The effects of face masks on cardiopulmonary capacity in healthy young individuals

BACKGROUND: Due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic that affected the world in a short time, face masks were recommended by all authorities and started to be used widely. Few studies have reported the effects of face masks on cardiopulmonary capacity. In this critical period, there is a need to contribute to the literature to clarify the effects of face masks. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of face masks on cardiopulmonary capacity. METHODS: In this prospective cross-over study, the effect of wearing nomask (nm), surgical mask (cm) and FFP2/N95 (ffpm) mask was examined in 16 healthy individuals (age: 23.12±1.4, BMI: 22.91±12.8, 8 women). Forty-eight tests were performed randomly with the standard cycle ergometer. Time to exhaustion, maximum power, heart rate, dyspnea, respiratory frequency and oxygen saturation were evaluated. Ten domains of the comfort/discomfort levels of wearing mask were evaluated by questionnaire. RESULTS: Time to exhaustion were 383±118, 348.25±106 and 338.62±97 seconds (nm, cm and ffpm, respectively; P0.001). The maximum power was 125±31.62 Watt in all measurements. There was no significant differences in physiological parameters except dyspnea (P=0.004). A significant difference was found between the masks in terms of tightness and breathing resistance in terms of mask comfort/discomfort (P=0.001, P=0.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Cardiopulmonary exercise capacity was reduced in healthy young individuals due to surgical mask and ffpm/N95. In addition to this effect, breathing resistance and tightness should be considered in face masks recommendations during exercise. © 2022 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

Investigation of the relationship between functional movement and respiratory muscle strength in professional football players and sedentary individuals: A controlled trial

Introduction: Functional Movement Screening (FMS) is a battery used for injury prediction, identifying asymmetry and weak connections in basic functional movement patterns. The muscles assessed in FMS are also respiratory muscles. Therefore, FMS scores were thought to be related to respiratory muscle strength. The aim of our study was to examine the relationship between Functional Movement Screen and respiratory muscles strength in professional football players and sedentary individuals. Methods: The study included 23 male professional football players (mean age: 25 ± 6.22 years) and 22 sedantery healthy volunteers (mean age: 24.54 ± 2.75 years). Functional Movement Screen tests were applied by the certified researcher. Respiratory muscle strength measurement were measured with an additional mouth apparatus attached to the portable spirometer ‘Pony FX Desktop Spirometry’ device. Results: Trunk stability push-up (p = 0.01; r = 0.490), rotational stability (p = 0.025; r = 0,519), and Functional Movement Screen total score (p = 0.02; r = 0.568) with maximum expiratory pressure were moderately positive correlated in professional football players. In the sedantery group, Functional Movement Screen sub-parameters were not correlated respiratory muscle strength (p > 0.05). Discussion: The higher Functional Movement Screen total score in professional football players and their skills in functional movements that require trunk and core stabilization increase expiratory muscle strength were found compared to sedentary individuals. Conclusion: Increase of expiratory muscle strength may be useful in the treatment program when the aim was to Improving functional movement patterns, trunk and core stabilization. © 2024 Elsevier Lt

Virtual reality for COPD exacerbation: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an effective treatment method for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, individuals with chronic diseases that require lifelong treatment and experience exacerbations need motivational methods. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of virtual reality on symptoms, daily living activity, functional capacity, anxiety and depression levels in COPD exacerbation. Methods: Fifty patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbation were included in the study. They were randomly assigned to two groups. Twenty-five patients participated in a traditional PR (once-daily until discharge), including pedaling exercises. The second/25 patients followed the same protocol but experienced cycling simulation in the forest via virtual reality (VR + PR). All patients were evaluated using 1-minute/Sit-to-Stand test (STST), modified-Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale, COPD Assessment test (CAT), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and London Chest Activities of Daily Living (LCADL) before and after the treatment. Results: The STST showed an increase in both groups post-treatment, notably higher in the VR + PR (p = 0.037). Dyspnea levels and CAT scores decreased in all patients, but the decrease was greater in the PR + VR group for both parameters (p = 0.062, p = 0.003; respectively). Both groups experienced a reduction in the HADS scores compared to the pre-treatment, with a more significant decrease in depression and the total score in the VR + PR (p 0.05). LCADL's sub-parameters and total score, excluding household, decreased in both groups after treatment (p 0.05). The improvement was more substantial in the VR + PR. Conclusions: Virtual reality provides benefits in the management of COPD exacerbations and can be used safely. Clinical trial registiration: Registered at clinicaltrials.gov, registration ID: NCT05687396, URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd2022SABE00

