Sodium Bicarbonate In In-Hospital and Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Systematic Literature Review.

Cardiac arrest is a common cause of death worldwide. Sodium bicarbonate (SB) has commonly been used during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to correct metabolic acidosis (MA). However, the existence of evidence about its administration remains controversial. This systematic review aimed to summarize the effectiveness of SB in patients with in-hospital and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. We searched Medline, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) for studies that used SB in cardiac arrest, from November 1962 until December 2023. A total of 372 records were identified and 12 studies were included. Despite few studies suggesting that SB may improve outcomes in prolonged CPR, the overall data revealed that SB was associated with lower rates of ROSC and outcomes. This review conceded that there is limited evidence to warrant the use of SB during CPR other than under specific conditions, which include hyperkalemic cardiac arrest, severe cardiotoxicity, or overdose due to tricyclic antidepressants. In conclusion, SB is not recommended for conventional use in patients with cardiac arrest. Further studies should be performed to determine whether it has any benefit in these scenarios.

Physical Activity and Psychosocial Outcomes in Adults with Achondroplasia: An Exploratory Study.

BACKGROUND: Adults with achondroplasia face physical and psychosocial challenges that may impact their health-related quality of life and mental health. This exploratory cross-sectional study aimed to investigate relationships between health-related quality of life, mental health, and physical activity levels in adults with achondroplasia, focusing on potential gender differences. METHODS: Sixteen adults with achondroplasia (10 women, 6 men; age 37.2 ± 13.5 years) completed the Short Form Health survey, the Brief Symptom Inventory, and the International Physical Activity questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, non-parametric group comparisons, correlational analyses, and linear regressions were conducted. RESULTS: Moderate physical activity showed strong positive correlations with general health (rs = 0.79, 95% CI [0.50, 0.92]), vitality (rs = 0.60, 95% CI [0.15, 0.85]), and physical functioning (rs = 0.62, 95% CI [0.18, 0.86]), on SF-36. Women reported lower quality of life scores than men across most SF-36 dimensions. Significant gender difference was observed in vitality (r = 0.61) and pain (r = 0.55). Physically active participants presented better outcomes in general health (r = 0.63) and vitality (r = 0.55) compared to inactive participants. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary evidence suggesting potential benefits of moderate-intensity physical activity on health-related quality of life and mental health among adults with achondroplasia, with notable gender differences. While limited by sample size and study design, the findings highlight the need for larger, longitudinal studies to further explore the role of physical activity in enhancing well-being in this population.

Comparative Efficacy of Neuromodulation and Structured Exercise Program on Autonomic Modulation in Fibromyalgia Patients: Pilot Study.

Background: Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder marked by widespread muscle and joint pain, persistent fatigue, sleep disturbances, and irregularities in the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Methods: This study compared the effectiveness of neuromodulation using the EXOPULSE Mollii suit with a structured exercise program in regulating ANS function in fibromyalgia patients. In this randomized, longitudinal crossover study, 10 female patients were randomly assigned to either the Suit + Exercise group or the Exercise + Suit group. Each group participated in two sessions per week for eight weeks, followed by a two-week washout period before switching to the other intervention. We measured cortical arousal, microcirculation, and heart rate variability (HRV) before and after the 1st, 8th, and 16th sessions. Results: The results showed significant improvements in cortical arousal, HRV, and microcirculation with the neuromodulation treatment whereas the exercise program only produced short-term improvements in cortical arousal. Conclusion: The EXOPULSE Mollii suit exhibited cumulative benefits on ANS modulation over time, suggesting potential long-term advantages for managing fibromyalgia. However, further research is needed to explore the delayed effects of both treatments on ANS modulation.

Evolution of documents related to the influence of physical activity and functional capacity throughout the aging process: a bibliometric review.

