The levels of physical activity and fatigue among teachers in Poland and the United Kingdom in the first year after the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 disease has a negative impact on the psychophysiological health of populations worldwide, including a decrease in overall physical performance and an increase in fatigue. Fatigue was one of the main symptoms reported by patients and persisted for several weeks after infection with COVID-19. Although the phenomenon of fatigue is still poorly understood, physical activity can be a supportive factor in combating feelings of fatigue and lack of energy. The purpose of this research was to assess the physical activity (PA) and fatigue levels of teachers in Poland and the United Kingdom in the first year after the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The online research was carried out among 410 teachers from Poland and the United Kingdom. The PA level was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The level of fatigue was measured using the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS). RESULTS: Polish teachers, regardless of sex, are more physically active (the differences relate mainly to walking and moderate activity). When assessing the level of fatigue, there is a significant difference between men and women - the former indicate a higher degree of fatigue, with the difference between the sexes being particularly large in the Polish community. Quite clearly, there is an association between less activity (except walking) and more fatigue. All models show a statistically significant effect of total fatigue on total effort. Physical activity is not very strongly correlated with age but the level of fatigue increases with age. CONCLUSIONS: The problem of teacher fatigue is unfortunately widespread. They should be encouraged to engage in as much PA as possible during the day. When planning and targeting fatigue reduction campaigns, PA should be encouraged and variables such as age, sex should be taken into account.

Physical Activity and Self-Determination towards Exercise among Esports Athletes.

BACKGROUND: Esports is competitive video gaming, performed within teams or individually, across multiple genres. Players are required to be sedentary for extended periods and require a high-level of cognitive skills for successful competitive performance. There are conflicting findings within the physical activity research in the esports industry. The aim of this research is to explore self-reported physical activity through accelerometer-assessed physical activity, to gain a better insight into the physical activity behaviours of international e'athletes. METHOD: Participants (n = 796) across multiple popular esports games, holding any in-game rank, competing at any level, were recruited. The survey consisted of demographic details, esports experience, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form (IPAQ-LF), and Behavioural Regulations towards Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-3). Within a convenience sample, local intervarsity e'athletes (n = 18) were recruited to wear a wrist-worn accelerometer to measure physical activity for 7-days and then complete the survey. Results from the accelerometers were compared to the survey results to explore physical activity reporting within this population. RESULTS: When comparing IPAQ-LF to accelerometer data, players significantly over-report moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and weekly MET-min- 1 (p = .018, r = .63 and p ≤ .001, r = .92). The BREQ-3 showed that e'athletes categorised as high physical activity displayed significantly higher levels of intrinsic motivation, when compared to players categorised as low and moderate physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: E'athletes significantly over report physical activity time when measured through the IPAQ-LF, suggesting previous surveys may overestimate physical activity and further research is needed. Given the exponential growth of the industry and the level of physical inactivity, esports may contribute to global physical inactivity levels.

Effect of High-Intensity Interval Exercise versus Continuous Low-Intensity Aerobic Exercise with Blood Flow Restriction on Psychophysiological Responses: A Randomized Crossover Study.

This study compared the effect of continuous low-intensity aerobic exercise with blood flow restriction (LI-AE-BFR) versus high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE), matching total external mechanical work between conditions, on perceptual (exertion, pain, affective and pleasure) and physiological responses (heart rate [HR], blood lactate [BL] and muscle fatigue). Ten healthy untrained men (25.6 ± 3.78 years old; 75.02 ± 12.02 kg; 172.2 ± 6.76 cm; 24.95 ± 3.16 kg/m²) completed three visits to the laboratory. In visit 1, anthropometry, blood pressure and peak running velocity on the treadmill were measured. In visits 2 and 3, participants were randomly assigned to HIIE or LI-AE-BFR, both in treadmill. HIIE consisted of 10 one-minute stimuli at 80% of peak running velocity interspersed with one-minute of passive recovery. LI-AE-BFR consisted of 20-minutes of continuous walking at 40% of peak running velocity with bilateral cuffs inflated to 50% of arterial occlusion pressure. BL and maximum isometric voluntary contraction (MIVC - fatigue measure) were measured pre- and immediately post-exercise. HR, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and rating of perceived pain (RPP) were recorded after each stimulus in HIIE and every two minutes in LI-AE-BFR. Affective response to the session, pleasure, and future intention to exercise (FIE) were assessed 10 minutes after the intervention ended. Increases in BL concentrations were greater in HIIE (p = 0.028; r = 0.51). No effects time or condition were reported for MIVC. HR was higher in HIIE at all analyzed time points (p < 0.001; d = 3.1 to 5.2). RPE did not differ between conditions (p > 0.05), while average session RPP was higher in LI-AE-BFR (p = 0.036; r = 0.46). Affective positive response (p = 0.019; d = 0.9) and FIE (p = 0.013; d = 0.97) were significantly higher in HIIE. Therefore, HIIE elicited higher physiological stress, positive affective response, and intention to engage in future exercise bouts compared to LI-AE-BFR.

