The usage of blood flow restriction as training intervention in physically active adults and as rehabilitation modality in knee osteoarthritis patients

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) can be divided into two periods: exercise and interval period. It is unclear whether there are differences in physiological and biomechanical effects when blood flow restriction (BFR) is used for an exercise intervention in different phases of HIIT. Previous BFR studies on patients with musculoskeletal injuries/problems were focused on pain and physiological outcomes. The biomechanical effects of resistance exercise with and without BFR on patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) are unknown. Therefore, this study evaluated the long term effect of HIIT with BFR on healthy male adults and the immediate effect of BFR resistance training on patients with knee OA. Initially, 32 healthy male adults were randomised into one of the following conditions: HIIT without BFR (Control Group, n=11), HIIT with BFR during exercise phase (Experimental Group, n=10). HIIT with BFR during interval phase (Interval Group, n=11). Then, exercise intervention twice a week for 12 weeks was performed. Maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), cycling economy, isometric knee strength, Wingate test and single leg landing biomechanical test were performed in the first, sixth and twelfth weeks. Next, 15 patients with knee OA completed two exercise sessions: elastic band resistance exercise (control group) or elastic band resistance exercise with BFR (experimental group). Heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, visual analogue scale, blood pressure and biomechanical indexes during Sit-to-Stand (STS) and gait were evaluated before and after exercise. According to the results of study, we conclude that 12 weeks of HIIT with BFR improved aerobic and anaerobic capacity in healthy male adults. Secondly, HIIT with BFR had no effects on biomechanical variables during single leg landing among healthy male adults. In addition, the application of BFR in the interval phase of HIIT improved cycling economy and fatigue index better than when applying BFR during the exercise phase. For the OA patients, the ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) was higher after elastic band exercise with BFR. Elastic-band exercise with BFR increased the internal and lateral peak pressure of the heel during gait. Notably, the elastic band exercise with BFR reduced the gait symmetry in the early stance of gait. Finally, for STS test, the OA side had a larger hip abduction angle in the sit-off phase than the healthy side, and the ground reaction force of the OA side was smaller than the healthy side in the sit-off and peak ankle flexion phases. The present study concludes that applying BFR during the interval period of HIIT can improve anaerobic capacity and cycling economy better than BFR during the exercise phase, and elastic band exercise combined with BFR is safe in patients with unilateral OA

Whole-body vibration training for children with neurological disabilities: A meta-analysis

Over the years, the concern over bone health deterioration in children with neurological disabilities (ND) has caught the interest of the research community. As the current traditional exercise methods are considered too challenging for children with ND, it is essential to seek effective rehabilitation programs with minimum difficulties and movement restrictions for children with disabilities, ultimately improving their muscle and bone health. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the potential application of whole-body vibration training (WBVT) as a beneficial and effective approach to improving bone mineral density (BMD), total body bone mineral content (BMC), and lean mass in children with ND. The impact of WBVT on children with ND was investigated using a systematic review and meta-analysis approach following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). A database search was conducted to screen and select previous literature sources published from January 2002 to July 2022 from EBSCO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Following the quality assessment (PEDro scale and NIH scale) and sensitivity analysis, the standardized mean difference (SMD) was conducted using the STATA 15.1 software with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022343789). Eight studies (four randomized controlled trial [RCT] and four non-RCT studies) were selected, which involved 184 male and 130 female participants. Based on the PEDro scale, all RCT studies were classified as high methodological quality, while the NIH scale rated all non-RCT papers as “Good”. In addition, the meta-analysis results indicated that WBVT substantially enhanced femur BMD [(p<.01, z = 3.37), SMD (95% CI) = 0.47 (0.20, 0.74)], lumbar spine BMD [(p=.02, z = 2.32), SMD (95% CI) = 0.32 (0.05, 0.58)], total body BMC [(p<.01, z = 3.42), SMD (95% CI) = 0.29 (0.12, 0.46)] and lean mass [(p<.01, z = 2.80), SMD (95% CI) = 0.25 (0.07, 0.42)] of children with ND. However, the effect of WBVT was insignificant on the total body BMD of children with ND [(p=.22, z = 1.24), SMD (95% CI) = 0.14 (-0.08, 0.37)]. The meta-analysis demonstrated the significant effect of WBVT on the femur BMD, lumbar spine BMD, total body BMC, and lean mass in children with ND. Hence, WBVT can be suggested as a complementary treatment prescription for children with ND

