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Objective: To evaluate therapeutic footwear expectations and usability of individuals with diabetes and foot complications. Design: A prospective multicenter study was conducted on participants with a high risk of developing a diabetic foot ulcer. Setting: Participants were enrolled in 11 different specialized diabetic foot units in Spain between March 2022 and June 2023. Subjects: Patients with diabetes at moderate to high risk of foot ulceration receiving first therapeutic footwear prescription. Interventions: All the patients included in the research were prescribed with their first pair of therapeutic footwear. Main measures: Primary outcome measures were MOS-pre and MOS-post questionnaires evaluating use and usability of prescribed therapeutic footwear. Secondary outcome measures aimed to evaluate footwear clinical efficacy as ulceration rate and self-reported perceived walking distance per day. Results: The use of therapeutic footwear exceeded the patient's pre-provision prediction of their anticipated use in 94% of people (n = 126). Based on the visual analogic satisfaction scale, the median satisfaction of daily wearing their therapeutic footwear was 7 points, Interquartile Range (IQR) [5–8.25]. During the follow-up period, 39 participants (29.1%) experienced diabetic foot ulcer. Perceived walking distance participants reported an improvement in their perceived walking ability during various daily life activities. Conclusions: Diabetes patients at moderate to high risk of diabetic foot ulcer improved their perception of walking ability after therapeutic footwear prescription. Adherence to the therapeutic footwear prescription resulted in less ulcerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to analyze the technical-tactical performance profile of the serve for various age groups and categories of competition in men's volleyball. The sample comprised 13,262 serves performed by 986 players in 299 sets observed in various categories of competition (U-14, U-16, U-19, national senior, and international senior). An observational design was used. The variables studied were category of competition, type of execution, and serve performance. The results showed that for higher age groups (senior categories), there were significantly fewer jump serves and poorer serve performance, regardless of players' maturity and training development. The use of the jump serves increased the serve risk while attempting to hinder the organization of the opponent attack. This paper discusses the serve evolution and the implications on the training process at the different age groups in men's volleyball. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As future employers, nurse managers are in a key position to assess the correspondence between the competence of graduating nursing students and work life demands. The aim of the present study was to assess the competence of graduating nursing students from the perspective of managers, and analyze the factors linked to it. Among European managers in six countries, a cross-sectional survey design with a convenience sample was applied. Data were collected using the Nurse Competence Scale. The study was reported using the STROBE guidelines. Managers (n =538, 65.8%) assessed the level of competence of graduating nursing students as good, but there were statistically significant differences between countries. In a multivariable analysis, managers who had a Doctoral/Master’s degree and were dissatisfied with the nursing program in their country assessed the level of competence as lower. Overall, graduating nursing students seem to meet the competence demands of current work life rather well. Further research is needed to confirm the connection between the managers’ competence assessment and their individual background factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of two different exercise-based programs through telerehabilitation in patients with coronavirus disease 2019. Design: Randomized, controlled, parallel, double-blinded, three-arm clinical trial. Setting: Patients' homes through telerehabilitation devices. Subjects: Subjects with coronavirus disease 2019 in the acute phase. Interventions: Subjects were divided into three groups: breathing exercises group, strength exercises group or no treatment/control group. Main measures: We analysed visual analogue scale for fatigue, 6-minute walking test, 30-seconds sit-to-stand test, multidimensional dyspnoea-12 questionnaire and Borg scale at baseline and 14 days later. Results: From 93 subjects recruited, 88 were enrolled, and 77 patients (mean [SD] age 39.40 [11.71]) completed the 14-days intervention and were included in the analysis: 26 in strength exercises group, 29 in breathing exercises group and 22 in control group. The intergroup analysis shows significant differences between the study groups and control group in all variables (p < 0.05); Borg scale, multidimensional dyspnoea-12 questionnaire (pre–post intervention score: strength exercises group: 7.85 [6.82] – 4.54[4.82], breathing exercises group: 11.04 [6.49] – 5.32 [3.63], control group: 10.27 [6.49] – 10.59[6.58]), visual analogue scale for fatigue, 6-minute walking test and 30-seconds sit-to-stand test (pre–post intervention score: strength exercises group: 12.19 [4.42] – 13.58 [5.37], breathing exercises group: 11.18 [3.42] – 12.79 [4.00], control group: 10.45 [2.15] – 9.86[1.88]). The greatest effect sizes were found in the variables Borg Scale (R 2 = 0.548) and multidimensional dyspnoea-12 questionnaire (R 2 = 0.475). Conclusions: Strength exercises group and breathing exercises group obtained significant improvements in fatigue, dyspnoea, perceived effort, and physical state, compared to control group, although the greatest benefits were found for dyspnoea and aerobic capacity in breathing exercises group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) are hypersensitive nodules in a taut band (TB) of skeletal muscle. Dry needling (DN) is an invasive technique recommended for the treatment of MTrPs. However, to our knowledge, no studies have investigated the influence of the DN technique on modification of muscle stiffness and neurophysiological properties of MTrPs. Objective: The objective was to examine the effect of DN on muscle stiffness and motoneuron excitability of a latent medial MTrP (nodule and TB) of the soleus muscle in non-injured subjects. Methods: A double-blinded randomised controlled trial of 46 subjects with latent medial MTrPs of the soleus was conducted, in which all received one session of DN. The intervention group (n = 23) were subjected to DN into the MTrP (the nodule), while the control group (n = 23) were subjected to DN into the TB. Assessment was carried out at baseline (pre-test), after the intervention (post-test) and 1 week after the intervention (follow-up). Biomechanical variables (muscle resistive force at 10°/s and 180°/s, muscle extensibility and strength), as measured with an isokinetic dynamometer, and neurophysiological variables (H-reflex), were recorded. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in biomechanical or neurophysiological assessments between groups. Considering the intra-group analysis, subjects in the intervention group exhibited increased maximal isometric voluntary force to ankle plantarflexion (MIVFp) at both post-intervention and follow-up assessment (p < 0.0125; 0.2 < d < 0.5), while no changes were found in the control group. Conclusion: One session of DN targeting latent MTrPs did not change muscle stiffness, muscle extensibility or motoneuron excitability. Further research on subjects with muscle tone disorders should be considered to better address the impact of DN on muscle tone. Trial registration number: NCT02575586 (ClinicalTrials.gov). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses indicate that acupuncture has similar clinical effectiveness in the prevention of headache disorders (HDs) as drug therapy, but with fewer side effects. As such, examining acupuncture's use in a pragmatic, real-world setting would be valuable. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of acupuncture and prophylactic drug treatment (PDT) on headache frequency in patients with HDs, under real-world clinical conditions. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of patients with HDs referred to a pain clinic, using electronic health record data. Patients continued with tertiary care (treatment of acute headache attacks and lifestyle, meditation, exercise and dietary instructions) with PDT, or received 12 sessions of acupuncture over 3 months, instead of PDT under conditions of tertiary care. The primary outcome data were the number of days with headache per month, and groups were compared at baseline and at the end of the third month of treatment. Results: Data were analysed for 482 patients with HDs. The number of headache days per month decreased by 3.7 (standard deviation (SD) = 2.9) days in the acupuncture group versus 2.9 (SD = 2.3) in the PDT group (p = 0.007). The proportion of responders was 39.5% versus 16.3% (p < 0.001). The number needed to treat was 4 (95% confidence interval = 3–7). Conclusion: Our study has shown that patients with HDs in tertiary care who opted for treatment with acupuncture appeared to receive similar clinical benefits to those that chose PDT, suggesting these treatments may be similarly effective of the prevention of headache in a real-world clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the functional vision of a sample of older adults living in nursing homes in Galicia in northwestern Spain. The study is aimed at raising the awareness of clinicians, as well as researchers working in the field of vision and the Spanish Social and Equality Services, regarding the need to develop visual screening protocols in nursing homes, which are currently lacking in Spain (Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality, n.d.). Methods: Presenting visual acuity (visual acuity with current eyeglasses or contact lenses, if worn) was assessed to determine the functional vision of a sample of older adults living in nursing homes. We tested monocular and binocular high-contrast visual acuity using the directional-^ screening test (3.70 scale) for distance vision, and the Rosenbaum near vision chart for near acuity. Visual impairment (distance and near vision) was defined as a binocular presenting visual acuity of less than 6/18 (20/63). Results: The prevalence of visual impairment for distance and near vision reached 23.1% and 16.4%, respectively. We did not find any significant differences in the mean values of presenting visual acuity (far and near vision) between genders. The prevalence of visual impairment for distance vision increased with age (p < 0.01), reaching 25.8% among senior citizens between 80 and 89 years of age, and 50% in the case of nonagenarians. Nevertheless, we did not find any association between age and functional near vision (p > 0.05). Discussion: The findings confirm the high prevalence of visual impairment among this population group. Many of the residents we examined have a level of vision that affects their typical daily activities and quality of life, so it is urgent to develop standard visual screening protocols in nursing homes. Implications for practitioners: Developing visual screening programs in nursing homes would allow for the early detection of visual impairment and help other professionals working in nursing homes--especially clinicians, nurses, and caregivers--to optimize the care of the residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to assess the short-term effect of a physical fitness program on physical self-concept and physical fitness elements among primary school students. Spanish boys and girls (N = 75; M age = 11.1 yr., SD = 0.4) were divided into an experimental group and a control group. During physical education classes, the experimental group performed an 8-week program including two circuits of 8 exercises done for 15 to 35 sec. each with 45 to 25 sec. of rest between them. Physical self-concept (Physical Self-Description Questionnaire) and physical fitness (EUROFIT battery tests) were measured at the beginning and at the end of the physical fitness program. The results showed that the improvements in physical fitness were not accompanied by major changes in physical self-concept, even though the physical fitness program seemed to maintain the Experimental group's previous physical appearance, strength, and self-esteem perceptions, all of which statistically significantly decreased in the control group after the intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) is being increasingly used as a marker for cardiac risk assessment and as a prognostic tool in acute coronary syndrome. We analyzed the relation between hsCRP values at admission and in-hospital outcomes in 98 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing catheterization. Patients with cardiac events had more advanced Killip class, more proportion of depressed left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), higher Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) risk score, and higher hsCRP levels. High-sensitivity CRP and GRACE risk score showed a significant positive correlation (r = .320, P = .002). In multivariate analysis, hsCRP resulted as a predictor of worse in-hospital outcomes independently of GRACE risk score (OR 1.122, CI95%:1.005-1.252, P = .040). The hsCRP value showing the maximum likelihood ratio for predicting cardiac events was 1.45 mg/dL. High levels of hsCRP were also associated with development of contrast-induced nephropathy but not with bleeding events. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]