(1) Background: Idiopathic scoliosis can be defined as a complex three-dimensional deformity of the spine and trunk, which occurs in basically healthy children. Schroth scoliosis-specific exercises have shown good results in reducing idiopathic scoliosis progression. This study aimed to critically evaluate the effect size of Schroth’s method through a systematic review and meta-analysis. (2) Methods: Four databases were included in the search: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The following keywords were used: “Schroth exercise”, “idiopathic scoliosis”, “Cobb angle”, “angle of trunk rotation”, and “quality of life”. Only articles written in English that met the following criteria were included in our study: subjects who had idiopathic scoliosis, the Schroth method was applied, and Cobb angle or angle of trunk rotation or quality of life as outcomes. (3) Results: Ten randomized controlled trials were included in this study. The effect size of the Schroth exercise ranged from almost moderate to large, for the outcomes used: Cobb angle (ES = −0.492, p ˂ 0.005); ATR (ES = −0.471, p = 0.013); QoL (ES = 1.087, p ˂ 0.001). (4) Conclusions: The current meta-analysis indicates that the Schroth method has a positive effect on subjects with idiopathic scoliosis.

Research in preschool children that investigates the impact of different exercise interventions on physical fitness is limited. This pre–post study was aimed at determining if participation in a nine-month structured multisport program (MSG; n = 38) could enhance physical fitness components compared to a formal exercise program (control group (CG); n = 36) among preschool children. Physical fitness was assessed using standardized tests (the standing long jump, sit and reach, 20 m sprint, sit-ups for 30 s, bent-arm hang, medicine ball throw (MBT), grip strength, 4 × 10 m shuttle run, and 20 m shuttle run tests). The structured multisport program involved fundamental/gross and fine motor skills and ball game-based exercises twice a week. The control group was free of any programmed exercise except for the obligatory program in kindergartens. A mixed ANOVA demonstrated significant group-by-time interaction effects for the 4 × 10 m shuttle run, standing long jump, sit-ups, bent-arm hang, grip strength, and sit and reach tests (p < 0.05). There was no significant group-by-time interaction effect for the 20 m sprint test (p = 0.794) or for the 20 m shuttle run test (p = 0.549). Moreover, the MSG and CG performance in the MBT and 20 m shuttle run tests improved to a similar extent from pre- to post-test. Our results indicate that compared to the formal plan, the structured multisport program led to a sustained improvement in physical fitness in healthy 5-to-6-year old children.

The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the effects of combined resistance and aerobic exercise on arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women. Two databases, PubMed and Google Scholar were searched to identify relevant studies. The methodological quality was assessed with the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Only seven studies met the eligibility criteria, and their outcomes were presented. Four studies demonstrated the effects of combined resistance and aerobic training, while three showed the effectiveness of exercise with both training components, aerobic and resistance. In all studies, arterial stiffness was measured by brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Participants were middle-aged or older postmenopausal women of various health statuses (hypertensive, with comorbidities or healthy). The results unequivocally show that combined training reduces arterial stiffness. The most important finding of this review paper is that the applied type of exercise decreased baPWV in the range of 0.6–2.1 m/s. Moreover, combined resistance and aerobic exercise for 12 weeks, performed three times a week for about 60 min per training session, at a moderate intensity (40–60% HRR or HRmax), may be clinically meaningful to the cardiovascular system. In conclusion, we can say that combined resistance and aerobic training, or exercise with resistance and aerobic components, have important health implications for the prevention of cardiovascular disease and the maintenance or improvement of health in middle-aged and older postmenopausal women with different health conditions.

