A Home-Based Multimedia Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program Improves Clinical Symptoms and Physical Performance of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Home-based pulmonary rehabilitation can decrease symptoms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a home-based pulmonary rehabilitation by instructive multimedia in the form of videos and flip charts on clinical symptoms and exercise performance in COPD patients. An eight-week home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program was performed with twenty COPD patients older than 60 years of age with moderate to severe stages. They were separated into two groups: a multimedia group (n = 10) and a control group, which was only provided with telephone monitoring (n = 10). Clinical symptoms were measured by using the clinical COPD questionnaire (CCQ), and exercise performance was measured using a six-minute walk test (6MWT) and an upper-lower limb muscle strengthening test. After 8 weeks, the results showed that both groups showed a statistically significant decrease in the CCQ (p < 0.05). The multimedia group showed a statistically significant increase in the lower-limb muscle strengthening (p < 0.05), while the control group was not found to show a statistically significant increase in the lower-limb muscle strengthening. Therefore, a pulmonary rehabilitation program using multimedia at home can lessen symptoms and improve exercise performance in COPD patients.

Physical activity and creativity of children and youths.

BACKGROUND: Childhood is an important period for developing maturity in thinking. Accumulating evidence shows the association between physical activity and cognitive function. Although both the intelligence quotient and emotional quotient have been reported to be associated with physical activity, there is a limited amount of published research regarding the association between physical activity and cognitive function in children and youths. With respect to creativity, an important skill for the twenty-first century, little evidence on the creative quotient promotion in childhood is available. The present study, therefore, is designed to explore the correlation between physical activity and creativity. METHODS: The participants included 1447 students with different age groups in 34 schools from Southern Thailand. Age groups were categorized according to Thailand's 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth, where 521 students were aged 6-9 years, 487 students were aged 10-13 years, and 439 students were aged 14-17 years. Creativity was measured through the use of the Test for Creative Thinking-Drawing Production (TCT-DP). Active play, time with family and peers, and sedentary behavior were monitored by the Thailand Physical Activity Children Survey-the Student Questionnaire (TPACS-SQ). RESULTS: The correlation between the TCT-DP score representing creativity and active play was noticed in adolescents (r = 0.148, p = 0.001), but not found in participants aged 6-13 years. Active play was associated with time with family and peers in all age groups (r = 0.485, p <  0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The present data supports the idea that optimal physical activity is required during childhood for developing thinking process. Promotion of active play with family and peers may facilitate creativity skills.

Results From Thailand's 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) is recognized as one of the core modifiable risk factors of noncommunicable diseases. However, little is known about PA in the Thai population, particularly in children. The report card (RC) project provided Thailand with an opportunity to assess PA behaviors in children. This paper summarizes the methodology, grading process, and the final grades of the Thai RC. METHODS: A school-based survey was conducted to collect data from a nationally representative sample of children aged 6 to 17 years. Survey results provided the primary source for the RC. Nine indicators were graded using the Global Matrix 2.0 framework. Grading was undertaken by a national committee comprising experts from key stakeholders. RESULTS: Grades ranged from F to B. Overall PA and Sedentary Behaviors both received the grade D-. Organized Sport Participation scored a C. Active Play scored the grade F. Active Transport and support from Family and Peers were both graded B. School, Community, and Government indicators were scored C. CONCLUSIONS: In Thai children, participation in PA and active play is very low; conversely, sedentary behaviors are high. These first data on patterns of activity for the Thailand RC will serve to guide national actions and advocacy aimed at increasing PA in children.

Substrate utilization during and after high intensity exercise in healthy lean and obese men.

OBJECTIVE: To compare lipid and carbohydrate use during and after a high-intensity endurance exercise bout between lean and obese subjects. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Lean and obese healthy male subjects with energetic physical activity and stable body weight were recruited to participate in the present study. The respiratory exchange ratio (RER), lipid and carbohydrate oxidation, and lipid and carbohydrate energy expenditure during resting condition, high-intensity exercise and 180 min after exercise were determined by indirect calorimetry RESULTS: Ten lean and ten obese healthy male subjects, aged 26+/-4 years, completed a 300-kcal high-intensity exercise session. Resting energy expenditure and lipid energy expenditure in the obese group were significantly higher than those of the lean group. The RER, lipid oxidation, and carbohydrate oxidation were not significantly different between groups throughout the exercise period. The total energy expenditure and total lipid and carbohydrate energy expenditure were also not significantly different between lean and obese groups. During the 180-minute post exercise period, both lean and obese subjects showed a declination in RER and carbohydrate oxidation and an increase in lipid oxidation. CONCLUSION: Substrate use during and after high-intensity exercise between healthy lean and obese subjects was not significantly different. Both groups used carbohydrates and lipids as the main substrate sources during and after high-intensity exercise, respectively.

Effect of lower extremity exercise on muscle strength and physical capacity in COPD patients.

OBJECTIVE: Investigate the effect of lower extremity exercise on maximum lower extremity muscle strength and physical capacity in COPD patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Twenty moderate to very severe COPD patients were allocated into trained and control groups. The trained group received eight weeks of lower extremity functional exercise including forward step up, lateral step up, heel raise, and lunge at home. Maximum muscle strength and Six Minute Walk Distance (6MWD) assessments were performed at pre-training, week 4, and week 8 in hospital settings. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between trained and control groups in maximum muscle strength and 6MWD at the beginning of the program. However, there was a significant improvement in 6MWD after eight weeks of training, whereas there were no significant differences in the control group. CONCLUSION: Functional exercise may improve physical capacity in moderate to very severe COPD patients. It is beneficial and easy to perform at home.