Effects of physical exercise on plasma levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and depressive symptoms in elderly women--a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of 2 standardized exercise programs, muscle strength exercises (SE) and aerobic exercises (AE), on the plasma levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and depressive symptoms in 451 elderly women. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Belo Horizonte/MG-Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling older women (N=451; age, 65-89y). INTERVENTION: The participants were divided into 2 groups: SE and AE. Both protocols lasted 10 weeks, and 30 sessions (1-h sessions) in total were performed 3 times a week under the direct supervision of physical therapists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Plasma levels of BDNF (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale). RESULTS: There was a significant difference for BDNF plasma levels between the SE and AE groups (P=.009). Post hoc analysis revealed a pre-post intervention difference in BDNF levels only for the SE group (P=.008). A statistically significant difference was found for the pre- and postintervention Geriatric Depression Scale scores in both groups (P=.001), showing that the effects of both exercise protocols were comparable regarding depressive symptoms (P=.185). CONCLUSIONS: The present findings have demonstrated the positive effect of muscle strengthening and aerobic intervention on depressive symptoms in community-dwelling elderly women. Interestingly, only SE significantly increased the plasma levels of BDNF in our sample. The positive effects of physical exercise on depressive symptoms in the elderly were not mediated by BDNF.

Kinesiophobia is not associated with disability in elderly women with acute low back pain: Back Complaints in the Elders (BACE) Brazil study results.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: The study of low back pain (LBP) is complex, and the physical and psychological aspects, including kinesiophobia, should be considered. Several studies have investigated the relationship between kinesiophobia and functionality in patients with chronic LBP. However, to the best of the authors' knowledge, no studies have investigated the association between kinesiophobia and self-reported assessments of disability and physical performance in elderly patients with acute LBP. PURPOSE: The study aimed to investigate the association between kinesiophobia and self-reported and physical performance measures among the elderly with acute LBP. DESIGN: This was an observational, cross-sectional, ancillary study of the Back Complaints in the Elders study, a longitudinal observational epidemiologic research project by an international consortium involving Brazil, the Netherlands, and Australia. PATIENT SAMPLE: Sample selection was carried out by convenience. The study included women from the community aged 60 years old and older who presented with a new episode of LBP. Volunteers with severe diseases, as well as visual, hearing, and mobility losses, or cognitive dysfunction, were excluded. Four hundred fifty nine elderly women (mean age: 69.0±6.1 years) were included. OUTCOME MEASURES: Kinesiophobia was evaluated by Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ), subscale FABQ-Phys. Functionality was investigated by the Roland-Morris Questionnaire and the gait speed test. METHODS: Statistical analysis was performed using hierarchical linear regression model. Statistical significance was established at the level of .05. RESULTS: The additional predictive value because of the inclusion of the FABQ-Phys was 0.1%, using the Roland-Morris score, and 0.2% for the gait speed test. CONCLUSIONS: This was the first study to investigate the association between the FABQ-Phys and functionality in elderly patients with acute LBP. The results provide preliminary evidence that kinesiophobia assessed by the FABQ-Phys cannot be generalized to disability.