Physical Program Research Articles

Effects of 10 Weeks of Walking With Mobile Step-Tracking Apps on Body Composition, Fitness, and Psychological State in Adolescents Who Are Overweight and Obese: Randomized Controlled Trial.

In recent decades, physical activity intervention programs have been developed to reduce overweight and obesity in adolescents. However, this population is considered hard to reach in physical activity programs due to lack of adherence and poor results. Interventions with mobile phones in the adolescent population with normal weight have shown benefits, so this line of research may provide benefits in adolescents with overweight or obesity, although it has not yet been explored in the scientific literature. This study aims to determine the changes produced by a 10-week intervention promoted during school lessons on physical education using step tracker mobile apps in out-of-school hours on physical activity, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, body composition, and the physical condition of adolescents who are overweight and obese, and to analyze the changes achieved by the 10-week intervention on the psychological state of adolescents who are overweight and obese. The study was based on a randomized controlled trial with an initial sample of 50 adolescents aged between 12 and 16 years (from the first to the fourth years of compulsory secondary education), whose body composition, physical activity level, physical condition, and psychological state were measured. Participants were divided into an experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG), where the EG performed a series of walking steps with a mobile app in their free time outside physical education classes. Adolescents in the CG continued to perform their physical activities as normal but did not use any mobile apps. Inclusion in the EG and CG was randomized, and the researchers were blinded. An increase was found in the EG in corrected arm girth (mean difference -0.46; P=.05), curl-up repetitions (mean difference -6.35; P=.02) and push-up repetitions (mean difference -2.27; P=.04) after the intervention. In the CG, there was a significant increase in hip girth (mean difference -1.37; P=.05), corrected thigh girth (mean difference -1.28; P=.04), and muscle mass (mean difference -0.87; P=.04), as well as a significant decrease in competence (mean difference 3.08; P=.03). The covariates gender and age showed an effect on corrected arm girth (gender: P=.04), curl-up repetitions (gender: P=.04) and push-up repetitions (gender: P=.04) in the EG; while in the CG it affected corrected thigh girth (gender: P=.04), adherence to the Mediterranean diet (gender: P=.04 and age: P=.047) competence (gender: P=.04 and age: P=.04) and relatedness (gender: P=.05 and age: P=.04). No significant differences were found when comparing changes in the CG and EG. A 10-week program of mobile app use by adolescents who are overweight and obese for physical activity outside of school hours does not appear effective in producing improvements in body composition, physical fitness, or adequate psychological state as it does not appear to significantly increase physical activity. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06089876; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT06089876.

Effectiveness of Physical Exercise Program on Reducing Blood Pressure in Hypertension Patients

Hypertension is a chronic disease, called the silent killer. WHO data shows that the number of people with hypertension continues to increase. In Riau Province, the prevalence of hypertension increased from 20.9% (2013) to 29.1% (2018). Hypertension will cause various complications such as encephalopathy, heart disease, hemorrhagic stroke, kidney failure, heart failure, and others. Action needs to be taken to reduce the increasing number of hypertension cases. Objective: This study examines the effectiveness of a physical exercise program in reducing blood pressure in hypertension patients at the Pangkalan Kuras II Health Center. Method: It used a pre-test and post-test experimental design involving 101 hypertensive patients, primarily aged 46-64 years (85.1%) and mostly female (86.14%). The program included walking three times a week and exercising twice a week for three weeks. Blood pressure was measured using a manual device. The majority of participants had grade II hypertension. Result: The Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test showed significant reductions in both systolic (4.72 mmHg) and diastolic (3.13 mmHg) blood pressure, with a p-value of 0.000. Conclusions: This numbers indicates that regular physical exercise, such as walking and exercise, effectively lowers blood pressure in hypertensive patients.

Association of changes in the number of teeth on psychological distress among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan.

