Significant Main Effect Of Time Research Articles

Safety and Effects of a Four-Week Preoperative Low-Load Resistance Training With Blood Flow Restriction on Pre- and Postoperative Quadriceps Strength in Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background/Objectives Enhancing preoperative quadriceps strength and mitigating quadriceps strength loss due to total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is crucial for post-TKA recovery. This study compared the safety and effect of a four-week preoperative regimen of low-load resistance training with blood flow restriction (LLRT-BFR) with those of low-intensity resistance training with slow movement and tonic force generation (LST) on the pre- and postoperative quadriceps strength in patients undergoing TKA. Methods In this randomized controlled trial, 22 patients were assigned to either the LLRT-BFR (n=11) or LST (n=11) group. Primary outcomes included changes in quadriceps strength before and after the intervention and surgery. To assess safety, we monitored D-dimer and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels pre- and post-intervention. Statistical analysis involved independent samples t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests for group comparisons of quadriceps strength changes. Additionally, a two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to assess safety parameters. Results No significant differences were observed between the BFR and LST groups in terms of the rate of increase in quadriceps strength pre- and post-intervention (BFR: median 12.1%, interquartile range -0.8% to 19.5%; LST: median 6.2%, interquartile range2.7% to 14.7%; p>0.99) or in the rate of reduction in quadriceps strength pre- and post-surgery (BFR: mean -72.4%, standard deviation±11.2%; LST: mean -75.3%, standard deviation±12.2%; p=0.57). Safety assessments showed no significant main effects of time, group, or interaction on the safety parameters (all p>0.05). Conclusions LLRT-BFR and LST demonstrated comparable effects on quadriceps strength before and after intervention and surgery in patients undergoing TKA. The lack of significant changes in the safety parameters supports the safety profile of both interventions, indicating their suitability for preoperative conditioning in patients scheduled for TKA.

The effects of six weeks of combined balance and plyometric training on postural control performance in elite badminton players: A pilot randomized, controlled study

Background/ObjectivesThe athletic performance in badminton players largely depends on the capability of dynamic postural control to quickly restore balance when performing high-paced movements (e.g., frequent single-leg jumps). Our aim was to examine the effects of a novel intervention that combines balance training on an unstable surface and plyometric training on the performance of restoring balance after jumping, as well as related postural control in elite badminton players. MethodsSixteen elite male badminton players were randomly allocated to either a combined balance and plyometric training group (CT, n = 8) or a plyometric training group (PT, n = 8). The CT group participated in a six-week training program, which included three training sessions per week. Each session comprised 40 min of plyometric exercises and 20 min of balance training. The PT group underwent plyometric training using the identical protocol as that of the CT group. All participants underwent identical technical training in badminton throughout the duration of the study. At baseline and immediately after the intervention, participants completed a single-leg jumping test. The capacity to restore balance was evaluated using the time to stabilization (TTS) after landing; and the related center of pressure (COP) fluctuations were also recorded. The effect of intervention was examined by two-way repeated-measures of ANOVA. ResultsThe primary two-way repeated-measures ANOVA models showed no significant interactions between group and time on either the time to stability in the dominant leg (D-TTS) or the time to stability in the non-dominant leg (N-TTS) (p > 0.70). Significant main effects of time, group, and their interactions on dominant legs of the anterior-posterior displacement difference (D-COPAP) (time: p = 0.001; group: p = 0.001; interaction: p = 0.014), non-dominant legs of the anterior-posterior displacement difference (N-COPAP) (time: p < 0.001; group: p = 0.003; interaction: p = 0.021) and non-dominant legs of the medial-lateral displacement difference (N-COPML) (time: p < 0.001; group: p < 0.001; interaction: p = 0.026), that is, compared to baseline of both groups and post PT, the COP metrics were significantly reduced after CT. Secondarily, within the CT and PT group, after the intervention, the N-TTS (CT: p = 0.001, post: 0.58 ± 0.87; PT: p = 0.03, post: 0.71 ± 0.11) was significantly decreased compared to baseline (CT pre: 0.76 ± 0.16; PT pre: 0.88 ± 0.13). ConclusionThis pilot study demonstrated that, compared to PT-only, the 6-week CT which combines balance training induced comparable improvements in the capacity to restoring balance after landing from a single-leg jump, and significantly improved the postural control performance as measured by COP metrics.

