Response of Lipid Profile to Laser Acupuncture along with Diet and Pilates Exercise in Obese Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Obesity-induced dyslipidemia is one of the main factors contributing to morbidity and mortality associated with metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis, and coronary artery disease among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Objectives: This research aimed to assess the effect of adding laser acupuncture therapy (LAT) to a Pilates exercise program (PEP) and low-calorie diet protocol (LCDP) on blood lipids among 60 obese women with SLE. Methods: Study participants were women aged between 23 and 49 years, randomly assigned to one of two groups, A or B, each comprising 30 women. In addition to adherence to the LCDP, both groups were supervised five times weekly during 50-minute PEP sessions. Group A also received LAT three times weekly, with each session lasting 2 minutes on selected acupoints. After the 12-week intervention, plasma total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein were assessed. Results: Both groups demonstrated significant improvement in the aforementioned lipids after the 12-week intervention. A comparison between the post-intervention values of the lipids in the groups revealed a significant improvement favoring group A (the group that received LAT). Conclusion: Adding a 12-week LAT regimen to PEP and LCDP significantly improved lipid profiles among 60 obese women with SLE.

Loaded Functional Strength Training versus Traditional Physical Therapy on Hip and Knee Extensors Strength and Function Walking Capacity in Children with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy: Randomized Comparative Study.

Objective: This study's objective was to see how loaded functional strengthening exercises using a plantigrade foot position and a shoe supporter affected muscle strength and walking ability in spastic hemiplegic children. Methods: Seventy-two children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy, both sexes, aged ten to twelve years, were randomly assigned into two groups equal in number (control and intervention groups). The control group received a specially designed physical therapy program, whereas the intervention group received a loaded functional strengthening exercises program using a shoe supporter to maintain a plantigrade foot position. The training program was carried out for 60 min, three times per week for three consecutive months. All participants were evaluated both before and after the therapy program by using a Medical Commander Echo Manual Muscle Tester dynamometer to assess isometric muscle power of hip and knee extensors on the affected side. To assess functional walking capacity, a 6 min walking (6MWT) test was used. Results: Study groups were comparable with respect to all outcome measures at entry (p > 0.05). Within-group comparison showed significant improvements in all measured variables. Furthermore, between-group comparison revealed significantly greater improvements (p < 0.05) in hip and knee extensors strength as well as the functional walking capacity in favor of the intervention group. Conclusions: In all the analyzed variables, loaded functional strength exercises from the plantigrade foot position were found to be considerably more effective in the intervention group than in the control group.