Improvement In Grip Strength Research Articles

Comparing the effect of rhythmic stabilization and combination of isotonic technique on grip strength, pinch strength and dexterity of hand among middle aged healthy individuals - a randomized clinical trial

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the effects of Rhythmic Stabilization and a combination of isotonic technique on grip strength, pinch strength, and dexterity of hand among middle aged healthy individuals. Methods
 Forty middle aged healthy individuals were selected on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants were randomly allocated to two groups, with 20 in group A (Rhythmic Stabilization) and 20 in group B (Combination of Isotonic Technique). Treatment was given for 4 weeks, thrice a week.
 Outcome measures: grip strength, pinch strength, and dexterity were assessed by the Jamar hand dynamometer, the Pinch gauge, and the Perdue peg board, respectively. Outcome measures were assessed at baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment.
 Results
 Notably, Group A participants showed a significant improvement in all outcome measures compared to Group B (p<0.05) when compared. Both the interventions were effective for dexterity outcome in both groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study provides evidence that application of Rhythmic Stabilization improves grip strength and pinch strength. This suggests that static Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) exercises performed on the fingers can improve dexterity, grip strength, and pinch strength in the middle-aged population.
 Highlights
 As age increases, there is decrease in grip strength and dexterity of a person.
 The grip strength, finger strength and dexterity are inter-related.
 The Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation increases strength of muscles.
 The static PNF exercises are more effective than the dynamic PNF exercises to improve strength of grip strength, finger strength and dexterity.

Glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-Cu2+ rescues cigarette smoking-induced skeletal muscle dysfunction via a sirtuin 1-dependent pathway.

Skeletal muscle dysfunction is an important co-morbidity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is significantly associated with increased mortality. Oxidative stress has been demonstrated an important trigger for COPD-related skeletal muscle dysfunction. Glycine-histidine-lysine (GHK) is an active tripeptide, which is a normal component of human plasma, saliva, and urine; promotes tissue regeneration; and acts as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The purpose of this study was to determine whether GHK is involved in COPD-related skeletal muscle dysfunction. The plasma GHK level in patients with COPD (n=9) and age-paired healthy subjects (n=11) were detected using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The complex GHK with Cu (GHK-Cu) was used in in vitro (C2C12 myotubes) and in vivo experiments (cigarette smoking [CS]-exposure mouse model) to explore the involvement of GHK in CS-induced skeletal muscle dysfunction. Compared with healthy control, plasma GHK levels were decreased in patients with COPD (70.27±38.87ng/mL vs. 133.0±54.54ng/mL, P=0.009). And plasma GHK levels in patients with COPD were associated with pectoralis muscle area (R=0.684, P=0.042), inflammatory factor TNF-α (R=-0.696, P=0.037), and antioxidative stress factor SOD2 (R=0.721, P=0.029). GHK-Cu was found to rescue CSE-induced skeletal muscle dysfunction in C2C12 myotubes, as evidenced by increased expression of myosin heavy chain, reduced expression of MuRF1 and atrogin-1, elevated mitochondrial content, and enhanced resistance to oxidative stress. In CS-induced muscle dysfunction C57BL/6 mice, GHK-Cu treatment (0.2 and 2mg/kg) reduces CS-induced muscle mass loss (skeletal muscle weight (1.19±0.09% vs. 1.29±0.06%, 1.40±0.05%; P<0.05) and muscle cross-sectional area elevated (1055±552.4μm2 vs. 1797±620.9μm2 , 2252±534.0μm2 ; P<0.001), and also rescues CS-induced muscle weakness, indicated by improved grip strength (175.5±36.15g vs. 257.6±37.98g, 339.1±72.22g; P<0.01). Mechanistically, GHK-Cu directly binds and activates SIRT1(the binding energy was -6.1kcal/mol). Through activating SIRT1 deacetylation, GHK-Cu inhibits FoxO3a transcriptional activity to reduce protein degradation, deacetylates Nrf2 and contribute to its action of reducing oxidative stress by generation of anti-oxidant enzymes, increases PGC-1α expression to promote mitochondrial function. Finally, GHK-Cu could protect mice against CS-induced skeletal muscle dysfunction via SIRT1. Plasma glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine level in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was significantly decreased and was significantly associated with skeletal muscle mass. Exogenous administration of glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-Cu2+ could protect against cigarette smoking-induced skeletal muscle dysfunction via sirtuin 1.

