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[Display omitted] • Isovolume maneuver (IVM) trial for regulating respiratory is effective in improving physical activity performance. • After IVM, the breathing rate, heart rate and the use of abdominal breathing during physical activity can be more stable. • The instantaneous phase difference of thoracoabdominal movement can identify breathing patterns during physical activity. (1) Objective: We performed a step test to investigate whether isovolume maneuver (IVM) trial is effective in improving cardiorespiratory fitness; (2) Methods: The experiment involved two consecutive step tests in which the IVM was employed between the two tests. The heart rate (HR), breathing rate (BR), instantaneous phase difference (IPD) of thoracoabdominal movement, and physical fitness index (PFI) of the participants were analyzed. We also obtained data on the ascending rate of HR (HR asc), the rate relative to the baseline HR during recovery, and the scores for a modified PFI (mPFI) based on the baseline PFI; (3) Results: We recruited 27 sedentary and healthy college students as participants. The results from the second step-test were compared with the first step-test. The participants' mean HR asc decreased by 30.66 % ± 32.52 %, their mean BR decreased by 13.08 % ± 31.90 %, their mean mPFI increased by 30.78 % ± 38.94 %, and their mean IPD increased by 15.31 % ± 28.44 %; (4) Conclusions: IVM reduced the participants' BR and HR asc and increased their mPFI and IPD. These findings verify that IVM can effectively improve physical activity performance. Furthermore, an IPD of 39° for implementation of abdominal breathing during exercise is a key threshold that warrants further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nitrate supplements can improve vascular and muscle function. Whether higher habitual dietary nitrate is associated with better muscle function remains underexplored.Objective: The aim was to examine whether habitual dietary nitrate intake is associated with better muscle function in a prospective cohort of men and women, and whether the relation was dependent on levels of physical activity.Methods: The sample (n = 3759) was drawn from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity, and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab) (56% female; mean ± SD baseline age: 48.6 ± 11.1 y). Habitual dietary intake was assessed over 12 y by obtaining an average [of at least 2 time points, e.g., baseline (2000/2001) and 2004/2005 and/or 2011/2012] from a food-frequency questionnaire. Nitrate intake was calculated from a validated nitrate database and other published literature. Muscle function was quantified by knee extension strength (KES) and the 8-ft-timed-up-and-go (8ft-TUG) test performed in 2011/2012. Physical activity was assessed by questionnaire. Generalized linear models and logistic regression were used to analyze the data.Results: Median (IQR) total nitrate intake was 65 (52-83) mg/d, with ∼81% derived from vegetables. Individuals in the highest tertile of nitrate intake (median intake: 91 mg/d) had 2.6 kg stronger KES (11%) and 0.24 s faster 8ft-TUG (4%) compared with individuals in the lowest tertile of nitrate intake (median intake: 47 mg/d; both P < 0.05). Similarly, individuals in the highest tertile of nitrate intake had lower odds for weak KES (adjusted OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.47, 0.73) and slow 8ft-TUG (adjusted OR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.50, 0.78) compared with those in the lowest tertile. Physical activity did not influence the relationship between nitrate intake and muscle function (KES; P-interaction = 0.86; 8ft-TUG; P-interaction = 0.99).Conclusions: Higher habitual dietary nitrate intake, predominantly from vegetables, could be an effective way to promote lower-limb muscle strength and physical function in men and women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The physical treatment of low back pain includes a wide range of non-specific and specific physical activity. • The value of physical activity in acute or subacute low back pain has not been demonstrated. • General exercise, more specific interventions and multidisciplinary functional restoration programs reduce pain and improve physical function in patients with chronic low back pain. • The optimal delivery of physical activity in terms of modalities, quantity and intensity of the intervention, supervision, and setting is not well defined. Non-specific low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of years lived with disability worldwide. Physical activity is an integral part of LBP treatment. To critically review available evidence regarding the efficacy of physical activity for people with LBP. Up to date critical narrative review of the efficacy of physical activity for the managment LBP. The process of article selection was unsystematic; articles were selected based on authors' expertise, self-knowledge and reflective practice. Therapeutic physical activity for LBP includes a wide range of non-specific and specific activities. The efficacy of physical activity on pain and activity limitations has been widely assessed. In acute and subacute LBP, exercise did not reduce pain compared to no exercise. In chronic low back pain (CLBP), exercise reduced pain at the earliest follow-up compared with no exercise. In a recent systematic review, exercise improved function both at the end of treatment and in the long-term compared with usual care. Exercice also reduced work disability in the long-term. We were unable to establish a clear hierarchy between different exercise modalities. Multidisciplinary functional programs consistently improved pain and function in the short- and long-term compared with usual care and physiotherapy and improved the long-term likelihood of returning to work compared to non-multidisciplinary programs. Physical activity of all types is an effective treatment for CLBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Assessing life-space in older adults with AD is important and should be used in clinical practice. • Older adults with AD have lower life-space mobility and require assistance to achieve higher levels of mobility. • Encouraging and enabling assistance is fundamental to a greater life-space for older adults with dementia. Mobility is an important component of functioning. Motor and cognitive impairment in older people with Alzheimer's disease can exert a negative impact on life-space mobility. To compare life-space mobility in older adults with mild and moderate Alzheimer-type dementia and those without dementia and determine associations with health factors. Life-space mobility was assessed using the Life Space Assessment (LSA) in 33 older adults with Alzheimer-type dementia (AD group) and 24 older adults without dementia (WD group). The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0), Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (ACE-R), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Modified Baecke Questionnaire for Older Adults (MBQOA), and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) were