Motor Agility Research Articles

Association of Muscle Strength, Psychological Factors, and Central Sensitization With Movement-Evoked Pain in Patients With Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain: The BACKFIT Project.

People with chronic pain might evade certain movements to prevent their experience of pain. Movement-evoked pain (MEP) might induce lower functionality during daily activities. (1) MEP after physical fitness tests would vary depending on the main musculature involved in the test; (2) physical and psychological factors would be associated with MEP in patients with NSCLBP. Cross-sectional design. Level 3. A total of 104 (69 women) patients aged 51.0 ± 10.3 years with NSCLBP participated. MEP was measured with a visual analog scale (VAS) at baseline and immediately after performing each physical fitness test, that is, the Biering-Sørensen, prone bridging, handgrip, chair-stand, and 8-foot time-up-and-go tests, measuring back extensor, back flexor, upper- and lower-body muscle strength, and motor agility, respectively. Global muscle strength was calculated with normalized index (z-score) procedure. Depression, anxiety, pain catastrophizing, and central sensitization were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory II, State Trait Anxiety Inventory I, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, and Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), respectively. Patients showed greater pain after completion of the Biering-Sørensen (mean difference 95% CI, 0.02, 1.11), prone bridging (0.15, 1.21), lower pain after handgrip (-1.46, -0.52), and the 8-foot time-up-and-go (-1.43, 0.46) tests (all P ≤ 0.04). Lower global muscular strength (β between -0.18 and -0.30), and greater pain catastrophizing (β = 0.16), and CSI scoring (β between 0.18 and 0.27) were associated with greater MEP (all P ≤ 0.04). Greater MEP was observed after tests measuring core musculature strength than after tests measuring distal (limbs) strength and agility. Greater MEP was overall associated with lower muscle strength, greater pain catastrophizing, and central sensitization. Fitness testing might be implemented as a complementary tool for the monitoring of NSCLBP in clinical settings.

Differences in the indicators of speed and agility of students of the Faculty of physical education of the 3rd year of study in different years of entering the university

Background and purpose. Coordinated movement takes place under the great influence of the CNS and its highest centers, whose numerous functions are still not sufficiently explored. Agility is the ability to maintain body position in a controlled manner with a rapid change of direction during successive movements. The research aim the study was is to determine the speed and changing the direction of movement as well as existing differences between students using the Illinois Agility Test (IAT). 
 Material and method. The research included 114 students divided into 4 groups: I group (2011/12y) =28; II group (2012/13) =30; III group (2015/16) =29; IV group (2016/17) =27., who at the time of measurement corresponded to the 3rd year of study (20-21 years old). The IAT was used to assess motor agility and the averege test results (sec.) and the average movement speed during the test (m/s) were determined.
 Results. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied, which detected statistically significant differences at the multivariate level (Wilks=0.717; F=16312; p<0.002). At the univariate level, there are differences between the IAT results (F=5.827; p<0.001), where the Tukey HSD test confirmed statistically significant result (sec.) differences between the I group of students (Result=16.97sec) with the II group (Result=18.00sec.), with III group (Result=17.71sec.), and with IV group (Result=18.04sec.) for (p<0.05). Using the same methodology, statistically significant intergroup differences in IAT speed (m/s) were recorded (F=6.743; p<0.001), which was confirmed by the Tukey HSD test, only between the I group of students (Speed=3.84m/s) with the II group (Speed=3.61m/s), III group (Speed=3.69m,/s) and for IV group (Speed=3.61m/s) for (p<0.05). 
 Conclusion. Differences between the groups are evident for results (sec.) and speed (m/s) and statistically significant were achieved only between the I group with the II, III and IV group. The best results of the Illinois Agility Test (sec.) and Speed (m/s) were achieved by the students of group I and the weakest students of group IV. Statistically significant differences were not recorded between II, III and IV groups.