Protective effect of hot peppers against amyloid β peptide and brain injury in AlCl3-induced Alzheimer's disease in rats.

This study investigated the therapeutic effect of red hot pepper (Capsicum annuum) methanolic extract in induced Alzheimer's disease using AlCl3 in male rats. Rats were injected with AlCl3 intraperitoneally (IP) daily for two months. Starting from the 2nd month of AlCl3, rats received, in addition, IP treatments with Capsicum extract (25 and 50 mg/kg) or saline. Other groups received only saline or Capsicum extract at 50 mg/kg for two months. Brain levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined. Additionally, paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) activity, interleukin-6 (IL-6), Aβ-peptide, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) concentrations in the brain were measured. Behavioral testing included wire-hanging tests for neuromuscular strength and memory tests such as Y-maze and Morris water maze. Histopathology of the brain was also done. Compared with saline-treated rats, AlCl3 caused significant elevation of brain oxidative stress as GSH level and PON-1 activity were depleted along with MDA and NO level elevation in the brain. There were also significant increases in brain Aβ-peptide, IL-6, and AChE levels. Behavioral testing indicated that AlCl3 decreased neuromuscular strength and impaired memory performance. Capsicum extract given to AlCl3-treated rats significantly alleviated oxidative stress and decreased Aβ-peptide and IL-6 in the brain. It also improved grip strength and memory functioning and prevented neuronal degeneration in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and substantia nigra of AlCl3-treated rats. Short-term administration of ASA (50 mg/kg) has adverse effects on male reproductive function in mice. Co-administration of melatonin protects against ASA-induced impairment of male reproductive function by preventing the reduction in serum TAC and testosterone levels seen with ASA treatment alone.

The Effects of Yoga Exercise on Blood Pressure and Hand Grip Strength in Chronic Stroke Patients: A Pilot Controlled Study.

We investigated the beneficial effect of add-on yoga with rehabilitation on blood pressure (BP) and hand grip strength in patients with chronic stroke (more than 90 days). The study included patients 30-80 years of age who could stand independently for 1 min. Patients with psychiatric diseases or undergoing other therapies (like acupuncture) were excluded. The yoga group received training (1 h session twice weekly) with standard rehabilitation for 8 weeks. The control group received standard rehabilitation only. There were no differences in age, gender, hand grip strength, or BP between the two groups (16 subjects in each group) at baseline. The systolic BP (p = 0.01) decreased significantly, and the diastolic BP also decreased but not significantly in the yoga group (p = 0.11). For hand grip strength, both the unaffected hand (p = 0.00025) and the affected hand (p = 0.027) improved significantly. The control group showed no significant change in systolic or diastolic BP, nor did the grip strength change in both hands. Gender and age also affected the results of overall rehabilitation in that women benefited more from a decrease in BP, while men and young people (lower than the mean age of 60) benefited from hand grip strength improvement. Combining yoga with rehabilitation in chronic stroke patients can improve hand grip strength and decrease systolic BP.

Physiotherapeutic Approaches in Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint Arthritis for Pain, Function, and Grip Strength

Abstract Thumb carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis (CMC OA) is a common condition characterized by chronic progressive degeneration of the joint cartilage. Patients present with complaints of pain at the base of the thumb, morning stiffness, and muscle weakness, all of which impair hand function and thus interfere with activities and social participation. Grip and lateral pinch movements are most affected and have a direct impact on independence, self-care, and leisure activities. This review’s objective is to find physical therapy techniques for patients with thumb CMC OA’ and their effect on pain, function, grip strength, and quality of life. Databases searched were Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect with keywords CMC arthritis, OA, function, and physiotherapy. Articles published in the last 5 years, in the English language, randomized controlled trials, controlled trials, prospective studies, or systemic reviews were included. Duplicate and nonrelevant articles, case reports, and noncontrolled trials were excluded. Thirteen articles were found of which five articles were included. Prefabricated CMC-metacarpophalangeal immobilization splint, proprioceptive exercises, and ischemic compression over myofascial trigger points in the first dorsal interossei, first dorsal interossei strengthening, and a self-management program called OA thumb-based therapy trial has shown an effect on pain, pinch strength, grip strength, and quality of life. Additional treatments can be used along with conservative treatment for better results in reducing pain, improving grip strength, function, and quality of life in patients with CMC joint arthritis. Utilizing these methods can enhance clinical practice interventions in the management of thumb CMC joint arthritis.

