Effects of Lumbar Stability and Hip Joint Mobility Exercise with Pilates Devices on Pain Level and Muscle-Joint Function in Middle-Aged Women with Chronic Low Back Pain

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the effects of 10 weeks of lumbar stability and hip mobility exercises using Pilates devices on pain level and muscle joint function in middle-aged women with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Further, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of Pilates hip mobility exercise (HME) as an exercise for improving CLBP in middle-aged women by comparing the effectiveness of lumbar stability exercise (LSE) and HME.METHODS: Thirty-two middle-aged women with CLBP were enrolled and randomly divided and placed into two groups: the LSE group (n=16) and HME group (n=16). Both groups performed Pilates exercises for 50 minutes twice a week for 10 weeks.RESULTS: The Korean Oswestry Disability Index score in both the LSE and HME groups decreased at 5 weeks (p<.05). Hip internal rotation range of motion (ROM) and external rotation ROM increased at 5 and 10 weeks in both the LSE and HME groups (p<.01). Lumbar mobility increased at 5 weeks in both the LSE (p<.01) and HME groups (p<.001). Lumbar stability in the prone plank test significantly increased at 5 weeks in the LSE group (p<.001) and at 5 and 10 weeks in the HME group (p<.001). Lumbar stability by the side plank test significantly increased at 5 and 10 weeks in both the LSE and HME groups (p<.001).CONCLUSIONS: We found that using Pilates to perform both LSE and HME helped relieve back pain and improve muscle joint function in middle-aged women with CLBP. There was no significant difference between LSE and HME in terms of efficacy. HME is a highly effective exercise for improving CLBP in middle-aged women.

Differential Gene Expression in Cell Types of the Human Skeletal Muscle: A Bioinformatics-Based Meta-Review

PURPOSE: This study evaluates the differences in the expression of genes frequently analyzed in the field of exercise science between the skeletal muscle tissue and various cell types that comprise the skeletal muscle tissue.METHODS: We summarized the genes and proteins expressed in the skeletal muscle that were published in “Exercise Science” journal from 2015 to present. Thereafter, we selected 15 genes and proteins that were the most analyzed genes and proteins in the skeletal muscle. These genes and proteins were horizontally compared for expression differences in skeletal muscle components and cultured cells based on NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus DataSets.RESULTS: The most analyzed genes (encoding analyzed proteins) in skeletal muscle tissues in “Exercise Science” were PPARGC1A, PPARD, MTOR, MAP1LC3A, MAP1LC3B, PRKAA1, AKT1, SLC2A4, MAPK1, COX4I1, MAPK14, MEF2A, MAPK8, RPS6KB1, and SOD1. Among them, PPARGC1A, AKT1, SLC2A4, MAPK1, and COX4I1 were specifically expressed in the skeletal muscle. However, expression of other genes was found to be significantly affected in other cell types of the skeletal muscle tissue.CONCLUSIONS: Genes such as PPARGC1A, which are specifically expressed in the skeletal muscle, may be analyzed without pretreating (such as perfusion) the skeletal muscle tissue. However, expression of other genes may depend on the skeletal muscle cell type. Thus, in such instances, pretreatment, such as perfusion and isolation, should be considered.

The Relationship of Physical Activity Level With Arterial Stiffness, Cerebral Blood Flow, and Cognitive Function in Young Adults

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship of physical activity level with arterial stiffness, cerebral blood flow, and cognitive function in young adults.METHODS: Forty-six young adults participated in this cross-sectional study. Physical activity levels were assessed for seven consecutive days using accelerometers. To assess arterial stiffness, the carotid–femoral artery pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and augmentation index (AIx) were measured. Cognitive function was assessed using the Stroop Color-Word test, and cerebral blood flow was evaluated using near-infrared spectroscopy devices during the cognitive function test.RESULTS: AIx was inversely associated with axis-1 counts, vector magnitude counts, moderate-intensity physical activity (MPA) time, and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) time (r≤-0.31, p≤.04). The AIx adjusted to the heart rate of 75 beats per minute was inversely correlated with axis-1 counts, vector magnitude counts, step counts, MPA time, and MVPA time (r≤-0.33, p≤.03). There was no relationship between cfPWV and physical activity level parameters (r≤0.10, p≥.51). The difference between oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin levels was positively related to axis-1 counts, step counts, MPA time, and MVPA time (r≥0.31, p≤.04). Regarding cognitive function, the response time for the presented words was negatively associated with step counts (r=-0.42, p<.01) and MPA time (r=-0.29, p=.048), and response time on the presented words with matched color was negatively related to step counts (r=-0.31, p=.04).CONCLUSIONS: More physically active adults are more likely to have lower arterial stiffness, increased brain oxygenation, and better cognitive function, even if they are young and healthy.

