Associations between Physical Activity Frequency in Leisure Time and Subjective Cognitive Limitations in Middle-Aged Spanish Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.

There is a global ageing of the world's population. Ageing is associated with multiple pathologies, reductions in physical activity, and losses in cognitive function. This study aimed to analyse the associations between the frequency of leisure-time physical activity (PAF) in middle-aged Spaniards and subjective cognitive limitations (SCLs): self-reported problems for remembering or concentrating (data extracted from the 2017 National Health Survey and the 2020 European Health Survey in Spain). Furthermore, the study aimed to evaluate risk factors that could be related to a higher probability of developing SCLs. This was a cross-sectional study with 15,866 middle-aged Spaniards. The associations between FAP and SCLs were analysed using chi-square. Also, the risk factors for SCLs were evaluated using binary multiple logistic regression. The median age of participants was 55 years, with 49% men and 51% women. Associations were found between PAF and SCLs (p < 0.001). The highest prevalence of SCLs was found in physically inactive people and the lowest in very active people (13.7% vs. 5.8%, p < 0.05), and people with SCLs had a higher prevalence of inactivity than those without SCLs (47.2% vs. 33.8%, p < 0.05). Physical inactivity, low educational level, low social class, and being female were the main risk factors for SCLs. Among the actions to prevent cognitive limitations, as well as interventions in people with cognitive limitations, it would be advisable to include physical activity programmes, both as a preventive measure to delay cognitive limitations and to reduce the risk of other pathologies in people who already have them.

Impact of professional experience on clinical judgment and muscular response in various neuromuscular tests.

Muscle testing is an integral component in assessing musculoskeletal function and tailoring rehabilitation efforts. This study aimed i. to identify an objective evaluation system sensitive to analyze changes in different muscular conditions in different neuromuscular tests across a spectrum of professional experience levels; and ii. to analyze differences in objective parameters and clinical judgment between participants of different levels of expertise in different muscular conditions in different neuromuscular tests. Participants included 60 subjects with Level I to III expertise who performed blinded neuromuscular tests on the middle deltoid and rectus femoris muscles of 40 volunteer subjects. The methodology centered on standardizing test protocols to minimize variability, employing EMG to quantify muscle activity, thermography to capture thermographic muscular response, and digital dynamometry to measure muscular resistance. The findings revealed that while traditional methods like thermography and electromyography provide valuable insights, digital dynamometry stands out for its sensitivity in detecting muscle condition changes in neuromuscular test. Moreover, the data underscored the pivotal role of advanced training and expertise in enhancing the precision and accuracy of neuromuscular diagnostics, since there were significant differences in objective parameters and clinical judgment between participants of different levels of expertise in the different muscular conditions in Middle deltoid and Rectus femoris neuromuscular tests analyzed, presenting higher expertise participant clinical judgment like objective validated instrument.

Comparative Analysis of Psychophysiological Responses in Fibromyalgia Patients: Evaluating Neuromodulation Alone, Neuromodulation Combined with Virtual Reality, and Exercise Interventions.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fibromyalgia, a chronic condition, manifests as widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, autonomic and cognitive dysfunction, hypersensitivity to stimuli, and various somatic and psychiatric symptoms. This study, a controlled and randomized experiment, aimed to evaluate and compare the immediate effects of different treatments on fibromyalgia patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The treatments included the EXOPULSE Mollii suit, a combination of the EXOPULSE Mollii suit with a virtual reality (VR) protocol, and a physical exercise regimen. A cohort of 89 female fibromyalgia patients was randomly assigned to one of four groups: Control (n = 20), Suit only (n = 22), Suit combined with VR (n = 21), and Exercise (n = 26). RESULTS: This study found notable differences across the groups in several key parameters. In the Control group, significant changes were observed in Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV 1/FEV 6), the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain, Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) at the epicondyle, cortical arousal levels, the 10 m up-and-go test, and in all measured variables related to temperature and muscle oxygenation. For the group using the suit alone, there were significant differences noted in the NRS, the chair stand test, palm temperature, and all muscle oxygenation parameters. The Suit + VR group showed significant changes in the NRS, PPT at the knee, handgrip strength test, the 10 m up-and-go test, one-leg balance test with the right leg, muscle oxygen saturation (SmO2), deoxygenated hemoglobin (HHb), and oxygenated hemoglobin (O2Hb). Finally, the Exercise group exhibited significant differences in FEV 1/FEV 6, chest perimeter difference, NRS, PPT at both the epicondyle and knee, cortical arousal, the chair stand test, the 10-m up-and-go test, and in SmO2, HHb, and O2Hb levels. CONCLUSIONS: combining neuromodulation with VR and targeted exercise regimens can effectively alleviate fibromyalgia symptoms, offering promising avenues for non-pharmacological management.

