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OBJECTIVE: Chemotherapy and/or radiation are normally the predominant therapies administered to cancer patients. Commonly, patients express complaints of fatigue during adjuvant treatment. Furthermore, regular practice of physical exercise during adjuvant treatment seems to have positive effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of combined muscle strength, and a supervised aerobic training program on myoelectric activity of Vastus Lateralis during isometric test in patients with breast cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-two women with breast cancer (20 patients in the training group and 12 patients as controls) undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy participated in the study. They took part in a 6-week training period. A muscle-strength program included isometric contraction and electrical muscle stimulation (EMS). Aerobic training program consisted of supervised intermittent cycling exercise and home-based walking exercise. The outcome measures were Root Mean Square (RMS), Mean Power Frequency (MPF), Maximal Voluntary isometric Contraction (MViC), and Endurance Time (ET) of Vastus Lateralis, before and after the training period in the two groups. RESULTS: Compared to controls, a significant increase in MViC (p=0.001) and ET (p=0.005) in quadriceps accompanied by a significant decrease in RMS (p=0.007) and a significant increase in MPF (p=0.002) has been obtained in the training group. CONCLUSIONS: Supervised muscle strength and supervised aerobic training programs enhanced muscle activity and muscular performance in women with breast cancer during adjuvant chemotherapy treatment and optimized the decrease of muscular fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Boron is found naturally in the environment, plants absorb it from the soil because it is essential for its growth, and humans achieve it thanks to the consumption of plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables (The human body contains about 0.7 mg per kilo of boron weight). The aim of this investigation was to explore the effect of boron supplementation on free testosterone activity in the blood during muscle strength training of volleyball players. Methods. Sixteen volleyball players, Eltayaran club, divided into two groups. The experimental group (n = 8) take boron supplement contains boron mineral salts the boron supplement has been taken in a daily dose (2MG) in the last 4 weeks in the program for the experimental group. In the days that there is no weight training, In the morning after breakfast and in the days when weight training was done, two doses were used in the morning after breakfast and one in the meal, which precedes the training, based on the expert opinion. and control group (n = 8) (placebo) performed traditional exercise. Subjects were required to read and complete a health questionnaire and informed consent document; there was no history of injuries, diabetes or recent surgery. Results. The results showed statistically significant differences: 1. between the experimental group and control group in Free Testosterone After effort for posttest to the experimental group. No Significant Difference Free Testosterone at rest 2. between the experimental group and control group in Leg Static strength, Back Static strength, Vertical Jump, Seated Medicine Ball Throw for posttest to the experimental group Conclusion. In conclusion, our data suggest that (4) weeks boron supplementation could improvement of Free Testosterone After effort, Leg Static strength, Back Static strength, Vertical Jump, Seated Medicine Ball Throwin volleyball players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sickle cell disease (SCD) and Sickle cell trait (SCT) are genetic disorders characterised by production of abnormal haemoglobin (Hb). It affects many races, countries, and ethnic groups and is particularly prevalent in Africa and parts of Asia. An association linking the presence of SCD in adults with exercise capacity has been established. Several factors might contribute in limiting exercise capacity in this population including; reduced oxygen carrying capacity of blood due to low Hb concentration; structural and functional adaptations resulting from chronic anaemia; and pulmonary changes from repeated episodes of acute chest syndrome (Callahan et. al). However, the mechanism of exercise limitation in children with sickle cell is still not clear. The aim of this study was to assess the cardiovascular response to a 20m shuttle run test of SCD/SCT and compare them to normal children from Oman. Anthropometric and body composition of Omani male children ages 12-15 years were measured. Haematological indices and VO2 max response to exercise was obtained. In 20m shuttle run test normal children reported significantly higher mean values than SCT and SCD children (P<0.05), while SCT results were significantly higher than SCD (P<0.05). In this study children with SCD have significantly lower aerobic fitness level compared with the other two groups. Other similar studies (Pianosi