Physical inactivity can lead to frailty and negative health outcomes in middle-aged to older adults. Sedentary individuals have double the risk of death compared to those who engage in high levels of physical activity (PA). The advantages of practicing PA in older age are significant, with regular, moderate-intensity activity (150 min per week)being consistently linked with a decreased risk of chronic disease, cognitive decline, and mortality. Therefore, the study aimed to carry out a bibliometric review related to the terms "Physical activity," "Functional capacity" and "Aging" including all the documents published in the Web of Science Core Collection until 31st December 2023. The sample was made up of 231 studies related to the topic. The results reported that the first document was published in 1994. However, there was no continuity in the publication of the documents till 1998, which was the first year with at least one document published. Considering 1998 as the first year, it is observed an exponential growth of 77.4%, between the oldest (1997-2008) and contemporaneous studies (2008-2023), in which "Geriatric Gerontology" was the Web of Science category with the highest number of documents (n = 59). The journal "Experimental Gerontology" was associated with the largest number of published documents (n = 7), being indexed in Quartil 2. The years 2009 had the highest number of citations (n = 1811), with a total of 7 documents published and 2018 with the higher number of documents (n = 25). These results reported the importance of PA in elderly people, and how it influences the risk of falls, improving the balance and the functional capacity. Thus, it is important to carry out programmes to promote physical activity to this population and reduce the risk of falls and the presence of diseases.

Prevalence of Lower Back Pain in Portuguese Equestrian Riders.

Lower back pain is prevalent in equestrian athletes, but its prevalence and associated factors are unknown in the Portuguese equestrian population. A questionnaire regarding lower back pain and possible associated factors was answered by 347 respondents. Of the respondents, 214 (61.7%) stated having experienced lower back pain in the past 12 months and therefore completed the Roland Morris disability questionnaire. Among the latter, 63.1% stated that lower back pain impaired their performance. The probability of suffering from lower back pain was higher in individuals with higher weekly riding workloads, who reported equestrianism as their main occupation, and who performed daily stable duties. Considering a Roland Morris disability score of 4 as the cut-off value for dysfunction, this sample had an average score of 5.39 ± 4.42. Individuals who stated equestrianism was their main occupation showed a significantly higher risk (OR = 1.759, p = 0.041) of exhibiting a score ≥ 4 than those who stated equestrianism as a hobby. Age (p = 0.029), body mass index (p = 0.047), and daily performance of stable duties (p = 0.030) were also associated with a higher Roland Morris disability score. Further research is needed to understand the full impacts of lower back pain in Portuguese equestrian athletes.

Effects of a 16-week High-Speed Resistance Training program on body composition in community-dwelling independent older adults: A clinical trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Aging frequently causes changes in body composition, such as a loss of strength and muscular mass and an increase in fat mass. Exercise training programs have been suggested as effective strategies to mitigate or prevent age-related declines in body composition. Therefore, this study examined the effects of a sixteen-week High-Speed Resistance Training (HSRT) program on body composition parameters in community-dwelling independent older adults. METHODS: The present clinical trial included 79 older adults, who were divided into two groups: intervention group (IG, N = 40, age, 68.50 ± 3.54 years; weight, 68.65 ± 11.36 kg) and control group (CG, N = 39, age, 72.08 ± 5.89 years; weight, 67.04 ± 10.69 kg). IG performed the supervised HSRT for 16 weeks, with 3 sessions per week of 60-70min, each session of 5-6 exercises, 2-3 sets, and 6-10 reps/exercise, while CG did not perform any exercise training program. Body composition parameters were assessed using a multifrequency tetrapolar bioelectrical impedance analyzer (InBody® S10). The level of physical activity and the dietary intake were evaluated by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF) and the Food Frequency Questionnaire, respectively. Statistical analyses were performed using the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and effect size (Cohen's dunbiased). RESULTS: The analysis showed significant effects of the group factor for IG on phase angle (F(1) = 14.39, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.159). Additionally, results from Δ changes (post-minus pre-values) revealed small and medium effects in favor to IG for body cell mass (t(77) = 1.21, p = 0.230, dunb = 0.27 [-0.17, 0.71]) and phase angle (t(77) = 2.82, p = 0.006, dunb = 0.63 [0.18, 1.08]), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The HSRT could effectively prevent the decline in cellular health and cell integrity in older adults, as evidenced by the significant improvements in the phase angle. REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrial.gov (ID: NCT05586087).