Development and validation of the physical effort scale (PES).

OBJECTIVES: Previous literature has primarily viewed physical effort as an aversive experience. However, recent research suggests that effort can also be valued positively. These differences in approach and avoidance tendencies toward physical effort may play a key role in the self-regulation of physical activity behaviors. The aim of this study was to develop a scale that measures these tendencies and contributes to a better understanding of physical effort and how it affects behavior. METHODS: The Physical Effort Scale (PES) was developed in Study 1 based on expert evaluations (n = 9) and cognitive interviews (n = 10). In Study 2 (n = 680, 69% female), content validity and dimensional structure were examined using principal component analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Item reduction was conducted using item response theory. Preliminary construct validity was explored using regression. Study 3 (n = 297, 71% female) was used to validate dimensional structure, internal consistency, and construct validity, and to assess test-retest reliability. RESULTS: In Study 1, 44 items were rated for content validity, of which 18 were selected and refined based on cognitive interviews. Analyses from Study 2 allowed reducing the scale to 8 items with a two-dimension structure: tendency to approach (n = 4) and to avoid physical effort (n = 4). The two subscales showed high internal consistency (α = 0.897 for the approach dimension and 0.913 for the avoidance dimension) and explained usual levels of physical activity, providing preliminary evidence of construct validity. Study 3 confirmed the two-dimension structure with high internal consistency (α = 0.907 and 0.916 for the approach and avoidance dimension, respectively) and revealed acceptable test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation >0.66). Patterns of associations with other constructs showed expected relationships, confirming the concurrent, convergent, and discriminant validity of the scale. CONCLUSIONS: The PES is a valid and reliable measure of individual differences in the valuation of physical effort. This scale can assess the propensity to engage in physically demanding tasks in non-clinical populations. The PES and its manual are available in the Supplementary Material.

Assessment of physical activity levels and back pain among poles and Portuguese in the further year of the COVID-19 pandemic - a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: The vast majority of people have experienced the problem of back pain at least once in their lives for a variety of reasons. It is well known that regular physical activity at a moderate level has a number of health benefits regardless of age or gender with positive effects on the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory or nervous systems improving fitness levels. During the pandemic, Poland experienced one of the longest periods of school lockdown in Europe. In Portugal, this period was considerably shorter. The aim of this study was to determine the level of physical activity and back pain as well as relationship between physical activity and back pain in a group of Polish and Portuguese students in the following year the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The study was conducted via the Internet among students from Poland and Portugal (398 respondents - 229 from Poland and 169 from Portugal) in October 2022. In the pilot study, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and The Oswestry Disability Index and Neck Disability Index questionnaires were used to assess the level of back pain. RESULTS: There are no statistically significant differences in the level of physical activity and pain complaints of respondents from the two countries. At least half of the students do not report any pain complaints (median in some groups being 0). In the Portuguese men, there is a correlation between the level of physical activity and the Neck Disability Index score (p = 0.0304). CONCLUSIONS: The following year, after the pandemic COVID-19 was declared, the prevalence of back pain among students in Poland and Portugal is still significant.

