Bridging the gap between attitudes and action: A qualitative exploration of clinician and exercise professional’s perceptions to increase opportunities for exercise counselling and referral in cancer care

ObjectiveThis study aimed to 1) understand factors impacting the implementation of exercise communication and referral, and 2) explore integrated clinical approaches to exercise communication and referral in cancer care.MethodsSeven focus groups (N = 53) were conducted with clinicians and exercise professionals throughout Sydney, Australia. A sub-sample of participants (n = 9) attended a half-day workshop to identifying best practice approaches for moving forward. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis.ResultsTwo themes emerged: 1) Factors impacting the knowledge-to-action gap, inclusive of limited exercise specific knowledge and training opportunities, funding structure, and current referral process, and 2) Recommendations for a consistent and efficient way forward, detailing the need for oncologist-initiated communication, distribution of cancer-exercise resources, and access to exercise professionals with cancer expertise.ConclusionsThis study identified factors (e.g., cancer-exercise specific training, integration of exercise physiologists) influencing exercise counselling and referral. A potential implementation-referral approach accounting for these factors and how to incorporate exercise into a standard model of cancer care, is described. Future testing is required to determine feasibility and practicality of these approaches.Practical ImplicationsA pragmatic model is provided to guide implementation-referral, inclusive of oncologist-initiated communication exchange, relevant resources, and access to exercise professionals with cancer expertise.     

Start with reducing sedentary behavior: A stepwise approach to physical activity counseling in clinical practice

Recently, sedentary behavior recommendations have been included in the public health guidelines of multiple countries, pointing to new opportunities for prevention of chronic disease as well as a potential strategy for initiating long-term behavior change.ObjectiveTo propose an evidence-informed approach to physical activity counseling that starts with a focus on reducing sedentary time.MethodsWe put forward a case for addressing changes in sedentary behavior in clinical practice using a narrative review. We also propose a new approach for the assessment and counselling of patients with respect to movement behaviors.ResultsThere is evidence to support a stepwise approach to physical activity counseling that starts with targeting sedentary behavior, particularly in those who are highly sedentary, or those who have chronic disease, or physical impairments.ConclusionsOur approach encourages clinicians to consider sedentary behavior counseling as a critical first step to physical activity counseling. For many patients, this initial step of reducing sedentary behavior could build a pathway to an active lifestyle.Practical ImplicationsA shift from long periods of sedentary time to daily routines incorporating more light intensity physical activity could result in meaningful health improvements. Importantly, this approach may be more feasible for highly inactive patients.     

How injury prevention programs are being structured and implemented worldwide: An international survey of sports physical therapists

ObjectiveTo identify the role of sports physical therapists (PT) in the injury prevention process and to compare the structure of preventive programs and associated (organization) policies applied in athletic organizations and sports teams of varying gender and level world-wide.Design: cross-sectional study.SettingLimeSurvey platform.ParticipantsSports PT working with athletes invited through the International Federation of Sports Physical Therapy.Main outcome measuresSports injury prevention program (IPP) structure and implementation.Results414 participants fully participate in this survey study. Athlete's injury history (68.84%), the most common injuries within the sport modality (67.87%) and athlete's preseason screening results (64.01%) were most frequently used to customize IPPs. Warm-up (70.04%) and individually PT-guided exercise-therapy (70.04%) were the preferred methods to organize the prevention routine. The main barrier for IPP implementation was lack of time within the athlete's weekly training schedule (66.66%). The majority of the participants (72.84%) reported to evaluate the perception of IPP's effect by comparing current and preceding seasons' injury occurrences.ConclusionThese survey results are the first identifying contemporary sports injury prevention organization and implementation policies on an international level. This information might support the sports PT community in improving and standardizing IPP (implementation) strategies worldwide.     

Social cognitive correlates of device-measured and self-reported physical activity in Black and White individuals with multiple sclerosis

BackgroundThere is increasing research interest regarding physical activity behavior among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS), yet there is little known about physical activity and its correlates in Black persons with MS.ObjectiveThis cross-sectional study assessed associations among social cognitive theory (SCT) variables and device-measured and self-reported physical activity in samples of Black and White persons with MS.MethodsParticipants included 67 Black and 141 White persons with MS who wore an ActiGraph accelerometer on a belt around the waist measuring moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for seven days and completed a battery of questionnaires. Questionnaires included demographic and clinical characteristics, leisure-time exercise, exercise self-efficacy, overcoming barriers self-efficacy, function, social support, exercise outcome expectations, and goal setting and planning.ResultsBlack participants with MS engaged in significantly less MVPA, but not sedentary behavior or light physical activity, than the White participants with MS. Black participants further had significantly lower levels of exercise self-efficacy and outcome expectations than the White sample. All SCT correlates were significantly correlated with self-reported physical activity, but only exercise and barriers self-efficacy, perceived function, and exercise goal setting were associated with device-measured MVPA. The difference in physical activity between Black and White participants with MS was accounted for by differences in exercise self-efficacy and outcome expectations.ConclusionsResearchers should consider developing behavioral interventions that target exercise self-efficacy and outcome expectations as SCT variables for increasing physical activity in Black persons with MS.     

