Middle-term effects of education programme in chronic low back pain patients to an adherence to physical activity: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study was to measure the impact of an education programme in Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) patients on their changing behaviour; particularly on the resumption or maintenance of physical activity (PA) at three and six months after care. METHODS: A two-group, randomised controlled clinical trial was conducted on 68 patients as the control group (CG) and 68 as the experimental group (EG). All patients benefited from a four-week multidisciplinary programme, with an educative programme for the EG. The dropouts of patients during the follow-up period and the PA level were measured at three and six months after the end of care. RESULTS: At 3-months, the EG presented a significant higher level of physical activity (91% of EG versus 77% of CG, p < 0.001) and at six months, this group presented a lower dropout rate than CG (60% of EG versus 73% of CG, p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: The educative programme, added to a multidisciplinary care plan, can improve adherence to the care programme and the continuum of PA. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Add an educative programme focused on motivation, physical activity, stress management and daily activities seems necessary to accompany CLBP patient towards the maintenance of a regular PA.

Effects of Physical Activity on Physical and Mental Health of Older Adults Living in Care Settings: A Systematic Review of Meta-Analyses.

Previous studies included in meta-analyses have highlighted the effects of physical activity on the physical and psychological health of older adults living in care settings. We conducted a systematic review of meta-analyses, of institutionalized older adults, to evaluate and conduct a narrative synthesis of the results of these meta-analyses. A literature search was conducted in three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) until 22 March 2023. After screening the identified articles with the PRISMA criteria filters, we included 11 meta-analyses in this systematic review. Higgins' (2013) assessment tool of the meta-analyses demonstrates that the studies were of good quality although future meta-analyses need to provide more information on the treatment of missing data. A summary of the results of these meta-analyses shows that physical activity reduces the rate of falls, mobility issues, functional dependence, and depression, and improves health status. Future studies need to focus on new ways to promote and adapt physical activities to increase the participation of older adults in care settings.

Isometric Strength Database for Muscle Maximal Voluntary Endurance Field Tests: Normative Data.

BACKGROUND: Different field tests are used to evaluate muscle capacity, in particular maximal voluntary isometric endurance. However, although there are some normative values for a few muscle endurance tests, these do not consider the weight, height, gender, or age of individuals, which are well-known factors that influence muscle performance. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the test-retest reproducibility of eight field tests and establish muscle endurance norms, in a healthy population, based on their anthropometric characteristics, which could allow the optimal evaluation of the entire muscle function in a quick manner. DESIGN: Case series. METHODS: This study was conducted in two phases. The first phase was to check the reproducibility inter- and intra-assessor for eight isometric muscle field tests on 20 volunteer subjects aged 40.9 ± 11.6 years old (age range, 21-58 years). The second part was to establish muscle maximal voluntary isometric endurance norms according to these tests on a total of 400 healthy participants grouped by age (50 males and females in each of the age brackets, 20-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59 years old, for a total of 200 males and 200 females). RESULTS: The intra- and inter-assessor reproducibility tests are good for all muscle measurements (the intraclass correlation coefficients varied between 0.915 and 0.996 and the coefficient of variation between 3.6 and 11.8%). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves demonstrates a good sensibility with values greater than 0.7 for each test. Each muscle belt presents same ratio regardless of the age and gender group. The simultaneous multiple regression analyses highlight that the anthropometric characteristics of subjects influence significantly the performance of isometric tests. CONCLUSION: This study has permitted establishing prediction equations in a healthy population according to their anthropometric characteristics as well as agonist/antagonist ratios for eight muscle isometric field tests after demonstrating a good reproducibility of all tests.