Diastolic Dysfunction as a Positive Predictor of Recurrent Vascular Events in Patients With Noncardioembolic Stroke.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the effects of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) on vascular outcomes among patients with stroke of noncardioembolic origins. METHODS: This prospective observational study enrolled 563 patients with noncardioembolic stroke (mean age, 67.9 years; 66.7% men and 33.3% women individuals) registered in the Tokyo Women's Medical University Stroke Registry between 2013 and 2020. Then, patients were divided into the LVDD and non-LVDD groups. The primary outcome was a composite of major adverse cardiovascular events, including nonfatal stroke, nonfatal acute coronary syndrome, and vascular death 1 year after stroke onset. The effect of LVDD on vascular events was assessed using multivariable Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 130 (23.1%) patients had any grade of LVDD, and patients with LVDD had a higher risk of major adverse cardiovascular event at 1 year than those without LVDD (annual rate, 20.9% versus 10.8%; log-rank P=0.001). The multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model demonstrated that the presence of LVDD was independently associated with the major adverse cardiovascular event risk (hazard ratio, 1.79 [95% CI, 1.02-3.12]; P=0.019). Furthermore, the LVDD grade was proportional to the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and recurrent stroke. CONCLUSIONS: LVDD may be associated with further vascular events after a noncardioembolic stroke, suggesting the importance of LVDD evaluations in risk stratification and secondary prevention in patients with noncardioembolic stroke. REGISTRATION: URL: https://upload.umin.ac.jp; Unique identifier: UMIN000031913.

The Effect of Mandatory Fitness Requirements on Cardiovascular Events: A State-by-State Analysis Using a National Database.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular events are known to be the leading cause of death among on-duty firefighters. Implementing fitness standards may help reduce the incidence of cardiovascular deaths; however, standards vary between firefighter type and states. We aimed to investigate the rate of cardiovascular events among firefighters across states. METHODS: Using publicly available data from the United States Fire Administration, we explored the rates of cardiovascular deaths between firefighter type (e.g., career, volunteer, and wildland) and state. Specifically, we examined rates of cardiovascular deaths between California and Tennessee, which have fitness standards for all firefighters, and New York, which does not have fitness standards for volunteer firefighters. We used descriptive statistics and trend analysis to examine the data. FINDINGS: Most cardiovascular events occur among volunteer firefighters (60.6%, n = 877). Volunteer firefighters had 7.5 (95% CI = [4.8, 11.7], p < .001) greater odds of cardiovascular events compared to wildland firefighters, who had the lowest incidence of cardiovascular events (1.7%, n = 24). New York reported the most cardiovascular events (n = 161), primarily among volunteer firefighters (73.9%, n = 119). After the passage of legislation mandating fitness standards in California, a downtrend in the number of volunteer firefighter fatalities is observed. However, a null effect was observed in Tennessee after the passage of similar fitness standards as in California. CONCLUSIONS/APPLICATIONS TO PRACTICE: Volunteer firefighters are significantly more likely to die of a cardiovascular event than career and wildland firefighters, both of which have stricter fitness standards. However, the effect of legislation mandating stricter fitness standards among volunteers did not produce a clear benefit for preventing fatalities. Nurses need to promote cardiovascular health among volunteer firefighters.

The effect of the ketogenic diet on resistance training load management: a repeated-measures clinical trial in trained participants.

BACKGROUND: The effect of low-carbohydrate high-fat dietary manipulation, such as the ketogenic diet (KD), on muscle strength assessment in resistance-training (RT) participants has focused on the one-repetition maximum test (1-RM). However, a pre-specified 1-RM value during an exercise training program disregards several confounding factors (i.e. sleep, diet, and training-induced fatigue) that affect the exerciser's "true" load and daily preparedness. We aimed to evaluate the effect of a 6-week RT program on load control-related variables in trained subjects following a KD intervention. METHODS: Fourteen resistance-trained individuals (3F, 11 M; 30.1 [6.2] years; 174.2 [7.6] cm; 75.7 [10.8] kg; BMI 24.8 [2.1] kg·m-2) completed this single-arm repeated-measures clinical trial. Load management variables included volume load, number of repetitions, perceived exertion (RPE), movement velocity loss, and exertion index. These primary outcomes were assessed weekly before, during, and at the end of a 6-week RT program that included traditional RT exercises (bench press, femoral lying down, lat pulldown, leg extension, and back squat). RESULTS: There was a significant difference in RPE between weeks (p = 0.015, W = 0.19) with a slight trend in decreasing RPE. We found differences in the volume load per week (p < 0.001; W = 0.73 and p < 0.001, W = 0.81, respectively), with an increase in the last weeks. In the control of the load based on movement velocity, we did not find significant differences between weeks (p = 0.591, W = 0.06), although significant differences were found in the effort index (p = 0.026, W = 0.17). CONCLUSIONS: A KD diet in recreational strength participants does not appear to lead to performance losses during a RT program aimed at improving body composition. However, the lack of adherence and familiarity with the ketogenic diet must be considered specially during first weeks.

