Exercise Intervention Program Research Articles

Perceptions and factors influencing exercise interventions in elderly patients with debilitating spinal surgery and healthcare professionals: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND Older spine surgery patients have a high incidence of debilitation, which can be managed with certain exercises. AIM To investigate the current status and influencing factors related to the knowledge of exercise intervention among patients and professionals. METHODS Descriptive research methods were used to classify and summarize patients and professionals’ perceptions and factors affecting exercise interventions. Data were analysed using the Colaizzi seven-step analysis method to distill and refine themes. RESULTS A total of 7 themes were identified: (1) The current status of patients' exercise is unsatisfactory; (2) patients' health literacy is low, coupled with a lack of social and family support; (3) there are numerous challenges with systematic exercise interventions; (4) healthcare professionals acknowledge the importance and need for exercise interventions; (5) there's a pronounced willingness among patients to participate in exercise intervention programs; (6) healthcare professionals believe that exercise interventions are beneficial; and (7) participants offered invaluable insights and suggestions on perioperative exercise during spinal surgery. CONCLUSION To investigate the current status and influencing factors related to the knowledge of exercise intervention among patients and the related healthcare professionals to provide a reference for the construction of exercise management programs for these patients.

Pengaruh Structured Group Exercise Program terhadap Kualitas Hidup Lansia di Paguyuban Lansia RW 08 Kemiri, Kebakkramat, Karanganyar

Abstract Background: The elderly are an age group where every individual experiences health problems, both physical, cognitive and psychosocial. These health problems will cause a decrease in the quality of life in the elderly. Therefore, interventions are needed aimed at minimizing the decline in the quality of life of the elderly. Structured Group Exercise Program (SGEP) is an intervention in the form of planned physical exercise, repetitive and consistent body movements to improve or maintain one or more components of physical fitness. Objectives: This research aims to determine the effect of SGEP on the quality of life of the elderly in the elderly community RW 08 Desa Kemiri, Kecamatan Kebakkramat, Kabupaten Karanganyar. Methods: This research is a quantitative Pre-Experimental Design research with one group pre-post test type. The research was conducted at the elderly community RW 08 Desa Kemiri, Kecamatan Kebakkramat, Kabupaten Karanganyar. The sampling technique used purposive sampling with a total of 27 samples. The research instrument used was the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF). The SGEP intervention was carried out in 8 sessions over 8 weeks. Data analysis used a paired t-test which was processed using SPSS version 25. Results:. The sample for this study was 100% female. Other characteristics were dominated by the elderly age group (59.3%), family status was dominated by the sample living with family (85.2%), and employment was dominated by the non-working sample (59.3%). The results of the paired sample t-test obtained Asmyp Sig. (2-tailed) = 0.000, which means p-value < α (0.05). Conclusion: There is an effect of providing the Structured Group Exercise Program (SGEP) intervention on the quality of life of the elderly in the elderly community RW 08 Desa Kemiri, Kecamatan Kebakkramat, Kabupaten Karanganyar. Keywords: Structured Group Exercise Program, Quality of Life, Elderly

Chronic exercise effects on overall depression severity and distinct depressive symptoms in older adults: A protocol of a systematic and meta-analytic review.

