The impact of a 40‐min nap on neuromuscular fatigue profile and recovery following the 5‐m shuttle run test

Summary: This study aims to investigate the impact of a 40‐min nap opportunity on perceived recovery, exertion, and maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) following the 5‐m shuttle run test (5SRT), after 1 night of normal sleep. In a randomised, counterbalanced, cross‐over design, 17 trained men (mean [SD] age 20 [3] years, height 173 [6] cm, body mass 68 [6] kg) performed a 5SRT under two conditions: a 40‐min nap opportunity and no‐nap condition. After both conditions, electromyography signals during a 5‐s isometric knee extension were recorded before and immediately after the 5SRT. Two electrical nerve stimulations at the femoral nerve were measured during and after the MVIC. Force, voluntary activation level, M‐wave amplitudes, potentiated twitch, and electromyography signals (root mean square) were measured during each MVIC. Perceived exertion was recorded after each repetition of the test and perceived recovery was determined after the end of the MVIC. Compared to the no‐nap condition, the 40‐min nap resulted in significant enhancements in both the highest distance (p < 0.01, Δ = +7.6%) and total distance (p < 0.01, Δ = +7.5%). Before and after exercise, values for MVIC, root mean square, M‐wave amplitudes, and voluntary activation level were improved after the 40‐min nap opportunity compared to no‐nap condition (all p ≤ 0.01). Values for perceived exertion and recovery were improved after the 40‐min nap opportunity in comparison with no‐nap condition (p ≤ 0.01). A 40‐min nap opportunity improved repeated high‐intensity short‐term maximal performance, perceived recovery, associated neuromuscular responses, and reduced perceived fatigue. Therefore, our findings suggest that central and peripheral processes are involved in the improvements of 5SRT performance after napping.</p

COVID-19 home confinement negatively impacts social participation and life satisfaction: a worldwide multicenter study

Public health recommendations and governmental measures during the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic have enforced numerous restrictions on daily living including social distancing, isolation, and home confinement. While these measures are imperative to mitigate spreading of COVID-19, the impact of these restrictions on psychosocial health is undefined. Therefore, an international online survey was launched in April 2020 to elucidate the behavioral and lifestyle consequences of COVID-19 restrictions. This report presents the preliminary results from more than one thousand responders on social participation and life satisfaction. Methods: Thirty-five research organizations from Europe, North-Africa, Western Asia, and the Americas promoted the survey through their networks to the general society, in 7 languages (English, German, French, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, and Slovenian). Questions were presented in a differential format with questions related to responses “before” and “during” confinement conditions. Results: 1047 participations (54% women) from Asia (36%), Africa (40%), Europe (21%), and others (3%) were included in the analysis. Findings revealed psychosocial strain during the enforced COVID-19 home confinement. Large decreases (p < 0.001) in the amount of social activity through family (−58%), friends/neighbors (−44.9%), or entertainment (−46.7%) were triggered by the enforced confinement. These negative effects on social participation were also associated with lower life satisfaction (−30.5%) during the confinement period. Conversely, the social contact score through digital technologies significantly increased (p < 0.001) during the confinement period with more individuals (+24.8%) being socially connected through digital technology. Conclusion: These preliminary findings elucidate the risk of psychosocial strain during the early COVID-19 home confinement period in 2020. Therefore, in order to mitigate the negative psychosocial effects of home confinement, implementation of national strategies focused on promoting social inclusion through a technology-based solution is strongly suggested

Sleep quality and physical activity as predictors of mental wellbeing variance in older adults during COVID-19 lockdown: ECLB COVID-19 international online survey

Background. The COVID-19 lockdown could engender disruption to lifestyle behaviors, thus impairing mental wellbeing in the general population. This study investigated whether socio-demographic variables, changes in physical activity, and sleep quality from pre-to during lockdown were predictors of change in mental wellbeing in quarantined older adults. Methods. A 12-week international online survey was launched in 14 languages on 6 April 2020. Forty-one research insti-tutions from Europe, Western-Asia, North-Africa, and the Americas, promoted the survey. The survey was presented in a differential format with questions related to responses “pre” and “during” the lockdown period. Participants responded to the Short Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire, and the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results. Replies from older adults (aged >55 years, n = 517), mainly from Europe (50.1%), Western-Asia (6.8%), America (30%), and North-Africa (9.3%) were analyzed. The COVID-19 lockdown led to significantly decreased mental wellbeing, sleep quality, and total physical activity energy expenditure levels (all p (2, 514) = 66.41 p 2: 0.20). Conclusion. COVID-19 lockdown deleteriously affected physical activity and sleep patterns. Furthermore, change in the total PSQI score and total physical activity energy expenditure were significant predictors for the decrease in mental wellbeing