Diastasis Recti Abdominis Rehabilitation in the Postpartum Period: A Scoping Review of Current Clinical Practice.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Despite exercise being the standard approach to diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) rehabilitation, there is no consensus on the most effective exercise routine and adjunct modalities for reducing DRA and improving functional parameters. The present study is aimed at investigating evidence for DRA rehabilitation in postpartum women, as well as knowledge gaps and areas for future research.

Methods: For this scoping review a systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, AMED, CINAHL, Embase, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and PEDro up to November 2022.

Mobile health applications designed for self-management of chronic pulmonary diseases in children and adolescents: a systematic mapping review.

Objective: Mobile health (mHealth) applications are scarce for children and adolescents with chronic pulmonary diseases (CPDs). This study aimed to map and describe the contents of the mHealth apps available for use in children and adolescents with CPDs.

Methods: We performed a systematic mapping review of published scientific literature in PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library by February of 2023, using relevant keywords.

Technical Factors That May Influence mHealth Adherence in Children With Chronic Pulmonary Diseases: Scoping Review.

Purpose: To synthesize the technical factors influencing adherence to nonpharmacological treatment (NPhT) in children with chronic pulmonary diseases (CPDs), using mobile health (mHealth) technology.

Methods: Five electronic databases were searched from inception to October 12, 2022, with terms related to pediatrics, CPDs, adherence, NPhT, and mHealth. The methodological quality was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme and the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool checklist.

Factors underlying denial of and disbelief in COVID-19.

Objective: To investigate factors that influence or promote disbelief and negative attitudes toward COVID-19.

Methods: This was cross-sectional study involving 544 males and females ≥ 18 years of age in Greece between December of 2020 and January of 2021. All participants were informed about the purpose of the study, protection of anonymity, and volunteer participation.

Respiratory, cardiac and metabolic responses during electrical muscle stimulation in quadriceps muscle versus comparable voluntary muscle contractions.

Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) and voluntary muscle contraction (VMC) are both acceptable rehabilitative modalities to preserve muscle strength loss. The study aimed to compare respiratory, metabolic, and cardiac parameters during quadriceps muscle contraction (QMC) using either EMS or VMC with comparable generated low intensity muscle force. Thirty healthy non-smoker males, age 20-58 years with normal BMI and low to moderate physical activity, underwent two 20-min sessions of comparable QMC using EMS vs VMC at the same day.

Heart Rate Recovery After 6-min Walking Test Predicts Acute Exacerbation in COPD.

Introduction: Abnormalities of autonomic function have been reported in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Our objectives were to identify determinants of abnormal heart rate recovery at 1 min (HRR) following completion of the 6-min walk test (6MWT) in COPD and to establish whether abnormal HRR predicts acute exacerbations (AECOPD).

Methods: Hundred one COPD patients (FEV (SD) 53 (19)  % predicted) were prospectively recruited in a multi-center study.

Home-based maintenance tele-rehabilitation reduces the risk for acute exacerbations of COPD, hospitalisations and emergency department visits.

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) remains grossly underutilised by suitable patients worldwide. We investigated whether home-based maintenance tele-rehabilitation will be as effective as hospital-based maintenance rehabilitation and superior to usual care in reducing the risk for acute chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations, hospitalisations and emergency department (ED) visits.Following completion of an initial 2-month PR programme this prospective, randomised controlled trial (between December 2013 and July 2015) compared 12 months of home-based maintenance tele-rehabilitation (n=47) with 12 months of hospital-based, outpatient, maintenance rehabilitation (n=50) and also to 12 months of usual care treatment (n=50) without initial PR.

Limitation in tidal volume expansion partially determines the intensity of physical activity in COPD.

In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), reduced levels of daily physical activity are associated with the degree of impairment in lung, peripheral muscle, and central hemodynamic function. There is, however, limited evidence as to whether limitations in tidal volume expansion also, importantly, determine daily physical activity levels in COPD. Eighteen consecutive patients with COPD [9 active (forced expiratory volume in 1 s, FEV1: 1.

Intensity of daily physical activity is associated with central hemodynamic and leg muscle oxygen availability in COPD.

In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), daily physical activity is reported to be adversely associated with the magnitude of exercise-induced dynamic hyperinflation and peripheral muscle weakness. There is limited evidence whether central hemodynamic, oxygen transport, and peripheral muscle oxygenation capacities also contribute to reduced daily physical activity. Nineteen patients with COPD (FEV1, 48 ± 14% predicted) underwent a treadmill walking test at a speed corresponding to the individual patient's mean walking intensity, captured by a triaxial accelerometer during a preceding 7-day period.

Effect of rehabilitative exercise training on peripheral muscle remodelling in patients with COPD: targeting beyond the lungs.

Locomotor muscle dysfunction and weakness are frequently observed in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). In addition to intolerable sensations of dyspnoea which importantly contribute to exercise limitation, intrinsic muscle abnormalities have also been implicated in inducing leg muscle fatigue/discomfort during exercise in these patients. It is, however, uncertain whether these intrinsic muscle abnormalities are linked to a specific 'myopathy' or they constitute a consequence of the disease.

Smoking and physical activity interrelations in health science students. Is smoking associated with physical inactivity in young adults?

Background: Smoking and physical inactivity constitute a major public health concern for Greece. The purpose of this study was to examine smoking behaviour and physical activity (PA) in Greek health science students.

Methods: A standardised questionnaire and the Greek version of IPAQ-short were given to 2000 health science students, randomly selected from five higher education institutions, in order to record smoking behaviour and PA status.

Effectiveness of Interval Exercise Training in Patients with COPD.

Physical training is beneficial and should be included in the comprehensive management of all patients with COPD independently of disease severity. Different rehabilitative strategies and training modalities have been proposed to optimize exercise tolerance. Interval exercise training has been used as an effective alternative modality to continuous exercise in patients with moderate and severe COPD.