There is high evidence that chronic exercise benefits overall depression severity in older adults. However, late-life depression is characterized by considerable heterogeneity in clinical manifestation emphasizing the need for more individualized exercise intervention programs. Therefore, the objective of the proposed review is to investigate the effects of chronic exercise on overall depression severity and on different symptoms of depression in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including older adults with a mean age of at least 60 years, and by considering the moderating effects of intervention characteristics and individual characteristics. This protocol is guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P). We will use the Population-Intervention-Comparator-Outcomes-Study design (PICOS) criteria for study inclusion and will search the following database sources for relevant RCTs: Web of Science, Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, APA Psycinfo, SPORTDiscuss, Cochrane. Two independent reviewers will conduct the study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. Disagreement will be solved by a third reviewer. Primary outcome will be changes in overall depression severity and secondary outcomes will encompass changes in symptoms of depression as defined by the DSM-5, such as sleep quality, fatigue, anxiety, mood, apathy, changes in weight, information processing speed, and executive functions, from baseline until the end of the intervention and to any available intermediary measurement or follow up. Meta-analysis will be undertaken to synthesize the effects of chronic exercise on primary and secondary outcomes. Subgroup analysis will investigate the moderating effects of intervention characteristics (frequency, intensity, duration, type of exercise, cognitive demand, social interactions, exercise supervision, behavioral change techniques, compliance, study design, dropout-rate, type of control group) and individual characteristics (age, sex, education, functional capacity, global cognition, population) on primary and secondary outcomes. Additionally, we plan to assess quality of evidence and publication bias, and to carry out sensitivity analysis. The results of the proposed review are anticipated to have a substantial impact on research and clinical practice. On the one hand, the review's conclusions could form the foundation for developing evidence-based recommendations for individualized exercise programs that alleviate depression in older adults. On the other hand, by revealing research gaps, the review results could encourage the formulation of research questions for further RCTs. This protocol has been published in the Prospero repository (PROSPERO 2022 CRD42022361418, available from: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022361418).

Effects of rope skipping exercise on working memory and cardiorespiratory fitness in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

IntroductionChildren with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) exhibit deficits in working memory (WM) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), both of which are closely associated with the core symptoms of ADHD. This study aimed to investigate the effects of rope skipping exercise (RSE) on the WM and CRF of children with ADHD, to provide a theoretical foundation for the optimization of exercise intervention programs tailored to children with ADHD.MethodsThis study recruited 55 children (age range 6–12 years) and randomly assigned them into three groups: the ADHD with RSE (AWRSE, n=22, mean age: 10.18 ± 1.10 years), the ADHD with sports game (SG) (AWSG, n=16, mean age: 9.38 ± 0.96 years), and the typically developing (TD) control group (CG, n=17, mean age: 8.94 ± 0.56 years). The AWRSE underwent a RSE intervention, while the other two groups participated in SG. The exercise intervention lasted for 8 weeks, with sessions held twice a week for 60 minutes each, at a moderate-to-vigorous-intensity (64–95% HRmax). All children in each group underwent pre-test and post-test, including height, weight, BMI, n-back, and 20mSRT. One-way analysis of variance (Ony-way ANOVA) and paired sample t-test were used to analyze inter- and intra-group differences respectively.ResultsBefore the intervention, children with ADHD exhibited a significantly lower VO2max compared to the TD children (p<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the other indicators between the groups (p>0.05). After the intervention, no significant inter-group differences were found across all indices for the three groups of children (p > 0.05). The AWRSE had significant improvements in the accuracy of 1-back task, Pacer (laps), and VO2max (p<0.05), with the level of CRF approaching that of TD children. A significant decrease in response time for the 1-back task was observed in the CG.ConclusionAn 8-week RSE intervention is an effective therapeutic approach for children with ADHD, significantly enhancing their WM and CRF.

Patient perspective on exercise practices, preferences, and barriers in pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A multicenter survey

AbstractBackground/AimsNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is prevalent among children, and lifestyle modification is the primary treatment approach. However, the optimal exercise duration, frequency, and intensity for managing NAFLD remain undefined. This study aimed to gain insights from the patient perspective by examining exercise behaviors, preferences, and barriers in children with NAFLD.MethodsA multicenter survey was conducted among children 8–18 years with NAFLD in pediatric gastroenterology clinics. Participants completed a questionnaire on exercise practices, preferences, and barriers, while parents completed a questionnaire on their willingness and ability to support their child's exercise. Data were analyzed using χ2 test with Yates' correction and two‐sample t test.ResultsThe study included 408 children with NAFLD, with a mean age of 13.8 years. Approximately 52.5% of participants had physical education classes at school, while 59.5% engaged in extracurricular exercise, averaging 3.7 days per week. However, 11.5% reported no physical activity. A significant majority (81.1%) expressed interest in increasing their exercise levels, primarily driven by health‐related factors. Time‐related constraints were the most cited barriers to exercise (53.7%). Approximately 80% of parents demonstrated willingness and ability to support their child's exercise regimen.ConclusionThis study provides insights into exercise behaviors, preferences, and barriers among children with NAFLD. Half of the children lacked exercise opportunities at school but expressed interest in increasing their physical activity. Time limitation was the major obstacle cited. Parents are motivated to support increased physical activity. Exercise intervention programs for NAFLD should consider the perspective of the children and their families.