Aging populations worldwide face a substantial burden of psychological distress that affects their quality of life and overall health. Oral health is associated with psychological distress; however, the effect of changes in the number of teeth on psychological distress remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the association of changes in the number of teeth with the development of psychological distress among community-dwelling older adults in Taipei City. From 2005 to 2013, 62,119 community-dwelling individuals aged 65 years and older participated in the physical examination program in Taipei. We collected data on the number of teeth during each examination. Psychological distress was defined as a score of ≥6 on the Brief Symptoms Rating Scale. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) model was used to examine the longitudinal relationship between changes in the number of teeth and the development of psychological distress. The participants lost an average of 6.6 teeth during the follow-up, with 9.9% of oral examination records showing the loss of ≥5 teeth compared with the previous examination. After GEE analysis with adjustment for multiple covariates, participants were at higher risk of developing psychological distress if they lost 1-4 teeth, 5-9 teeth, or ≥10 teeth compared to that at their previous oral examination. Subgroup analysis revealed that participants with ≥20 teeth at baseline and those who used dentures to compensate for the tooth loss had a lower risk of developing psychological distress than those who experienced tooth loss and did not use dentures. A rapid decrease in the number of teeth is associated with an increased risk of psychological distress in older adults. Regular dental checkups, nutritional counseling, and the use of dentures are critical in mitigating the adverse psychological effects of the tooth loss.

Comparisons between chest trunk mobilization with sustained maximum inspiration and flow incentive spirometry on chest expansion, respiratory muscle strength, and functional exercise capacity in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery

IntroductionChest trunk mobilization with sustained maximum inspiration (SMI) and flow incentive spirometry (flow IS) are breathing techniques that mostly apply to patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of chest trunk mobilization with SMI and flow IS on chest expansion, respiratory muscle strength, and functional exercise capacity in patients undergoing VATS.MethodsSixty VATS patients were randomly allocated into chest trunk mobilization with SMI (<i>n</i> = 30) and flow IS (<i>n</i> = 30) groups. Each group performed a physical therapy program preoperatively and 4 days post-operatively. Chest expansion at upper, middle, and lower levels, inspiratory and expiratory muscle strengths, and functional exercise capacity were determined at pre- and post-VATS.ResultsIn both groups, chest expansion at all levels, expiratory muscle strength, and distance of the 6MWT significantly increased (<i>p</i> < 0.05) post-operatively compared to pre-operative assessments, although there was no significant difference between groups. In addition, inspiratory muscle strength significantly improved from baseline in both groups (<i>p</i> < 0.05), but the flow IS group showed a greater increase than the chest trunk mobilization with the SMI group (78.17 ± 24.16 and 65.57 ± 20.39 cmH2O, respectively, <i>p</i> < 0.05).ConclusionsChest trunk mobilization with SMI and flow IS can improve chest expansion at all levels, as well as respiratory muscle strength and the distance of the 6MWT. However, flow IS enhances inspiratory muscle strength to a greater extent than chest trunk mobilization with SMI. Ultimately, both techniques can be applied effectively in patients undergoing VATS.

CONUS+ Experiment

The CONUS+ experiment aims to detect coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEνNS) of reactor antineutrinos on germanium nuclei in the fully coherent regime, continuing on this way the CONUS physics program started at the Brokdorf nuclear power plant, Germany. The CONUS+ setup is installed in the nuclear power plant in Leibstadt, Switzerland, at a distance of 20.7 m from the 3.6 GW thermal power reactor core. The CEνNS signature will be measured with the same four point-contact high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors produced for the former experiment, however refurbished and with optimized low energy thresholds of about 160 eVee. To suppress the background in the CONUS+ detectors, the passive and active layers of the original CONUS shield were modified such to fit better to the significantly changed background conditions at the new experimental location. New data acquisition and monitoring systems were developed. A direct network connection between the experiment and the Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik (MPIK) makes it possible to control and monitor data acquisition in real time. The impact of all these modifications is discussed with particular emphasis on the resulting CEνNS signal prediction for the first data collection phase of CONUS+. Prospects of the planned upgrade in a second phase integrating new larger HPGe detectors are also discussed.

The Impact of Functional Training on Balance and Vestibular Function: A Narrative Review

Objectives: The objective of this narrative review was to examine the available literature regarding the increasingly popular method of exercise commonly referred to as “Functional Training” and its potential implications on vestibular and balance function. Methods: a narrative review of the experimental literature prior to September 2024 was conducted. To be included in this review, the selected investigations need to include some aspect of vestibular function, balance function, functional training, and/or functional movement and be conducted in humans. Results: Evidence emerged to support the claim that implementing a physical fitness training program may improve vestibular and balance function but that a functional training program or a physical fitness program designed to improve functional movements may improve vestibular and balance function to a greater extent. Additionally, these results may be altered by factors such as age and sex. Furthermore, while there is a multitude of literature regarding the impact of functional training on balance, few investigations combine these data with direct assessments of vestibular function. Conclusions: Functional training may aid in improving vestibular and balance function, along with scores on common tests such as the Y balance test. However, more research is necessary to elucidate the direct mechanisms by which functional training may impact vestibular and balance function.