COMPARISION OF MULTIDIMENSIONAL HOME-BASED EXERCISE VERSUS RESISTANCE EXERCISE ON GRIP STRENGTH AND HAND FUNCTIONS IN ELDERLY POPULATION

Background of the study: In people aged 20-29 years old, average grip strength is 46 kg for men and 29kg for women. This decrease to 39 kg-23kg by the time when people reach 60 – 69 years of age. Aim &amp; objective of the study is to study the comparative effects of multidimensional home-based exercise Vs resistance exercise to improve grip strength and hand functions in elderly population. Methodology: This experimental study of comparative type (pre and post) with 30 subjects the study was carried out at ACS medical college and hospital OPD for four weeks after the approval from institution of review board (IRB). there are selected for the study after getting consent for participation. the subjects were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria and they assigned into two groups by simple randomized sampling method. The Group A (multidimensional home-based exercise) consists of 15 and the Group B (resistance exercise) consists of 15, the hand-held dynamometer is used as outcome measures. Result: Comparative study between Group A and Group B showed significant difference found in effectiveness in Right, Left hand power with P value &lt;0.0001 on hand grip among elderly people. Conclusion: Comparative study between Group A and Group B showed significant difference found in effectiveness in Right, Left hand power with P value &lt;0.0001 on hand grip among elderly people. Group B found more significant compare with Group A with mean difference of 4.800, 5.34 respectively on right and left hand by resisted exercise on hand grip among elderly people.

Dorsal Scapholunate Ligament Reconstruction by Using Palmaris Longus Tendon Graft in Chronic Static Scapholunate Dissociations: Does It Yield Favorable Radiographic and Functional Results?

Background Scapholunate (SL) instability is the most common dissociative carpal instability, and the most frequent cause of wrist osteoarthritis (OA), termed as scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC). The aim of this study was to present the mid-term clinical and radiographic results of dorsal SL ligament reconstruction by utilizing free palmaris longus tendon graft in patients with symptomatic, chronic, static SL dissociation; while assessing the safety and efficacy of this technique, Materials and Methods In total, 42 patients with a mean age of 44.1 (range 26-53) and mean follow-up duration of 69.4 months (range 60-72) with a diagnosis of chronic, static, and reducible SL instabilities with no chondral damage were enrolled. They all underwent dorsal SL ligament reconstruction with the exam same technique. Results At the last follow-up, patients' mean preoperative SL gap improved from 4.7 (range 4-6) to 2.1 (range 2-3), as did SLA from 84 degrees (range 67-101 degrees) to 66 degrees (range 49-72 degrees)( p <0.001 for both). Preoperative mean VAS (visual analog score), DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand), Mayo wrist scores and SF-36 scores showed significant improvements in the last follow-up visit ( p <0.001, for all). No major complications were acquired in either of the patients. Conclusion Dorsal SL ligament reconstruction by using free PL tendon graft was detected to provide successful restoration of the normal carpal alignment together with SL joint stability. This procedure, by significantly reducing pain and improving grip strength was detected to yield significantly improved clinical and functional outcomes, together with high patient satisfaction indicated by improved health-related quality of life (HRQOL) scores. Level of Evidence IV.

Creatine modulates cellular energy metabolism and protects against cancer cachexia-associated muscle wasting.

Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome defined by progressive loss of body weight with specific depletion of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. Since there are no FDA-approved drugs that are available, nutritional intervention is recommended as a supporting therapy. Creatine supplementation has an ergogenic effect in various types of sports training, but the regulatory effects of creatine supplementation in cancer cachexia remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the impact of creatine supplementation on cachectic weight loss and muscle loss protection in a tumor-bearing cachectic mouse model, and the underlying molecular mechanism of body weight protection was further assessed. We observed decreased serum creatine levels in patients with cancer cachexia, and the creatine content in skeletal muscle was also significantly decreased in cachectic skeletal muscle in the C26 tumor-bearing mouse model. Creatine supplementation protected against cancer cachexia-associated body weight loss and muscle wasting and induced greater improvements in grip strength. Mechanistically, creatine treatment altered the dysfunction and morphological abnormalities of mitochondria, thus protecting against cachectic muscle wasting by inhibiting the abnormal overactivation of the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) and autophagic lysosomal system (ALS). In addition, electron microscopy revealed that creatine supplementation alleviated the observed increase in the percentage of damaged mitochondria in C26 mice, indicating that nutritional intervention with creatine supplementation effectively counteracts mitochondrial dysfunction to mitigate muscle loss in cancer cachexia. These results uncover a previously uncharacterized role for creatine in cachectic muscle wasting by modulating cellular energy metabolism to reduce the level of muscle cell atrophy.

INFLUÊNCIA DA DANÇA DE QUADRILHA NA FUNÇÃO MOTORA DE MULHERES DE MEIA-IDADE E IDOSAS

ABSTRACT Introduction The quality of life of middle-aged and elderly women is affected by the physiological effects of aging on the locomotor system; moderate aerobic exercise is one of the practices that can delay these deleterious effects. Square dancing has functional characteristics of aerobic exercise, but there are still no studies on its effects on motor function in middle-aged and elderly women who practice it regularly. Objective Explore the long-duration square dance exercises’ effect on motor function in middle-aged and elderly women. Methods 45 middle-aged and elderly women, divided into experimental and control groups, participated. The experimental group (n=25) performed square dancing exercises of 90 minutes four times a week for six months. Indicators of physical function, vital capacities, and motor function indices were collected. Results After exercise, improved grip strength of the middle-aged women in the square dance group and the 1-minute sessions was observed; in particular, the mean value of the selection response reduced from 516.20±83.87 before exercise to 440.28±58.07, a very significant difference. Conclusion Long-term square dance exercise has a particular effect on improving the cardiopulmonary function of middle-aged and elderly women and significantly improved motor function. Evidence Level II; Therapeutic Studies - Investigating the result.

The Effect of Resistance Training on the Rehabilitation of Elderly Patients with Sarcopenia: A Meta-Analysis

Resistance training is considered to be an efficient treatment for age-related sarcopenia and can improve muscle strength and quality in patients. However, there are currently no recommendations on resistance training parameters to improve muscle strength and quality in elderly patients with sarcopenia. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and included 13 eligible RCTs. Resistance training significantly improved grip strength, gait speed, and skeletal muscle index in patients with age-related sarcopenia, and kettlebell was found to be the most effective modality. However, it is noteworthy that the elastic band is also a recommended form of resistance training considering that the kettlebell intervention was tested in only one study, while the elastic band was confirmed by multiple studies. Elastic band training (Hedges's g = 0.629, 95%CI = 0.090-1.168, p < 0.05) (40-60 min per session, more than three times per week for at least 12 weeks) was the most efficient training method. Thus, resistance training can significantly improve muscle strength and muscle quality in elderly patients with sarcopenia. In addition, moderate-intensity resistance training using elastic bands may be the best training prescription for elderly patients with sarcopenia.

Capsaicin alleviates cisplatin-induced muscle loss and atrophy in vitro and in vivo.