Exploring Indicators for Training Load Control in Young Swimmers: The Role of Inspiratory Spirometry Outcomes.

One of the most important implications of technology in swimming is to control training loads. Lactate control, video-analysis of the technique or the assessment of specific actions, i.e., the vertical jump, have helped to provide load adaptation indicators in swimmers in recent decades. However, these indicators have led to a longer application time, due to their indirect procedure and the need to analyze each variable. The aim of this study was to analyze whether inspiratory spirometry values can serve as a training load control tool in swimmers. Countermovement jump (CMJ), Inspiratory Force Index (S-INDEX) and Peak Inspiratory Flow (PIF) were evaluated with a load of 3 cm H2O before, during and after performing a swimming performance test (critical speed test: specific warming up, 400 m and 100 m freestyle). Positive correlations were found between S-INDEX and jump height after warm-up, after 400 m and at the end of 100 m (Spearman = 0.470, R2 = 0.280; Spearman = 0.508, R2 = 0.392; Spearman = 0.458, R2 = 0.359, p < 0.05, respectively). Moreover, positive correlations were also found between PIF and jump height at the same evaluated moments (Spearman = 0.461, R2 = 0.305; Spearman = 0.493, R2 = 0.386; Spearman = 0.454, R2 = 0.374, p < 0.05). Both the S-INDEX and the PIF could serve as useful tools for swimmer load control, allowing coaches to make more immediate decisions.

Portuguese translation and validation of the questionnaires from the Canadian Physical Literacy Assessment-2: a pilot study.

Background/objective: Physical literacy assessment is considered a vital resource to decrease the prevalence of sedentary lifestyles and physical inactivity in children and adolescents worldwide. In Portugal, there is no physical literacy assessment tool for children under 15 years old. The main objective of this study was to carry out a translation and cultural adaptation of the Canadian Physical Literacy Assessment 2 (CAPL-2) into Portuguese, as well as to test its psychometric properties, in children between 8 and 12 years of age. Methods: The questionnaires included in the CAPL-2 were translated using the translation-back-translation method and adapted to their context. The test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and confirmatory factor analysis of the CAPL-2 Portuguese version were analyzed in a sample of 69 and 138 students, respectively, from a school in the Alentejo region (Portugal). Results: The Portuguese version of the CAPL-2 questionnaires demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's α: 0.713-0.979) and test-retest reliability ranging from moderate to nearly perfect in the motivation and confidence domain and knowledge and comprehension domain (ICC = 0.549-0.932). The results showed a good fit after adjusting for covariation paths (CMIN/DF = 1.382, p = 0.105, RMSEA = 0.053, CFI = 0.971, TLI = 0.955, NFI = 0.907). Conclusion: The CAPL-2 version of the questionnaires, translated and adapted to the Portuguese context, demonstrated validity and reliability, making them suitable for assessing physical literacy in children aged 8-12 years.

