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Topic Review
Physical Fitness in Adulthood
The aim of the entry is the elaboration of a systematic review of existing research on physical fitness, self-efficacy for physical exercise, and quality of life in adulthood. Method: Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement guidelines, and based on the findings in 493 articles, the final sample was composed of 37 articles, which were reviewed to show whether self-efficacy has previously been studied as a mediator in the relationship between physical fitness and quality of life in adulthood. Results: The results indicate that little research exists in relation to healthy, populations with the majority being people with pathology. Physical fitness should be considered as a fundamental aspect in determining the functional capacity of the person. Aerobic capacity was the most evaluated and the 6-min walk test was the most used. Only one article shows the joint relationship between the three variables. Conclusions: We discuss the need to investigate the mediation of self-efficacy in relation to the value of physical activity on quality of life and well-being in the healthy adult population in adult life.
  • 1.3K
  • 11 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Paroxysmal Movement Disorders
Paroxysmal movement disorders (PMDs) are rare neurological diseases typically manifesting with intermittent attacks of abnormal involuntary movements.
  • 1.2K
  • 06 Nov 2020
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Painful Legs and Moving Toes
Painful Legs and Moving Toes syndrome (PLMT) is a rare neurological movement disorder characterized by involuntary and irregular movements of one or more toes, often together, with moderate to severe diffuse pain at the foot and leg. It can appear on one or both sides and in the upper limbs as well as lower limbs. The etiology of PLMT is still unclear; therefore, the main symptoms of PLMT, including pain in limbs as well as involuntary movements of toes, can be treated only symptomatically, and the outcomes are often unsatisfactory. Central or peripheral nerve injuries have been assumed to be the possible causes of irregular involuntary movements, often accompanied by chronic pain; however, its etiology is unknown in most cases. The management of PLMT is very difficult because of its rare prevalence and obscure pathogenesis, and there have been no clear guidelines for the treatment of PLMT. Oral medications (e.g., GABAergic agents, benzodiazepines, antiepileptics, antidepressants, atypical antipsychotics, beta-blockers, corticosteroids, cannabis, calcitonin, and analgesics) and several therapeutic interventions (e.g., local botulinum neurotoxin-A injection, spinal cord stimulation, anesthetic, and surgical interventions) have been recommended, based on individual experiences from several cases. Its etiology, pathogenesis, and effective treatments should be further discussed.
  • 1.1K
  • 13 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Non-Pharmacological Options in Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis remains the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide characterized by the deposition of lipids and fibrous elements in the form of atheroma plaques in vascular areas which are hemodynamically overloaded. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability. Prolonged survival with chronic disease explains why the prevalence, burden, and costs of the disease remain high. Given these issues, aggressive treatment should be started at the first indication and continued over several years, along with the reduction in disease risk factors such as visceral adiposity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes.
  • 1.1K
  • 04 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Exercise Prescriptions for Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, which relates to not only motor symptoms, but also cognitive, autonomic, and mood impairments. The literature suggests that pharmacological or surgical treatment has a limited effect on providing relief of the symptoms and also restricting its progression. Recently, research on non-pharmacological interventions for people living with PD (pwPD) that alleviate their motor and non-motor features has shown a new aspect in treating this complex disease. Numerous studies are supporting exercise intervention as being effective in both motor and non-motor facets of PD, such as physical functioning, strength, balance, gait speed, and cognitive impairment. Via the lens of the physical profession, this paper strives to provide another perspective for PD treatment by presenting exercise modes categorized by motor and non-motor PD symptoms, along with its effects and mechanisms. Acknowledging that there is no “one size fits all” exercise prescription for such a variable and progressive disease, this review is to outline tailored physical activities as a credible approach in treating pwPD, conceivably enhancing overall physical capacity, ameliorating the symptoms, reducing the risk of falls and injuries, and, eventually, elevating the quality of life. It also provides references and practical prescription applications for the clinician.
