Test-Retest Reliability of Isokinetic Strength in Lower Limbs under Single and Dual Task Conditions in Women with Fibromyalgia.

Background: Previous research has established good test-retest reliability for isokinetic dynamometry in fibromyalgia. However, the reliability of this test under dual-task conditions has not been investigated in fibromyalgia. Methods: A total of 10 women with fibromyalgia participated in this study. Participants completed the concentric/concentric test. The dual-task condition involved subtracting two by two while performing the test. Results: Reliability analysis under the single condition showed "poor" to "excellent" values for maximum peak torque in knee extension and "moderate" to "excellent" values for average. "Poor" to "excellent" reliability values were found in knee flexion for the maximum and average. Dual-task condition in knee extension ranged from "moderate" to "excellent" for maximum and average values, and in knee flexion, it ranged from "poor" to "excellent" for maximum value and from "moderate" to "excellent" for average value. Conclusions: Isokinetic dynamometry demonstrated sufficient reliability for measuring strength in knee extension maximum and average during single-task and dual-task conditions, along with knee flexion dual-task average in fibromyalgia. For knee flexion single-task maximum and average and knee flexion dual-task maximum, we did not obtain sufficiently reliable measurements. Only the concentric/concentric test has been studied, and future studies with a larger sample size are needed in order to generalize the results.

Classification and Definitions of Compensatory Protective Step Strategies in Older Adults: A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: The risk for an unexpected fall can be due to increasing age, health conditions, and loss of cognitive, sensory, or musculoskeletal functions. Falls have personal and economic consequences in many countries. Different disturbances can occur during gait, such as tripping, slipping, or other unexpected circumstances that can generate a loss of balance. The strategies used to recover balance depend on many factors, but selecting a correct response strategy influences the success of balance recovery. OBJECTIVES: (1) To collect and clarify the definitions of compensatory protective step strategies to recover balance in older adults; (2) to identify the most used methods to induce loss of balance; and (3) to identify the most used spatiotemporal variables in analyzing these actions. METHODS: The present review has followed the PRISMA guideline extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) and the phases proposed by Askery and O'Malley. The search was conducted in three databases: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. RESULTS: A total of 525 articles were identified, and 53 studies were included. Forty-five articles were quasi-experimental studies, six articles were randomized controlled trials, and two studies had an observational design. In total, 12 compensatory protective step strategies have been identified. CONCLUSIONS: There are 12 compensatory protective step strategies: lowering and elevating strategy, short- and long-step strategy, backward and forward stepping for slip, single step, multiple steps, lateral sidesteps or loaded leg sidestep unloaded leg sidestep, crossover step (behind and front), and medial sidestep. To standardize the terminology applied in future studies, we recommend collecting these strategies under the term of compensatory protective step strategies. The most used methods to induce loss of balance are the tether-release, trip, waist-pull, and slip methods. The variables analyzed by articles are the number of steps, the acceleration phase and deceleration phase, COM displacement, the step initiation or step duration, stance phase time, swing phase time and double-stance duration, stride length, step length, speed step, speed gait and the type of step.

Influence of the time-task constraint on ocular metrics of semi-elite soccer players.

This study novelty aimed to investigate the influence of manipulating the available time to perform the training tasks on soccer players´ ocular metrics, following training. Specifically, pupillary response (pupil diameter) and saccadic features (latency, accuracy, velocity, and number) were measured with a portable eye tracker following training to reflect the mental load accumulated by players during the training sessions. Nine semi-elite soccer players performed two training sessions, based on large-sided games, on an artificial grass field. These two sessions were composed of the same tasks but varying the required time to complete the task goals (Session 1: No time limitations to perform the tasks; Session 2: Limited time to perform the tasks). The participants performed, before (pre-test) and after (post-test) each training session, a prosaccade task in a room near the playing field. Findings revealed a differentiated effect of the available time to complete the training tasks on ocular metrics because significant differences were found in all variables after training (p < .001 for pupil diameter; p < .01 for saccade accuracy and number of saccades; p < .05 for saccade velocity and latency). Ocular metrics could be a promising tool to evaluate mental load following practice because they were sensitive to the time-task constraint, providing researchers a valuable information for a better planning of the mental workload when designed training tasks.

Validity of On-Line Supervised Fitness Tests in People with Low Back Pain.