Occupational physical demands and menstrual cycle irregularities in flight attendants and teachers.

OBJECTIVES: Flight attendants perform physically demanding work such as lifting baggage, pushing service carts and spending the workday on their feet. We examined if more frequent exposure to occupational physical demands could explain why previous studies have found that flight attendants have a higher reported prevalence of menstrual cycle irregularities than other workers. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 694 flight attendants and 120 teachers aged 18-44 years from three US cities. Eligible participants were married, had not had a hysterectomy or tubal ligation, were not using hormonal contraception and were not recently pregnant. Participants reported menstrual cycle characteristics (cramps, pain, irregular cycles, flow, bleed length, cycle length) and occupational physical demands (standing, lifting, pushing/pulling, bending/twisting, overall effort). We used modified Poisson regression to examine associations between occupation (flight attendant, teacher) and menstrual irregularities; among flight attendants, we further examined associations between occupational physical demands and menstrual irregularities. RESULTS: All occupational physical demands were more commonly reported by flight attendants than teachers. Flight attendants reported more frequent menstrual cramps than teachers, and most occupational physical demands were associated with more frequent or painful menstrual cramps. Lifting heavy loads was also associated with irregular cycles. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational physical demands were associated with more frequent and worse menstrual pain among flight attendants. The physical demands experienced by these workers may contribute to the high burden of menstrual irregularities reported by flight attendants compared with other occupational groups, such as teachers.

Calibration and validation of physical behaviour cut-points using wrist-worn ActiGraphs for children and adolescents: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: To review cut-points calibrated and independently validated from wrist-worn ActiGraph accelerometers to measure moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and time spent sedentary (SED) in children and adolescents. DESIGN: Systematic literature review. METHODS: Five databases were searched for relevant cut-point calibration and independent validation studies relating to wrist worn ActiGraphs in children and adolescents from inception through 30 April 2022. Extracted data included: country of publication; study name; population; device model; wear location; sampling frequency; epoch length; activity protocol; criterion method and definitions used to classify PA intensity; statistical methods for calibration; statistical methods for validation/cross-validation; and MVPA and SED outcome. RESULTS: Fourteen calibration studies and seven independent validation studies were identified. Calibrated cut-points for MVPA vector magnitude counts ranged from 7065 to 9204 counts per minute (cpm) and 63.5 to 201 milli-gravitational units (mg). For SED, calibrated cut-points ranged from <2556 cpm to 4350 cpm and 30.8 to 48.1 mg. Classification accuracy values determined by independent validation studies varied, with kappa values ranging from 0.31 to 0.60 and area under the curve statistics ranging from 0.51 to 0.84 for MVPA and kappa values ranging from 0.31 to 0.44 and area under the curve statistics ranging from 0.70 to 0.85 for SED. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this systematic literature review support the use of the Crouter and colleagues cut-points for the measurement of MVPA and SED for children and adolescents aged 6-12 years. Further work is required to independently validate cut-points developed in younger children and older adolescents.

Validity and reliability of SEIS-3: An instrument for subjective measuring of strength in older adults.

The use of rating of perceived exertion (RPE) has grown substantially, providing a valuable alternative for exercise intensity monitoring, especially for older adults. However, some challenges, such as cross-cultural validity, age-related differences, and reliability issues, necessitate the development of a concise and user-friendly RPE instrument, particularly for strength training in this population. This study aimed to validate the Subjective Effort Induction Scale (SEIS-3), a simplified tool for measuring effort during strength training. SEIS-3 is a graded instrument with three exertion levels: 1) Light effort, 2) Moderate effort, and 3) Strong effort. Twenty seniors, aged 71±7 years, of both genders participated in the study (CEP/Unimontes 2,741,071/2018). We collected maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MIVC) data using a digital dynamometer. Subsequently, participants underwent the initial test, following the three SEIS-3 categories in a randomly assigned order of induced subjective effort. SEIS-3 instrument was evaluated by the approaches:•Linear regression analysis: employed to assess the validity of the instrument.•Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC): employed to assess the reliability of the instrument.SEIS-3 effort categories correlated with MIVC in both hands (R2=0.80, F = 25.596, df=3, p < 0.01 for right hand; R2=0.56, F = 9.132, p < 0.01 for left hand). Test-retest reliability for grip strength across effort categories was excellent (ICC > 0.9). SEIS-3 is a valid and reliable user-friendly tool for accurately assessing and regulating exercise intensity in older adults during strength tasks, benefiting their health, functional capacity, and overall quality of life. This low-cost instrument can help health professionals in their activities.

