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Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise improves gastrointestinal (GI) health and alleviates irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms. This study explored its effects on physical capacity (PC) and IBS symptoms in 40 patients from Southern Italy (11 males, 29 females; 52.10 ± 7.72 years). The exercise program involved moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (60/75% of HRmax) for at least 180 min per week. Before and after the intervention, participants completed the IBS-SSS questionnaire to assess IBS symptoms, reported their physical activity levels, and underwent field tests to evaluate PC. PC was quantified as the Global Physical Capacity Score (GPCS). A total of 38 subjects (21 males, 17 females; 53.71 ± 7.27 years) without lower GI symptoms served as a No IBS group. No significant differences were found between IBS patients and No IBS subjects, except for the symptom score, as expected. After the exercise, all participants experienced significant improvements in both IBS symptoms and PC. Higher PC levels correlated with greater benefits in IBS symptomatology, especially with GPCS reaching above-average values. Engaging in moderate-intensity aerobic exercise for at least 180 min per week positively impacts IBS symptoms and PC. Monitoring GPCS in IBS patients provides insights into the connection between physical activity and symptom severity, aiding healthcare professionals in tailoring effective treatment plans.

The aim of the study was to demonstrate the effects of the Neurofeedback-EEG training during physical exercise on the improvements in mental work performance and physiological parameters. The study examined seven swimmers based on the following anthropometric measurements: body height, body mass and body composition. The Kraepelin’s work curve test, EEG and EMG during physical exercise were also performed. The athletes followed 20 Neurofeedback-EEG training sessions on the swimming ergometer for 4 months. Most mean indices of partial measures of the work curve were significantly modified (p < 0.05) following the Neurofeedback-EEG training. Mean level of maximal oxygen uptake in study participants was over 55 ml/kg/min, with statistically significant differences documented between the first and the second measurements. No significant differences were found in the fatigue rate between the measurements 1 and 2. The improved mental work performance following the Neurofeedback-EEG training facilitates optimization of psychomotor activities.

Objectives In spite of preventive efforts, organizations and employees face several challenges related to working life and occupational health, such as a substantial prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, social inequality in health and physical capacity, multi-morbidity, an obesity epidemic and an aging workforce. We argue that a new approach to occupational ergonomics and health is required, going beyond prevention of harm caused by work. We propose the \"Goldilocks Principle\" for how productive work can be designed to promote health and physical capacity. Methods Physical (in)activity profoundly influences health and physical capacity, with effects depending on the extent and temporal structure of the (in)activity. Like the porridge, chair and bed that needed to be \"just right\" for Goldilocks in the The Three Bears fairytale, physical activity during productive work needs to be \"just right\" for promoting rather than deteriorating health and capacity. In many jobs, physical activity is, however, either too much/high/frequent or too little/low/infrequent to give positive biomechanical and cardiometabolic stimuli. Results This paper presents the rationale, concept, development, application and prospects of the Goldilocks Principle for how productive work can be designed to promote health and physical capacity. Conclusions We envision a great potential to promote health and physical capacity by designing productive work according to the Goldilocks Principle, thus leading to benefits with respect to the current challenges related to working life and occupational health for society, organizations and employees.

Frailty is a multidimensional vulnerability state characterized by diminished physiological reserve and heightened sensitivity to stressors, placing older adults at increased risk of decline in overall health, functional abilities, and independence. Recent research emphasizes that frailty syndrome therapy should be comprehensive, with multicomponent physical activity as first-line treatment. This study evaluated the effects of exercise-based video games (exergames) rehabilitation program on functional abilities in 111 older adults (aged 65–89, M = 75.15, SD = 5.86; females n  = 80, 72.07%) at a primary care center in southwest Poland, categorized as frail, pre-frail, or robust according to the Fried frailty criteria. Participants completed a 6-week standardized training program using a Kinect-based ‘ActivLife’ rehabilitation platform. The intervention led to a modest but statistically significant reduction in overall frailty, with the mean Fried frailty score decreasing from 1.52 ± 1.38 to 1.39 ± 1.27 ( p  = 0.008). Notable improvements were observed across the frailty subgroups following the training program, with the pre-frailty subgroup showing the greatest benefits regarding muscle strength (Arm Curl Test: p  = 0.023; 30-Second Chair Stand: p  = 0.002), gait speed and endurance (2-Minute Step-in-Place: p  < 0.001), and balance (8-Foot Up-and-Go: p  = 0.001). Risk of falls, assessed by the Tinetti test, was significantly reduced in both frail ( p  = 0.008) and pre-frail ( p  = 0.013) participants. Overall, exergaming positively impacted frailty status and physical function, supporting the early use exergame interventions to enhance adherence and therapeutic outcomes in older adults. Trial registration: This study has been registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov database and has been assigned the ID NCT07036224.