et al; Barden et al) reported same results. This might be due to the severity of the disease and delay in growth patterns. Children with SCD have limited cardiopulmonary fitness in comparison with normal healthy children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the years, the foot tapping test protocol has been proposed by scientists to identify the capabilities of the lower limb neuromuscular system in the medical context; however, to our knowledge, no studies have established its usefulness and relationship to athletic performance. The aim of the present study was to test the reliability, criterion validity and sensitivity of a new foot tapping (TAP) test, and to examine its relationship with proxies of athletic performance in soccer players. Forty voluntary soccer players of two different levels participated in this study (20 players from the national level: age: 22.6 ± 2.5 years and 20 players from regional level: 25.1 ± 3.6 years). They performed the TAP test on two separate occasions to test its relative and absolute reliability. To examine the criterion validity of the TAP test, all participants performed four types of jumps, sprint tests, agility tests, the Wingate test and the finger tapping test considered a gold standard tapping test. The sensitivity was assessed with national and regional player levels. The TAP test presented a high relative and absolute reliability with intra-class correlation coefficient ICC > 0.90, standard errors of measurement SEM < 5% and mean difference ±95% limits of agreement equal to 0.2 ± 0.8 tap·s−1. National level players showed a higher TAP score (p < 0.001; dz = 1.96, large) compared to regional players (9.68 ± 1.41 tap·s−1 vs. 7.28 ± 1.01 tap·s−1, respectively) and the value of area under curve measured by the receiver operating characteristic curve technique was 0.95 (95% CI: 0.827−0.990). The TAP test showed a significant association with the finger tapping test (r = 0.84, p < 0.001), whereas no correlation was seen between the TAP test and all the other physical tests measured. The TAP test could be considered a valid and reliable test to assess lower limb neuromuscular ability in soccer players.

This review aimed to identify, evaluate, and synthesize the scientific literature on mobile health (mHealth) interventions to promote physical activity (PA) or reduce sedentary behavior (SB) in cancer survivors. We searched six databases from 2000 to 13 April 2020 for controlled and non-controlled trials published in any language. We conducted best evidence syntheses on controlled trials to assess the strength of the evidence. All 31 interventions included in this review measured PA outcomes, with 10 of them also evaluating SB outcomes. Most study participants were adults/older adults with various cancer types. The majority ( n = 25) of studies implemented multicomponent interventions, with activity trackers being the most commonly used mHealth technology. There is strong evidence for mHealth interventions, including personal contact components, in increasing moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA among cancer survivors. However, there is inconclusive evidence to support mHealth interventions in increasing total activity and step counts. There is inconclusive evidence on SB potentially due to the limited number of studies. mHealth interventions that include personal contact components are likely more effective in increasing PA than mHealth interventions without such components. Future research should address social factors in mHealth interventions for PA and SB in cancer survivors.

Background: In the past infectious diseases affected the quality of lifestyle during home confinement. The study conducted examines the influence of home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak on lifestyle, mental wellbeing, nutritional status, and sleeping pattern., Method: An online multicategorical questionnaire was distributed to collect demographic information combined with the following tools: Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), WHO-5 wellbeing score, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A snowball non-discriminate sampling procedure was conducted to collect data from people attending or working at higher institutions from March 1, 2020 to April 24, 2020. A total of 1723 completed responses (917 males, 37.4 ±13.4 years old and 806 females 32.2 ± 11.5 years old) were collected., Results: The female participants had significantly lower mental health scores than males (53.9% vs. 46.1%). The mental wellbeing scores were higher among participants with medium and high physical activity (PA) levels (p < 0.00). Additionally, the mental wellbeing scores were significantly improved by dietary quality and it's sleeping score (p < 0.001). However, PA was by far the major determinant of the mental health scores., Conclusion: Factors such as PA, diet, and sleeping patterns were associated with mental wellbeing during the COVID-19 confinement among Arab participants., Competing Interests: MH is an employee of Actness. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.