The effect of 3D training on developing motor agility and the tapping and croose step shoot skills for basketball players aged (16-18) years

The effect of 3D training on developing motor agility and the tapping and croose step shoot skills for basketball players aged (16-18) years

ESPECIFICIDADE E DIVERSIDADE DAS HABILIDADES ATLÉTICAS ENTRE GINASTAS PROFISSIONAIS

ABSTRACT Introduction Gymnastics sports require athletes to have exceptional physical fitness. Distinct specific training methods, when mastered, can elevate the functional capacity and athletic abilities of professionals. In this way, athletes can better perform their abilities in competition. Objective Analyze the physical training methods of gymnasts. In parallel, this paper analyzes the impact of functional training methods on gymnasts’ physical fitness and competition performance. Methods This paper selects several gymnasts as research objects. The gymnasts were randomly divided into two groups (experimental and control groups). The experimental group used functional training. The control group used traditional training methods. This paper tests and records the athletes’ fitness before and after training. The mathematical statistics method allows the collected data to be analyzed and discussed. Results There was a big difference in the fitness index between the experimental and control groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Functional training helps to improve the physical performance of gymnasts. Functional training programs can effectively enhance the response of the phasic muscles, positively influencing motor agility. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

Effects of a Whole-Body General Movement Intervention on Motor Performance, Agility, and Locomotor Skills of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Results From a Comparison Between Face-to-face and Telehealth-Based Intervention Delivery

Background Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) demonstrate significant motor impairments in visuomotor and body coordination, agility, and strength. Around 87% of children with ASD are at risk for motor impairments. However, only about 31% of these children receive rehabilitation services to address their motor needs. Objective Our randomized clinical trial assessed the effects of a general movement (GM) intervention compared to a standard-of-care seated play (SP) intervention delivered to children via face-to-face (F2F) and telehealth (TH)–based modes of intervention delivery on motor performance, agility, and locomotor skills in children with ASD. Methods Thirty 5- to 14-year-old children were matched on age, gender, and level of functioning and randomly assigned to the GM or SP groups. Children participated in the study for 10 weeks with pretests and posttests conducted during the first and last weeks and training in the interim 8 weeks with 2 sessions conducted per week. The strength and running speed and agility subtests of Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2) and the locomotor subtest of the Test of Gross-motor development (TGMD) were administered at pretest and posttest. In addition, in the GM group, task-specific games involving locomotor skills were assessed during early and late training sessions for changes in movement form or accuracy and the amount of prompting required to complete the actions. Results We found significant improvements in standard scores of the TGMD from pretest to posttest in the GM group (pretest mean 6.1, SE 1.0; posttest mean 8.1, SE 0.9; P<.001) but not the SP group. Within the GM group, there were no significant differences in the rates of improvement for children seen F2F versus via TH (F2F mean 1.8, SE 0.8; TH mean 2.0, SE 1.7; P=.87). On the BOT-2, the GM (pretest mean 36.1, SE 2.6; posttest mean 40.9, SE 3.1; P<.001) but not SP group showed improvements in standard scores on the strength and agility composite. Similar to the trends reported above, there were no differences in the magnitude of improvement for children seen F2F versus via TH (F2F mean 3.7, SD 1.3; TH mean 5.6, SD 1.5; P=.37). On the training-specific test of locomotor skills, children in the GM group improved their movement accuracy (pretest mean 74.4, SE 6.2; posttest mean 86.5, SE 4.7; P<.001) and reduced prompting (pretest mean 22.5, SE 3.5; posttest mean 16.9, SE 4.2; P=.02) required to complete the movements. Both children seen F2F as well as via TH showed similar trends, with no significant differences between the intervention delivery modes. Conclusions Our data suggest that TH is an effective mode of delivery of gross motor interventions and can be used to promote agility and motor coordination in children with ASD. Conflicts of Interest None declared.