The role of street dance in developing psychomotor skills and creativity of students

Given the premise that dance is an activity suitable for integration in Physical Education and Sport classes, we aimed to test this by implementing teaching projects incorporating elements of Street Dance. Similar to other sports, which rely on motor skills and actions, only in this case mostly performed to music, Street Dance can bring countless benefits to a person's life. Whether we are talking about psychomotor or cognitive skills, the literature argues that dance can be a valuable tool for improving them. Considering the novelty that Street Dance represents, and its ongoing evolution, coupled with the increasing attraction of young people to this dance style, we considered this research to be beneficial. The study was carried out in a secondary school in Bucharest, Sector 3, and the 17 participants were 8th grade students. As part of the research, we used the RCMV computerized test, which helped us to investigate the reactivity, hand-foot coordination and vigilance of the subjects. Also, creativity was explored through a test consisting of geometric figures, adapted by Mihaela Roco. The statistically significant differences (Wilcoxon test was used) allow us to say that the improvements achieved are not random, but are also due to the exercise programme intervention.

Effectiveness of Group Physical Exercise in Treating Major Depressive Disorder: An Analysis of Secondary Data from an Aborted Randomized Trial.

Depression is highly prevalent and a significant cause of mortality and morbidity across the globe. Although antidepressants and/or psychotherapy are often used to treat depression, some recent studies indicate that exercise may play an important role in lowering depression symptoms among patients meeting the clinical criteria of a depressive episode. This study aimed to evaluate the mental health and wellbeing of adult participants diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) after fourteen weeks of receiving a supervised physical exercise program. In a pre-post design, the assessments were performed at baseline, seven weeks and fourteen weeks following the exercise intervention program using facilitated self-reported psychometric scales. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-2) and Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure (CORE-OM) were used to assess depression. The short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used for the self-reporting of participants' physical activity. At the beginning of the study, the baseline total mean scores and standard deviations for the BDI-2, CORE-OM, and IPAQ in both genders did not differ significantly (p-value > 0.05). Patients showed significant improvement in all assessment scales after completing fourteen weeks of the physical exercise program. Based on the BDI-2, the baseline score dropped from 31.25 (indicating moderate to severe depression) to 14.25 (indicating mild to minimal depression), with a p-value of <0.001. The CORE-OM total mean score was reduced from 1.91 to 0.98 with a significant p-value < 0.005 indicating effective clinical improvement in depression symptoms. The IPAQ total MET-minutes/week mean score increased from 1713.22 to 4367.62, indicating an improvement in the participants' weekly P.E. intake; however, the change was not statistically significant (p = 0.07). Exercise treatment is linked with considerable therapeutic improvement in patients with MDD, particularly when exercise is sustained over time. The BDI-2 and CORE-OM total scores significantly decreased after the fourteen-week P.E. programme, indicating a change from moderate and severe depression to minimal and mild depression. Our findings offer insightful information to primary care doctors and psychiatrists, indicating that prescribing exercise to depressed patients may be a helpful adjunctive therapy.

