selected group residences of Hong Kong (HK), some of which had experienced a multi-component PA program. METHOD: Focus group interviews with nineteen staff members from four group homes (two of which received the program) were conducted. FINDINGS: A SWOT analysis provided important insights into residential staff views about key influences on the quality of PA programs for residents with intellectual disabilities (ID). Positive (strengths and opportunities) and negative (weaknesses and threats) influences were identified. They were associated with characteristics of residents, staff, and group residence. Increasing age and low motivation are impediments to PA engagement of adults with ID. Staff competence and prior unsuccessful experience in promoting PA are also implicated. CONCLUSION: The PA program quality is mediated by the quality of staff interpersonal interactions with their clients and their commitment in encouraging such adults with ID to join and persistent in PA as well as staff seeking external resources and support as well as using initiative to adapt PA promotion activities in their specific group residential context.

Behavioral and Cognitive Electrophysiological Differences in the Executive Functions of Taiwanese Basketball Players as a Function of Playing Position.

The effect of the predominant playing position of elite basketball players on executive functions using both behavioral and electrophysiological measurements was investigated in the present study. Forty-six elite basketball players, including 27 guards and 19 forwards, were recruited. Event-related potential (ERP) signals were simultaneously recorded when the athletes performed the visual Go/NoGo task. Analyses of the results revealed that the guards and forwards groups exhibited comparable behavioral (i.e., reaction time (RTs) and accuracy rates (ARs)) performance. With regards to the electrophysiological indices, the guards relative to the forwards exhibited a shorter N2 latency in the Go condition, a longer N2 latency in the NoGo condition, and a smaller P3 amplitude across the two conditions. These results suggested that although the guards and forwards exhibited similar abilities in terms of behavioral inhibition, different neural processing efficiencies still exist in the basketball playing positions, with guards showing divergent efficiencies in the target evaluation and response selection of the target and non-target stimuli and fewer cognitive resources during premotor preparation and decision-making as compared to the forwards.

The role of physical activity and body-related perceptions in motor skill competence of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.

Purpose: This study assessed the associations of motor skill competence with physical activity and physical self-perception of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Study design: Cross-sectional study.Methods: A total of 63 male adolescents, aged 12-18 years, with ASD participated in the study. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-Second Edition and the Chinese version of the Physical Self-Perception Profile were administered. Physical activity was assessed using a uniaxial accelerometer.Results: The main findings were that (a) both moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and self-perceived physical condition were positively related to manual coordination (MC) and strength and agility (SA); (b) moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was the only predictor of MC and accounted for 14% of the variance; and (c) perceived physical condition explained 16% of the variance in SA, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and perceived physical condition together accounted for 26% of the SA.Conclusion: Future interventions aimed at improving motor skill competence in adolescents with ASD should focus on improving the time spent on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and developing a positive perceived physical condition.Implications for rehabilitationLess than half of the participants with ASD accumulated at least 60 min of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.Of the participants with ASD, only 19% had clinical levels of total motor impairments.Activities that promote successful moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and support positive physical self-perception (i.e., physical condition) are most likely to develop motor skill competency in adolescents with ASD.

Differences in neurocognitive performance and metabolic and inflammatory indices in male adults with obesity as a function of regular exercise.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? Does regular exercise have benefits with regard to the neurocognitive problems related to obesity and are regular-exercise-induced neurocognitive changes associated with changes in the levels of metabolic/inflammatory biomarkers? What is the main finding and its importance? Although obese individuals with regular exercise showed higher C-reactive protein levels as compared to the healthy-weight individuals, only the obese individuals with a sedentary lifestyle showed deviant neurocognitive performance and higher metabolic and tumour necrosis factor-α levels. The P3 amplitude was correlated with the levels of leptin in the obese individuals with regular activity, implicating that the potential mechanism of neurocognitive facilitation as a result of regular exercise could be reduced serum leptin levels. ABSTRACT: Obesity has been shown to be highly associated with deterioration in executive functions, elevated energy metabolic indices and low-grade systemic inflammation. Exercise has the capacity to reduce these negative phenomena. This work examined the effect of regular exercise on neurocognitive deficits and metabolic/inflammatory markers in obesity. Fifty-four participants were divided into three groups: healthy-weight (HW), obesity with regular exercise (ORE) and obesity with sedentary lifestyle (OSL), according to their BMI and frequency of exercise. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was applied to assess the whole-body composition of the participants. The assessment included neurocognitive measures during the Posner paradigm test and fasting blood measurements. Relative to the HW group, only the OSL group showed significantly longer reaction times and smaller P3 amplitudes, even when controlling for the cardiorespiratory fitness co-variable. Although the OSL group exhibited a greater N2 amplitude than the HW group, when controlling for cardiorespiratory fitness the difference between the two groups disappeared. The OSL group showed greater levels of metabolic indices (i.e. leptin, insulin and glucose) than the HW group. The three groups had comparable interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-6 levels. However, the ORE and OSL groups showed higher levels of C-reactive protein than the HW group. The OSL group exhibited higher tumour necrosis factor-α levels than the HW and ORE groups. P3 amplitude was negatively correlated with the levels of leptin in the ORE group. Individuals with obesity can still obtain advantages with regard to neurocognitive and metabolic/inflammatory indices through engaging in regular exercise, possibly due to reduced serum leptin levels.

Finger soaking enhances effects of light touch on reducing body sway in children with developmental coordination disorder.

OBJECTIVES: To compare sensitivity to light touch in children with developmental coordination disorder and those with typical development. Also, to investigate how changes/increases in sensitivity to light touch influence the effects of light fingertip touch on reducing body sway in both groups, while controlling for the confounding effects of arm configuration. METHODS: Twenty-six children with developmental coordination disorder and 26 typically developing children were enrolled in the study. To change/increase sensitivity to light touch, participants immersed their dominant index finger in a surfactant-water solution. Sensitivity to light touch was measured before and after soaking. Participants performed all conditions (no fingertip touch, light fingertip touch, and light fingertip touch after soaking) with the same arm configuration, while body sway was measured. RESULTS: Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the children with developmental coordination disorder were less sensitive to light touch than typically developing children (p <0.05). For both groups, immersing a fingertip in surfactant-water solution increased sensitivity to light touch (p < 0.05). Finger soaking enhanced the effects of light fingertip touch on reducing body sway only in those children with developmental coordination disorder (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Finger soaking can be used as a rehabilitation strategy for promoting sensitivity to light touch, as well as for enhancing the effects of light fingertip touch in reducing body sway in children with developmental coordination disorder.