Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud

‘Living Better’, a self-administered web-based intervention, designed to facilitate lifestyle changes, has already shown positive short- and medium-term health benefits in patients with an obesity–hypertension phenotype. The objectives of this study were: (1) to examine the long-term (3-year) evolution of a group of hypertensive overweight or obese patients who had already followed the ‘Living Better’ program; (2) to analyze the effects of completing this program a second time (reintervention) during the COVID-19 pandemic. A quasi-experimental design was used. We recruited 29 individuals from the 105 who had participated in our first study. We assessed and compared their systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), body mass index (BMI), eating behavior, and physical activity (PA) level (reported as METs-min/week), at Time 0 (first intervention follow-up), Time 1 (before the reintervention), and Time 2 (post-reintervention). Our results showed significant improvements between Time 1 and Time 2 in SBP (􀀀4.7 (􀀀8.7 to 􀀀0.7); p = 0.017), DBP (􀀀3.5 (􀀀6.2 to 􀀀0.8); p = 0.009), BMI (􀀀0.7 (􀀀1.0 to 􀀀0.4); p < 0.001), emotional eating (􀀀2.8 (􀀀5.1 to 􀀀0.5); p = 0.012), external eating (􀀀1.1 (􀀀2.1 to 􀀀0.1); p = 0.039), and PA (Time 1: 2308 2266; Time 2: 3203 3314; p = 0.030, Z = 􀀀2.17). Statistical analysis showed no significant differences in SPB, DBP, BMI, and eating behavior between Time 0 and Time 1 (p > 0.24). Implementation of the ‘Living Better’ program maintained positive long-term (3-year) health benefits in patients with an obesity–hypertension phenotype. Moreover, a reintervention with this program during the COVID-19 pandemic produced significant improvements in blood pressure, BMI, eating behavior, and PA.

To assess the effects of a progressive resistance training program at different intensities on health-related quality of life, anxiety, and motivation towards engaging in physical activity among older people. Prospective, municipal multicenters, non-randomized controlled trial. 76 older adults were assigned to: vigorous intensity (n = 19), vigorousmoderate intensity (n = 21), moderate intensity (n = 19), or control group (n = 17). The exercise groups performed six exercises with elastic bands per session, twice a week, for 8 months. Vigorous intensity, vigorous-moderate intensity and moderate intensity group performed 6, 10 and 15 repetitions, respectively. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, trait and state anxiety using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and motivation towards engaging in physical activity using the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire. The moderate intensity group showed a significant increase in the summary of the physical components of health-related quality of life (p = 0.001; ηp2 = 0.158) and a significant decrease in external regulation (p = 0.002; ηp2 = 0.145) and amotivation (p = 0.013; ηp2 = 0.97). In contrast, the vigorous intensity group showed a significant increase in state anxiety (p = 0.004; ηp2 = 0.076) and a significant decrease in introjected regulation (p = 0.018; ηp2 = 0.097). Moderate intensity strength training programs are best suited for older adults because they improve health-related quality of life and decrease less self-determined forms of regulation, all without increasing anxiety states.

Vibratory platforms (VPs) and unstable footwear (UF) have both shown benefits on balance in some populations. However, there is no evidence about the combined effects of using UF while training on an VP in healthy and physically active young people. We aimed to evaluate the effects of wearing unstable footwear (UF) while training on a whole-body VP on balance in healthy, physically active young people. 23 participants were randomized into groups assigned UF (n = 11) or stable footwear (SF; n = 12). Both groups followed the same training program on an VP with the assigned footwear type twice a week for 12 weeks. The training consisted of performing 8 isometric exercises for progressively longer periods and higher oscillation amplitudes (15–60 s, 1–3 mm), at a fixed vibration frequency (20 Hz). The main outcomes were the antero-posterior and medio-lateral velocities of the center of pressure (COP) recorded using a plantar pressure corridor at baseline, post-treatment and 1-month follow-up. We found a statistically significant difference in the antero-posterior velocity during the monopodal test in the UF group between the different time-points (χ2(2) = 13.282, p = 0.001). Mediolateral COP velocity ranking during the bipodal test was lower for UF than for SF group (U = 19.50, z = − 2.86, p = 0.003) at follow-up. The traditional vibratory platform training does not seem to be effective to improve static balance in physically active young people, however, adding UF provided slightly greater effect.