Assessment of spatiotemporal characteristics of gait, trough the Phyphox® app: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Spatiotemporal characteristics from human locomotion can provide effective clinical metrics to assess motor control and brain function. This case report aims to assess the temporal structure of variability in stride-to-stride time and calculated the intrinsic fractal frame that is hidden below the repetitive structure of physiological gait through the "Phyphox" app. This is an innovative study from the perspective of analyzing gait variables through a mobile app. CASE PRESENTATION: Five older adults Caucasian (3 women; age = 73 ± 10,5 years; body mass = 62,2 ± 15,1 kg; height = 1,56 ± 0,1 m; 2 men; age = 75,5 ± 7,8 years; body mass = 86,3 ± 18,0 kg; height = 1,77 ± 0,1 m) participated in this study. Five participants were asked to walk with a natural cadence, two of the participants presented a value greater than 80 step's/minute (81.14 ± 0.01; 86.67 ± 0.02); and the others had values between 55 and 65 step's/minute (55.20 ± 0.02; 55.78 ± 0.05; 61.02 ± 0.05). Regarding the coefficient of variation, only one participant presented 10.08%. For the total number of steps, three of the participants had values greater than 1000 steps. The variability of these stride-to-stride time has been quantified through detrended fluctuation analysis; one participant presented a value above 1. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that a smartphone might provide a valid measure to assess the spatiotemporal characteristics of gait.

Effects of an 11-Week Detraining, Imposed by the COVID-19 Confinement, on Handball Players' Shoulder Rotator Isokinetic Profile, Shoulder Range of Motion, and Ball Release Velocity.

Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 confinement significantly impacted the physical condition of athletes. However, the detraining impacts of this period on the shoulder rotator and range of motion in handball players have not been studied. Thus, the main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of this 11-week detraining period, imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic confinement, on the shoulder rotator isokinetic profile (peak torque, ratio, fatigue index), shoulder rotator and flexion range of motion, and ball release velocity in handball players. Materials and Methods: A total of 16 handball players, with a mean age of 22.38 (5.28) years, participated in this study. The isokinetic strength was assessed using two protocols (three repetitions at an angular velocity of 60°/s and 20 repetitions at an angular velocity of 180°/s). In addition, the range of motion and ball release (at jump and standing shots) were measured. All these measurements were assessed before and after the COVID-19 confinement. Results: The results showed a significant reduction in the peak torque of the external rotation of their dominant and non-dominant shoulders. In addition, confinement significantly increased the fatigue index of external rotation and internal rotation and reduced the range of motion of internal rotation. Additionally, the ball release velocity during standing and jump shots was significantly reduced. Conclusions: These results suggested that strengthening external and internal rotation as well as recovering the internal rotation range of motion may be necessary after a detraining period in order to prevent shoulder injuries.

Phase angle as a key marker of muscular and bone quality in community-dwelling independent older adults: A cross-sectional exploratory pilot study.

The aim of the present cross-sectional exploratory pilot study was to analyze the ability of the Phase Angle (PhA) to predict physical function, muscle strength and bone indicators, upon adjusting for potential confounders [age, sex, lean mass, and body mass index (BMI)]. This study included 56 physically independent older adults (age, 68.29 ± 3.01 years; BMI, 28.09 ± 4.37 kg/m2). A multi-frequency segmental bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to measure PhA at 50 KHz. Additionally, physical function was assessed through four functional capacity tests [30-sec chair-stand; seated medicine ball throw (SMBT); timed up & go; and 6-min walking test (6 MWT)], muscle strength through the handgrip test (dominant side) and maximal isokinetic strength of the dominant knee flexor and extensor. Moreover, bone indicators and body composition were assessed through the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. PhA was significantly associated with SMBT (r = 0.375, effect size (ES) = moderate); 6 MWT (r = 0.396, ES = moderate); 30-sec chair-stand (rho = 0.314, ES = moderate); knee extension (rho = 0.566, ES = large) and flexion (r = 0.459, ES = moderate); handgrip (rho = 0.432, ES = moderate); whole-body bone mineral content (BMC) (r = 0.316, ES = moderate); femoral neck BMC (r = 0.469, ES = moderate); and femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) (rho = 0.433, ES = moderate). Additionally, the results of multiple regression analysis demonstrated that PhA is significantly associated with SMBT (p < 0.001; R2 = 0.629), 6 MWT (p = 0.004; R2 = 0.214), knee extension (p < 0.001; R2 = 0.697), knee flexion (p < 0.001; R2 = 0.355), handgrip test (p < 0.001; R2 = 0.774), whole-body BMC (p < 0.001; R2 = 0.524), femoral neck BMC (p = 0.001; R2 = 0.249), and femoral neck BMD (p = 0.020; R2 = 0.153). The results of the preliminary analysis suggested that PhA is linked to muscle strength and some factors related to physical function and bone quality in community-dwelling older adults.

