Development and validation of a mental hyperactivity questionnaire for the evaluation of chronic stress in higher education.

BACKGROUND: Examination and understanding of neural hyperactivity are some of the greatest scientific challenges faced in the present day. For this reason, the present study aimed to examine this phenomenon in the context of higher education. METHOD: Likewise, this work will enable an instrument to be created to appropriately and reliably estimate neural hyperactivity associated with chronic stress in university students undertaking a Physiotherapy degree. RESULTS: Analysis of content validity was carried out according to agreement and consensus between nineteen experts with Education Science or Psychology degrees, via the Delphi method. On the other hand, face validity was established by administering the questionnaire to a sample of 194 university students aged between 18 and 45 years (M = 30.48%; SD = 13.152). CONCLUSION: The final self-report measure, denominated mental hyperactivity, was composed of 10 items which showed adequate fit with regards to face and content validity (α = 0.775). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the questionnaire was unidimensional.

Mindfulness in Sexual Activity, Sexual Satisfaction and Erotic Fantasies in a Non-Clinical Sample.

The goal of this study is to better understand the relation between the practice of Mindfulness and the sexual activity, sexual satisfaction and erotic fantasies of Spanish-speaking participants. This research focuses on the comparison between people who practice Mindfulness versus naïve people, and explores the practice of Mindfulness and its relation with the following variables about sexuality: body awareness and bodily dissociation, personal sexual satisfaction, partner and relationship-related satisfaction, desire, subjective sexual arousal, genital arousal, orgasm, pain, attitudes towards sexual fantasies and types of sexual fantasies. The sample consisted of 106 selected adults, 32 men and 74 women, who completed six measures on an online survey platform: (a) Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), (b) Scale of Body Connection (SBC), (c) New Sexual Satisfaction Scale (NSSS), (d) Scale of Sexual Activity in Women (SSA-W) and Men (SSA-M), (e) Hurlbert Index of Sexual Fantasy (HISF), (f) Wilson's Sex Fantasy Questionnaire. In the MAAS, Body Awareness subscale (SBC), NSSS, SSA-W and SSA-M, HISF and intimate fantasies subscale (Wilson's questionnaire), people in the Mindfulness condition showed higher scores and these differences were statistically significant. These results may have relevant implications in the sexuality of clinical and non-clinical samples.

Disordered Eating Attitudes, Anxiety, Self-Esteem and Perfectionism in Young Athletes and Non-Athletes.

Eating disorders are associated with short and long-term consequences that can affect sports performance. The purposes of this study were to investigate whether female athletes, particularly gymnasts and footballers, exhibit more eating problems compared to female non-athletes, and to identify individual personality characteristics including anxiety, self-esteem, and perfectionism as possible contributors to eating disorder risk. In a sample of 120 participants, 80 adolescent female athletes were compared to a control condition of 40 non-athletes (mean age 17.2 ± 2.82). Participants responded to a questionnaire package to investigate the presence of disordered eating (SCOFF) and psychological variables in relation to disordered eating symptoms or eating disorder status. Subsequently, anthropometric measures were obtained individually by trained staff. There were statistically significant differences between conditions. One of the most important results was the score in SCOFF (Mann-Whitney = 604, p < 0.05; Cohen's d = 0.52, r = 0.25), being higher in control than in the gymnast condition. These results suggest that non-athlete female adolescents show more disturbed eating behaviours and thoughts than female adolescents from aesthetic sport modalities and, therefore, may have an enhanced risk of developing clinical eating disorders.

