The Practice of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in subSaharan Africa and Antarctica：A White Paper or a Black Mark？

Objective:To explore the practice of PM&R in subSaharan Africa and Antarctica.Method:Medline searches,membership data searches,fax survey of medical schools,Internet searches,and interviews with experts.Result:The continents are dissimilar in terms of climate and government.However both Antarctica and subSaharan Africa have no PM&R training programs,no professional organizations,no specialty board requirements,and no practicing physicians in the field.Since there is no known disabled child on Antarctica and adults are airlifted to world-class health care,the consequences of this deficit are minimal there.However the 788,000,000 permanent residents of subSaharan Africa including approximately 78 million persons with disability are left unserved.Conclusion:Antarctica is doing fine.Africa is in a crisis.Local medical schools,hospitals doctors,and persons with disability;along with foreign volunteers,aid groups,and policymakers can impact the crisis.However government-specifically national ministries of health-is ultimately responsible for the health and wellbeing of citizens.

International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ISPRM)： strengthening Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) worldwide

Physiral and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) is the Medicine of Functioning in light of health conditions, under consideration of the person and in interaction with the environment[1-2].PRM focuses on the application of rehabilitation, the third health strategy which complements the preventive and curative health strategies.Thanks to the increasing survival of people after injury and formerly conditions as well as aging populations and an associated increase in chronic conditions, PRM as the leader of the rehabilitation will, over the next decades, assume an ever more important role in the health care systems worldwide.

Exploring the associations between skeletal muscle echogenicity and physical function in aging adults:A systematic review with meta-analyses

Background:Assessment and quantification of skeletal muscle within the aging population is vital for diagnosis,treatment,and injury/disease prevention.The clinical availability of assessing muscle quality through diagnostic ultrasound presents an opportunity to be utilized as a screening tool for function-limiting diseases.However,relationships between muscle echogenicity and clinical functional assessments require authoritative analysis.Thus,we aimed to(a) synthesize the literature to assess the relationships between skeletal muscle echogenicity and physical function in older adults(≥60 years),(b) perform pooled analyses of relationships between skeletal muscle echogenicity and physical function,and(c) perform sub-analyses to determine between-muscle relationships.Methods:CINAHL,Embase,MEDLINE,PubMed,and Web of Science databases were systematically searched to identify articles relating skeletal muscle echogenicity to physical function in older adults.Risk-of-bias assessments were conducted along with funnel plot examination.Meta-analyses with and without sub-analyses for individual muscles were performed utilizing Fisher's Z transformation for the most common measures of physical function.Fisher's Z was back-transformed to Pearson's r for interpretation.Results:Fifty-one articles(n=5095,female=~2759,male=~2301,72.5± 5.8 years,mean±SD(1 study did not provide sex descriptors))were extracted for review,with previously unpublished data obtained from the authors of 13 studies.The rectus femoris(n=34) and isometric knee extension strength(n=22) were the most accessed muscle and physical qualities,respectively.The relationship between quadriceps echogenicity and knee extensor strength was moderate(n=2924,r=-0.36(95% confidence interval:-0.38 to-0.32),p <0.001),with all other meta-analyses(grip strength,walking speed,sit-to-stand,timed up-and-go) resulting in slightly weaker correlations(r:-0.34 to-0.23,all p <0.001).Sub-analyses determined minimal differences in predictive ability between muscle groups,although combining muscles(e.g.,rectus femoris+vastus lateralis) often re sulted in stronger correlations with maximal strength.Conclusion:While correlations are modest,the affordable,portable,and noninvasive ultrasonic assessment of muscle quality is a consistent predictor of physical function in older adults.Minimal between-muscle differences suggest that echogenicity estimates of muscle quality are systemic.Therefore,practitioners may be able to scan a single muscle to estimate full-body skeletal muscle quality/composition,while researchers should consider combining multiple muscles to strengthen the model.

What aspects do we overlook in the rehabilitation of patients with inflammatory bowel disease?

In this editorial,we comment on the article by Stafie et al.Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)constitutes a cluster of chronic and progressive inflammatory disorders affecting the digestive system.IBD can impede an individual’s capacity to perform daily activities,hinder work productivity,limit physical capabilities,and negatively impact medical outcomes.Although physical activity and structured exercise programs are becoming increasingly important in many chronic inflammatory diseases,they are not being sufficiently implemented in IBD patients.Effective prevention of future disability and drug dependence in IBD patients requires timely diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal problems,including sarcopenia,as well as decreased muscle strength,aerobic capacity,and bone mineral density.To improve treatment outcomes for IBD patients,it is crucial to develop individualized rehabilitation programs tailored to their unique needs.Equally critical is the active participation of pertinent departments in this process.It is imperative to highlight the significance of creating a personalized rehabilitation program with a multidisciplinary approach in IBD management.