The movement restrictions put in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic required modification of the population’s usual routines, including those of the most vulnerable groups such as patients with schizophrenia. This was a retrospective observational study. We used an online survey to collect information on patient adherence to the Mediterranean diet (Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener questionnaire), physical exercise (International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form), and tobacco consumption and levels of anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) before and during the movement restrictions. A total of 102 people with schizophrenia participated in this study. During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown the participants significantly increased the number of minutes spent sitting per day (z = 􀀀6.73; p < 0.001), decreased the time they spent walking (z = 􀀀6.32; p < 0.001), and increased their tobacco consumption (X2 = 156.90; p < 0.001). These results were also accompanied by a significant increase in their reported levels of anxiety (z = 􀀀7.45; p < 0.001) and depression (z = 􀀀7.03, p < 0.001). No significant differences in patient diets during the pandemic compared to before the movement restrictions were reported. These results suggest the need to implement specific programs to improve lifestyle and reduce anxiety and depression during possible future pandemic situations.

The aim of the present clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of kinesio taping on patients with chronic low back pain, when the exploration identifies skin/fascia mobilization as a factor that could modify the treatment effect. This study is a randomized controlled trial with intention-totreat analysis. Sixty-two participants with chronic low back pain were therefore recruited from a tertiary referral hospital. Targeted kinesio taping, according to skin/fascia mobility exploration, was applied in the experimental group (17 female/13 male; 49.47 ± 11.15 years) once a week for four sessions. The control group (17 female/14 male; 48.87 ± 9.09 years) underwent a placebo taping application. At post-treatment time there was a statistically significant reduction both in disability (Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire) and pain (Numeric Pain Rating Scale) in the experimental group (disability: −2.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] −4.56 to −1.21, P < .001; pain: −1.58, 95% CI −2.67 to −0.54 P = .001) and the control group (disability: −1.82, 95% CI −3.46 to −0.17 P = .025; pain: −1.30, 95% CI −2.32 to −0.28 P = .008). However, at six months, these changes only remained significant in the experimental group (disability: −2.95, 95% CI −4.72 to −1.18, P < .001; pain: −1.06, 95% CI −2.07 to −0.04, P < .05). As a conclusion, the application of targeted kinesio taping produced a significant reduction in pain and disability, at 4 weeks and at 6 moths follow-up, although there were no differences between groups at any measurement time point.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of three different physical exercise programs on the symptomatology, body composition, physical activity, physical fitness, and quality of life of individuals with schizophrenia. A total of 432 patients were assessed for eligibility and 86 were randomized into the aerobic (n = 28), strength (n = 29) or mixed (n = 29) groups. Positive, negative, and general symptoms of psychosis, body mass index (BMI), physical activity (IPAQ-SF), physical fitness (6-min walk test [6MWT] and hand-grip strength [HGS]), and quality of life (WHOQUOLBREF) were assessed at baseline, post-intervention (16 weeks), and at 10-months. Our results at 16 weeks showed significant improvements in all three groups in the negative, general, and total symptoms with moderate to large effect sizes (P < 0.01, ηp 2 > 0.11), no change in the BMI, 6MWT or IPAQ-SF, and a significant improvement in the HGS test in the strength and mixed groups (P ≤ 0.05, ηp 2 > 0.08). Nonetheless, all the improvements had disappeared at 10 months. We concluded that 3 weekly sessions of a moderate to vigorous progressive exercise program for 16 weeks improved the symptomatology of individuals with schizophrenia in all three groups, with no differences between them. However, the effects had declined to baseline levels by the 10-month follow-up, suggesting that exercise interventions should be maintained over time.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has implied worldwide the imposition of confinement measures and mobility restrictions, to a greater or lesser extent. It has also meant the closure of some public medical services such as reproductive care. This situation may have impacted the health-related behaviour and quality of life of women with fertility problems. Objective: The objective of this study was to analyse the effects of confinement and the suspension of reproductive medical care on the lifestyle (diet, physical exercise, and smoking habits), anxiety and depression, and quality of life of infertile women by comparing their pre- and post-confinement situations. Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional, internet-based study. Information was collected on these women’s adherence to theMediterranean diet (MEDAS questionnaire), physical exercise (IPAQ-SF), anxiety and depression (HADS), and quality of life related to fertility (FertiQol) before, during, and after confinement. The survey was conducted between 1 September and 28 October 2020. Results: A total of 85 women participated. There had been a significant increase in anxiety and depression levels (P < 0.001) and an increase in tobacco consumption among female smokers during confinement vs. pre-confinement (62.5% had increased their consumption). The participants had also increased the mean number of hours they spent sitting (P < 0.001). There had also been an increase in vigorous and moderate exercise levels by 40 and 30%, respectively (P = 0.004). However, no differences were observed in these patients’ eating habits as a result of confinement (P = 0.416). When the reproduction service was resumed, the participants showed higher anxiety level scores (P = 0.001) with respect to the pre-confinement situation as well as lower mean FertiQol scale score (P = 0.008). Conclusions: Confinement had increased anxiety and depression levels among these infertile women as well as tobacco use among the participants who were smokers. The prolonged closure of reproductive care units decreased the quality of life of the participants of this study. These results suggest the need to implement online programs to improve healthy habits and quality of life of this population group.