Efectos de un programa de ejercicio físico y relajación en el medio acuático en pacientes con espondiloartritis: ensayo clínico aleatorizado / Effects of an exercise and relaxation aquatic program in patients with spondyloarthritis: A randomized trial

Fundamento y objetivo: La espondiloartritis hace referencia a un conjunto de enfermedades reumáticas crónicas que comparten diversas características clínicas, genéticas, radiológicas y epidemiológicas. La presentación clínica de las espondiloartritis se caracteriza por compromiso del esqueleto axial y articular periférico. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la eficacia de un programa de entrenamiento físico más relajación en el medio acuático en personas con espondiloartritis. Pacientes y método: Estudio clínico aleatorizado de simple ciego en el que 30 personas con espondiloartritis fueron asignadas al azar a un grupo experimental o control. Durante 2 meses al grupo experimental se le aplicó un programa de entrenamiento físico en el medio acuático más relajación (3 sesiones por semana), y al grupo control se le realizaron las evaluaciones los mismos días que al experimental sin que participaran en ningún programa de ejercicio físico supervisado. Los datos obtenidos al inicio del estudio e inmediatamente después de la aplicación de la última sesión fueron: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index («Índice de funcionalidad para las espondiloartritis»), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index («Índice de actividad de la enfermedad del grupo de Bath»), Cuestionario de Salud SF-12 y pulsómetro Sigma PC3® (Sigma-Elektro GmbH, Neustadt, Aemania). Resultados: La prueba U de Mann-Whitney mostró diferencias estadísticamente significativas para la calidad de vida (función física [p = 0,05]), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (p = 0,015), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (fatiga [p = 0,032], dolor de cuello, espalda y caderas [p = 0,045], dolor o inflamación en otras articulaciones [p = 0,032] y rigidez matutina la despertar [p = 0,019]). Conclusiones: Los resultados del presente estudio muestran que los tratamientos de ejercicio físico unidos a la relajación aportan beneficios a los pacientes con espondiloartritis y son recomendables como parte del tratamiento de la enfermedad (AU)

Background and objective: Spondyloarthritis is a general term referring to a group of chronic rheumatic illnesses that share clinical, genetic, radiological and epidemiological features. The clinical presentation of spondyloarthritis is characterized by the compromise of both the axial and peripheral articular skeleton. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an aquatic exercise plus relaxation program in patients with spondyloarthritis. Patients and method: This was a randomized single blind study including 30 patients with spondylitis who were randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. For 2 months, the experimental group underwent an aquatic fitness plus relaxation program (3 sessions per week). Evaluations were also performed in the control group the same days as the experimental group but they did not participate in any supervised exercise program. The following data were obtained at baseline and immediately after application of the last session: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Health Questionnaire SF-12 and Sigma PC3® (Sigma-Elektro GmbH, Neustadt, Germany) Heart Rate Monitor. Results: The Mann-Whitney test showed statistically significant differences in the quality of life (physical function [P = .05]), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (P = .015), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (fatigue [P = .032], neck pain, back and hips [P = .045], pain or swelling in other joints [P = .032] and in waking morning stiffness [P = .019]). Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that therapy with physical exercise plus relaxation provides benefits to spondyloarthritis patients and these are advised as a part of their usual treatment (AU)

[Effects of an exercise and relaxation aquatic program in patients with spondyloarthritis: A randomized trial]. / Efectos de un programa de ejercicio físico y relajación en el medio acuático en pacientes con espondiloartritis: ensayo clínico aleatorizado.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Spondyloarthritis is a general term referring to a group of chronic rheumatic illnesses that share clinical, genetic, radiological and epidemiological features. The clinical presentation of spondyloarthritis is characterized by the compromise of both the axial and peripheral articular skeleton. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an aquatic exercise plus relaxation program in patients with spondyloarthritis. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This was a randomized single blind study including 30 patients with spondylitis who were randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. For 2 months, the experimental group underwent an aquatic fitness plus relaxation program (3 sessions per week). Evaluations were also performed in the control group the same days as the experimental group but they did not participate in any supervised exercise program. The following data were obtained at baseline and immediately after application of the last session: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Health Questionnaire SF-12 and Sigma PC3(®) (Sigma-Elektro GmbH, Neustadt, Germany) Heart Rate Monitor. RESULTS: The Mann-Whitney test showed statistically significant differences in the quality of life (physical function [P=.05]), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (P=.015), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (fatigue [P=.032], neck pain, back and hips [P=.045], pain or swelling in other joints [P=.032] and in waking morning stiffness [P=.019]). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that therapy with physical exercise plus relaxation provides benefits to spondyloarthritis patients and these are advised as a part of their usual treatment.

