Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders during and after Driving among Suburban Truck Trailer Drivers in Taybad, Iran, in 2016

Introduction and purpose: Musculoskeletal pain is a prevalent problem among the drivers. According to the literature, musculoskeletal disorders and  back pain are among the main causes of road accidents. Regarding this, the aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort during and after driving among the truck trailer drivers in Taybad, Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran, in 2016. Methods: This descriptive-analytic, cross-sectional study was conducted on 290 truck drivers in Taybad. The study population was selected using simple random sampling technique. After providing the drivers with training, they determined the discomfort rate in different parts of their body on the Body Discomfort Chart (BDC). In addition, the Driving Ergonomic Questionnaire and Body Part Discomfort Map were used to examine the pain and discomfort rates in different areas of the body during driving in the last month. Data analysis was performed using the descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 21.Results: According to the results, the lower back part (during driving: 54.42% vs. after driving: 27.76%) and neck (during driving: 44.43% vs. after driving: 58.86%) had the highest prevalence of disorders during and after driving in all three intensities. Conclusion: As the findings of the present study indicated, long sitting behind the steering wheel throughout the day can be a reason for musculoskeletal discomforts in the trailer truck drivers. Regarding the high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, drivers need to take corrective measures with the priorities of  educational programs

Exercise Training for Pulmonary Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a chronic disease with a notable health burden; regular exercise may improve specific health outcome measures. Objective: The objective of this meta-analysis was to estimate the effectiveness of exercise training for PH patients. Data sources: PubMed, CINAHL, SportDiscuss and Google Scholar databases and reference lists of included studies were searched. Study selection: The selection criteria were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) employing an exercise training intervention. Data were extracted from the entered studies for analysis. The primary outcomes were peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), anaerobic threshold (AT), 6-minute walk distance (6-MWD), and quality of life (QoL) measures (physical component score and mental component score). The analysis included 9 articles with a total of 302 participants: intervention (n = 154), and control (n = 148). Results: In the pooled analysis, improvements were seen in: VO2peak, mean difference (MD) 2.79 ml/kg/min (95% CI 2.00 to 3.59, p p = 0.002); and 6-MWD, MD 46.67 meters (95% CI 32.39 to 60.96, p p p = 0.001). Conclusion: This meta-analysis demonstrates exercise training has a beneficial effect on fitness, walking performance, and self-reported QoL in PH patients

The Impact of Different Modes of Exercise Training on Bone Mineral Density in Older Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Research

Effectiveness of exercise on bone mass is closely related to the mode of exercise training regimen, as well as the study design. This study aimed to determine the effect of different modes of exercise training on lumbar spine and femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) in older postmenopausal women (PMW). PubMed, CINAHL, Medline, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases and reference lists of included studies were searched up until March 25, 2019 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effectiveness of various modes of exercise training in PMW. Sixteen RCTs with 1624 subjects were included. Our study found no significant change in both lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD following exercise training (MD: 0.01 g/cm2; 95% confidence interval (CI) [− 0.01, 0.02] and MD: 0.00 g/cm2; 95% CI [− 0.01, 0.01], respectively). However, subgroup analysis by type of exercise training revealed that lumbar spine BMD (MD: 0.01; 95% CI [0.00, 0.02]) raised significantly when whole-body vibration (WBV) was employed as intervention compared with RCTs that utilized aerobic (MD: − 0.01; 95% CI [− 0.02, − 0.01]), resistance (MD: 0.01; 95% CI [− 0.04, 0.06]), and combined training (MD: 0.03; 95% CI [− 0.01, 0.08]). On the other hand, lumbar spine BMD (MD: − 0.01; 95% CI [− 0.02, − 0.01]) reduced significantly when aerobic exercise training was used as intervention compared with RCTs that utilized resistance training, combined training, and WBV. By contrast, these analyses did not have significant effect on change in femoral neck BMD. WBV is an effective method to improve lumbar spine BMD in older PMW

The level of the aggression in karate athletes with different handedness and belt grades

Karate athletes with different lateral talents possess different functions in terms of skills and personality characteristics in a way that handedness can be considered an advantage. Given that there is a paucity of research in the domain of personality characteristics, handedness and belt grades, the current research aims to investigate the relationship between handedness and belt grades with aggression among karate athletes. 120 male karate athletes participated. To measure handedness, we used Annette’s handedness questionnaire and to measure aggression, we used Bredemeier’s aggression questionnaire. The questionnaires were distributed among participants one day before the tournament. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to measure the effects of belt grades and handedness on the level of aggression. The results of the study indicated that there was no statistically significant difference in the average level of aggression between left-handed and right-handed karate athletes. There was also no statistically significant difference in the average level of aggression between karate athletes with different belt grades

