Predictive Validity of Motor Fitness and Flexibility Tests in Adults and Older Adults: A Systematic Review

This research was funded by Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness in the 2017 call for R & D Projects of the State Program for Research, Development and Innovation Oriented to the Challenges of the Company; National Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and of Innovation 2013-2016 (DEP2017-88043-R); and the Regional Government of Andalusia and University of Cadiz: Research and Knowledge Transfer Fund (PPIT-FPI19).Motor fitness and flexibility have been linked to several health issues. We aimed to investigate the predictive validity of motor fitness and flexibility tests in relation to health outcomes in adults and older adults. Web of Science and PubMed databases were screened for studies published from inception to November 2020. Two authors systematically searched, evaluated, and extracted data from identified original studies and systematic reviews/meta-analysis. Three levels of evidence were constructed: strong, moderate, and limited/inconclusive evidence. In total, 1182 studies were identified, and 70 studies and 6 systematic reviews/meta-analysis were summarized. Strong evidence indicated that (i) slower gait speed predicts falls and institutionalization/hospitalization in adults over 60 years old, cognitive decline/impairment over 55 years old, mobility disability over 50 years old, disability in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) over 54 years old, cardiovascular disease risk over 45 years old, and all-cause mortality over 35 years old; (ii) impaired balance predicts falls and disability in IADL/mobility disability in adults over 40 years old and all-cause mortality over 53 years old; (iii) worse timed up&go test (TUG) predicts falls and fear of falling over 40 years old. Evidence supports that slower gait speed, impaired balance, and worse TUG performance are significantly associated with an increased risk of adverse health outcomes in adults.Ministry of Economy, Industry and CompetitivenessNational Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and of Innovation DEP2017-88043-RJunta de AndaluciaUniversity of Cadiz PPIT-FPI1

Involució de la condició física per l'envelliment

El percentatge de població de gent gran s’està incrementant a Espanya. L’envelliment produeix una involució de les capacitats físiques, la qual cosa origina un deteriorament de l’estat físic i una reducció de la funcionalitat. Aquests fets condicionen greus problemes de salut pública per l’aparició de malalties degeneratives, amb el consegüent cost econòmic per al seu tractament. A mesura que l’edat avança es produeix una pèrdua de força de cames i força de braços, un descens no constant del VO2màx i una reducció progressiva no lineal i específica per articulació i moviment articular de la flexibilitat. A més, en persones grans els trastorns freqüents d’equilibri alteren el patró de la marxa. I finalment es produeixen modificacions substancials de la composició corporal amb disminució de la massa lliure de greix, fet que condiciona un descens de la despesa energètica en repòs i un increment de la massa greix

Involución de la condición física por el envejecimiento

El porcentaje de población mayor se está incrementando en España. El envejecimiento produce una involución de las capacidades físicas, lo que origina un deterioro del estado físico y una reducción de la funcionalidad. Estos hechos condicionan graves problemas de salud pública por la aparición de enfermedades degenerativas con el consiguiente coste económico para su tratamiento. Conforme avanza la edad se produce una pérdida de fuerza de piernas y fuerza de brazos, un descenso no constante del VO2máx y una reducción progresiva no lineal y específica por articulación y movimiento articular de la flexibilidad. Además, en personas mayores los frecuentes trastornos de equilibrio alteran el patrón de la marcha. Y por último se producen modificaciones sustanciales de la composición corporal con disminución de la masa libre de grasa, lo que condiciona un descenso del gasto energético en reposo y el incremento de la masa grasa

Effects of a concurrent exercise training program on low back and sciatic pain and pain disability in late pregnancy