Effects of general magnetic field therapy in comprehensive medical rehabilitation on the quality of life of patients with breast cancer

BACKGROUND: The Short Form-36 (SF-36) is one of the most widely used tools to assess quality of life in breast cancer patients. According to MEDLINE, the SF-36 is used in 95.0% of research studies to assess the quality of life in various diseases. Advantages of SF-36 include wide availability, ease of use, and high validity. AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of general magnetic field therapy in comprehensive medical rehabilitation on the quality of life parameters using a SF-36 questionnaire in breast cancer patients at 2–4 days and 1.0–1.5 months after surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted in patients (n=107) after surgery for breast cancer. All patients were divided into three groups balanced by age and clinical and functional parameters, and received a course of medical rehabilitation which included individual postoperative sessions of exercise therapy (posture treatment; movement therapy with breathing, general stimulating, special, and relaxation exercises; sensorimotor training using a biofeedback simulator; individual sessions with a medical psychologist; one session of instrumental physiotherapy). Comprehensive medical rehabilitation included fluctuating current therapy in group 1 (n=35), local magnetic field therapy in group 2 (n=35), and general magnetic field therapy in group 3 (n=37). RESULTS: Analysis of quality of life parameters in the early postoperative period demonstrated effectiveness of the comprehensive physical rehabilitation program using exercise therapy, balance boards, and sessions with a psychologist in combination with one of the physical treatment options. Positive results increase patients’ confidence in the success of their rehabilitation. After providing the general magnetic field therapy in comprehensive medical rehabilitation, most of the SF-36 quality of life parameters improved, which indicates the beneficial effects of the general magnetic field on situational and personal anxiety, asthenic and vegetative manifestations, and sleep, as well as prolongation of these effects. Patients who received fluctuating current therapy as part of medical rehabilitation improved their pain index and physical function, probably due to analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of this treatment option. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive physical rehabilitation combined with physical therapy increases the patient’s independence in daily living, self-care, and mobility.

Impact of Health Education Programme on Adherence to Treatment in Knee Osteoarthritis: An Interventional Study on Egyptian Patients.

To measure the level of adherence of patients with primary knee osteoarthritis (KOA) to an interventional therapeutic and rehabilitation programme and investigate factors that hinder patients' adherence. A total of 154 participants with primary knee osteoarthritis (KOA) were divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention protocol included patient education on the nature and treatment of KOA, therapeutic exercise, a weight loss programme for overweight patients, and a physical therapy programme. Participants were followed for 3months. The Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS-p), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and knee Kellgren-Lawrence OA grading were measured before and after the intervention. Additionally, the Morisky adherence questionnaire and the WHO Multidimensional Framework for factors affecting adherence were assessed. One fifty four participants with KOA were randomly allocated into intervention and control groups. A low level of adherence was detected in both groups (68.8% in the intervention group vs. 84.4% in the control group). Patients who followed the interventional programme were more adherent. Adherence to therapy was associated with a reduction in the Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS-p) (p=0.016) and improved function as measured by WOMAC (p=0.018). Factors primarily associated with patient non-adherence included unemployment (67.8%), low income (59.3%), no previous response to therapy (58.5%), less frequent follow-up visits (55.1%), lack of insurance (66.9%), difficult access to services (59.3%), and high cost of services (55.1%). Adherence to treatment in OA patients is a significant concern and a common problem, appearing to be associated more with socioeconomic factors than with pain and function.

Changes in Shoulder and Lumbar Injury Incidence in Swimmers After Physical Examination and Exercise Programs.