Effect of Noise Management in Interventional Radiology Suites on Patients Undergoing Transarterial Chemoembolization: A Retrospective Study.

This study aims to evaluate the effect of noise management in interventional radiology suites on patients undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). A retrospective cohort study design was employed. The study included a total of 141 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent TACE surgery in interventional radiology suite of the First People's Hospital of Nantong from January 2022 to December 2022. The patients were divided into an observation group (received noise management, n = 70) and a control group (did not receive noise management, n = 71) on the basis of whether they received noise management. Patient demographics and surgical data were collected, and heart rate, blood pressure, and anxiety levels were assessed before, during and after surgery. Satisfaction and the incidence of adverse reactions were also documented. No significant differences were found in general characteristics. The comparison between the observation and control groups revealed statistically significant differences in noise levels (P < 0.001). Additionally, anxiety levels significantly differed between the two groups (P = 0.040) as well as across different time points (P < 0.001). However, no significant difference was found in the occurrence of adverse events between groups (P = 0.772). Furthermore, patient satisfaction was significantly higher in the observation group than that in the control group (P < 0.001). Although no significant differences were found in heart rate and systolic blood pressure between groups (P > 0.05), and a significant main effect of time was observed for both variables (P < 0.001). Noise management in the interventional radiology suite effectively alleviates intraoperative anxiety among patients with TACE and improves treatment satisfaction but has no significant effect on physiological changes and the incidence of adverse events.

Comparing in-clinic versus telehealth for vestibular physical therapy.

Vestibular rehabilitation (VR) is a commonly employed treatment method for disorders of dizziness and imbalance. Access to a clinic for rehabilitation appointments can be challenging for a person experiencing dizziness. Telehealth may offer a comparable alternative to clinic-based VR for some patients. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of telehealth-based VR compared to traditional clinic-based VR, as measured with the Dizziness Handicapped Inventory (DHI) in a retrospective sample of patients with vestibular conditions. This is a retrospective, multi-institutional review from May 2020 to January 2021. Three study groups were analyzed: a telehealth group, a hybrid group, and a clinic based control group. Treatment efficacy was measured using the DHI. A repeated measures ANCOVA was performed to compare changes between the groups and across timepoints. The repeated measures ANCOVA was not significant for the interaction of groups (control, telehealth, and hybrid) by time (pre and post) (p > 0.05). However, there was a significant main effect for time (pre and post) (p < 0.05). Specifically, all groups improved DHI scores from pre to post treatment with mean differences of control: 31.85 points, telehealth: 18.75 points, and hybrid: 21.45 points. Findings showed that in-clinic, telehealth, and hybrid groups demonstrated a decrease in DHI scores, indicating self-reported improvements in the impact of dizziness on daily life. Continued research is recommended to explore the efficacy of using telehealth in assessing and treating vestibular conditions.

Effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation, light intensity walking and a seated exercise trainer on venous return in healthy young adults: a quasi-experimental crossover study

Background/Aims The growing prevalence of sedentary behaviour across the life course is linked to an increased risk of chronic venous disease and related mortality, warranting the need for non-invasive interventions to improve blood flow and lower extremity function. The aim of this study was to investigate the change in venous blood flow, heart rate and blood pressure after 8 minutes of using the Leeper device, Circulation Booster and light intensity walking. Methods A quasi-experimental crossover study involving 11 participants (eight women, three men, mean age 23.91 years, standard deviation 1.04 years) was conducted using Leeper and Circulation Booster devices and light intensity walking. During each intervention, participants exercised for 8 minutes, and blood flow was recorded at 0, 4 and 8 minutes. Heart rate and blood pressure were recorded at 0 and 8 minutes. Blood flow was the primary outcome measure, and heart rate and blood pressure were secondary outcomes. Participants rested for 10 minutes between exercise. A two-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to analyse the effect of intervention and time on blood flow, blood pressure and heart rate. Results There was no significant interaction between intervention and time on blood flow (P=0.180) indicating that blood flow did not change over time depending on intervention. There was no significant main effect of time on blood flow (P=0.206), indicating that no intervention caused a significant increase or decrease in blood flow after 8 minutes of exercise. Conclusions The interventions involving the Leeper and Circulation Booster devices and light intensity walking did not appear to significantly increase blood flow in young adults. Further studies involving participants from older age groups and those with pathological interventions are warranted to examine the potential effectiveness of these interventions. Implications for practice The findings may assist with the advice that allied health professionals provide regarding the use of seated exercise trainers and EMS devices and their ability to influence changes in blood flow.