Sex, cognitive state and falls as factors associated with malnutrition: a cross-sectional study of institutionalized older adults living in a rural area of Portugal.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is an underestimated geriatric problem, with a high prevalence in institutionalized older adults. The identification of risk factors for malnutrition in elderly individuals must be a priority for governmental organizations worldwide. METHODS: A total of 98 institutionalized seniors were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. For the assessment of risk factors, sociodemographic characteristics and health-related information were collected. The Mini-Nutritional Assessment Short-Form test was used to assess malnutrition in the sample population. RESULTS: A significantly greater proportion of women than men were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. In addition, the comparative analysis revealed that comorbidity, arthritis, balance impairment, dementia and fall episodes with serious injuries were significantly more frequent in the older adults categorized as malnourished or at risk of malnutrition than in those categorized as well-nourished. CONCLUSIONS: Multivariable regression analysis revealed that being female, having a poor cognitive status and experiencing falls with injuries are the main independent factors influencing nutritional status in institutionalized older adults living in a rural area of Portugal.

Effects of Aquatic Exercises for Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A 12-Week Intervention in a Quasi-Experimental Study with Pain as a Mediator of Depression.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by low physical fitness, pain, and depression. The present study aimed to examine the effects of a supervised aquatic exercise program on physical fitness, depression, and pain in women with RA and determine whether decreases in pain mediate depression. METHODS: Forty-three women with RA, divided into an experimental group (EG; n = 21) and a control group (CG; n = 23), participated in a 12-week exercise program. Treatment effects were calculated via standardized difference or effect size (ES) using ANCOVA adjusted for baseline values (ES, 95% confidence interval (CI)). A simple panel of mediation was executed to determine whether changes in pain mediated improvements in depression after controlling for confounding variables, such as age, physical activity, and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: The aquatic exercise program had trivial and small effects on physical fitness, large effects on pain, and moderate effects on depression. The mediation model confirmed the indirect effect of pain on the decrease of depression in the participants of the aquatic exercise program. CONCLUSIONS: Participants with RA in the aquatic exercise program experienced improvements in physical fitness, depression, and joint pain. Moreover, the improvements in joint pain mediated improvements in depression.

Translation, Cultural Adaptation, and Reliability of the 15D Portuguese Version: A Generic Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) Instrument.

(1) Background: Purpose: The assessment of quality of life is essential to the human condition and can be measured through questionnaires. This study aims to translate and culturally adapt the 15D questionnaire to assess the population's quality of life, as well as explore its relative reliability and internal consistency; (2) Methods: The translation and cultural adaptation of the 15D questionnaire was carried out independently, considering two translations. The synthesis version was applied to eight subjects, distributed by gender. Cognitive interviews were conducted to observe clarity, acceptability, and familiarity with the version of the questionnaire. The final version of the questionnaire, in Portuguese, was again translated into the official language by two translators who had never had contact with the questionnaire. To assess the test-retest reliability and internal consistency of the 15D questionnaire, 43 participants were interviewed; (3) Results: Participants indicated that they had some doubts about dimensions, breathing, and discomfort and symptoms; however, as there were no suggestions for change, the questionnaire had no changes. Items were clear and understandable. Internal consistency was observed using Cronbach's alpha, with values between 0.76 and 0.98. The test-retest reliability values were between 0.77 and 0.97; and (4) Conclusions: The Portuguese version of the 15D questionnaire was proved to be equivalent to the English version and to be reliable for the Portuguese population. This instrument is easy to access and apply.

