Exercise addiction measure through the Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI) and health in habitual exercisers. A systematic review and meta-analysis. / Adicción al ejercicio medida a través del Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI) y salud en deportistas habituales. Una revisión sistemática y meta-análisis.

Research on physical exercise addiction is becoming more frequent due to the importance of excessive physical activity on health in general. Different studies have investigated the prevalence of risk of exercise addiction (REA) and its consequences. Furthermore, there exist a series of contradictions regarding the relationship between REA and other variables associated with physical training. One goal of this systematic review and meta-analysis consists of analysing possible differences in prevalence, age, general health (mental and physical quality of life, eating disorders) and physical training (hours/week) between groups with REA and non-addicted groups. The Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI) was used to undertake this research. Research was carried out in electronic databases such as Pubmed, SPORTDiscus or Scopus. Inclusion criteria: Studies were eligible as long as participants were measured with EAI, results showed prevalence of REA and/or EAI score, and the study was observational. Twenty studies met the established eligibility criteria for inclusion in the systematic review, whereas seventeen studies were included in the meta-analysis. Regarding mental quality of life, results showed lower values for the exercise addiction risk group, compared with the non-addicted group. The exercise addiction group was younger than the non-addicted group and dedicated more weekly hours to physical training. Subjects with REA have a lower health profile than those with non-REA. However, more research is required, given the lack of consensus on how to measure exercise addiction and the scarce number of studies to date.

Cada vez es más frecuente la investigación sobre adicción al ejercicio debido a la importancia del exceso de actividad física en la salud general. Diferentes estudios han investigado la prevalencia del riesgo de adicción al ejercicio (RAE) y sus consecuencias, existiendo contradicciones con respecto a la asociación entre el RAE y las variables asociadas al entrenamiento. Uno de los objetivos de esta revisión sistemática fue analizar los estudios que han usado el Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI) para valorar el RAE, así como realizar un meta-análisis para observar las posibles diferencias entre grupos con y sin RAE respecto a la prevalencia, edad, variables de salud (calidad de vida física y mental, desórdenes alimentarios) o de entrenamiento físico (horas/semana). Las búsquedas de estudios se realizaron en bases de datos electrónicas como Pubmed, SPORTDiscus o Scopus, y se hicieron utilizando términos de indexación y palabras clave relacionados con materias médicas o ciencias del deporte. Los criterios de inclusión fueron: participantes evaluados con el EAI; resultados reportados de prevalencia de RAE y/o puntuación en dicho cuestionario; diseño observacional. Veinte estudios cumplieron los criterios de elegibilidad para la revisión sistemática y 17 fueron incluidos en el meta-análisis. Los resultados mostraron peores valores en calidad de vida mental y trastornos de alimentación en el grupo con RAE comparado con el grupo sin RAE. Además, el grupo con RAE era más joven y realizaba más horas de entrenamiento semanal. No obstante, es necesaria más investigación.

[Effectiveness of a stretching program on anxiety levels of workers in a logistic platform: a randomized controlled study]. / Efectividad de un programa de estiramientos sobre los niveles de ansiedad de los trabajadores de una plataforma logística: un estudio controlado aleatorizado.

OBJECTIVE: To study the influence of a short programme of stretching exercises on anxiety levels of workers in a Spanish logistic company. METHOD: A controlled clinical trial was carried out by means of an inter-subject design of random homogeneous blocks. Participants were assigned to the experimental group (n=67), treated with a programme of stretching exercises of 10-minute duration after working hours for a period of 3 months, or to the untreated control group (n=67). The primary result variable was anxiety, and the secondary variables were burnout syndrome, quality of life and flexibility. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) by intention to treat was performed on each of the result variables by controlling the baseline scores, the age and the practice of introjective activities outside the program, with the size effect calculated by means of the partial eta-squared value (η(2)). RESULTS: The results of the ANCOVA showed a moderate effect of the stretching exercise programme on the levels of anxiety (η(2)=0,06; P=.004). Other effects found were substantial for flexibility (η(2)=0,13; P<.001); moderately high for bodily pain (η(2)=0,08; P=.001), and moderate for vitality (η(2)=0,05; P=.016); mental health (η(2)=0,05; P=.017); general health (η(2)=0,04; P=.028) and exhaustion (η(2)=0,04; P=.025). CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of a short programme of stretching exercises in the work place was effective for reducing levels of anxiety, bodily pain and exhaustion, and for raising levels of vitality, mental health, general health and flexibility. This type of intervention could be seen as a low-cost strategy for improving the well-being of workers.