[Predictors of scoliosis in school-aged children]. / Factores predictores de escoliosis en la población escolar.

BACKGROUND: Alterations in the spinal column and obesity are on the rise, causing great concern in health and educational strata. This paper aims to take a step further and study in detail the relationship of the presence of scoliotic hump in obese schoolchildren. OBJECTIVE: was to determine the relationship between prevalence of types of variables hump and sociodemographic, anthropometric, and functional-side dominance. METHODS: The sample consisted of 2,822 schoolchildren in Spain, analyzed in 2010 with an average age of 8.5 years (SD: 1.792). Analyzed for Adams test, BMI, Edinburgh inventory, deep flexion test, and demographic questionnaire, we used the SPSS 20.0 (descriptive and test multivariate binary logistic regression). RESULTS: The number of subjects who had scoliosis was 1,023 (36.3%), obesity occurred in 359 (12.7%) cases, and after regression including associations regarding gender, (adjusted OR: 2.044; 1.731-2.413), age (adjusted OR: 1.121; 1.070-1.174), presence of obesity (adjusted OR: 0.676; 0.518-0.882), and flexibility (adjusted OR: 1.015; 1.001-1.029). CONCLUSIONS: The female participants were twice as likely to have hump. The prevalence with respect to age indicates that any schoolchild with a year of chronological age has 1.12 times higher risk of developing hump and subjects carrying the school supplies backpack have less risk of hump.

[Analysis of the prevalence of scoliosis and associated factors in a population of Mexican schoolchildren using sifting techniques]. / Análisis de la prevalencia de escoliosis y factores asociados en una población escolar mexicana mediante técnicas de cribado.

BACKGROUND: It is known that in the last decade, spinal disorders are increasing among children, and this generates high concern in areas of healthcare and educational stakeholders to develop preventative strategies to help curb this trend. This paper intends to go a step further in this direction and to explore factors associated with the presence of scoliosis hump, thus contributing to a better approach in the treatment and prevention of this disease in Mexican schools. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to analyze the prevalence of scoliosis, posture, laterality, obesity, early plant development, and deformity in schoolchildren aged 9-12 years of Ciudad Carmen (Mexico) and to check the possible relationship of the latter with the presence of hump scoliosis. METHODS: The sample consisted of 295 Mexican schoolchildren, analyzed in 2012, with an average age of 10.36 years (SD: 1,142); valued by Adams Test, Posture Kendall, BMI, Edinburgh inventory test, and plantogram sitting height. For analysis of the data, SPSS 20.0 was used. RESULTS: The number of subjects who had scoliosis was 42 (14.2%), improper posture occurred in 123 (41.7%) cases, 158 (53.5%) subjects were obese, in 63.7% maturational development had not started, most were skilled and had a normal foot type, and after the binary logistic regression analysis, the factors with a significant level of association with the presence of scoliosis were laying hump (Exp [B]: 5.569; 2.746-11.757), the type of foot (Exp [B]: 0151; 0.033-0.652), and age (Exp [B]: 242; 0.192-0.877). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of scoliosis among Mexican schoolchildren is similar to that found in other parts of the world. half of the school presented data from obesity and four in ten students had abnormal posture. Furthermore, the model indicated that subjects with correct posture were five-times less likely to develop scoliosis hump, that schoolchildren with normal feet were 14% less likely to have scoliosis, and that the risk increased with age.

