The Cardiac Comeback-Beating Stronger: Exploring the Remarkable Resilience of the Heart in COVID-19 Recovery through Cardiac Autonomic Analysis.

Background and Objectives: Analyzing the cardiac autonomic function in COVID-19 patients can provide insights into the impact of the virus on the heart's regulatory mechanisms and its recovery. The autonomic nervous system plays a crucial role in regulating the heart's functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiac output. This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on heart rate variability (HRV) during a 6-min walk test (6MWT). Materials and Methods: The study included 74 participants, consisting of 37 individuals who had recovered from mild to moderate COVID-19 and 37 healthy controls. The study assessed heart rate variability (HRV) and blood pressure both before and after a 6-min walk test (6MWT). Results: The study found significant differences in a few time domains (SDNN and pNN50) and all frequency domain measures, whereas there were no significant differences in demographic characteristics or blood pressure between COVID-19-recovered individuals and healthy controls at rest. There were significant 6MWT effects on average HR, time-domain (SDNN and pNN50) measures of HRV, and all frequency domain measures of HRV. A significant group × 6MWT interaction was found for SDNN, pNN50, total power, Ln total power, LF, HF, Ln LF, Ln HF, and LF nu. Conclusions: Cardiac Autonomic analysis through HRV is essential to ensure the continued health and well-being of COVID-19 survivors and to minimize the potential long-term impacts of the disease on their cardiovascular system. This suggests that HRV analysis during the recovery phase following exercise could serve as a valuable tool for evaluating the physiological effects of COVID-19 and monitoring the recovery process.

Enhancing Functional Ability in Chronic Nonspecific Lower Back Pain: The Impact of EMG-Guided Trunk Stabilization Exercises.

BACKGROUND: Nonspecific lower back pain (NSLBP) is described as pain that is not caused by an identifiable, well-known disease, such as infection, tumor, osteoporosis, fracture, structural deformity, inflammatory condition, radicular syndrome, or cauda equina syndrome. AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of EMG-guided trunk stabilization exercises on functional disability associated with LBP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-blinded pre- and post-test experimental comparative design was used for this study. Fifty individuals with chronic NSLBP were screened for inclusion criteria. Of these, forty were randomly grouped into the EMG group receiving trunk-stability exercises with electromyography biofeedback and non-EMG group receiving trunk-stabilization exercises without EMG biofeedback. Participants performed five trunk-stability exercises 3 days a week for 4 weeks. The intensity of pain, range of motion, functional disability, and balance were measured at baseline and after 4 weeks. RESULTS: Both techniques indicated a significant effect on chronic NSLBP; however, trunk-stability exercises combined with EMG biofeedback produced better results in alleviating the intensity of pain, increasing the range of motion, and improving functional disabilities and static balance. CONCLUSION: The present study confirms that trunk-stability exercises with EMG biofeedback can be practiced safely, contributes to a greater boost in neuromuscular efficiency in the lumbar flexors and extensors, and is effective in modifying functional disability for patients with NSLBP.

Prevalence of text neck posture, smartphone addiction, and its association with neck disorders among university students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The smartphone emerges as an inevitable gadget in modern society and its increased usage results in neck disorders among its users. However, the factors associated with neck disorders among smartphone users are ambiguous and less explored in the literature. The purpose of this research was to determine the prevalence of text neck posture, smartphone addiction/overuse, and its association with neck disorders among university students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 313 university students who were aged 18 years and older, owned a smartphone, and used it during the preceding 12 months participated in this cross-sectional study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data regarding the prevalence of text neck posture, smartphone addiction/overuse, neck disorders, and the level of physical activity. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the association between the prevalence of neck disorders and text neck posture, smartphone addiction/overuse, and level of physical activity. The 12 months prevalence of neck disorders due to smartphone use among the participants was found to be 46%. The neck disorders were more prevalent among participants who reported text neck posture (P < 0.001) and categorized as smartphone-addicted/overuse (P < 0.001). Measures to promote the awareness of healthy use of smartphones including postural education and to decrease its screen time are warranted to reduce neck disorders.

Effect of circuit training with low-carbohydrate diet on body composition, cardiometabolic indices, and exercise capacity in adults with mild to moderate obesity in Saudi Arabia: A randomized control trial.

