Background: There is strong evidence that specific pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) reduces stress urinary incontinence (SUI), but the application of functional magnetic stimulation (FMS) is still under discussion. Objective: To evaluate and compare the effects of FMS and PFMT on pelvic floor muscle function, urinary incontinence symptoms and quality of life (QoL) in women with SUI. Methods: A randomized controlled, parallel-group trial was executed in an outpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation centre. The study included 68 women and was fully completed by 48 women (n = 24 in each group) aged 29–49 years, with SUI, who were randomly assigned to PFMT and FMS groups. The symptoms of urinary incontinence and their impact on quality of life were assessed with two questionnaires: the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire–Short Form (ICIQ-SF) and the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire–Short Form (IIQ-7). Perineometer (Pelvexiser) was used to measure the resting vaginal pressure, pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength and endurance. All outcome measures were taken at baseline and after 6 weeks of interventions. Cohen’s effect size (d) was calculated. Results: A significant improvement (p < 0.05) of ICIQ-SF and IIQ-7 was observed in both groups with a high effect size in the PFMT group (d = 1.56 and d = 1.17, respectively) and the FMS group (d = 1.33 and d = 1.45, respectively). ICIQ-SF and IIQ-7 scores did not differ significantly between groups after the 6-week treatment period. Resting vaginal pressure, PFM strength and endurance increased (p < 0.05) in both groups with a medium (d = 0.52) to large (d = 1.56) effect size. Conclusion: No significant difference between groups was found in any measurement of perineometry. PFMT and FMS significantly improved SUI symptoms and the quality of life of the study participants. None of the applied interventions was superior to the other in the short-term effect.

Background: The benefits of weight loss programs on mood, cognitive, and motor behavior are largely limited to those of calorie restriction or exercise alone. Our aim was to investigate the effect of combined calorie restriction and aerobic exercise intervention on mood, brain activity, and cognitive and motor behavior in overweight and obese women. Methods: Participants aged 36–56 years were randomized to either a control or an experimental group (aerobic exercise + 12.5% energy intake reduction) for a 6-month period. Changes in brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels, mood, prefrontal cortex activity, cognitive and motor performance were assessed. Results: Confusion and depression increased in the control group (P < .05), whereas tension decreased in the experimental group (P < .05). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor level and learning of a speed–accuracy task remained unchanged. Although prefrontal cortex activity and executive functions were not affected, the reaction time of visual scanning and associative learning were improved in the experimental group (P < .05). An improvement in reaction time during the speed–accuracy task was observed (P < .05). Conclusion: Combined calorie restriction and aerobic exercise intervention improved the psychosocial state, had little impact on cognition, and no effect on brain activity and learning of the speed–accuracy task.

Background: The effect of globally recommended levels of physical activity on cognition and motor behavior is not completely understood. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to assess the effect of 300 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on cognitive and motor performance among overweight and obese working-age women.Methods: Overweight and obese participants aged 38–56 years were randomized to either a control or an experimental group performing aerobic exercise at 50% to 60% of the peak oxygen consumption for a 2-month period. Changes in aerobic fitness, cardiac autonomic function, brain-derived neurotropic factor levels, and cognitive and motor performance were assessed.Results: Although aerobic exercise reduced body weight (P < .05) and improved peak oxygen consumption (P < .05), the brain-derived neurotropic factor levels and cognitive and motor performance remained unchanged. Heart rate and blood pressure decreased (P < .05), whereas heart rate variability indices were not affected. No significant correlations between changes in heart rate variability indices and cognition were observed.Conclusions: Two months of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise decreased sympathetic activity and improved cardiovascular fitness but had no impact on cognition or motor control among these middle-aged, overweight, and obese women.

BACKGROUND: Different interventions are used during rehabilitation after hip replacement surgery, but it is unclear if task-oriented exercise is more effective than conventional physiotherapy. OBJECTIVE: This study compared the effectiveness of conventional physiotherapy (CPT) programme with task-oriented exercise (TOE) on hip pain, function, static and dynamic balance during the early rehabilitation stage after total hip replacement. METHODS: This randomized controlled parallel-group trial was executed in an inpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation centre. The study included 40 patients who were randomly classified into CPT and TOE groups ( n = 20 in each). Hip pain (assessed by visual analogue scale), function in the operated leg (assessed by modified Harris Hip Score, mHHS), static balance (assessed by Abili Balance analyser system) and dynamic balance (assessed by Berg Balance Scale) were evaluated at baseline and after 18 days of rehabilitation. Cohen’s effect size ( d ) was calculated. RESULTS: Greater pain reduction ( 0.05; d = 0.08) was observed after TOE (1.6 ± 0.68 scores) compared with the CPT programme (2.2 ± 0.83 scores). Hip function assessed by the modified mHHS improved more ( 0.05; d = 0.30) in the TOE group (73.45 ± 6.23 scores) than in the CPT group (54.90 ± 6.28 scores). Static balance improved significantly in both groups after the interventions but did not differ significantly between the groups. The improvement in dynamic balance was significantly greater ( 0.05; d = 0.45) after TOE (50.55 ± 1.57 scores) than after CPT (38.55 ± 3.43 scores). CONCLUSION: Both interventions reduced pain and improved function of the operated leg and static and dynamic balance. The effect on hip function was superior for TOE compared with CPT.