Rehabilitation therapy using the HUBER platform in chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) refers to a complex condition that involves structural, biomechanical, cognitive, psychological, social, and lifestyle issues. First-line therapies include physical therapy and exercise, as well as psychological follow-up and pain medication.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a 6-week center-based program using a multi-axis motorized platform (HUBER) connected with force sensors, that allows the patients to execute isometric exercises on the spine flexion-to-extension ratio at 60 and 120°/s, pain, trunk flexibility, and disability.

Effects of an Intensive 6-Week Rehabilitation Program with the HUBER Platform in the Treatment of Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain: A Pilot Study.

Non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) is defined as a complex disorder involving structural, biomechanical, cognitive, psychological, social, and lifestyle factors. Non-pharmacological approaches such as exercise and physical therapy have been proposed in first-line treatments, along with psychological follow-up and pain medication if needed. Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of an intensive rehabilitation program with HUBER (a multi-axis motorized platform equipped with force sensors, allowing patients to perform physical exercises in an isometric mode) on the spine flexion-to-extension ratio at 60 and 120°/s, pain, and trunk flexibility in individuals with NSCLBP.

Short-term effects of a 3-week interval training program on heart rate variability in chronic heart failure. A randomised controlled trial.

Background: Exaggerated sympathetic nervous system activity associated with low heart rate variability (HRV) is considered to trigger cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death. Regular exercise training is efficient to improve autonomic balance.

Objective: We aimed to verify the superiority of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to enhance HRV, cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiac function as compared with moderate intensity continuous training (MICT) in a short, intense cardiac rehabilitation program.

The efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on the improvement of walking distance in patients with peripheral arterial disease with intermittent claudication: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial: the TENS-PAD study.

Background: In patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), walking improvements are often limited by early pain onset due to vascular claudication. It would thus appear interesting to develop noninvasive therapeutic strategies, such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), to improve the participation of PAD patients in rehabilitation programmes, and thus improve their quality of life. Our team recently tested the efficacy of a single 45-min session of 10-Hz TENS prior to walking.

Whole-body strength training with Huber Motion Lab and traditional strength training in cardiac rehabilitation: A randomized controlled study.

Background: Isometric strengthening has been rarely studied in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), mainly because of possible potential side effects and lack of appropriate and reliable devices.

Objective: We aimed to compare 2 different modes of resistance training, an isometric mode with the Huber Motion Lab (HML) and traditional strength training (TST), in CHD patients undergoing a cardiac rehabilitation program.

Design: We randomly assigned 50 patients to HML or TST.

Exercise training-induced modification in autonomic nervous system: An update for cardiac patients.

Patients with cardiovascular disease show autonomic dysfunction, including sympathetic activation and vagal withdrawal, which leads to fatal events. This review aims to place sympathovagal balance as an essential element to be considered in management for cardiovascular disease patients who benefit from a cardiac rehabilitation program. Many studies showed that exercise training, as non-pharmacologic treatment, plays an important role in enhancing sympathovagal balance and could normalize levels of markers of sympathetic flow measured by microneurography, heart rate variability or plasma catecholamine levels.

Vitamin D deficiency related to physical capacity during cardiac rehabilitation.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a frequent pathology associated with cardiovascular diseases and physical performance.

Objective: To study the link between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) level and physical performance and gain in physical performance after cardiovascular rehabilitation (CVR) with vitamin D deficiency.

Methods: 25OHD level was assessed in a retrospective cohort of patients admitted for CVR.

Acute High-Intensity Intermittent Aerobic Exercise Reduces Plasma Angiopoietin-Like 2 in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Circulating levels of angiopoietin-like 2 (ANGPTL2), a proinflammatory and proatherogenic protein, are elevated in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We hypothesized that high-intensity intermittent exercise (HIIE), known to be beneficial in patients with CAD, would reduce circulating ANGPTL2 levels.

Methods: Plasma levels of ANGPTL2 were measured before and 20 minutes, 24 hours, and 72 hours after an acute exercise session in a crossover study comparing HIIE to moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE) in 14 patients with CAD and 20 age-matched and 20 young healthy controls.

Reliability and concurrent validity of the Acti'MET calculator: A new tool to assess physical activity in cardiac rehabilitation.

Objective: We created a tool for assessing physical activity (PA), the Acti'MET calculator, to quickly estimate weekly energy expenditure. This study aimed to assess the metrological properties of the tool in cardiac rehabilitation (CR).

Methods: Two examiners evaluated the reliability and concurrent validity of the tool with cardiac patients.

Improved Walking Claudication Distance with Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation: An Old Treatment with a New Indication in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether 45 mins of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation before exercise could delay pain onset and increase walking distance in peripheral artery disease patients.

Design: After a baseline assessment of the walking velocity that led to pain after 300 m, 15 peripheral artery disease patients underwent four exercise sessions in a random order. The patients had a 45-min transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation session with different experimental conditions: 80 Hz, 10 Hz, sham (presence of electrodes without stimulation), or control with no electrodes, immediately followed by five walking bouts on a treadmill until pain occurred.

Whole-body strength training using a Huber Motion Lab in coronary heart disease patients: safety, tolerance, fuel selection, and energy expenditure aspects and optimization.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate safety, tolerance, relative exercise intensity, and muscle substrate oxidation during sessions performed on a Huber Motion Lab in coronary heart disease patients.

Design: After an assessment of Vo2 peak, 20 coronary heart disease patients participated in two different exercises performed in random order at 40% and 70% (W40 and W70) of the maximal isometric voluntary contraction.

Results: No significant arrhythmia or abnormal blood pressure responses occurred during either session, and no muscle soreness was reported within 48 hrs posttest.

Direct evidences for sympathetic hyperactivity and baroreflex impairment in Tako Tsubo cardiopathy.

