Effects of Physical Exercise and Music Therapy on Cognitive Aspects in Tunisian Patients with Mild Alzheimer’s Type Dementia

Aim: The objective of this research is to highlight the effectiveness of physical exercise and music therapy in older patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods: Patients with a mild level of AD were included in this study, divided into the therapy group (TG;N = 30, aged 68 ± 3.2 years) and the control group (CG;N=30, aged 65 ± 2.6 years). The therapy group was enrolled in an exercise-training program (walking, resistance and balance exercises) combined with musical therapy for 10 weeks (three sessions of 60 minutes per week). The Control group was instructed to follow their daily rhythm of life (e.g., rest, reading) under the same conditions. The intervention program was enrolled under the supervision of;one psychologist;a neurologist;two music therapists, and two physiotherapists, all belonging to the same hospital unit. After 10 weeks of participation in the combined program, cognitive parameters were improved in the therapy group measured with the Behavior Pathology in Alzheimer Disease (BEHAVE-AD), (p < 0.05) for activity disturbance, diurnal rhythm disturbances, anxieties and phobias, affective disturbance. The percentage range of improvements is 1.07% to 2.96%. Results: Our results demonstrate that physical exercise combined with music therapy improves cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Conclusions: Physical exercise and music therapy are beneficial combined treatments for improving life quality in older patients. This approach may be useful to help patients with a mild level of Alzheimer’s disease improve their behavioral and psychological parameters.

Effectiveness and time-course adaptation of resistance training vs. plyometric training in prepubertal soccer players

Purpose:This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and time course for improvements in explosive actions through resistance training(RT)vs.plyometric training(PT)in prepubertal soccer players.Methods:Thirty-four male subjects were assigned to:a control group(n=11);an RT group(5 regular soccer training sessions per week,n=12);a PT group(3 soccer training sessions and 2 RT sessions per week,n=11).The outcome measures included tests for the assessment of muscle strength(e.g.,1 repetition maximum half-squat test),jump ability(e.g.,countermovement jump,squat jump,standing long jump,and multiple 5 bounds test),linear speed(e.g.,20m sprint test),and change of direction(e.g.,Illinois change of direction test).Results:The RTG showed an improvement in the half-squat(△=13.2%;d=1.3,p<0.001)and countermovement jump(△=9.4%;d=2.4,p<0.001)at Week 4,whereas improvements in the 20-m sprint(△=4.2%;d=1.1,p<0.01);change of direction(CoD)(△=3.8%;d=2.1,p<0.01);multiple 5 bounds(△=5.1%;d=1.5,p<0.05);standing long jump(△=7.2%;d=1.2,p<0.01);squat jump(△=19.6%;d=1.5,p<0.01);were evident at Week 8.The PTG showed improvements in CoD(△=2.1%;d=1.3,p<0.05);standing long jump(△=9.3%;d=1.1,p<0.01);countermovement jump(△=16.1%;d=1.2,p<0.01);and squat jump(△=16.7%;d=1.4,p<0.01);at Week 8 whereas improvements in the 20-m sprint(△=4.1%;d=1.3,p<0.01);and multiple 5 bounds(△=7.4%;d=2.4,p<0.001);were evident only after Week.The RT and PT groups showed improvements in all sprint,CoD,and jump tests(p<0.05)and in half-squat performance,for which improvement was only shown within the RTG(p<0.001).Conclusion:RT and PT conducted in combination with regular soccer training are safe and feasible interventions for prepubertal soccer players.In addition,these interventions were shown to be effective training tools to improve explosive actions with different time courses of improvements,which manifested earlier in the RTG than in the PTG.These outcomes may help coaches and fitness trainers set out clear and concise goals of training according to the specific time course of improvement difference between RT and PT on proxies of athletic performance of prepubertal soccer players.