Home-based exercise program for people with residual disability following hospitalization for COVID-19: Randomized control trial

BackgroundThe best exercise program for individuals with effort intolerance or hypoxia at rest and/or during exercise post-COVID-19 treatment who have already had in-hospital rehabilitation remains unknown. ObjectiveWe evaluated the efficacy of a home-based rehabilitation exercise program intervention that included teleconsultations with a specialist nurse. MethodsThis was a multicenter randomized controlled trial for individuals who had been diagnosed with, and treated for, COVID-19. Despite inpatient rehabilitation they still had effort intolerance; this was defined as being a) only able to walk <70 % of the predicted distance during the six-minute walking test (6MWT) and/or b) oxygen desaturation all day long/during effort. The primary outcome was effort tolerance, as evaluated by the 6MWT. Secondary outcomes were dyspnea, fatigue, spirometry, respiratory muscle evaluations, and oxygenation. The Intervention group performed 4 weeks of a self-directed exercise program with bi-weekly physiotherapist video calls; the Control group participated in physical activity howsoever they wished. Exercises were divided into 4 intensity levels according to disability and oxygen desaturation. The program progressively increased from low (walking, free-body exercise, sit-to-stand, and balance exercises) to high (speed walking with a pedometer, cycle ergometer, and strengthening exercises). ResultsWe included 79 participants: 40 in the Intervention and 39 in the Control group. Mean (SD) age was 67.1 (10.3) years; 72 % (n = 57) were male. No intergroup differences in effort tolerance were found [Intervention 77.6 (75.4)m vs Control 49.5 (73.3)m (p = 0.109)]. Participants with 6MWT distance results < lower limit of normality values showed best improvements in mean (SD) effort tolerance: Intervention, 120.1 (75.8)m vs Control, 59.1 (75.6)m (p = 0.035). After 2 months, mean (SD) 6MWT distances in the 2 groups were similar: Intervention, 475.9 (82.4)m vs Control, 469.2 (118.9)m (p = 0.807). ConclusionsIn individuals with residual disability post-COVID-19 and after inpatient rehabilitation, a home-based exercise program with teleconsultation significantly improves effort tolerance but only for people who had severe effort intolerance at baseline. Database registrationClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04821934

Effects of square dance exercise on cognitive function in elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment: the mediating role of balance ability and executive function

BackgroundSquare dancing is a kind of aerobic fitness exercise without environmental restrictions that yields many benefits for physical and mental health; this exercise is popular among middle-aged and elderly people in China and in these populations in other countries. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of square dance exercise on the overall cognitive function of elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and to research its mechanisms.MethodsA total of 60 elderly people with MCI (60–69 years old) without square dance experience were selected and randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 30). The experimental group participated in square dance exercise for 12 weeks, while the control group maintained their original lifestyle habits. One week before and after the intervention period, the overall cognitive function, physical fitness, and executive function of both groups were measured.ResultsAccording to the results, square dance exercise directly improved the overall cognitive function of elderly individuals with MCI and indirectly affected overall cognitive function through the mediating effects of balance ability and executive function.ConclusionsSquare dance exercise represents a nonpharmacological intervention for the prevention and treatment of MCI. Importantly, it is best to combine this exercise with other forms of physical exercise and comprehensive treatment programs such as cognitive training, social interaction, and psychological intervention to realize its maximum effect.

Correlation between daily physical activity and intestinal microbiota in perimenopausal women

This study aimed to examine the correlation between daily physical activity levels and gut microbiota during the perimenopausal period. To explore the physiopathological traits of perimenopause women, and provide a theoretical basis for the development of menopause exercise intervention program. In this study, daily physical activity was assessed using the ActiGraph wGT3X-BT wearable sensor, and 16S rRNA sequencing was employed to analyze gut microbiota diversity and composition. Comparative analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between physical activity and specific phyla and genera in the gut microbiota, comparing perimenopausal women to youth women. The results showed perimenopausal women exhibited significantly lower levels of daily physical activity, including Kcals, metabolic equivalents (METs), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), compared to youth women. The composition of the gut microbiota was markedly different between the two groups. Specifically, the abundance of Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, Nitrospirae, and Gemmatimonadetes were lower at the phylum level (p < 0.01). Collinsella, Ruminococcus gnavus, Rothia, Haemophilus, Sphingomonas, Lactobacillales, and Lactococcus were lower at the genus level, while Phascolarctobacterium, Paraprevotella, Acinetobacter, Flavonifractor, and Intestinimonas exhibited a significant increase (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between Chloroflexi or Sphingomonas and physical activity (kcals, METs, and MVPA), while a negative correlation was found between Intestinimonas and physical activity (METs: p < 0.01, and MVPA: p < 0.05). Doubtlessly, the perimenopausal period is associated with lower levels of physical activity and distinct changes in gut microbiota. Sphingomonas may serve as a sensitive bacterium closely linked to physical activity.

