There is increasing evidence for the beneficial effects of exercise training in stroke survivors. In order to reach the desired training effects, exercise training principles must be considered as this ensures the prescription of adequate exercises at an adequate dose. Moreover, exercise training interventions must be designed in a way that maximizes patients’ adherence to the prescribed exercise regimen. The objectives of this systematic review were (1) to investigate whether training principles for physical exercise interventions are reported in RCTs for sub-acute and chronic stroke survivors, (2) to evaluate whether the RCTs reported the prescription of the FITT components of the exercise interventions as well as (3) patients’ adherence to this prescription, and (4) to assess the risk of bias of the included studies.

Background: Inactive individuals face motivational obstacles for becoming and remaining physically active. Therefore, sustainable physical activity promotion programmes tailored to reach inactive individuals are needed. The aim of this study was to test the role of motivation and the effect and feasibility of a training programme. Methods: We enrolled physically inactive female hospital staff members aged 45 and older in an uncontrolled exercise trial. Follow-up assessments were at 3 and 12 months. The primary outcome was running distance (Cooper test). Secondary outcomes were level of physical activity (Freiburger Physical Activity Questionnaire) and body mass index. Results: Out of 1249 female hospital staff, 275 classified themselves as inactive and 250 (91%) of them were interested in the exercise programme. Of these, 68 (27%; mean age 53.2 years) agreed to participate in our study and 47 (69%) completed the programme. Average running distance increased by 255.70 m [95% confidence interval (CI) 208.09–303.31] at 3-month follow-up with a sustained benefit at 12-month follow-up (194.02; 95% CI 143.75–244.47). Physical activity level increased by 1152.52 kcal week⁻¹ (95% CI 703.73–1601.32) at 3 months with a sustained benefit (1279.10 kcal week⁻¹, 95% CI 826.80–1731.40) after 12 months. Notably, baseline motivation to become physically active was not associated with change in physical performance or physical activity level during the programme. Conclusion: The 3-month step-up jogging programme is a feasible and effective exercise intervention for physically inactive, middle-aged female hospital staff members. The intervention leads to sustained benefits independently of motivation to become more physically active.

The Orthelligent Pro sensor is a practicable, portable measuring instrument. This study assessed the validity and reliability of this sensor in measuring single-leg countermovement jumps. Fifty healthy athletic adults participated in two measurement sessions a week apart in time. They performed single-leg countermovement jumps on the force plate while wearing the Orthelligent Pro sensor on their lower leg. During the first measurement session, Tester 1 invited the participants to make three single-leg countermovement jumps; subsequently, Tester 2 did the same. For assessing the sensor’s intratester reliability, Tester 1 again invited the participants to make three single-leg countermovement jumps during the second measurement session. The sensor’s validity was assessed by using the force plate results as the gold standard. To determinate the agreement between two measurements, Bland–Altman plots were created. The intertester reliability (ICC = 0.99; 0.97) and intratester reliability (ICC = 0.96; 0.82) were both excellent. The validity calculated (i) on the basis of the mean value of three jumps and (ii) on the basis of the maximum value of three jumps was very high, but it showed a systematic error. Taking this error into account, physiotherapists can use the Orthelligent Pro sensor as a valid and reliable instrument for measuring the jump height of countermovement jumps.

Zusammenfassung: Hintergrund Inflammatorische Myopathien (IM) sind eine Gruppe seltener entzündlicher Muskelerkrankungen. Verminderte Kraft und Ausdauerfähigkeit stellen die Hauptsymptome dar. Diverse Studien konnten positive Effekte einer Trainingstherapie nachweisen, es existieren jedoch keine krankheitsspezifischen Trainingsrichtlinien. Ziel Erstellung einer Übersicht der vorhandenen Trainingsstudien mit Fokus auf erwachsene Patienten mit IM, um daraus einen evidenzbasierten, krankheitsspezifischen Trainingsleitfaden abzuleiten. Methode In einem ersten Schritt erfolgte eine systematische Literaturübersicht. Sie diente als Basis, um den Trainingsleitfaden zu entwickeln. Die langjährige klinische Erfahrung spezialisierter Physiotherapeuten sowie die Trainingsrichtlinien des American College of Sports Medicine fanden ebenfalls Berücksichtigung. Ergebnisse In die systematische Übersicht wurden 24 Studien mit insgesamt 151 Patienten mit IM eingeschlossen. Alle Studien zeigten positive Effekte eines Kraft- und/oder Ausdauertrainings auf. Unerwünschte Ereignisse traten nicht ein. Der Trainingsleitfaden besteht aus einem Einführungsteil zu allgemeinen Trainingsprinzipien sowie zwei weiteren Teilen über Kraft- und Ausdauertraining für jede Krankheitsaktivität (früh-aktiv, aktiv, stabil). Schlussfolgerungen Obwohl die Trainingsprotokolle im Bereich der Myositis unterschiedlich sind, weisen alle Studien konsistent darauf hin, dass das Training sicher und effektiv ist. Der Trainingsleitfaden ermöglicht Therapeuten einen raschen Überblick über evidenzbasierte Trainingsrichtlinien. Die Richtlinien sollten in weiteren Studien angewendet, überprüft und anschließend verfeinert werden.