Acute Effects of a Session with The EXOPULSE Mollii Suit in a Fibromyalgia Patient: A Case Report.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and associated fatigue, sleep disturbances, and other cognitive and somatic symptoms. A multidisciplinary approach including pharmacological therapies along with behavioral therapy, exercise, patient education, and pain management is a possible solution for the treatment of this disease. The EXOPULSE Mollii® method (EXONEURAL NETWORK AB, Danderyd, Sweden) is an innovative approach for non-invasive and self-administered electrical stimulation with multiple electrodes incorporated in a full-body suit, with already proven benefits for other diseases. Therefore, the present case report study aims to evaluate the effects that a 60 min session with the EXOPULSE Mollii suit has on a female fibromyalgia patient. After the intervention, we can conclude that a 60 min session with the EXOPULSE Mollii suit has beneficial effects on pain perception, muscle oxygenation, parasympathetic modulation, and function in a female fibromyalgia patient.

The Behavior of Muscle Oxygen Saturation, Oxy and Deoxy Hemoglobin during a Fatigue Test in Fibromyalgia.

Previous studies have reported that people with fibromyalgia (FM) could suffer from mitochondrial dysfunction. However, the consumption of muscle oxygen during physical exercise has been poorly studied. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the response of muscle oxygen during a fatigue protocol in people with FM and healthy controls (HC). In addition, the peak torque and the total work were assessed. A total of 31 participants (eighteen were people with fibromyalgia and thirteen were healthy controls) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. All the participants underwent a fatigue protocol consisting of 20 repetitions at 180°·s−1 of quadriceps flexions and extensions using a Biodex System 3. The muscle oxygen saturation (SmO2), total hemoglobin (THb), deoxygenated hemoglobin (HHb) and oxygenated hemoglobin (O2Hb) values were measured using a portable near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) device. Significant differences between people with FM and healthy controls were found at baseline: SmO2 (FM: 56.03 ± 21.36; HC: 77.41 ± 10.82; p = 0.036), O2Hb (FM: 6.69 ± 2.59; HC: 9.37 ± 1.31; p = 0.030) and HHb (FM: 5.20 ± 2.51; HC: 2.73 ± 1.32; p = 0.039); during the fatigue protocol: SmO2 (FM: 48.54 ± 19.96; HC: 58.87 ± 19.72; p = 0.038), O2Hb (FM: 5.70 ± 2.34; HC: 7.06 ± 2.09; p = 0.027) and HHb (FM: 5.69 ± 2.65; HC: 4.81 ± 2.39; p = 0.048); and in the recovery at three min and six min for SmO2, O2Hb and HHb (p < 0.005). Furthermore, healthy control values of SmO2, O2Hb and HHb have been significantly altered by the fatigue protocol (p < 0.005). In contrast, people with FM did not show any significant alteration in these values. Moreover, significant differences were found in the peak torque at extension (FM: 62.48 ± 24.45; HC: 88.31 ± 23.51; p = 0.033) and flexion (FM: 24.16 ± 11.58; HC: 42.05 ± 9.85; p = 0.010), and the total work performed at leg extension (FM: 1039.78 ± 434.51; HC: 1535.61 ± 474.22; p = 0.007) and flexion (FM: 423.79 ± 239.89; HC: 797.16 ± 194.37; p = 0.005).

Physical literacy in older adults: a scoping review protocol.

