COVID-19 represents a threat to public health and the mental health of the aged population. Prevalence and risk factors of depression and anxiety have been reported in previous reviews in other populations; however, a systematic review on the factors associated with depression and anxiety in older adults is not currently present in the literature. We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, ProQuest Psychology Database, Science Direct, Cochrane Library and SciELO databases (23 February 2021). The results were obtained by entering a combination of MeSH or Emtree terms with keywords related to COVID-19, elderly, depression and anxiety in the databases. A total of 11 studies were included in the systematic review. Female gender, loneliness, poor sleep quality and poor motor function were identified as factors associated with both depression and anxiety. Aspects related to having a stable and high monthly income represent protective factors for both depression and anxiety, and exercising was described as protective for depression. This study synthesised information and analysed the main factors associated with depression and anxiety in the older population during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the cross-sectional design of most of the included studies does not allow a causal relationship between the factors analysed and depression or anxiety.

Background: Musculoskeletal pain is a non-negligible multifaceted condition affecting more than 30% of the global population. Superficial heat therapy (HT), through increasing tissue temperatures, plays a role in increasing local metabolism and function and relieving pain. Knee (KP) and sports pain represent two relevant fields of superficial HT application. Methods: In the present paper, a panel of experts performed a narrative review of the literature regarding the role of superficial HT in the management of knee and sports activity-related pain. Results: According to the reviewed literature, HT represents a therapeutic option in the management of musculoskeletal pain due to three main effects: pain relief, promotion of healing, and return to normal function and activity. Moreover, HT plays a role in sport activities both before and after exercise. Before performing sports, HT helps in preparing muscles for performance. After performing sports, it is capable to promote recovery and healing pathways. Combining and sequencing superficial heat and cold therapy represent an interesting topic of study. Overall, the application of heat wraps for superficial HT can be considered safe. Conclusions: HT has been shown to be a potentially beneficial and safe option in the management of several conditions including KP and sports. The key in the application of superficial HT is a multimodal and multidisciplinary approach.

Background: Percutaneous electrolysis is an invasive physical therapy technique that is receiving attention. The objective of this article is to evaluate the biological and cellular effects of percutaneous electrolysis and its influence on tissue healing processes. Methods. The search strategy performed in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Sciences databases resulted in a total of 25 studies. Once inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, seven studies were finally included in this systematic review. The biological effects of percutaneous electrolysis were evaluated and grouped into pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects, cell death, and extracellular matrix and tissue remodeling effects. Results. Percutaneous electrolysis generates a significant pro-inflammatory increase in the chronic tendon condition of IL1β-6-18-1α-1rn, NLRP3, and M1 polymorphonuclear cells and increased expression of COX2, TNFα, Cxcl10, and TGFβ1 during the first 7 days. This inflammation is regulated as of day 13. A significant increase in cell death markers, such as LDH, Yo-Pro, cytochrome C, and Smac/Diablo markers, was observed during the first 7 days. Finally, a significant increase in markers Mmp9, VEGF, VEGFR, PPAR-γ/tubulin, and COL-I was observed in the extracellular matrix and tissue remodeling, and a decrease in COL-III was observed during the first 7 days. In the acute inflammatory injury condition, an increase in anti-inflammatory markers, such as IL-10-13, CCL1, and IkB, and a significant decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6-1β, CCL3-4-5, CCR5-8, NFkB, and TNFα, were observed during the first 7 days. Finally, a significant increase in VEGF, VEGFR, and PPAR-γ/tubulin markers in the extracellular matrix and tissue remodeling was observed for this condition during the first 7 days. Conclusions. Percutaneous electrolysis generates a controlled local pro-inflammatory effect in chronic conditions and regulates inflammation in inflammatory injuries (during the first 7 days). Electrolysis has short-term effects (0–7 days post) of cell death and controlled extracellular matrix destruction. Additionally, it facilitates subsequent healing by improving extracellular matrix synthesis starting from 7 days after application.

Peripheral nerves are subjected to mechanical tension during limb movements and body postures. Nerve response to tensile stress can be assessed in vivo with shear-wave elastography (SWE). Greater tensile loads can lead to greater stiffness, which can be quantified using SWE. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to perform an overview of the effect of joint movements on nerve mechanical properties in healthy nerves. The initial search (July 2023) yielded 501 records from six databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Science Direct). A total of 16 studies were included and assessed with a modified version of the Downs and Black checklist. Our results suggest an overall tendency for stiffness increase according to a pattern of neural tensioning. The main findings from the meta-analysis showed a significant increase in nerve stiffness for the median nerve with wrist extension (SMD [95%CI]: 3.16 [1.20, 5.12]), the ulnar nerve with elbow flexion (SMD [95%CI]: 2.91 [1.88, 3.95]), the sciatic nerve with ankle dorsiflexion (SMD [95%CI]: 1.13 [0.79, 1.47]), and the tibial nerve with both hip flexion (SMD [95%CI]: 2.14 [1.76, 2.51]) and ankle dorsiflexion (SMD [95%CI]: 1.52 [1.02, 2.02]). The effect of joint movement on nerve stiffness also depends on the nerve segment, the amount of movement of the joint mobilized, and the position of other joints comprised in the entirety of the nerve length. However, due to the limited number of studies, many aspects of nerve behavior together with the effect of using different ultrasound equipment or transducers for nerve stiffness evaluation still need to be fully investigated.