Mind-Body Intervention for Diabetic Neuropathy: A Pilot Study on Yoga's Effects on Muscle Strength, Proprioception, Fear of Falling, Pain, and Quality of Life.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an 8-week yoga intervention on muscle strength, proprioception, pain, concerns about falling, and quality of life in individuals diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy. A quasi-experimental design incorporating a pretest-posttest methodology and a control group was implemented in the present study. A total of 30 patients who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and neuropathy were recruited and randomly assigned to intervention (n = 15) or non-exercise control (n = 15). Yoga sessions were conducted for a duration of 60min on three occasions per week, with participants requested to practice at home on other days. The results showed significant main effects of time on the muscle strength (both flexor and extensor muscles, p < .001, ηp2 = 0.652 and p < .001, ηp2 = 0.539, respectively), proprioception error (p < .001, ηp2 = 0.807), pain intensity (p < .001, ηp2 = 0.538), concerns about falling (p < .001, ηp2 = 0.700), and overall score of quality of life (p < .001, ηp2 = 0.475). Moreover, there were significant group-by-time interactions for all variables (p < .001 for all). The study reveals that yoga intervention can be an effective alternative therapeutic approach to medication for individuals with diabetic neuropathy. Yet, future studies are needed on a larger sample size to strengthen the present understanding of the advantageous impact of yoga intervention in this population.

The impact of soccer-specific psychophysiological stress on inhibition and cognitive flexibility in elite youth players

While researchers and practitioners attribute an essential role to executive functions (EFs) for soccer performance, the usefulness of respective diagnostics and the predictive value remain unclear. One limitation restricting the translation and relevance of study results to improve actual game performance is the insufficient consideration of competitive conditions. Thus, this study aimed to conduct soccer-specific cognitive diagnostics under a soccer-specific psychophysiological stress condition, mimicing the demands of a competitive game. A total of 92 (Mage = 15.17, SDage = 1.45) youth elite players performed tests for inhibition (flanker task) or cognitive flexibility (number-letter task) with a soccer-specific motor response (i.e., pass into goals). After a pre-test in a neutral condition, players were randomly assigned to a neutral (moderate soccer-specific exercise) or a stress condition (physical stress and competitive instructions and filming for psychological stress). Objective (i.e., cortisol, heart rate variability) and subjective stress-related measures (i.e., SAM, VAS) were assessed six times throughout experimental procedure. Analyses revealed significant interaction effects between time and condition for all objective and subjective variables indicating a successful experimental stress induction. For cognitive performance, results revealed significant main effects of time, but no significant interaction effects between time and condition. However, descriptive statistics suggested improved performance under stress, with decreased flanker effect and switch costs. Additionally, response time variability in the flanker task significantly decreased in the stress condition. These findings offer insights into individual stress perception and processing under game-related psychophysiological demands, expanding previous research on situational EF alterations that also hold relevance for applied practitioners.

Enhancing patient well-being in oncology waiting rooms: a pilot field experiment on the emotional impact of virtual forest therapy.

This study explores the emotional impact of virtual forest therapy delivered through audio-visual recordings shown to patients in the oncology waiting rooms, focusing on whether simulated forest walks can positively influence patients' emotional states compared to traditional waiting room stimuli. The study involved 117 participants from a diverse group of oncology patients in the outpatient clinic waiting room at the Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute. Using a partially randomized controlled trial design, the study assessed basic emotional dimensions-valence and arousal-as well as specific psychological states such as thought control, sadness, anxiety, and pain. This assessment used the Self-Assessment Manikin and the modified Emotional Thermometer before and after participants watched three video types (forest, sea, news). Baseline stress levels were measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). Participants exposed to forest and sea videos reported significant improvements in emotional valence and reduced arousal, suggesting a calming and uplifting effect. No significant changes were observed in the control and news groups. Secondary outcomes related to anxiety, sadness, and pain showed no significant interaction effects, though small but significant main effects of time on these variables were noted. The findings suggest that videos of forest and sea can be a beneficial intervention in the oncology waiting rooms by enhancing patients' emotional well-being. This pilot study underscores the potential for integrating virtual mental health support elements into healthcare settings to improve patient care experience.

