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Cold water immersion (CWI) and percussive massage therapy (PMT) are commonly used recovery techniques in team sports. In particular, despite its wide use, PMT has been scarcely investigated in the literature, especially regarding neuromuscular measures and in comparison with other techniques. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the acute and short-term effects (24 h) of CWI and PMT on muscle strength, contractile properties, and soreness after exercise. A randomized crossover study was performed on sixteen male soccer players (22 years, 20–27) who participated in three experimental sessions involving a fatiguing protocol consisting of a Yo-Yo Intermittent Endurance Test followed by 3 × 10 squat jumps and a wall sit for 30 s, and 12 min of recovery including CWI (10 °C water), bilateral PMT on the anterior and posterior thigh, or passive resting. Outcomes were assessed immediately after the exercise protocol, after the recovery intervention, and at 24 h. Isometric knee extension (IKE) and flexion (IKF) and tensiomyography (TMG) were assessed. Muscle soreness and fatigue were scored from 0 to 10. PMT increased strength after the treatment (p = 0.004) and at 24 h (p = 0.007), whereas no significant differences were found for the other two recovery modalities. At post-recovery, compared to CON, CWI resulted in a longer TMG contraction time (p = 0.027). No significant differences were found at 24 h. Finally, PMT and CWI enhanced muscle soreness recovery compared to passive rest (F4,60 = 3.095, p = 0.022, pη2 = 0.171). Preliminary results from this study suggest that PMT might improve isometric strength after strenuous exercise, and both PMT and CWI reduce muscle soreness perception, while the effects on TMG parameters remain controversial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sarcopenia poses a risk factor for falls, disability, mortality, and unfavorable postoperative outcomes. Recently, the Ultrasound Sarcopenia Index (USI) has been validated to assess muscle mass, and this study aimed to apply the USI in the clinical setting. Methods: This prospective observational study included 108 patients aged >65 years, hospitalized for proximal femoral traumatic fracture. Patients were divided into two groups based on anamnestic data: patients with independent walking (IW) and patients requiring walking aid (WA) before admission. All the participants received an ultrasound examination. Other parameters evaluated were handgrip strength, limb circumferences, nutrition (MNA), and activity of daily living (ADL) scores. Results: Fifty-six IW patients (83 ± 6 y; 38 females) and 52 WA patients (87 ± 7 y; 44 females) were recruited. The USI was significantly higher in the IW group compared to the WA group (p = 0.013, Cohen's d = 0.489). Significant correlations were found between the USI and other sarcopenia-associated parameters, such as handgrip strength, MNA, ADLs, other muscle ultrasound parameters, and limb circumferences. Conclusion: The application of the USI in the orthopedic surgery setting is feasible and might support the diagnosis of sarcopenia when combined with other measures of strength and function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inertial sensors (IMUs) have been recently widely used in exercise and rehabilitation science as they can provide reliable quantitative measures of range of motion (RoM). Moreover, the pressure pain threshold (PPT) evaluation provides an objective measure of pain sensation in different body areas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of physiotherapy treatment in people with adhesive capsulitis in terms of RoM and pain improvement measured by IMUs and the PPT. A combined prospective cohort/cross-sectional study was conducted. Nineteen individuals with adhesive capsulitis (10/19 females, 54 ± 8 years) and nineteen healthy controls (10/19 females, 51 ± 6 years) were evaluated for active glenohumeral joint RoM and PPT on shoulder body areas. Then, individuals with adhesive capsulitis were invited to 20 sessions of a physiotherapy protocol, and the assessments were repeated within 1 week from the last session. The range of motion in the flexion (p = 0.001) and abduction (p < 0.001) of the shoulder increased significantly after the physiotherapy protocol. Similarly, the PPT was found to increase significantly in all the assessed shoulder body areas, leading to no significant differences compared to the healthy controls. IMU and PPT assessments could be used to evaluate the efficacy of physical therapy in people with adhesive capsulitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is becoming a crucial factor to consider within human activities and the building sector is particularly influenced by aspects of internal comfort and energy. In Italy, great attention has been paid to the energy refurbishment of buildings. However, such interventions are mostly focused on reducing heating energy consumption, thus neglecting summer season performance. Moreover, climate change is barely considered during the design phase. This issue is addressed in this work which analyzes some of the most common refurbishment interventions applied to a social housing building in Trieste, while also considering internal comfort during the summer season. A dynamic analysis of the building-plant system is carried out using EnergyPlus. Fanger, UTCI and the adaptive comfort models were used to represent internal health, while three TRY data sets were generated using two GCM–RCM projections to evaluate the influence of climate change. The results show that both building insulation and climatic change affect heating consumption reaching a 70% reduction. However, building insulation does not greatly affect internal comfort, although different models show different behavior to protect against external temperatures. On the contrary, climatic change influences the percentage of hours of discomfort, with a 20% increase for all of the models. The final consideration is that people's internal health should always be considered when carrying out refurbishment activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Enteral nutrition is often prescribed in acute stroke to meet energy and fluid needs in patients with dysphagia. Tubes clogging represent a common complication of enteral formula delivery, requiring substitution and influencing nutrition administration. Frequent water flushes are recommended as one of the most effective procedures to prevent tube occlusion, but it might be time demanding and not consistently performed by the healthcare staff. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of an automatic flush pump, compared to a manual flush system, to prevent tubes' occlusions in acute-stroke patients, as this might affect nutrition and hydration. Methods: Gastrointestinal symptoms, nutrition and hydration biomarkers were also monitored to determine the different devices' safety. Sixty-two patients were included in the study and allocated to the "manual" or "automatic" flushes device. Results: The mean duration of data collection was 7 ± 2 days. Tube occlusions occurred in 22.6% of the patients in the "manual" group, whereas only one tube clogging was reported in the "automatic" group (p = 0.023). No significant differences between groups were reported for constipation and diarrhea frequency nor nutrition and hydration status. When the nurses were asked to simulate manual flush administration at the same frequency of the automatic device, they were able to meet the recommendations only 10% of the time. Conclusion: This preliminary study suggests the efficacy of automatic flush systems to prevent enteral tube clogging, without affecting health status compared to standard manual flush systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing research interest in wireless non-invasive solutions for core temperature estimation and their application in clinical settings. This study aimed to investigate the use of a novel wireless non-invasive heat flux-based thermometer in acute stroke patients admitted to a stroke unit and compare the measurements with the currently used infrared (IR) tympanic temperature readings. The study encompassed 30 acute ischemic stroke patients who underwent continuous measurement (Tcore) with the novel wearable non-invasive CORE device. Paired measurements of Tcore and tympanic temperature (Ttym) by using a standard IR-device were performed 3–5 times/day, yielding a total of 305 measurements. The predicted core temperatures (Tcore) were significantly correlated with Ttym (r = 0.89, p < 0.001). The comparison of the Tcore and Ttym measurements by Bland–Altman analysis showed a good agreement between them, with a low mean difference of 0.11 ± 0.34 °C, and no proportional bias was observed (B = −0.003, p = 0.923). The Tcore measurements correctly predicted the presence or absence of Ttym hyperthermia or fever in 94.1% and 97.4% of cases, respectively. Temperature monitoring with a novel wireless non-invasive heat flux-based thermometer could be a reliable alternative to the Ttym method for assessing core temperature in acute ischemic stroke patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elderly and patients affected by chronic diseases face a high risk of muscle loss and impaired physical function. Omega 3 fatty acids (FA) attenuate inflammation and age-associated muscle loss, prevent systemic insulin resistance and improve plasma lipids, potentially impacting on sarcopenia. This paper aims to review recent randomized clinical studies assessing the effects a chronic omega 3 FA supplementation on inflammatory and metabolic profile during conditions characterized by sarcopenia (aging, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, chronic renal failure). A comprehensive search of three online databases was performed to identify eligible trials published between 2012 and 2017. A total of 36 studies met inclusion criteria. Omega 3 FA yielded mixed results on plasma triglycerides in the elderly and no effects in renal patients. No changes in systemic insulin resistance were observed. Inflammation markers did not benefit from omega 3 FA in insulin resistant and in renal subjects while decreasing in obese and elderly. Muscle related parameters improved in elderly and in renal patients. In conclusion, in aging- and in chronic disease-associated sarcopenia omega 3 FA are promising independently of associated anabolic stimuli or of anti-inflammatory effects. The evidence for improved glucose metabolism in insulin resistant and in chronic inflammatory states is less solid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microclimate of an airline cabin consists of dry, recirculated, and cool air, which is maintained at lower pressure than that found at sea level. Being exposed to this distinctive, encapsulated environment for prolonged durations, together with the short-term chair-rest immobilization that occurs during long-haul flights, can trigger distinct and detrimental reactions to the human body. There is evidence that long-haul flights promote fluid shifts to the lower extremity and induce changes in blood viscosity which may accelerate dehydration, possibly compromising an athlete's potential for success upon arrival at their destination. Surprisingly, and despite several recent systematic reviews investigating the effects of jet lag and transmeridian travel on human physiology, there has been no systematic effort to address to what extent hypohydration is a (health, performance) risk to travelers embarking on long journeys. This narrative review summarizes the rationale and evidence for why the combination of fluid balance and long-haul flight remains a critically overlooked issue for traveling persons, be it for health, leisure, business, or in a sporting context. Upon review, there are few studies which have been conducted on actual traveling athletes, and those that have provide no real evidence of how the incidence rate, magnitude, or duration of acute dehydration may affect the general health or performance of elite athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strength and power asymmetries have been observed in different sports, including soccer. Such asymmetries, as well as the bilateral deficit (BLD), can be assessed during different tasks, static or dynamic, and with different methods and devices, in order to detect the possible different aspects, as well as the association with physical performance and injuries. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between muscle asymmetries and BLD during a countermovement jump (CMJ), and tensiomyography (TMG) parameters and asymmetries, in the lower limbs of male soccer players. A total of 23 male soccer players (18 ± 4 years) were recruited. Bilateral and unilateral CMJs were performed, and peak power (W) and height (cm) were obtained. TMG was performed on different muscles of the lower limbs, and lateral and functional symmetries were obtained. Playing position and history of injuries were collected. CMJ inter-limb symmetry was found to significantly correlate with biceps femoris (r = 0.574, p = 0.004) and soleus (r = 0.437, p = 0.037) lateral symmetry. Players in central roles presented significantly worse functional symmetry scores of the knee than defense players (-17.5%, 95% CI -31.2--3.9; p = 0.10). Participants reporting a history of injury at the ankle were characterized by significantly lower functional symmetry in both the dominant (43%, 39.5-48.0 vs. 74.5%, 46.5-89.3, p = 0.019) and non-dominant (45%, 42.5-46.0 vs. 81.0%, 45.8-90.3, p = 0.024) ankle. Findings from this preliminary study suggest an association between lower-limb muscle asymmetries during a dynamic task, such as jumping, and muscle contractile properties evaluated with TMG; moreover, functional asymmetries may be present after ankle injuries. Future studies in larger samples should evaluate the presence of such asymmetries as predictors or characteristics of different muscular and joint injuries.