Can Gross Motor Skills Be Trained Through Telehealth-Based Training? Insights From a Randomized Controlled Trial of Creative Movement and Play-Based Interventions in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Background The motor trajectories of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often compromised, leading to difficulties in gross motor performance and locomotor skills by late childhood. Our past work has suggested that whole-body movement interventions using rhythmic contexts can facilitate gross motor skills in children with ASD. Objective This study compares the effects of whole-body movement interventions delivered face-to-face (F2F) versus via telehealth (TH) and compares these effects to those of a standard-of-care, seated play (SP) intervention on the gross motor performance of children with ASD. Methods A total of 45 children with ASD aged between 5 and 14 years were seen for 10 weeks, with pretests and posttests conducted during the first and 10th weeks. Children were matched based on age, gender, and level of functioning and then randomly assigned to the general movement (GM), creative movement (CM), or SP groups. An equal number of children in each group received the training via F2F and TH modes. Training was provided in 2 sessions per week for 8 weeks, with sessions lasting from 1 to 1.15 hours. The CM and GM groups received whole-body movement training, whereas the SP group engaged in tabletop activities. The gross and fine motor subtests (fine motor precision, fine motor integration, balance, bilateral coordination, running speed and agility, and strength) of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency were administered at pre- and posttest. We reported standard scores on body coordination, strength and agility, and fine manual control composites. Results The CM and GM groups showed significant improvements on the body coordination composite (CM group’s scores—pretest: mean 35.3, SE 2.1; posttest: mean 40.5, SE 2.7; P<.005; GM group’s scores—pretest: mean 38.1, SE 3.2; posttest: mean 44.7, SE 3.3; P<.005). The GM group’s scores (pretest: mean 36.1, SE 2.6; posttest: mean 40.9, SE 3.1; P<.001) also improved on the strength and agility composite, and a trend for similar improvements was observed in the CM group’s scores (pretest: mean 32.5, SE 2.4; posttest: mean 34.5, SE 2.7; P=.09). The SP group did not show any improvements on the gross motor composites. The SP group’s scores instead showed significant improvements on the fine manual control composite (pretest: mean 36.4, SE 2.3; posttest: mean 41.6, SE 2.5; P<.005). Fine motor skills remained unchanged in the CM and GM groups. In each of the 3 groups, there were no significant differences in the amount of improvements (posttest − pretest) observed for children seen F2F versus via TH for the body coordination (CM group—F2F: mean 4.1, SE 2.6; TH: mean 5.4, SE 1.6; P=.70; GM group—F2F: mean 6.5, SE 2.7; TH: mean 5.6, SE 2.5; P=.80), strength and agility (CM group—F2F: mean 1.3, SE 1.4; TH: mean 2, SE 1.1; P=.70; GM group—F2F: mean 3.7, SE 1.3; TH: mean 5.6, SE 1.5; P=.40), and fine manual control composite standard scores (SP group—F2F: mean 2.2, SE 2.8; TH: mean 1.9, SE 1.2; P=.80). Conclusions The findings of our pilot study emphasize the importance of training gross and fine motor skills in children with ASD and suggest that virtual modes of intervention delivery can be used by movement clinicians to train these skills. Conflicts of Interest None declared.

Investigation of the effects of physical education activities on motor skills and quality of life in children with intellectual disability

Aim: This study was carried out in order to examine whether there is a difference between the quality of life and motor skills of children with intellectual disability who participate in physical education activities and those who do not participate. Method: This study was conducted with a total of 34 children with 16 children in the control group (8 girls, 8 boys) and 18 children in the experimental group (11 boys, 7 girls) using a pre-test, post-test and control group experimental design. A 14-week "Physical Education Activities Program" was applied to the children in the experimental group. Children in the control group did not participate in physical education activities. The Bruininks Oseretsky test of motor proficiency second edition brief form 2010 to measure the motor performance and “Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL)” developed by Varni et al. in 1999 were used for children with intellectual disability. Findings: When the motor skill tests of the children with intellectual disability in the experimental group were evaluated, significant improvements were found in fine motor precision, fine motor integration, manual dexterity, bilateral coordination, balance, speed and agility, upper limb coordination, strength tests and all dimension scores for quality of life compared to the pre-test (p < 0.05). In the control group, a statistically significant improvement was observed in the quality of life Physical Functioning score and fine motor integration, bilateral coordination, and upper limb coordination tests (p < 0.05). More significant improvement was observed in motor skills and quality of life in children with intellectual disability who participated in the 14-week physical education program compared to the control group. Conclusion: Physical education activities contributed positively to improving the motor skills and quality of life of children with intellectual disability.

