Assessing and tailoring predictive equations of VOmax for women with multiple sclerosis with mild to moderate disability.

Background: Established equations to predict peak oxygen uptake (VOmax) in healthy subjects are not directly applicable to patient populations, including people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). PwMS, who commonly exhibit impaired cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular function, often require tailored predictive models. This study aimed at (1) testing the validity, reliability, and accuracy of four widely used formulae, developed in healthy populations, to estimate VOmax in mildly to moderately disabled women with MS, and (2) develop adjusted formulae tailored on MS features.

Isokinetic and electromyographic characterization of ankle plantarflexors' hypertonia in people with multiple sclerosis.

Background: This study aimed at quantifying ankle plantarflexors' resistance to passive motion (RPM) by isokinetic dynamometry and muscle activity through surface electromyography (sEMG) in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) with limb stiffness and spasticity.

Methods: Slow and fast ankle dorsiflexions (from 5°/s to 210°/s) were imparted passively by an isokinetic dynamometer, and sEMG activity of plantarflexors was recorded at the same time as the square root of the moving average. Based on RPM evaluated at 5°/s, ankles were classified as more- and less-resistant as measured by average peak torque (APT).

Dose-Response Effects on LBP, Sleep, and Depression of Online Pre-Partum and Post-Partum Pilates-Based Programs.

Pilates-based programs can help pregnant women deal with the physical and psychological burden derived by major changes in their body. This study was designed to primarily test, in pregnant women, the dose-response and health effects of both pre-partum and post-partum, online Pilates-based program on weight control, low back pain (LBP) severity, sleep disturbances, mood and depression levels. A total of 136 pregnant women were screened for eligibility (low-risk pregnancy; aged 18-45 years; single pregnancy; 20-28-week gestational age, normal BMI).

Fitness age outperforms body mass index in differentiating aging patterns and health risk profiles of healthy adults aged 51-80 years.

Physical fitness has been extensively shown to strongly associate with general health status and major health risks. Here we tested the ability of a novel estimate of fitness age (FitAge) to differentiate aging trajectories.This study aimed at (1) testing the ability of FitAge to differentiate aging patterns among decelerated, normal, and accelerated agers in selected health domains, (2) estimating the risk for developing major health issues depending on the aging trajectory, and (3) comparing FitAge to body mass index (BMI) categorization in differentiating healthy from unhealthy aging patterns.

Sensorimotor integration in cranial muscles tested by short- and long-latency afferent inhibition.

Objective: To compressively investigate sensorimotor integration in the cranial-cervical muscles in healthy adults.

Methods: Short- (SAI) and long-latency afferent (LAI) inhibition were probed in the anterior digastric (AD), the depressor anguli oris (DAO) and upper trapezius (UT) muscles. A transcranial magnetic stimulation pulse over primary motor cortex was preceded by peripheral stimulation delivered to the trigeminal, facial and accessory nerves using interstimulus intervals of 15-25 ms and 100-200 ms for SAI and LAI respectively.

A Novel Paired Somatosensory-Cerebellar Stimulation Induces Plasticity on Cerebellar-Brain Connectivity.

The cerebellum receives and integrates a large amount of sensory information that is important for motor coordination and learning. The aim of the present work was to investigate whether peripheral nerve and cerebellum paired associative stimulation (cPAS) could induce plasticity in both the cerebellum and the cortex. In a cross-over design, we delivered right median nerve electrical stimulation 25 or 10 ms before applying transcranial magnetic stimulation over the cerebellum.

Physiological adaptations of active postmenopausal women and matched men to the multi-day Sardinia Selvaggio Blu wild trek: a gender-comparative pilot study.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of wild trekking by examining, in postmenopausal women, the physiological adaptations to an intensive 5-day wild trek and comparing their responses to those displayed by a group of men of comparable age, training status and mountaineering skills.

Methods: Six healthy, active postmenopausal women in their sixth decade of life participated in the study. Six men of comparable age and training status were also enrolled for gender-based comparisons.

Cognitive Functions following Trigeminal Neuromodulation.

Vast scientific effort in recent years have been focused on the search for effective and safe treatments for cognitive decline. In this regard, non-invasive neuromodulation has gained increasing attention for its reported effectiveness in promoting the recovery of multiple cognitive domains after central nervous system damage. In this short review, we discuss the available evidence supporting a possible cognitive effect of trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS).

Hand-blink reflex modulation: The role of primary emotions and attachment dimensions.

The hand-blink reflex (HBR) is a subcortical response elicited by the electrical stimulation of the median nerve. HBR magnitude is enhanced when the stimulated hand is close to the face and is modulated by high-level structures according to the perceived threat magnitude. Psychological factors may contribute to threat evaluation and possibly to HBR amplitude modulation.

A novel estimate of biological aging by multiple fitness tests is associated with risk scores for age-related diseases.

Recent research highlights the need for a correct instrument for monitoring the individual health status, especially in the elderly. Different definitions of biological aging have been proposed, with a consistent positive association of physical activity and physical fitness with decelerated aging trajectories. The six-minute walking test is considered the current gold standard for estimating the individual fitness status in the elderly.