Lumbar lordosis is one of the most important parts of the spine, which is of special importance due to its unique position and direct contact with the pelvis. The aim of this study was to combine the results of several studies and to evaluate the magnitude of the effect of different Lumbar lordotic angle correction programs through meta-analysis. This study has been developed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statement. Four databases were searched for articles collection: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The key search terms were: “Lumbar Lordotic angle”, “Lordosis”, “Hyperlordosis”, “Corrective exercise”, and “Low back pain. “The articles included in our study were limited to original articles written only in English that met the following inclusion criteria: (1) participants with lumbar lordosis or hyperlordosis or low back pain; (2) different programs of corrective exercises were applied; (3) Lumbar lordotic angle used as outcome measures. Ten studies are included in our systematic review and meta-analysis. The effect size for the Lumbar lordotic angle outcome was (SMD = 0.550, p ˂ 0.001, moderate effect size). Subgroup analysis for Lumbar lordotic angle: Subgroup Younger group (SMD = 0.640, p ˂ 0.001), Subgroup Older group, (SMD = 0.520, p ˂ 0.001). Subgroup Treatment (SMD = 0.527, p ˂ 0.001), Subgroup No treatment (SMD = 0.577, p = 0.002). This was the only outcome assessed in our analysis. The current meta-analysis indicates that different correction methods have a positive effect on subjects with lumbar lordosis or hyperlordosis. In the following research, we should try to determine which corrective methods have the best effects.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease that affects synovial membranes and typically causes joint pain and swelling. The resulting disability of RA is due to the erosion of cartilage and bone from the inflamed synovial tissue. Occupational therapy is a strategy and technique to minimize the joints’ fatigue and effort. At the same time, physical exercise reduces the impact of systemic manifestations and improves symptoms in RA. This study investigates the role of a 30-day joint economy intervention (integration of physical exercise and occupational therapy) at home on the quality of life of subjects with RA. Methods: One hundred and sixty outpatients with RA were enrolled in a single-center trial with PROBE design and were divided into the intervention group (IG), which combined joint protection movements and physical exercise to maintain muscle tone at home, and the control group (CG). Both groups included 80 patients. In all patients, data from the disease activity score (DAS 28), health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), and short-form health survey (SF-12) “Italian version” were collected. In addition, to IG, a brochure was distributed, and the joint economy was explained, while to CG, the brochure only was distributed. The comparison between groups was made using Fisher’s exact test for contingency tables and the z-test for the comparison of proportions. The non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare quantitative variables between groups. The Wilcoxon signed-ranked test was used for post-intervention versus baseline comparisons. Results: Among the recruited patients, 54% were female. The mean age was 58.0 (42.4–74.7) for the CG and 54.0 (39.7–68.3) for the IG. Patients included in the IG had a higher cumulative illness rating scale for the evaluation of severity and comorbidity index (2.81 vs. 2.58; 2.91 vs. 2.59, respectively), as well as morning stiffness (33.8 vs. 25.0), even if not significant compared with CG patients. Our results indicate that, after 30 days of joint economy intervention at home, the DAS28 erythrocyte sedimentation rate (esr) and DAS28 C-reactive protein (crp), HAQ, and SF-12 mental component score were significantly improved (p = 0.005, p = 0.004, p = 0.009, and p = 0.010, respectively). Conclusions: Our findings show that the combination of physical exercise and occupational therapy positively affects patients’ quality of life with RA considering disease activity, global health status, and mental health.

Swimming is a form of physical activity and a life-saving skill. However, only a few studies have identified swimming ability classifiers in preschool children. This pilot cross-sectional study aimed to find anthropometric (AM) and motor competence (MC) predictors of swimming ability in preschool children, by building classifiers of swimming ability group (SAG) membership. We recruited 92 children (girls n = 45) aged 5–6 years and took the AM and MC measurements in accordance with the reference manual and using the KTK battery test (motor quotient, MQ), respectively. A linear discriminant analysis tested a classification model of preschoolers’ swimming ability (SAG: POOR, GOOD, EXCELLENT) based on gender, age, AM, and MC variables and extracted one significant canonical discriminant function (model fit: 61.2%) that can differentiate (group centroids) POOR (−1.507), GOOD (0.032), and EXCELLENT (1.524). The MQ total was identified as a significant classifier, which absolutely contributed to the discriminant function that classifies children’s swimming ability as POOR (standardized canonical coefficient: 1.186), GOOD (1.363), or EXCELLENT (1.535) with an accuracy of 64.1%. Children with higher MQ total ought to be classified into higher SAG; thus, the classification model of SAG based on the MQ total is presented.