Previous injury and physical examination data collected by a physiotherapist were reviewed to investigate the causes of injury among competitive swimmers. Each swimmer received an injury improvement exercise program based on their injury history and physical examination findings. The purpose of this study was to identify trends in the number of shoulder and lumbar injuries and discern the effectiveness of exercise programs in swimmers. The authors hypothesize that these efforts would decrease injury rates. Observational Cohort study. Thirty-one male high school and college student swimmers underwent a physical examination. Previous injury was considered as pain that lasted for > three weeks or that caused the participant to stop practicing. A questionnaire was administered to all swimmers at the beginning of the study and one year later. The questionnaire assessed the number of injuries sustained and the daily practice hours over the previous year. The injury rate at the first examination and one-year followup was calculated as the number of injury incidents divided by the total number of player hours (1 h of practice is equivalent to 1) for one year, multiplied by 1,000 to obtain the injury rate per 1,000 hours (1000 player hours: 1,000 ph). Shoulder and hip exercise programs were prescribed based on measurement results and previous research. The numbers of injuries seen in the group were 12 shoulder and six lumbar at the first examination, and two shoulder and one lumbar at the one-year followup. The 1,000 ph (95% confidence interval) values were 0.32 (0.13-0.50) and 0.16 (0.03-0.29) at the first examination and 0.05 (0.00-0.12) and 0.03 (0.00-0.07) at the one-year followup for the shoulder and lumbar areas, respectively. The results indicates that exercise programs prescribed after a physical examination may reduce the incidence of injuries in male swimmers over the course of a year. Level 3.

The impact of TYC physics programs on STEM and Non-STEM majors

The impact of TYC physics programs on STEM and Non-STEM majors

A physical therapy program to treat late-effect vaginal stenosis in gynecological cancer survivors: An interventional study.

To evaluate the effect of a physical therapy program on vaginal length and diameter, pelvic floor strength, and quality of life among gynecological cancer survivors suffering from late-effect vaginal stenosis. Thirty-four women who were previously diagnosed with gynecological cancer and experiencing vaginal stenosis, at least 12months post-oncological treatment, were enrolled. The intervention program consisted of ten weeks of individualized weekly sessions, each lasting 50min, involving perineal massage, progressive vaginal dilation, and pelvic floor exercises. Pre- and post-treatment evaluations included assessments of pelvic floor muscle strength through digital palpation, measurements of vaginal length and diameter using a silicone vaginal dilator, and classification of stenosis according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE v5.0). Health-related quality of life was assessed using the FACT-G and FACT-Cx questionnaires. Twenty-one women completed the physical therapy program. There was a significant increase in vaginal length (p < 0.001), vaginal diameter (p < 0.001) and improvement in pelvic floor muscle strength (p < 0.001), with a large effect size (r = 0.81), a medium effect size (r = -0.77) and a medium effect size (r = -0.78), respectively. This resulted in resolution of vaginal stenosis in 14 participants (66.7%) following intervention. Mean scores for FACT-Cx and FACIT-G, encompassing total scores and physical, social, and functional well-being domains, increased significantly after the treatment. The proposed physical therapy program demonstrated positive effects on vaginal stenosis, pelvic floor muscle strength and health-related quality of life in gynecological cancer survivors.

Development of Ball Tower Model for Learning Top Spin Forehand Strikes in Tennis

Learning the forehand topspin stroke is essential for students in the Physical Education and Health program at Musamus University, Merauke, as it underpins advanced tennis skills and performance. This study identifies challenges faced by students in mastering this technique, including unbalanced body positions, difficulties in selecting proper racket grips, and limited access to facilities and tools. The research employed a quantitative developmental approach, collecting data from 23 student respondents through a questionnaire focusing on body positioning, racket grip, technique understanding, and facility availability. Descriptive statistical analysis revealed that 75% of students struggled with unbalanced body positions, 70% lacked preparation, and 50% faced concentration issues. Furthermore, 60% reported confusion with racket grip selection, while 80% cited inadequate facilities as a major barrier. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions, such as improved training programs, enhanced resources, and clearer instructional methods, to address these challenges. This research underscores the importance of addressing these obstacles to optimize student learning outcomes in tennis skill acquisition.

Influence of Depression on Health Behavior (Daily Smoking, Binge Drinking, Walking, Skipping Breakfast) among Korean Adults: Based on the KNHANES

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the influence of depression on health behaviors (daily smoking, binge drinking, walking, skipping breakfast) among Korean adults. Methods: The data for the study were obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022). the final sample consisted of 26,732 cases after excluding missing data. Multivariate logistic regression, Cross-tabulation analysis were used for data analysis. Results: After adjusting for covariates, depression was significantly associated with 2.51 increase in the odds of smoking daily and 1.85 increase in the odds of binge drinking and 1.74 increase in the odds of skipping breakfast five or more days a week. Depression was significantly associated with 30.0% decrease (adjusted odds ratio=0.70) in the odds of walking at least 30 minutes a day, five or more days a week. Conclusions: The study found that depression negatively affects all major health behaviors (daily smoking, binge drinking, walking, skipping breakfast). Our findings suggest that managing depression is a crucial factor in promoting physical health, and it is important to target individuals with depression in physical health promotion programs.