Quality of life, depression and musculoskeletal pain experience among employed women: A controlled study

OBJECTIVE: The musculoskeletal pain is one of the leading health problems among employed women. The aim of our study was to examine musculoskeletal pain, depression and quality of life (QOL) among employed women and find out the differences with unemployed women. METHODS: A hundred and fifty employed women and 151 housewives were included in our study. We used visual analog scale (VAS) for the assessment of pain, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) for the depressive symptoms and Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) for the assessment of QOL. RESULTS: The ratio of musculoskeletal pain among employed women and unemployed women were found as 42.5% and 57.5% respectively. A mild level of depression was found among employed women whereas moderate and vigorous level of depression were found among unemployed women. There were significant differences in terms of depression and QOL parameters. When the correlations of pain, depression and QOL were analyzed, significant high positive relationships between spinal, lower extremity, upper extremity pain levels and BDI and NHP were found only in housewives. CONCLUSIONS: Lower levels of depression among employed women can give the idea that social ambience at work place, focusing at work and economic independence play a role in decreasing depression. © 2016 IOS Press and the authors

The effects of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications on physical and pulmonary functions: A case–control study

Aims: This study was planned to determine the effects of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and its complications on physical and pulmonary functions. Methods: A total of 110 individuals aged 40–65 years were included in the study, 58 with type 2 DM (study group) and 52 without DM (control group). Physical activity level, functional capacity, pulmonary function, and comorbidity levels were compared between the groups. Results: The mean age of the individuals was 52.42 ± 5.88 years. Six-minute walk test distance was 507.2 ± 51.70 m in the study group and 532.23 ± 50.32 m in the control group (p  0.05), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (%): 96.78 ± 14.43 and 99.73 ± 15.80 (p > 0.05), and FEV1/FVC ratio: 81.97 ± 4.62 and 80.16 ± 5.27 (p > 0.05), respectively. The Charlson Comorbidity Index scores of the study and control groups were 1.83 ± 0.82 and 0.12 ± 0.32 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Type 2 DM was associated with lower functional capacity and higher rates of comorbid diseases. Therefore, potential causes of these parameters should be considered in the rehabilitation of type 2 diabetic patients. © 2018, © 2018 Taylor & Francis

The effects of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications on physical and pulmonary functions: A case–control study

Aims: This study was planned to determine the effects of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and its complications on physical and pulmonary functions. Methods: A total of 110 individuals aged 40–65 years were included in the study, 58 with type 2 DM (study group) and 52 without DM (control group). Physical activity level, functional capacity, pulmonary function, and comorbidity levels were compared between the groups. Results: The mean age of the individuals was 52.42 ± 5.88 years. Six-minute walk test distance was 507.2 ± 51.70 m in the study group and 532.23 ± 50.32 m in the control group (p  0.05, Cohen’s d = 0.49). The pulmonary function test results of the study and control groups were determined as forced vital capacity (FVC) (%): 99.17 ± 14.13 and 104.65 ± 16.01 (p > 0.05), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (%): 96.78 ± 14.43 and 99.73 ± 15.80 (p > 0.05), and FEV1/FVC ratio: 81.97 ± 4.62 and 80.16 ± 5.27 (p > 0.05), respectively. The Charlson Comorbidity Index scores of the study and control groups were 1.83 ± 0.82 and 0.12 ± 0.32 (p  0.05). Conclusions: Type 2 DM was associated with lower functional capacity and higher rates of comorbid diseases. Therefore, potential causes of these parameters should be considered in the rehabilitation of type 2 diabetic patients. © 2018, © 2018 Taylor ; Francis