Traumatic injuries to the upper limbs, especially to the hands and wrists, have the potential to trigger chronic conditions with pain, loss of productivity and decreased quality of life. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature on the effects of telerehabilitation on the physical and functional capacity of individuals with traumatic upper limbs fractures. Searches were conducted in the MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, PEDRO, Cochrane, LILACS, and Science Direct databases. Three randomized clinical trials involving 830 patients with at least one intervention group and one comparison group were included in this systematic review. Risk of bias was assessed using the PEDro Scale and the certainty of the evidence was assessed using GRADE. Telerehabilitation seems to have favorable effects on functional capacity and pain perception and controversial effects on physical capacity (handgrip strength) in individuals with traumatic upper limb fractures.     Las lesiones traumáticas en los miembros superiores, especialmente en las manos y las muñecas, tienen el potencial de desencadenar enfermedades crónicas con dolor, pérdida de productividad y disminución de la calidad de vida. El objetivo de este estudio fue revisar sistemáticamente la literatura sobre los efectos de la telerehabilitación en la capacidad física y funcional de las personas con fracturas traumáticas de miembros superiores. Se realizaron búsquedas en las bases de datos MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, PEDRO, Cochrane, LILACS y Science Direct. En esta revisión sistemática se incluyeron 3 ensayos clínicos aleatorizados que incluyeron 830 pacientes con al menos un grupo de intervención y un grupo de comparación. El riesgo de sesgo se evaluó utilizando la Escala PEDro y la certeza de la evidencia se evaluó utilizando GRADE. La telerehabilitación parece tener efectos favorables en la capacidad funcional y la percepción del dolor y efectos controvertidos en la capacidad física (fuerza de agarre) en personas con fracturas traumáticas de miembros superiores. Palabras clave: Fracturas; Capacidad funcional; Capacidad física; Telerehabilitación.

ObjectiveThis cross-sectional study aims to examine association between different components of physical fitness and perceived work ability among working age population.MethodsThe population-based study sample included 2050 participants aged 18–74 from the Finnish national Health 2011 study. Physical fitness was assessed by the single leg stand test, the modified push-up test, the vertical jump test and the six-minute walk test, and perceived work ability was assessed via interview. Logistic regression was used for examining the associations between physical fitness and work ability.ResultsAfter adjusting for potential confounders (age, sex, marital status, educational level, work characteristics, total physical activity, daily smoking, BMI and number of diseases), odds ratios indicated that good work ability was more likely among those who had better balance in single leg stand test (OR = 1.54; 95% CI 1.07–2.24), and who belonged in the high fitness thirds in six-minute walking test (OR = 2.08; 95% CI 1.24–3.49) and in vertical jump test (OR = 2.51; 95% CI 1.23–5.12) compared to lowest third. Moreover, moderate (OR = 1.76; 95% CI 1.02–3.05) to high fitness (OR = 2.87; 95% CI 1.40–5.92) in modified push-up test increased the likelihood of good work ability compared to lowest third.ConclusionThese study results indicate that good musculoskeletal as well as cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with better perceived work ability. Promoting physical fitness in individual and societal level may be potential targets for maintaining good work ability in working age population.

PurposeAging impairs the autonomic balance reducing the vagal and increasing the sympathetic components of heart rate variability (HRV) and this could be associated with a decline in physical capacity. Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) is a possible tool to attenuate this physical capacity decline in older women. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of IMT in the older women on physical capacity and autonomic cardiac modulation at rest and post exercise.Methods20 female participants 60–72 years old were randomly allocated in two groups. One group underwent IMT set at 50% of maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), every day for 4 weeks (IMT-group). The placebo group performed the same training procedure but with a minimal resistance (5% MIP; PLA-group). Every week, the IMT load was readjusted and the HRV evaluated at rest. The six-minute walk test (6MWT) was performed once pre and post IMT-intervention. The IMT-group and PLA-group performed the same test and intervention procedures.ResultsAfter a 5 weeks intervention, the MIP had significantly improved in the IMT-group but not in the PLA-group (p < 0.01; es = 1.17). The high frequency power of the HRV spectrum had already improved by the second week (p < 0.01; es = 1.13) and remained elevated until the last week of intervention (p < 0.01; es = 1.43). The same positive results were described in 6MWT distance (p = 0.04; es = 0.39) and the change (∆) of heart rate recovery (HRR) from 1 min (p = 0.02; es = 0.68).ConclusionIMT increases HRV, improves 6MWT distance and HRR.

Modern cardiac pacemakers are equipped with a function that allows the heart rate to adapt to the current needs of the patient in situations of increased demand related to exercise and stress (\"rate-response\" function). This function may be based on a variety of mechanisms, such as a built-in accelerometer responding to increased chest movement or algorithms sensing metabolic demand for oxygen, analysis of intrathoracic impedance, and analysis of the heart rhythm (Q-T interval). The latest technologies in the field of rate-response functionality relate to the use of an accelerometer in leadless endocavitary pacemakers; in these devices, the accelerometer enables mapping of the mechanical wave of the heart’s work cycle, enabling the pacemaker to correctly sense native impulses and stimulate the ventricles in synchrony with the cycles of atria and heart valves. Another modern system for synchronizing pacing rate with the patient’s real-time needs requires a closed-loop system that continuously monitors changes in the dynamics of heart contractions. This article discusses the technical details of various solutions for detecting and responding to situations related to increased oxygen demand (e.g., exercise or stress) in implantable pacemakers, and reviews the results of clinical trials regarding the use of these algorithms.

Background: Physical self-perception is often related with better physical fitness perception in adolescents. Moreover, it is an important social cognitive perspective to provide suitable mental health in this population. However, this relationship is unequal between boys and girls. The physical fitness is a marker of health in young population. The aims of the present study were the following: (1) to compare physical self-perception and self-reported overall physical fitness (OPF) between boys and girls (gender) and body mass index (BMI) status, and (2) to determine the mediating role of all physical self-perception subscales (except physical condition) and BMI status in the link between gender and OPF in adolescent students. Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of 85 adolescent students of secondary school between 12 and 17 years of age; 41 were boys (Mage = 14.6, SD = 1.7) and 44 were girls (Mage = 14.4, SD = 1.6). Adolescent participants completed all clinical characteristics by body composition measures (age, body weight, body height, and BMI). Physical self-perception was assessed by the physical self-perception profile (PSPP) whereas the international fitness scale (IFIS) was used to predict the self-reported OPF of adolescents in the present study. Results: Gender (boys and girls) differed significantly in all PSPP subscales and OPF, whereas the BMI status (underweight = 19 students, normal weight = 53 students, overweight/obese = 13 students) showed significant differences in all clinical characteristics, physical condition (PSPP), and OPF. A multiple mediation analysis was performed using bias corrected bootstrap. This multiple mediation analysis revealed that all PSPP subscales were significant mediators between gender and OPF: attractive body (p = 0.013), sport competence (p = 0.009), physical strength (p = 0.002), and self-confidence (p = 0.002). The total direct effect of gender on OPF was significant (p = 0.002). Moreover, the multiple mediation estimated a completely standardized indirect of X on Y for attractive body (effect = 0.109), sport competence (effect = 0.066), physical strength (effect = 0.130), and self-confidence (effect = 0.193). Conclusions: These findings contribute to understanding the link between gender and OPF in adolescent students and the mediation of physical self-perception and OPF in this relationship. In addition, strategies focused to improve self-confidence and physical self-perception are necessary in female adolescent students, because boys showed better physical self-perception in all PSPP subscales. Girls are a risk group because they report low physical self-confidence with their respective insecurity feelings and psychological disorders. Thus, personal physical self-perception must be considered as an important social cognitive perspective to provide suitable mental health in children and adolescents.

(1) Background: Identifying groups with a misaligned physical capacity (PC) and physical activity (PA) is potentially relevant for health promotion. Although an important health determinant, deeper knowledge of underlying walking behavior patterns in older adults is currently missing. We aim to identify specific PA signatures of misaligned groups and determine PA variables discriminating between groups. (2) Methods: In total, 294 community-dwelling older adults (≥70 years) were divided into four quadrants based on thresholds for PA (≥ or <5000 steps/day) and PC (≤ or >12 s, Timed Up and Go test). Kruskal–Wallis and effect sizes were calculated to compare quadrants’ PA variables and to determine the discriminative power of PA parameters on walking duration, frequency, and intensity. (3) Results: We identified quadrant-specific PA signatures. Compared with “can do–do do”, the “cannot do–do do” group performs shorter continuous and lower-intensity walks; the “can do–do not do” group takes fewer steps and walks with less intensity. The “cannot do–do not do” group presents lower values in all PA variables. “Walking duration greater or equal 3 METs” was the strongest discriminative PA variable. (4) Conclusion: We provide distinct PA signatures for four clinically different groups of older adults. Walking intensity is most useful to distinguish community-dwelling older adults, which is relevant for developing improved customized health promotion interventions.