Gait characterization in rare bone diseases in a real-world environment - A comparative controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Rare bone diseases (RBD) cause physical and sensory disability that affects quality of life. Mobility challenges are common for people with RBDs, and travelling to gait analysis labs can be very complex. Smartphone sensors could provide remote monitoring. RESEARCH QUESTION: This study aimed to search for and identify variables that can be used to discriminate between people with RBD and healthy people by using built-in smartphone sensors in a real-world setting. METHODS: In total, 18 participants (healthy: n=9; RBD: n=9), controlled by age and sex, were included in this cross-sectional study. A freely available App (Phyphox) was used to gather data from built-in smartphone sensors (accelerometer & gyroscope) at 60 Hz during a 15-min walk on a level surface without turns or stops. Temporal gait parameters like cadence, mean stride time and, coefficient variance (CoVSt) and nonlinear analyses, as the largest Lyapunov exponent (LLE) & sample entropy (SE) in the three accelerometer axes were used to distinguish between the groups and describe gait patterns. RESULTS: The LLE (p=0.04) and the SE of the z-axis (p=0.01), which are correlated with balance control during walking and regularity of the gait, are sufficiently sensitive to distinguish between RBD and controls. SIGNIFICANCE: The use of smartphone sensors to monitor gait in people with RBD allows for the identification of subtle changes in gait patterns, which can be used to inform assessment and management strategies in larger cohorts.

The effect of Ashtanga-Vinyasa Yoga method on air force pilots' operational performance.

Introduction: In today's military landscape, optimizing performance and bolstering physical health and mental resilience are critical objectives. Introducing a 12-week Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Supta Method (AVYSM) to the training protocol of military trained Airforce pilots, we aim to assesses the feasibility and impact of the method. Materials and equipment: Borg Scale assesses the intensity level of physical activity during the intervention. Flight simulator data gauges operational performance responses. Postural control responses are measured using a force platform, stress responses are monitored via heart monitor, and handgrip dynamometry will measure strength. Respiratory capacity is assessed using a spirometer, body composition is evaluated using impedance balance, and aviation-related questionnaires are administered before and after the intervention period. Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, the totality of pilots from the "Masters in Military Aeronautics: aviator pilot specialist" course at the Portuguese Air Force Academy (PAA) were randomly assigned to the yoga intervention or the waiting list control groups, with participants providing written informed consent. The control group followed protocolized course classes for 12 weeks, while the intervention group integrated two weekly one-hour yoga sessions into their course. Results: The PAA has approved the implementation of this intervention protocol at Airbase 11 in Beja, highlighting its significance for the organization's policy makers. We hypothesize that this method will enhance operational performance and, subsequently, elevate flight safety. Discussion: This research's potential extends beyond the PAA, as it can be adapted for use in Airforce departments of other nations and various military contexts. Clinical trial registration: Évora University research ethics committee-approval number 21050. Study registered on ClinicalTrials.gov under identifier NCT05821270, registered on April 19, 2023.

Migraine aura discrimination using machine learning: an fMRI study during ictal and interictal periods.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies on migraine with aura are challenging due to the rarity of patients with triggered cases. This study optimized methodologies to explore differences in ictal and interictal spatiotemporal activation patterns based on visual stimuli using fMRI in two patients with unique aura triggers. Both patients underwent separate fMRI sessions during the ictal and interictal periods. The Gaussian Process Classifier (GPC) was used to differentiate these periods by employing a machine learning temporal embedding approach and spatiotemporal activation patterns based on visual stimuli. When restricted to visual and occipital regions, GPC had an improved performance, with accuracy rates for patients A and B of roughly 86-90% and 77-81%, respectively (p < 0.01). The algorithm effectively differentiated visual stimulation and rest periods and identified times when aura symptoms manifested, as evident from the varying predicted probabilities in the GPC models. These findings contribute to our understanding of the role of visual processing and brain activity patterns in migraine with aura and the significance of temporal embedding techniques in examining aura phenomena. This finding has implications for diagnostic tools and therapeutic techniques, especially for patients suffering from aura symptoms.