Cisplatin (CP) is a widely used chemotherapeutic drug with subsequent adverse effects on different organs and tissues including skeletal muscle loss and atrophy as the most common clinical symptoms. The molecular mechanism of cisplatin-induced muscle atrophy is not clearly understood. However, recent significant advances indicate that it is related to an imbalance in both the protein status and apoptosis. Capsaicin (CAP) is one of the major ingredients in chilli peppers. It is a valuable pharmacological agent with several therapeutic applications in controlling pain and inflammation with particular therapeutic potential in muscle atrophy. However, the mechanisms underlying its protective effects against cisplatin-induced muscle loss and atrophy remain largely unknown. This study aims to investigate capsaicin's beneficial effects on cisplatin-induced muscle loss and atrophy in vitro and in vivo. The anti-muscle-atrophic effect of capsaicin on cisplatin-induced muscle loss was investigated using in vivo and in vitro studies. By using the pretreatment model, pretreated capsaicin for 24h and treated with cisplatin for 48h, we utilized a C2 C12 myotube formation model where cell viability analysis, immunofluorescence, and protein expression were measured to investigate the effect of capsaicin in hampering cisplatin-induced muscle atrophy. C57BL/6 mice were administered capsaicin (10, 40mg/kg BW) as a pretreatment for 5weeks and cisplatin (3mg/kg BW) for seven consecutively days to assess muscle atrophy in an animal model for protein and oxidative stress examination, and the grip strength was tested to evaluate the muscle strength. Our study results indicated that cisplatin caused lower cell viability and showed a subset of hallmark signs typically recognized during atrophy, including severe reduction in the myotube diameter, repression of Akt, and mTOR protein expression. However, pretreatment with capsaicin could ameliorate cisplatin-induced muscle atrophy by up-regulating the protein synthesis in skeletal muscle as well as down-regulating the markers of protein degradation. Additionally, capsaicin was able to downregulate the protein expression of apoptosis-related markers, activated TRPV1 and autophagy progress modulation and the recovery of lysosome function. In vivo, capsaicin could relieve oxidative stress and cytokine secretion while modulating autophagy-related lysosome fusion, improvinggrip strength, and alleviating cisplatin-induced body weight loss and gastrocnemius atrophy. These findings suggest that capsaicincan restore cisplatin-induced imbalance between protein synthesis and protein degradation pathways and it may have protective effects against cisplatin-induced muscle atrophy.

Effect of exoskeleton manipulator on hand function rehabilitation for postburn patients

Purpose Patients with scar contracture deformities caused by hand burns were treated with an exoskeleton manipulator system, which was equipped with games to explore its clinical application value. Methods Twenty patients who were treated for post-burn scars of bilateral hands between October 2020 and June 2021 were selected (ChiCTR2000036232). The patients were divided into two groups: control, 10 patients (traditional outpatient treatment); and experimental, 10 patients (exoskeleton manipulator system treatment). We compared the change in the total active motion (TAM) value, grip strength, scar improvement, and postoperative pain improvement. Results After 3 months of rehabilitation training, the improvement of thumb TAM was 33.80 ± 11.38 ° in the experimental group and 23.2 ± 6.13 ° in the control group. With respect to the index finger TAM, the improvement in the experimental and control groups was 84.50 ± 30.96 ° and 54.80 ± 15.89 °, respectively. The middle finger TAM of the experimental and control groups improved by 86.75 ± 32.85 ° and 60.25 ± 17.97 °, respectively. However, improvement of grip strength, scar score, and pain score were similar between the two groups. Conclusions The exoskeleton manipulator system has excellent effects in improving burned hand joint movement, which is suitable for hand burn patients and has beneficial clinical effects. Implications for rehabilitation Exercise is an effective means to improve the hand function of burn patients. The application of mechanical devices in the rehabilitation of burned hands can effectively help patients exercise. The A5 Hand Function Training System is an exoskeleton mechanical device that can exercise the small joints of the hand. It assists patients in using different computer games during treatment.

Resistance exercise and low-level laser therapy improves grip strength and morphological aspects in the ankle joint of Wistar rats with experimental arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease mainly affecting synovial joints. Photobiomodulation through low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and resistance exercise may improve the inflammatory process. Therefore, we analyzed the effects of resistance exercise, LLLT, and the combination of both treatments on hind paw grip strength and ankle joint histomorphometric aspects of Wistar rats subjected to experimental RA. A total of 64 male Wistar rats were divided into eight groups: control, control LLLT, control exercise, control LLLT and exercise, arthritis, arthritis LLLT, arthritis exercise, and arthritis LLLT and exercise groups. The experimental RA was induced by a complete Freund's adjuvant injection into the knee joint cavity. Climbing exercises and LLLT (660 nm; 5J/cm2 per point) were performed as the treatment. In addition, muscle strength was evaluated using the grip strength test, and morphometric evaluations were performed on the ankle joint. Generalized mixed models and multivariate analysis of variance tests were used for statistical analysis. Statistical significance was set at a p-value of .05. Arthritis LLLT, exercise, and LLLT and exercise had positive effects on grip strength between the groups (F[7.56]=5.8, p < .004) and within the groups (F[4.3]=9.9, p < .002) throughout the evaluations. Morphometry revealed degenerative lesions in the ankle joint as subintima with angiogenesis, inflammatory cells, flocculated articular cartilage, chondrocyte disorganization, and pannus in the arthritis group (p < .001). The treated groups exhibited morphological characteristics similar to those of the control group. LLLT and resistance exercise restored muscle strength and morphological aspects of the ankle joint in rats with experimentally induced RA.