Investigating the Effects of a Focal Muscle Vibration Protocol on Sensorimotor Integration in Healthy Subjects.

: The ability to perceive two tactile stimuli as asynchronous can be measured using the somatosensory temporal discrimination threshold (STDT). In healthy humans, the execution of a voluntary movement determines an increase in STDT values, while the integration of STDT and movement execution is abnormal in patients with basal ganglia disorders. Sensorimotor integration can be modulated using focal muscle vibration (fMV), a neurophysiological approach that selectively activates proprioceptive afferents from the vibrated muscle.

Abnormalities in the face primary motor cortex in oromandibular dystonia.

Objective: To comprehensively investigate excitability in face and hand M1 and sensorimotor integration in oromandibular dystonia (OMD) patients.

Methods: Short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), intracortical facilitation (ICF), short (SAI) and long (LAI) afferent inhibition were investigated in face and hand M1 using transcranial magnetic stimulation protocols in 10 OMD patients. Data were compared with those obtained in 10 patients with focal hand dystonia (FHD), in 10 patients with blepharospasm (BSP), and 10 matched healthy subjects (HS).

Base of Support, Step Length and Stride Width Estimation during Walking Using an Inertial and Infrared Wearable System.

The analysis of the stability of human gait may be effectively performed when estimates of the base of support are available. The base of support area is defined by the relative position of the feet when they are in contact with the ground and it is closely related to additional parameters such as step length and stride width. These parameters may be determined in the laboratory using either a stereophotogrammetric system or an instrumented mat.

Smartphone accelerometry for quantifying core stability and developing exercise training progressions in people with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Core stability exercise programs have become popular in recent years for preserving balance and functional independence in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS); however, their real impact is not well-known as the main intervention target (i.e., core stability) theoretically responsible for balance or functional improvements is not measured.

A Thematic Survey on the Reporting Quality of Randomized Controlled Trials in Rehabilitation: The Case of Multiple Sclerosis.

Background And Purpose: Optimal reporting is a critical element of scholarly communications. Several initiatives, such as the EQUATOR checklists, have raised authors' awareness about the importance of adequate research reports. On these premises, we aimed at appraising the reporting quality of published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) dealing with rehabilitation interventions.

ERP and attachment dimensions as predictors of seeking care or food comfort in stressful situations.

In this study, we aimed to test the association of the Late Positive Potential (LPP) response and attachment dimensions in the choice of care/food pictures and its reaction time (RT) in threatening versus neutral conditions. Fifty-two participants (38 females, M 22.62) responded to the ECR questionnaire and were exposed to adequate visual stimuli, during EEG recording.

Face emotional expressions influence interhemispheric inhibition.

The processing of face expressions is a key ability to perform social interactions. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the excitability of the hand primary motor cortex (M1) increases following the view of negative faces expressions. Interhemispheric interactions and sensory-motor integration are cortical processes involving M1, which are known to be modulated by emotional and social behaviors.

Short-term transcutaneous trigeminal nerve stimulation does not affect visual oddball task and paired-click paradigm ERP responses in healthy volunteers.

Recent research suggests that transcutaneous trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS) may positively affect cognitive function. However, no clear-cut evidence is available yet, since the majority of it derives from clinical studies, and the few data on healthy subjects show inconsistent results. In this study, we report the effects of short-term TNS on event-related potentials (ERP) recorded during the administration of a simple visual oddball task and a paired-click paradigm, both considered useful for studying brain information processing functions.

Isokinetic Resistance Training for Ankle Plantarflexor Spasticity and Muscle Weakness in People With Multiple Sclerosis: A Proof-of-Concept Case Series.

Objective: To the best of the authors' knowledge, no data are available about the use of isokinetic resistance training for managing ankle plantarflexor spastic hypertonia in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this proof-of-concept study was to explore the feasibility and effects of concentric contractions on spasticity-related resistance to passive motion, strength, and mobility in people with MS and ankle plantarflexor spasticity.

Methods: In this pretest/posttest case series, 5 people with MS (mean age = 53.

The impact of aerobic and resistance training intensity on markers of neuroplasticity in health and disease.

Objective: To determine the effects of low- vs. high-intensity aerobic and resistance training on motor and cognitive function, brain activation, brain structure, and neurochemical markers of neuroplasticity and the association thereof in healthy young and older adults and in patients with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and stroke.

Design: Systematic review and robust variance estimation meta-analysis with meta-regression.

Is it possible to compare inhibitory and excitatory intracortical circuits in face and hand primary motor cortex?

Face muscles are important in a variety of different functions, such as feeding, speech and communication of non-verbal affective states, which require quite different patterns of activity from those of a typical hand muscle. We ask whether there are differences in their neurophysiological control that might reflect this. Fifteen healthy individuals were studied.

Sex-Based Differences in Oxygen Cost of Walking and Energy Equivalents in Minimally Disabled Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis and Controls.

Background: Elevated oxygen cost of walking and energy equivalents are reported for highly and moderately disabled individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, less is known about minimally impaired individuals. Moreover, no sex-based data on the metabolic rates of individuals with MS are available.