Can just 15 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise mobilize cytotoxic NK cells into circulation?

Intro: Acute exercise transiently mobilizes natural killer (NK) cells into the bloodstream with the degree of mobilization directly related to the intensity of the exercise. This increase in NK cells is thought to offer a period of heightened immune activity during exercise and is of particular interest to cancer patients as NK cells can kill tumor cells without prior sensitization. Previous work demonstrating the benefits of exercise on NK cells used vigorous bouts of exercise lasting 30 minutes or longer, which may not be attainable for cancer patients. The objective of this study was to determine whether a short bout of moderate-intensity exercise can mobilize activated, cytotoxic NK cells into circulation. We hypothesized that i) a bout of moderate-intensity exercise would significantly increase NK cells in the blood and ii) the exercise-induced NK-cell mobilization would occur rapidly, such that the relative increase in blood NK cells would not differ after 15 minutes of exercise and 30 minutes of exercise. Methods: In this pilot study, ten healthy, non-athletes (4 female; aged 18-40 years) cycled for 30 minutes at 55% of their heart rate reserve. Venous blood was obtained pre-, after 15 minutes, and after 30 minutes of exercise, and was analyzed by flow cytometry. The proportion of NK cells, CD16+ and CD57+ NK-cells were compared between the three time points by repeated measures ANOVA with Greenhouse Geisser corrections. Sidak-corrected post-hoc tests were used to further analyze significant main effects. Results: All subjects successfully completed the exercise (mean ± standard deviation heart rate: 144 ± 2 bpm; rating of perceived exertion: 11 ± 0.25 (of 20)). There was a significant main effect of time on the proportion of NK cells present in the blood (F(1.253, 10.025)= 7.719, p= 0.016). Post-hoc analyses indicate that there was a significant increase at minute 15 relative to baseline (p=.050), with no further increase at minute 30 relative to minute 15 (p=.175). There was no main effect of time on the proportion of CD57+NK cells (F(1.451, 10.159)= 0.335, p= 0.656) or CD16+ NK cells (F(1.154, 9.231)= 3.020, p= 0.113) in our sample. Conclusion: The results from this pilot study indicate that 15 minutes of moderate-intensity cycling mobilizes NK cells into the bloodstream. However, we did not detect significant differences in NK cells with an activated, highly cytotoxic phenotype. While limited by a small sample, these results build upon prior work demonstrating a significant effect of longer-lasting, vigorous-intensity exercise. The current results suggest that a more accessible exercise intervention for individuals with health limitations can also significantly increase NK cells into the blood, but that greater intensity exercise may be required to mobilize particular subsets of NK cells. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Comparing Habituation of Cardiovascular Reactivity to Acute Mental Stress and the Cold Pressor Test

Exaggerated cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) to acute laboratory stress has been linked to the development of cardiovascular disease. However, recent evidence within the field of psychophysiology reveals that exaggerated CVR may actually be adaptive for long-term health if the response is relatively brief and decreases across subsequent stress exposures (i.e., habituation). Extensive research has validated the occurrence of CVR habituation, specifically to repeated mental stress. However, to our knowledge, no research to date has attempted to directly compare CVR habituation to mental stress with other types of stress tasks (i.e., the cold pressor test; CPT) within the same individuals. The present study aimed to compare CVR habituation to mental stress and CPT across repeated exposures. Based upon prior CVR profiles for repeated mental stress and CPT, we hypothesized that CVR habituation would be observable in response to repeated mental stress, but not repeated CPT. Sixteen healthy young adults (9M/7F, 21±1 yrs, 23±1kg/m2) participated in three experimental sessions. The initial two sessions were administered during a single laboratory visit and separated by a 45 min rest period. The third session occurred one month later at a follow-up visit. Each session included a mental stress trial (5 min baseline, 5 min mental arithmetic task) and a CPT trial (3 min baseline, 2 min CPT), with continuous recordings of heart rate (HR; electrocardiogram) and beat-by-beat arterial blood pressure (finger plethysmography). Reactivity (i.e., stress — baseline) was calculated separately for HR and mean arterial pressure (MAP). Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed a significant main effect of time for HR, F(2, 30) = 6.57, p = 0.004, η2 = 0.30, and MAP, F(2, 30) = 4.37, p = 0.02, η2 = 0.23 in response to the repeated mental stress, but not in response to the repeated CPT (all p-values ≥ 0.05). Post hoc analyses demonstrated HR reactivity to be significantly lower during session 3 of the mental stress (Δ20±9 beats/min, ps ≤ 0.015) compared to session 1 (Δ25±10 beats/min) and session 2 (Δ23±10 beats/min). No significant differences were observed between HR reactivity at sessions 1 and 2 of mental stress ( p = 0.151). MAP reactivity was significantly lower during session 2 (Δ13±5 mmHg) and session 3 (Δ12±6 mmHg) of the mental stress compared to session 1 (Δ15±5 mmHg, ps ≤ 0.030). No significant differences were observed between MAP reactivity at sessions 2 and 3 of mental stress ( p = 0.374). In summary, HR and MAP reactivity significantly habituated in response to repeated mental stress, but not in response to the repeated CPT. Findings suggest that the cardiovascular system adapts to repeated laboratory mental stress, but remains consistently engaged during repeated exposures to the CPT. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (HL-122919). This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Acute moderate normobaric hypoxia does not modify circulating thyroid hormone concentrations induced by 1 h of head-out cold-water immersion.