Use of artificial intelligence in the field of pain medicine

In this editorial we comment on the article“Potential and limitations of ChatGPT and generative artificial intelligence in medial safety education”published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Clinical Cases.This article described the usefulness of artificial intelligence(AI)in medial safety education.Herein,we focus specifically on the use of AI in the field of pain medicine.AI technology has emerged as a powerful tool,and is expected to play an important role in the healthcare sector and significantly contribute to pain medicine as further developments are made.AI may have several applications in pain medicine.First,AI can assist in selecting testing methods to identify causes of pain and improve diagnostic accuracy.Entry of a patient’s symptoms into the algorithm can prompt it to suggest necessary tests and possible diagnoses.Based on the latest medical information and recent research results,AI can support doctors in making accurate diagnoses and setting up an effective treatment plan.Second,AI assists in interpreting medical images.For neural and musculoskeletal disorders,imaging tests are of vital importance.AI can analyze a variety of imaging data,including that from radiography,computed tomography,and magnetic resonance imaging,to identify specific patterns,allowing quick and accurate image interpretation.Third,AI can predict the outcomes of pain treatments,contributing to setting up the optimal treatment plan.By predicting individual patient responses to treatment,AI algorithms can assist doctors in establishing a treatment plan tailored to each patient,further enhancing treatment effectiveness.For efficient utilization of AI in the pain medicine field,it is crucial to enhance the accuracy of AI decision-making by using more medical data,while issues related to the protection of patient personal information and responsibility for AI decisions will have to be addressed.In the future,AI technology is expected to be innovatively applied in the field of pain medicine.The advancement of AI is anticipated to have a positive impact on the entire medical field by providing patients with accurate and effective medical services.

Differences between the healthcare systems of Quebec and France for the treatment of pain due to spinal disorders

In Quebec,Canada,the public healthcare system offers free medical services.However,patients with spinal pain often encounter long waiting times for specialist appointments and limited physiotherapy coverage.In contrast,private clinics provide expedited care but are relatively scarce and entail out-of-pocket expenses.Once a patient with pain caused by a spinal disorder meets a pain medicine specialist,spinal intervention is quickly performed when indicated,and patients are provided lifestyle advice.Transforaminal epidural steroid injections are frequently administered to patients with radicular pain,and steroid injections are administered on a facet joint to control low back or neck pain.Additionally,medial branch blocks are performed prior to thermocoagulation.France’s universal healthcare system ensures accessibility at controlled costs.It emphasizes physical activity and provides free physical therapy services.However,certain interventions,such as transforaminal and interlaminar epidural injections,are not routinely used in France owing to limited therapeutic efficacy and safety concerns.This underutilization may be a potential cause of chronic pain for many patients.By examining the differences,strengths,and weaknesses of these two systems,valuable insights can be gained for the enhancement of global spinal pain management strategies,ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes and satisfaction.

Safety and efficiency of Wharton’s Jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cell administration in patients with traumatic brain injury:First results of a phase I study

BACKGROUND Traumatic brain injury(TBI)is characterized by a disruption in the normal function of the brain due to an injury following a trauma,which can potentially cause severe physical,cognitive,and emotional impairment.Stem cell transplantation has evolved as a novel treatment modality in the management of TBI,as it has the potential to arrest the degeneration and promote regeneration of new cells in the brain.Wharton’s Jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells(WJ-MSCs)have recently shown beneficial effects in the functional recovery of neurological deficits.AIM To evaluate the safety and efficiency of MSC therapy in TBI.METHODS We present 6 patients,4 male and 2 female aged between 21 and 27 years who suffered a TBI.These 6 patients underwent 6 doses of intrathecal,intramuscular(i.m.)and intravenous transplantation of WJ-MSCs at a target dose of 1×106/kg for each application route.Spasticity was assessed using the Modified Ashworth scale(MAS),motor function according to the Medical Research Council Muscle Strength Scale,quality of life was assessed by the Functional Independence Measure(FIM)scale and Karnofsky Performance Status scale.RESULTS Our patients showed only early,transient complications,such as subfebrile fever,mild headache,and muscle pain due to i.m.injection,which resolved within 24 h.During the one year follow-up,no other safety issues or adverse events were reported.These 6 patients showed improvements in their cognitive abilities,muscle spasticity,muscle strength,performance scores and fine motor skills when compared before and after the intervention.MAS values,which we used to assess spasticity,were observed to statistically significantly decrease for both left and right sides(P<0.001).The FIM scale includes both motor scores(P<0.05)and cognitive scores(P<0.001)and showed a significant increase in pretest posttest analyses.The difference observed in the participants’Karnofsky Performance Scale values pre and post the intervention was statistically significant(P<0.001).CONCLUSION This study showed that cell transplantation has a safe,effective and promising future in the management of TBI.