  • 1.0K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Indirect Structural Muscle Injuries
Indirect structural muscle injuries (commonly referred as “muscle tears”) are the more commonly found in everyday clinical practice and represent the biggest challenge in rehabilitation, since these lack a precise therapeutic strategy. Structural muscle injuries classification is shown in.
  • 1.0K
  • 27 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Exercise-Associated Hyponatremia and Dehydration
During the last few years, the numbers of competitors in endurance and ultra-endurance sports modalities have increased significantly. This type of competition is an extreme challenge for athletes. Therefore, they have an increased the risk of developing medical and nutritional problems like exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH), dehydration (DH); the provision of misinformation to athletes about nutrient intake and hydration during competition was identified as the main cause. These problems can affect the performance and health status of the athlete during and post-competition. Several nutritional guidelines have been suggested that can prevent these adverse outcomes, and it is essential to individualize and adjust the nutritional intake and hydration status according to the characteristics of each competition.
  • 976
  • 05 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Acute Fatigue and Cognitive Performance in Team Sports
Fatigue caused by exercise or mentally demanding tasks can lead to an alteration in the cognitive functioning of athletes. I is important to investigate whether and to what extent fatigue influences athletes cognitive performance in sports with high cognitive demands. Prolonged exercise causes a decline in the decision-making, attention, and perception abilities of players. Accuracy of sport-specific tasks with cognitive components included rather deteriorated after both exercise and mental fatigue inducement. However, alteration of players cognitive performance depends on the intensity and duration of fatigue-inducing tasks. 
  • 959
  • 24 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Physiology of the Endocannabinoid System
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is involved in various processes, including brain plasticity, learning and memory, neuronal development, nociception, inflammation, appetite regulation, digestion, metabolism, energy balance, motility, and regulation of stress and emotions.
  • 897
  • 10 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Lactate-Guided Threshold Interval Training
A novel training model based on lactate-guided threshold interval training (LGTIT) within a high-volume, low-intensity approach, which characterizes the training pattern in some world-class middle- and long-distance runners was proposed. This training model consists of performing three to four LGTIT sessions and one VO2max intensity session weekly. In addition, low intensity running is performed up to an overall volume of 150–180 km/week. During LGTIT sessions, the training pace is dictated by a blood lactate concentration target (i.e., internal rather than external training load), typically ranging from 2 to 4.5 mmol·L−1, measured every one to three repetitions. That intensity may allow for a more rapid recovery through a lower central and peripheral fatigue between high-intensity sessions compared with that of greater intensities and, therefore, a greater weekly volume of these specific workouts.
  • 847
  • 22 May 2023
Topic Review
Mental Imagery
Mental imagery is a term used to describe the cognitive process of simulating sensations, actions, or other types of experiences through generating and using mental images, including metaphors.
  • 829
  • 18 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Upper-Limb Physical Rehabilitation with Techology
The use of videogames and motion capture systems in physical rehabilitation contributes to the recovery of the patient, for this reason, there is a tendency to continue generating proposals that face the challenges of rehabilitation with technologies that offer precision and care coverage, and that, additionally, integrate elements that promote the motivation and participation of the patient.
  • 821
  • 16 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Physical Exercise-Induced FGF-21 to Fight Obesity
Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) is a protein that is involved in the regulation of glucose, lipids, and energy metabolism. To act on target tissues, endocrine FGF-21 binds preferably to FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) in the presence of the coreceptor named β-klotho (KLB). Some of the effects of FGF-21 include increased fatty acid oxidation, glucose uptake, insulin sensitivity, and thermogenesis, which can regulate body weight and glycemia control. By exerting such metabolic effects, the therapeutic potential of FGF-21 for the treatment of obesity and diabetes has been investigated. Physical exercise has been widely used for the prevention and treatment of obesity. Several mechanisms mediate the effects of physical exercise, including the FGF-21 pathway. Studies have shown that physical exercise increases the concentration of circulating and tissue FGF-21 in animals, while contradictory results are still observed in humans.