Effects of high-intensity interval exercise on cardiac troponin elevation when comparing with moderate-intensity continuous exercise: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the effects of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) with different recovery modes versus moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE) on cardiac troponin (cTn) elevation. Methodology A literature search was conducted in four databases: Scopus, PubMed, EBSCO and Web of Science from January 2010 to June 2022. The articles were screened, evaluated for quality before data were extracted. The review protocol was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42021245649). Standardized mean differences (SMD) of peak cTn were analyzed with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) using Revman 5.4 software. Results Six studies satisfied the inclusion criteria with a total of 92 and 79 participants for HIIE and MICE, respectively. Overall, there was no significant difference between HIIE and MICE in the elevation of cardiac troponin T (SMD: 0.41 [95% CI [−0.21, 1.03]], p = 0.20, I2 = 77%, p for heterogeneity <0.01). In subgroup analysis, HIIE with passive recovery elicits greater release of cardiac troponin T than MICE (SMD: 0.85 [95% CI [0.44, 1.27]], p < 0.01, I2 = 32%, p for heterogeneity = 0.22). Changes of cardiac troponin T (SMD: 0.41 [95% CI [−0.21, 1.03]], p = 0.20, I2 = 77%, p for heterogeneity < 0.01) after HIIE with active recovery were not significantly different from those of MICE. Conclusions There was no significant difference between HIIE and MICE in the elevation of cardiac troponin T. However, HIIE with passive recovery elicited more cardiac troponin T elevation than MICE, which should be considered when developing exercise programs

Efficacy and safety of the compound Chinese medicine SaiLuoTong in vascular dementia: A randomized clinical trial

Introduction: No licensed medications are available to treat vascular dementia (VaD). Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to experimental groups (SaiLuoTong [SLT] 360 or 240 mg for groups A and B for 52 weeks, respectively) or placebo group (SLT 360 mg and 240 mg for group C only from weeks 27 to 52, respectively). Results: Three hundred twenty-five patients were included in final analysis. At week 26, the difference in VaD Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale scores was 2.67 (95% confidence interval, 1.54 to 3.81) for groups A versus C, and 2.48 (1.34 to 3.62) for groups B versus C (both Discussion: This study suggests that SLT is effective for treatment of VaD, and this compound Chinese medicine may represent a better choice to treat VaD

The Distribution of Saturated Clusters in Wetted Granular Materials

As a typical multiphase fluid flow process, drainage in porous media, also called as fluid displacement, is of fundamental interest in nature and various industrial applications. During this drainage process occurs in porous media, saturated clusters, which formed when liquid phases fully occupy the pore space between solid grains, affect the relative permeability and the effective stress of unsaturated soils and rocks. In this study, we studied the drainage process in unsaturated granular media experimentally. The distribution of saturated clusters is analysed by an optical imaging method under different drainage conditions, in which the pore-scale information from the Voronoi and Delaunay tessellation was used to characterize the crystallisation effect on saturated cluster distributions. By employing a method of statistical analyses, the observed spatial and temporal information of multiphase flow in granular media are described. The results indicated that the distributions of both the crystallised cell size and pore size are positively correlated to the spatial and temporal distribution of saturated cluster sizes. The saturated cluster size was found to follow a lognormal distribution, in which the negative and positive correlation with the generalised Bond number (〖"Bo" 〗^*) have found for the scale parameter () and shape parameter (), respectively. With further consideration of the total surface energy obtained based on liquid-air interfaces, we were able to include additional grain-scale information in the constitutive modelling of unsaturated soils using both the saturation degree and generalised Bond number. These findings have successfully bridged the pore-scale behaviours with the overall hydro-mechanical characteristics in partially saturated soils