An Effective and Playful Way of Practicing Online Motor Proficiency in Preschool Children.

The children's fairytale is a playful educational tool that can be modified in such a way to enhance motor proficiency. This study investigated the effect of an online exercise program with modified fairytales on children's motor proficiency during the kindergarten curriculum. Forty preschool children (20 girls and 20 boys; 5.13 ± 0.24 years old) were divided into two equal groups: an intervention (IG) group and a control group (CG). The IG followed a 3-month (3 times/week) online exercise intervention program (supervised by the class's kindergarten teacher) with modified children's fairytales, during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an aim to improve their motor proficiency. The CG did not attend any exercise intervention program. The Democritos Movement Screening Tool for Preschool Children (DEMOST-PRE), consisting of ten tests, was used to assess the children's motor proficiency. Τhe IG, after the end of the intervention program, significantly improved in the DEMOST-PRE total score (p < 0.001; mean change: 40.7%), while the CG did not significantly improve in the total score (p > 0.05). Furthermore, in the IG, a significant negative correlation between the pre-training DEMOST-PRE total score and the percentage change following the intervention (r = -0.64; p = 0.002) was observed. A modified exercise program using children's fairytales may be incorporated into the kindergarten curriculum as an effective educational tool for the improvement of motor proficiency.

Research Progress in the Effect of Exercise Intervention on Sleep Disorders and the Mechanisms Involved

Sleep disorders, a common concern in modern society, seriously affect people's physical and mental health. Reported findings suggest that both acute exercise intervention and long-term regular exercise intervention can improve the disrupted sleep structure and normalize the duration and proportion of the different phases of sleep. Moreover, exercise intervention has a positive effect on the endocrine functions, the metabolic functions, the immune response, the autonomic nervous system, and cardiac functions during sleep. It is a non-medicative therapeutic strategy for improving sleep disorders. The specific type of exercise intervention (aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, or meditative movement) adopted is one of the moderating variables of exercise intervention programs. Different types of exercise improve sleep disorders by way of different mechanisms. Exercise volume and intensity are another moderating variable of exercise intervention programs. The optimal amount and intensity of exercise for different individuals to improve sleep disorders may vary. Exercise interventions implemented at the different times throughout a day can also have varying degrees of impact on sleep disorders and there is no consensus on the optimal exercise time for improving sleep quality at present. Herein, we summarized the mechanisms by which exercise intervention improves sleep disorders from four perspectives, including epigenetics, hyperarousal, human circadian rhythm, and body temperature regulation. In addition, we discussed the current gaps and prospects of research in this field, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the development of exercise prescriptions for sleep disorders.

Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Executive and Memory Functions in Patients With Alzheimer’s Disease: A Systematic Review

Background: Alzheimer’s disease threatens the health of older adults, particularly by disrupting executive and memory functions, and many studies have shown that aerobic exercise prevents and improves the symptoms associated with the disease. Objective: The objective was to systematically review the effects of aerobic exercise on executive and memory functions in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and to determine the effect factors and mechanisms of the design of aerobic exercise intervention programs. Method: Relevant literature was searched in three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCO) from January 1, 2014 to March 1, 2023, using a subject-word search method. Data on 10 items, including author and country, were extracted from the literature after screening. The quality of the literature was evaluated using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale, and a systematic review was performed. Results: Twelve papers from seven countries were ultimately included, embodying 11 randomized controlled trials and one study with a repeated-measures design. The overall quality of the studies was good as 657 study participants, aged 45 years and older who had varying degrees of Alzheimer’s disease and significant symptoms, were included. Aerobic exercise was found to have a significant positive impact on executive and memory functions in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Conclusion: The effects of aerobic exercise on aspects of executive function were mainly characterized by improvements in inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility, whereas the effects on aspects of memory function were mainly characterized by improvements in logical memory, situational memory, and short-term memory.