This study tested the hypothesis that acute moderate normobaric hypoxia augments circulating thyroid hormone concentrations during and following 1 h of cold head-out water immersion (HOWI), compared with when cold HOWI is completed during normobaric normoxia. In a randomized crossover single-blind design, 12 healthy adults (27 ± 2 yr, 2 women) completed 1 h of cold (22.0 ± 0.1°C) HOWI breathing either normobaric normoxia ([Formula: see text] = 0.21) or normobaric hypoxia ([Formula: see text] = 0.14). Free and total thyroxine (T3) and triiodothyronine (T4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations were measured in venous blood samples obtained before (baseline), during (15-, 30-, and 60 min), and 15 min following HOWI (post-), and were corrected for changes in plasma volume. Arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation and core (rectal) temperature were measured continuously. Arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation was lower during hypoxia (90 ± 3%) compared with normoxia (98 ± 1%, P < 0.001). Core temperature fell from baseline (normoxia: 37.2 ± 0.4°C, hypoxia: 37.2 ± 0.4°C) to post-cold HOWI (normoxia: 36.4 ± 0.5°C, hypoxia: 36.3 ± 0.5°C, P < 0.001) in both conditions but did not change differently between conditions (condition × time: P = 0.552). Circulating TSH, total T3, free T4, total T3, and free T4 concentrations demonstrated significant main effects of time (all P ≤ 0.024), but these changes did not differ between normoxic and hypoxic conditions (condition × time: all P ≥ 0.163). These data indicate that acute moderate normobaric hypoxia does not modify the circulating thyroid hormone response during 1 h of cold HOWI.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Acute head-out cold (22°C) water immersion (HOWI) decreased core temperature and increased thermogenesis. This thermogenic response was paralleled by the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis, as evidenced by changes in thyroid hormones. However, cold HOWI in combination with moderate normobaric hypoxia did not modify the thermogenic nor the circulating thyroid hormone response. This finding suggests that hypoxia-induced alterations in thyroid hormone concentrations are unlikely to acutely contribute to adaptations resulting from repeated cold-water exposures.

Strength Training Frequency and Athletic Performance in High School Girls Basketball Players.

This study investigated the effects of a six-week strength training intervention on the physical fitness of female high school athletes, with a focus on training frequency. Twenty-three female high school basketball athletes were recruited and split into two groups: one group participated in strength training once per week (S1), while the other participated in two training sessions per week (S2). The groups were not random as training sessions were voluntary, and some participants were only able to train once per week. Participants were tested before and after the intervention, and the data included: age, body height, body mass, body fat percentage, grip strength, leg/back dynamometer (LBD) strength, a seated medicine ball throw (MBT), a vertical jump (VJ), 505 tests from each foot, 0-5, 0-10, and 0-20 sprint times, and multistage fitness test shuttles. Data were analyzed by a two (time) x two (group) repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA; p < 0.05). When significant F ratios were detected in any ANOVA calculations, post hoc pairwise comparisons were conducted using the Bonferroni adjustment procedure. There were significant main effects for time that indicated the following: increased body height, body mass, grip strength, LBD strength, MBT distance, and VJ height, faster 505 times, and slower 0-5 and 0-10 m sprint times (p ≤ 0.021). There were no significant time by group ANOVAs or between-group main effects. These performance changes occurred irrespective of training frequency. High school girls who participate in at least one strength training session per week can improve their strength (grip, LBD), power (MBT, VJ), and change-of-direction speed (505).