Cardioprotective Effects of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors and Their Possible Association With Normalization of the Circadian Index of Heart Rhythm.

BACKGROUND: Updated recommendations for the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) include sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and other long-established HFrEF therapies. These drugs' mechanisms of action have yet to be fully clarified. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on the modulation of autonomic function at 1 month beyond conventional HF therapy. METHODS: This single-center, observational, prospective study was conducted from January 2020 to December 2022. Patients with type 2 diabetes who had ischemic HFrEF and met the study criteria were considered for SGLT2 inhibitor treatment with empagliflozin or dapagliflozin. Changes in the circadian index were used as the primary outcome to assess the early effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on autonomic function. Changes in functional effort capacity and laboratory findings were also evaluated. Participants' circadian index was measured by a 24-hour rhythm Holter monitoring recorder (BTL-08 Holter H100). A symptom-limited treadmill test assessed patients' effort capacities. Tests were repeated after 1 month of therapy. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of the 151 participants was 56.95 (7.29) years; their mean (SD) left ventricular EF was 35.69% (7.10%), and 95 participants were men (62.9%). From baseline to 1 month, mean (SD) daytime heart rate (80.63 [9.17] vs 77.67 [8.04] beats per minute; P = .004) and nighttime heart rate (76.83 [11.34] vs 73.81 [10.25] beats per minute; P = .03) decreased significantly. Variation in the circadian indexes (mean [SD], 1.04 [0.02] vs 1.10 [0.04]; P < .001) was statistically significant, favoring increased modulation of autonomic function. The increases in exercise duration (mean [SD], 8.88 [3.69] minutes and median [IQR], 8.81 [5.76-12.13] minutes vs 9.72 [3.14] and 9.59 [7.24-12.22] minutes; P = .04) and exercise capacity (mean [SD], 203.38 [65.18] m and median [IQR], 119.22 [149.43-259.15] m vs 335.61 [51.39] and 325.79 [293.59-376.91] m; P < .001] were also significant. CONCLUSION: The use of SGLT2 inhibitors during early treatment can favorably affect both autonomic dysfunction and functional effort capacity of patients with type 2 diabetes with ischemic HFrEF.

Effects of noise-cancelling headphones on music experience during aerobic exercise.

Exercise psychology researchers have repeatedly demonstrated the positive effects of music on exercise performance and affective responses. However, the impact of ambient noise (i.e., any environmental and/or bodily sound interference) on psychological responses to music during aerobic exercise has not been thoroughly examined. To test the effects of ambient noise, participants were randomly assigned to either a control group or one of two experimental groups (music with or without noise-cancelling features). Participants completed the Balke and Ware Treadmill Exercise Test until voluntary exhaustion. Measures of attentional focus and perceived exertion were taken every minute during the test. A significant main effect of group on attentional focus was observed, indicating that participants in the control group experienced more associative thoughts when compared to the experimental groups (ηp2 = .15). No significant differences were observed across conditions for any other dependent variable. Accordingly, it appears reasonable to postulate that the attentional shifts caused by interoceptive sensory cues may have a more pronounced influence on movement execution than the presence/absence of ambient noise and/or music.

The lived experience of physical exertion for persons with advanced multiple sclerosis: making connections with the world.

PURPOSE: To explore the lived experience of physical exertion for persons living with advanced multiple sclerosis (MS). METHOD: An interpretive (hermeneutic) phenomenological approach was undertaken with 8 persons living with advanced MS. Interviews were conducted with exploratory questions that explored participants' experiences of physical exertion. Data was analysed using phenomenological methods and the findings presented as hermeneutic stories. RESULTS: Participants conveyed physical exertion as a means of influencing their connection with the world. Interpretation identified four subthemes; Lived Body, Sense of Self, Purpose of exertion, and Attributes of the World and an overarching superordinate theme Body-World engagement. Hermeneutic stories illuminated the intertwined relationship between the themes and the idiographic nature of physical exertion. CONCLUSION: The experience of physical exertion was meaningfully related to participants' sense of self, agency, and 'being in the world'.