Impact of Loneliness on Training Gains with Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback in the Elderly: A Pilot Study.

The negative impact of loneliness on the health of the elderly is particularly noticeable because of the effects of central control on the autonomic nervous system. Such an impact can be assessed through heart rate variability (HRV) analysis and can be modified using HRV biofeedback training. This study aimed to investigate the impact of different levels of social interaction reported by the elderly on HRV before and after training with HRV biofeedback and after a follow-up period. The participants of this pilot study comprised 16 elderly people of both sexes with a mean age of 71.20 ± 4.92 years. The participants were divided into two groups, the loneliness group (N = 8) and the no-loneliness group (N = 8), based on a combination of both criteria: the institutionalization condition (institutionalized or not) and the score on the loneliness scale (high or low). All participants had their HRV components recorded at baseline, after 14 training sessions with HRV biofeedback (three times a week, 15 min each for 4.5 weeks), and after 4.5 weeks of follow-up without training. After HRV biofeedback training, HRV components increased in both groups. However, the gains lasted at follow-up only in the no-loneliness group. In conclusion, loneliness can influence the maintenance of HRV after interruption of training with HRV biofeedback in the elderly. HRV biofeedback training can be an innovative and effective tool for complementary treatment of elderly individuals, but its effects on lonely elderly individuals need to be further investigated.

Unveiling the Chaos in Postural Control in Adults with Achondroplasia.

BACKGROUND: Achondroplasia is a rare genetic skeletal condition characterized by disproportionate short stature. There is limited evidence on postural control in adults with achondroplasia and how lower limb lengthening (intervention) interacts with body dynamics. This study investigated sway variability during quiet standing in adults with achondroplasia with natural growth (N) and with lower limb lengthening (LL). METHODS: Sixteen adults performed bilateral/unilateral standing tasks. Linear (total excursion, amplitude, and ellipse area) and nonlinear (sample entropy and correlation dimension) center of pressure sway metrics were analyzed in the anteroposterior/mediolateral directions. Relationships between posture metrics, strength, and physical activity were explored. Between-groups statistics were calculated. RESULTS: The LL group exhibited amplified linear sway, indicating larger postural deviations, and reduced sample entropy and correlation dimension, indicative of more rigid and repeated corrections. The N group exhibited more unpredictable and adaptive movement corrections. Numerous correlations emerged between strength and posture measures, with relationships altered by intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Adults with achondroplasia display distinct balance strategies influenced by intervention. The results indicate that LL is associated with altered variability and adaptability compared to natural development. Relationships with muscle strength spotlight a key role of muscle capacity in postural control modulation after growth alterations in this population.

Effectiveness of the KC@H programme compared with clinic-based rehabilitation in patients recovering from ACL reconstruction: a study protocol for a single-centre, two-arm, single-blinded, randomised controlled superiority trial.