Wii Fit® training vs. Adapted Physical Activities: which one is the most appropriate to improve the balance of independent senior subjects? A randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of three protocols (Adapted Physical Activities, Wii Fit(®), Adapted Physical Activities + Wii Fit(®)) on the balance of independent senior subjects. DESIGN: Case comparison study. SETTINGS: Healthy elderly subjects living in independent community dwellings. SUBJECTS: Thirty-six subjects, average age 75.09 ± 10.26 years, took part in this study, and were randomly assigned to one of the four experimental groups: G1 followed an Adapted Physical Activities training programme, while the second group (G2) participated in Wii Fit(®) training and the third one (G3) combined both methods. There was no training for the fourth group (G4). All subjects trained once a week (1 hour) for 20 weeks and were assessed before and after treatment. MAIN MEASURES: The Tinetti test, unipedal tests and the Wii Fit(®) tests. RESULTS: After training, the scores in the Tinetti test decreased significantly (P < 0.05) for G1, G2 and G3 respectively in static conditions and for G1 and G3 in dynamic conditions. After training, the performance in the unipedal tests decreased significantly (P < 0.05) for G1 and G3. The position of the centre of gravity was modified significantly (P < 0.05) for G2 and G3. CONCLUSION: After 20 training sessions, G1 (Adapted Physical Activities), G2 (Wii Fit(®)) and G3 (Adapted Physical Activities and Wii Fit(®)) improved their balance. In addition, G1 and G3 increased their dynamic balance. The findings suggest that Adapted Physical Activities training limits the decline in sensorial functions in the elderly.

Postural imbalance in non-treated adolescent idiopathic scoliosis at different periods of progression.

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that imbalance in patients with a severe deformity of the spine is associated with an increase in the sensory integration disorder. This paper is a case comparison study. Patients were divided into three groups: able-bodied (n = 53), observation (n = 23), and pre-brace (n = 26) groups. Time domain parameters (sway area, position and displacement) and structural posturographic parameters [mean distance (MD) and mean peak (MP)] were calculated from the COP excursion using a force platform. A sensory integration disorder could be an important factor in the progression of the scoliotic curve. Significant differences were found in time domain between observation, pre-brace and able-bodied groups. The results for the structural posturographic parameters showed significant differences between the pre-brace and the able-bodied groups (P = 0.018 MD and P = 0.02 MP) demonstrating a perturbation in sensory integration system by an increase of imbalance. The absence of statistical difference between the observation and the pre-brace groups for the structural posturographic parameters indicates a perturbation of sensory integration system associated with curve progression. Our study has demonstrated that the pre-brace group is less stable than the able-bodied group. The severity of scoliosis in pre-brace scoliotic girls could be related to an increase in the sensory integration disorder.

Effects of training and detraining on the static and dynamic balance in elderly fallers and non-fallers: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of training based on static and dynamic balance in single and dual task conditions in order to analyse the effects of detraining on static and dynamic balance in healthy elderly fallers and non-fallers. METHOD: A group of 16 subjects were trained: eight fallers aged 71.1 +/- 5.0 years and eight non-fallers aged 68.4 +/- 4.5 years. The subjects were evaluated 3 months before the training period, 2 days before the training period, 2 days after the end of the training period and 3 months after the training period. All subjects performed a unipedal test with eyes open and eyes closed. Gait parameters were analysed under single-task and dual motor-task conditions. RESULTS: This study demonstrated a loss of physical capacities over 3 months for stride time, single support time for fallers in both conditions. Physical training significantly improves static and dynamic balance under single and dual task conditions. Lastly, after 3 months of detraining, a loss of the physical training effects were measured for fallers and non-fallers on the different walking parameters in the two conditions and on the unipedal tests. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of stimulation before the trained period shows a negative effect of ageing on walking and falls whereas training permits an improvement in static balance and the pattern of walking under single and dual task conditions, which could be due to an increase in muscular strength and a better division of attention. On the other hand, 3 months of detraining inhibited the effects of training, which showed the speed of the decline caused by 'natural' ageing.

Effects of physical training on the physical capacity of frail, demented patients with a history of falling: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: to develop a physical training programme to improve balance in dependent, demented, people with a history of falling, and so decrease falls and increase autonomy. METHODS: the study was undertaken on 20 demented elderly people with a history of falling with an average age of 81.4+/-4.7 years and an average mini mental state score of 16.3+/-6.5. They had all passed 'get up and go', 'chair sit and reach', walking speed and static balance tests. They were assigned to a control group or a training group; the latter were trained with two sessions a week for 16 weeks. RESULTS: walking, mobility, flexibility and static balance were significantly improved in the training group (P<0.05), but not in the controls. The trained subjects did not suffer a relapse, while the controls did during the training period. CONCLUSION: the balance of frail, demented, elderly patients with a history of falling can be improved by training.