For persons living with advanced MS:Physical exertion has the potential to enhance sense of self through regaining a lost, or creating a new identity.Physical exertion can enhance bodily consciousness and cause individuals to dwell on inability, consequently health care professionals should consider how their language and therapy focus may intensify this.Attempting to meet societally accepted standards of normal had a shaping influence on the exertional experience.The meaning of physical exertion is influenced by an individual's preconceptions and healthcare professionals should take time to understanding these, in order to optimise engagement in physical exertion.

Measurement properties of physical activity in adults with bronchiectasis: A systematic review protocol.

People with bronchiectasis reduce their physical activity (PA) due to muscle weakness, dyspnea, fatigue, reduced exercise capacity and frequent cough with expectoration. Patient-reported and objective physical assessment methods have been used to evaluate PA in people with bronchiectasis. In the literature, significant differences in the PA measured using patient-reported outcome measures when compared with the objective methods. Given the availability of many PA assessment tools, it is tedious for the clinician or researcher to choose an outcome measure for clinical practice or research. The evidence on validity and reliability in bronchiectasis are unclear. Objectives: To identify the PA assessment tools, describe and evaluate the literature on psychometric properties of instruments measuring and analyzing PA. Methods: The search will be conducted in PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Studies, Scopus and EMBASE databases. The keywords, index terms and synonyms of the following words will be used: bronchiectasis, physical activity, and outcome measures. Published studies of adult with clinical and/ or radiologically diagnosed bronchiectasis, aged >18 years, any gender and studies that assessed PA and/or if there are reports on measurement properties of PA will be included in the review. Studies using qualitative research methods, narrative reviews, letters to editors and editorials will be excluded. The quality of the study will be assessed and data will be extracted. Any disagreement will be resolved in the presence of an author not involved in the screening or selecting studies. Discussion: By assessing the quality of studies on measurement properties, this review will help researchers choose the outcome measure to evaluate the effects of interventions on PA. This review will identify the suite of outcome measures of PA for people with bronchiectasis that can be used for research and clinical purpose.

Validation of the 24-h perceived exertion recall survey in women in rural Tigray, Ethiopia.

Background: Physical activity affects nutritional status and health. Currently, there are few validated survey tools for estimating physical activity in rural areas of low-income countries, including Ethiopia, which limits the ability of researchers to assess how physical activity affects nutritional status. Objectives: This study used accelerometry to validate 2 in-person questionnaires, the global physical activity questionnaire (GPAQ) and the 24-h perceived exertion recall survey (PERS). Methods: This study recruited 180 women aged between 18 and 45 y living in rural Tigray, Ethiopia. Participants had previously participated in an impact evaluation of a public work safety net. They wore an accelerometer for 8 d and responded to perceived exertion questionnaires twice. Data were collected on 89 women during the short rainy period and 91 women during the main rainy season. A survey method was considered valid if the proportion of time spent in moderate or vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels had a Pearson's correlation coefficient of >0.40 to the proportion of time spent in MVPA recorded by accelerometry. Results: The GPAQ had high reliability, but the overall validity was poorer than accelerometry. The proportion of time spent in MVPA according to the accelerometer was associated with discordance between GPAQ and accelerometry. MVPA levels, as measured by the 24-h PERS, had a fair agreement with accelerometry. The agreement increased to moderate/acceptable when adjusted for season and BMI. Conclusions: The 24-h PERS is a valid tool for estimating the physical activity of women living in rural highland Ethiopia. It can be used in future research to understand the physical activity demands of living in rural highland Ethiopia, enabling more targeted programs to address undernutrition.