Patients who cannot fully comply with conventional clinic-based rehabilitation (CR) sessions after ACL reconstruction (ACLR) may find additional internet-based sessions beneficial. These remote sessions include therapeutic exercises that can be done at home, potentially extending the reach of rehabilitation services to underserved areas, prolonging the duration of care and providing improved supervision. The study's main purpose is to determine if the Knee Care at Home (KC@H) programme is more effective than conventional CR alone in improving patient-reported, clinician-reported and physical functional performance outcome measures after ACLR. Additionally, the trial assesses the significance of changes in outcome measures for clinical practice. This protocol outlines a randomised controlled trial for postoperative recovery following ACLR. Adult participants of both sexes who meet specific criteria will be randomly assigned to either the CR group or the KC@H group. Only the latter group will receive internet-based sessions of therapeutic exercises at home and CR sessions. A follow-up evaluation will be conducted for both groups 12 weeks after the intervention ends. The trial protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Universidade de Évora and complies with the Code of Ethics of the World Medical Association. All recordings will be stored on a secure server with limited access and deleted as soon as they are no longer needed. The KC@H programme is expected to be superior to conventional CR for patients recovering from ACLR across multiple outcome measures. Also, the programme has the potential to promote superior recovery and extend the reach and duration of care. Trial registration number: NCT05828355.

Assessment of spatiotemporal characteristics of gait, trough the Phyphox® app: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Spatiotemporal characteristics from human locomotion can provide effective clinical metrics to assess motor control and brain function. This case report aims to assess the temporal structure of variability in stride-to-stride time and calculated the intrinsic fractal frame that is hidden below the repetitive structure of physiological gait through the "Phyphox" app. This is an innovative study from the perspective of analyzing gait variables through a mobile app. CASE PRESENTATION: Five older adults Caucasian (3 women; age = 73 ± 10,5 years; body mass = 62,2 ± 15,1 kg; height = 1,56 ± 0,1 m; 2 men; age = 75,5 ± 7,8 years; body mass = 86,3 ± 18,0 kg; height = 1,77 ± 0,1 m) participated in this study. Five participants were asked to walk with a natural cadence, two of the participants presented a value greater than 80 step's/minute (81.14 ± 0.01; 86.67 ± 0.02); and the others had values between 55 and 65 step's/minute (55.20 ± 0.02; 55.78 ± 0.05; 61.02 ± 0.05). Regarding the coefficient of variation, only one participant presented 10.08%. For the total number of steps, three of the participants had values greater than 1000 steps. The variability of these stride-to-stride time has been quantified through detrended fluctuation analysis; one participant presented a value above 1. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that a smartphone might provide a valid measure to assess the spatiotemporal characteristics of gait.

Machine learning applied to fMRI patterns of brain activation in response to mutilation pictures predicts PTSD symptoms.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to apply multivariate pattern recognition methods to predict posttraumatic stress symptoms from whole-brain activation patterns during two contexts where the aversiveness of unpleasant pictures was manipulated by the presence or absence of safety cues. METHODS: Trauma-exposed participants were presented with neutral and mutilation pictures during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) collection. Before the presentation of pictures, a text informed the subjects that the pictures were fictitious ("safe context") or real-life scenes ("real context"). We trained machine learning regression models (Gaussian process regression (GPR)) to predict PTSD symptoms in real and safe contexts. RESULTS: The GPR model could predict PTSD symptoms from brain responses to mutilation pictures in the real context but not in the safe context. The brain regions with the highest contribution to the model were the occipito-parietal regions, including the superior parietal gyrus, inferior parietal gyrus, and supramarginal gyrus. Additional analysis showed that GPR regression models accurately predicted clusters of PTSD symptoms, nominal intrusion, avoidance, and alterations in cognition. As expected, we obtained very similar results as those obtained in a model predicting PTSD total symptoms. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to show that machine learning applied to fMRI data collected in an aversive context can predict not only PTSD total symptoms but also clusters of PTSD symptoms in a more aversive context. Furthermore, this approach was able to identify potential biomarkers for PTSD, especially in occipitoparietal regions.

Effects of an 11-Week Detraining, Imposed by the COVID-19 Confinement, on Handball Players' Shoulder Rotator Isokinetic Profile, Shoulder Range of Motion, and Ball Release Velocity.

Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 confinement significantly impacted the physical condition of athletes. However, the detraining impacts of this period on the shoulder rotator and range of motion in handball players have not been studied. Thus, the main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of this 11-week detraining period, imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic confinement, on the shoulder rotator isokinetic profile (peak torque, ratio, fatigue index), shoulder rotator and flexion range of motion, and ball release velocity in handball players. Materials and Methods: A total of 16 handball players, with a mean age of 22.38 (5.28) years, participated in this study. The isokinetic strength was assessed using two protocols (three repetitions at an angular velocity of 60°/s and 20 repetitions at an angular velocity of 180°/s). In addition, the range of motion and ball release (at jump and standing shots) were measured. All these measurements were assessed before and after the COVID-19 confinement. Results: The results showed a significant reduction in the peak torque of the external rotation of their dominant and non-dominant shoulders. In addition, confinement significantly increased the fatigue index of external rotation and internal rotation and reduced the range of motion of internal rotation. Additionally, the ball release velocity during standing and jump shots was significantly reduced. Conclusions: These results suggested that strengthening external and internal rotation as well as recovering the internal rotation range of motion may be necessary after a detraining period in order to prevent shoulder injuries.

Phase angle as a key marker of muscular and bone quality in community-dwelling independent older adults: A cross-sectional exploratory pilot study.

The aim of the present cross-sectional exploratory pilot study was to analyze the ability of the Phase Angle (PhA) to predict physical function, muscle strength and bone indicators, upon adjusting for potential confounders [age, sex, lean mass, and body mass index (BMI)]. This study included 56 physically independent older adults (age, 68.29 ± 3.01 years; BMI, 28.09 ± 4.37 kg/m2). A multi-frequency segmental bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to measure PhA at 50 KHz. Additionally, physical function was assessed through four functional capacity tests [30-sec chair-stand; seated medicine ball throw (SMBT); timed up & go; and 6-min walking test (6 MWT)], muscle strength through the handgrip test (dominant side) and maximal isokinetic strength of the dominant knee flexor and extensor. Moreover, bone indicators and body composition were assessed through the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. PhA was significantly associated with SMBT (r = 0.375, effect size (ES) = moderate); 6 MWT (r = 0.396, ES = moderate); 30-sec chair-stand (rho = 0.314, ES = moderate); knee extension (rho = 0.566, ES = large) and flexion (r = 0.459, ES = moderate); handgrip (rho = 0.432, ES = moderate); whole-body bone mineral content (BMC) (r = 0.316, ES = moderate); femoral neck BMC (r = 0.469, ES = moderate); and femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) (rho = 0.433, ES = moderate). Additionally, the results of multiple regression analysis demonstrated that PhA is significantly associated with SMBT (p < 0.001; R2 = 0.629), 6 MWT (p = 0.004; R2 = 0.214), knee extension (p < 0.001; R2 = 0.697), knee flexion (p < 0.001; R2 = 0.355), handgrip test (p < 0.001; R2 = 0.774), whole-body BMC (p < 0.001; R2 = 0.524), femoral neck BMC (p = 0.001; R2 = 0.249), and femoral neck BMD (p = 0.020; R2 = 0.153). The results of the preliminary analysis suggested that PhA is linked to muscle strength and some factors related to physical function and bone quality in community-dwelling older adults.

Common law enforcement load carriage systems have limited acute effects on postural stability and muscle activity.

Law enforcement officers are inherently at a high risk of injury and the loads they must carry during their occupational duties further increase their injury risk. It is unknown how different methods of carrying a law enforcement officer's load influence factors related to injury risk. This study assessed the effects of common law enforcement load carriage systems on muscular activity and postural stability while standing. Twenty-four participants performed single and dual-task (i.e. concurrent performance of cognitive tasks) standing while wearing a duty belt, tactical vest, and no load. The postural stability and muscle activity were measured and effects of condition and task examined. Dual task standing decreased postural stability and increased muscular activity. The belt and vest (7.2 kg each) increased muscle activity compared to control for the right abdominals, low back, right thigh. The duty belt resulted in less muscle activity in the right abdominals but more muscle activity in the left multifidus compared to the control. The findings indicate that common law enforcement load carriage systems increase muscular activity but do not affect postural stability. However, the lack of differences between the duty belt and tactical vest did not provide clear support for one load carriage system versus the other.