The Effect of Physical and Mental Health Programs and Career Support on Employee Wellbeing and Loyalty in the Creative Industries in Jakarta

The Effect of Physical and Mental Health Programs and Career Support on Employee Wellbeing and Loyalty in the Creative Industries in Jakarta

Process evaluation of a health- and fitness-related physical education program

Process evaluation of a health- and fitness-related physical education program

Recommendations for instructing blind students in undergraduate physical education teacher education programs: Findings from a program evaluation

Recommendations for instructing blind students in undergraduate physical education teacher education programs: Findings from a program evaluation

Interventions for the management of long covid (post-covid condition): living systematic review

ObjectiveTo compare the effectiveness of interventions for the management of long covid (post-covid condition).DesignLiving systematic review.Data sourcesMedline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, and Cochrane Central Register of...

The Effectiveness of Physical Exercise in Stroke Patient Recovery: A Systematic Review

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide, significantly affecting motor function, mobility, and patients’ quality of life. Physical exercise is often recommended as part of rehabilitation programs to enhance recovery after a stroke. Objective: This study aims to systematically review the literature on the effectiveness of physical exercise in accelerating post-stroke recovery, particularly in improving motor function, mobility, and independence. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect using keywords like "stroke rehabilitation," "physical exercise," "motor recovery," and "systematic review." Inclusion criteria covered articles published in the last 10 years, in English or Indonesian, involving post-stroke patients undergoing physical exercise programs. The articles were analyzed to evaluate the type of exercise, frequency, duration, and clinical outcomes. Results: Fifteen articles met the inclusion criteria. Aerobic exercise, strength training, and task-oriented therapy were found effective in improving motor function and mobility in stroke patients. Exercise programs performed intensively for a minimum of 4 weeks showed significant results compared to conventional therapy. Positive effects were also observed in patients’ quality of life. Conclusion: Physical exercise has been proven effective in facilitating stroke recovery, especially when individually tailored and performed regularly. This study recommends implementing standardized physical exercise-based rehabilitation programs to support post-stroke recovery.

Lessons learned teaching social and emotional learning in physical education teacher education: a self-study

ABSTRACT Background Social and emotional learning (SEL) has emerged as a political and educational priority worldwide. Numerous academic and non-academic benefits of effective (well-designed and well-implemented) SEL programmes within educational contexts exist. Not surprisingly, SEL has been acknowledged as one of the most prioritised educational agendas to support students’ holistic growth and success across different subjects in schools, health and physical education is no exception. Yet, while SEL continues to progress as a global education priority, there is limited literature on SEL in physical education, and even less which seeks to explore teaching SEL in a physical education teacher education (PETE) programme. Purpose Framed by Loughran’s conceptualisation of developing a pedagogy of teacher education, this study explored lessons learned from one teacher educator’s first experience teaching SEL in a health and physical education teacher education programme. Method A self-study of teacher education practices methodology supported one teacher educator to interrogate their experience, decisions, identity, and practices teaching SEL in a PETE programme. Data includes written reflections (n = 10 pages, single-spaced), transcribed critical friend discussions (n = 112 pages single-spaced), and teaching artefacts. Data analysis involved a collaborative reflexive thematic analysis approach to facilitate the inductive identification of themes and patterns. Findings Results are grouped into three categories: lessons learned about my practice as a teacher educator, lessons learned about my pre-service teachers, and lessons learned about teacher education. The three lessons include: (1) the importance of SEL being taught not caught, (2) students lack content knowledge, and (3) once is not enough. Results confirm teaching SEL requires a programmatic approach. Each lesson represents an ongoing process of making sense of self in practice. Conclusions The results of this research provide pedagogical considerations about teacher education programmes and those who teach in them. Teaching about teaching is a complex process. Teaching about teaching SEL may be an even more complex process as teacher educators rarely have developed these competencies themselves.

Dynamics of activity and participation of patients after cholecystectomy by the ICF classification under the influence of the physical rehabilitation program

Dynamics of activity and participation of patients after cholecystectomy by the ICF classification under the influence of the physical rehabilitation program