F Corona

Muscle ischemic preconditioning does not improve performance during self-paced exercise

Muscle ischemic preconditioning (IP) has been found to improve exercise performance in laboratory tests. This investigation aims at verifying whether performance is improved by IP during self-paced exercise (SPE) in the field. 11 well-trained male runners performed 3 randomly assigned 5 000 m self-paced running tests on an outdoor track. One was the reference (RT) test, while the others were performed following muscle IP (IPT) and a control sham test (ST). Average speeds were measured during each test. Mean values in oxygen uptake (VO2), aerobic energy cost (AEC) during race and post-race blood lactate (BLa) were gathered. Data showed that none of the studied variables were affected by IPT or ST with respect to the RT test. Average speeds were 4.63±0.31, 4.62±0.31 and 4.60±0.25 m·s(-1) for the RT, the ST and the IPT tests, respectively. Moreover, there was no difference among tests in speed reached during each lap. VO2 was 3.5±0.69, 3.74±0.85 and 3.62±1.19 l·min(-1). AEC was 1.04±0.15, 1.08±0.1 and 1.09±0.15 kcal·kg(-1)·km(-1). Finally, post-race BLa levels reached 12.85±3.54, 11.88±4.74 and 12.82±3.6 mmol·l(-1). These findings indicate that performance during SPE is not ameliorated by ischemic preconditioning, thereby indicating that IP is not suitable as an ergogenic aid.

EFFECTS OF SIX MONTHS TRAINING ON PHYSICAL CAPACITY AND METABOREFLEX ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have an increased systemic vascular resistance (SVR) response during the metaboreflex. It has been hypothesized that this is the consequence of a sedentary lifestyle secondary to MS. The purpose of this study was to discover whether a 6-month training program could reverse this hemodynamic dysregulation. Patients were randomly assigned to one of the following two groups: the intervention group (MSIT, n = 11), who followed an adapted training program; and the control group (MSCTL, n = 10), who continued with their sedentary lifestyle. Cardiovascular response during the metaboreflex was evaluated using the post-exercise muscle ischemia (PEMI) method and during a control exercise recovery (CER) test. The difference in hemodynamic variables such as stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), and SVR between the PEMI and the CER tests was calculated to assess the metaboreflex response. Moreover, physical capacity was measured during a cardiopulmonary test till exhaustion. All tests were repeated after 3 and 6 months (T3 and T6, respectively) from the beginning of the study. The main result was that the MSIT group substantially improved parameters related to physical capacity (+5.31 ± 5.12 ml·min−1/kg in maximal oxygen uptake at T6) in comparison with the MSCTL group (−0.97 ± 4.89 ml·min−1/kg at T6; group effect: p = 0.0004). However, none of the hemodynamic variables changed in response to the metaboreflex activation. It was concluded that a 6-month period of adapted physical training was unable to reverse the hemodynamic dys-regulation in response to metaboreflex activation in these patients.

