A. Di Cagno

Psychological well-being and social participation assessment in visually impaired subjects playing Torball: a controlled study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in psychological well-being, symptomatic psychological disorders and social participation, between blind Torball players and non-players. Thirty blind male participants were recruited, 17 Torball players (aged 36.27±3.46) and 13 non-players (aged 34.80±2.53), and evaluated for social participation level, psychological well-being and symptomatic psychological disorders, using three validated self-report questionnaires: Participation Scale (PS), Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWBS) and Symptom Checklist 90 R (SCL-90-R) respectively. ANOVA showed significant overall differences between the two groups. The social restriction score in the non-player group was significantly higher (p<0.01) than the player group. The Torball player group showed significant better scores than non-player group in 5 of the 6 dimensions of the PWB Scale (p<0.01) and in 8 of the 10 dimensions of the SCL-90-R (7 dimensions p<0.01; 1 dimension p<0.05) and in the three global scores of the SCL-90-R (p<0.01). The results of this study showed a relationship between psychological well-being and social skills of visually impaired people and their Torball practice.

Physical fitness assessment in multiple sclerosis patients: A controlled study

There is growing evidence to show the effectiveness of physical exercise for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Aim of this study was to evaluate aerobic capacity, strength, balance, and the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) after exercise, in ambulatory patients with mild MS and matched control healthy participants. Seventeen MS patients aged 48.09 ± 10.0 years, with mild MS disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale: EDSS 1.5 to 4.5) and 10 healthy sedentary age matched (41.9 ± 11.2 years) subjects volunteered for the study. MS patients underwent medical examination with resting electrocardiogram, arterial blood pressure, EDSS, and Modified Fatigue Impact Scale-MFIS. Both groups also underwent physical assessment with the Berg Balance Scale(,) test (Berg), Six Minutes Walking Test (6MWT), maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MIVC) of forearm, lower limb, shoulder strength test, and the Borg 10-point scale test. The one-way ANOVA showed significant differences for MFIS (F1.19=9.420; p<0.01), Berg (F1.19=13.125; p<0.01), handgrip MIVC (F1.19=4.567; p<0.05), lower limbs MIVC (F1.19=7.429; p<0.01), and 6MWT (F1.19=28.061; p<0.01) between groups. EDSS, Berg test and Borg scores explained 80% of 6MWT variation. Mild grade EDSS patients exhibited impaired balance, muscle strength, and low self pace-6MWT scores, whereas RPE response after the exercise was similar to that of sedentary individuals. Both groups showed similar global physiological adjustments to exercise.

Effect of whole body vibration frequency on neuromuscular activity in ACL-deficient and healthy males

Whole-body vibration (WBV) has been shown to enhance muscle activity via reflex pathways, thus having the potential to contrast muscle weakness in individuals with rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The present study aimed to compare the magnitude of neuromuscular activation during WBV over a frequency spectrum from 20 to 45 Hz between ACL-deficient and healthy individuals. Fifteen males aged 28±4 with ACL rupture and 15 age-matched healthy males were recruited. Root mean square (RMS) of the surface electromyogram from the vastus lateralis in both limbs was computed during WBV in a static half-squat position at 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 Hz, and normalized to the RMS while maintaining the half-squat position without vibration. The RMS of the vastus lateralis in the ACL-deficient limb was significantly greater than in the contralateral limb at 25, 30, 35 and 40 Hz (P<0.05) and in both limbs of the healthy participants (dominant limb at 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 Hz, P<0.05; non dominant limb at 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 Hz, P<0.05). The greater neuromuscular activity in the injured limb compared to the uninjured limb of the ACL-deficient patients and to both limbs of the healthy participants during WBV might be due to either augmented excitatory or reduced inhibitory neural inflow to motoneurons of the vastus lateralis through the reflex pathways activated by vibratory stimuli. The study provides optimal WBV frequencies which might be used as reference values for ACL-deficient patients.

P-24 Early whole-body-vibration treatment on knee neuromuscular function and postural control after acl reconstruction

Randomised controlled trials dealing with the impact of WBV therapy on neuromuscular control after ACL reconstruction are scarce. To assess the effects of adding an early whole-body-vibration protocol at optimal frequency (WBV-OF), to a traditional rehabilitation programme (TRP), in comparison with a TRP, on maximal strength and balance, after ACL reconstruction. Thirty-four ACL reconstructed patients with hamstring-tendon graft underwent either 4 weeks of WBV-OF training in addition to a TRP, or to a TRP only, starting from the first month after surgery. Patients were assessed for maximal voluntary isometric strength during both knee extension and flexion and for balance on a force platform before, 1 month after treatment and at 3-month follow-up. Abstract P-24 Figure 1 Strength symmetry of the knee extensor (a) and flexor (b) muscles Strength symmetry of the knee flexor muscles (Figure 1) improved in WBV-OF+TRP patients more than in TRP patients 1 month after treatment (66 ± 15% vs 58 ± 13%), which was maintained also at the 3-month follow up (77 ± 15% vs 64 ± 15%), with no differences in balance improvements between the two groups after treatment (Figure 2). Adding 4-weeks of WBV-OF to a TRP 1 month after surgery is effective in improving muscle strength of the knee flexor muscles. This early intervention may be incorporated into current rehabilitation to facilitate early strength recovery of ACL reconstructed patients Abstract P-24 Figure 2 Differences in balance with open eyes (a), closed eyes (b) References Rittweger J. Vibration as an exercise modality: howitmay work, and what its potential might be. Eur J Appl Physiol 2010 Mar:(108):877–904. Ritzmann R, Kramer A, Bernhardt S, Gollhofer A. Whole body vibration training-improving balance control and muscle endurance. PLoS One 2014 Feb: (26):e89905. Giombini A, Macaluso A, Laudani L, Di Cesare A, Piccinini A, Pigozzi F, Saraceni VM. Acute effect of whole-body vibration at optimal frequency on muscle power output of the lower limbs in older women. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2013 Sep:(92):797–804.