Structural Validity of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency – Second Edition (BOT-2) Subscales and Composite Scales

ABSTRACTThe Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency – Second Edition (BOT-2) is a commonly used assessment of children’s skills. It is important that assessments have validity evidence reported about them. The objective of the study was to investigate the structural validity of the BOT-2’s eight subscales and four composite scales. A sample of 117 healthy children (65 males and 52 females; M = 10 years, 2 months, SD = 1 year, 4 months) completed the BOT-2. The Rasch Measurement Model was used to assess the dimensionality, hierarchical ordering, differential item functioning (DIF), and reliability of the eight BOT-2 subscales and four composite scales. The Fine Motor Precision (FMP), Manual Dexterity (MD), Running Speed & Agility (RSA), Upper Limb Coordination (ULC), and Strength (S) subscales exhibited reasonable dimensionality while the Fine Motor Integration (FMI), Bilateral Coordination (BC), and Balance (B) subscales did not. The Motor Coordination Composite (MCC) and Strength & Agility Composite (SAC) composite scales demonstrated good dimensionality while the Fine Motor Manual Control Composite (FMMCC) and Body Coordination (BCC) scales did not. The FMP, MD, BC, and RSA subscales and SAC composite scales did not exhibit adequate hierarchical ordering. The FMI, B, RSA, and ULC subscales and the MCC and BCC composite scales exhibited DIF based on gender. The eight subscales and four composite scales all had excellent item reliability with all coefficients being >.95. A number of the BOT-2 subscales and composite scales appear problematic with two or more issues in relation to dimensionality, hierarchical ordering, DIF and/or reliability: FMI, BC, B, RSA, and BCC. Therefore, only some of the BOT-2 subscales and composite scales can be used with confidence.

Enhanced SAIL Program: Evaluation of an Evidence-based Fall Prevention Program for Community Dwelling Elders

Aims: Evaluate the effectiveness of an enhanced version of the SAIL program on occupational performance, falls efficacy, motor agility and dynamic balance in community dwelling older adults.Methods: A one-group pre-post design was implemented for older adults living in the surrounding community, and took place in the setting of a community rehabilitation hospital. Outcome measures used were: Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM); Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I); 8-Foot Up-and-Go; Biceps Curl Test; Chair Stand Test.Results: Five of eight participants reported a clinically significant change using the COPM; Six of eight program participants reported an improvement in the FES-I. All participants showed improvement in the 8 Foot Up-and-Go and Chair Stand tests; and one participant showed improvement in the number of biceps curls.Conclusions: The Enhanced SAIL positively impacted: lower extremity strength and overall agility, perceived occupational performance, and fall self-efficacy.

The Effect of Using Competitive Exercise in Motor Fitness and Speed of Transition for Football Players (Junior Class)

The aim of the research was to identify the effect of competitive exercises in the special numbers stage on physical abilities such as motor agility and the transition speed of the emerging football players. The study assumed that there is a positive effect of competitive exercises on the research variables. The research was carried out on a sample of young players of the Ramadi football club for the 2018 sports season. The researchers used the experimental method for two equal groups.

Application of Luria Approach to Management of Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Autistic persons show considerable difficulties in the ability of self-control including attention, motor reactions, resistance to distractions and delay of gratification, which are presently labelled as executive functions. The present paper describes dynamics of developmental changes in executive functions of 25 autistic children, patients of Specialised Clinic of Diagnosis and Rehabilitation in Lublin, Poland, during their early and late childhood. In accordance with Luria original approach the assessment of disorders observed was closely connected with therapeutic procedure. It made possible getting deeper insight into the difficulties encountered by the children and refinement of the course of therapy at the same time. Significant progressive changes in the development of executive functions were observed in the examined children. A significant correlation among an ability to control one’s own reactions and cognitive functions, communication, and an ability to imitate others as well as general motor agility was stated. It allows the conclusion that autistic children are able to acquire an ability to change their former behaviours. They are, therefore, capable of understanding that a previous rule may be exchanged for the other, and they are also able to refrain from awaiting an immediate gratification.&#x0D; Keywords: Autism, executive functions, diagnosis, therapy, Luria approach