妊娠期体育锻炼干预对自然分娩影响的Meta分析

背景 自然分娩是人类繁衍的正常生理过程，中国剖宫产率超出了世界卫生组织（WHO）提出的警戒线2倍多，而体育锻炼作为一种非药物性的健康干预方式，应引起相关部门的重视。 目的 运用Meta分析方法检验妊娠期体育锻炼对自然分娩影响的干预效果，并提出最优的锻炼方案。 方法 检索中国知网（CNKI）、中国生物医学文献服务系统（CBM）、维普网中文数据库和PubMed、EMBase、Web of Science、Cochrane Library英文数据库中有关妊娠期体育锻炼干预影响自然分娩结果的随机对照试验（其中干预组以体育锻炼干预为唯一干预方式，对照组进行常规护理知识教育或不进行有规律的体育锻炼），同时追踪相关系统评价所引用的参考文献，检索时间为1990—2021年。提取纳入文献资料，并对纳入文献进行方法学质量评价，采用RevMan 5.2软件进行Meta分析，运用GRADE工具对结局指标进行质量评价。 结果 共纳入30篇文献。Meta分析结果显示，干预组自然分娩发生率高于对照组〔RR=1.34，95%CI（1.28，1.40），P<0.000 01〕。亚组分析结果显示，锻炼开始节点对自然分娩的干预效果从高到低依次为：>24周、13~24周、≤12周；锻炼内容对自然分娩的干预效果从高到低依次为：盆底肌训练、运动课、体操、有氧运动、分娩球、瑜伽；锻炼频率对自然分娩的干预效果从高到低依次为：≥12次/周、3~5次/周、6~8次/周、9~11次/周；中等强度的锻炼较低强度的锻炼对自然分娩具有更大的影响；锻炼时长对自然分娩的干预效果从高到低依次为：30~<50 min/次、<30 min/次、≥50 min/次；锻炼周期对自然分娩的干预效果从高到低依次为：≤8周、17~24周、9~16周、25~34周。绘制体育锻炼干预对孕妇自然分娩影响的漏斗图，结果显示，漏斗图左右两侧基本对称，发表偏倚较小。运用GRADE工具对结局指标进行质量评价，结果显示，妊娠期体育锻炼影响自然分娩的评级为中等级。 结论 孕妇在妊娠期进行一定的体育锻炼对自然分娩结果具有良好的干预效果，且从妊娠期>24周开始锻炼、≥12次/周、30~<50 min/次、持续进行≤8周的中等强度的盆底肌训练、运动课、体操、有氧运动、分娩球以及瑜伽均对孕妇自然分娩的选择具有积极的影响。     

Endurance training may improve exercise capacity,lung function and quality of life in Fontan patients

Children born with univentricular hearts undergo staged surgical procedures to a Fontan circulation. Long-term experience with Fontan palliation has shown dramatically improved survival but also of a life-long burden of an abnormal circulation with significant morbidity. Many Fontan patients have reduced exercise capacity, oxygen uptake, lung function and quality of life. Endurance training may improve submaximal, but not maximal, exercise capacity, lung function and quality of life. Physical activity and endurance training is also positively correlated with sleep quality. Reviewing the literature and from our single-centre experience, we believe there is enough evidence to support structured individualised endurance training in most young Fontan patients.     

Associations between heart rate variability and maximal fat oxidation in two different cohorts of healthy sedentary adults

Background and aimsResting heart rate variability (HRV) and maximal fat oxidation (MFO) during exercise are both considered as a noninvasive biomarkers for early detection of cardiovascular risk factors. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the relationship between resting HRV parameters and MFO during exercise, and the intensity of exercise that elicit MFO (Fat_max) in healthy sedentary adults.Methods and resultsA total of 103 healthy young adults (22.2 ± 2.3 years old, 67% female; from the ACTIBATE cohort) and 67 healthy middle-aged adults (53.1 ± 5.0 years old, 52% female; from the FIT-AGEING cohort) were included in this cross-sectional study. HRV was assessed using a Polar RS800CX heart rate monitor, while MFO and Fat_max were determined during a graded exercise treadmill test using indirect calorimetry. No significant associations were observed for healthy young adults (standardized β coefficients ranged from ?0.063 to 0.094, and all P ≥ 0.347) and for middle-aged adults (standardized β coefficients ranged from ?0.234 to 0.090, and all P ≥ 0.056). Nevertheless, only a weak association was observed between one HRV parameter in time-domain (the percentage of R-R intervals that shows a difference higher than 50 ms [pNN50]) and MFO in the cohort of middle-aged adults (β coefficient = ?0.279, and P = 0.033).ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that resting HRV parameters are not associated with MFO and Fat_max during exercise in two independent cohorts of healthy sedentary young and middle-aged adults, respectively.