Effects of robot-assisted gait training on postural instability in Parkinson's disease: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Postural instability is a cardinal feature of Parkinson's disease, together with rest tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia. It is a highly disabling symptom that becomes increasingly common with disease progression and represents a major source of reduced quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease. Rehabilitation aims to enable patients with Parkinson's disease to maintain their maximum level of mobility, activity and independence. To date, a wide range of rehabilitation approaches has been employed to treat postural instability in Parkinson's disease, including robotic training. Our main aim was to conduct a systematic review of current literature about the effects of robot-assisted gait training on postural instability in patients with Parkinson's disease. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A systematic search using the following MeSH terms "Parkinson disease," "postural balance," "robotics," "rehabilitation" AND string "robotics [mh]" OR "robot-assisted" OR "electromechanical" AND "rehabilitation [mh]" OR "training" AND "postural balance [mh]" was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane Library and Pedro electronic databases. Full text articles in English published up to December 2020 were included. Data about patient characteristics, robotic devices, treatment procedures and outcome measures were considered. Every included article got checked for quality. Level of evidence was defined for all studies. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Three authors independently extracted and verified data. In total, 18 articles (2 systematic reviews, 9 randomized controlled trials, 4 uncontrolled studies and 3 case series/case reports) were included. Both end-effector and exoskeleton devices were investigated as to robot-assisted gait training modalities. No clear relationship between treatment parameters and clinical conditions was observed. We found a high level of evidence about the effects of robot-assisted gait training on balance and freezing of gait in patients with Parkinson's disease. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review provides to the reader a complete overview of current literature and levels of evidence about the effects of robot-assisted gait training on postural instability issues (static and dynamic balance, freezing of gait, falls, confidence in activities of daily living and gait parameters related to balance skills) in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Peer-victimization during physical education and enjoyment of physical activity.

This study examined the relations between peer-victimization during sport practice and physical activity enjoyment. 395 students (219 boys, 176 girls) from a middle school, ages 12 to 13 years (M = 12.2), were surveyed. Few correlations between peer-victimization during sport practice and physical activity enjoyment variables were negative. Linear regression analysis was also conducted, highlighting a subtle influence of peer-victimization during practice of sports on enjoyment of physical activity. Peer-victimization during practice of sports seems to be a poor predictor of low enjoyment of physical activity.

Effects of a single session of physical exercise on body state image / Efectos de una sección de ejercicios físicos en la imagen corporal / Efeitos de uma sessão de exercícios físicos na imagem corporal

Despite the fact that athletes and physically active persons are generally more satisfied with their bodies than sedentary people, physical activity seems to exert both negative and positive influences on body image. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a single session of exercise in state body image modification. In particular, we observed if a single session of sport or fitness activity could have a positive influence on state body image, considered as an episodic, evaluative and affective perception of the own physical appearance. Results showed an increase of the mean state body image rate (assessed with the Body Image States Scales, BISS) after a one-hour session of sport or fitness activities in a sample of 295 individuals. Intensity and fun seemed to be key-factors in state body image enhancement. These findings could have significant implications in the treatment of BI disturbances and in their prevention.

Aunque atletas y personas físicamente activas estén generalmente más satisfechos con sus cuerpos, cuando comparados a individuos sedentarios, la actividad física parece ser responsable por influenciar de manera positiva así como negativa el imagen corporal. El objetivo del estudio fue investigar el efecto de una sección de ejercicios en la modificación de la imagen corporal. En especifico, observamos si una sección de practica deportiva o de actividad en un gimnasio podría ejercer influencia positiva en la imagen corporal - vista como una percepción puntual, evaluadora y efectiva en respecto de la propria apariencia. Los resultados muestran un incremento de la auto-imagen corporal (según la Escala de Estados de la Imagen Corporal, BISS) después de una hora de actividad en un gimnasio o de practica deportiva en una amuestra compuesta por 295 sujetos. Intensidad y divertimiento asociados a las actividades parecen haber sido factores claves para la elevación de los escores relacionados a la imagen corporal. Los resultados de la investigación pueden ofrecer importantes insumos para el tratamiento y prevención de los disturbios de la auto-imagen.

Em que pese o fato de que atletas e pessoas fisicamente ativas estarem geralmente mais satisfeitos com seu corpo que indivíduos sedentários, a atividade física parece ser responsável por influências tanto positivas quanto negativas em relação à imagem corporal. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o efeito de uma sessão de exercícios na modificação da imagem corporal. Especificamente, observamos se uma sessão de prática esportiva ou de atividade em academia poderia exercer influência positiva na imagem corporal, considerada como uma percepção episódica, avaliativa e afetiva a respeito da própria aparência. Os resultados mostram um incremento da autoimagem corporal (segundo a Escala de Estados de Imagem Corporal, BISS) depois de uma hora de atividade em academia ou prática esportiva em uma amostra composta por 295 sujeitos. Intensidade e divertimento associados às atividades foram, ao que parece, fatores-chave para a elevação de escores em relação à imagem corporal. Os resultados da pesquisa podem oferecer importantes implicações para o tratamento e prevenção de distúrbio de autoimagem.

Relationships between physical self-concept and physical fitness in Italian adolescents.

Physical self-concept exerts a central role in adolescence. In this phase of life, individuals experience many physical, mental, and emotional changes, and sex differences become evident. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between physical self-concept and actual indicators of physical fitness among youth in early adolescence. A total of 103 Italian boys and girls, ages 12 to 15 years (M=13.2, SD=0.7) were studied. Physical self-concept was assessed using the Physical Self-Description Questionnaire, EUROFIT tests were used to measure physical fitness, and BMI was calculated based on height and weight measurements. Results showed several significant correlations between the variables, revealed some sex differences on physical self-concept and fitness, and indicated significant correlations between EUROFIT scores and physical self-concept variables.

Burnout and self-perceptions of physical fitness in a sample of Italian physical education teachers.

This study examined the relations of physical education teachers' burnout with some individual variables, including teachers' self-perceived physical fitness and the perceived influence of personal fitness on teaching. Participants were 219 Italian physical education teachers in secondary school. Demographic and professional information, ratings of self-perception of physical condition, and the Italian version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory were recorded. Compared to the data of a normative sample, average scores on the three dimensions of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalisation, and Reduced Personal Accomplishment) were found. There were statistically significant associations among Reduced Personal Accomplishment, the self-perception of physical fitness, and the perception of the influence of personal fitness on teaching. Women reported scores on Emotional Exhaustion and Reduced Personal Accomplishment indicative of greater severity than men. No significant differences appeared to be related to the years of teaching. Recommendations for further studies are discussed.