The Effect of 12 Weeks of Ski Training on Some Biometric Features of Girls

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of skiing on the biomotoric characteristics of children with evaluating tests of girls between the ages of eight and 14 before and after the season. The experimental group of this study was 15 girls who had just started skiing and the control group of 30 girls. In total, 45 volunteers joined the study. To follow the development of the children in the study, the Bruininks biomotoric-Oseretsky proficiency testing of engines, Second Edition Short Form (BOT 2 brief) test: Fine Motor Precision, Fine Motor Integration, Manual Dexterity, Bilateral Coordination, Balance, Running Speed and Agility, Upper-Limb Coordination, and Strength was used and total scores were measured. All measurements observed changes in the first test by applying the latest testing methods. The Windows SPSS 17.0 statistical package program was used to analyze the data with Independent-Sample t-test to find the differences between the groups. Statistically meaningful levels resulted as p&lt; 0.05 and p&lt; 0.001. No meaningful differences were found in the comparison of the motoric features of the girls who ski and those who do not in their pre-test. A meaningful difference was found in fine motor skills, fine motor accord and total score after ski training. Ski training contributed to the fine motor skills, fine motor accord and total score of the girls.

A Common Function of Basal Ganglia-Cortical Circuits Subserving Speed in Both Motor and Cognitive Domains.

Distinct regions of the frontal cortex connect with their basal ganglia and thalamic counterparts, constituting largely segregated basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical (BTC) circuits. However, any common role of the BTC circuits in different behavioral domains remains unclear. Indeed, whether dysfunctional motor and cognitive BTC circuits are responsible for motor slowing and cognitive slowing, respectively, in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a matter of debate. Here, we used an effortful behavioral paradigm in which the effects of task rate on accuracy were tested in movement, imagery, and calculation tasks in humans. Using nonlinear fitting, we separated baseline accuracy (Abase) and “agility” (ability to function quickly) components of performance in healthy participants and then confirmed reduced agility and preserved Abase for the three tasks in PD. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tractography, we explored the neural substrates underlying speeded performance of the three tasks in healthy participants, suggesting the involvement of distinct BTC circuits in cognitive and motor agility. Language and motor BTC circuits were specifically active during speeded performance of the calculation and movement tasks, respectively, whereas premotor BTC circuits revealed activity for speeded performance of all tasks. Finally, PD showed reduced task rate-correlated activity in the language BTC circuits for speeded calculation, in the premotor BTC circuit for speeded imagery, and in the motor BTC circuits for speeded movement, as compared with controls. The present study casts light on the anatomo-functional organization of the BTC circuits and their parallel roles in invigorating movement and cognition through a function of dopamine.

La percusión corporal como instrumento para mejorar la agilidad motriz

Este trabajo tiene como objetivo proponer la disciplina artística, conocida por el nombre de percusión corporal, como herramienta para mejorar la coordinación de los alumnos en tareas que requieren un cierto grado de agilidad motriz en las sesiones de Educación Física.&lt;br /&gt;Esta investigación se fundamenta en un estudio correlacional apoyado por otro exploratorio descriptivo. Se utiliza una metodología empírico-analítica basada en un estudio transversal y ex-post-facto con el objetivo de determinar la relación existente (o inexistente) entre dos variables, agilidad motriz y percusión corporal. Participaron en la investigación 88 alumnos&lt;br /&gt;de 5º curso de educación primaria y se cuenta con la colaboración de expertos en la materia: once profesionales de la educación que están relacionados con el mundo de la percusión corporal, dos de ellos formadores de body-percusión y un bailarín profesional formado en percusión corporal en la Rudra Béjart School-Lausanne que aportan el análisis más cualitativo de la investigación. Los resultados afirman la correlación entre las dos variables cuantitativas, siendo estas reforzadas&lt;br /&gt;por los expertos.

Coordination Abilities of Athletes: Basics of Manifestation, Evaluation and Elucidation: A Review