Relación entre la ansiedad estado/ rasgo, posición en el terreno de juego y ocurrencia de lesiones deportivas / Relationship between Anxiety and Self-Esteem, Field Position and Development of Physical Injuries

Son numerosos los estudios que intentan establecer una relación directa entre variables de tipo físico, táctico, psicológico y la ocurrencia de lesiones deportivas. El objetivo fundamental del presente estudio fue evaluar la influencia de la ansiedad y la posición en el terreno de juego, en el desarrollo de lesiones físicas que se producen en el deporte. La participación de un total de 277 jugadores de fútbol permitió el registro y evaluación de las variables edad, lesión deportiva, demarcación y ansiedad estado/rasgo (medida con el Cuestionario de Spielberger, Gorsuch & Lusbene). Los resultados no mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre la variable lesión deportiva y ansiedad estado/rasgo, respectivamente (p = 0.583; p = 0.598), ni tampoco entre lesión deportiva y demarcación (p = 0.541). Como principal conclusión se indica la necesidad de elaborar más estudios que intenten dilucidar aquellas variables tácticas y psicológicas que pueden prevenir lesiones deportivas.

There has been a number of studies aiming to establish a relationship between physical, tactical, psychological-type variables and the incidence of sports injuries. The aim of this paper was to assess the influence of anxiety and self- esteem in the development of physical injuries when practising sport. In this regard, the participation of277 football in this study allowed to record and assess such variables as age, sports injury, field position and anxiety state/ trait (measured by the Spielberger, Gorsuch & Lusbene questionnaire). The results did not yield statistically significant differences between the sports injuries and the anxiety state/trait variables (p = 0.583; p = 0.598), nor did they prove a relationship between sports and field position (p = 0.541). As a main conclusion, we advocate the necessity of further studies for the elucidation of such psychological variables which may prevent sports injuries.

Eficacia de la hipnosis en la modificación de variables psicológicas y fisiológicas en deportistas / Efficiency of Hypnosis in Psychological and Physiological Variables in Sportsman

En este estudio se evaluó la eficacia de la hipnosis en la modificación de un conjunto de variables psicológicas y fisiológicas durante la realización de pruebas de esfuerzo. Se utilizaron un total de 24 participantes ciclistas. El procedimiento consistió en enviar al azar a los participantes a un grupo experimental con hipnosis o al grupo control. En ambos grupos se midieron variables psicológicas y fisiológicas relacionadas con el deporte. Los resultados no mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre-grupos en las variables evaluadas. Sí se observó una tendencia en el grupo experimental a puntuar más positivamente en varias variables psicológicas analizadas. Se concluye que sería de interés desarrollar futuras investigaciones ampliando el tamaño de la muestra y aplicar el procedimiento en diferentes modalidades deportivas.

In this paper evaluated the efficiency of hypnosis on modification of a set of psychological and physiological variables during the performance of a task force. There were in use a total of 24 cycle participants. The procedure consisted of sending at random to the participants to an experimental group with hypnosis and group control. In both groups there measured up psychological and physiological variables related to the sport. Results indicate that there was not a statistically significant difference between the two groups. However, a tendency more positively in a set of psychological variables was observed in the experimental group. It is concluded that it would be of interest to develop future researches extending the size of the sample and to apply the procedure in different sports modalities.

[Using a laser based program in patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia]. / Utilización de un programa con láser en pacientes diagnosticados de fibromialgia.

In this study, the benefits of a program of treatment by laser were evaluated on the improvement of symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. A total of 31 participants took part in the study, all of them women, randomized into two groups: intervention with laser and placebo. The intervention with girlase E11010 consisted of the individual application of six frequencies on seven anatomical zones of the body. The results were statistically significant differences for "weariness" and "difficulty sleeping" variables. In the rest of the variables, we did not find any statistical significance. One of the conclusions from the present study is the need for development of new research to verify the influence of girlase E1.1010 in the improvement of symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.