Population aging is a prominent phenomenon worldwide. The increase in physical inactivity and co-morbid diseases poses a major challenge to current community health policies. Physical activity guidelines recommended for older people have not been met by this population group. For this reason, a new model, physical literacy, is being innovated and has gained global attention and has emerged as an effective and innovative active aging strategy to improve physical activity participation of this vulnerable group. However, the evidence on physical literacy in the older adult so far is brief and diffuse. Therefore, the aim was to conduct a scoping review protocol to identify and map physical literacy in older people. This scoping review protocol was based on the Joanna Briggs Institute Method. The search will be performed on Embase, IBSS ProQuest, Medline OVID, PsycINFO Ebsco, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, Social Services Abstracts ProQuest, Sociological Abstracts ProQuest, Web of Science ISI, Wiley Online Library, Cochrane Library, and ERIC Ebsco databases. All types of studies published since 2001 in English, Spanish, and Portuguese examining physical literacy over the lifespan of older adults were included. Two independent reviewers will organize and select studies according to the objectives and questions of the scoping review. The selected publications will be organized and summarized using a checklist proposed by the PRISMA-ScR. Qualitative data analysis (thematic analysis) will be performed to identify meanings and patterns to answer the research question. The final scoping review will present the main evidence available, key concepts/definitions, research conducted, and knowledge gaps related to physical literacy in older adults, leading to strategies to improve the community health of this population, as well as health literacy.

Análisis De La Efectividad Del Golpeo en Pádel en Función Del Género, Duración Del Punto Y Tipo De Punto / Analysis of the Effectiveness of Hitting in Paddle Depending on Gender, Duration of the Point and Type of Point

This study aims to analyse the winners and errors shot in professional padel according to gender, type of point and the point duration, observing the differences between winners and losers. For this 1927 points of 14 matches (7 male and 7 female category) from the World Padel Tour Master Final 2021 were analyzed, where participated 32 padel players (16 men players and 16 women players), using an ad-hoc instrument obtaining an inter-observer reliability above 0.9. The results show that the effectiveness depending on the gender (p = .001), where the male padel players perform 12% more winners than females padel players. Attending to the importance of the point, winning pairs perform 10% more winner shots than lossers, both in the male category (p=.002) and female (p= .004) in no key points. No differences exist in key points. Point duration affects to the shot effectiveness, specifically in medium duration points in male category (p=.026), and short duration points in female category (p=.007), with a higher winner shot produced by winning pairs. These results have a great practical application for coaches, providing information for the design of training programs similar to competitions situations. In addition, especific strategies can be develop during the matches according to the gender and the score.(AU)

Bibliometric Analysis of Psychomotricity Research Trends: The Current Role of Childhood.

Psychomotricity is a wide broad term, which encompasses different bodily action approaches to support children and adolescents to achieve their highest potential. A search on the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database was performed on this topic, using traditional bibliometric laws. Finally, 118 publications (112 articles and 6 reviews) documents were found. Annual publications presented an exponentially growing trend (R2 = 84.7%). Spain was the most productive country/region worldwide. Paola Magioncalda, Matteo Martino y Víctor Arufe Giraldez were highlighted as the most prolific co-authors. "Retos Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación" was the most productive journal and the "International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health", was the second most productive; the third in the list was the most productive in the JCR ranking. Thus, research on psychomotricity is experiencing exponential growth, causing this topic to generate great interest among researchers, publishers and journals. The most cited paper was "Neurocognitive Effects of Alcohol Hangover". The author keywords that were first raised together with psychomotricity were related to rehabilitation and psychomotor development, while the current trend was focused on physical activity and early childhood education.

Phase Angle as a Predictor for Physical Function in Institutionalized Independent Older Adults.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between phase angle (PhA) and physical function in institutionalized, independent older adults. Physical function was evaluated using the Senior Fitness Test Battery. PhA was measured by electrical bioimpedance at 50 khz, and body composition parameters were also registered. Results showed that PhA significantly correlated with all physical fitness tests, except for arm curls. Regarding the results of the multivariate analysis, three models were created: Model 1, formed by a dependent variable "PhA" and two predictor variables "8 ft up-and-go" and "6 min walk"; Model 2, formed by a dependent variable "PhA" and three predictor variables "8 ft up-and-go", "6 min walk" and "30-s chair stand"; and Model 3, formed by a dependent variable "PhA" and four predictor variables "8 ft up-and-go", "6 min walk", "30-s chair stand" and "arm curl". Results showed that predictor variables had a significant influence on the PhA for all three models (Model 1: p = 0.001, 12.5%; Model 2: p = 0.002, 12.9%; and Model 3: p = 0.005, 13.1%). For women, Model 1 showed a significant influence of predictor variables on the PhA (p = 0.030, 9.3%). The results for men in Models 1, 2 and 3 showed significant influences on the PhA (p = 0.002, 31.2%; p = 0.006, 31.6%; and p = 0.016, 31.6%; respectively). This study confirmed previous studies regarding to the relationship between PhA and physical function. It also indicates that PhA could be an excellent predictor of physical function.