The coordination abilities (CA) of athletes largely determine how well they acquire and refine technical skills and serve as background for sport-specific techno-tactical mastery. Descriptions of CA contain many equivocal and incomplete statements. This paper is intended to review basic positions, evidence from scientific studies and advanced practice focusing on principal aspects of the manifestation, evaluation and elucidation of coordination prerequisites for athletic mastery. The current widely accepted classification of basic CA embraces kinesthetic differentiation, rhythmic ability, spatial orientation, complex motor reaction, and agility and balance ability. Available research findings make it possible to characterize efficient manifestation of CA and training outcomes of programs to intentionally stimulate various CA.As a rule the CA level of qualified athletes is significantly higher compared to non-athletic subjects. Furthermore, systematic athletic training leads to a remarkable increase in coordinative competence as well as enhanced sport-specific technical skills. Correspondingly, more qualified athletes demonstrate higher levels of CA than their less competent counterparts.Training strategies to implement coordination programs may emphasize three basic versions: (1) complex stimulation of many CA, (2) selective accentuated training for the improvement of certain sport-specific CA, and (3) prospective planning of coordination training as part of specialized multiyear preparation. Ages 8 to 10 years have been singled out as the most favorable time span for the development of coordinative prerequisites. The subsequent period of puberty is characterized by a growth spurt which has a detrimental impact on CA development. At that time pronounced coordination training is required to compensate for this negative effect. Further preparation of more mature and qualified athletes should also include sufficient volumes of coordination training to support techno-tactical mastery and to prevent injuries.

특수학교에 재학 중인 지적장애학생들의 The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2

Gross motor and fine motor problem are associated with negative consequence, such as avoidance of physical activities and sports skill, obesity, lack of concentration, low self-esteem, poor academic performance, and poor social competence. Decisions about planning and implementation of appropriate intervention programs are based on accurate assessment methods and screening tests. The purpose of this study was to examine the gross motor and fine motor abilities of students with intellectual disabilities. The total of 117 students with intellectual disabilities who between the ages of 7 and 25 years old(m:78, f: 38), were attending special education schools in South Korea, participated in the study. Gross and Fine motor abilities were assessed using the Bruininks-Oseretsky test of motor proficiency 2nd(BOTMP-2)which includes subtest in fine motor precision(41-point), fine motor integration (60-point), manual dexterity(45-point), bilateral coordination(24-point), balance( 37-point), running speed and agility(52-point), upper-limb coordination(39-point), strength(42-point). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA with 95% confidence intervals, and the level of significance set at p ＜ .05. The results showed that the older students had significantly better scores on BOTMP-2 and subtest. In achievement rate showed that fine motor was 62.9%, upper-limb coordination 55.6%, bilateral coordination 53.3%, fine motor integration 53%, balance 50.8%, running speed and agility 40%, manual dexterity 38.2% strength 37.3%. There were not significance difference that according to sex on BOTMP-2 and subtest, but difference according to age. Demonstrated mastery of performance criteria for the subtest of BOTMP-2 showed that the most weak score in manual dexterity of fine motor items, and strength of gross motor.

16p11.2 deletion and duplication: Characterizing neurologic phenotypes in a large clinically ascertained cohort.

Chromosome 16p11.2 deletions and duplications are among the most frequent genetic etiologies of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders, but detailed descriptions of their neurologic phenotypes have not yet been completed. We utilized standardized examination and history methods to characterize a neurologic phenotype in 136 carriers of 16p11.2 deletion and 110 carriers of 16p11.2 duplication-the largest cohort to date of uniformly and comprehensively characterized individuals with the same 16p copy number variants (CNVs). The 16p11.2 deletion neurologic phenotype is characterized by highly prevalent speech articulation abnormalities, limb and trunk hypotonia with hyporeflexia, abnormalities of agility, sacral dimples, seizures/epilepsy, large head size/macrocephaly, and Chiari I/cerebellar tonsillar ectopia. Speech articulation abnormalities, hypotonia, abnormal agility, sacral dimples, and seizures/epilepsy are also seen in duplication carriers, along with more prominent hyperreflexia; less, though still prevalent, hyporeflexia; highly prevalent action tremor; small head size/microcephaly; and cerebral white matter/corpus callosum abnormalities and ventricular enlargement. The neurologic phenotypes of these reciprocal 16p11.2 CNVs include both shared and distinct features. Reciprocal phenotypic characteristics of predominant hypo- versus hyperreflexia and macro- versus microcephaly may reflect opposite neurobiological abnormalities with converging effects causing the functional impairments shared between 16p11.2 deletion and duplication carriers (i.e., abnormal motor agility and articulation). While the phenotypes exhibit overlap with other genetically-caused neurodevelopmental disorders, clinicians should be aware of the more striking features-such as the speech and motor impairments, growth abnormalities, tremor, and sacral dimples-when evaluating individuals with developmental delay, intellectual disability, ASD, and/or language disorders. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Association of physical fitness and fatness with cognitive function in women with fibromyalgia