The effectiveness of the buddy program training module to enhance the daily living function, social participation and emotional status of older adults in residential aged care homes.

The Compeer Model, which was originally designed to match individuals recovering from mental illness with volunteers from their community, served as the basis for the development of the buddy program. However, limited research was available related to the buddy program among older adults in a Malaysian context. The study aimed to identify the effectiveness of the buddy program training module to enhance the daily living function, social participation and emotional status of older adults in residential aged care homes. A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 30 pairs of buddies and older adults for both the experimental group and control group in two randomly selected residential aged care homes. The buddies in the experimental group received the buddy program training module related to activities of daily living (basic and instrumental) while the buddy-older adults pairs in the control group continued to perform their usual daily life activities in residential aged care homes. Baselines were performed before intervention and at eight weeks post-intervention. Over the eight weeks, for the older adults in the experimental group, there was a significant main effect of time after the intervention on BADL (p = 0.010). There were no significant interaction effects for the experiment group and control group on IADL and social participation. Also, there were no significant interaction effects for all domains in emotional status: depression, anxiety and stress. For buddies, there was a significant interaction effect for depression (p = 0.045) in the control group. The buddy program training module can be used as a guideline for older adults with more significant disabilities in residential aged care homes in managing activities of daily living. Future studies could be implemented to explore the intergenerational buddy program among older adults and young children in the community.

Attentional Bias to Angry Faces: Contrasting Responses in Typically Developing Children and Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

IntroductionHuman faces generally attract immediate attention. However, it has been found that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) tend to allocate relatively less attention to faces. Previous research showed that typically developing children (TD) exhibited an attentional bias to angry faces, regardless of their anxiety levels, but it’s unclear if this applies to children with ASD. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate attentional bias induced by angry and/or happy faces in children with ASD.ObjectivesWe explored attentional bias toward angry faces in both TD children and children with ASD. We hypothesize that while TD children will show attentional capture effects in response to angry faces, children with ASD will not exhibit such attentional bias to facial stimuli, irrespective of their emotional content.MethodsBy now, five ASD participants (all male) and 34 TD participants (17 male), aged 6-12, have completed a continuous performance task. In this task, irrelevant distractors (angry or happy faces) appeared and disappeared abruptly, while the orientation of the target changed every 1,250 ms. Participants were asked to respond as quickly and accurately as possible to the orientaiton of the target. We designated the time when the distractor first appeared as T1, and subsequent time intervals at 1,250 ms increments were labeled as T2, T3, and T4. The time intervals when no distractor was present were labeled as TB (baseline). If the reaction time (RT) at T1 was significantly slower compared to TB, it indicated attentional bias by the distractor.ResultsFor the RT data, separate repeated measures ANOVAs with 2 (emotion) * 5 (time) factors were conducted for each group. The results revealed a significant main effect of time (F(4, 132) = 17.59, p &lt; .01) and a significant interaction between emotion and time (F(3.27, 107.74) = 4.92, p &lt; .01) only in TD. Post hoc t-tests indicated that TD children exhibited significantly slower RT at T1 compared to TB, but this difference was observed only for angry faces (t(33) = 4.84, p &lt; .01). In contrast, no significant effect was found in children with ASD. In other words, TD demonstrated attentional bias only when exposed to angry faces, while ASD children did not exhibit attentional bias to either emotion.ConclusionsThis study aimed to investigate attentional bias to angry faces in both TD and ASD children. The results indicate that TD children exhibited an attentional bias when exposed to angry faces, whereas ASD children did not display such bias. These findings are consistent with previous research suggesting that TD children tend to show attentional bias towards angry faces, regardless of their anxiety levels. Furthermore, the absence of attentional bias to angry faces in ASD suggests that their characteristic of reduced attention to faces may contribute to the lack of attentional bias towards angry faces.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