  • 797
  • 29 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Myasthenia Gravis
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by muscle weakness and fatigue. The cause is a postsynaptic defect of neuromuscular transmission, which brings, in the majority of patients, to develop autoantibodies directed against the postsynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR).
  • 794
  • 17 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Rapid Weight Loss
Since combat sports are weight-divided, many athletes take part in rapid weight loss so they can compete in a lower weight class and presumably gain advantage over their lighter opponents. This practice is associated with many health complications and performance decrements that can range from transient to chronic. 
  • 791
  • 04 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Social Environment in Pacing and Sports Performance
Pacing has been described as a goal-directed process of decision making in which athletes decide when and how to distribute their limited energy resources throughout an exercise task. Adequate pacing behaviour is critical in sports as it facilitates optimal performance. In sports settings, numerous lab and field studies consistently revealed that the social environment is an influential factor in athletes’ pacing and performance, as first observed by Triplett. In head-to-head sports, such as cycling, running, and speed skating, opponents can act as social placebos, inviting changes in athletes’ pacing behaviour impacting positively on performance, while their rate of perceived exertion remains the same. According to the ecological perspective, this occurs because opponents act as social affordances (invitations for actions), providing the athlete with additional performance feedback and therefore influencing their decision-making. 
  • 786
  • 16 Dec 2022
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Benefits of Judo Training for Brain Functions Related to Physical and Cognitive Performance in Older Adults
Judo is a well-known Japanese martial art that also features in Olympic games. Recently, an increasing interest has been observed in the application of judo as a multicomponent exercise, with a growing body of evidence showing that this feature improves physical and cognitive performance in older adults. Therefore, this review highlights the benefits of judo training in preventing physical and cognitive decline in older adults. Specifically, first, this review outlines the basic characteristics of judo (philosophy, match, and training). Subsequently, prior research examining the impacts of judo training on the physical and cognitive aspects of elderly individuals is reviewed. Thereafter, the brain mechanisms underlying the effects of judo training in improving physical and cognitive performance are discussed. Throughout this review, judo training demonstrated some positive effects on physical (gait and balance, among others) and cognitive (memory and executive function) function in older adults. These positive effects are attributed to a variety of changes in the brain (e.g., increased neurotrophic factor expression and increased cerebral blood flow, among others) that affect different brain regions and networks both functionally and structurally. From these findings, this review concludes that judo training can be an effective way to maintain and prevent physical and cognitive decline in older adults.
  • 773
  • 28 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Strength-Training in Intellectual Disability
The practice of physical exercise (PE), especially strength training (ST), has health benefits in the healthy population; however, the literature is scarce in the recommendations related to the population with intellectual disability (ID). This study represents the first analysis on the topic and aims to examine the structure and efficacy of ST experimental intervention programs in individuals with ID. This systematic review was carried out between January and April 2021, using the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus databases, according to the PRISMA guidelines.
  • 772
  • 18 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Monitoring of Six-Minute Walk Test
In the pandemic time, the monitoring of the progression of some diseases is affected and rehabilitation is more complicated. Remote monitoring may help solve this problem using mobile devices that embed low-cost sensors, which can help measure different physical parameters. Many tests can be applied remotely, one of which is the six-minute walk test (6MWT). The 6MWT is a sub-maximal exercise test that assesses aerobic capacity and endurance, allowing early detection of emerging medical conditions with changes. 
  • 768
  • 02 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Methods of Improving Male Athletes Reactive Strength Index
The reactive strength index (RSI) describes the individual’s capability to quickly change from an eccentric muscular contraction to a concentric one and can be used to monitor, assess, and reduce the risk of athlete’s injury. Interventions with plyometric training routines have a relatively large, statistically significant overall effect in both adult and youth athletes. Thus, evidence supports implementing these types of interventions at an early age, in order to better cope with the physical demands of the various sports. Resistance training seems to have less impact on trained adult athletes; therefore, trained adult athletes should seek to have a more power-type training to improve the RSI.
  • 761
  • 28 Mar 2022
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