BACKGROUND: Circuit training that combines aerobic and resisted training is reported to reduce body fat, weight, and improve exercise capacity than performing either type of exercise independently. There is no study evaluating the combined effect of circuit training exercise (CTE) and dietary intervention (low-carbohydrate [LC] diet) among young males with obesity. METHODS: A randomized control trial was conducted to explore the effects of a combined program of CTE and a LC diet for adults with mild or moderate obesity. Seventy adults with obesity were allocated randomly into 2 groups. The experimental group (group 1) received circuit training with LC diet intervention, whereas the control (group 2) received only circuit training. The study variables such as exercise capacity, body composition, and cardiometabolic indices were measured at the baseline and the end of 60 days of intervention. RESULTS: The participants of group 1 showed significant improvements in body composition (body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, waist hip circumference, and body fat percentage), exercise capacity (maximal oxygen consumption), and cardiometabolic indices (high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and total cholesterol) with a P < .05 for all the variables, when compared with group 2. CONCLUSIONS: The combined structured CTE with controlled LC diet intervention in obese adults caused significant reduction in body composition and cardiometabolic indices variables and an increase in exercise capacity.

Effects of Yogic Interventions on Patients Diagnosed With Cardiac Diseases. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Presently, evidence-based research studies on the efficacy of complimentary therapies like yoga for patients with different cardiac diseases are limited and conflicting. The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on yogic interventions compared with usual care or non-pharmacological treatment in patients diagnosed with cardiac diseases. Methods: We conducted an electronic search of literature published from 2006 to May 2021 through five databases. PRISMA statement was used to develop and report a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. Sixteen RCTs were included in the systematic review and 11 RCTs were used for meta-analysis. Outcome measures were blood pressure, lipid profile, and psychosocial measures. The Cochrane collaboration tool was used to assess bias risk. Results: The results show that yogic interventions resulted in significant reduction in systolic (d = 046; 95% CI.08-0.84; I2 = 81.86%) and diastolic blood pressures (d = 0.56; 95% CI.13-0.99, I2 = 84.84%). A medium statistically significant increase in HDL (d =0.67; 95% CI 0 to 1.33; I2 79.7%) and a low but significant effect on LDL (d = 0.23; 95% CI -0.08-0.54; I2 32.61%), total cholesterol (d =0.28; 95% CI -0.14-0.7; I2 63.72%), and triglycerides (d = 0.43; 95% CI -0.1-0.97; I2 76.64%) were observed. Pooled effect sizes showed a medium to low statistically significant effect on psychosocial indicators viz., QoL, stress, anxiety, and depression. Conclusion: The meta-analysis found strong evidence of effectiveness of yogic interventions on lipid profile, blood pressure, and psychosocial outcomes in patients with diagnosed cardiac diseases.

Quantitative Assessment of Sensory Integration and Balance in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Cross-Sectional Study.

Postural stability is dependent on the interpretation of external inputs acquired by sensory information processes, such as visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems, in order to accomplish neuromuscular control, balance maintenance, and appropriate motor response. A defect in any of these systems, or in the integration of information given by these systems, might threaten their capacity to maintain balance. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the sensory integration and balance using the Biodex balance system (BBS) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during the static posture. Seventy-four children from both sexes, 38 with ASD matched with 36 typically developed (TD) children as a control group, were included in the study. Using the Biodex balance system, the postural sway was evaluated through the modified Clinical Test of Sensory Integration and Balance (m-CTSIB) during quiet standing. In this test, four different situations were considered from standing position: eyes open/firm surface, eyes closed/firm surface, eyes open/foam surface, and eyes closed/foam surface. ASD children showed a significant increase in postural sway under all tested conditions when compared to the TD children group, especially for the conditions in which visual and somatosensory inputs were disrupted (p-value < 0.05). These results provide evidence that postural stability decreased in ASD children. Under static postural challenges, the current study's findings imply that children diagnosed with ASD have postural control deficiencies, especially for the conditions in which visual and somatosensory input was disrupted. Further research must be conducted to find the best balance training program for ASD cases using the Biodex balance system and considering its impact on motor skills.