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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

Healthy Women and Men Do Not Show Differences in Tongue Strength and Regular Effort Saliva Swallows as Assessed by Piezo-Resistive Sensors: Results from a Reproducibility Study.

The aim of this study was to establish the reproducibility of tongue strength measurements in healthy women and men during maximum anterior isometric pressure (MAIP) and regular effort saliva swallows (RESS). In this cross-sectional study, 30 healthy young adults were required to push with the tip of the tongue on a piezo-resistive sensor glued to the hard palate, immediately above the central incisor line. Tongue pressures exerted on the sensor during MAIP and spontaneous RESS were recorded.

Analysis of sex-based differences in energy substrate utilization during moderate-intensity aerobic exercise.

Purpose: To explore sex-based differences in energy substrate utilization during moderate-intensity aerobic exercise; to identify the underpinning candidate physiological mechanisms.

Methods: Three databases were searched from inception to August 2020. Pertinent studies quantifying the utilization of substrates during moderate aerobic exercise in healthy men and reproductive-age women were considered.

Reporting quality of TMS studies in neurological conditions: A critical appraisal of the main gaps, challenges and clinical implications.

Transparent reporting of study methods and findings can dramatically expand the reliability and impact of health research. Evidence-based reporting checklists and guidelines, such as those hosted by the EQUATOR network, provide a framework for summarizing statistics, methods and data presentation. While being increasingly used in several research fields, such trend toward better control seems in its infancy in the field of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

Energy Expenditure and Oxygen Consumption During Activities of Daily Living in People With Multiple Sclerosis and Healthy Subjects: An Ecological Approach to Estimate Real-Life Fatigue and Fatigability.

Objective: To compare oxygen consumption and energy expenditure (EE) of the activities of daily living (ADL) in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and healthy subjects.

Design: Cross-sectional observational study.

Setting: Outpatient care facilities.

Test-Retest Reliability and Known-Groups Validity of Trunk Muscle Tests in People With Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional, Case-Control Study.

Objective: Research on muscle performance testing reliability in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) has focused on limb performance while less is known about trunk strength and endurance. This work aims to 1) establish test-retest reliability of trunk flexion, lateral flexion, and extension strength tests, and plank, side bridge, and Biering-Sørensen endurance tests in people with MS and matched healthy controls (HCs); 2) analyze known-groups validity of these tests in people with MS and HCs; 3) to compare groups for side-to-side differences; and 4) to describe the relationships between trunk performance and functional mobility tests.

Methods: Fifteen people with MS (median Expanded Disability Status Scale = 3) and 15 HCs underwent 2 trunk isometric strength and endurance testing sessions.

Contralateral Strength Training as Preparation for Direct Strength Training in a Patient With Unilateral Foot-Drop Because of Multiple Sclerosis: A Case Report.

Objective: Direct strength training (DST) is effective in managing unilateral weakness in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Its feasibility, however, is considerably reduced if one limb is too compromised to train. In this case, contralateral strength training (CST) of the unaffected side to induce a strength transfer to the untrained homologous muscles can help to establish a strength baseline in the weaker limb, eventually allowing direct training.

Effect of Eccentric Strength Training on Elbow Flexor Spasticity and Muscle Weakness in People With Multiple Sclerosis: Proof-of-Concept Single-System Case Series.

Objective: To date, no attention has been devoted to the employment of eccentric contractions to manage spasticity in multiple sclerosis. This single-system case series aimed to explore the effects of eccentric training on spasticity-related resistance to passive motion in people with multiple sclerosis with elbow flexor spasticity.

Methods: Six people with multiple sclerosis (median Expanded Disability Status Scale score = 4.

Isokinetic predictors of gait speed increase following high-intensity resistance training of the ankle dorsiflexors in people with multiple sclerosis: A pilot study.

Background: Maximal strength is a predictor of functional capacity for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), who frequently exhibit unilateral weakness of the ankle dorsiflexors. Aims of this study were to investigate the relationships between dorsiflexors' weakness and gait speed, the effects of high-intensity training of the affected dorsiflexors on gait performance and to identify isokinetic predictors of changes in gait speed in PwMs.

Methods: Twenty patients aged 45 (10.

The surge of predatory open-access in neurosciences and neurology.

Predatory open access is a controversial publishing business model that exploits the open-access system by charging publication fees in the absence of transparent editorial services. The credibility of academic publishing is now seriously threatened by predatory journals, whose articles are accorded real citations and thus contaminate the genuine scientific records of legitimate journals. This is of particular concern for public health since clinical practice relies on the findings generated by scholarly articles.

Predatory Open Access in Rehabilitation.

Increasingly scholars and researchers are being solicited by predatory open access journals seeking manuscript submissions and abusing the author-pays model by charging authors with publishing fees without any or proper peer review. Such questionable editorial practices are threatening the reputation and credibility of scholarly publishing. To date, no investigation has been conducted on this phenomenon in the field of rehabilitation.