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Physical function is regarded as the cornerstone of healthy aging, and exercise is an important determinant of healthy aging. This study examined the feasibility and physiological (heart rate, blood pressure, blood lactate, and rate of perceived exertion) and psychological (enjoyment) response resulting from an acute progressive sled-push (SLP) exercise session using the novel XPO Sled Trainer in older adults and compared that with walking (WKC) condition. The exercise session comprised six exercise bouts at 75%, 85%, 100% (2×), and 125% (2×) of normal velocity with a 2-min rest between bouts. Thirty-six older adults were randomly allocated into either the SLP or WKC conditions. No adverse events were observed during the exercise session, and all participants completed the exercise protocol as prescribed. One-third of the participants in the SLP group reported minimal body discomfort. Significantly higher responses were observed for all physiological variables as the intensity of the exercise increased in the SLP group compared with the WKC group (p <.001). The SLP group presented a decline in enjoyment as the intensity of the exercise increased (during), but similar enjoyment level than the WKC group for the overall exercise session (p =.711). Our findings support the viability and safety of SLP exercise using the XPO Sled Trainer in older adults. Such exercise demonstrated an intensity-driven modality that may have potential to elucidate positive adaptations in the cardiovascular system of older adults with acceptable levels of enjoyment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual reality (VR) has significantly expanded the possibilities of medical treatment, particularly in the realm of rehabilitation. VR utilizes advanced technologies to create simulated environments that users perceive as analogous to the real world. Researchers have demonstrated that VR can effectively train motor, sensory, and cognitive functions. This manuscript offers a concise review of recent evidence concerning the effects of VR training on key clinical symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), with the aim of highlighting VR's potential as a complementary rehabilitative tool for improving ubiquitous symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS)—a neurodegenerative, often disabling, disease. In addition to presenting a brief overview of recent literature on VR for pwMS, this narrative review seeks to provide health professionals with a foundational understanding of VR as a rehabilitative tool in MS. Furthermore, it may aid in identifying gaps in the literature and stimulate the development of new hypotheses and theories regarding the use of VR in patients with a neurodegenerative disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the prevalence and the impact of fear of falling (FOF) on physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (PA), and physical function in older adults living in a continuing care retirement community (CCRC). Ninety-three older adults were included and self-reported assessed on PA and SB. Further, participants' physical function was assessed using a collection of measures of valid objective tests. Independent t test was used to compare the dependent variables between FOF groups, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to control for assistive device usage. FOF was prevalent in 47.3% of the sample and PA and SB did not differ between FOF groups (p >.05). ANCOVA revealed that performance on several physical function tests remained significantly better (p <.05) for the no FOF group compared to the yes group. Our findings demonstrated similar levels of PA and SB between FOF groups, but worse physical function for older adults reporting FOF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical activity is associated with improvements in both health and longevity and is highly recommended for older adults. Public health and nonprofit organizations have invested considerable efforts to promote physical activity among this population. The present manuscript describes the specifics of the first university-based adult fitness program (Lifetime Fitness Program) and how this program promotes healthy aging through physical activity while serving as an important venue for experiential learning among students. Thus, the goal of this paper is to provide a "road map" to guide strategies and methods to promote physical activity and healthy aging in an academic setting and provide students with meaningful experiential learning opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Locomotor adaptation is a motor learning process used to alter spatiotemporal elements of walking that are driven by prediction errors, a discrepancy between the expected and actual outcomes of our actions. Sensory and reward prediction errors are two different types of prediction errors that can facilitate locomotor adaptation. Reward and punishment feedback generate reward prediction errors but have demonstrated mixed effects on upper extremity motor learning, with punishment enhancing adaptation, and reward supporting motor memory. However, an in-depth behavioral analysis of these distinct forms of feedback is sparse in locomotor tasks. Methods: For this study, three groups of healthy young adults were divided into distinct feedback groups [Supervised, Reward, Punishment] and performed a novel locomotor adaptation task where each participant adapted their knee