Evaluating safety risks of whole-body cryotherapy/cryostimulation (WBC): a scoping review from an international consortium.

Over the two last decades, whole-body cryotherapy/cryostimulation (WBC) has emerged as an exciting non-pharmacological treatment influencing inflammatory events at a cellular and physiological level, which can result in improved sleep quality, faster neuromuscular recovery after high-intensity exercise, and chronic pain relief for patients suffering different types of diseases (fibromyalgia, rheumatism, arthritis). Some evidence even suggests that WBC has benefits on mental health (depression, anxiety disorders) and cognitive functions in both adults and older adults, due to increased circulating BDNF levels. Recently, some safety concerns have been expressed by influential public health authorities (e.g., FDA, INSERM) based on reports from patients who developed adverse events upon or following WBC treatment. However, part of the data used to support these claims involved individuals whose entire body (except head) was exposed to extreme cold vaporized liquid nitrogen while standing in a narrow bathtub. Such a procedure is known as partial-body cryotherapy (PBC), and is often erroneously mistaken to be whole-body cryotherapy. Although having similarities in terms of naming and pursued aims, these two approaches are fundamentally different. The present article reviews the available literature on the main safety concerns associated with the use of true whole-body cryotherapy. English- and French-language reports of empirical studies including case reports, case series, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified through searches of PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science electronic databases. Five case reports and two RCTs were included for a total of 16 documented adverse events (AEs). A critical in-depth evaluation of these AEs (type, severity, context of onset, participant's medical background, follow-up) is proposed and used to illustrate that WBC-related safety risks are within acceptable limits and can be proactively prevented by adhering to existing recommendations, contraindications, and commonsense guidelines.

Assessment of the condition of psychic health of French firefighters: Burnout.

To date, there has been little research on burnout in firefighters despite the acknowledged impact of occupational stress on both individuals and society. According to a survey conducted by the French National Research and Security Institute, the annual cost to society of occupational stress in France is 2-3 billion euros. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of occupational burnout in a large and representative sample of French firefighters. A nationwide survey was conducted in 2021, targeting all categories of firefighters (except for military firefighters in Paris and Marseille) both in metropolitan France and in its overseas departments and territories. This survey came in two parts: questions eliciting basic sociodemographic and job-related data, followed by the Burnout Assessment Tool which assesses the intensity of job-related burnout. We collated results for 3038 firefighters: 2418 men (79.59%), 619 women (20.38%), and 1 gender neutral (0.03%). Findings revealed that while 2455 respondents (80.8%) did not meet the criteria for burnout, 345 (11.4%) reported mild/moderate symptoms of burnout, and 238 (7.8%) could be deemed to have severe burnout symptoms. Further research is warranted into the causes of burnout and its prevention in this specific population.

[Exercise for the promotion of mental health : Putative mechanisms, recommendations, and scientific challenges]. / L'exercice physique pour la santé mentale : mécanismes, recommandations, recherches futures.

The idea of applying various forms of physical activity for the betterment of physical health and the reduction of chronic medical conditions is ubiquitous. Despite evidence of successful applications of physical activity for improvement of mental health dating back to antiquity, it has until recent years remained unconventional to consider exercise as an intervention strategy for various mental health conditions. The past two decades, however, have seen a relative explosion of interest in understanding and applying various programs and forms of exercise to improve mental health. Here, our purpose is to provide a comprehensive and updated overview of the application of exercise as a strategy for improving mental health. In the present paper we first summarize contemporary research regarding short- and long-term impacts of exercise on mental health. Then an overview of the putative mechanisms and neurobiological bases underpinning the beneficial effects of exercise is provided. Finally, we suggest directions for future research as well as a series of concrete recommendations for clinicians who wish to prescribe physical activity as part of patient mental health management.

Could Horse Gait and Induced Pelvic Dynamic Loads in Female Equestrians Be a Risk Factor in Pudendal Neuralgia?