Utilización de un programa con láser en pacientes diagnosticados de fibromialgia / Using a laser based program in patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia

En esta investigación se evaluaron los efectos de un programa con láser en pacientes diagnosticados con fibromialgia (FM). Participaron en el estudio un total de 31 mujeres, las cuales fueron distribuidas de forma aleatoria a 2 grupos experimentales: intervención con láser y placebo. Las sesiones de intervención en el grupo experimental consistieron en la aplicación con el girlase El.1010, de 6 frecuencias en 7 puntos anatómicos del cuerpo. En el grupo placebo, se utilizó el mismo procedimiento, con la excepción que el láser permanecía apagado. Los resultados indicaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en las variables «cansancio» y «dificultades en el sueño». En el resto de variables, no se encontró significación estadística alguna. Una de las conclusiones más destacadas del presente estudio es la necesidad y desarrollo de nuevas investigaciones para comprobar la influencia del girlase E1.1010, en la mejora de la sintomatología asociada a la fibromialgia(AU)

In this study, the benefits of a program of treatment by laser were evaluated on the improvement of symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. A total of 31 participants took part in the study, all of them women, randomized into two groups: intervention with laser and placebo. The intervention with girlase E11010 consisted of the individual application of six frequencies on seven anatomical zones of the body. The results were statistically significant differences for “weariness” and “difficulty sleeping” variables. In the rest of the variables, we did not find any statistical significance. One of the conclusions from the present study is the need for development of new research to verify the influence of girlase E1.1010 in the improvement of symptoms associated with fibromyalgia(AU)

Prevalencia de escoliosis, dominancia manual lateral y transporte de material en una población masculina de 6–12 años / Prevalence of scoliosis, hand dominance and handling loads in a male population of 6 to 12 years

El presente estudió evaluó la relación entre la escoliosis y un conjunto de variables de tipo cronológico, motriz (zurdo o diestro) y de transporte de material escolar (mochila o trolley) en una población masculina en el ámbito educativo. La selección definitiva de la muestra, compuesta por 682 participantes, con edad comprendida entre 6–12 años y pertenecientes a Granada (España) y alrededores se realizó por muestreo, atendiendo a una composición natural de los grupos. Se seleccionaron varios instrumentos de medición (Inventario de Lateralidad Manual de Edinburgh, test de Adams y cuestionario) para recoger las variables seleccionadas. Los resultados indicaron que el 9,4% (n=64) eran escolióticos, el 10 % (n=73) eran zurdos y el 58,2% empleaba la mochila como medio de transporte de material escolar. No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre la desviación del raquis y las variables de tipo dominancia lateral y transporte de material escolar, no sucediendo lo mismo con la variable cronológica (p=0,03); del mismo modo, se encontró asociación entre la edad y el transporte de material (p=0,00), motivada por movimientos socioculturales (actitudes, costumbres, hábitos, etc.). Como principales conclusiones, cabe resaltar la nula relación entre la escoliosis y la dominancia lateral izquierda, así como el material con el que se transportan los utensilios escolares; sin embargo, no descartamos que en edades más avanzadas pueda invertirse esta situación, por lo que surge la necesidad de desarrollar programas de prevención de la patología del raquis en escolares y adultos, y aplicarles las pautas de ergonomía correctas enfocadas a incrementar la calidad de vida(AU)

This research study evaluated the relationship between scoliosis and a set of variables related to age, motor skills (left-handed or right-handed) and the method of transporting school supplies (backpack or trolley) among a school-aged male population. The final selection of the sample - comprising 682 participants between 6 and 12 years old and residents in Granada (Spain) - was conducted by sampling in response to a natural composition of the groups. Several measurement instruments (such as Edinburgh Handedness Inventory, Adam's test and a questionnaire) were applied in order to collect the selected variables. The results indicated that 9.4% (n = 64) of the boys suffered from scoliosis, 10% (n= 73) were left-handed and 58.2% used a backpack for the transportation of school supplies. No statistically significant difference was found between the deviation of the spine and lateral dominance nor between the transportation of school supplies and deviation of the spine; however the results showed a connection between age and incidence of scoliosis (p= 0.03) as well as between age and the method of transporting school supplies (p= 0.00), mainly due to sociocultural habits. In conclusion, there is no connection between suffering scoliosis and left-handedness, nor between the method of transporting school supplies and the incidence of scoliosis. However, these results could vary at older ages and, therefore, programs aimed at teaching good ergonomic guidelines and preventing the pathology of the spine in schoolchildren and adults are highly encouraged in order to improve their quality of life(AU)