Search

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous lung condition, the main symptoms of which are dyspnoea and fatigue. Though exercise has been recommended for subjects with COPD, its benefits remain unclear. The aim of this study was to summarise, through a systematic review and meta-analysis, the available evidence on the effects of aerobic, resistance, stretching, and combined exercise on the main symptoms of COPD. Methods: Search was performed using the electronic databases PubMed and Web of Science. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with interventions based on aerobic, resistance and/or combined exercise published until July 2022 were identified. The effects were summarised based on standardised mean differences (95% confidence intervals) using random and fixed effect models. Results: Eight studies were selected, including a total of 375 subjects. The results obtained showed that resistance exercise, aerobic exercise and combined exercise seem to improve dyspnoea and fatigue symptoms in COPD subjects. Conclusions: In general, we can conclude that exercise-based interventions appear to improve the main COPD symptoms and may benefit quality of life in this population.

This open access book is a valuable resource for students in health and other professions and practicing professionals interested in supporting effective change in self-management behaviors in chronic disease, such as medication taking, physical activity and healthy eating. Developed under the auspices of the Train4Health project, funded by the Erasmus+ program of the European Union, the book contains six chapters written by international contributors from different disciplines. This chapter presents open-access educational products that supplement this book: case studies and a web application to simulate behaviour change support in persons with chronic disease. The former is of particular interest for academic educators, while the latter may interest students independently pursuing training outside the classroom. These products can also be useful for professionals aiming to enhance behaviour change competencies in practice. First, it addresses key aspects of product development, including hallmarks such as the incorporation of behaviour change science and transnational co-production with users. Then, the main features of case studies and the web application with 2D virtual humans are described.

We aim to synthesize and assess the current knowledge concerning the differences in visual search behaviors between expert and novice team sport athletes.

The Sport Empowers Disabled Youth 2 (SEDY2) project encourages inclusion and equal opportunities in sport for youth with a disability by raising their sports and exercise participation in inclusive settings. The SEDY2 Collection of Inclusion Best Practices report contains good examples of inclusion on youth with a disability in sport at the community and institutional level. This report includes a detailed description of the process of building and using the SEDY2 approach for collection international best practices in sport, the criteria and template used to collect the SEDY2 best practices and the list of SEDY2 international best practices on inclusion in sport for youth with a disability.

© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2021, Rationale: Cancer is associated with muscle wasting. However, optimal protein intake has not been determined, limiting the efficacy of nutritional interventions. This systematic review aims to assess the effect of protein intake on muscle mass of patients with cancer types with high prevalence of sarcopenia during treatment, in longitudinal studies. Methods: MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Scopus databases were searched following PRISMA guidelines. Longitudinal studies written in English, including adults with high sarcopenia prevalence cancer diagnosis, submitted to (chemo)radiotherapy, with assessment of protein intake and muscle changes during treatment, published until 4 October 2020 were included. Studies including supplementation with substances, such as n-3 fatty acids, specific amino acids, or proteins, were excluded. Study appraisal was independently conducted by two reviewers, and a qualitative research synthesis was performed. Results: Overall, 575 records were identified, of which, eight studies were included (one randomized clinical trial and seven uncontrolled before and after studies). Patients with head and neck (n = 5), lung (n = 2), and esophageal cancer (n = 1) were included, comprising a total of 554 participants. The studies presented heterogeneous methodologies, objectives, and methods to assess body composition. Overall, participant groups with a mean protein intake below 1.2 g/kg presented muscle wasting, with one exception, while those reporting a mean intake above 1.4 g/kg, maintained muscle during treatment. Conclusions: Our findings show that protein intakes below 1.2 g/kg, even when within the recommendations, have been associated with muscle wasting during treatment. Only intakes above 1.4 g/kg have been associated with muscle maintenance. High-quality research is needed to establish an optimal dose response.

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Figurational theory tries to avoid a static and isolated social approach, and seeks to offer an approach determined to study, understand and explain the social phenomena in a more developmental, processual and interdependent way. The challenge posed to sociological theory is the construction of empirically-based concepts, which, overcoming the traditional dichotomy between the individual and society, would allow us to understand the webs of interaction that bond humans together. This theory may inspire new research approaches questioning traditional perspectives. The aim of a research process is discovery, however, it has been constantly obscured by formal distinctions, also known as ‘paradigm wars’, about the research method. Research should be guided by theory, however, it should not be closed to possible changes throughout the research process The present study has two main objectives: i) to frame the webs of interdependent dimensions associated with Norbert Elias processual theory in the current methodological approaches in Social Sciences of Sport; ii) to provide an empirical study with Portuguese Under 17 National Rugby Players, having in consideration that theoretical framework., La théorie configurationnelle est marquée par la suppression des perspectives sociales statiques et rigides déterminé d’étudier, de comprendre et d’expliquer les phénomènes sociaux dans un monde interdépendant procédural. Le cadre conceptuel proposé par Norbert Elias fournit un point de vue des théories de la construction sociale de la base de concepts empiriques, dont la fonction principale est de surmonter la dichotomie traditionnelle entre l’individu et la société et par conséquence permettre l’accès à la compréhension des réseaux humains de l’interdépendance. Cette théorie est source d’inspiration de nouvelles approches d’enquête, et interroge les perspectives traditionnelles. L’objectif d’un processus d’enquête est la découverte, cependant, est souvent masqué par des discussions officielles, autrement connues comme « guerres de paradigme » autour de la méthode de recherche scientifique. Cette approche met l’accent sur l’idée que la recherche devrait être guidé par la théorie, cependant, ne doivent pas être fermés aux modifications possibles le long du chemin. La présente étude vise deux objectifs principaux: i) encadrent les dimensions de l’interdépendance, associée à l’idée d’une théorie procédurale de Norbert Elias dans des approches méthodologiques en Sciences Sociales de la recherche de sport ; II) présente une étude empirique avec des joueurs portugais des hommes nationale de l’équipe nationale de rugby XV moins de 17 ans féminine, laissant que pour théorique., A teoria configuracional é marcada pelo afastamento de perspetivas sociais rígidas e estáticas determinada a estudar, a compreender e a explicar os fenómenos sociais de uma forma processual e interdependente. O quadro conceptual proposto por Norbert Elias fornece às teorias sociais uma perspetiva de construção de conceitos empíricos base, cuja função principal é a de ultrapassar as dicotomias tradicionais entre individuo e sociedade e consequentemente permitir o acesso à compreensão das redes humanas de interdependência. Esta teoria é inspiradora de novas abordagens investigativas interrogando, desde logo, as perspetivas tradicionais. O objetivo de um processo investigativo é a descoberta, contudo, é frequentemente obscurecido por discussões formais, também conhecidas por ‘guerras de paradigmas’ em torno do método de investigação científica. Esta abordagem centra-se na ideia de que a investigação deve ser guiada pela teoria, no entanto não deve estar fechada a possíveis modificações ao longo do processo. O presente estudo tem dois objetivos principais: i) enquadrar as dimensões das redes de interdependência associadas à ideia da teoria processual de Norbert Elias nas abordagens metodológicas atuais na investigação em Ciências Sociais do Desporto; ii) apresentar um estudo empírico com jogadores portugueses da seleção nacional masculina de rugby de sub-17, partindo daquele referente teórico.