Kinematic analysis of “hand-to-mouth” task in people with Multiple Sclerosis

Balance Right in Multiple Sclerosis (BRiMS): A guided self-management programme to reduce falls and improve quality of life, balance and mobility in people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: a protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial Gunn H1, Andrade J2, Paul L3, Miller L3,4, Creanor S5,6, Green C7, Marsden J1, Ewings P8, Berrow M5, Vickery J5, Barton A9, Marshall B10, Zajicek J11, Freeman JA1 1Faculty of Health and Human Sciences, School of Health Professions, Plymouth University, Peninsula Allied Health Centre, Derriford Rd, Plymouth, PL6 8BH 2Faculty of Health and Human Sciences, School of Psychology, Portland Square Building, Drake Circus Campus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA 3School of Health & Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, G4 0BA 4Douglas Grant Rehabilitation Unit, Ayrshire Central Hospital, Kilwinning Rd, Irvine, KA12 8SS 5Peninsula Clinical Trials Unit at Plymouth University (PenCTU), Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Room N16, Plymouth Science Park, Plymouth, PL6 8BX 6Department of Medical Statistics and Bioinformatics, Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Room N15, Plymouth Science Park, Plymouth, PL6 8BX 7University of Exeter Medical School, Health Economics Group, University of Exeter, St Luke’s Campus, Exeter, EX1 2LU 8NIHR Research Design Service (South West), Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, TA1 5DA 9NIHR Research Design Service, Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, ITTC Building, Plymouth Science Park, Plymouth, PL6 8BX 10Service User Representative 11School of Medicine, Medical and Biological Sciences, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, KY16 9TFIntroduction: The psychological adjustment of newly diagnosed people with MS (PwMS) is influenced by both physical and psychological impact of the disease, with the illness representation playing a crucial role. We reported the baseline quantitative data of a broader longitudinal mixed methods study, aimed at evaluating the quality of life (QoL) of people throughout the first year form the diagnosis. Methods: People that received the diagnosis of relapsing remitting MS in the last 4 months were invited to complete 5 self-administered questionnaires to evaluate the level of adjustment (MSQOL- 54, HADS, MFIS), the coping style (COPE-NVI) and the illness representation (IPQ-R). Mann- Whitney test was used to evaluate differences between groups (people who subjectively reported to give or not a meaning in having MS) in the self-reported measures. Correlations will be performed to evaluate the relation between physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) components of QoL and the other self-reported measures. Results: A total of 20 PwMS were enrolled, mainly female (65%), mean age 31.4 years, mean time form the diagnosis 75.3 days, median EDSS 1.0 (min-max:0-3). The majority (90%) assumed a preventive treatment; 17% presented a moderate to severe level of anxiety, while only the 5% reported a clinically significant depressive symptoms. The 40% gave a meaning in having MS, they reported higher score at COPE-NVI PO (problem oriented coping strategies), and IPQ-R Personal Control (p.<0.039). PCS and MCS significantly correlated with IPQ-R Treatment Control, IPQ-R Illness Coherence (p.<0.040), while inversely with COPE-NVI AS (avoidance strategies), HADS- A, MFIS, IPQ-R Consequences (p.<0.045). Conclusion: Newly diagnosed PwMS that are more confident in treatment efficacy and have a better comprehension of the disease showed higher QoL. Lower degree of QoL is related to higher level of anxiety, perceived fatigue and use of avoidant strategies, and a worst representation of MS consequences.