Nintendo® Wii Therapy Improves Upper Extremity Motor Function in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

Background: Nintendo® Wii-based therapy (NWT) is a non-immersive virtual reality therapy used to recover upper extremity (UE) motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). We aimed primarily to elucidate the effectiveness of NWT in improving UE motor and functional impaired abilities in children with CP, compared to conventional therapy or no intervention. The secondary aim was to assess if NWT is more effective when used alone or combined with conventional therapy. Methods: A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted from a bibliographic search in PubMed, Scopus, PEDro, Web of Science, and CINHAL, ending in October 2021, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. We included randomized controlled trials that compared NWT vs. conventional therapy or no intervention in terms of their impact on different UE impaired abilities (grip strength, tip grip strength, UE dissociated movements, functional capacity in daily living activities, gross and fine motor dexterity, and grasping ability) in children with CP. Effect size was calculated with standardized mean difference (SMD) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: Nine studies (276 participants) were included. NWT is more effective than conventional therapy at improving grip strength (SMD = 0.5, 95% CI 0.08, 0.91), tip grip strength (SMD = 0.95, 95% CI 0.3, 1.61), and grasping ability (SMD = 0.72, 95%CI 0.14, 1.3). NWT is more effective than conventional therapy at improving functional capacity in daily living activities (SMD = 0.83, 95% CI 0.07, 1.56). For fine manual dexterity, NWT was better than no intervention (SMD = 3.12, 95% CI 1.5, 4.7). Conclusions: Our results indicate that NWT is effective at improving various UE impaired motor skills in children with CP.

Atractylenolide I ameliorates cancer cachexia through inhibiting biogenesis of IL-6 and tumour-derived extracellular vesicles.

Atractylenolide I (AI) is a natural sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz, known as Baizhu in traditional Chinese medicine. AI has been found to ameliorate cancer cachexia in clinic cancer patients and in tumour-bearing mice. Here, we checked the influence of AI on biogenesis of IL-6 and extracellular vesicles (EVs) in cancer cachexia mice and then focused on studying mechanisms of AI in inhibiting the production of tumour-derived EVs, which contribute to the ameliorating effects of AI on cancer cachexia. C26 tumour-bearing BALB/c mice were applied as animal model to examine the effects of AI (25mg/kg) in attenuating cachexia symptoms, serum IL-6 and EVs levels. IL-6 and EVs secretion of C26 tumour cells treated with AI (0.31-5μM) was further observed in vitro. The in vitro cultured C2C12 myotubes and 3T3-L1 mature adipocytes were used to check the potency of conditioned medium of C26 cells treated with AI (0.625-5μM) in inducing muscle atrophy and lipolysis. The glycolysis potency of C26 cells under AI (0.31-5μM) treatment was evaluated by measuring the extracellular acidification rate using Seahorse XFe96 Analyser. Levels of related signal proteins in both in vitro and in vivo experiments were examined using western blotting to study the possible mechanisms. STAT3 overexpression or knockout C26 cells were also used to confirm the effects of AI (5μM). AI ameliorated cancer cachexia symptoms (P<0.05), improved grip strength (P<0.05) and decreased serum EVs (P<0.05) and IL-6 (P<0.05) levels of C26 tumour-bearing mice. AI directly inhibited EVs biogenesis (P<0.001) and IL-6 secretion (P<0.01) of cultured C26 cells. The potency of C26 medium in inducing C2C12 myotube atrophy (+59.54%, P<0.001) and 3T3-L1 adipocyte lipolysis (+20.73%, P<0.05) was significantly attenuated when C26 cells were treated with AI. AI treatment inhibited aerobic glycolysis and the pathway of STAT3/PKM2/SNAP23 in C26 cells. Furthermore, overexpression of STAT3 partly antagonized the effects of AI in suppressing STAT3/PKM2/SNAP23 pathway, EVs secretion, glycolysis and the potency of C26 medium in inducing muscle atrophy and lipolysis, whereas knockout of STAT3 enhanced the inhibitory effect of AI on these values. The inhibition of AI on STAT3/PKM2/SNAP23 pathway was also observed in C26 tumour tissues. AI ameliorates cancer cachexia by decreasing the production of IL-6 and EVs of tumour cells. The decreasing effects of AI on EVs biogenesis are based on its inhibition on STAT3/PKM2/SNAP23 pathway.

Effects of Exercise Therapy and Nutrition Therapy on Patients with Possible Malnutrition and Sarcopenia in a Recovery Rehabilitation Ward.

We compared the effects of an exercise intervention with that of exercise combined with nutrition therapy in patients with possible malnutrition and sarcopenia admitted to a recovery rehabilitation ward, and we examined the differences in the patients' physical function and activities of daily living (ADLs). There were 16 patients in the Exercise group with exercise therapy and ADL exercises, and 14 patients in the Combined intervention group with exercise therapy, ADL exercises, and nutrition therapy. The survey items were body weight, body mass index, grip strength, lower-leg circumference, gait speed, and ADLs, each of which was measured at the baseline and at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and at discharge. Significant improvements in grip strength were observed in the Combined intervention group as follows: at 4 weeks>at 2 weeks (p<0.05), and at discharge>baseline and 2 weeks (p<0.05). There were no significant changes in the Exercise group, and an interaction was recognized in both groups. Comprehensive rehabilitation including nutrition therapy is necessary for patients with possible malnutrition and/or sarcopenia, as our results indicate that nutrition therapy in addition to exercise therapy has the effect of promoting improvements of physical function in such patients.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MYOFASCIAL RELEASE VERSUS KINESIOTAPING IN LATERAL EPICONDYLITIS

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to compare the clinical efficacy of myofascial release (MFR) and kinesiotaping (KT) on pain intensity, grip strength and functional limitation in lateral epicondylitis (LE). Methods: 60 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to two groups: MYF and KIN. In MYF group ([Formula: see text]), the subjects were treated with MFR technique and conventional physiotherapy whereas in KIN group ([Formula: see text]), subjects received KT and conventional physiotherapy. The intervention was given 4 days/week for 4 weeks. Outcome measures included numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), handgrip strength and patient rated tennis elbow evaluation (PRTEE) score. These measures were recorded pre- and post-intervention after 4 weeks. Results: Paired and unpaired [Formula: see text]-test was used for statistical analysis. Both the groups showed statistically significant improvement in the outcomes measures but MYF group had better improvement in functional limitation (PRTEE) ([Formula: see text])) and NPRS ([Formula: see text]) as compared to KIN group. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that MFR is more effective in decreasing pain, functional disability and improving grip strength in LE as compared to KT.

Bilateral Movement-based Computer Games Improve Sensorimotor Functions in Subacute Stroke Survivors.