A randomized controlled trial comparing two guided self-help Acceptance and Commitment Therapy formats to education on pain

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based treatment for chronic pain, but accessibility remains a major challenge. Self-help interventions are promising as they offer a cost-effective solution and can be widely accessible, but no study has yet directly compared different formats of ACT self-help for chronic pain. Furthermore, most studies conducted so far have not compared to an active control condition. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of guided self-help interventions (internet-delivered, bibliotherapy) based on ACT in comparison to an education intervention among adults from the community living with chronic pain. Participants (N = 297) were randomly assigned to an internet-delivered ACT condition, an ACT-based bibliotherapy condition, or an active control condition receiving education on pain through online pamphlets. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline, after the 9-week intervention, and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. The primary outcome was pain disability at post-intervention and secondary outcomes were depression, anxiety, and quality of life. Results of mixed linear models showed statistically significant main effects of time for pain disability (F = 15.15, p = 0.000), depression (F = 6.82, p = 0.000), anxiety (F = 4.88, p = 0.003) and quality of life (F = 6.85, p = 0.000) for all three interventions. Findings suggest all three self-help formats can lead to reductions in pain disability, depression, anxiety, and improvements in quality of life. These findings have important implications for accessibility of care. Limitations and future directions will be discussed.

Soccer Skill Performance and Retention Following an 8-Week Adapted Soccer Intervention in Adults With Disabilities

This study evaluated the efficacy of an 8-week (two sessions/week; 60 min/session) adapted soccer intervention on skill performance and retention in 30 adults (18 men and 12 women) ages 17–40 years with autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, and intellectual disability. Of these 30 participants, 18 completed a 1-month retention test. The program included behavior supports and adaptations for participants with varying levels of behavioral needs. Dribbling, kicking a moving ball, kicking a stationary ball, throw-ins, trapping, and a composite skill score were examined. Linear mixed-effect regression revealed a significant time main effect with improvements from pretest to posttest and pretest to retention for all skills. In addition, modest offline gains (i.e., posttest &lt; retention) were observed for throw-ins, kicking a moving ball, and the composite skill score. A significant main effect of diagnosis was observed such that participants with autism spectrum disorder had better performance on kicking a moving ball than those with Down syndrome and intellectual disability. Finally, a significant main effect of level of function was observed. This program enabled adults with various disabilities to acquire fundamental soccer skills that may lead to meaningful participation in community soccer programs.

Randomized controlled trial of two internet-based written therapies for world trade center workers and survivors with persistent PTSD symptoms

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains prevalent among individuals exposed to the 9/11 World Trade Center (WTC) terrorist attacks. The present study compared an Internet-based, therapist-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD to an active control intervention in WTC survivors and recovery workers with WTC-related PTSD symptoms (n = 105; 75% syndromal PTSD). Participants were randomized to integrative testimonial therapy (ITT), focused on WTC-related trauma, or modified present-centered therapy (I-MPCT), each comprising 11 assigned written narratives. The primary outcome was baseline-to-post-treatment change in PTSD symptoms on the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Secondary measures included PTSD symptom clusters, depressive/anxiety symptoms, functioning, and quality of life. A significant main effect of time was observed for the primary outcome (average “large” effect size improvement, d = 1.49). Significant and “moderate-to-large” main effects of time were also observed for all PTSD symptom clusters, depressive symptoms, quality of life, and mental health-related functioning (d range=0.62–1.33). Treatment and treatment-by-time interactions were not significant. In planned secondary analyses incorporating 3-month follow-up measures, ITT was associated with significantly greater reductions than I-MPCT in PTSD avoidance and negative alterations in cognitions and mood, anxiety, and mental health-related functioning. Both therapies significantly lowered PTSD symptoms, suggesting they may benefit hard-to-reach individuals with chronic WTC-related PTSD symptoms.

Paraspinal Muscle Changes in Individuals with and without Chronic Low Back Pain over a 4-Month Period: A Longitudinal MRI Study.