Pudendal Neuralgia (PN) is a rare, debilitating disease caused by damage to the pudendal nerve, which innervates the anus, rectum, perineum, lower urinary tract, and genitalia. Although its etiology remains scientifically unknown, a number of sports practices, including horse-riding, are reported as triggering and/or aggravating factors. The present work summarizes the experimental measurements of the contact pressure at the interface between the rider and saddle, for a population of 12 experienced female riders. These tests reveal that dynamic horseback-riding leads to high levels of peak pressures in the perineal region, which confirms that the practice of equine sports may cause neuropathologies such as PN. All collected data will be used as boundary conditions in a future numerical 3D model aimed at locating the possible areas of pudendal nerve crushing.

Physical activity can reduce hopelessness among women admitted to psychiatric short stay unit following a suicide crisis.

BACKGROUND: In a growing number of countries, brief hospitalizations in psychiatric short stay units (SSUs) are proposed to patients in acute mental health crisis (typically suicide crisis). AIMS: This pilot study's purpose was to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and plausible efficacy of two days of 30 min of brisk-walking/jogging compared to 30 min of sedentary activities in suicidal inpatients from a French psychiatric SSU. METHODS: Twelve female adults completed the study. Participants in the brisk-walking/jogging group (n = 6) received two exercise sessions of 30 min separated by a time interval of 24 h. Participants in the control group (n = 6) did not receive the exercise intervention, but were asked to engage in sedentary activities of similar duration at the same time of the day. Measures of hopelessness and optimism/pessimism were administered at the intake and final assessments. In addition, other performance indicators were explored and provide the readers with information about the feasibility and acceptability of intervention. RESULTS: Findings showed strong feasibility and acceptability (no serious adverse event, adherence and retention rates around 75%-80%, and high patients satisfaction ratings). Significant differences between groups favoring women who exercised were oberved in the score change of hopelessness (Hedges's g = -1.29, 95% CI [-2.65, -0.08]). CONCLUSION: The present study provides preliminary evidence for the plausible adjunctive efficacy of physical activity to alleviate the psychological distress suffered by suicidal patients in a psychiatric SSU.

Effects of Outdoor Walking on Positive and Negative Affect: Nature Contact Makes a Big Difference.

It has been consistently demonstrated that physical exercise is a cost-effective way to promote emotional well-being. However, the environment in which it takes place might amplify or mitigate this beneficial effect. The present study aimed at comparing the effects of walking in a natural or urban field setting on positive and negative affect. For this purpose, 150 students (46 female, 104 male; mean age: 20.2 years) were randomized into one of three groups: Green Walking (GW, n = 50), Urban Walking (UW, n = 50), or no-exercise (control; CTRL, n = 50). Positive and negative affect ratings were collected for each participant before and after walking (or before and after attending a class in the CTRL group). Exercise parameters (duration, intensity, weather conditions, group size) were identical in the GW and UW groups. The walking routes differed in terms of vegetation density, proximity of water, presence of traffic, and amount of asphalted surfaces. Participants in the GW and UW groups reported significant reductions in negative affect pre- to post walking. However, positive affect was increased only for participants in the GW group. This finding may have meaningful implications for mental health professionals who treat patients with significant emotional distress or mood instability. Several explanations are discussed as potential mechanisms for the more beneficial effect of Green walking, and presented as an important avenue for future research.

Retracted: Whole-Body Cryotherapy as an Innovative Treatment for COVID 19-Induced Anosmia-Hyposmia: A Feasibility Study.

The article entitled, "Whole-Body Cryotherapy as an Innovative Treatment for COVID 19-Induced Anosmia-Hyposmia: A Feasibility Study," by Legrand FD, Polidori G, Beaumont F, Bouchet B, Morin A, Derruau S, and Brenet E (Epub ahead of print Jan 13, 2022; DOI: 10.1089/jicm.2021.0254) is officially retracted at the request of the authors. This request came after the paper had undergone full peer review, three rounds of revisions, acceptance, page proofs, and ultimately, online publication. The Methods section of the published paper states that the study had "secured University ethics clearance…"1 but the authors explained that, "after re-discussion and internal reassessment, it appears clearly that this study required, according to French law, the approval of a specific committee known as the '[C]ommittee for the [P]rotection of [P]ersons (CPP)' and not a simple ethical agreement. For this reason, [we] request, in good faith, that the article be retracted. We apologize for this delay in taking a position, but this study gave rise to a re-discussion with our peers of the methodology which led us to realize our error 'a posteriori.'" The authors' respective institutions have been notified by the publisher. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine is committed to upholding the rigors of scientific publishing and the veracity of the literature. Reference 1. Legrand FD, Polidori G, Beaumont F, et al. Whole-body cryotherapy as an innovative treatment for COVID 19-induced anosmia-hyposmia: a feasibility study. Epub ahead of print Jan 13, 2022; DOI: 10.1089/jicm.2021.0254.

