Daily-life Physical Activity of Young Healthy Adults Associates with Function and Structure of the Hippocampus

Research on the impact of physical activity (PA) has shown that PA produces changes in the structure and function of a brain structure called the hippocampus. There are three main limitations in this research. First, the majority of the work has been carried out in elderly populations and as such, there is a paucity of research on the impact of PA on the brains of healthy young individuals. Second, whereas PA is typically assessed through controlled interventions, changes in the brain due to PA as performed during daily-life activities has not been explored. Finally, the hippocampus has a complex internal structure and the impact of PA on this internal structure is unclear. Here we examined how structural and functional aspects of the hip-pocampus are associated with habitual PA performed during work, leisure time and sports in the daily lives of young healthy adults. We found that PA performed during work time correlated with increased subicular volumes and with changed functional connectivity between a location in middle/posterior hippocampus and regions of the default mode network and between a location in anterior hippocampus and regions of the somatomotor network. No effects of PA performed during leisure time and sports were found. The results generalize the impact of PA to younger populations and show how PA performed in daily-life situations correlates with the precise internal structure of the hippocampus.

MO623EFFECT OF PLANTAR ELECTRICAL NERVE STIMULATION DURING ROUTINE HEMODIALYSIS PROCESS ON THE DAILY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN ADULTS WITH DIABETES AND END-STAGE RENAL DISEASE - A RANDOMIZED DOUBLE-BLINDED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Background Physical inactivity among patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) is a long-standing clinical problem. While exercise could be beneficial, post-dialysis fatigue, limited time availability, and severe frailty to travel often lead to poor adherence to conventional exercise programs. To address this gap, we proposed testing an alternative therapy using intradialytic plantar electrical nerve stimulation (IPENS) provided during the routine hemodialysis process. Methods Participants were randomized into either an intervention group (IG: n=16, age=57.6±3.6 years, BMI=29.7±1.5 kg/m2, female=31%) or a control group (CG: n=15, age=63.5±1.6 years, BMI=29.9±1.6 kg/m2, female=41%). The IG received 1-hour IPENS during routine hemodialysis process (3 sessions/week) for 12 weeks. The CG was provided with an identical but non-functional device for the same period. Participants and therapy-providers were blinded to the group allocation. Daily life physical activity (e.g., cumulative postures including sitting, standing, lying, and walking; walking characteristics including step count, number of unbroken walking bout, and postural transitions including sit to stand and stand to sit) was monitored remotely at baseline and 12-week for a period of 48h using a validated pendant sensor. To determine the effect of intervention, we estimated Cohen’s effect size d. In addition, time effect, group effect, and time×group effect were estimated using general linear model. Results All participants in the IG tolerated the IPENS and completed all therapy sessions, indicating the feasibility. In the IG, we observed significant increase in time spent in standing (Cohen's d=0.8, p=0.039) and walking (Cohen's d=0.82, p=0.034), number of walking episodes (d=0.88, p=0.024), and number of postural transitions (d=0.93, p=0.018) with a decrease in the average duration for sit to stand transition (d=0.87, p=0.032) compared to the CG. Conclusions This is an ongoing study and our target sample is 100 eligible participants. This study provides earlier results on IPENS therapy's feasibility and effectiveness as an alternative to exercise programs to improve daily life physical activity among people undergoing routine hemodialysis process. If the results were held at a larger sample, we could recommend routine

Towards a Functional Approach to the Assessment of Daily Life Physical Activity in Children: Are the PAQ-C and Fitbit Flex-2 Technically Adequate?

Considering the need for functional physical activity (PA) measures in PA settings, this study sought to determine the technical adequacy of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C) and the Fitbit Flex-2, two instruments with promising features for wide use, using the Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer as the criterion reference. A total of 218 Greek children (94 boys, 124 girls; mean age = 10.99 ± 1.52 years) volunteered to join in. Participants wore the PA trackers for seven days and completed the PAQ-C. Moreover, a sub-group (n = 60) recompleted the PAQ-C after a week. Results revealed acceptable internal consistency and excellent test–retest reliability for the PAQ-C. Regarding concurrent validity, weak to moderate correlations with PA parameters recorded by the GT3X+ were revealed for the total PAQ-C and were excellent for the Flex-2, while a Bland–Altman plot indicated good agreement. Finally, in alignment with relevant literature, significant gender, but no age, differences were found in participants’ PA records in all the tools applied. The above results support the use of the PAQ-C and the Fitbit Flex-2 in children. Considering that they shed light into different parameters of children’s habitual PA, their combined utilisation, providing comprehensive information, is strongly recommended.

Daily Life Physical Activity and Concussion Symptoms in Adolescents

Background. Concussion is a common injury in an adolescent population with up to 30% experiencing persistent symptoms. Rehabilitation programs that include aerobic exercises can reduce persistent postconcussion symptoms. However, it is unclear if daily life physical activities can also reduce symptoms. Purpose. To investigate whether the level of daily life physical activity reduces postconcussion symptoms in the adolescent population. Methods. Ten adolescents aged 11–18 years with a concussion self-reported their postconcussion symptoms and level of physical activity during the first, third, and sixth months after injury. The extent to which physical activity explained postconcussion health was analyzed using linear mixed-effects modeling. Findings. Higher levels of daily life physical activity were associated with fewer somatic and cognitive symptoms. Implications. These findings suggest that daily life physical activity, including engagement in sports, physical education, or active games, should be encouraged by occupational therapists to promote concussion recovery.

Engagement in daily life physical activity reduces self-reported symptoms in adolescent concussion

Background: Concussion is a common injury in an adolescent population with up to 20% experiencing persistent symptoms. Rehabilitation programs that include aerobic exercises can reduce persistent postconcussion symptoms. However, it is unclear if daily-life physical activities can also reduce symptoms. Purpose: To investigate whether the level of daily life physical activity reduces postconcussion symptoms in adolescents. Methods: Ten adolescents aged 11–18 years with a concussion self-reported their postconcussion symptoms and level of physical activity at 1, 3, and 6 months after injury. The extent to which physical activity explained postconcussion health was analyzed using linear mixed modeling. Results: Higher levels of daily-life physical activity were associated with fewer somatic and cognitive symptoms, irrespective of age, gender, and time postconcussion. Implications: These findings suggest that daily life physical activity, including engagement in physical education class, sports, or active games, should be encouraged by Occupational Therapists to promote concussion recovery.