The Stepping Threshold Test for assessing reactive balance discriminates between older adult fallers and non-fallers.

Introduction: The ability to respond effectively to external perturbations is crucial for avoiding falls. The Stepping Threshold Test (STT) has been developed to assess this reactive balance, but its ability to discriminate between fallers and non-fallers is still unsubstantiated. This study aimed to evaluate the discriminant validity of the STT in distinguishing fallers and non-fallers and its convergent validity.

An acute bout of high-intensity exercise affects nocturnal sleep and sleep-dependent memory consolidation.

Acute exercise has been shown to affect long-term memory and sleep. However, it is unclear whether exercise-induced changes in sleep architecture are associated with enhanced memory. Recently, it has been shown that exercise followed by a nap improved declarative memory.

Feasibility, effectiveness and acceptability of two perturbation-based treadmill training protocols to improve reactive balance in fall-prone older adults (FEATURE): protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Perturbation-based balance training (PBT) targets the mechanism of falls (eg, slipping, tripping) to specifically train the recovery actions needed to avoid a fall. This task-specific training has shown great promise as an effective and efficient intervention for fall prevention in older adults. However, knowledge about the dose-response relationship of PBT, as well as its feasibility and acceptability in older adults with increased risk of falling is still limited.

Motor Memory Consolidation Deficits in Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

Background: The ability to encode and consolidate motor memories is essential for persons with Parkinson's disease (PD), who usually experience a progressive loss of motor function. Deficits in memory encoding, usually expressed as poorer rates of skill improvement during motor practice, have been reported in these patients. Whether motor memory consolidation (i.

Does Cardiorespiratory Fitness Protect Memory from Sleep Deprivation?

Introduction: Animal studies have demonstrated that physical exercise can protect memory from the effects of sleep deprivation (SD). We examined whether having a high cardiorespiratory fitness (V̇O 2peak ) is associated with an enhanced capacity to encode episodic memory after one night of SD.

Methods: Twenty-nine healthy young participants were allocated into either an SD group ( n = 19) that underwent 30 h of uninterrupted wakefulness, or a sleep control (SC) group ( n = 10) that followed a regular sleep routine.

The Effect of Different Types of Exercise on Sleep Quality and Architecture in Parkinson Disease: A Single-Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial Protocol.

Objectives: The purpose of this trial is to (1) determine the best exercise modality to improve sleep quality and sleep architecture in people with Parkinson disease (PD); (2) investigate whether exercise-induced improvements in sleep mediate enhancements in motor and cognitive function as well as other non-motor symptoms of PD; and (3) explore if changes in systemic inflammation after exercise mediate improvements in sleep.

Methods: This is a multi-site, superiority, single-blinded randomized controlled trial. One hundred fifty persons with PD and sleep problems will be recruited and randomly allocated into 4 intervention arms.

[New approaches in exercise therapy for Parkinson's disease].

Background: Exercise therapy is an important component in the treatment of motor symptoms in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). In this context, goal-based task-specific training has shown to be particularly effective compared to nonspecific approaches.

Objective: In this article two novel exercise interventions for targeted improvement of motor function in PD are presented: 1) task-specific training with perturbations and 2) combined task-specific and cardiovascular training.

Exercising the Sleepy-ing Brain: Exercise, Sleep, and Sleep Loss on Memory.

We examine the novel hypothesis that physical exercise and sleep have synergistic effects on memory. Exercise can trigger mechanisms that can create an optimal brain state during sleep to facilitate memory processing. The possibility that exercise could counteract the deleterious effects of sleep deprivation on memory by protecting neuroplasticity also is discussed.

Sex differences in injury rates in team-sport athletes: A systematic review and meta-regression analysis.

Background: Team-sport players have a particularly high injury risk. Although female sex is considered a risk factor, it is still unknown whether female and male team-sport players, in fact, differ in their injury rates. We aimed to compare injury rates between female and male players by systematically reviewing and meta-analyzing injury surveillance studies of both sexes in order to evaluate sex-specific differences in team-sport injuries.

Sex-Specific Differences in Running Injuries: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression.

Background: Running is a popular sport with high injury rates. Although risk factors have intensively been investigated, synthesized knowledge about the differences in injury rates of female and male runners is scarce.

Objective: To systematically investigate the differences in injury rates and characteristics between female and male runners.

Acute exercise following skill practice promotes motor memory consolidation in Parkinson's disease.

Acute cardiovascular exercise has shown to promote neuroplastic processes supporting the consolidation of newly acquired motor skills in healthy adults. First results suggest that this concept may be transferred to populations with motor and cognitive dysfunctions. In this context, Parkinson's disease (PD) is highly relevant since patients demonstrate deficits in motor learning.

Effects of acute cardiovascular exercise on motor memory encoding and consolidation: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

Emerging evidence indicates that acute bouts of cardiovascular exercise promote motor memory formation. In this preregistered meta-analysis (CRD42018106288) we synthesize data from 22 studies published until February 2020, including a total of 862 participants. We calculated standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) to assess exercise effects on motor memory encoding and consolidation, respectively.

Exercise Intensity Does not Modulate the Effect of Acute Exercise on Learning a Complex Whole-Body Task.

