Muscle mechanical properties (MMPs) are relevant in the pathophysiology of lumbopelvic disorders. However, they have not been described in the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) and lumbar paravertebral muscles (LPM) of women with urge urinary incontinence (UUI).
To identify differences between MMPs of PFM and LPM in patients with UUI and healthy controls. Secondarily also aimed to observe the relationship between sociodemographic and clinical variables with the PFM and LPM MMPs.
The participants of this case-control study comprised 34 women with UUI (UUI group) and 34 continent women (control group). Sociodemographic variables were obtained together with data on the clinical status of the pelvic floor. The MMPs, i.e., frequency (tone), stiffness, decrement (inverse of elasticity), and viscoelastic properties (VP), such as relaxation time and creep, of PFM and LPM were assessed with a hand-held tonometer. Between-group differences and intra-group correlations were identified.
The UUI group presented higher frequency and stiffness, as well as lower relaxation time in PFM, whereas the LPM had lower tone and stiffness, and higher VP, compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The UUI group showed a pattern of moderate correlations (|0.403|<r<|0.600|) among all MMPs of PFM and tone, stiffness, and VP of LPM, which did not appear in the control group.
The presence of UUI may influence MMPs at PFM and LPM levels, increasing the tone and stiffness of PFM, whereas these properties are reduced in LPM. These findings emphasize the clinical interest of the lumbopelvic determination of MMPs, obtained through externally applied hand-held instruments, in the pathophysiology of UUI.
The relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and its possible determinants in post-COVID-19 survivors has not been systematically assessed.
To identify and summarize studies comparing cardiorespiratory fitness measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing in COVID-19 survivors versus non-COVID-19 controls, as well as to determine the influence of potential moderating factors.
We conducted a systematic search of MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and SciELO since their inceptions until June 2022. Mean differences (MD), standard mean differences (SMD), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were used to evaluate potential moderating factors.
48 studies (3372 participants, mean age 42 years, and with a mean testing time of 4 months post-COVID-19) were included, comprising a total of 1823 COVID-19 survivors and 1549 non-COVID-19 controls. After data pooling, VO2 peak (SMD=1.0 95% CI: 0.5, 1.5; 17 studies; N = 1273) was impaired in COVID-19 survivors. In 15 studies that reported VO2 peak values in ml/min/kg, non-COVID-19 controls had higher peak VO2 values than COVID-19 survivors (MD=6.2, 95% CI: 3.5, 8.8; N = 905; I2=84%). In addition, VO2 peak was associated with age, time post-COVID-19, disease severity, presence of dyspnea, and reduced exercise capacity.
This systematic review provides evidence that cardiorespiratory fitness may be impaired in COVID-19 survivors, especially for those with severe disease, presence of dyspnea, and reduced exercise capacity. Furthermore, the degree of reduction of VO2 peak is inversely associated with age and time post-COVID.
Bladder training (BT), the maintenance of a scheduled voiding regime at gradually adjusted intervals, is a common treatment for overactive bladder (OAB).
To assess the effects of isolated BT and/or in combination with other therapies on OAB symptoms.
A systematic review of eight databases was conducted. After screening titles and abstracts, full texts were retrieved. Cochrane RoB 2 and the GRADE approach were used.
Fourteen RCTs were included: they studied isolated BT (n = 11), BT plus drug treatment (DT; n = 5), BT plus intravaginal electrical stimulation (IVES; n = 2), BT plus biofeedback and IVES (n = 1), BT plus pelvic floor muscle training and behavioral therapy (n = 2), BT plus percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation, and BT plus transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (n = 1). In a meta-analysis of short-term follow-up data, BT plus IVES resulted in greater improvement in nocturia (mean difference [MD]: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.5, 1.20), urinary incontinence (UI; MD: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.32, 2.55), and quality of life (QoL; MD: 4.87, 95% CI: 2.24, 7.50) than isolated BT, while DT and BT improved UI (MD: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.92) more than isolated BT.
In the short term, BT plus IVES improves the OAB symptoms of nocturia and UI while improving QoL. The limited number of RCTs and heterogeneity among them provide a low level of evidence, making the effect of BT on OAB inconclusive, which suggests that new RCTs should be performed.