Decision-Making and Management of Self-Care in Persons with Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries: A Preliminary Study

Patients and physicians understand the importance of self-care following spinal cord injury (SCI), yet many individuals with SCI do not adhere to recommended self-care activities despite logistical supports. Neurobehavioral determinants of SCI self-care behavior, such as impulsivity, are not widely studied, yet understanding them could inform efforts to improve SCI self-care. We explored associations between impulsivity and self-care in an observational study of 35 US adults age 18 - 50 who had traumatic SCI with paraplegia at least six months before assessment. The primary outcome measure was self-reported self-care. In LASSO regression models that included all neurobehavioral measures and demographics as predictors of self-care, dispositional measures of greater impulsivity (negative urgency, lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance), and reduced mindfulness were associated with reduced self-care. Outcome (magnitude) sensitivity, a latent decision-making parameter derived from computationally modeling successive choices in a gambling task, was also associated with self-care behavior. These results are preliminary;more research is needed to demonstrate the utility of these findings in clinical settings. Information about associations between impulsivity and poor self-care in people with SCI could guide the development of interventions to improve SCI self-care and help patients with elevated risks related to self-care and secondary health conditions.

The Impact of Black Sea Sand Treatment Effectively Reducing Different Type of Pain

Purpose: Low back pain (LBP), Gonarthrosis, knee, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome have been regarded as affecting more than three-quarters’ of individuals in their lifetime. The aim of this study was conducted to determine and compare the effects of topical patients with sand compared with control related to Gonarthrosis, LBP, knee, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome pain. Methods: This is a prospective case and control designed study based on 101 pain case with Sand and 101 control subjects. The interventional groups in addition either topical sand or without sand 2 months after the intervention were assessed. We assessed tolerability of an established pain perception scale by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Categorical variables were compared using the chi-square (χ2) test. The paired t-test was used to compare the two groups before and after the intervention. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed for comparison of several group means. Results: The study was based on 202 patients, 41 males (20.3%) and 161 females (79.7%). There were statistically significant differences between subjects with and without Sand in term of Gonarthrosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis LBP, knee, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome pain (p = 0.033). Majority of patients were over age 55 years old (55%) and females 78 (77.2%). The mean score of total pain experience before and after the intervention was 7.41 ± 1.1 for black sand, and 4.24 ± 2.38 for without sand as control group. The mean scores of these 5 groups were highly significant before and after the intervention (p There was statistically highly significant in regarding subjects with Sand as compared with those before Sand after treatment mean score specifically with gonarthrosis before pain 7.23 ± 1.86 vs after treatment 4.54 ± 2.18 p < 0.001;rheumatoid arthritis before 8.28 ± 1.48 vs after treatment 4.80 ± 3.71 p < 0.001;Low Back Pain before 8.42 ± 1.83 vs after treatment 4.37 ± 1.52 p < 0.001;knee pain before 8.93 ± 0.89 vs after treatment 4.24 ± 0.24 p < 0.001;Carpal Tunnel Syndrome before 7.664 ± 1.04 vs after treatment 4.26 ± 1.03 p Conclusion: The current study has revealed that the topical treatments with sand could have a significant effect on the perception of pain compared to those in the control group with respect of gonarthrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, LBP, knee, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome pain .