Can an Aerobic Exercise Programme Improve the Response of the Growth Hormone in Fibromyalgia Patients? A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Downgrade alterations in the growth hormone (GH) might be involved in the development of some of the fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) symptoms. Our aim was to assess the effects of an aerobic exercise programme on the GH levels in patients with FMS. A randomised controlled trial was developed. Sixty-four Spanish women with FMS were randomly assigned to the experimental arm (n = 33) and treated with a 16-week group physical exercise programme based on low impact aerobic dance (three weekly sessions, one-hour each), or to the treatment-as-usual (TAU) control arm (n = 31). The primary outcome was the GH response to acute exercise. Secondary outcomes were GH basal, sensitivity to pain, body composition, aerobic capacity, and quality of life. The ANCOVA results showed a moderate effect of treatment improving the GH response to acute exercise. Other effects were substantial for aerobic capacity, quality of life, and body composition. Pre-intervention GH response to acute exercise was related to improvements in aerobic capacity and quality of life. An aerobic exercise programme may improve the response of the GH, aerobic capacity, body composition, and quality of life in women with FMS. The normalization of neuro-hormonal patterns involving the GH might be key for improving some FMS symptoms.

Adicción al ejercicio medida a través del Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI) y salud en deportistas habituales. Una revisión sistemática y meta-análisis / Exercise addiction measure through the Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI) and health in habitual exercisers. A systematic review and meta-analysis

Cada vez es más frecuente la investigación sobre adicción al ejercicio debido a la importancia del exceso de actividad física en la salud general. Diferentes estudios han investigado la prevalencia del riesgo de adicción al ejercicio (RAE) y sus consecuencias, existiendo contradicciones con respecto a la asociación entre el RAE y las variables asociadas al entrenamiento. Uno de los objetivos de esta revisión sistemática fue analizar los estudios que han usado el Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI) para valorar el RAE, así como realizar un meta-análisis para observar las posibles diferencias entre grupos con y sin RAE respecto a la prevalencia, edad, variables de salud (calidad de vida física y mental, desórdenes alimentarios) o de entrenamiento físico (horas/semana). Las búsquedas de estudios se realizaron en bases de datos electrónicas como Pubmed, SPORTDiscus o Scopus, y se hicieron utilizando términos de indexación y palabras clave relacionados con materias médicas o ciencias del deporte. Los criterios de inclusión fueron: participantes evaluados con el EAI; resultados reportados de prevalencia de RAE y/o puntuación en dicho cuestionario; diseño observacional. Veinte estudios cumplieron los criterios de elegibilidad para la revisión sistemática y 17 fueron incluidos en el meta-análisis. Los resultados mostraron peores valores en calidad de vida mental y trastornos de alimentación en el grupo con RAE comparado con el grupo sin RAE. Además, el grupo con RAE era más joven y realizaba más horas de entrenamiento semanal. No obstante, es necesaria más investigación

Research on physical exercise addiction is becoming more frequent due to the importance of excessive physical activity on health in general. Different studies have investigated the prevalence of risk of exercise addiction (REA) and its consequences. Furthermore, there exist a series of contradictions regarding the relationship between REA and other variables associated with physical training. One goal of this systematic review and meta-analysis consists of analysing possible differences in prevalence, age, general health (mental and physical quality of life, eating disorders) and physical training (hours/week) between groups with REA and non-addicted groups. The Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI) was used to undertake this research. Research was carried out in electronic databases such as Pubmed, SPORTDiscus or Scopus. Inclusion criteria: Studies were eligible as long as participants were measured with EAI, results showed prevalence of REA and/or EAI score, and the study was observational. Twenty studies met the established eligibility criteria for inclusion in the systematic review, whereas seventeen studies were included in the meta-analysis. Regarding mental quality of life, results showed lower values for the exercise addiction risk group, compared with the non-addicted group. The exercise addiction group was younger than the non-addicted group and dedicated more weekly hours to physical training. Subjects with REA have a lower health profile than those with non-REA. However, more research is required, given the lack of consensus on how to measure exercise addiction and the scarce number of studies to date