Hourly trends of physical activity in people with Multiple Sclerosis

Balance Right in Multiple Sclerosis (BRiMS): A guided self-management programme to reduce falls and improve quality of life, balance and mobility in people with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: a protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial Gunn H1, Andrade J2, Paul L3, Miller L3,4, Creanor S5,6, Green C7, Marsden J1, Ewings P8, Berrow M5, Vickery J5, Barton A9, Marshall B10, Zajicek J11, Freeman JA1 1Faculty of Health and Human Sciences, School of Health Professions, Plymouth University, Peninsula Allied Health Centre, Derriford Rd, Plymouth, PL6 8BH 2Faculty of Health and Human Sciences, School of Psychology, Portland Square Building, Drake Circus Campus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA 3School of Health & Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, G4 0BA 4Douglas Grant Rehabilitation Unit, Ayrshire Central Hospital, Kilwinning Rd, Irvine, KA12 8SS 5Peninsula Clinical Trials Unit at Plymouth University (PenCTU), Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Room N16, Plymouth Science Park, Plymouth, PL6 8BX 6Department of Medical Statistics and Bioinformatics, Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Room N15, Plymouth Science Park, Plymouth, PL6 8BX 7University of Exeter Medical School, Health Economics Group, University of Exeter, St Luke’s Campus, Exeter, EX1 2LU 8NIHR Research Design Service (South West), Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, TA1 5DA 9NIHR Research Design Service, Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, ITTC Building, Plymouth Science Park, Plymouth, PL6 8BX 10Service User Representative 11School of Medicine, Medical and Biological Sciences, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, KY16 9TFIntroduction: The psychological adjustment of newly diagnosed people with MS (PwMS) is influenced by both physical and psychological impact of the disease, with the illness representation playing a crucial role. We reported the baseline quantitative data of a broader longitudinal mixed methods study, aimed at evaluating the quality of life (QoL) of people throughout the first year form the diagnosis. Methods: People that received the diagnosis of relapsing remitting MS in the last 4 months were invited to complete 5 self-administered questionnaires to evaluate the level of adjustment (MSQOL- 54, HADS, MFIS), the coping style (COPE-NVI) and the illness representation (IPQ-R). Mann- Whitney test was used to evaluate differences between groups (people who subjectively reported to give or not a meaning in having MS) in the self-reported measures. Correlations will be performed to evaluate the relation between physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) components of QoL and the other self-reported measures. Results: A total of 20 PwMS were enrolled, mainly female (65%), mean age 31.4 years, mean time form the diagnosis 75.3 days, median EDSS 1.0 (min-max:0-3). The majority (90%) assumed a preventive treatment; 17% presented a moderate to severe level of anxiety, while only the 5% reported a clinically significant depressive symptoms. The 40% gave a meaning in having MS, they reported higher score at COPE-NVI PO (problem oriented coping strategies), and IPQ-R Personal Control (p.<0.039). PCS and MCS significantly correlated with IPQ-R Treatment Control, IPQ-R Illness Coherence (p.<0.040), while inversely with COPE-NVI AS (avoidance strategies), HADS- A, MFIS, IPQ-R Consequences (p.<0.045). Conclusion: Newly diagnosed PwMS that are more confident in treatment efficacy and have a better comprehension of the disease showed higher QoL. Lower degree of QoL is related to higher level of anxiety, perceived fatigue and use of avoidant strategies, and a worst representation of MS consequences.

Quantitative assessment of alterations induced by spasticity on gait of individuals with multiple sclerosis using 3D gait analysis

Background: To rise from a sitting to a standing position and to sit down again are categorized as basic transitional movements, and are performed approximately 50 times a day. The sit-to-stand test (STS test) evaluates strength in lower extremities, neuromuscular functions, balance and vestibular function. There are several versions of the test; two examples of these are the 5STS and 10STS tests. For people with multiple sclerosis (MS), only the 5STS test has been validated. A potential difference between the 5STS and 10STS test can be that more repetitions require more muscular endurance and, thus, the 10STS test will reveal impaired muscular endurance more than the 5STS test.Aim: The aim was to evaluate the validity for the 5STS and 10STS tests for people with moderate MS.Methods: Forty-seven people with MS with a limited ( 20 m) walking ability were included (32 women; 30 secondary and 12 primary progressive MS). The STS tests were slightly modified for safety reasons; instead of crossing arms over the chest, hand support was allowed. Time was taken from the starting position sitting using the command ‘Go’ and stopped when the participant sat down again after completing the 10th standing position. An intermediate time was taken when sitting down after the fifth standing position (5STS test). Validity was evaluated using the timed up and go test (TUG), 10 minute walk test (10MWT), 2 minute walk test (2MWT) and the Berg balance scale (BBS); calculated using Spearman’s rank correlation. Correlations exceeding 0.60 were considered strong.Results: Strong correlations (r=0.60–0.70) were found between the 5STS and 10STS test and the TUG, the 10 MWT, the 2MWT and the BBS. The correlation between the 5STS and 10STS test (r=0.86) indicates that the tests measure slightly different abilities. A slightly stronger correlation was found between the 5STS and BBS (r=−0.68) compared to the 10STS and BBS (r=−0.61). The correlations were stronger between the 10STS and the walk tests compared to the 5STS and walk tests. The high correlation between the 10STS and the 2MWT (r=0.70) can possibly be explained by a muscular endurance component.Conclusion: Both the 5STS and 10STS test are valid for people with moderate MS but they do not measure the exact same abilityBackground: Many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have increased postural sway, which is associated with a higher risk of falls. Significantly increased sway has been found in people with slight ...