Antonio J. Casimiro

Fibromyalgia has a larger impact on physical health than on psychological health, yet both are markedly affected: The al-Ándalus project

OBJECTIVES To characterize a representative sample of fibromyalgia women based on a set of relevant factors known to be related to this disease. To distinguish specific factors of the disease from other symptoms that might also exist in non-fibromyalgia women. To test whether fibromyalgia affects more severely physical or psychological outcomes. METHODS A total of 459 fibromyalgia women vs. 214 non-fibromyalgia (control) women from Southern Spain (Andalusia) took part in this cross-sectional study. Several instruments were used to assess tenderness, impact of fibromyalgia, fatigue, health-related quality of life, mental health, and cognitive performance. RESULTS Overall, fibromyalgia women showed a worse status in pain, fatigue, health-related quality of life, depression, and anxiety than controls (P < 0.01). In general, the observed associations presented very large effect sizes (Cohen׳s d from ~1 to ~5.5). No differences between fibromyalgia and controls were observed in cognitive and memory performance, except for delayed recall, but the observed effect size was low (~0.25). The effect size observed for the global physical component (~3.3) was larger than that for the global psychological component (~1.3), all P < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS Our results reinforce the understanding of fibromyalgia as a polysymptomatic distress condition with pain as its main symptom. Our findings support that fibromyalgia seems to have a greater impact on physical than on psychological outcomes, though both are largely affected.

Effect of stretching program in an industrial workplace on hamstring flexibility and sagittal spinal posture of adult women workers: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of a stretching program performed in the workplace on the hamstring muscle extensibility and sagittal spinal posture of adult women. MATERIAL AND METHODS Fifty-eight adult women volunteers (mean age of 44.23 ± 8.87 years) from a private fruit and vegetable company were randomly assigned to experimental (n=27) or control (n=31) groups. The experimental group performed three exercises of hamstrings stretching of 20 seconds per exercise, three sessions a week for a period of 12 weeks. The control group did not participate in any hamstring stretching program. Hamstring flexibility was evaluated through the passive straight leg raise test and toe-touch test, performed both before and after the stretching program. Thoracic and lumbar curvatures and pelvic inclination were measured in relaxed standing and toe-touch test with a Spinal Mouse. RESULTS Significant increases (p < 0.01) in toe-touch score and straight leg raise angle (in both legs) were found in the experimental group during post-test, while the control group showed a non-significant decrease for both toe-touch score and straight leg raise test. A significant decrease in thoracic curve and significant increase in pelvic inclination were found in the toe-touch test for the experimental group (p <0.05). However, no significant changes were found in standing posture for any group. CONCLUSIONS Hamstring stretching exercises performed in the working place are effective for increasing hamstring muscle extensibility. This increase generates a more aligned thoracic curve and more anterior pelvic inclination when maximal trunk flexion is performed.

Evolución de la Morfología del Raquis e Inclinación Pélvica en Ciclistas de Diferentes Edades: Un Estudio Transversal

El objetivo principal del estudio fue determinar la morfologia del raquis e inclinacion pelvica en bipedestacion en tres grupos de ciclistas de distintas edades, con un volumen de entrenamiento y experiencia similares. Un total de 65 ciclistas fueron divididos en tres grupos de edad: grupo 1 ( 30 anos; n = 20); grupo 2 (entre 31 y 40 anos; n = 25); y grupo 3 ( 41 anos; n = 20). Posteriormente se les evaluo la morfologia sagital del raquis toracico, lumbar e inclinacion pelvica en bipedestacion, mediante el sistema Spinal Mouse. Los valores angulares medios para el raquis toracico, lumbar e inclinacion pelvica para el grupo 1 fueron: 46,60 ± 10,09; - 26,40 ± 7,17; 13,20 ± 4,94; para el grupo 2: 47,64 ± 8,58; -26,92 ± 6,34; 12,24 ± 4,45; y para el grupo 3: 50,75 ± 12,77; -20,70 ± 10,10 y 8,15 ± 8,21. Se encontraron diferencias significativas en el raquis lumbar e inclinacion pelvica en los grupos 1 y 2, con respecto al 3. En conclusion, la edad es un factor que condiciona la morfologia del raquis e inclinacion pelvica en ciclistas que presentan los mismos anos de practica y volumen de entrenamiento en ciclismo.

Motivos de los ciudadanos para realizar ejercicio físico: un estudio desde la teoría de la autodeterminación

Based on self-determination theory, the objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between the reasons for exercise and its reported weekly frequency in a representative sample of an adult urban population. A total of 918 inhabitants, aged between 16 and 89, participated in this study answering the Spanish version of the Exercise Motivations Inventory-2 (EMI-2) and reporting on their exercise frequency. Controlling for the influence of age and gender, multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) showed that participants who reported the highest exercise frequency had the highest score on both self-determined and controlling exercise motives, except the ill-health avoidance motive. The results support propositions of self-determination theory, and suggest that citizens may internalize exercise behaviour as they become more physically active. However, the results also suggest that some controlling motives are pertinent to exercise. Decision makers of the local sport policy should look into suitable ways of combining both controlling motives and more internalized motives in order to produce long lasting exercise adherence in citizens.

Análisis de la Morfología del Raquis Torácico y Lumbar en Mujeres Trabajadoras de una Cooperativa Hortofrutícola

El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar la disposicion angular del raquis toracico y lumbar en bipedestacion y sedentacion relajada en mujeres trabajadoras de una empresa hortofruticola. Un total de 50 mujeres (media de edad: 43,62±8,43 anos) fueron evaluadas mediante un Spinal Mouse en bipedestacion y en sedentacion relajada. Los valores angulares medios para el raquis toracico y lumbar fueron de 32,74±8,76 y -21,66±19,12 en bipedestacion y de 36,32±10,55 y -1,08±18,14, en sedentacion. En bipedestacion, un elevado porcentaje de casos (86% y 68,3%) presentaban una cifosis toracica y lordosis lumbar dentro de los valores de normalidad. En sedentacion, el 74% presentaban hipercifosis toracica y el 20% una inversion lumbar. En conclusion, aunque en bipedestacion la mayoria de las mujeres presentaban una morfologia del raquis dentro de los valores de normalidad, en sedentacion se observo un elevado porcentaje de casos con hipercifosis toracica y el raquis lumbar en inversion. Debido a las consecuencias negativas que se asocian a dichas desalineaciones raquideas, es recomendable aplicar programas de mejora de la actitud postural en estas trabajadoras, preferentemente en su contexto laboral.