Physical Exercise and Self-Esteem in Women Facing Lockdown-Related Domestic Violence.

The purpose of the present brief report was to examine the effects of a 6-week long physical exercise program on global self-esteem and physical self-perceptions among women who faced lockdown-related domestic violence. Thirty-six domestic violence victims (mean age: 33.4 ± 3.5 yrs-old) were enrolled in this study. Participants were randomly and equally assigned to two intervention (physical exercise, counseling/support group therapy) and one control (no intervention) groups. The French version of the Physical Self-Perception Profile (ISP-25) was administered to all participants pre- and post-study. Mixed-design ANOVAs revealed significant Group by Time interactions for Global Self-Esteem, Physical Condition, and Body Attractiveness. Global Self-Esteem significantly improved in the two intervention groups, with a trend for better improvement in women who exercised compared to those who took part in support group meetings, Cohen's d = 0.68, 95% confidence interval [‒0.18, 1.54]. On the other hand, only women from the Physical Exercise group reported significant gains in Physical Condition and Body Attractiveness. There was no change in any of the assessed variables for women in the control group. The present study provides new insights on the role of physical exercise in the understudied population of women with domestic violence. Our findings are discussed and related to previous studies.

Aerodynamic interaction between in-line runners: new insights on the drafting strategy in running.

This study aims at modelling the aerodynamic interaction between a world-class runner and several pacers running in line, the objective being to determine the best drafting position in terms of potential speed gain and running time. Computational Fluid Dynamics calculations were performed to determine the aerodynamic drag forces exerted on the runners. Secondly, we estimated the metabolic savings for each of the runner's positions in the pack of pacers. Finally, we estimated a potential equivalent running speed and a corresponding running time gain for each of the runner's positions. Running second in a group of 5 runners would be the most effective drafting strategy, with a reduction of aerodynamic drag reaching 63.3%, corresponding to an improvement of 4.4% of the running economy. Furthermore, decreasing the drag forces acting on the runner would results in greater running speed. For example, a 63.3% reduction in the aerodynamic forces yields a 2.9% faster running speed (20.7 to 21.31 km/h) for an equal metabolic cost. Running in the wake of a leading runner (in a pack of five runners) over a marathon is estimated to provide a significant time saving of 3 min 28 s.

Numerical investigation of the impact of Kenenisa Bekele's cooperative drafting strategy on its running power during the 2019 Berlin marathon.

In this paper we examined the aerodynamic drag and the resulting decrease of power output associated with the drafting positions used by Kenenisa Bekele at the 2019 Berlin marathon. Examination of videos of the race revealed three different positions adopted by Bekele directly behind a frontline of three runners. These drafting positions were numerically studied using CFD simulations performed with the RANS equations and the SST k-ω model. Depending on his position behind the pacers, our analyses indicated that Bekele's drafting strategy resulted in reductions of 38.5-57.3% of the drag resistance and aerodynamic power. In terms of metabolic power, Bekele's drafting positions yielded an estimated 1.91-2.84% reduction compared to the calculated metabolic power of 1427.89 W (or equivalent metabolic power relative to body mass of 25.50 W/kg) that Bekele would have developed if he had run alone at the same speed of 5.75 m.s-1.

Evaluation of a brief interval exercise training (IET) intervention for first-time prisoners with elevated anxiety symptoms.

ABSTRACTBackground: Exercise training has a history of alleviating anxiety in various populations, but research into its effects on prison inmates is limited. Confinement to prison is a highly distressing event for those who have never experienced incarceration, which can dramatically increase anxiety-related symptoms and may exacerbate suicidal risk. Methods: Thirty-seven first-time prisoners with elevated anxiety symptoms completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory before and after a 6-week long treatment period consisting of interval exercise training (IET; n = 20) or no intervention (waiting-list; n = 17). Prisoners in the IET intervention had to exercise three times per week (40 min per session) under the supervision of the first and/or second author. Exercise intensity was self-monitored using the Borg's RPE-15 scale, with targets in the range 13-15 ("somewhat hard"-"hard"). Results: Those who received the IET intervention showed a significantly greater reduction in anxiety than prisoners in the waiting-list. The effect size for IET was of moderate-to-large magnitude (Cohen's d = -0.71). Conclusion: The authors conclude that the lower levels of anxiety reported following IET suggest that supervised exercise training is an effective coping strategy to deal with incarceration. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04019171.