Importance of proper ventilator support and pulmonary rehabilitation in obese patients with heart failure:Two case reports

BACKGROUND The optimal treatment for heart failure(HF)is a combination of appropriate medications.Controlling the disease using only medical therapy is difficult in patients with HF,severe hypercapnia,and desaturation.These patients should first receive ventilator support followed by pulmonary rehabilitation(PR).CASE SUMMARY We report two cases in which arterial blood gas(ABG)improved and PR was possible with appropriate ventilator support.Two patients with extreme obesity complaining of worsening dyspnea–a 47-year-old woman and a 36-year-old man both diagnosed with HF–were hospitalized because of severe hypercapnia and hypoxia.Despite proper medical treatment,hypercapnia and desaturation resolved in neither case,and both patients were transferred to the rehabilitation department for PR.At the time of the first consultation,the patients were bedridden because of dyspnea.Oxygen demand was successfully reduced once noninvasive ventilation was initiated.As the patients’dyspnea gradually improved to the point where they could be weaned off the ventilator during the daytime,they started engaging in functional training and aerobic exercise.After 4 mo of followup,both patients were able to perform activities of daily living and maintain their lower body weight and normalized ABG levels.CONCLUSION Symptoms of patients with obesity and HF may improve once ABG levels are normalized through ventilator support and implementation of PR.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning in motor recovery: A rehabilitation medicine perspective

Artificial intelligence(AI)and machine learning(ML)are powerful technologies with the potential to revolutionize motor recovery in rehabilitation medicine.This perspective explores how AI and ML are harnessed to assess,diagnose,and design personalized treatment plans for patients with motor impairments.The integration of wearable sensors,virtual reality,augmented reality,and robotic devices allows for precise movement analysis and adaptive neurorehabilitation approaches.Moreover,AI-driven telerehabilitation enables remote monitoring and consultation.Although these applications show promise,healthcare professionals must interpret AI-generated insights and ensure patient safety.While AI and ML are in their early stages,ongoing research will determine their effectiveness in rehabilitation medicine.

Considerations on Research Priorities in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine

Significant attention has been given recently to thetopic of research in the field of Physical and RehabilitationMedicine (PRM) in professional organizations, national

Effects of exosomes from mesenchymal stem cells on functional recovery of a patient with total radial nerve injury: A pilot study

BACKGROUND Peripheral nerve injury can result in significant clinical complications that have uncertain prognoses.Currently,there is a lack of effective pharmacological interventions for nerve damage,despite the existence of several small compounds,Despite the objective of achieving full functional restoration by surgical intervention,the persistent challenge of inadequate functional recovery remains a significant concern in the context of peripheral nerve injuries.AIM To examine the impact of exosomes on the process of functional recovery following a complete radial nerve damage.METHODS A male individual,aged 24,who is right-hand dominant and an immigrant,arrived with an injury caused by a knife assault.The cut is located on the left arm,specifically below the elbow.The neurological examination and electrodiagnostic testing reveal evidence of left radial nerve damage.The sural autograft was utilized for repair,followed by the application of 1 mL of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosome,comprising 5 billion microvesicles.This exosome was split into four equal volumes of 0.25 mL each and delivered microsurgically to both the proximal and distal stumps using the subepineural pathway.The patient was subjected to a period of 180 d during which they had neurological examination and electrodiagnostic testing.RESULTS The duration of the patient’s follow-up period was 180 d.An increasing Tinel’s sign and sensory-motor recovery were detected even at the 10th wk following nerve grafting.Upon the conclusion of the 6-mo post-treatment period,an evaluation was conducted to measure the extent of improvement in motor and sensory functions of the nerve.This assessment was based on the British Medical Research Council scale and the Mackinnon-Dellon scale.The results indicated that the level of improvement in motor function was classified as M5,denoting an excellent outcome.Additionally,the level of improvement in sensory function was classified as S3+,indicating a good outcome.It is noteworthy that these assessments were conducted in the absence of physical therapy.At the 10th wk post-injury,despite the persistence of substantial axonal damage,the nerve exhibited indications of nerve re-innervation as evidenced by control electromyography(EMG).In contrast to the preceding.EMG analysis revealed a significant electrophysiological enhancement in the EMG conducted at the 6th-mo follow-up,indicating ongoing regeneration.CONCLUSION Enhanced comprehension of the neurobiological ramifications associated with peripheral nerve damage,as well as the experimental and therapy approaches delineated in this investigation,holds the potential to catalyze future clinical progress.