Construction of an Exercise Intervention Program for Patients with Sarcopenic Obesity: A Delphi Method Study.

Construct an exercise intervention program for patients with sarcopenic obesity. Based on the COM-B theoretical model and evidence-based principles, the program was constructed using qualitative methods of literature analysis and Delphi method. The Delphi panel consisted of 15 experts from the fields of clinical medicine, rehabilitation medicine, medical technology, and nursing. Fifteen experts were consulted, and the consultation recovery rate was 100%; the authority coefficient of the 1st round was 0.83, with coefficients of variation ranging from 0.00 to 0.27, and importance scores ranging from (4.13±1.13) to (5±0); the authority coefficient of the 2nd round was 0.82, with coefficients of variation ranging from 0.00 to 0.20, and importance scores ranging from (4.53±0.64) to (5±0); Kendall's harmony coefficient was 0.102, 0.115, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant(P < 0.05). The constructed exercise intervention program for patients with sarcopenic obesity included 4 primary indicators, 12 secondary indicators, and 28 tertiary indicators. The constructed exercise intervention program for patients with sarcopenic obesity is scientific, feasible and generalizable, and can provide useful reference for related personnel to develop exercise programs for patients with sarcopenic obesity.

Exercise therapy in the application of sleep disorders.

Sleep disorders often accompany neurological injuries, significantly impacting patient recovery and quality of life.The efficacy and adherence of traditional treatment methods have certain limitations. Exercise has been found to be a highly beneficial treatment method, capable of preventing and alleviating neurological injuries and sleep disorders. This article reviews relevant research findings from both domestic and international sources over the past few decades, systematically summarizing and analyzing the application of exercise therapy in sleep disorders,strategy of exercise intervention program and the potential molecular mechanisms by which exercise therapy improves sleep disorders. Shortcomings in current research and suggestions are presented, providing a reference for future in-depth studies on exercise interventions for sleep disorders.

Comparative effectiveness of interventions on promoting physical activity in older adults: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Despite the well-established health benefits of physical activity, a large population of older adults still maintain sedentary life style or physical inactivity. This network meta-analysis (NMA) aimed to compare the effectiveness of wearable activity tracker-based intervention (WAT), electronic and mobile health intervention (E&MH), structured exercise program intervention (SEP), financial incentive intervention (FI) on promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary time in older adults. The systematic review based on PRISMA guidelines, a systematic literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, EMbase, Cochrane Library, Scopus were searched from inception to December 10th 2022. The randomized controlled trials (RCT) were included. Two reviewers independently conducted study selection, data extraction, risk of bias and certainty of evidence assessment. The effect measures were standard mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) in daily steps, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time. A total of 69 studies with 14,120 participants were included in the NMA. Among these included studies, the results of daily steps, MVPA and sedentary time was reported by 55, 25 and 15 studies, respectively. The NMA consistency model analysis suggested that the following interventions had the highest probability (surface under the cumulative ranking, SUCRA) of being the best when compared with control: FI + WAT for daily steps (SUCRA = 96.6%; SMD = 1.32, 95% CI:0.77, 1.86), WAT + E&MH + SEP for MVPA (SUCRA = 91.2%; SMD = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.36, 1.52) and WAT + E&MH + SEP for sedentary time (SUCRA = 80.3%; SMD = -0.50, 95% CI: -0.87, -0.14). The quality of the evidences of daily steps, MVPA and sedentary time was evaluated by very low, very low and low, respectively. In this NMA, there's low quality evidence that financial incentive combined with wearable activity tracker is the most effective intervention for increasing daily steps of older adults, wearable activity tracker combined with electronic and mobile health and structured exercise program is the most effective intervention to help older adults to increase MVPA and reduce sedentary time.