Technological running shoes have become increasingly popular, leading to improvements in performance. However, their long-term effects on foot musculature and joint mobility have not been thoroughly studied.
To compare the activation of the intrinsic foot muscles between runners wearing technological footwear and barefoot runners. Secondary objectives included assessing ankle dorsiflexion (DF) range of motion (ROM) and dynamic postural control in both groups.
A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 22 technological footwear runners and 22 barefoot runners. Ultrasonography was used to measure the thickness of the plantar fascia (PF) and the quadratus plantae (QP), abductor digiti minimus (ADM), abductor hallucis (AH), and flexor hallucis longus (FHL) muscles. Ankle mobility and dynamic postural control were also recorded.
Ultrasonography measurements showed statistically significant differences for PF thickness (mean difference [MD]: -0.10 cm; 95% CI: -0.13, -0.05 cm), QP cross-sectional area (CSA) (MD: -0.45 cm2; 95% CI: -0.77, -0.12 cm2), ADM CSA (MD: -0.49 cm2; 95% CI: -0.70, -0.17 cm2), and FHL thickness (MD: 0.82 cm; 95% CI: 0.53, 1.09 cm), with all measurements being lower in the group wearing technological footwear compared to the barefoot runners. Ankle DF ROM was also significantly greater for the barefoot runners (MD: -5.1°; 95% CI: -8.6, -1.7°).
These findings suggest potential implications for the foot musculature and ankle mobility in runners using technological footwear.
Patients are key stakeholders of clinical research, and their perspectives are relevant for researchers when planning and conducting clinical trials. Numerous aspects of trial process can influence participants’ experiences. Their experiences within a trial can impact retention rates. Poor treatment adherence may bias treatment effect estimates. One way to improve recruitment and adherence is to design trials that are aligned with patients’ needs and preferences. This study reports a process evaluation of the Otago MASTER feasibility trial.
Our aims were to investigate the patients’ perceptions of the trial interventions through individual interviews.
Twenty-five participants were recruited for the feasibility trial and were allocated to two groups: tailored or standardised exercise. Sixteen participants agreed to take part in individual semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and all interviews were analysed thematically using an iterative approach.
Our key findings suggest participants: (1) took part in the study to access healthcare services and contribute to research; (2) valued interventions received; (3) reported certain barriers and facilitators to participate in the trial; and (4) highlighted areas for improvement when designing the full trial.
Participants volunteered to access healthcare and to contribute to research. Participants valued the personalised care, perceived that their engagement within the trial improved their self-management and self-efficacy behaviour, valued the time spent with clinicians, and the empathetic environment and education received. Facilitators and barriers will require careful consideration in the future as the barriers may impact reliability and validity of future trial results.
Self-rated health (SRH) is the perception of an individual regarding their health and an indicator of health status. Identifying predictors of SRH allows the selection of evidence-based interventions that mitigate factors leading to poor SRH and the identification of individuals at risk of worse SRH.
To determine the acute predictors of general and time-comparative SRH of individuals with stroke at 3 and 12 months after hospital discharge, considering personal, physical, and mental functions.
A prospective study was developed to assess general and time-comparative SRH at 3 and 12 months after hospital discharge according to 2 questions (“In general, how would you say your health is?” and “Compared to a year ago, how would you rate your general health now?”). Potential acute predictors analyzed were personal (age, sex, comorbidities, socioeconomic status, and family arrangement), physical (stroke severity, motor impairment, and independence for basic activities of daily living [ADLs]), and mental (cognitive) functions.
Age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=2.10) and independence in basic ADLs (aOR=0.29) were significant predictors of SRH at 3 months; at 12 months, no significant predictor was found. Motor impairment (aOR=3.90) was a significant predictor of time-comparative SRH at 3 months; at 12 months, sex (aOR=0.36) and independence in basic ADLs (aOR=0.32) were significant predictors.
At 3 months, individuals with stroke who were ≥65 years old and dependent on basic ADLs were more likely to have worse general SRH, while those with higher motor impairments were more likely to have worse time-comparative SRH. At 12 months, women and individuals dependent on basic ADLs were more likely to have worse time-comparative SRH.