Objective: The aim of the present study was to explore the influence of a concurrent exercise (aerobic + resistance) training program, from the 17th gestational week (g.w.) until birth on low back and sciatic pain, and pain disability. A total of 93 pregnant women divided into exercise (n = 49) and control (n = 44) groups followed a 60-min, 3 days/week, concurrent exercise training. Methods: Low back and sciatic pain were measured with a Visual Analogic Scale (VAS). The disability resulting from pain was assessed with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Measures were performed at the 16th and 34th g.w. Results: The exercise group increased 21.9 mm less the VAS low back (between-group differences (B): 95% CI: −33.6 to −10.2; p < 0.001) and 12.9 mm less the VAS sciatica score (between-group differences: 95% CI (B): −21.8 to −4.0; p = 0.005) than the control group. Regarding the ODI questionnaire, the exercise group increased 0.7, 0.5, and 0.7 less than the control group in pain while sleeping (between-group differences (B): 95% CI: −1.4 to −0.01; p = 0.025), pain while lifting weight (between-group differences (B): 95% CI: −0.9 to −0.01; p = 0.016), and limitations of the social life due to pain (between-group differences(B): 95% CI: −1.3 to −0.06; p = 0.032). Furthermore, the exercise group suffered 6.9% less pain than the control group in the ODI total score (between-group differences (B): 95% CI: −13.9 to 0.053; p = 0.052). Conclusion: This concurrent exercise training program adapted to pregnant women improved pain compared to controlsThe Regional Ministry of Health of the Junta de Andalucía (PI-0395- 2016)University of Granada, Excellence actions: Units of Excellence; Unit of Excellence on Exercise and HealthJunta de Andalucía, Consejería de Conocimiento, Investigación y UniversidadesEuropean Regional Development Fund (ERDF), REF. SOMM17/6107/UGRMFA was additionally funded by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports (Grant number FPU17/03715

Assessment of physical fitness during pregnancy: validity and reliability of fitness tests, and relationship with maternal and neonatal health – a systematic review

Objectives To systematically review studies evaluating one or more components of physical fitness (PF) in pregnant women, to answer two research questions: (1) What tests have been employed to assess PF in pregnant women? and (2) What is the validity and reliability of these tests and their relationship with maternal and neonatal health? Design A systematic review. Data sources PubMed and Web of Science. Eligibility criteria Original English or Spanish full-text articles in a group of healthy pregnant women which at least one component of PF was assessed (field based or laboratory tests). Results A total of 149 articles containing a sum of 191 fitness tests were included. Among the 191 fitness tests, 99 (ie, 52%) assessed cardiorespiratory fitness through 75 different protocols, 28 (15%) assessed muscular fitness through 16 different protocols, 14 (7%) assessed flexibility through 13 different protocols, 45 (24%) assessed balance through 40 different protocols, 2 assessed speed with the same protocol and 3 were multidimensional tests using one protocol. A total of 19 articles with 23 tests (13%) assessed either validity (n=4), reliability (n=6) or the relationship of PF with maternal and neonatal health (n=16). Conclusion Physical fitness has been assessed through a wide variety of protocols, mostly lacking validity and reliability data, and no consensus exists on the most suitable fitness tests to be performed during pregnancy.University of Granada, Plan Propio de Investigacion 2016, Excellence actions: Units of Excellence: Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES)Junta de Andalucia, Consejeria de Conocimiento, Investigacion y Universidades and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) SOMM17/6107/UG

Premenstrual and menstrual changes reported after COVID-19 vaccination: The EVA project

Background: Menstrual disorders were not reported as a possible secondary effect in any of the clinical trials for the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Aim: To describe the prevalence of perceived premenstrual and menstrual changes after COVID-19 vaccine administration. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A total of 14,153 women (mean age 31.5 ± 9.3 years old) who had received the full course of vaccination at least three months earlier were included in this cross-sectional study. Data including the type of vaccine administered, perceived changes in the amount and duration of menstrual bleeding, presence of clots, cycle length, and premenstrual symptoms were collected through a retrospective online survey from June to September 2021. Results: Of the women who participated in this study, 3136 reported no menstrual changes and 11,017 (78% of the study sample) reported experiencing menstrual cycle changes after vaccination. In summary, women who reported menstrual changes after vaccination were older (overall p < 0.001) and slightly more smokers (p = 0.05) than women who did not report any changes. The most prevalent changes in relation to premenstrual symptoms were increased fatigue (43%), abdominal bloating (37%), irritability (29%), sadness (28%), and headaches (28%). The most predominant menstrual changes were more menstrual bleeding (43%), more menstrual pain (41%), delayed menstruation (38%), fewer days of menstrual bleeding (34.5%), and shorter cycle length (32%). Conclusion: Women vaccinated against COVID-19 usually perceive mild menstrual and premenstrual changes. Future studies are warranted to clarify the physiological mechanisms behind these widely reported changes.Antonio Chamorro-Alejandro Otero Research Chair, University of Granad