First pump-probe-probe hard X-ray diffraction experiments with a 2D hybrid pixel detector developed at the SOLEIL synchrotron.

A new photon-counting camera based on hybrid pixel technology has been developed at the SOLEIL synchrotron, making it possible to implement pump-probe-probe hard X-ray diffraction experiments for the first time. This application relies on two specific advantages of the UFXC32k readout chip, namely its high frame rate (50 kHz) and its high linear count rate (2.6 × 106 photons s-1 pixel-1). The project involved the conception and realization of the chips and detector carrier board, the data acquisition system, the server with its specific software, as well as the mechanical and cooling systems. This article reports on in-laboratory validation tests of the new detector, as well as on tests performed at the CRISTAL beamline within the targeted experimental conditions. A benchmark experiment was successfully performed, showing the advantages of the pump-probe-probe scheme in correcting for drifts of the experimental conditions.

Internalized Media-Promoted Body Ideals Only Marginally Moderate the Effects of Exercise on Self-Esteem, Body Image Satisfaction, and Physical Self-Perceptions.

Objective: To examine the moderating effect of internalized media messages on ideal body shape and lifestyle in the relationships between physical exercise, self-esteem, physical self-perceptions, and body image satisfaction. Design: pre-test/posttest control group experimental design. Methods: 46 inactive women (mean age = 21.4 ± 2.1 years-old) volunteered to participate in this study and were randomly assigned to Exercise (n = 23) or Wait-list (n = 23) groups. The Exercise group participated in two 50 minutes long exercise sessions per week for six weeks. During this period women in the Wait-list group did not participate in any regular physical activity. The French version of the Physical Self-Perception Profile (ISP-25) and the Body Image Assessment Scale (BIAS-BD) were administered to participants before and after intervention. In addition, the Sociocultural Attitudes Toward Appearance Questionnaire (SATAQ) was completed to assess participants' level of internalization of media standards. Results and Discussion: Women in the Exercise group improved more in outcomes than those in the Wait-list group. Effects were only marginally moderated by levels of media internalization. Potential explanations for these findings are reviewed and discussed.

Brief aerobic exercise immediately enhances visual attentional control and perceptual speed. Testing the mediating role of feelings of energy.

While the effects of acute exercise on mood and cognitive functions have been separately documented over the last decade, recent findings have pointed to a possible connection between affective responses to exercise and cognitive performance. The main objective of this study was to test whether the effects of acute exercise on cognition were mediated by changes in feelings of energy. One-hundred-and-one undergraduate students were randomized into one of two experimental conditions: 15 min of jogging at "moderate" intensity, or 15 min of relaxation/concentration (control condition). Perceptual speed, visual attentional control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility were assessed pre- and post-intervention in both groups via the Trail Making Test. Self-rated feelings of energy were also recorded pre- and post-intervention. Only completion time for the TMT-A significantly improved from pre- to post-intervention in participants who exercised compared with participants who practiced relaxation/concentration. No Group × Time interaction was found with regard to the other TMT variables. Finally, changes in feelings of energy were found to fully mediate the relationship between exercise and perceptual speed/visual attentional control. Taken together, our data suggest that a brief bout of moderate intensity exercise can improve the efficiency of certain cognitive processes through increases in feelings of energy, but further research is required to evaluate the duration of benefits and to determine whether these apply to other populations.

Effects of hypnosis during pregnancy: A psychophysiological study on maternal stress.

Because it induces a state of reduced awareness and deep relaxation, hypnosis is thought to be efficient at relieving stress and anxiety. This study examined whether hypnosis may alter the pattern and time evolution of maternal and fetal stress. Here we report a 23-yrs-old primigravida woman at 31-weeks' gestation who underwent daily sessions of hypnosis during one week. An A (baseline)-B (intervention) - A' (return to baseline) design was used. Each study phase lasted one week. The State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) was completed daily. Uterine contractions as well as maternal and fetal heart rate were recorded over 24-h periods in each of the study phase. Uterine contractions and maternal systolic blood pressure showed clear reductions during the hypnosis phase. In addition, a statistically significant declining trend in anxiety scores was observed during the hypnosis phase, and anxiety re-increased in the return-to-baseline phase (p<0.05). Coefficient of variation of maternal heart rate was found to be considerably lower during the hypnosis phase. Our results suggest that a short-lived hypnosis intervention (combined with standard care) holds sufficient promise for antenatal stress relief to justify testing its efficacy in larger groups of pregnant women.

Acute Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Feelings of Energy in Relation to Age and Sex.

A crossover experiment was performed to determine whether age and sex, or their interaction, affect the impact of acute aerobic exercise on vigor-activity (VA). We also tested whether changes in VA mediated exercise effects on performance on various cognitive tasks. Sixty-eight physically inactive volunteers participated in exercise and TV-watching control conditions. They completed the VA subscale of the Profile of Mood States immediately before and 2 min after the intervention in each condition. They also performed the Trail Making Test 3 min after the intervention in each condition. Statistical analyses produced a condition . age . sex interaction characterized by a higher mean VA gain value in the exercise condition (compared with the VA gain value in the TV-watching condition) for young female participants only. In addition, the mediational analyses revealed that changes in VA fully mediated the effects of exercise on TMT-Part A performance.

Efficacy of exercise as an adjunct treatment for clinically depressed inpatients during the initial stages of antidepressant pharmacotherapy: An open randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Physical exercise as adjunctive treatment for hospitalized patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) has been of increasing interest in the past few years. While preliminary findings are promising, these prior studies have been plagued by inclusion of participants at different stages of medication use at study entry. The present study evaluates the effects of a short (10-days) add-on endurance-training intervention in hospitalized MDD patients on antidepressant medication for less than two weeks. METHOD: Thirty-five participants were randomly assigned to one of three study groups: aerobic exercise (n=14), placebo (stretching) exercise (n=11), or no intervention (control; n=10). The study outcome was the change in the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) total score from baseline to the end of the study period. RESULTS: The intent-to-treat analysis showed significant improvements in BDI-II scores for both the aerobic and the stretching groups. However, comparing pre- to post-study depression changes in these two groups, we found a large effect size in favor of aerobic exercise (Cohen's d=-1.06). No significant change in depressive symptoms was found in the control group. LIMITATIONS: The nature of the intervention (i.e., exercise) meant blinding participants to treatments was not possible. Precise information on medication dosage was not available, and the short duration of interventions and lack of follow-up assessment were all limitations. CONCLUSIONS: Endurance-training can be a helpful adjunct treatment for hospitalized patients with severe affective disorders in the initial stages of pharmacotherapy.

Do Changes in Tympanic Temperature Predict Changes in Affective Valence During High-Intensity Exercise?

PURPOSE: Increased core (brain or body) temperature that accompanies exercise has been posited to play an influential role in affective responses to exercise. However, findings in support of this hypothesis have been equivocal, and most of the performed studies have been done in relation to anxiety. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of tympanic temperature on basic affect (i.e., pleasure-displeasure) in the course of a high-intensity exercise session. METHOD: One hundred seventy students performed a 10-min cycling exercise at an intensity of 80% to 85% of maximal heart rate. Heart rate, tympanic temperature, and self-reported pleasure (using the Feeling Scale [FS]) were measured twice during exercise at the end of the first minute (Min 1:00) and beginning of the last minute (Min 9:00). RESULTS: Small increases in tympanic temperature were noted from Min 1:00 to Min 9:00 (mean change value = +0.2°C). Meanwhile, the FS scores changed in the opposite direction (mean change value = - 0.2 units). However, changes in temperature only poorly predicted changes in pleasure-displeasure (R(2) = .05 for the linear regression, R(2) = .08 for the curvilinear regression). CONCLUSIONS: Slight elevated tympanic temperature occurred during the 10-min cycling exercise, but it had a negligible effect on changes in pleasure ratings. The possibility that tympanic temperature is not a valid indicator of core temperature during exercise is discussed.