Changes in Muscular Activity in Different Stable and Unstable Conditions on Aquatic Platforms.

The present study aimed to analyse and compare the muscle activity of twelve participants (seven men and five women) (age 20.1 ± 0.9 years; height 170.5 ± 10 cm; body mass: 64.86 ± 8.3 kg) in two exercises, each with two variants: squat (dynamic and static) and plank (hands and elbows) in a stable environment on land and an unstable environment on an aquatic platform. The erector spinae, biceps femoris, rectus femoris, external oblique, and rectus abdominis muscles were evaluated using surface electromyography. The dynamic squat increases the recruitment of the biceps femoris and external oblique, while the static squat demands greater activation of the rectus femoris. The elbow plank exercise increases the recruitment of erector spinae muscles, and the hand plank exercise increases the recruitment of the erector spinae and external oblique. In conclusion, performing exercises in unstable conditions on an aquatic platform slightly increases muscle recruitment.

Heart Rate Variability and Salivary Biomarkers Differences between Fibromyalgia and Healthy Participants after an Exercise Fatigue Protocol: An Experimental Study.

Previous studies showed that people with Fibromyalgia (FM) suffer from dysautonomia. Dysautonomia consists of persistent autonomic nervous system hyperactivity at rest and hyporeactivity during stressful situations. There is evidence that parameters reflecting the complex interplay between the autonomic nervous system and the cardiovascular system during exercise can provide significant prognostic information. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the differences between people with FM and healthy controls on heart rate variability (HRV) and salivary parameters (such as flow, protein concentration, enzymatic activities of amylase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) in two moments: (1) at baseline, and (2) after an exercise fatigue protocol. A total of 37 participants, twenty-one were people with fibromyalgia and sixteen were healthy controls, participated in this cross-sectional study. HRV and salivary samples were collected before and after an exercise fatigue protocol. The fatigue protocol consisted of 20 repetitions of knee extensions and flexions of the dominant leg at 180 °·s-1 (degrees per second). Significant differences were found in the HRV (stress index, LF and HF variables) and salivary biomarkers (with a higher concentration of salivary amylase in people with FM compared to healthy controls). Exercise acute effects on HRV showed that people with FM did not significantly react to exercise. However, significant differences between baseline and post-exercise on HRV significantly induce alteration on the HRV of healthy controls. Catalase significantly increased after exercise in healthy controls whereas salivary flow significantly increased in women with FM after an exercise fatigue protocol. Our study suggests that a higher α-amylase activity and an impaired HRV can be used as possible biomarkers of fibromyalgia, associated with a reduction in salivary flow without changes in HRV and catalase activity after a fatigue exercise protocol. More studies should be carried out in the future to evaluate this hypothesis, in order to find diagnostic biomarkers in fibromyalgia.

Are Crohn's Disease Patients Limited in Sport Practise? An UltraEndurance Case-Control Study Response.

The aim of this study was to analyze the psychophysiological response of a Crohn's Disease patient in an ultra-endurance event. The psychophysiological responses of a Crohn's Disease and non-Crohn's Disease participant were analysed before during and after an 8 h ultra-endurance running event. Results showed how Crohn's patient presented a similar psychophysiological response than non-Crohn's participant in the ultra-endurance event, except for a higher pre- and post-event sympathetic modulation, lower event sympathetic tone, and lower event body temperature. This study could contribute to improving physical activity recommendations for persons with Crohn's Disease and open a new research line for an improved understanding of psychophysiological modifications of Crohn's Disease patients during exercise.