Acute effects of sodium citrate supplementation on competitive performance and lactate level of elite fitness challenge athletes: A crossover, placebo-controlled, double-blind study

International audiencePurposeThe performance of sodium citrate has been investigated in high-intensity exercises, but fewer studies have addressed the role of citrate in weight-bearing exercises.MethodsTwenty fitness challenge athletes, aged 24–32 years, volunteered to participate in this crossover, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Initially, ten athletes were given a placebo and asked to complete a fitness challenge (i.e., chin-ups, squat jumps, dips, walking lunges, sit-ups, and burpees-devil press). Another ten athletes were supplemented with sodium citrate 0.5 g/kg body mass supplements 3 h prior to performing the fitness challenges. The same procedures were completed two days later with the supplement and placebo dextrose groups switched in a cross-over design. Athletes and assessors were blinded for the experimental condition (placebo vs. verum). Lactate levels were measured 5 min after exercise. The athletes' performance on each item of the fitness challenge as well as their lactate levels, were compared. Differences between the means of the measured variables were contrasted using a dependent t-test.ResultsSupplementing sodium citrate substantially improved athletes' performance in all six fitness challenge items (p < 0.05, 0.69<Cohen's d < 2.52, moderate to large). In addition, lactate levels registered after the fitness challenge were lower in the citrate sodium supplementation vs. placebo condition (p = 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.63, moderate).ConclusionAcute sodium citrate supplementation may help fitness challengers postpone muscular fatigue and increase performance, potentially via the prevention of lactate accumulation

Injury burden in individuals aged 50 years or older in the Eastern Mediterranean region, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Injury poses a major threat to health and longevity in adults aged 50 years or older. The increased life expectancy in the Eastern Mediterranean region warrants a further understanding of the ageing population's inevitable changing health demands and challenges. We aimed to examine injury-related morbidity and mortality among adults aged 50 years or older in 22 Eastern Mediterranean countries. Methods: Drawing on data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019, we categorised the population into adults aged 50–69 years and adults aged 70 years and older. We examined estimates for transport injuries, self-harm injuries, and unintentional injuries for both age groups, with sex differences reported, and analysed the percentage changes from 1990 to 2019. We reported injury-related mortality rates and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). The Socio-demographic Index (SDI) and the Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) Index were used to better understand the association of socioeconomic factors and health-care system performance, respectively, with injuries and health status in older people. Healthy life expectancy (HALE) was compared with injury-related deaths and DALYs and to the SDI and HAQ Index to understand the effect of injuries on healthy ageing. Finally, risk factors for injury deaths between 1990 and 2019 were assessed. 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) are given for all estimates. Findings: Estimated injury mortality rates in the Eastern Mediterranean region exceeded the global rates in 2019, with higher injury mortality rates in males than in females for both age groups. Transport injuries were the leading cause of deaths in adults aged 50–69 years (43·0 [95% UI 31·0–51·8] per 100 000 population) and in adults aged 70 years or older (66·2 [52·5–75·5] per 100 000 population), closely followed by conflict and terrorism for both age groups (10·2 [9·3–11·3] deaths per 100 000 population for 50–69 years and 45·7 [41·5–50·3] deaths per 100 000 population for ≥70 years). The highest annual percentage change in mortality rates due to injury was observed in Afghanistan among people aged 70 years or older (400·4% increase; mortality rate 1109·7 [1017·7–1214·7] per 100 000 population). The leading cause of DALYs was transport injuries for people aged 50–69 years (1798·8 [1394·1–2116·0] per 100 000 population) and unintentional injuries for those aged 70 years or older (2013·2 [1682·2–2408·7] per 100 000 population). The estimates for HALE at 50 years and at 70 years in the Eastern Mediterranean region were lower than global estimates. Eastern Mediterranean countries with the lowest SDIs and HAQ Index values had high prevalence of injury DALYs and ranked the lowest for HALE at 50 years of age and HALE at 70 years. The leading injury mortality risk factors were occupational exposure in people aged 50–69 years and low bone mineral density in those aged 70 years or older. Interpretation: Injuries still pose a real threat to people aged 50 years or older living in the Eastern Mediterranean region, mainly due to transport and violence-related injuries. Dedicated efforts should be implemented to devise injury prevention strategies that are appropriate for older adults and cost-effective injury programmes tailored to the needs and resources of local health-care systems, and to curtail injury-associated risk and promote healthy ageing. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation