Background: Many young children do not participate in sufficient physical activity for promoting optimal bone growth. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of young children who participated in a school-based intervention program on bone properties. The program included structured physical activity, with a focus on the application of mechanical loads on the upper and lower limbs. Methods: A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted, in which classes were randomly assigned to the intervention or control groups. A total of 295 (50.17% girls) children from the second and third grades from 12 classes in Israel were randomly allocated to an intervention consisting of three 10-minute weekly medium- to high-intensity activities throughout one academic year or to a treatment as usual control group. Bone properties were measured at the distal radius and tibia shaft using speed of sound, before and after the intervention. Results: Distal radius properties improved significantly for both boys and girls in the intervention group (boys: meanpre = 3769.95, meanpost = 3875.08, Δ = 2.80%; girls: meanpre = 3766.27, meanpost = 3890.83, Δ = 3.30%; d = 1.03); whereas, tibia shaft properties only significantly improved for boys (meanpre = 3663.98, meanpost = 3732.75, Δ = 1.90%; d = 1). Conclusions: These findings indicate that distal radius properties of children can be positively affected by a short, easy to implement intervention program that does not require special resources.

Amplitude integrated EEG (aEEG) is increasingly utilized in preterm infants. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether semiquantitative visual assessment of aEEG background during the first 72 hours of life is associated with long-term outcome in a group of premature infants born less than 28 weeks’ gestation. Infants were prospectively enrolled and monitored in the first 72 hours after birth. aEEG was classified daily according to background activity, appearance of cyclical activity and presence of seizures activity. Log-rank and multivariable cox analysis were used to explore associations of background aEEG activity with short and long-term outcome. Overall, 51 infants were enrolled into the study. Depressed aEEG background on the third day of life was associated with poor outcome ( P = .028). Similarly, absence of cycling on the third day of life was associated with death or poor outcome ( P = .004 and .012, respectively). In different multivariable models adjusted for gestational age, severe intraventricular hemorrhage or use of sedative medication, neither background nor cycling activities were associated with outcome. Depressed aEEG background and absence of aEEG cycling on the third day of life are associated with poor outcome in univariable analysis. Although continuous aEEG monitoring of premature infants can provide real-time assessment of cerebral function, its use as a predictive tool for long-term outcome using visual analysis requires caution as its predictive power is not greater than that of gestational age or intraventricular hemorrhage.

The effect of an exercise program in water on pain level and functional status in chronic nonspecific low back pain patients: A single-blind randomised controlled trial.

Background: Obesity affects health parameters that are related to physical activity. The present study examined the relationship between weight and three such parameters in young boys and girls, bone properties, muscle strength, and motor coordination. Material and methods:The study consisted of second-and third-grade 286 students -144 boys and 142 girls participants. Bone properties were measured at the distal radius and tibia shaft by Speed of Sound technology. Tests were conducted to measure muscle strength and motor coordination.Results: Obese boys were characterized by lower bone properties (p < .01) in the tibia bone than normal-weight boys. They were significantly (p < .05) weaker than normal-weight boys on muscle strength tests. Obese boys scored significantly (p < .05) lower on coordination tests than the normal weight boys. Underweight girls maintained higher bone properties than did the girls in all other BMI categories. Normal-weight girls scored significantly (p < .05) higher than obese girls on muscle strength tests. Obese girls scored significantly (p < .05) lower than normal-weight girls on motor coordination tests. Conclusions:The findings emphasize the need to identify obese children and refer them to special weight loss and exercise programs.