BackgroundPrevious studies have reported that movement-based computer gaming is more effective than conventional intervention in enhancing upper limb rehabilitation.ObjectiveTo evaluate whether the use of bilateral movement-based computer games could augment the effects of conventional intervention in improving the upper limb motor function, grip strength and health-related quality of life of subacute stroke survivors.MethodsA total of 93 subjects with subacute stroke were randomized into 2 groups receiving one of two 3.5-h interventions for 2 days per week over 8 weeks: (i) “bilateral movement-based computer games + conventional rehabilitation”; and (ii) “video-directed exercise + conventional rehabilitation” (control group).ResultsA total of 83 subjects completed the interventions and follow-up assessments. Compared with video-directed exercise + conventional rehabilitation, bilateral movement-based computer games + conventional rehabilitation produced greater improvements in upper limb motor impairment from mid-treatment to follow-up 1 month post-intervention, greater improvements in upper limb function from post-intervention to 1 month follow-up, and earlier improvements in grip strength (paretic) from mid-intervention to follow-up 1 month post-intervention. Subjects who received bilateral movement-based computer games + conventional rehabilitation also continued to improve in motor function from post-intervention to 1 month post-intervention.ConclusionBilateral movement-based computer games may serve as an adjuvant therapy to conventional rehabilitation programmes for improving upper limb recovery among stroke survivors.LAY ABSTRACTUpper limb sensorimotor impairment is a common and serious post-stroke sequel, affecting up to two-thirds of stroke survivors. Simultaneous bilateral training is a rehabilitative method that requires the use of both paretic and non-paretic sides completing identical tasks at the same time. Previous findings suggested that bilateral upper limb training was superior to unilateral upper limb training in improving upper limb motor impairment. Given that virtual reality-based therapy can be advantageous for engaging and encouraging participation in repetitive rehabilitative training tasks, this study aimed to investigate whether bilateral movement-based computer gaming (BMCG) using custom-made handlebars could better improve the upper limb motor function, grip strength and health-related quality of life of subacute stroke survivors than a conventional rehabilitation programme. After 16 sessions of bilateral BMCG, it was found that subacute stroke survivors had greater improvements in upper limb motor control, functional use of paretic upper limb and health-related quality of life than after a conventional rehabilitation programme. Thus, the combined use of computer gaming and bilateral movement-based training could be an adjunct therapy to conventional physiotherapy and occupational therapy in cognitively intact subacute stroke survivors.

Efficacy of Exercise on Muscle Function and Physical Performance in Older Adults with Sarcopenia: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This study aimed to analyze the efficacy of exercise interventions on muscle strength, muscle mass, and physical performance in older adults with sarcopenia. Randomized controlled studies assessing exercise effects on sarcopenia were searched in Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, ProQuest, EBSCOhost, Scopus, EMBASE, and VIP and CNKI up to 31 March 2022. Data were expressed as weighted/standardized mean difference (MD/SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). I2 index was employed for heterogeneity. The initial search identified 5379 studies, and 23 studies involving 1252 participants met the inclusion criteria for further analysis. Results revealed that exercise interventions can significantly improve grip strength (MD = 2.38, 95%CI = 1.33–3.43), knee extension strength (SMD = 0.50, 95%CI = 0.36–0.64), muscle mass of lower extremities (MD = 0.28, 95%CI = 0.01–0.56), walking speed (SMD = 0.88, 95%CI = 0.49–1.27), and functional mobility (MD = −1.77, 95%CI = −2.11–−1.42) among older adults with sarcopenia. No significant exercise effects were found on fat-free muscle mass, appendicular muscle mass, skeletal muscle mass, and muscle mass of the upper extremities. The results of subgroup analysis indicated that both resistance training and multicomponent exercise could significantly increase the muscle strength, while aerobic exercise did not. The findings suggest that exercise intervention can effectively improve muscle function and physical performance in older adults with sarcopenia, but has limited effects on the muscle mass of the upper extremities. In addition, it is highly recommended to apply group-based and supervised resistance training and multicomponent exercise in the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia among the older population.

Approaches in Improving Hand Function in Cerebral Palsy Via Telerehabilitation: A Review

Context: This study was conducted to evaluate the diversity of approaches for improving hand function through telerehabilitation in CP patients. Google Scholar and PubMed databases were consulted to perform an electronic search. A total of 12 studies were selected and reviewed. Evidence Acquisition: This study was conducted to evaluate the diversity of approaches for improving hand function through telerehabilitation in CP patients. Google Scholar and PubMed databases were consulted to perform an electronic search. A total of 12 studies were selected and reviewed. Results: The data demonstrated the usability of telerehabilitation in children with CP for improving hand functions. Their gross and fine motor functions were significantly improved. Meanwhile, the data reported the perception of the caregivers. Conclusions: The conclusion based on the result of training hand function with telerehabilitation in the CP population showed promising results in improving grip strength, hand dexterity, motor skills, and so on. The secondary outcome was the satisfaction of caregivers.