This study aimed to investigate the concurrent validity between online evaluations (OEs) and face-to-face evaluations (IPEs) of a Senior Fitness Test and two balance tests in people with low back pain (LBP). Forty participants of 58.48 (9.87) years were included. The 30 s chair stand-up, arm curl, 2 min step, chair-sit and reach, back scratch, 8 foot up-and-go, sharpened Romberg, and one-legged stance tests were administrated using both OE and IPE methods. The results indicated no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the two methods except in the 8-foot up-and-go test (p = 0.007). Considering the ICC values and Bland-Altman plots, excellent agreement was found for the chair-sit and reach test, moderate agreement for the arm-curl and 8-foot up-and-go tests, and good agreement for the other tests. Strong correlations (p < 0.001) were observed in all variables except for the arm-curl and 8-foot up-and-go tests, where moderate correlations were found (p < 0.05). These results support the validity of OEs and IPEs in all tests, except for the arm-curl and 8-foot up-and-go tests, where lower ICC values and moderate correlations were found. However, it is important to consider the range of fluctuation of the ICC and the significant values obtained through correlations.

Neurophysiological Response of Adults with Cerebral Palsy during Inclusive Dance with Wheelchair.

A total of 16 adults with cerebral palsy (age = 37.50 (7.78)) participated in this cross-sectional study. The electroencephalographic (EEG) data were recorded under three conditions: (1) baseline; (2) while listening to music; (3) while performing inclusive dance choreography with wheelchair. EEG data was banded into theta (4-7 Hz), alpha (8-12 Hz), and beta (13-30 Hz). Significantly higher values of theta, alpha, and beta bands were found in dance conditions than in the baseline. Significant differences between baseline and listening to music conditions were not found in any of the power spectrum bands. Differences between listening to music conditions and inclusive dance with wheelchair were observed in theta and beta power spectrum band studies in the F4 electrode. Inclusive dance with wheelchair increases theta, alpha, and beta power spectra when compared to baseline. In addition, the beta power spectrum is greater only during inclusive dance conditions, which could be modulated by emotions. However, future studies should corroborate this hypothesis.

Comparison between the Impacts of Memory and Arithmetic-Based Dual Tasks on Physical Performance in Women with Fibromyalgia.

BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia symptoms have a significant impact on the ability to perform activities of daily living. These activities require the ability to perform two or more tasks at the same time, which is known as a dual task. PURPOSE: To analyze physical and cognitive performance differences between memory and arithmetic dual tasks. METHODS: Twenty-five women with fibromyalgia participated in this study. Participants performed three physical tests (back scratch, arm curl, and 10-step stair) as a single task and under two types of dual task (memory and arithmetic). RESULTS: Differences between the single and dual tasks were observed in the back scratch and the 10-step stair tests using the arithmetic dual-task. Significant differences were only observed for the memory dual-task in the 10-step stair test. In addition, the performance in the back scratch and in the 10-step stair was significantly lower under the arithmetic compared to the memory-based dual task. Furthermore, a significant difference between these two types of dual task was obtained in the dual-task cost of 10-step stair. Regarding cognitive performance, a significantly lower percentage of correct responses was found in the AbDT compared to the MbDT in the 10-step stair test. CONCLUSIONS: the AbDT could have a higher impact on physical performance than the MbDT during the back scratch and the 10-step stair tests. The characteristics of the sample, environment, complexity of the motor task, and difficulty of the simultaneous cognitive task may also be relevant for understanding the differences in dual-task interference.

Relationship between Kinesiophobia and Mobility, Impact of the Disease, and Fear of Falling in Women with and without Fibromyalgia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Kinesiophobia is defined as fear of movement due to the painful experience of it. The main symptom of fibromyalgia is persistent and widespread pain associated with other symptoms. This study analyzes the kinesiophobia between women with fibromyalgia and apparently healthy women and investigates the relationship between kinesiophobia and physical fitness tests, fear of falling, and the impact of the fibromyalgia. METHODS: Fifty-one women participated in this study were divided into two groups: (1) women with fibromyalgia and (2) apparently healthy women. Participants completed questionnaires to assess kinesiophobia, fear of falling, and the impact of fibromyalgia. Subsequently, participants completed the physical tests Timed Up and Go, 10-step stair ascent, and handgrip strength. RESULTS: Women with fibromyalgia had significant differences in kinesiophobia and fear of falling compared to apparently healthy women. Similarly, performance in the physical tests was lower, except for the handgrip strength, which maintained similar values to the apparently healthy women. Significant relationships were found only in the fibromyalgia group between kinesiophobia, the impact of the disease, fear of falling, and the Timed Up and Go and 10-step stair ascent tests. CONCLUSIONS: Women with fibromyalgia showed higher kinesiophobia scores, worse performance in mobility tests, and higher fear of falling than apparently healthy women. Kinesiophobia score is related to Timed Up and Go performance, the 10-step stair ascent, the fear of falling, and the impact of the disease in women with fibromyalgia.