The distribution of saturated clusters in wetted granular materials

The hydro-mechanical behaviour of partially saturated granular materials is greatly influenced by the spatial and temporal distribution of liquid within the media. The aim of this paper is to characterise the distribution of saturated clusters in granular materials using an optical imaging method under different water drainage conditions. A saturated cluster is formed when a liquid phase fully occupies the pore space between solid grains in a localized region. The samples considered here were prepared by vibrating mono-sized glass beads to form closely packed assemblies in a rectangular container. A range of drainage conditions were applied to the specimen by tilting the container and employing different flow rates, and the liquid pressure was recorded at different positions in the experimental cell. The formation of saturated clusters during the liquid withdrawal processes is governed by three competing mechanisms arising from viscous, capillary, and gravitational forces. When the flow rate is sufficiently large and the gravity component is sufficiently small, the viscous force tends to destabilize the liquid front leading to the formation of narrow fingers of saturated material. As the water channels along these liquid fingers break, saturated clusters are formed inside the specimen. Subsequently, a spatial and temporal distribution of saturated clusters can be observed. We investigated the resulting saturated cluster distribution as a function of flow rate and gravity to achieve a fundamental understanding of the formation and evolution of such clusters in partially saturated granular materials. This study serves as a bridge between pore-scale behavior and the overall hydro-mechanical characteristics in partially saturated soils

The distribution of saturated clusters in wetted granular materials

The hydro-mechanical behaviour of partially saturated granular materials is greatly influenced by the spatial and temporal distribution of liquid within the media. The aim of this paper is to characterise the distribution of saturated clusters in granular materials using an optical imaging method under different water drainage conditions. A saturated cluster is formed when a liquid phase fully occupies the pore space between solid grains in a localized region. The samples considered here were prepared by vibrating mono-sized glass beads to form closely packed assemblies in a rectangular container. A range of drainage conditions were applied to the specimen by tilting the container and employing different flow rates, and the liquid pressure was recorded at different positions in the experimental cell. The formation of saturated clusters during the liquid withdrawal processes is governed by three competing mechanisms arising from viscous, capillary, and gravitational forces. When the flow rate is sufficiently large and the gravity component is sufficiently small, the viscous force tends to destabilize the liquid front leading to the formation of narrow fingers of saturated material. As the water channels along these liquid fingers break, saturated clusters are formed inside the specimen. Subsequently, a spatial and temporal distribution of saturated clusters can be observed. We investigated the resulting saturated cluster distribution as a function of flow rate and gravity to achieve a fundamental understanding of the formation and evolution of such clusters in partially saturated granular materials. This study serves as a bridge between pore-scale behavior and the overall hydro-mechanical characteristics in partially saturated soils

The Impact of Whole-Body Vibration Training on Bone Minerals and Lean Mass in Children and Adolescents with Motor Disabilities: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Whole-body vibration training (WBVT) offers a potential auxiliary treatment method for the rehabilitation of motor disabilities to address a reduction in bone minerals and lean mass caused by motor-disability rehabilitation. The aim of this review was to analyze the efficacy of WBVT in muscle&ndash;bone rehabilitation. In order to investigate the potential effect of WBVT on children and adolescents with motor disabilities, a meta-analysis was carried out. From January 2006 to June 2021, studies that met certain criteria were searched for in the Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCO databases. An analysis of standardized mean differences was performed using the STATA 15.1 software with a 95% confidence interval (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021258538). Eight studies were selected that included 179 male and 139 female children and adolescents suffering from motor disabilities. The results of the meta-analysis showed that WBVT significantly improved femur bone-mineral density ((p &lt; 0.01, z = 2.66), standardized mean difference (SMD) (95% CI) = 0.41 (0.11, 0.72)), total body&ndash;bone mineral content ((p &lt; 0.01, z = 3.08), SMD (95% CI) = 0.26 (0.10, 0.43)), and lean mass ((p &lt; 0.01, z = 2.63), SMD (95% CI) = 0.22 (0.06, 0.39)). In addition, there was no significant effect of WBVT on lumbar spine bone mineral density in the disabled children and adolescents ((p = 0.21, z = 1.25), SMD (95% CI) = 0.17 (&minus;0.10, 0.43)). WBVT can improve femur bone density, total body bone mineral content, and lean mass in children and adolescents suffering from motor disabilities, while there is no effect on lumbar-spine bone density. WBVT can be used as a potential program to improve bone minerals in children and adolescents with motor disabilities