A Comprehensive Review on Hot Ambient Temperature and its Impacts on Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: High workplace/ambient temperatures have been associated with Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes (APO). Millions of women working in developing nations suffer due to the rising temperatures caused by climate change. There are few pieces of research linking occupational heat stress to APO, and fresh evidence is required. METHODOLOGY: We used databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct to search for research on high ambient/workplace temperatures and their effects. Original articles, newsletters, and book chapters were examined. The literature we analysed was categorised as follows: Heat, strain, and physical activity harming both mother and fetus. After categorising the literature, it was examined to identify the major results. RESULTS: We found a definite association between heat stress and APOs such as miscarriages, premature birth, stillbirth, low birthweight, and congenital abnormalities in 23 research articles. Our work provides important information for future research into the biological mechanisms that create APOs and various prevention measures. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that temperature has long-term and short-term effects on maternal and fetal health. Though small in number, this study stressed the need for bigger cohort studies in tropical developing countries to create evidence for coordinated policies to safeguard pregnant women.

Cooling vest improves surgeons' thermal comfort without affecting cognitive performance: a randomised cross-over trial.

OBJECTIVES: Surgeons become uncomfortable while performing surgery because heat transfer and evaporative cooling are restricted by insulating surgical gowns. Consequently, perceptions of thermal discomfort during surgery may impair cognitive performance. We, therefore, aimed to evaluate surgeons' thermal comfort, cognitive performance, core and mean skin temperatures, perceptions of sweat-soaked clothing, fatigue and exertion with and without a CoolSource cooling vest (Cardinal Health, Dublin, Ohio, USA). METHODS: Thirty orthopaedic surgeons participated in a randomised cross-over trial, each performing four total-joint arthroplasties with randomisation to one of four treatment sequences. The effects of cooling versus no cooling were measured using a repeated-measures linear model accounting for within-subject correlations. RESULTS: The cooling vest improved thermal comfort by a mean (95% CI) of -2.1 (-2.7 to -1.6) points on a 0-10 scale, p<0.001, with no evidence of treatment-by-period interaction (p=0.94). In contrast, cooling had no perceptible effect on cognition, with an estimated mean difference (95% CI) in Cleveland Clinic Cognitive Battery (C3B) Processing Speed Test score of 0.03 (95% CI -2.44 to 2.51), p=0.98, or in C3B Visual Memory Test score with difference of 0.88 (95% CI -2.25 to 4.01), p=0.57. Core temperature was not lower with the cooling vest, with mean difference (95% CI) of -0.13 (-0.33°C to 0.07°C), p=0.19, while mean skin temperature was lower, with mean difference of -0.23 (95% CI -0.40°C to -0.06°C) lower, p=0.011. The cooling vest significantly reduced surgeons' perceptions of sweat-soaked clothing, fatigue and exertion. CONCLUSIONS: A cooling vest worn during surgery lowered core and skin temperatures, improved thermal comfort, and decreased perceptions of sweating and fatigue, but did not improve cognition. Thermal discomfort during major orthopaedic surgery is thus largely preventable, but cooling does not affect cognition. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04511208.

Effects of Whole-Body Stretching Exercise during Lunch Break for Reducing Musculoskeletal Pain and Physical Exertion among Healthcare Professionals.

Background and Objectives: To investigate the effect of whole-body stretching (WBS) exercise during lunch break for reducing musculoskeletal pain and physical exertion among healthcare professionals. Methods: Full-time healthcare professionals working in hospitals with more than one year of experience were invited to participate. Sixty healthcare professionals (age 37.15 ± 3.9 Years, height 1.61 ± 0.04 m, body mass 67.8 ± 6.3 kg, and BMI 26.5 ± 2.1 kg/m2) participated in this single-blinded, two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT). Participants were divided into WBS (n = 30) and control (n = 30) groups. The WBS group performed a range of stretching exercises targeting the entire body during a lunch break period for 3 times a week for 6 weeks. The control group received an education program. Musculoskeletal pain and physical exertion were assessed using the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire and Borg rating of perceived exertion scale, respectively. Results: The 12-month prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort among all healthcare professionals was highest in the low back region (46.7%), followed by the neck (43.3%), and then the knee (28.3%). About 22% of participants said that their neck discomfort impacted their job, while about 18% reported that their low back pain impacted their job. Results indicate that the WBS and education program had a beneficial impact on pain and physical exertion (p < 0.001). When comparing the two groups, the WBS group experienced a significantly greater decrease in pain intensity (mean difference 3.6 vs. 2.5) and physical exertion (mean difference 5.6 vs. 4.0) compared to an education program only. Conclusions: This study suggests that doing WBS exercises during lunchtime can help lessen musculoskeletal pain and fatigue, making it easier to get through the workday.