Effect of the Law Enforcement Duty Belt on Muscle Activation during Hip Hinging Movements in Young, Healthy Adults.

Sixty percent of all law enforcement officers (LEOs) experience low back pain (LBP), with the LEO duty belt (LEODB) commonly reported to be a contributing factor. The primary purpose of the study was to investigate the LEODB's effect on muscular activity and compare it to a tactical vest, which is a commonly used alternative to an LEODB. In total, 24 participants (13 male, 11 female; mass, 73.0 ± 11.1 kg; height, 169.0 ± 10.0 cm; age, 24.0 ± 5.8 years) completed a progressive series of hip hinge tasks in a single testing session. All participants completed four conditions (no belt, leather belt, nylon belt, and weight VEST) in a randomized order. Surface electromyography (sEMG) sensors were placed bilaterally on the rectus abdominus, multifidus, biceps femoris, and rectus femoris. Across all tasks, no significant effects of load on muscle activity were found for any of the muscles. Participants rated the VEST condition as more comfortable (p < 0.05) and less restrictive (p < 0.05) than either LEODB. The findings suggest an LEODB does not alter muscle activity during bodyweight hip hinging or lifting objects from the ground. Future research should examine whether changes in muscle activity occur with durations of LEODB wear more similar to an actual work shift duration for LEOs (≥8 h).

Sex, cognitive state and falls as factors associated with malnutrition: a cross-sectional study of institutionalized older adults living in a rural area of Portugal.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is an underestimated geriatric problem, with a high prevalence in institutionalized older adults. The identification of risk factors for malnutrition in elderly individuals must be a priority for governmental organizations worldwide. METHODS: A total of 98 institutionalized seniors were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. For the assessment of risk factors, sociodemographic characteristics and health-related information were collected. The Mini-Nutritional Assessment Short-Form test was used to assess malnutrition in the sample population. RESULTS: A significantly greater proportion of women than men were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. In addition, the comparative analysis revealed that comorbidity, arthritis, balance impairment, dementia and fall episodes with serious injuries were significantly more frequent in the older adults categorized as malnourished or at risk of malnutrition than in those categorized as well-nourished. CONCLUSIONS: Multivariable regression analysis revealed that being female, having a poor cognitive status and experiencing falls with injuries are the main independent factors influencing nutritional status in institutionalized older adults living in a rural area of Portugal.

Accuracy and Interpretation of the Acceleration from an Inertial Measurement Unit When Applied to the Sprint Performance of Track and Field Athletes.

In this study, we aimed to assess sprinting using a developed instrument encompassing an inertial measurement unit (IMU) in order to analyze athlete performance during the sprint, as well as to determine the number of steps, ground contact time, flight time, and step time using a high-speed camera as a reference. Furthermore, we correlated the acceleration components (XYZ) and acceleration ratio with the performance achieved in each split time obtained using photocells. Six athletes (four males and two females) ran 40 m with the IMU placed on their fifth lumbar vertebra. The accuracy was measured through the mean error (standard deviation), correlation (r), and comparison tests. The device could identify 88% to 98% of the number of steps. The GCT, flight time, and step time had mean error rates of 0.000 (0.012) s, 0.010 (0.011) s, and 0.009 (0.009) s when compared with the high-speed camera, respectively. The step time showed a correlation rate of r = 0.793 (p = 0.001) with no statistical differences, being the only parameter with high accuracy. Additionally, we showed probable symmetries, and through linear regression models identified that higher velocities result in the maximum anteroposterior acceleration, mainly over 0-40 m. Our device based on a Wi-Fi connection can determine the step time with accuracy and can show asymmetries, making it essential for coaches and medical teams. A new feature of this study was that the IMUs allowed us to understand that anteroposterior acceleration is associated with the best performance during the 40 m sprint test.