Are there neurophysiological differences behind the play of different chess modalities?: An international grandmaster case study.

The study of mental load is an emerging research topic in the field of sport sciences. In the sport of chess, there is a need to understand the mental demands of the sport of chess in order to manage training loads. The present study aimed to analyze the electrical brain pattern of an elite chess player during different chess games: 15 + 10, blindfold 15 + 10, lightning game, and problem-solving chess tasks. The participant was a male 33-year-old chess player with 2562 points of ELO and more than 26 years of chess experience, training between 3 and 4 h a day. The 15 + 10 game consisted of 15 min + 10 s increment per move. In the blindfold game, the participant cannot see the positions of the pieces and does not touch them. In the lightning game, the participant played four consecutive one minute game. In addition, two high-level, two low-level, and two medium-level chess problems were performed. Electroencephalographic (EEG) and heart rate variability (HRV) responses were measured to assess the electrical brain pattern and autonomic modulation respectively. The participant won both games at 15 + 10 (normal and blindfold), lost three and drew one of the four lightning games, solved the two low-level and the two medium-level problems and solved one of the two high-level problems. Although in both games the player achieved victory the average player move quality measured with both pure analysis and analysis with additional limitations were lower in 15 + 10 blindfold game than in 15 + 10 game. Increments in theta and alpha power spectrums can be observed during the most demanding chess games (blindfold chess, lightning game, and the chess problem at difficult- level). Furthermore, the highest alpha power spectrum values can be observed during blindfold chess. In conclusion, this is the first study investigating the EEG pattern of a International Chess Grandmaster during a blindfold chess game. We found that in the chess games where lower performance is exhibited, theta and alpha power spectrums increased.

Impact of being physically active on the brain electrocortical activity, brain volumetry and performance in the Stroop color and word test in women with fibromyalgia.

Physical exercise is one of the treatment approaches with the most robust evidence against fibromyalgia (FM) symptoms. This study aimed to investigate the impact of being physically active on the Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT) performance as well as to investigate and compare the brain electrocortical activity during SCWT. A total of 31 women completed the SCWT while EEG was recorded. People with FM were divided into two groups (physically and non-physically active) according to the WHO guidelines. Furthermore, magnetic resonance imaging was acquired and health-related quality of life, the impact of the disease, and the six-minute walking test were administered. Physically active group showed better performance in the SCWT, exhibiting less error in name different color patches condition (C), more correct responses in named color-word condition (CW) and higher interference score than non-physically active group. Moreover, a significantly higher theta power spectrum in the Fp1 during the condition C in the SCWT and a higher volume in the right rostral middle frontal gyrus have been found in the physically active group. Furthermore, physically active women with FM showed positively correlations between correct responses in names of colors printed in black condition (W) in the SCWT and theta power in the F3, Fz, Fp2 and F4 scalp positions. Regarding non-physically active women with FM, errors in condition CW negatively correlated with the volume of left superior frontal gyrus, left rostral middle frontal gyrus, right rostral middle frontal gyrus, left caudal middle frontal gyrus and right caudal middle frontal gyrus. Furthermore, physically active group showed increased performance in the 6 min walking test and lower disease impact. Fulfil the physical activity recommendation seems to protect brain health since better SCWT performance, greater frontal theta power and higher volume in the right rostral middle frontal gyrus have been found in physically active women with FM.