High-intensity cardiovascular exercise prior to motor skill practice is postulated to enhance motor memory consolidation (offline learning), whereas moderate-intensity bouts may benefit skill acquisition (online learning). This study aimed at investigating this suggested intensity-dependent effect of exercise in a complex whole-body task. 50 healthy young adults were randomized into one of three groups performing a bout of either (1) high-intense, (2) moderate-intense, or (3) minimal-intense cycling for a total of 17 min immediately prior to skill practice.

Interindividual Balance Adaptations in Response to Perturbation Treadmill Training in Persons With Parkinson Disease.

Background And Purpose: Perturbation training is a promising approach to reduce fall incidence in persons with Parkinson disease (PwPD). This study aimed to evaluate interindividual differences in balance adaptations in response to perturbation treadmill training (PTT) and identify potential outcome predictors.

Methods: PwPD (n = 43, Hoehn & Yahr stage 1-3.

Recommendations for assessing motor performance in individuals with dementia: suggestions of an expert panel - a qualitative approach.

Background: Recommendations for assessing motor performance in individuals with dementia (IWD) are rare, and most existing assessment tools previously applied in IWD were initially developed for healthy older adults. However, IWD and their healthy counterparts differ in motor and cognitive capabilities, which needs to be considered when designing studies for this population. This article aims to give recommendations for motor assessments for IWD and to promote standardisation based on a structured discussion of identified assessment tools used in previous trials.

Perturbation Treadmill Training Improves Clinical Characteristics of Gait and Balance in Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Impaired gait and postural stability are cardinal motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD). Treadmill training improves gait characteristics in PD.

Objective: This study investigates if postural perturbations during treadmill training improve motor performance and particularly gait and postural stability in PD.

Exploring gait adaptations to perturbed and conventional treadmill training in Parkinson's disease: Time-course, sustainability, and transfer.

Background: Gait impairment is a major motor symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD), and treadmill training is an effective non-pharmacological treatment option.

Research Question: In this study, the time course, sustainability and transferability of gait adaptations to treadmill training with and without additional postural perturbations were investigated.

Methods: 38 PD patients (Hoehn & Yahr 1-3.

Ankle angle variability during running in athletes with chronic ankle instability and copers.

Background: Individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) demonstrate altered ankle kinematics during running compared to uninjured individuals; however, little is known about differences between individuals with CAI and those who recover successfully from an index sprain (copers).

Methods: Thirty-two young male athletes with prior ankle sprain were investigated, eighteen with CAI and fourteen copers. Instrumented running analysis was performed on a treadmill at two velocities: moderate (2.

A Single Bout of Aerobic Exercise Improves Motor Skill Consolidation in Parkinson's Disease.

Motor learning is impaired in Parkinson's disease (PD), with patients demonstrating deficits in skill acquisition (online learning) and consolidation (offline learning) compared to healthy adults of similar age. Recent studies in young adults suggest that single bouts of aerobic exercise (AEX), performed in close temporal proximity to practicing a new motor task, may facilitate motor skill learning. Thus, we aimed at investigating the effects of a single bout of aerobic cycling on online and offline learning in PD patients.

Dose-Response Relationship of Neuromuscular Training for Injury Prevention in Youth Athletes: A Meta-Analysis.

Youth athletes with intensive sports participation are at an increased risk of sustaining injuries. Neuromuscular training programs reduce sports-related injury risk in this population, however, the dose-response relationship is largely unknown. Thus, the aim of this meta-analysis was to identify the optimal frequency, volume, duration, and period of neuromuscular training to prevent injuries in youth athletes.

Gait and Cognition in Parkinson's Disease: Cognitive Impairment Is Inadequately Reflected by Gait Performance during Dual Task.

Introduction: Cognitive and gait deficits are common symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD). Motor-cognitive dual tasks (DTs) are used to explore the interplay between gait and cognition. However, it is unclear if DT gait performance is indicative for cognitive impairment.

Acute Neuromuscular Adaptations in the Postural Control of Patients with Parkinson's Disease after Perturbed Walking.

Patients suffering from Parkinson's disease (PD) present motor impairments reflected in the dynamics of the center of pressure (CoP) adjustments during quiet standing. One method to study the dynamics of CoP adjustments is the entropic half-life (EnHL), which measures the short-term correlations of a time series at different time scales. Changes in the EnHL of CoP time series suggest neuromuscular adaptations in the control of posture.

Perturbation During Treadmill Training Improves Dynamic Balance and Gait in Parkinson's Disease: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial.

Background: Gait and balance dysfunction are major symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD). Treadmill training improves gait characteristics in this population but does not reflect the dynamic nature of controlling balance during ambulation in everyday life contexts.

Objective: To evaluate whether postural perturbations during treadmill walking lead to superior effects on gait and balance performance compared with standard treadmill training.

Immediate effects of perturbation treadmill training on gait and postural control in patients with Parkinson's disease.

The study investigates immediate adaptations of gait and balance to a single session of perturbed treadmill walking in patients with Parkinson's disease. 39 Parkinson's patients in stage 1-3.5 of the Hoehn and Yahr Scale were randomized into one of two groups, stratified by disease severity: The experimental group (n=19) walked on a treadmill prototype which constantly applied perturbation by small three-dimensional tilting movements of the walking surface.

Time-dependent postural control adaptations following a neuromuscular warm-up in female handball players: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Female handball athletes are at a particular risk of sustaining lower extremity injuries. The study examines time-dependent adaptations of static and dynamic balance as potential injury risk factors to a specific warm-up program focusing on neuromuscular control.

Methods: Fourty one (24.