completed. Statistical analysis was performed with unpaired t -test or Mann-Whitney tests for comparisons between groups and Spearman's correlation test. The AD group had a lower total LSA score compared to the WD group (44 vs 65, mean difference = −20.7 [95% CI: −28.6, −12.9]), 21% of the AD group were restricted to their homes when no assistance was available. In both groups, moderate correlations were found between LSA and both functioning and physical activity level. Symptoms of depression presented moderate correlation only in the WD group. Older adults with AD have lower life-space mobility and require assistance to achieve higher levels of mobility. Clinical implications: LSA can help assess life-space mobility. Encouraging and enabling assistance is fundamental to a greater life-space for older adults with dementia [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Daily gait performance and physical activity are measurable with inertial sensors. • A 5-sensor setup reliably measures gait performance in children with cerebral palsy. • Better reliability was found when measuring 2 school days than 1 school and 1 weekend day. • Physical activity measures were reliable when comparing the same school day weeks apart. There is a lack of objective and reliable tools to measure walking performance in children with cerebral palsy (CP). To evaluate the reliability of inertial measurement units (IMUs) measuring daily life walking performance and physical activity (PA) in children with CP and healthy controls. Algorithms were developed to analyse data collected with IMUs during 2 standard school days of the same week and 1 weekend day in 15 children with CP and 14 controls. Additionally, within a clinical trial, 10 children with CP were measured twice, on the same weekday 2 to 4 weeks apart. Relative and absolute reliabilities of PA (% time walking, standing, sitting/lying) and gait parameters (e.g., velocity, cadence) were evaluated by using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and minimal detectable change (MDC 95), comparing 2 school days of the same week, a school day with a weekend day, and the same weekday 2 to 4 weeks apart. For the 15 children with CP (mean [SD] age 13.5 [3.4] years), ICCs were very high (0.70–0.98) when comparing gait parameters for 2 school days. ICCs were lower when comparing 2 school days for 14 control children (mean [SD] age 13.9 [3.0] years) and lowest when comparing a school day with a weekend day for both CP and control children. ICCs for PA were 0.90–0.91 when measuring the same weekday 2 to 4 weeks apart but were very low when comparing 2 school days of the same week or a school day with a weekend day. MDC 95 values were high for both groups and all comparisons but comparable with findings of in-lab studies of similar parameters. Our IMU and algorithm setup appears to be a reliable tool to measure daily life gait parameters in children with CP when repeatedly measured on 2 school days. PA was also reliably assessed but when measuring the same school day some weeks apart. However, the high MDC 95 values question whether the setup can be used as a responsive outcome measure of interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Patients with diabetic peripheral artery disease (PAD) were more sedentary than non-diabetic PAD patients. • Diabetic PAD patients were less physically active than non-diabetic PAD patients. • Diabetic PAD patients presented lower walking capacity than non-diabetic PAD patients. • Diabetic PAD patients presented impaired cardiac autonomic modulation as compared with non-diabetic PAD patients. Diabetes has been considered a major risk factor for peripheral artery disease (PAD). The effect of diabetes on daily physical activity level and cardiovascular function in PAD patients is poorly known. To analyze the effect of diabetes on physical activity level, physical function and cardiovascular health parameters in patients with PAD and claudication symptoms. Cross-sectional study of 267 PAD patients, 146 without and 121 with diabetes. Physical activity levels were objectively measured by using an accelerometer, and time spent in sedentary (0-100 counts/min), light (101-1040 counts/min) and moderate to vigorous (≥ 1041 counts/min) physical activity was obtained. Physical function assessment included the 6-min walk test, handgrip strength test and short physical performance battery. Cardiovascular health parameters measured were brachial blood pressure, heart rate variability, and arterial stiffness. Diabetic PAD patients spent more time in sedentary behavior (P = 0.001, effect size [ES] 0.234) and less time in light (P = 0.003, ES = 0.206) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (P < 0.001, ES = 0.258) than non-diabetic PAD patients. Diabetic PAD patients presented lower 6-min walk distance (P = 0.005, ES = 0.194) and impaired cardiac autonomic modulation (standard deviation of all NN intervals [SDNN], P < 0.001, ES = 0.357; square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent NN intervals [RMSSD], P < 0.001, ES = 0.280; and NN50 count divided by the total number of all NN intervals [pNN50], P < 0.001, ES = 0.291) as compared with non-diabetic PAD patients. After adjustment for confounders, diabetes remained associated with sedentary behavior (P = 0.011), light (P = 0.020) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (P = 0.008), 6-min walk distance (P = 0.030), SDNN (P < 0.001), RMSSD (P = 0.004), and PNN50 (P = 0.004). Diabetic PAD patients presented lower physical activity level, reduced physical function and impaired autonomic modulation as compared with non-diabetic PAD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a potentially curative procedure for a variety of hematologic malignancies, such as leukemia, lymphomas, and myeloma. HSCT patients have decreased physical function and quality of life (QOL) 6-7 weeks after HSCT compared to that before (Morishita S, et al. Psychooncology, 2013). Besides graft-versus-host disease and infections, reduced physical function, and particularly high levels of fatigue, negatively affect patients QOL. HSCT patients may require physical exercise to prevent a decrease in physical function or improve physical function and QOL. Our previous study showed that the proportion of daily activities performed at an intensity >3.0 metabolic equivalents (METs) has been shown to increase significantly after HSCT in 30 patients (Morishita S, et al. Eur J Cancer care, 2017). Daily activity time performed at an intensity of 1.6-2.9 METs significantly correlated only with knee strength. The total number of daily steps and the proportion of activity performed at 1.6-2.9 METs and >3.0 METs were positively correlated with the 6MWT. In addition, physical functioning and general health subscales in health-related QOL were found to be positively correlated with daily activities performed at > 3.0 METs. For HSCT patients, it may be important to assess physical activity before the procedure and to increase levels and intensity of physical activity to prevent reduced physical function thereafter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]