Background: Aging results in a decline in the function of the respiratory muscles. Inspiratory muscle training is presented as a possible solution to attenuate the loss of respiratory function in the elderly. The objective of the study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of 2 protocols with inspiratory muscle training (IMT), low loads and high loads, to improve respiratory strength, functional capacity and dyspnea in institutionalized elderly women, over 65 years. Methods: The study was a controlled, randomized, double-blind trial and with allocation concealment performed on 26 institutionalized elderly women distributed in 2 groups, the high-intensity group (HIG) and low-intensity group (LIG). Over an 8-week period an IMT protocol was followed 5 days/week, 15 min/day. The HIG trained with a load of 40% of the maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and the LIG with 20%. MIP, maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), functional capacity and dyspnea were evaluated. Results: After training, in the HIG MIP, MEP and functional capacity increased 52, 16 and 7%, respectively (p = 0.000, p = 0.001, p = 0.001) and in the LIG 30, 18 and 9%, respectively (p = 0.002, p = 0.014, p = 0.001). The improvement in MIP was significantly higher in the HIG than in the LIG (p = 0.042). Conclusion: IMT with low and high loads improves respiratory muscle strength and functional capacity in institutionalized elderly women. In addition, high loads were significantly more effective to improve MIP.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of physical exercise on key clinical outcomes (such as quality of life (QoL), aerobic capacity, fatigue, and muscle strength) in patients undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Methods: PRISMA systematic review and meta-analysis from inception to April 2025. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Scopus databases were searched for eligible studies. Methodological quality and risk of bias were evaluated with the Pedro scale and the Risk-Of-Bias Tool for randomized trials (ROB2.0) respectively. Results: An initial search retrieved 5217 articles. Finally, 20 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis and 7 in the meta-analysis. Exercise showed a small, non-significant effect on QoL (SMD = 0.23; p = 0.072), and a significant moderate effect on functional capacity (SMD = 0.43; p = 0.002). No significant effects were found on fatigue (SMD = − 0.05; p = 0.819) or handgrip strength (SMD = 0.21; p = 0.201), although a large and significant effect was observed for lower limb strength (SMD = 1.48; p < 0.001). Meta-regression analyses indicated that longer intervention duration was significantly associated with greater improvements in fatigue. Conclusions: Physical exercise improves functional capacity and lower limb strength in transplant patients, while effects on quality of life and fatigue are less consistent. Longer interventions are associated with greater improvements in fatigue. These results support the implementation of prolonged exercise programmes to optimize post-transplant recovery.

Background: Respiratory health problems are one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in adult people with cerebral palsy (CP). The influence of respiratory muscle training has not yet been studied in this population group. The objective of the study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of two protocols with inspiratory muscle training (IMT), low intensity and high intensity, to improve respiratory strength and pulmonary function in adults with CP.Methods: The study was a controlled, randomized, double‐blind trial with allocation concealment. Twenty‐seven institutionalized CP patients were recruited and randomly distributed in the high‐intensity training group (HIT) or low‐intensity training group (LIT). Over 8 weeks, an IMT protocol was followed 5 days/week, 10 series of 1 min with 1 min rest between them. HIT trained with a load of 40% of the maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and LIT with 20%. Respiratory strength and pulmonary function were evaluated.Results: After IMT intervention, MIP, maximum expiratory pressure, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁) and peak expiratory flow increased in both groups; in HIT 29%, 19%, 13%, and 8%, respectively (p = 0.000, p = 0.000, p = 0.002, p = 0.001) and in LIT 17%, 7%, 3%, and 4%, respectively (p = 0.000, p = 0.000, p = 0.049, p = 0.113). All the improvements were significantly higher in HIT than in LIT.Conclusion: Inspiratory muscle training improved respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function in adults with CP. Training with a 40% MIP load improved all the evaluated parameters and was the most effective treatment for adults with CP.

Objective: The primary objective of this pilot randomized clinical trial was to determine the effect of adding a supervised resistance exercise programme to a home-based physical activity plan on health-related quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer undergoing active treatment. The secondary objectives were to evaluate its effects on anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and inflammatory parameters. Methods: This is a pilot randomized clinical trial with parallel groups. Patients with CRC were recruited through the Oncology Department at the Salamanca University Health Care Complex in Spain. They were randomly allocated to receive either a home-based physical activity plus a supervised resistance training programme, or the home-based physical activity plan only. The primary outcome was health-related quality of life measures and the secondary outcomes included anxiety, depression and sleep quality evaluations. The supervised training lasted 8 weeks for each patient. Results: A total of 40 patients were recruited, 20 for each group. Adding a supervised resistance exercise programme to the home-based activity plan improved symptoms related to quality of life, such as fatigue (p = 0.040) and constipation (p = 0.015). However, no significant effect was found with regard to other health-related quality of life, anxiety, depression or sleep variables. Conclusions: Fatigue and constipation in patients with CRC receiving chemo- and/or immunotherapy may benefit from the introduction of supervised resistance exercise training programmes.

Background: Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with chemotherapy being a crucial treatment despite its significant side effects, such as chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Physical exercise has shown potential benefits in mitigating these side effects and improving patients’ overall well-being. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a strength exercise program in reducing CIPN in patients with colorectal cancer undergoing chemotherapy, along with secondary objectives including impacts on quality of life, body mass index, oxygen consumption, anxiety and depression, fatigue, sleep quality, and various analytical parameters. Methods: A double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted with 44 participants, divided into an intervention group (supervised resistance training twice a week and home exercises) and a control group (home exercises only). The primary outcome measure was CIPN, assessed using the EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included assessments using the EORTC QLQ-C30, the 6-minute walk test, HADS, FACT-F, and MISS, along with various blood parameters. Results and Conclusions: The study will provide insights into the effectiveness of physical exercise in managing CIPN and improving various health parameters in colorectal cancer patients. By developing tailored exercise protocols, this research aims to enhance patient quality of life, optimize treatment outcomes, and reduce the incidence of debilitating side effects, thereby supporting the integration of physical exercise into standard oncological care.