Fibromyalgia impact in the prefrontal cortex subfields: An assessment with MRI.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have associated brain abnormalities in people with fibromyalgia with accelerated brain ageing. The prefrontal cortex is located in the anterior pole of the mammalian brain. It is defined as the part of the cerebral cortex that receives projections from the mediodorsal nucleus of the thalamus. AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the volumetric differences in the prefrontal cortex subfields between healthy women and women with fibromyalgia using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and controlling for age, estimated intracranial volume, depression, and cognitive impairment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 47 women with fibromyalgia (recruited from a fibromyalgia local association) and 43 healthy women (retrieved from the Open Access Series of Imaging Studies database) participated in this cross-sectional study. Multiple linear regressions were used to predict the value of the prefrontal cortex subfields as well as to determine if there were volumetric differences between the groups. RESULTS: Volume of all prefrontal cortex regions decreased with each year of age. Healthy women showed higher volume in all the prefrontal cortex subfields than women with fibromyalgia. Regarding partial correlations performed, no significant relation were found between the fibromyalgia impact and the brain volumes analyzed, controlling for depression. CONCLUSIONS: Women with fibromyalgia showed reduced volume in the right caudal middle frontal gyrus, rostral middle frontal gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus pars opercularis, inferior frontal gyrus pars triangularis, inferior frontal gyrus pars orbitalis, lateral orbitofrontal cortex, right medial orbitofrontal cortex, right rostral anterior cingulate gyrus subfields of the prefrontal cortex and total gray matter compared to healthy women. Furthermore, through an analysis of multiple linear regressions, the left rostral middle frontal gyrus and left lateral orbitofrontal cortex showed significantly volumetric decreases related to depression levels. The total gray matter also shows a significant decrease related to age observed through the analysis of multiple linear regressions. No significant relation were found between the impact of the disease and the brain volumes analyzed, controlling for depression in women with fibromyalgia.

Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Brain Electrical Activity, Heart Rate Variability, and Dual-Task Performance in Healthy and Fibromyalgia Women: A Study Protocol.

People with fibromyalgia could experience physical and cognitive impairments. Furthermore, when performing two tasks at the same time, people with fibromyalgia showed a higher dual-task cost compared to a single task than healthy people. This may result in poorer performance of activities of daily living that are commonly presented as a combination of two or more tasks. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising nonpharmacological therapy. However, there is controversy regarding the intensities and the effectiveness of this therapy. Thus, the present study will aim: (1) to compare the effectiveness and the impact of two tDCS intensities (1 mA and 2 mA) on cognitive, motor, brain functions, and cardiac autonomic modulation; (2) to study the impact of tDCS on the dual-task performance and creativity after applying tDCS in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. In this study, 26 women will participate and will be divided into two groups: women with fibromyalgia (n = 13), and healthy controls (n = 13). A reduction in cognitive-motor interference in dual-task performance is expected, as well as a modification in neurophysiological parameters and an improvement in cardiac autonomic modulation. Lastly, no different effects are expected depending on the stimulation intensity applied. The obtained results will help to determine if tDCS in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex could improve the occupational performance of women with fibromyalgia.

Test-Retest Reliability and Concurrent Validity of the 3 m Backward Walk Test under Single and Dual-Task Conditions in Women with Fibromyalgia.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported good test-retest reliability for the 3 m backward test (3MBWT) in different populations. However, reliability of the 3MBWT has not been studied in fibromyalgia (FM) under single and dual-task conditions; Methods: A total of 21 women with FM participated in this study. Participants completed the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and two physical fitness tests: the 3MBWT and the Timed Up and Go (TUG). The dual-task condition consisted of subtracting two by two while performing the test, starting from a random number less than 100; Results: Values showed that the 3MBWT can be considered reliable under single and dual-task conditions when measured with both a manual stopwatch and a Chronopic automatic stopwatch. A strong concurrent validity was shown of 3MBWT and TUG results in the test and retest and the different devices. The relationship between the performance of the 3MBWT in test and retest conditions under single and dual-task conditions measured with different devices and the impact of the disease were high; Conclusions: The 3MBWT is a reliable tool under the single and dual-task conditions in women with FM. It shows higher reliability values when time is taken using a Chronopic. This test also shows high concurrent validity with the TUG test. Its performance is related to the impact of the disease.

Relationship between pineal gland, sleep and melatonin in fibromyalgia women: a magnetic resonance imaging study.

A total of 80% of fibromyalgia (FM) population have reported poor sleep. In this regard, the pineal gland, involved in circadian rhythm processes as a key neuroendocrine organ which mainly synthesises and secretes melatonin, has never been studied before in this population. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the parenchyma pineal volume and its relation to sleep hours, sleep quality index and melatonin level at night. A total of 50 participants, 30 women with FM and 20 healthy control women underwent cranial magnetic resonance imaging. The total pineal volume, cyst pineal volume and parenchyma pineal volume were manually calculated in cubic millimetres. Also, the total pineal volume was estimated using Hasehawa method. Parenchyma pineal volume was significantly correlated with sleep hours (p-value = 0.041) and nocturnal melatonin level (p-value = 0.027). Moreover, there was also a non-significant correlation between parenchyma pineal volume and sleep quality index (p-value = 0.055). Furthermore, a mean parenchyma pineal volume of 102.00 (41.46) mm³ was observed, with a prevalence of 29.60% cyst in FM group. This is the first study that has reported pineal gland volumes, cyst prevalence and correlative relationships between parenchyma pineal volume and sleep hours and melatonin levels in women with FM.

