Age-related muscle loss poses a significant health concern in an aging population. This study aimed to assess the impact of a home Full-Body in-Bed Gym protocol on quality of life, pain and risk of sarcopenia in elderly subjects. A total of 22 subjects with a median age of 71.90 years were included in the study. Patients participating in the Full-Body in-Bed Gym program, with a frequency of three times a week for two months, demonstrated a significant enhancement in their quality of life, as indicated by the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) Mental Component Summary (p = 0.04), and an improvement in pain levels (p = 0.03). Although not statistically significant, there was also an improvement in sarcopenia risk. Patients were given the freedom to decide whether to continue treatment after the evaluation of outcomes. Patient compliance with the exercise protocol over six months indicated its feasibility and sustainability, even in the long term. These findings suggest that the Full-Body in-Bed Gym protocol may play a valuable role in mitigating age-related muscle loss, emphasizing the importance of further investigation into such rehabilitation and prevention strategies.

This study aims to examine whether the COVID-19 pandemic affected the adherence to conservative AIS treatment. Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is characterized by a lateral curvature of the spine of at least 10 degrees. Compliance rates in conservative treatments are influenced by various factors. From a database of AIS patients, we selected 30 AIS patients who were assessed before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Data regarding Cobb’s angle, brace prescription, prescribed brace wear time, brace wear compliance, and time dedicated to sports activities were collected over a six-year period from January 2018 to December 2023, divided into three 2-year time periods (before, during, and after COVID-19). There was an increased percentage of AIS patients prescribed with a brace during the pandemic. However, no significant differences in Cobb’s angle were observed. Additionally, the prescribed wear time showed a significant decrease from the pre-COVID period to the post-COVID period (p-value = 0.03). Wear compliance exhibited a decreasing trend from pre- to during- and post-COVID-19 periods without reaching statistically significant differences, and the time dedicated to sports statistically significantly decreased. These differences were statistically significant when comparing the pre- vs. post- and pre- vs. during-COVID-19 periods (p-values 0.01, 0.04, respectively). Our study highlights changes in AIS conservative treatment during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in the number of patients prescribed with a brace during the pandemic, although not supported by an increase in Cobb’s angle, may be attributed to the concerns about regular monitoring during the reduction of rehabilitation services. The observed decreases in brace compliance and involvement in sport activities, which persisted even in the post-pandemic period, emphasizes the lasting impact of the pandemic on AIS management, necessitating innovative approaches to address these ongoing concerns.

INTRODUCTION. The limitations in mobility frequently encountered by the elderly, often linked to advanced age and concurrent medical conditions, have significant implications for their overall well-being and self-reliance. This decrease in physical activity not only curtails their independence but also elevates the likelihood of prolonged hospitalization and the accompanying complications. AIM. To assess the impact of a home-based Full-Body in-Bed Gym program, a 10-exercise protocol consisting of three sessions per week for two months, on the quality of life of elderly individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The study involved participants of both genders aged over 65, who were classified as sedentary, engaging in less than one hour of physical activity per week. Participants with recent orthopedic conditions, severe cardiovascular or oncological diseases, and significant neurological disorders were excluded due to their potential to confound the effects of the Full-Body in-Bed Gym program and impact overall health and quality of life. RESULTS. A total of 22 subjects, with a median age of 71.90 years, participated in the study. Elderly individuals engaging in the Full-Body in-Bed Gym program, experienced improvements in their quality of life. These gains were noticeable in the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) Physical Component Summary (p = 0.07) and reached statistical significance in the Mental Component Summary (p = 0.04). DISCUSSION. The observed gains in the quality of life among elderly participants engaging in the home-based Full-Body in-Bed Gym program are noteworthy. The positive impact on the mental component of the SF-12 is particularly significant, indicating improvements in mental well-being. This aligns with the broader understanding that physical activity in the elderly is intricately linked to various aspects of their health, including mental health. While the preliminary findings suggest positive outcomes, future research with larger and more diverse cohorts could provide a more robust understanding of the Full-Body in-Bed Gym program’s impact. CONCLUSION. Our findings underscore the potential of a home-based Full-Body in-Bed Gym program to enhance the quality of life in elderly participants, highlighting the need for further exploration of rehabilitation and prevention strategies in this context.

We appreciate the insightful comments provided by Josef Finsterer regarding our article on the first evidence on the effects of the Home Full-Body in-Bed Gym protocol as a potential intervention to mitigate age-related muscle loss based on the preliminary positive results of a Padua prospective observational study.1 We acknowledge the importance of the points raised and would like to address them in this response. At the University of Padua, we conducted a study aimed at evaluating the impact of a home-based Full-Body in-Bed Gym protocol on various outcomes in elderly individuals, which was published in 2023.1 The rational of our proposal is based on the fact that functional muscle decay of aging is inevitable, but that the general population is highly hypoactive, let's say "lazy". The increase in daily muscular activity even through “Home In-Bed Gym” recovers at least in part the potential abilities progressively lost. Therefore, it is easy to rejuvenate the “lazy” population, that is, the vast majority of elderlies.