Background and Objectives: Previous research has shown associations between atrophy and fatty infiltration of the lumbar paraspinal musculature and low back pain (LBP). However, few studies have examined longitudinal changes in healthy controls and individuals with LBP without intervention. We aimed to investigate the natural variations in lumbar paraspinal musculature morphology and composition in this population over a 4-month period. Materials and Methods: Healthy controls and individuals with LBP were age- and sex-matched and completed several self-administered questionnaires. MRIs of L1-L5 were taken at baseline, 2 months, and 4 months to investigate cross-sectional area (CSA), along with DIXON fat and water images. A total of 29 participants had clear images for at least one level for all three time points. Means and standard deviations were calculated for the participant demographics. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA was performed to investigate CSA, fat signal fraction, and CSA asymmetry. Results: A total of 27 images at L3/L4, 28 images at L4/L5, and 15 images at L5/S1 were included in the final analysis. There were significant main effects of group for psoas CSA at the L3/L4 level (p = 0.02) and erector spinae (ES) CSA % asymmetry at the L3/L4 level (p < 0.001). There was a significant main effect of time for lumbar multifidus (LM) CSA % asymmetry at L4/L5 level (p = 0.03). Conclusions: This study provides insights into LM, ES, and psoas morphology in both healthy controls and affected individuals over a 4-month period without any intervention. Our findings suggest that psoas CSA at higher lumbar levels and CSA % asymmetry in general may be a better indicator of pathology and the development of pathology over time. Evaluating natural variations in paraspinal musculature over longer time frames may provide information on subtle changes in healthy controls and affected individuals and their potential role in chronic LBP.

The Impact of Velocity-Based Training on Load-Velocity Relationships in Leg Press and Chest Press for Older Persons.

Calaway, C, Mishra, S, Parrino, R, Martinez, KJ, Mann, JB, and Signorile, JF. Velocity-based training affects the load-velocity relationship in leg press and chest press for older persons. J Strength Cond Res 38(6): 1136-1143, 2024-This study examined the impact of 3 months of velocity-based training (VBT) on chest press (CP) and leg press (LP) maximal strength (1 repetition maximum [1RM]), peak power (PP), and percentage load where PP was achieved (%1RMPP) in older adults. Twenty-nine subjects were assigned to either a velocity-deficit (VD) group or a force-deficit (FD) group for each exercise depending on their load-velocity (LV) curves. Changes in load were determined by the ability to maintain either 90% (VD) or 70% (FD) of their PP during training. Subjects' powers were tested before and after the training intervention at loads between 40 and 80%1RM. Separate 2 (group) × 2 (time) ANOVA was used to examine changes in each variable by group for each exercise. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to determine whether significant changes in %1RMPP for each exercise and group. For chest press 1 repetition maximum, there were no significant main effects or interaction. Significant main effects for time were observed for leg press 1 repetition maximum ( p < 0 .001, η2 = 0.547) and chest press peak power ( p = 0.009, η2 = 0.243). For LPPP, there were no significant main effects or interactions. For %1RMPP, CP median scores revealed no significant changes for either group. Significant declines in %1RMPP were observed for leg press velocity-deficit and leg press force-deficit ( p < 0.03) groups. Velocity-based training was effective at improving 1RM, PP, and shifting %1RMPP in the LP groups. These results have implications for targeting power improvements at specific areas of the LV curve. Health care providers and trainers should consider these findings when constructing exercise programs to counter age-related declines in older adults.

Mechanical differences between three block jump approaches in NCAA DII college volleyball players

The purpose of the study was to examine the kinematics and kinetics differences between three common block approaches used in volleyball games: (1) shuffle block, (2) chicken wing block, and (3) swing block, from a fixed distance of 1.8 m. Ten female collegiate volleyball players from NCAA DII participated in the study. They performed, in a randomized order, a total of 18 blocks equally distributed among the three block types. Noraxon MyoResearch 3 software was used to analyze the block approaches. The statistical analysis was performed by running a Repeated Measurement ANOVA on Jamovi statistical software 2.3.24. The results showed that there was a significant main effect for time to take off, jump height, max knee flexion angles, peak power, relative peak power, net impulse, reactive strength index, max rate of force development, peak force, and relative peak force between the three types of blocks (p &lt; .05). While max valgus knee angles and max flexion hip angles did not show any effect (p &gt; .5). To cover a distance of 1.8m, it was clear that shuffle block was the weakest option for good block performances, while chicken wing and swing blocks were similar in many aspects. Both chicken wing and swing blocks can be used to elevate the block effectiveness of volleyball players compared to shuffle block.