Surgical intervention combined with weight-bearing walking training promotes recovery in patients with chronic spinal cord injury:a randomized controlled study

For patients with chronic spinal cord injury,the co nventional treatment is rehabilitation and treatment of spinal cord injury complications such as urinary tract infection,pressure sores,osteoporosis,and deep vein thrombosis.Surgery is rarely perfo rmed on spinal co rd injury in the chronic phase,and few treatments have been proven effective in chronic spinal cord injury patients.Development of effective therapies fo r chronic spinal co rd injury patients is needed.We conducted a randomized controlled clinical trial in patients with chronic complete thoracic spinal co rd injury to compare intensive rehabilitation(weight-bearing walking training)alone with surgical intervention plus intensive rehabilitation.This clinical trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov(NCT02663310).The goal of surgical intervention was spinal cord detethering,restoration of cerebrospinal fluid flow,and elimination of residual spinal cord compression.We found that surgical intervention plus weight-bearing walking training was associated with a higher incidence of American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale improvement,reduced spasticity,and more rapid bowel and bladder functional recovery than weight-bearing walking training alone.Overall,the surgical procedures and intensive rehabilitation were safe.American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale improvement was more common in T7-T11 injuries than in T2-T6 injuries.Surgery combined with rehabilitation appears to have a role in treatment of chronic spinal cord injury patients.

Comparison of the treatment duration and nursing requirements of the EarWell infant ear correction system for different types of auricle deformities

Objective:To observe whether the Ear Well infant ear correction system makes any difference in terms of the treatment effect,duration,complication rate,and nursing care requirements in different types of infant auricle deformities.Methods:A total of 93 infant patients with auricular deformity(age:<3 months of age)who were diagnosed and treated in Guangzhou Children and Women’s Medical Center from April 2018 to September 2020 were selected and treated with the Ear Well infant ear correction system.We observed and recorded the effects of the Ear Well infant ear correction system,the treatment duration,the number of rebound cases,and complications that are likely to occur during treatment,and noted the related factors causing complications and the relative requirements for nursing care.Results:The Earwell infant ear correction system could effectively correct infant auricle deformities.Among the 93 cases,90 cases had positive therapeutical outcome and the effective rate was 96.77%.The treatment duration for lop ear and protruding ear was longer than for other auricle deformities;the deformity recoil and the treatment compilation rates were much higher for these 2 deformity types,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusions:The treatment suggestion for the wearing duration of the Ear Well infant ear correction system for lop ear and protruding ear is a prolonged duration compared with that for other infant auricle deformities.Fur ther,the requirements for nursing care intensity and infant patient’s guardian’s nursing knowledge and skill are obviously increased for these 2 types of auricle deformities.

The minimal clinically important difference for gait speed in significant unilateral vestibular hypofunction after vestibular rehabilitation

Gait speed is a valid measure of both physical function and vestibular health.Vestibular rehabilitation is useful to improve gait speed for patients with vestibular hypofunction,yet there is little data to indicate how changes in gait speed reflect changes in patient-reported health outcomes.We determined the minimal clinically important difference in the gait speed of patients with unilateral vestibular hypofunction,mostly due to deafferentation surgery,as anchored to the Dizziness Handicap Index and the Activities Balance Confidence scale,validated using regression analysis,change difference,receiveroperator characteristic curve,and average change methods.After six weeks of vestibular rehabilitation,a change in gait speed from 0.20 to 0.34 m/s with 95%confidence was required for the patients to perceive a significant reduction in perception of dizziness and improved balance confidence.

^(23)Na relaxometry: An overview of theory and applications

^(23)Na is a nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)-active isotope with a nuclear spin quantum number of 3/2.^(23)Na relaxation phenomenon is at the core of ^(23)Na NMR measurement and analysis.Due to the dominance of quadrupolar interaction,the relaxation behavior of ^(23)Na is physically and mathematically more complex than that of a typical spin-1/2 isotope.In this review,we overview the semi-classical Redfield theory for deriving the formulations of ^(23)Na relaxation.We show that the relaxation behaviors of ^(23)Na can be quantitatively described by constructing the spectral density functions based on the second-order perturbation theory.In addition,we summarize the applications of ^(23)Na relaxometry in different research fields,including biomedicine,sodium ion batteries,and quantum information processing.Because sodium is an essential element in our body,food and industrial materials,the research on sodium by ^(23)Na NMR emerges as important future directions.The theoretical and practical understandings on ^(23)Na relaxation are the step stones for mastering advanced ^(23)Na NMR techniques.

