Enhancing our understanding of the specific characteristics that disuse-induced models should possess, based on the immobilized joint, could significantly enhance the effectiveness of research in this field. Objective: Our objective was to quantify the decrease in skeletal muscle mass and strength in humans subjected to upper limb disuse-induced models. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, LILACS, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, and Epistemonikos databases were searched from inception to November 2025. Randomized controlled trials, cross-over clinical trials, or quasi-experimental studies performed in healthy adults ≥18 years old, subjected to an induced-disuse model to investigate the effects on skeletal muscle mass or strength were included. Results: Forty-five studies were included. Significant differences in skeletal muscle mass, equivalent to a small effect size (SMD = −0.453; 95% CI = −0.698 to −0.208; p < 0.001) and a total loss of 3.44% (estimated average daily decline = 0.16%) were observed after 21 days of immobilization. Skeletal muscle mass loss was heterogeneous between the arm (5.03%), forearm (1.56%), and hand (4.67%) muscles. Significant differences in strength, equivalent to a large effect size (SMD = −1.36; 95% CI = −1.69 to −1.02; p < 0.001) and a total loss of 18.06% (estimated average daily decline = 1.55%), were observed after 18 days of immobilization. Strength decreases were heterogeneous between the arm (16.67%), forearm (21.42%), and hand (10.46%) muscles. Conclusion: Based on evidence of very low certainty, upper limb disuse-induced models appear to induce a nonlinear loss of skeletal muscle mass and a suggested substantially more severe and rapid loss of strength in healthy young adults, with effects varying heterogeneously across different muscle groups. Despite data limitations, these estimates provide a basis for designing experimental countermeasures, though caution is warranted due to the heterogeneity of the findings.

The addition of blood flow restriction therapy (BFRT) to exercise in patients with olecranon fracture treated surgically has not been described in the literature. To describe the effects and safety of BFRT exercises in the postoperative rehabilitation of a patient with olecranon fracture. A 27-year-old male with a surgically treated olecranon fracture completed a 12-week postoperative physical therapy programme. The assessment was performed at the start of rehabilitation, 4 and 12 weeks. The patient had elbow pain, decreased active range of motion (AROM), reduced handgrip strength, and limited physical function. The patient was treated with low-intensity resistance exercises with BFRT. The BFRT was applied with three exercises per stage, at 50% of the limb occlusion pressure and 75 repetitions per exercise. At discharge from physical therapy, improvements were observed in pain intensity (5.9-1.4 cm), AROM of elbow flexion (88°-137°) and extension (-22°--2°), AROM of forearm pronation (18°-68°) and supination (34°-78°), handgrip strength (8 kg-47 kg), physical function (22.9%-89.6%), and disability (72.7%-13.6%). These changes reached the minimal clinically important difference at the time of discharge for all measures, except for extension, pronation, and supination AROM. The addition of BFRT to exercise was effective in improving pain, elbow, and wrist AROM, handgrip strength, function, and disability in a patient with surgically treated olecranon fracture. Despite the inherent limitations of our design, we believe these preliminary findings are compelling to warrant future investigations.

Background: Systematic reviews of the global prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) have shown an underrepresentation of the South American population. The objective of this study was (i) to determine the prevalence and associated factors of UI among older Chilean community-dwelling older adults and (ii) to analyze the differences between older adults with and without UI. Methods: This is an analytical cross-sectional study. A total of 144 community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years and above were eligible to participate in the study. Participants were asked to provide a range of data, including demographic data and anthropometric and self-reported measures. The prevalence of UI was estimated using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF). The analyzed factors included age, sex, weight, height, residence comorbidities, polypharmacy, cognitive function, and activity of daily living (ADL) functionality. Results: One hundred eight older adults were included in the study. The median age of the participants was 69.0 ± 8.0 years, 84 (77.8%) were women, and 71 (65.7%) lived in an urban residence. The prevalence of UI in the total sample was 48.1% (n = 52). Stress, urge, and mixed types of UI were present in 75 (69.4%), 15 (14.3%), and 18 (16.3%) participants, respectively. Female sex, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypothyroidism were significantly more frequent in older adults with UI (P < 0.05). Correlations ranging from negligible to weak were observed between the presence of UI and the female sex (r = 0.25; P < 0.05), rheumatoid arthritis (r = 0.23; P < 0.05), and hypothyroidism (r = 0.35; P < 0.01). Conclusions: In a sample of community-dwelling older adults, UI was present in 48.1% of the participants. The prevalence of UI was correlated with the female sex, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypothyroidism.

Background:Contradictory data are available on the possible association between sarcopenia and other clinical disorders in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing hemodialysis.

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an unpredictable healthcare crisis with a high psychological burden on healthcare workers. Objective To evaluate burnout levels and their associated demographics and occupational factors among intensive care unit healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in a single hospital in the city of Temuco, Chile. Methods A cross-sectional design in which a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout Inventory for Human Services were sent to health care workers in a single Chilean Intensive Care Unit during the pandemic COVID-19. Burnout levels, demographic, and occupational factors are reported using descriptive statistics; correlations between burnout levels and demographic-occupational factors were analyzed using Spearman’s and rank-biserial correlation coefficients; and multiple linear stepwise regression was used to assess the contribution of demographic and occupational factors to participants’ burnout levels. Results A total of 84 participants (46 women and 38 men) were included in the analysis. Depersonalization and low personal accomplishment were evidenced in 95.2% and 98.8% of the intensive care unit healthcare workers, respectively. Emotional exhaustion was positively correlated with having children ( = 0.72; < 0.01). Age ( = 0.79; < 0.05), sex ( = 0.30; < 0.05), and prior experience in intensive care unit facilities ( = 0.71; < 0.05) were correlated with depersonalization. Feeling of personal accomplishment was positively correlated with with sex ( = 0.70; < 0.05) and type of work shift ( = 0.29; < 0.01). Conclusions The intensive care unit healthcare workers in this study reported high levels of depersonalization and low feelings of personal accomplishment during an advanced stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Older age, being female, having children, having intensive care unit experience, and working at 4th shift were factors related to burnout dimensions.

Background: Blood flow restriction training (BFRT) is a widely studied strategy in lower limb pathology; however, BFRT research in upper limb disorders is limited. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of BFRT programs on skeletal muscle mass, strength, pain, and function in upper limb musculoskeletal disorders rehabilitation and to analyze the reporting quality of the exercise content. Methods: A literature search of the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Scientific Electronic Library Online, SPORTDiscus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines from inception to May 2023. The results included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non‐RCTs, prospective and retrospective cohort studies, case series, and case report studies of patients with upper limb musculoskeletal disorders treated with resistance exercise enhanced with BFRT and reporting at least one outcome related to skeletal muscle mass, strength, pain or function/disability. The risk of bias of the included studies was assessed using the Risk of Bias 2.0, and the reporting quality was evaluated with the Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template (CERT). Results: Four RCTs, one case series, and four case report studies were included. Very low‐quality studies showed a pattern of clinical improvements surpassing the minimal clinically important difference in most patient‐reported outcome and physical function measures. The risk of bias in the included studies was high. The CERT revealed poor description of the BFRT programs. Conclusions: This systematic review identified limited and low‐quality evidence that BFRT is effective in the physical rehabilitation of patients with upper limb musculoskeletal disorders. Additionally, the reporting of BFRT content in patients with upper limb disorders is poor. We recommend that authors use the CERT guideline when reporting the exercise protocols and results of trials investigating BFRT interventions.