Valtueña Gimeno, Noemí

The aim of the present clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of neuromuscular versus classical strength-resistance training as part of a cardiac rehabilitation programme in patients following acute coronary syndrome. The study is designed as a double-blinded, randomised, and controlled clinical trial. Thirty participants suffering from acute coronary syndrome who meet our inclusion criteria will be recruited by a private tertiary hospital. The intervention group will follow 20 sessions of a cardiac rehabilitation programme divided into two parts: aerobic training and neuromuscular strength-resistance training. The control group will complete the same aerobic training as well as a classical strength-resistance training workout programme. The primary outcome of the study will be the mean difference in change from baseline in the Incremental Shuttle Walking Test. The secondary outcomes will be the cardiorespiratory fitness of the patients (assessed by means of the Chester Step Test), lower-limb performance (assessed with the 30-Second Chair Stand Test and Single- Leg Squat Test), lower-limb strength (hip flexor handheld dynamometry), sexual dysfunction assessment (Sex Health Inventory for Men) and quality of life (EQ-5D-5L). This work will provide evidence for the effectiveness of a neuromuscular versus a classic strength-training programme in terms of cardiorespiratory fitness, lower-limb performance capacities and quality of life, in cardiac patients. The data obtained could lead to more effective and functional workouts which, in turn, may enhance the speed at which these patients can return to their everyday activities of life and improve the efficiency of their movement patterns and heart responses. Furthermore, patients may find neuromuscular workout routines more motivating and engaging, thus encouraging them to adopt healthier lifestyle patterns.

Background: Chronic kidney disease is closely related to a high risk of death and disability, poor physical performance and frailty. The main objective of this research was to analyse how intradialytic administration of a non-immersive virtual reality (VR) exercise programme would affect physical function and adherence to exercise in these patients. Methods: A total of 56 individuals participated in two 12-week periods in a crossover randomized controlled trial. Each patient underwent a functional capacity evaluation before and after each study period. The functional tests administered included the 4-m gait speed test, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), timed up-and-go (TUG) test, one-legged stance test (OLST) for balance, sit-to-stand 10 (STS-10) and sit-to-stand 60 (STS-60) tests and 6-min walking test (6MWT). Adherence to the exercise programme was also recorded. To assess the effect of VR exercise on the functional test outcomes over time, the patients were analysed using a two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance with time and treatment as the within-participant factors. Results: By the end of the 12 weeks of exercise, compared with the control period, 33 participants showed significant change in physical function as measured through the 4-m gait speed test (0.14 m/s), SPPB (1.2 points), TUG (−1.7 s), OLST (7.1 s), STS-10 (−5.8 s), STS-60 (5 repetitions) and 6MWT (85.2 m), with adherence rates exceeding 70%. There were no changes in the biochemical data or in the medications in the period of the study. Conclusion: An intradialytic non-immersive VR exercise programme improves patient physical function.

Purpose: Many patients with acute coronary syndrome experience problematic or altered sexual function. This aspect of the disease is frequently ignored or overlooked by the healthcare community even though it can strongly influence health-related patient quality of life (HRQoL). Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the effects of a specific cardiac rehabilitation programme focused on aerobic and neuromuscular strength-resistance training to those of a classic rehabilitation programme, both in terms of HRQoL and erectile dysfunction in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Methods: This study reports both secondary and unregistered outcomes from a double-blinded, randomised, and controlled clinical trial. The proposed intervention was based on the completion of a 20-session (10-week) cardiac rehabilitation programme for patients with cardiovascular disease. The patient cohort had been diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome and was recruited at the Cardiology Service of a private tertiary hospital. The outcomes assessed in this study were HRQoL and erectile disfunction assessed at baseline, after the intervention, and at a 6-month follow-up. Results: A total of 30 participants were randomly allocated to each study arm. The results of the two-way mixed ANOVAs showed significant group × time interactions for all the outcome measures (EQ-5D_index, p = 0.004; EQ-5D_VAS, p = 0.017; QLMI-Q, p ≤ 0.001; and IIEF-5, p = 0.001). Conclusion: The neuromuscular strength training programme was more effective than the classic strength training programme in terms of increasing the HRQoL and improving erectile dysfunction in patients following acute coronary syndrome, with differences still remaining between these groups at the 6-month follow-up.

Introduction: In recent years, innovative educational strategies of learning have appeared, to generate greater motivation in the students. Gamification has become popular in the educational area, including Escape Rooms. The primary aim of the study was to evaluate if this gamification activity led to better knowledge acquisition by the students, improving performance in their final exam. As a secondary objective, we surveyed the satisfaction of the students participating in the Educational Escape Room. Material and methods: An observational study of cases and controls was carried out. We designed an escape room based on the cardiovascular area of physiotherapy, titled Escape-Cardio. We provided scaffolded learning activities through the activity. Primary outcomes corresponded to the students’ qualifications and the number of correct answers in the final exam. Qualitative questionnaire results of students of both courses were collected using a self-created survey, which was completed after the activity. Results: 58 students participated in the Escape-Cardio. We observed better performance in the intervention group, improving their average mark and number of correct answers in the exam, with a statistically significant difference compared to the control group (p-value<0.05). In the qualitative assessment, students answered the survey, and all of them scored unanimously each item with the maximum score, aiming for 100% satisfaction. Conclusion: Escape-Cardio students improved their professional knowledge application in the cardiovascular physiotherapy area in a statistically significant way. An excellent qualitative evaluation was achieved by them.