Structural and pathophysiological muscle changes up to one year after post-stroke hemiplegia: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Muscle changes after stroke cannot be explained solely on the basis of corticospinal bundle damage. Muscle-specific changes contribute to limited functional recovery but have been poorly characterized. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: We conducted a systematic review of muscular changes occurring at the histological, neuromuscular and functional levels during the first year after the onset of post-stroke hemiplegia. A literature search was performed on PubMed, Embase and CINHAL databases up to November 2022 using a keyword combination comprising cerebral stroke, hemiplegic, atrophy, muscle structure, paresis, skeletal muscle fiber type, motor unit, oxidative stress, strength, motor control. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Twenty-seven trial reports were included in the review, out of 12,798 articles screened. Structural modifications described on the paretic side include atrophy, transformation of type II fibers into type I fibers, decrease in fiber diameter and apparent myofilament disorganization from the first week post-stroke up to the fourth month. Reported biochemical changes comprise the abnormal presence of lipid droplets and glycogen granules in the subsarcolemmal region during the first month post-stroke. At the neurophysiological level, studies indicate an early decrease in the number and activity of motor units, correlated with the degree of motor impairment. All these modifications were present to a lesser degree on the non-paretic side. Although only sparse data concerning the subacute stage are available, these changes seem to appear during the first two weeks post-stroke and continue up to the third or fourth month. CONCLUSIONS: Considering these early pathophysiological changes on both the paretic and non-paretic sides, it seems crucial to promptly stimulate central and also peripheral muscular activation after stroke through specific rehabilitation programs focused on the maintenance of muscle capacities associated with neurological recovery or plasticity.

[Nonorganized and organized physical activity and health-related physical fitness in Burundian adults: cross-sectional study]. / Activités physiques libres ou encadrées et condition physique liée à la santé chez des adultes burundais: étude transversale.

INTRODUCTION: Regular physical activity has a positive impact on health. This study aims to compare health-related physical fitness in adults engaged in organized physical exercise with these in adults engaged in nonorganized physical exercise and to establish a relationship between this physical fitness and physical activity level. METHODS: We collected data on physical activity level and health-related physical fitness parameters. Independent samples T-test was used to compare the means of the two groups and Pearson correlation coefficient calculator was used to analyze the relationship between physical fitness parameters and physical activity level. RESULTS: Significant differences (p < 0.05) in physical activity level, flexibility, aerobic endurance ([Formula: see text]) and HR rest were recorded for the organized exercise group. The level of physical activity was positively correlated (P < 0.05) to [Formula: see text] and grip strength but it was negatively correlated with HR rest and LDL cholesterol. The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors was minimal except for HDL cholesterol. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that nonorganized physical exercise is as effective as organized physical exercise in maintaining proper health-related physiological and lipid profiles in Burundian adult. However, organized physical activity provides additional health benefits on [Formula: see text], HR rest, anteroposterior flexibility and vertical jump.

[Effect of antenatal gymnastics on childbirth: a study on 50 sedentary women in the Republic of Benin during the second and third quarters of pregnancy]. / L'effet de la gymnastique prénatale sur l'accouchement: étude sur 50 femmes béninoises sédentaires au cours des deuxième et troisième trimestres de grossesse.

Antenatal gymnastics is a form of non-pharmacological childbirth preparation methods. It helps maintain rachidian statics and to relieve painful syndromes (joints, lumbar pains) during pregnancy. It also helps correct gravidic problems (leg cramps, back ache, weight increase, etc.). It is both a physical and psychological training method in accordance with the natural mechanisms of childbirth, implying personal involvement on the part of the parturient. Fifty (50) pregnant women of Benin (apart from pathological pregnancies) divided into two groups of 25 subjects (experimental group) and 25 subjects (control group) voluntarily took part in the study after having given their written assent. Each involved subject is paired with a counterpart of control following the same criteria: age of the gestante, parity, characteristic of the pelvis. Subjects aged from 17 to 42 trained twice a week with a minimum of 24 hours rest between two sessions; the training period intensity of exercise is limited to 60% of the maximum heart frequency and each training session lasts 45 min. The results show a lower number of caesareans and a significant lower number of untorn perineas in the experimental group. Apgar scores are also statistically higher in the children of trained women. This study confirms that sedentary pregnant women without any medical counter-indications (repetitive miscarriages, premature births, placenta praevia, cervical gaping, cardiac diseases, hypertension, narrow pelvis) can participate in antenatal gymnastics at a moderated rhythm, for their own benefit and that of their babies. Muscular force improvement (quality of the abdominal pushing), psychological control (absence of stress and panic), and good body form, can be noticed in trained mothers. However, abnormal presentation of baby, fetal suffering and the inherent characteristics of the pelvis (narrow) are factors requiring a caesarean. On the whole, antenatal gymnastics is an effective non-pharmacological means to avoid complications in childbirth. This method might be one of the solutions which could benefit pregnant women in Africa, considering its low cost compared to the exorbitant cost of medicines and hospitalisation.