The effects of adapted physical exercise during rehabilitation in patients with traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the effects of adapted physical exercise on the level of muscular ability and attention process in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between September 2018 and November 2018, a total of 25 male patients with TBI (mean age: 41.1±9.7 years; range, 30 to 50 years) that occurred two years ago were included in this randomized-controlled study. The patients were divided into two groups as the experimental group (n=13) and the control group (n=12). The experimental group implemented a regular rehabilitation program and an additional program of adapted physical exercise. The control group implemented only a regular rehabilitation program (morning gymnastics and gymnastics for the brain). Motor and functional abilities were assessed by a Senior Fitness battery and Berg's balance scale. Attention process was assessed by a standardized d2 test. RESULTS: A significant improvement in physical abilities (strength, flexibility and balance) and attention process was observed in both groups (p<0.01). The improvement was greater in the experimental group (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Traumatic brain injury causes difficulties in the memory and executive functions of the body and impairs working ability. The short-term adapted physical exercise program can yield a positive change in working abilities of patients with TBI.

Redox balance in elite female athletes: differences based on sport types.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to analyze changes in redox balance throughout parameters of oxidative stress and activities of antioxidant enzymes in elite female water polo (N.=15) and football players (N.=19) aged between 20 and 23. Fourteen age-matched sedentary women were also included in the study. METHODS: Blood sampling was performed to measure levels of lipid peroxidation (MDA), total antioxidant status (TAS), superoxide anion radical (O2-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), nitrites, superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), catalase activity (CAT) and glutathione-peroxidase activity (GPx). RESULTS: Levels of MDA, TAS, GSSG and H2O2 were significantly higher in athletes than in the control women. Football players had higher levels of O2- than the other two groups. Activity of SOD was higher in water polo players when compared with the football and control groups, CAT was increased in all athletes, while GPx did not differ among groups. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, prolonged intensive training markedly increases oxidative stress in women, which depends on the type of sport. Lower concentration of O2- and increased activity of SOD in water polo players compared to football players suggest that mechanisms of adaptation of antioxidative defense are related to the type of exercise.

Biphasic response of cardiodynamic adaptations to swimming exercise in rats.

The aim of research was to assess exercise-induced changes in mechanics of hearts isolated from rats, as well as time-course of those changes. Wistar rats (n = 42) were divided into control, moderately trained (swimming 1 hour, 5 days a week for 9 or 12 weeks) and strenuously trained (swimming 2, 3 and 4 times a day for an hour in weeks 10, 11 and 12, respectively) groups. After sacrificing, hearts (weight: 1480.82 ± 145.38 mg) were isolated and perfused on a Langendorff apparatus. Coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) was gradually increased (from 40 to 120 cm H(2)O) in order to establish coronary autoregulation. Parameters of cardiac contractility were recorded: maximum and minimum rate of change of pressure in the left ventricle (dp/dt max and dp/dt min), systolic and diastolic left ventricular pressure (SLVP and DLVP), heart rate (HR) and coronary flow (CF). Nine weeks of moderate exercise induced slight depression of coronary function (decrease of dp/dt max, dp/dt min, SLVP and DLVP), while 3 additional weeks of moderate training improved hearts function, but not to the extent that the strenuous training program did. The results of our study add evidence about beneficial effects of regular moderate exercise on heart, and furthermore, show that exercising frequently, if the intensity stays within moderate range, may not have detrimental effects on cardiodynamics.

Effects of perineural steroid injections on median nerve conduction during the carpal tunnel release.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The treatment outcome of the median nerve compressive neuropathy in the carpal zone due to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is represented by recovering the nerves sensibility, conductivity, condition and strength. Perineural application of betamethasone during the surgical decompression might result in faster recovery of compressed median nerve's conduction speed. METHODS: In this study 40 patients with CTS were randomly divided in the two groups. In the first group (n = 20) we performed the surgical decompression of the median nerve by the open release of the carpal tunnel, and in the second group (n = 20) we applicated a perineural injection of 1 ml of betamethason immediately after the surgical decompression. We performed the electrodiagnostic (ED) examinations 7, 30 and 90 days after the surgery, and measured the conduction speed of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel zone and the sensitivity conduction speed of the median nerve. RESULTS: Significant differences in examined ED respective variable values in different time intervals were obtained. At the final measurements, 90 days after the surgical procedure, both groups evidenced a full recovery of the conduction speed in the carpal tunnel with statistically significant better results in the second group of the patients (t = -2.116; p = 0.043). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative application of the corticosteroid injection during the surgical decompression results in faster regaining of conduction speed of the median nerve.