Introduction Numerous studies support the practice of different physical exercise modalities as an effective treatment to address the problems associated with schizophrenia, reporting that they result in improvements in patient symptoms and quality of life. Given the lack of studies comparing different types of training in controlled environments, the aim of this proposed study will be to compare the effects of three physical exercise programmes (strength, aerobic and mixed) on the symptoms, body composition, level of physical activity and health-related quality of life of patients with schizophrenia. Methods and analysis A multicentre, single-blinded (evaluator), randomised, wait-list controlled (ratio 2:2:2:1) trial will be conducted with 105 patients recruited from different psychosocial care centres. The participants will be randomised into three 16-week training groups comprising 48 sessions lasting 1 hour each, or to the wait-list control group. The training groups will complete aerobic, strength or mixed (aerobic +strength) training. The participants will be assessed before, immediately after and 6 months after the end of the intervention. The patients in the wait-list control group (n=15) will receive one of the three trainings immediately after the intervention. The study variables will include positive, negative and general symptomology (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) as the primary outcome; as secondary outcome: body composition (by assessing body mass index, body fat mass and waist circumference), physical activity levels (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form) and quality of life (abbreviated WHO Quality of Life questionnaire).

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of local platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection as an adjuvant treatment after carpal ligament release. We conducted a prospective randomized, tripleblinded, controlled trial. Fifty participants with mild to extreme carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) were randomly assigned either to the PRP (n = 25) or the platelet-poor plasma (PPP, n = 25) group. After performing open surgical release of the carpal ligament, the inside of the carpal tunnel was irrigated with 3 mL of PRP or PPP according to each participant’s group allocation. The primary outcome was hand grip strength (HGS). Secondary outcomes were the time taken off work after surgery (in days) and scores on the Wong–Baker Faces Scale, Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, and Southampton Wound Assessment Scale. We evaluated patients before treatment and at 6-weeks. As expected, the pain levels, symptom severity, and functional status improved in all the patients after surgery. However, intragroup analysis revealed that only the participants in the PRP group had regained their pre-operative HGS levels at 6-weeks follow-up. These findings indicate that PRP is an effective adjuvant treatment in patients with mild to severe CTS who require surgery.

Mindfulness-based interventions have shown some efficacy in decreasing stress levels and improving quality of life. However, so far, only a few studies have studied this type of intervention among patients with inflammatory bowel disease and none of them have studied their effects on inflammatory biomarkers. This current study was a two-armed, single-centre, randomised (2:1 ratio) controlled trial used to evaluate the effects of a mindfulness-based intervention (n = 37) compared to standard medical therapy (n = 20) in patients with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. The mindfulness intervention blended four internet-based therapy modules with four face-to-face support sessions. The outcomes we assessed were faecal calprotectin (primary outcome), C-reactive protein, and cortisol levels measured in hair samples at several timepoints. The between-group analysis highlighted significant decreases in faecal calprotectin and in C-reactive protein levels in the mindfulness-based intervention group compared to the standard medical therapy group at the six-month follow-up (faecal calprotectin: −367, [95% CI: −705, −29], P = 0.03; C-reactive protein: −2.82, [95% CI: −5.70, 0.08], P = 0.05), with moderate to large effect sizes (faecal calprotectin: ηp2 = 0.085; C-reactive protein: ηp2 = 0.066). We concluded that mindfulness-based therapy administered as part of standard clinical practice effectively improves inflammatory biomarkers in patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease.