Physical fitness is associated with anxiety levels in women with fibromyalgia: the al-Ándalus project.

PURPOSE: To assess the independent associations of individual physical fitness components with anxiety in women with fibromyalgia and to test which physical fitness component shows the greatest association. METHODS: This population-based cross-sectional study included 439 women with fibromyalgia (age 52.2 ± 8.0 years). Anxiety symptoms were measured with the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the anxiety item of the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR). Physical fitness was assessed through the Senior Fitness Test battery and handgrip strength test. RESULTS: Overall, lower physical fitness was associated with higher anxiety levels (all, p < 0.05). The coefficients of the optimal regression model (stepwise selection method) between anxiety symptoms and physical fitness components adjusted for age, body fat percentage and anxiolytics intake showed that the back scratch test (b = -0.18), the chair sit-and-reach test (b = -0.12; p = 0.027) and the 6-min walk test (b = -0.02; p = 0.024) were independently and inversely associated with STAI. The back scratch test and the arm- curl test were associated with FIQR-anxiety (b = -0.05; p < 0.001 and b = -0.07; p = 0.021, respectively). CONCLUSION: Physical fitness was inversely and consistently associated with anxiety in women with fibromyalgia, regardless of the fitness component evaluated. In particular, upper-body flexibility was an independent indicator of anxiety levels, followed by cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength.

A learning protocol improves the validity of the Borg 6-20 RPE scale during indoor cycling.

The present study assessed the effectiveness of an RPE learning protocol for improving the validity of the Borg 6-20 RPE scale for self-regulating exercise intensity during Indoor Cycling (IC). 16 healthy adults performed 5 IC sessions. Heart rate (HR) was continuously monitored. In sessions 1 and 5, participants perceptually regulated exercise intensity to produce pre-determined RPE levels equivalent to estimated HR levels. Sessions 2, 3 and 4 focused on the RPE learning protocol. The RPE-measured HR correlation was 0.59 in session 1 and 0.67 in session 5 (both P<0.001). The intraclass correlation coefficient between measured HR and estimated HR was 0.85 in session 1 and 0.90 in session 5. There was bias in session 1 (3.69 bpm [SD=12.44]; P<0.001) but not in session 5 (0.99 bpm [SD=9.7]; P=0.178; mean HR difference session 5 vs. 1: -2.70 bpm [95% CI: -4.49 to -0.91]; P=0.003; Cohen's d=0.24). There was association between the HR difference and the magnitude of the measurement in session 1 (ß=0.208; P<0.01) but not in session 5 (ß=-0.072; P=0.34). These preliminary results suggested that an RPE learning protocol might slightly improve the validity of the Borg 6-20 RPE scale for exercise intensity self-regulation during IC sessions in healthy adults.

ACTN3 genotype in Spanish elite swimmers: no "heterozygous advantage".

The aim of the present case-control study was to examine the association of the ACTN3 R577X genotype with elite swimming status. We compared a group of Spanish (Caucasian) elite swimmers (n = 88) with other cohorts of the same ethnic origin, i.e., nonathletic controls (n = 343) and other types of athletes who are in both end-points of the sports performance continuum, i.e., world-class power (n = 119) and endurance male athletes (n = 154). Swimmers had a lower odds ratio (OR) of having the RX genotype [1.815, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.899-3.664] compared with nonathletic controls, yet the association did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.096). Endurance athletes had greater OR of having the XX genotype (OR: 2.88, 95% CI: 1.162-7.135, P = 0.022), or the RX+XX genotype (OR: 1.903, 95% CI: 1.015-3.567, P = 0.045) compared with swimmers. No other association was found. In summary, we did not observe an association between the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism and elite swimmer's status, suggesting that any influence of this polymorphism is not of sufficient magnitude as to significantly influence elite swimming performance, at least in Spanish athletes.

A warm water pool-based exercise program decreases immediate pain in female fibromyalgia patients: uncontrolled clinical trial.

Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic and extended musculoskeletal pain. The combination of exercise therapy with the warm water may be an appropriate treatment. However, studies focusing on the analysis of immediate pain during and after an exercise session are rare. This study aimed to determine the immediate changes of a warm water pool-based exercise program (12 weeks) on pain (before vs. after session) in female fibromyalgia patients. 33 Spanish women with fibromyalgia were selected to participate in a 12 weeks (2 sessions/week) low-moderate intensity warm water pool-based program. We assessed pain by means of a Visual Analogue Scale before and after each single session (i. e., 24 sessions). We observed immediate benefits on pain with a mean decrease ~15% in all sessions, except in the fourth one. There was an association of pain difference (pre-post) session with pain pre session (p=0.005; ß=0.097±0.034) and with age (p<0.001; ß=0.032±0.008). There were no significant accumulative differences on pain, pre session, post session, and pre-post changes (all p>0.05). Therefore this study showed that a warm water pool-based exercise program for 12 weeks (2 times/week) led to a positive immediate decrease in level of pain in female patients with fibromyalgia. Improvements were higher in older women and in those with more intense pain.

Effectiveness of multidisciplinary therapy on symptomatology and quality of life in women with fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVES: To study the effects of a 3-month multidisciplinary intervention based on exercise and psychological therapy on symptomatology and quality of life in women with fibromyalgia. METHODS: Seventy-five women with fibromyalgia volunteered to participate and were allocated to a 3-month (3-times/week) multidisciplinary (pool, land-based and psychological session based on the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) intervention (n=41), or to a usual care group (n=34). Sixty-five women with fibromyalgia completed the study protocol (n=33 multidisciplinary intervention, aged 51.4±7.4 years and n=32 usual care group, aged 50.0±7.3 years). The outcomes variables were Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Short Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Vanderbilt Pain Management Inventory and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. RESULTS: We observed a significant interaction effect (group*time) for the FIQ total score, the subscales fatigue, stiffness, anxiety and depression, and the subscales of SF-36 physical role, bodily pain, vitality and social functioning. Post-hoc analysis revealed significant improvements in total score of FIQ (p<0.001), fatigue (p=0.001), stiffness (p<0.001), anxiety (p=0.011), depression (p=0.008), physical role (p=0.002), bodily pain (p<0.001), vitality (p<0.001) and social functioning (p<0.001) in the intervention group, whereas in the control group, there was a significant worsening in the subscale depression (p=0.006) and social functioning (p=0.019). CONCLUSIONS: A 3-month low-moderate intensity multidisciplinary intervention improved fibromyalgia symptomatology and quality of life in women with fibromyalgia.

Determination of essential elements (copper, manganese, selenium and zinc) in fish and shellfish samples. Risk and nutritional assessment and mercury-selenium balance.

Fish and shellfish are an important source not only of toxic heavy metals, but also of essential elements in the diet. In this study, levels of Cu, Mn, Se and Zn have been determined in fresh, canned and frozen fish and shellfish products. A total of 485 samples of the 43 most frequently consumed fish and shellfish species in Andalusia (Southern Spain) were analyzed for essential elements content. The potential human health risks for the consumers and the nutritional value of the products analyzed were assessed. Furthermore, the mercury-selenium ratios and the selenium health benefit value (Se-HBVs) were calculated. The highest concentrations of Cu were found in crustaceans species (shrimp and prawn) as they have hemocyanin (a copper-containing protein) that functions as an oxygen-transport molecule. Mn levels were higher in canned bivalve molluscs, such as cockle and clam, and in fresh common sole. Concerning Se, two fresh predatory fish species (tuna and swordfish) presented the most remarkable concentrations of this element. The highest concentration of the essential metals analysed was found for Zn, especially in fresh and canned mussels. All the species analyzed showed beneficial Hg:Se ratios and Se-HBVs, except for the shark species (blue shark and cat shark) and gilt-head bream because of their high Hg levels and low Se content, respectively. Nevertheless, the biomagnification usually observed in hazardous metals such as Hg would not occur for the essential elements measured in predatory species. The estimated daily intakes of the elements studied represented very low percentages of their reference values, ranging from 0.1% (Se) to 3.9% (Cu) for person weighting 60 kg, so the intake of these elements through fish and shellfish would not pose any risk for the average consumer. Moreover, the contribution of fish and shellfish products to the recommended daily allowances and adequate intakes of these mineral elements ranges from 2.5% (Mn) to 25.4% (Se).