Prevalence of Ischemia, Health-Related Quality of Life, Medical use and Expenses by Physical Activity and Ischemia Status in Korean Adults

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyze the different prevalence of ischemia of Korea adults, and to compare the HealthRelated Quality of Life (HRQoL), annual personal medical use and expenses according to physical activity and ischemia status.METHODS: The 2018 Korea Medical Panel data was used (13,791 adults and 604 ischemia). Physical activity was measured with IPAQ and converted to MET-minutes per week. The physical activity group was classified as less than 600 MET-min per week in the inactive group, 600-3,000 MET-min per week in the minimally active group, and 3,000 MET-min more per week in the active group.RESULTS: The prevalence of ischemia was low in the inactive group compared to the minimally active group and the active group (OR=0.75, p<.01) and the active group (OR=0.36, p<.001). In both ischemic and non-ischemic groups, HRQoL was the lowest in the inactive group (p<.05). Inpatient days and emergency days showed no significant difference in according to the physical activity level and the ischemia status. However, within the group with ischemia, the outpatient days of inactive group were 42.8% higher (p<.05) and minimally active group was 4.3% higher (p>.05) compared to the active group (32.5±32.1 days) respectively. Within the group with ischemia, the medical expenses of inactive group were 5.2% lower (p>.05) and minimally active group was 33.9% lower (p<.05) compared to the active group ($1,738±2,457) respectively.CONCLUSIONS: Higher physical activity results in a lower prevalence of ischemia, and higher physical activity results in positive HRQoL and outpatient days in ischemia group. However Annual personal medical expenses showed a significant difference according to the level of physical activity in ischemia group.

Participation in Physical Education Classes, Psychological Well-Being, and Sleep Satisfaction Among South Korean Adolescents

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the associations between participation in physical education (PE) classes and the psychological well-being and sleep satisfaction of Korean adolescents.METHODS: Cross-sectional data from 127,804 Korean adolescents (aged 12–18 years) who participated in the 2016 and 2017 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Surveys (KYRBS) were analyzed. The exploratory variable was the frequency of participation in PE classes every week, while the dependent variables included the psychological well-being and sleep satisfaction, as assessed by the KYRBS questionnaire. Sex- and grade-stratified logistic regression analyses were conducted to generate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).RESULTS: Overall 16.9% of adolescents reported that they did not participate in PE classes while 33.0% reported participating for more than three times a week. After adjusting for the academic achievements, family’s economic status, consumption frequency of breakfast and highly caffeinated drinks, and physical activity level, a greater participation in the PE classes was found to be associated with happiness in a dose-response fashion in both sexes and grades (p<.05). As for stress, participation in the PE classes for more than three times a week was associated with less/no stress in boys (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.02–1.31, p<.05) and high school students (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.03–1.44, p<.05). Moreover, greater participation in the PE classes was associated with a lower odds of reporting sleep satisfaction in a linear fashion among high school students.CONCLUSIONS: More frequent participation in PE classes was associated with the psychological well-being and sleep satisfaction in a large sample of Korean adolescents. Increasing the number of mandatory PE sessions is a promising strategy for promoting the psychological well-being of Korean adolescents.

Latest Trends in Neuromuscular Training to Prevent Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Literature Review

PURPOSE: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are the most common in sports and have doubled in the past 20 years. This study aimed to analyze the latest trends and changes in training programs for ACL injury prevention.METHODS: In this study, literature was searched using academic search sites, such as ‘PubMed’, ‘Google Scholar’, and ‘Wiley Online Library’. The literature published between 2015 and 2021 was used.RESULTS: Eleven papers were selected based on the literature selection criteria. Five warm-up exercise papers and six ACL injury prevention training program papers emphasized neuromuscular training.CONCLUSIONS: The ACL injury prevention program can be applied in warm-up exercises and training programs. It consists of an exercise form that includes multidimensional components such as plyometrics, muscle strength, balance, and agility. The key to the ACL injury prevention program is to reflect multidimensional components in neuromuscular training and to obtain a significant effect, and it is recommended to participate in regular training for 12-18 sessions and at least 6 months. In addition, it is suggested to utilize the ACL injury prevention program presented in this study until an individual study for ACL injury prevention by sports type is conducted.