Horticulture therapy affected the mental status, sleep quality, and salivary markers of mucosal immunity in an elderly population.

Horticultural therapy (HT) has been reported to be beneficial to mental and physical health. This study investigated the effects of HT on the psychological status and mucosal immunity of elderly individuals. Twenty-four participants aged 70-93 were recruited from residential facilities and adult day-care services. Six different HT activities were designed and guided by licensed instructors who performed saliva collection and helped the participants complete the questionnaires before and after each activity. The sleep quality scores were collected during the 6 weeks of HT activities. Saliva was collected and analyzed to determine the concentrations of immunoglobulin A (IgA), lactoferrin, chromogranin A (CgA), α-amylase (AA) and total protein (TP). Comparisons of the questionnaire scores between preactivity and postactivity showed that feelings of satisfaction and happiness were significantly enhanced after each activity. In addition, sleep quality was significantly improved after the 6-week course of HT activities. Regarding mucosal immunity, the preactivity IgA and IgA/TP were significantly increased at week 3 and week 6; in addition, the ratio of lactoferrin/TP was significantly decreased at week 6 compared to week 1. The postactivity AA and CgA levels were significantly enhanced at weeks 2, 3 and 5 compared to the corresponding preactivity levels. In conclusions, HT activities significantly improved the happiness, satisfaction, well-being and sleep quality of the elderly. Moreover, mucosal immunity proteins, including IgA, lactoferrin, CgA and AA, were significantly increased.

Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation to Improve the Physiology and Psychology Response, Response-Ability, and Sleep Efficiency in Athletes with Poor Sleep Quality.

Athletes often have poor sleep quality before a competition. Sleep quality can stabilize mood and improve sports performance. The randomized controlled study explored the effects of cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) on the physiology, psychology, response-ability, and sleep quality of athletes who had poor sleep quality before a competition. Athletes who had poor sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale score > 5) and had a competition in less than 2 months were recruited. The athletes were grouped into the CES group, which received a 2-week CES treatment (n = 20, age = 21.55 ± 2.26 years), and a placebo group (n = 20, age = 21.05 ± 1.46 years), which received a 2-week sham CES treatment. We performed biochemical analysis, a simple reaction time test, choice reaction time tests, the Profile of Mood States, heart rate variability (HRV), and an Actigraphy activity recorder to measure outcomes before and after the interventions. Our results revealed no significant differences in blood urea nitrogen, creatine phosphate, testosterone, cortisol, and saliva pH between and within groups (p > 0.05). Significant decreases in negative mood states (i.e., anger, tension, and depression) and choice reaction time in the CES group were noted (p < 0.05), moreover, the anger, tension, and depression mood decreased from 0.36 ± 0.45 (95% CI = 0.16-0.55), 1.62 ± 0.97 (95% CI = 1.19-2.04), and 1.67 ± 1.06 (95% CI = 1.20-2.13) to 0.11 ± 0.20 (95% CI = 0.02-0.19, p = 0.03), 1.12 ± 0.74 (95% CI = 0.79-1.44, p = 0.04), and 0.81 ± 0.75 (95% CI = 0.48-1.13, p = 0.001), respectively. Additionally, choice reaction time was decreased from 420.85 ± 41.22 ms (95% CI = 402.78-438.91) to 399.90 ± 36.71 ms (95% CI = 383.81-415.98, p = 0.04) and was also noted in the CES group. For HRV, and Actigraphy activity for sleep measure, the low-frequency (LF)/high-frequency (HF) ratios changed from 1.80 ± 1.39 (95% CI = 1.19-2.40) to 1.21 ± 0.73 (95% CI = 0.89-1.53, p = 0.10), and sleep efficiency decreased from 87.94 ± 6.76% (95% CI = 84.97-90.90) to 81.75 ± 9.62% (95% CI = 77.53-85.96, p = 0.02) in the CES group. The change in LF/HF after the trial were found between CES and placebo groups (p < 0.05). Yet, the decrease in sleep efficiency in the placebo group were noted (p < 0.05). However, we found that the regression line for sleep efficiency was decreased less during the study while using CES. The CES intervention could reduce negative emotions, improve choice reaction times, enhance the parasympathetic and sympathetic nerve activity imbalances, and slow sleep efficiency deterioration. Regardless, small effect sizes of the application of CES on psychology response, response-ability, and sleep efficiency were concluded in athletes with poor sleep quality before a competition.

Effects of Different Kinesio-Taping Applications for Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness after High-Intensity Interval Training Exercise: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: Kinesio-taping (KT) is used commonly for the management and prevention of sports injuries. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a common muscle strength training and often accompanies delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) to interfere with individuals' exercise adherence. So, we compared the effects on muscle pain, thigh edema, and muscle strength for two kinds of KT applications on quadriceps muscles with DOMS after HIIT exercise. METHODS: This is a randomized controlled trial study, which was conducted in a sports medicine laboratory of the college, and all data were collected between February 2019 and February 2020. Healthy participants were recruited from a local university and nearby community by announcements. They were randomly assigned to Group Y (Y-shaped KT application), Group CC (crisscross weave KT application), or Group CON (non-KT). All of them were assessed and used KT following the HIIT exercise, which was used to induce DOMS in the quadriceps muscles. Two different KT applications were, respectively, used in Groups Y and CC, whereas Group CON received no KT application. The visual analog scale (VAS), pressure pain threshold (PPT), thigh circumference, and muscle strength were assessed on the quadriceps femoris muscles before, immediately after, and at 24, 48, and 72 h after exercise. RESULTS: A total of 38 participants completed the study trial. There were no significant differences in gender, age, height, weight, BMI, body fat, and muscle mass among the three groups (p > 0.05). HIIT had a significant impact on muscle soreness, as revealed by the increase in VAS at 24 h after exercise. The results revealed no effect on VAS, PPT, and thigh circumference in Group Y and Group CC (all p > 0.05). Additionally, muscle strength was significantly higher in Group CC at 24 h and 48 h after exercise compared with Groups Y and Group CON (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In summary, this experiment reveals no evidence of the effectiveness of Y-shaped and crisscross weave KT applications in the improvement of DOMS pain and edema in the quadriceps muscle. However, the crisscross weave KT application on the quadriceps muscle improved muscle strength recovery after HIIT, but the Y-shaped KT application did not exert this effect. This finding may be useful for muscle strength recovery during HIIT or continuous running competitions.