The Role of Physical Activity in the Relationship between Satisfaction with Life and Health-Related Quality of Life in School-Age Adolescents.

(1) Background: Adolescence is a critical stage in the development of healthy habits. In this regard, physical activity has emerged as a useful tool to improve satisfaction with life and health-related quality of life in adolescents. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the mediating role of physical activity in the relationship between satisfaction with life and health-related quality of life in adolescent boys and girls. Also, we aimed to investigate the differences between sexes in the HRQoL, physical activity level, and satisfaction with life. (2) Methods: A total of 297 adolescents, ranging in age from 11 to 12 years (11.46 ± 1.63), participated in this cross-sectional study. The Satisfaction with life scale, Physical activity Questionnaire for Adolescents and the KIDSCREEN-10 questionnaires were employed. (3) Results: The estimated indirect effect showed that physical activity level was a mediator of the positive effect of satisfaction with life on health-related quality of life (ß = 0.105, 95% CI = 0.031; 0.202). However, the index of moderated mediation showed that sex is not a significant moderator of the mediating role of physical activity in the relationship between satisfaction with life and HRQoL (ß = -0.033, 95% CI = -0.023, 0.136). Furthermore, significant differences in satisfaction with life were found, with girls manifesting lower values (p-value = 0.026). (4) Conclusion: This study shows the importance of physical activity during adolescence and the association of this behavior with the health-related quality of life of adolescents.

Impact of Fibromyalgia in the Hippocampal Subfields Volumes of Women-An MRI Study.

Patients with fibromyalgia (FM) show widespread pain associated with other symptoms such as cognitive problems, depression, and anxiety among others associated with alterations in the central nervous system. The hippocampal subfields had differences in function, histology, and connectivity with other brain regions, and are altered in different diseases. This study evaluates the volumetric differences between patients with FM compared with a healthy control group. A total of 49 women with, and 43 healthy women completed this study. T1-weighted MRI was used to assess brain volume, and FreeSurfer software was used to segment the hippocampal subfields. Women with FM had a significant reduction in most of the hippocampal subfields. The regression equation models were obtained to predict the volume of specific subfields of the right and left hippocampus. These findings provide that women with FM have lower hippocampal subfields volumes compared with healthy women. Besides, regression models show that different covariates, such as age, cognitive impairment, or depression, are related to specific subfields.

MoCA vs. MMSE of Fibromyalgia Patients: The Possible Role of Dual-Task Tests in Detecting Cognitive Impairment.

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome that is characterized by widespread pain; fatigue; stiffness; reduced physical fitness; sleep disturbances; psychological symptoms, such as anxiety and depression; and deficits in cognitive functions, such as attention, executive function, and verbal memory deficits. It is important to analyze the potentially different performance on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test in patients with fibromyalgia as well as examine the relationship of that performance with physical and cognitive performance. A total of 36 women with fibromyalgia participated in the study. Participants completed the MoCA test, the MMSE, and the TUG physical fitness test under dual-task conditions. The results obtained on cognitive tests were 28.19 (1.74) on the MMSE and 25.17 (2.79) on the MoCA. The participants' performance on cognitive tests was significantly related to the results of the TUG dual-task test. In this way, cognitive performance on a dual-task test can be used to support the diagnosis of cognitive impairment in patients with fibromyalgia. The MoCA test may be a more sensitive cognitive screening tool than the MMSE for patients with fibromyalgia.

Effect of dance therapies on motor-cognitive dual-task performance in middle-aged and older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To systematically review the effectiveness of dance-based programs to improve motor-cognitive dual-task performance in middle-aged and older adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five scientific databases were selected to identify the articles included in this systematic review. Ninety-one articles were found in the electronic databases. Fourteen articles fulfilled all inclusion and exclusion criteria. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed with a modified version of Downs and Black checklist. PRISMA guidelines were followed in the data extraction process. The overall effect size of the improvements was calculated through a meta-analysis. RESULTS: All the studies had an acceptable methodological quality. Dance-based interventions had a duration of 8-52 weeks, 1-3 sessions per week, with sessions lasting 40-90 min. According to the overall effect size, dance-based interventions significantly improved dual-task performance (-0.48 with a 95% confidence interval from -0.88 to -0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Dance-based intervention programs may be effective at improving the performance on motor-cognitive dual-task in middle-aged and older adults. Apart from the effects on the cognitive Time Up and Go test, dance interventions may also improve speed walking with a cognitive task. All these conclusions must be taken with caution due to the heterogeneity and the small number of articles. Future research can be developed to increase the knowledge on these issues.Implications for rehabilitationInterventions based on dance as part of rehabilitation can improve the performance on TUG under dual-task condition in aging.Interventions based on dance can be effective to improve the development of some tasks of daily life by reducing time in a motor task under dual task condition in aging.Physical therapists, personal trainers and other clinicians can use different types of dance for improving dual-tasking among the adults.

Mobility Assessment under Dual Task Conditions in Women With Fibromyalgia: A Test-Retest Reliability Study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the test-retest reliability of the 10-step stair ascent test, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and 10-meter walking test under dual-task conditions in patients with fibromyalgia. DESIGN: Test-retest reliability. SETTINGS: Local fibromyalgia association and university facilities. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-eight women with fibromyalgia. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fear of falling and the number of falls in the last year were measured using a visual analogue scale. The 10-step stair ascent test, TUG test, and 10-meter walking test were conducted under single- and dual-task conditions. The order between single- and dual-task condition was randomized in both test and retest. Retest measurement was assessed the week following the test. RESULTS: The reliability of the performance on the 10-step stair ascent test under dual and single conditions ranged between good (>0.75 to < 0.9) and excellent (≥0.9), but there were significant differences between test and retest. The reliability of the TUG is between good (≥0.75 to < 0.9) and excellent (≥0.9) under the dual-task condition as well as moderate (≥0.5 to <0.75) and excellent (≥0.9) under the single-task condition. The reliability of the 10-meter walking dual-task test is between moderate (≥0.5 to <0.75) and good (≥0.75 to < 0.9) under dual- and single-task condition, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The TUG and 10-meter walking tests are reliable for assessing mobility under the dual-task condition in women with fibromyalgia. The performance on the TUG, 10-step stair ascent, and 10-meter walking test under single- and dual-task conditions was significantly related to fear of falling. These results may help healthcare professionals and researchers to interpret the effect of interventions in women with fibromyalgia.

Effects of 24-Week Exergame Intervention on the Gray Matter Volume of Different Brain Structures in Women with Fibromyalgia: A Single-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Exergame-induced changes in the volume of brain gray matter have not been studied in fibromyalgia (FM). This study evaluates the effects of a 24-week exergame-based intervention on the gray matter volume of different brain structures in patients with FM through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: A total of 25 FM patients completed 24 weeks of intervention program, and another 25 FM patients did not receive any intervention. T1-weighted MRI was used to assess brain volume, and FreeSurfer software was used to segment the brain regions. RESULTS: No significant effects on gray matter volume of different structures and total gray matter were found. CONCLUSIONS: FM patients did not show significant changes in gray matter brain volume between the control and experimental groups after 24 weeks. FM patients showed significant relationships between peak oxygen consumption (pVO2) and the left and right regions of the hippocampus and the left and right regions of the amygdala.

Strength Assessment Under Dual Task Conditions in Women with Fibromyalgia: A Test-Retest Reliability Study.

The present study aimed to: (1) analyze the test-retest reliability of the 30 s chair stand test and the 30 s arm curl test under dual-task conditions; (2) analyze the test-retest reliability of a new variable which assesses the total performance (cognitive + physical) in both tests. A total of 37 women with fibromyalgia participated in the study. Participants completed the 30 s arm curl test and 30 s chair stand test in both simple and dual-task conditions. These tests were repeated after seven days. In the 30 s chair stand dual-task test the reliability was low to good whereas that of the total performance variable was low to moderate. The reliability in both the 30 s arm curl dual-task test and the total performance variable were good to moderate. Both the 30 s chair stand test and 30 s arm curl test under dual-task conditions and the total performance variables had good test-retest reliability. However, it is necessary to consider the fluctuations of the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).