Leisure-time physical activity,anthropometrics,and body composition as predictors of quality of life domains after spinal cord injury:an exploratory cross-sectional study

The objective of the current work was to examine the relationships between quality of life(QOL)domains in persons with spinal cord injury(SCI)and their levels of weekly leisure-time physical activity(LTPA),anthropometric variables,and body composition variables.This exploratory cross-sectional study consisted of baseline data collected as part of a randomized clinical trial at a VA Medical Center and SCI center.A convenience sample of 36 community-dwelling persons with SCI participated in the current study.Outcome measures included the World Health Organization Quality of Life Short Form(WHOQOL-BREF),Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire for People with Spinal Cord Injury(LTPAQ-SCI),anthropomorphic measures(waist,hip,and abdominal circumference),and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry(DXA)to quantify regional and total body composition.Multiple regression models suggested that engagement in LTPA accounted for 35.7%of the variance in physical health QOL,33.5%in psychological QOL,14.2%in social relationships QOL,and 38.2%in environmental QOL.Anthropometric measures accounted for 11.3%,3.1%,12.0%,and 6.7%of the variance in these QOL indices,respectively,and DXA indices accounted for 18.7%,17.5%,27.4%,and 21.9%.Within these models,the number of minutes of heavy LTPA per day uniquely predicted physical health QOL,the number of mild LTPA days per week uniquely predicted psychological QOL,and the amount of mild LTPA per day uniquely predicted environmental QOL.Bivariate analyses also suggested that android and trunk fat,as well as supine waist and abdominal circumferences,were positively associated with social relationships QOL.Encouraging individuals with SCI to engage in LTPA may robustly enhance multiple aspects of QOL while reducing the risk for cardiovascular and metabolic morbidities associated with SCI.Moreover,this may lead to a further understanding of how QOL may impact longitudinal intervention trials.The study protocol and procedures were reviewed and approved by the McGuire VA Research Institutional Review Board(IRB#02152,approval date August 9,2015;IRB#02375,approval date May 2,2018).

Animal exercise studies in cardiovascular research:Current knowledge and optimal design--A position paper of the Committee on Cardiac Rehabilitation,Chinese Medical Doctors’Association

Growing evidence has demonstrated exercise as an effective way to promote cardiovascular health and protect against cardiovascular diseases However,the underlying mechanisms of the beneficial effects of exercise have yet to be elucidated.Animal exercise studies are widely used to investigate the key mechanisms of exercise-induced cardiovascular protection.However,standardized procedures and well-established evaluation indicators for animal exercise models are needed to guide researchers in carrying out effective,high-quality animal studies using exercise to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases.In our review,we present the commonly used animal exercise models in cardiovascular research and propose a set of standard procedures for exercise training,emphasizing the appropriate measurements and analysis in these chronic exercise models.We also provide recommendations for optimal design of animal exercise studies in cardiovascular research,including the choice of exercise models,control of exercise protocols,exercise at different stages of disease,and other considerations,such as age,sex,and genetic background.We hope that this position paper will promote basic research on exercise-induced cardiovascular protection and pave the way for successful translation of exercise studies from bench to bedside in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Detailed description of Division I ice hockey concussions:Findings from the NCAA and Department of Defense CARE Consortium

Objective:Since concussion is the most common injury in ice hockey,the objective of the current study was to elucidate risk factors,specific mechanisms,and clinical presentations of concussion in men’s and women’s ice hockey.Methods:Ice hockey players from 5 institutions participating in the Concussion Assessment,Research,and Education Consortium were eligible for the current study.Participants who sustained a concussion outside of this sport were excluded.There were 332(250 males,82 females)athletes who participated in ice hockey,and 47(36 males,11 females)who sustained a concussion.Results:Previous concussion(odds ratio(OR)=2.00;95%confidence interval(95%CI):1.02‒3.91)was associated with increased incident concussion odds,while wearing a mouthguard was protective against incident concussion(OR=0.43;95%CI:0.22‒0.85).Overall,concussion mechanisms did not significantly differ between sexes.There were specific differences in how concussions presented clinically across male and female ice hockey players,however.Females(9.09%)were less likely than males(41.67%)to have a delayed symptom onset(p=0.045).Additionally,females took significantly longer to reach asymptomatic(p=0.015)and return-to-play clearance(p=0.005).Within the first 2 weeks post-concussion,86.11%of males reached asymptomatic,while only 45.50%of females reached the same phase of recovery.Most males(91.67%)were cleared for return to play within 3 weeks of their concussion,compared to less than half(45.50%)of females.Conclusion:The current study proposes possible risk factors,mechanisms,and clinical profiles to be validated in future concussions studies with larger female sample sizes.Understanding specific risk factors,concussion mechanisms,and clinical profiles of concussion in collegiate ice hockey may generate ideas for future concussion prevention or intervention studies.