Health benefits of physical activity in older people

Debido a que el número de personas mayores en España se incrementa y que ha sido altamente contrastado que el envejecimiento activo es clave para conseguir una población mayor sana, la promoción de ejercicio físico regular es una de las principales estrategias no farmacológicas con la que cuentan las instituciones. El ejercicio físico regular y adaptado para mayores está asociado con un menor riesgo de mortalidad. Principalmente como consecuencia de un efecto protector cardiovascular y de síndrome metabólico, disminuye el riesgo de sufrir un infarto de miocardio y de desarrollar diabetes tipo II. Sumado a esto, el ejercicio regular se ha mostrado eficaz en la prevención de ciertos tipos de cáncer, incrementa la densidad mineral ósea, reduce el riesgo de caídas, disminuye el dolor osteoarticular (frecuente en la población mayor) y mejora la función cognitiva, reduciendo el riesgo de padecer demencia y Alzheimer. Además, los beneficios psicosociales del ejercicio adquieren especial protagonismo, combatiendo el aislamiento, la depresión y la ansiedad y favoreciendo la autoestima y cohesión social.As the number of elderly persons in Spain increases, the promotion of regular exercise is one of the main non-pharmaceutical measures proposed to older subjects by institutions. Moderate but regular adapted physical activity is related to a reduction of mortality among older people, with regard to the positive effect on primary prevention of coronary heart disease and the type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, the regular adapted physical activity appeared relevant to prevent falls and to increase bone density. Furthermore, osteoarticular pain (common in old people) is lower after decades of regular aerobic exercise. Moreover, several longitudinal studies have suggested that physical activity improved cognitive function and was linked to a reduced risk of developing senile dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. According to all these results, the role of exercise in the fight against depression and anxiety in older people is considered as similar to the effects of the traditional pharmacology treatment

Influence of Ultra-Processed Foods Consumption on Redox Status and Inflammatory Signaling in Young Celiac Patients

The current study was designed to assess the influence of consumption of ultra-processed (UPF) on oxidative/antioxidant balance and evoked inflammatory signaling in young patients with celiac disease (CD). The study included 85 children. The celiac group (n = 53) included children with CD with a long (>18 months, n = 17) or recent (<18 months, n = 36) adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD). The control group (n = 32) included healthy children with a significantly lower consumption of UPF compared to the CD group, both expressed as kcal/day (p = 0.043) and as percentage of daily energy intake (p = 0.023). Among children with CD, the group with the lowest consumption of UPF (below the 50% of daily energy intake) had a greater Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence and higher moderate physical activity levels. In addition, CD children with the lowest consumption of UPF had healthier redox (lower soluble superoxide dismutase-1 and 15-F2t-isoprostanes) and inflammatory profiles (lower macrophage inflammatory protein-1 ) compared to the group with the highest consumption of UPF (all, p < 0.05) regardless of the time on a GFD. These findings highlight the importance of a correct monitoring of the GFD. An unbalanced GFD with high consumption of UPF and an unhealthy pattern with less physical activity and worse adherence to MD results in a worse inflammatory profile, which could act as a parallel pathway that could have important consequences on the pathophysiology of the disease.Regional Government of Andalusia, Excellence Research Project P12-AGR-2581University of Granada PP2017-PIP14Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports FPU17/0371

A 16-week multicomponent exercise training program improves menopause-related symptoms in middle-aged women. The FLAMENCO project randomized control trial

Abstract Objective: To investigate the influence of a supervised multicomponent exercise training program on menopause-related symptoms, particularly vasomotor symptoms (VMS), in middle-aged women. Methods: A total of 112 middle-aged women (mean age 52 4 y old, age range 45-60 y) from the FLAMENCO project (exercise [n ¼ 59] and counseling [n ¼ 53] groups) participated in this randomized controlled trial (perprotocol basis). The exercise group followed a multicomponent exercise program composed of 60-minute sessions 3 days per week for 16 weeks. The 15-item Cervantes Menopause and Health Subscale was used to assess the frequency of menopause-related symptoms. Results: After adjusting for body mass index and Mediterranean diet adherence, the subscales measuring menopause-related symptoms and VMSs decreased 4.6 more in the exercise group compared to the counseling group (between-group differences [B]: 95% CI: -8.8 to -0.2; P ¼ 0.040). The exercise group also showed significant improvements in the subscales of couple relationships (between-group differences [B]: -1.87: 95% CI: -3.29 to - 0.45; P ¼ 0.010), psychological state (between-group differences [B]: -2.3: 95% CI: -5 to -0.2; P ¼ 0.035), and VMSs (between-group differences [B]: -4.5: 95% CI: -8.8 to -0.2; p ¼ 0.040) in the Cervantes Menopause and Health Subscale compared with the counseling group. Conclusions: A 16-week multicomponent physical exercise program showed a positive effect on menopauserelated symptoms especially in couple relationships, psychological state, and VMS, among 45 to 60 year old women