ABSTRACTThis study assessed the association of fitness and fatness with cognitive function in women with fibromyalgia, and the independent influence of their single components on cognitive tasks. A total of 468 women with fibromyalgia were included. Speed of information processing and working memory (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task), as well as immediate and delayed recall, verbal learning and delayed recognition (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test) were assessed. Aerobic fitness, muscle strength, flexibility and motor agility were assessed with the Senior Fitness Test battery. Body mass index, percent body fat, fat-mass index and waist circumference were measured. Aerobic fitness was associated with attention and working memory (all, p < 0.05). All fitness components were generally associated with delayed recall, verbal learning and delayed recognition (all, p < 0.05). Aerobic fitness showed the most powerful association with attention, working memory, delayed recall and verbal learning, while motor agility was the most powerful indicator of delayed recognition. None of the fatness parameters were associated with any of the outcomes (all, p > 0.05). Our results suggest that fitness, but not fatness, is associated with cognitive function in women with fibromyalgia. Aerobic fitness appears to be the most powerful fitness component regarding the cognitive tasks evaluated.

Association of Physical Fitness with Depression in Women with Fibromyalgia.

The aim of this study was to examine the association between physical fitness and depressive symptoms in women with fibromyalgia (FM). We also assessed whether different fitness components present independent relationships with depressive symptoms. Cross-sectional study. University facilities and FM associations. Four hundred and forty-four patients with FM according to the 1990 American College of Rheumatology criteria. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). Physical fitness (aerobic fitness, muscle strength, flexibility, and motor agility) was assessed using the standardized Senior Fitness Test battery and the handgrip strength test. A standardized composite score for fitness was computed and divided into quintiles. Overall, the fitness tests presented inverse associations with the total BDI-II score (P < 0.05). The patients in the highest fitness quintile had 8.4% lower depressive symptoms than the patients in the lowest fitness quintile (P = 0.014). The odds of severe symptoms of depression were between 3.7% and 16.9% lower for each performance unit in the back-scratch, handgrip, arm-curl, and eight-feet up-and-go tests. When all the fitness tests were simultaneously considered, the back-scratch test was the only one independently associated with the total BDI-II score (P = 0.001; R(2) = 0.023). Although higher physical fitness was generally associated with lower symptoms of depression in women with FM, the observed associations were somewhat weak and inconsistent, differing from those previously observed in healthy adults. Further research to determine the clinical relevance of the association between physical fitness and depression in FM is warranted.

Association of Physical Fitness With Pain in Women With Fibromyalgia: The al-Ándalus Project.

This population-based cross-sectional study aimed to characterize the association of different components of physical fitness with pain levels, pain-related catastrophizing, and chronic pain self-efficacy in women with fibromyalgia (FM). A total of 468 women with FM participated. The experience of pain was assessed with different tools (algometry, a numeric rating scale [revised FM impact questionnaire], a visual analog scale, and the bodily pain subscale on the Short Form 36 health survey). We also assessed pain-related catastrophizing and chronic pain self-efficacy. Physical fitness was assessed with performance-based tests (Senior Fitness Test battery and handgrip dynamometry). A standardized composite score was computed for each component of physical fitness (aerobic fitness, muscle strength, flexibility, and motor agility), and their average comprised a clustered global fitness profile. Overall, higher physical fitness was consistently associated with lower levels of pain, lower pain-related catastrophizing, and higher chronic pain self-efficacy (regardless of the pain assessment method and the fitness test evaluated). Muscle strength and flexibility were independently associated with pain (P < 0.005 for both), and participants with high muscle strength plus high flexibility (combined effect) had the lowest levels of pain in this population. Aerobic fitness and flexibility were independently associated with pain-related catastrophizing (P < 0.001 for both) and chronic pain self-efficacy (P < 0.001 for both), and participants with high flexibility plus high aerobic fitness (combined effect) had the best catastrophizing and self-efficacy profiles. Our results suggest that higher physical fitness is associated with lower levels of pain, lower pain-related catastrophizing, and higher chronic pain self-efficacy in women with FM. These results might have implications for future intervention studies in this population.