Background: The exact pathophysiology of Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) remains unknown but a role for sympathetic hyperactivity has been suggested. Up to now, no direct evidence of sympathetic nerve hyperactivity has been established nor involvement of sympathetic baroreflex identified. The aim of our study was to determine, by direct sympathetic nerve activity (SNS) recording if sympathetic nervous system activity is increased and spontaneous baroreflex control of sympathetic activity reduced in patients with TTC.

Acute electromyostimulation decreases muscle sympathetic nerve activity in patients with advanced chronic heart failure (EMSICA Study).

Background: Muscle passive contraction of lower limb by neuromuscular electrostimulation (NMES) is frequently used in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients but no data are available concerning its action on sympathetic activity. However, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is able to improve baroreflex in CHF. The primary aim of the present study was to investigate the acute effect of TENS and NMES compared to Sham stimulation on sympathetic overactivity as assessed by Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity (MSNA).

A single bout of high-intensity interval exercise does not increase endothelial or platelet microparticles in stable, physically fit men with coronary heart disease.

Background: High-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) is gaining in popularity in fitness centres, even among coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. However, whether HIIE can have deleterious acute effects on the vasculature in CHD has not been studied. We hypothesized that when compared with moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE), a single bout of HIIE could lead to vascular damage and increasing numbers of circulating endothelial and platelet microparticles (EMPs, PMPs) in stable, physically fit CHD patients.

High-intensity interval exercise improves vagal tone and decreases arrhythmias in chronic heart failure.

Purpose: Autonomic dysfunction including sympathetic activation and vagal withdrawal has been reported in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). We tested the hypotheses that high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) in CHF patients would enhance vagal modulation and thus decrease arrhythmic events.

Methods: Eighteen CHF patients underwent a baseline assessment (CON) and were then randomized to a single session of HIIE and to an isocaloric moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE).

Acute responses to intermittent and continuous exercise in heart failure patients.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare cardiopulmonary responses, exercise adherence, tolerance, and safety of optimized high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) compared with moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE) in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFREF).

Methods: Twenty patients with HFREF (aged 61 ± 9.9 years) were randomly assigned to HIIE corresponding to 2 × 8 minutes of 30-second intervals at 100% of peak power output and 30-second passive recovery intervals and to a 22-minute MICE corresponding to 60% of peak power output.

Telephone support oriented by accelerometric measurements enhances adherence to physical activity recommendations in noncompliant patients after a cardiac rehabilitation program.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of a strategy, based on telephone support oriented by accelerometer measurements, on the adherence to physical activity (PA) recommendations in cardiac patients not achieving PA recommendations.

Design: Prospective and randomized study.

Setting: A cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP) at a clinic.

High-intensity interval training in cardiac rehabilitation.

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is frequently used in sports training. The effects on cardiorespiratory and muscle systems have led scientists to consider its application in the field of cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this review is to report the effects and interest of HIIT in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and heart failure (HF), as well as in persons with high cardiovascular risk.

Validity of a questionnaire to assess the physical activity level in coronary artery disease patients.

The aim of the study is to compare, in coronary artery disease patients, physical activity (PA) assessed with the Dijon Physical Activity Questionnaire (DPAQ) and the true PA objectively measured using an accelerometer. Seventy patients wore an accelerometer (MyWellness Key actimeter) throughout 1 week after a cardiac rehabilitation program that included therapeutic education about regular PA. Patients completed the DPAQ at the end of the week.

High-intensity interval exercise in chronic heart failure: protocol optimization.

Background: There are little data on the optimization of high-intensity aerobic interval exercise (HIIE) protocols in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Therefore, we compared acute cardiopulmonary responses to 4 different HIIE protocols to identify the optimal one.

Methods And Results: Twenty men with stable systolic CHF performed 4 different randomly ordered single HIIE sessions with measurement of gas exchange.

Optimization and reliability of a deep water running test in healthy adults older than 45 years.

Objective: The aim of this study was to (1) compare the peak oxygen uptake across three protocols of different duration during an incremental deep water running test to exhaustion; (2) study the reproducibility of peak Vo2 during two repeated incremental deep water running tests; (3) compare peak deep water running test and treadmill cardiopulmonary responses in adults older than 45 yrs.

Design: First, 24 healthy subjects older than 45 yrs (60 yrs [6 yrs], body mass index: 28 kg/m [6 kg/m], 11 men/13 women) performed three incremental deep water running tests (< or =8 mins, 8-12 mins, and > or =12 mins) with measurement of peak Vo2 (optimization group). Nineteen subjects of the 24 original subjects (reproducibility group) then performed two repeated maximal deep water running tests.

Acute Responses to High-Intensity Intermittent Exercise in CHD Patients.

Purpose: although the acute physiological responses to continuous exercise have been well documented in CHD patients, no previous study has examined the responses to high-intensity intermittent exercise in these patients. The purpose of this study was to compare the physiological responses to a high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) protocol versus a moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE) protocol of similar energy expenditure in CHD patients.

Methods: twenty patients with stable CHD (19 males and 1 female, 62 ± 11 yr) were assigned in random order to a single session of HIIE corresponding to 15-s intervals at 100% of peak power output (PPO) and 15-s passive recovery intervals and, 2 wk later, to an isocaloric MICE corresponding to 70% of PPO.

Exposure to extreme cold lowers the ischemic threshold in coronary artery disease patients.

Background: Cold temperature is known to commonly precipitate angina pectoris in patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD). It was previously shown that the ischemic threshold was lower during exercise testing at -8 degrees C than at +20 degrees C in patients with a history of cold-induced angina, whereas it was unchanged in patients without cold-induced angina. Few data exist on the impact of more severe cold exposure on myocardial ischemia.