Functional capacity impairment is a crucial consequence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although it can be identified with simple tests, such as the sit-to-stand tests, its prevalence, relation with disease severity, and the characteristics of people presenting this impairment remain unknown.
To explore the functional capacity of people with COPD.
A cross-sectional study with people with COPD and age-/sex-matched healthy controls was conducted. Functional capacity was assessed with the 5-repetitions (5-STS) and the 1-minute (1-minSTS) sit-to-stand tests. People with COPD were grouped according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) classifications. Comparisons between people with COPD and healthy controls, and among GOLD groups were established. Associations between symptoms, muscle strength, quality of life, and measures of functional capacity were explored.
302 people with COPD [79% male; mean (SD) 68 (10) years old] and 304 healthy controls [75% male; 66 (9) years old] were included. 23% of people with COPD presented impairment in the 5-STS and 33% in the 1-minSTS. People with COPD from all GOLD classifications presented significantly lower functional capacity than healthy controls (5-STS: COPD median [1st quartile; 3rd quartile] 8.4 [6.7; 10.6] versus healthy 7.4 [6.2; 9.3] s; 1-minSTS: COPD 27 [21; 35] vs healthy 35 [29; 43] reps). Correlations with symptoms, muscle strength, and quality of life were mostly weak (5-STS: rs [-0.34; 0.33]; 1-minSTS: rs [-0.47; 0.40]).
People with COPD have decreased functional capacity independently of their GOLD classifications. The prevalence of functional impairment is 23–33%. Because impaired functional capacity is a treatable trait not accurately reflected by other outcomes, comprehensive assessment and management is needed.
Participation of children with disabilities is an indicator of social inclusion, health, and well-being, and its evaluation needs to be included in the clinical practice of rehabilitation professionals.
To investigate the measurement properties of the Participation and Environment Measure - Children and Youth Brazilian version (PEM-CY Brazil).
We used the PEM-CY to evaluate participation and environment of children with and without disabilities in the home, school, and community settings. Based on COSMIN guidelines, we analyzed two measurement properties: internal consistency for all domains using Cronbach's alpha; and construct (known-groups) validity, i.e., the degree to which instrument scores identify differences between groups. T-tests, Mann-Whitney, or Chi-square tests compared children with and without disabilities.
101 Brazilian children (mean age=9.31 years) with (n = 62) and without (n = 39) disabilities were included. Internal consistency ranged from appropriate (0.70) to excellent (0.95) for all domains in all settings, except for Resources in the environment of the home setting (0.53). Regarding construct validity, PEM-CY participation scores were significantly different between groups in most domains. Children with disabilities were significantly less involved and participated in a smaller number of activities in all settings, in comparison to those without disabilities. The PEM-CY scores in all settings of the environment were significantly higher in the group of children without disabilities.
Preliminary support was provided for the internal consistency and construct (known-groups) validity of the PEM-CY Brazil to measure participation and the environment in the Brazilian context. The PEM-CY can therefore be used by rehabilitation professionals in Brazil.
The Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) is one of the most frequently employed instruments for assessing maladaptive beliefs about pain, injury, and movement in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. However, the measurement properties of this tool have so far not been tested for individuals with migraine.
To evaluate the structural, construct, and criterion validity, and the internal consistency for three versions (TSK-11, TSK-13, and TSK-17) of the TSK for patients with migraine.
A total of 113 individuals aged between 18 and 55 years old with migraine diagnosis were included. All participants completed the TSK with 17 items, the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, the Headache Impact Test, and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale questionnaires. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess the structural validity of the TSK, and Cronbach's α was used to assess internal consistency. For construct and criterion validity, the Spearman's correlation was calculated.
The TSK structure with one factor and the 17, 13, or 11 items versions were suitable, with suitable values in all fit indices related to structural validity. The three versions showed acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.75). All TSK versions showed moderate positive correlation with the other questionnaires (rho range= 0.31–0.63), confirming most of the predefined hypothesis for the construct validity. Also, the criterion validity of the 13-item and 11-item versions was confirmed (rho=0.95 and rho=0.94, respectively).
All versions of the TSK demonstrated good measurement properties in the assessment of maladaptive beliefs about pain, injury, and movement in individuals with migraine.