Effect of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Addition on Disability in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients: A Randomized Controlled Study

Background &amp; objective: Low back pain is a common problem, especially in the young and middle-aged working people, and is often very resistant to the conventional management. We evaluated the impact of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS), applied in conjunction with an exercise treatment program, on disability in chronic low back pain patients.&#x0D; Methodology: The study was conducted from June to October 2022. Twenty-two patients aged 42.18 ± 9.91 y, with Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) score 5.64 ± 1.09 and Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) score 10 ± 4.670, were randomly assigned to two groups. The control group received only exercise therapy (EXC group, n = 11), and the intervention group received exercise and tVNS therapy (EXC + tVNS group, n = 11). The primary outcome was RMDQ, measured before and after the intervention.&#x0D; Result: The mean RMDQ was significantly improved in both groups. In the intervention group the improvement was from 9.45 ± 4.44 to 2.18 ± 2.71 (P = 0.000), in the control group it was from 10.55 ± 5.05 to 2.36 ± 2.06 (P = 0.001). Inter-group comparison showed no significant difference. The effect size of the control group (2.12) was similar with the intervention group (1.98).&#x0D; Conclusion: Addition of 2-weeks tVNS to exercise therapy did not show superior effect on disability improvement compared to exercise only in chronic low back pain. Exercise alone was sufficient to improve the mean RMDQ.&#x0D; Abbreviations: CLBP: Chronic low back pain; EXC: Exercise; tVNS: Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation; NPRS: Numerical pain rating scale; RMDQ: Roland Morris disability questionnaire&#x0D; Key words: Chronic low back pain; Disability; Exercise; Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation&#x0D; Citation: Uzlifatin Y, Arfianti L, Wardhani IL, Hidayati HB, Melaniani S. Effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in addition to exercise on disability in chronic low back pain patients: a randomized controlled study. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2022;27(1):73−81; DOI: 10.35975/apic.v27i1.2084&#x0D; Received: December 07, 2022; Reviewed: December 28, 2022; Accepted: January 11, 2022

Intervention of muscle-building and antifrailty exercise combined with Baduanjin for frailty of different functional levels: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

IntroductionFrailty has been currently considered as a multidimensional concept, including physical, cognitive and social frailty. Frailty has also been associated with a range of adverse events, which might increase the...

Feasibility and Acceptability of a 12-Week Advanced Hip-Focused Exercise Intervention Program for Female Athletes

Feasibility and Acceptability of a 12-Week Advanced Hip-Focused Exercise Intervention Program for Female Athletes

OGC P37 Long term follow-up of patients undergoing prehabilitation prior to oesophagectomy: What happens to patients declining or withdrawing from prehabilitation exercise programmes?

Abstract Background Prehabilitative exercise prior to cancer surgery can improve survival, health-related quality of life and chemotherapy completion and response rates. Little is known about patients who either drop-out or decline to participate in exercise programmes in oesophageal cancer. This study reports the outcomes of patients who declined or dropped out of the Pre-EMPT trial prior to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and oesophago-gastrectomy. Methods A prospective non-randomised, cohort-controlled trial compared a standard care pathway (control) to a structured prehabilitation exercise programme (intervention) commenced before NAC and surgery for oesophageal cancer. Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to compare overall and disease-free survival between the trial patients (intervention and control) with patients who declined participation or dropped out of the study (non-participants). Results 21 patients completed the exercise intervention, 20 patients were enrolled in the control group, and 24 patients either dropped out (9) or declined to participate (15). All underwent NAC and oesophago-gastrectomy. Baseline comorbidity, post-operative complication rates and length of stay were similar between all groups. Kaplan Meier survival analysis showed no difference between the intervention and control groups but a significant survival disadvantage in the non-participants (p=0.03). On multivariable analysis mortality hazard ratio was significantly higher in the non-participant group (HR 95%CI3.44; 1.05-11.28). Conclusions Patients who dropped out or declined to participate in the PRE-EMPT study experienced poorer survival compared to both the intervention and control groups. This survival disadvantage is likely to be multifactorial. However, these patients represent an important group, currently inaccessible to prehabilitative programmes, who may have the most to gain from such an intervention.