Effects of qigong exercise on physical fitness and patient-reported health outcomes in lung cancer survivors.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a three-month Guolin Qigong (GQ) intervention on physical fitness and patient-reported health outcomes among patients with lung cancer. METHODS: This pilot study was a non-randomized controlled trial. Eligible participants who were over 18 years of age and diagnosed with stage I-IV lung cancer were enrolled in the study and received either the GQ intervention or usual care (UC). Participants in the GQ group performed GQ at least twice a week (one hour per session) for three months. Physical fitness (chair stand, arm curl, sit and reach, back scratch, 8-foot up and go, 6-min walk test) was assessed at baseline, post-intervention, six months, and 12 months. Self-reported quality of life and sleep (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life questionnaire and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and six months. RESULTS: Forty-nine participants (65% females, 59.1 ± 7.0 years old, ranging from 39 to 71 years old) were enrolled in the study, and 25 participants completed all tests at 12-month follow-up (13 in GQ vs. 12 in UC; 68% females, 59.3 ± 5.5 years old). Compared to the UC group, results for the chair stand and arm curl tests improved significantly in the GQ group from baseline to post-intervention (P = 0.024 and P = 0.041, respectively). Similarly, the 8-foot up and go test improved in the GQ group from baseline to post-intervention and 12 months (P = 0.004 and P = 0.008, respectively) when compared to the UC group. Between-group analyses also revealed a statistically significant improvement in global health status/quality of life from baseline to six months (P = 0.018) and quality of sleep from baseline to post-intervention (P = 0.034) in favor of the GQ group. CONCLUSION: GQ had a beneficial effect on lower and upper body strength, locomotor performance (speed, agility, and balance while moving), quality of sleep, and quality of life among lung cancer survivors, but further randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm these findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial has been registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2200059145).

Have the Fundamental Movement Skills of U.S. Children Changed?

Purpose: By using four national data sets, this study aimed to examine the changes in U.S. children's fundamental movement skills (FMS) from 1985 to 2019. Method: Three Tests Gross of Motor Development (TGMD) normative studies, i.e. TGMD-1 (N = 909, male% = 50), TGMD-2 (N = 1143, male% = 50) and TGMD-3 (N = 864, male% = 51), and the TGMD-2 data of the 2012 NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey (NNYFS-2012; raw N = 352, national represented population = 12,509,706, male% = 51) were used for analyses. Each item in TGMD-2/NNYFS and TGMD-3 was carefully examined, and these that did not match to TGMD-1 were deleted. Cohen's D effect size (ES) was utilized for the difference among year-to-year comparisons. Result: From 1985 to 2000, FMS in US children of 3-7 years old (90% increase & 10% no change) increased temporarily, but remained stable (17% increase & 83% no change) among 8-10 years old. Between 2000 and 2019, however, U.S. children began to demonstrate a slight/stable drop in FMS among 3-5 years old (22% decrease & 78% no change), and a distinct decline among 6-10 years old (80% decrease & 20% no change). While children with normal BMI showed the highest FMS score, the direct cause of reduction in FMS is still unknown. Conclusion: An overall up-and-down change was observed in U.S. children's FMS between 1985 and 2019, and more longitudinal studies with FMS-related variables are needed.

U.S. Children and Youth's Physical Activities Inside and Outside of School PE: 1985 vs. 2012.

The purpose of this study was, by taking advantage of the rich data from two U.S. national fitness surveys, to examine the physical activity (PA) students engaged in, both inside and outside school physical education (PE), determine if there are differences by grade, sex, and weight status, and if there was a change between 1985 and 2012. The data from the 1985 National Children and Youth Fitness Study (NCYFS) and the 2012 NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey (NNYFS) were matched, merged (N = 6178, 3107 boys and 3071 girls), and analyzed. It was found that basketball remained the most popular PA inside school PE across both surveys. Swimming was the most popular PA outside of school PE in 1985, but was replaced by running in 2012. Although PA taught and promoted inside of school PE and that such PA practiced outside were moderately correlated across the surveys, some disconnections were noticed. The impact of grade, sex, and weight status on PA preference and participation was also confirmed. What is needed is to the design and integration of more lifelong and individual PAs in future school PE curricula and school and community children and youth sport and PA programs.

Benefits of tai ji quan practice on neuromuscular functions in older adults: A Systematic Review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Tai Ji Quan (TJQ) practice has been recommended for reducing falls in older adults, but a gap exists in our understanding of the neuromuscular mechanisms underlying TJQ practice benefits. This study aims to quantify and validate neuromuscular mechanisms underlying TJQ practice benefits in older adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This review and analysis followed the PRISMA framework. All meta-analyses were performed in R. RESULTS: For healthy older adults, TJQ practice was found to decrease muscle onset latency. Higher leg muscle activations were found during TJQ gait in comparison to normal gait. A significant interaction between TJQ practice time and age of the cohort was observed in muscle onset latency. For adults with pre-existing health conditions, TJQ practice has similar neuromuscular benefits as conventional rehabilitation methods. CONCLUSION: Neuromuscular function improvements associated with TJQ practice provide a mechanism for reducing falls in older adults with and without pre-existing health conditions.

Variability: Human nature and its impact on measurement and statistical analysis.

•Variability is a human nature and large or small variability could directly impact our measurement and statistical data analysis practice.•If not handle correctly, variability could lead to incorrect conclusion or misleading statement on research findings.•Using real and hypothetical data, common errors in measurement and analyzing of variability were illustrated and how to address the errors were highlighted.•There is a call for improving in measurement techniques and better statistical training for handling variability.