Efectividad de un programa de estiramientos sobre los niveles de ansiedad de los trabajadores de una plataforma logística: un estudio controlado aleatorizado / Effectiveness of a stretching program on anxiety levels of workers in a logistic platform: a randomized controlled study

Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad de un programa abreviado de estiramientos sobre los niveles de ansiedad de los trabajadores de una empresa logística española. Método: Se llevó adelante un ensayo clínico controlado, con un diseño inter-sujetos, aleatorizado mediante conglomerados. Los participantes fueron asignados al grupo experimental (n = 67), tratado con un programa de estiramientos, de 10′ de duración tras la jornada laboral, durante 3 meses, o al grupo control (n = 67), no tratado. La variable resultado principal fue la ansiedad estado y las variables secundarias el burnout, la calidad de vida y la flexibilidad. Se llevó a cabo un análisis de covarianza (ANCOVA) por intención de tratar sobre las variables resultado, controlando las puntuaciones basales, la edad y la práctica de actividades introyectivas fuera del programa, calculando el tamaño del efecto mediante eta cuadrado parcial (η2). Resultados: Los resultados del ANCOVA señalaron un efecto moderado del programa de estiramientos sobre la ansiedad (η2 = 0,06; p = 0,004). También se encontraron efectos elevados en flexibilidad (η2 = 0,13; p < 0,001), moderadamente altos en dolor corporal (η2 = 0,08; p = 0,001), moderados en vitalidad (η2 = 0,05; p = 0,016), salud mental (η2 = 0,05; p = 0,017), salud general (η2 = 0,04; p = 0,028) y agotamiento (η2 = 0,04; p = 0,025). Conclusiones: La implementación de un programa de estiramientos en el lugar de trabajo resultó eficaz para disminuir los niveles de ansiedad, dolor corporal y agotamiento, así como para aumentar la vitalidad, salud mental, salud general y flexibilidad. Este tipo de intervención podría constituir una estrategia de bajo coste para la mejora del bienestar de los trabajadores (AU)

Objective: To study the influence of a short programme of stretching exercises on anxiety levels of workers in a Spanish logistic company. Method: A controlled clinical trial was carried out by means of an inter-subject design of random homogeneous blocks. Participants were assigned to the experimental group (n = 67), treated with a programme of stretching exercises of 10-minute duration after working hours for a period of 3 months, or to the untreated control group (n = 67). The primary result variable was anxiety, and the secondary variables were burnout syndrome, quality of life and flexibility. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) by intention to treat was performed on each of the result variables by controlling the baseline scores, the age and the practice of introjective activities outside the program, with the size effect calculated by means of the partial eta-squared value (η2). Results: The results of the ANCOVA showed a moderate effect of the stretching exercise programme on the levels of anxiety (η2 = 0,06; P = 0.004). Other effects found were substantial for flexibility (η2 = 0,13; P < .001); moderately high for bodily pain (η2 = 0,08; P =0 .001), and moderate for vitality (η2 = 0,05; P = .016); mental health (η2 = 0,05; P =0 .017); general health (η2 = 0,04; P =0 .028) and exhaustion (η2 = 0,04; P = 0.025). Conclusions: The implementation of a short programme of stretching exercises in the work place was effective for reducing levels of anxiety, bodily pain and exhaustion, and for raising levels of vitality, mental health, general health and flexibility. This type of intervention could be seen as a low-cost strategy for improving the well-being of workers (AU)