flexion to 30 degrees greater than baseline, guided by visual supervised or reinforcement feedback (Adaptation). Participants were then asked to recall the new walking pattern without feedback (Retention) and after a washout period with feedback restored (Savings). Results: We found that all groups learned the adaptation task with external feedback. However, contrary to our initial hypothesis, enhancing sensory feedback with a visual representation of the knee angle (Supervised) accelerated the rate of learning and short-term retention in comparison to monetary reinforcement feedback. Reward and Punishment displayed similar rates of adaptation, shortterm retention, and savings, suggesting both types of reinforcement feedback work similarly in locomotor adaptation. Moreover, all feedback enhanced the aftereffect of locomotor task indicating changes to implicit learning. Discussion: These results demonstrate the multi-faceted nature of reinforcement feedback on locomotor adaptation and demonstrate the possible different neural substrates that underly reward and sensory prediction errors during different motor tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Aim: Television viewing is one of the most popular sedentary activities in America, and with an increase in leisure time activity research has demonstrated a converse decrease in physical activity time. This increased sedentary behavior has been linked to increased risk of obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortalities. While many studies have focused on associations between children and middle aged to older adults, there is a dearth of literature regarding young college-aged students. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between body fat mass and physical fitness markers in individuals who engaged in high volumes of daily television leisure time activity. Methods: The sample population consisted of 171 Northern Illinois University young college-aged students. Subjects completed a screening visit that included IRB consent, inclusion criteria, a 7-day recall screen time viewing survey, and body composition assessment via bioimpedance analysis. Seven days later the subjects returned to complete the physical fitness testing which consisted of PACER test, vertical jump, pushups, sit ups, and sit-reach test, and provide their step count vie pedometer from the previous week. Results: Subjects were percentile ranked by volume of viewing time into infrequent TV viewer (IV), moderate TV viewer (MV), and frequent TV viewer (FV). Body fat mass in the frequent viewing group was more significantly negatively correlated with PACER test (-.610), vertical jump (-.525), pushups (- .542) and sit ups (-.416) compared to the other viewing groups. Conclusions: Students who engaged in a greater volume a daily TV viewing time (> 6.0 hours) displayed a greater negative association between body fat mass and decreased markers of physical fitness compared to individuals who engaging in a lower viewing time per day (< 2.0 hours). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strong evidence supports the benefits of physical activity (PA) and exercise for adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) and multidisciplinary PA guidelines exist. Previous research indicates that healthcare professionals may not yet widely promote exercise to their patients with MS. Before active promotion of PA/exercise becomes widespread practice for healthcare professionals, it is essential to understand the disability and inaccessibility-related barriers to exercise for this population. We sought to understand the barriers to PA/exercise among individuals with MS across a spectrum of MS impairment. Participants were instructed to take pictures of people, places and things that make PA/exercise easier or more difficult in preparation for a semi-structured interview. This photo elicitation approach allowed individuals to explain the barriers they faced even if they would not attribute those barriers to ableism or inaccessibility themselves. Interviews were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Twenty-three persons with MS participated. Three main themes were: inaccessibility limits PA/exercise participation, ableism happens in the PA space, and assistive devices both provide access to PA and are associated with disability stigma. This study adds nuance to current understandings of the barriers and facilitators of PA in this population by illustrating the disability-specific barriers and experiences with inaccessibility. With increasing efforts to promote PA, there must be an increased awareness of the structural inequalities and barriers that physically and psychologically affect decision-making around PA. There are many barriers to exercise for individuals with multiple sclerosis which prevent this population from experiencing the benefits of exercise. Rehabilitation professionals may play a role in drawing attention to accessible resources when providing recommendations or discussing barriers with their patients/clients. Rehabilitation professionals should consider that people with MS make decisions about assistive technology based on their needs, the meanings they attribute to it, expectations and attitudes of people around them. People with MS experience disability stigma as they participate in exercise and physical activity and this may extend into the rehabilitation space in the form of perceived compulsory ablebodiedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]