Chronic stroke leads to the impairment of lower limb function and gait performance. After in-hospital rehabilitation, most individuals lack continuous gait training because of the limited number of physical therapists. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a newly invented gait training machine (I-Walk) on lower limb function and gait performance in chronic stroke individuals. Thirty community-dwelling chronic stroke individuals were allocated to the I-Walk machine group (n = 15) or the overground gait training (control) group (n = 15). Both groups received 30 min of upper limb and hand movement and sit-to-stand training. After that, the I-Walk group received 30 min of I-Walk training, while the control followed a 30-minute overground training program. All the individuals were trained 3 days/week for 8 weeks. The primary outcome of the motor recovery of lower limb impairment was measured using the Fugl–Meyer Assessment (FMA). The secondary outcomes for gait performance were the 6-minute walk test (6 MWT), the 10-meter walk test (10 MWT), and the Timed Up and Go (TUG). The two-way mixed-model ANOVA with the Bonferroni test was used to compare means within and between groups. The post-intervention motor and sensory subscales of the FMA significantly increased compared to the baseline in both groups. Moreover, the 6 MWT and 10 MWT values also improved in both groups. In addition, the mean difference of TUG in the I-Walk was higher than the control. The efficiency of I-Walk training was comparable to overground training and might be applied for chronic stroke gait training in the community.

Regular exercise is associated with the production of small amounts of oxidative stress which might promote individual antioxidant capacity contributing to favorable training effects potentially interrelated with skeletal muscle strength. Therefore, the present study was aimed at evaluating effects of an 8-week Qigong exercise training on muscle strengths associated with responses of oxidative stress and antioxidants in young sedentary females. A total of 41 sedentary women were allocated to the Qigong exercise group (QG, N=20) or to the control group (CG, N=21). After 8 weeks of Qigong training, back and leg strength was significantly improved compared to baseline and the CG (P<0.05). Plasma oxidative stress levels were reduced and total antioxidant capacity was enhanced in the QG compared to the CG (P<0.05). Correlation analyses revealed that improvements in muscle strength (including both groups) were associated with changes in the levels of oxidative stress (reduction) and antioxidants (elevation). The presented findings indicate that strength training effects seem at least partly to be interrelated with alterations of the oxidant-antioxidant balance generated by the 8-week Qigong training in young sedentary females.

Introduction: Intrinsic foot muscle weakness is a crucial cause of balance deficit in the elderly, which leads to a limited range of motion from the fear of falling and subsequently decreases the quality of life. Muscle strengthening via transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS) is an effective intervention; however, its effects on elderly people have rarely been reported. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of TENS on navicular height, balance, and fear of falling. Method: In this study, forty-eight participants aged 65–75 years were included and were randomly divided into two groups: the TENS and control groups. Before and after 4 weeks of training, navicular height, balance, and fear of falling were measured. Result: After 4 weeks of training, navicular height significantly increased in both groups (p < 0.05); however, the increase was higher in the TENS group (p = 0.035). The TENS group had a better improvement in balance in all four directions—front, back, left, and right (p < 0.05). However, postural balance improvements in the control group were observed in three directions only—front, back, and left (p < 0.05)—without any significant difference between the two groups. Furthermore, the TENS group decreased the scale of fear of falling after 4 weeks of training (p = 0.039). Conclusion: In summary, the results of this study can be used as part of the muscle strengthening via ES for decreasing the risk of falls or fear of falling in the elderly.

Focused-extracorporeal shockwave therapy (fESWT) has recently been applied in the management of chronic pain. However, its effectiveness in reducing muscular stiffness and pain among office workers has not been extensively studied. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of fESWT and sham-fESWT in alleviating muscular stiffness, pain, and functional disability. Sixty-four office workers (mean age 31.4 ± 9.5 years) with myofascial pain syndrome of the upper trapezius were randomly and equally assigned to receive either the fESWT or sham-fESWT. The interventions were administered once a week for 4 weeks, with 4 Hz frequency and a total energy of 0.10.232 mJ/mm². Measurements were recorded at baseline, immediately after treatment, at two weeks, and at four weeks, assessing shear modulus (tissue stiffness), visual analogue scale (VAS), and the neck disability index (NDI). The result demonstrated a significant acute decrease in shear modulus at the trigger point (6.1 kPa, p = 0.009) and a delayed reduction in muscle stiffness of the lower aponeurosis (5.3 kPa, p = 0.004) following 4 weeks. Additionally, VAS scores decreased at all time points following fESWT (p < 0.05), while the sham-fESWT group also demonstrated reductions during the final two weeks. NDI showed a decrease in both groups after four sessions (p < 0.05), with no group effect. fESWT was effective in reducing muscular pain, stiffness, and functional disability in patients. However, the potential psychological effects of sham-fESWT on VAS and function should be considered. Further research is necessary to determine the optimal treatment sessions and intensity of fESWT to better establish its efficacy.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a slight cognitive decline with the ability to perform normal activities in daily life and an increased risk of dementia. Land-based exercise enhances cognitive abilities, but combining cognitive and physical interventions offers greater benefits in MCI. Water-based exercise is a low-impact activity that minimizes joint strain and reduces injury risk. This study investigated the effects of water-based exercise with or without cognitive training on cognition in older adults with MCI. Thirty-seven participants aged 65 years or older with MCI were randomly assigned to two groups: water-based exercise (W; n = 18) and water-based exercise combined with cognitive training (W-COG; n = 19). Both groups performed 60 min water-based aerobic sessions 3 days per week for 12 weeks. Cognitive assessments were conducted at baseline and after 12 weeks. Post-intervention, 77.77% of the W group and 89% of the W-COG group had improved their cognitive ability. Both groups showed significant improvements in their global cognition (p < 0.001, p < 0.001) and visuospatial ability (p < 0.01 for W, p < 0.05 for W-COG), respectively. In addition, cognitive flexibility and shifting abilities improved only in the W-COG group (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that water-based exercise combined with cognitive training enhances cognitive functions more effectively than exercise alone in older adults with MCI.

Currently, university students are at a high risk of stress due to university adjustment, educational interruption, and alterations in daily life because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the relationship of psychosocial and physical factors with stress in university students during the pandemic. Demographic, psychosocial, physical, and self-perceived stress level information were obtained from 409 Thailand university students. A multiple regression analysis was performed, with stress level as the dependent variable and gender, age, study period, study program, social support, self-esteem, health literacy, health behavior score, sedentary behavior, and physical activity (PA) as independent variables. Most participants had moderate stress levels (68.9%), high self-esteem (83.9%) and social support (66.5%), fair health literacy (41.1%) and health behavior (32%), sedentary lifestyle (85.3%), and PA-levels lower than 600 min per week (57.46%). The regression analysis showed that 45.7% of the variability in stress level was predicted by self-esteem, study period, social support, travel domain of PA, and health behavior. COVID-19 and the attendant restrictions resulted in moderate levels of stress in Thailand university students. High self-esteem, long duration of study, great social support, and having healthy behavior may contribute to the prevention of stress in this population.