This study aimed at exploring the gender-specific changes in physical activity level (PAL) and associated factors amid the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing, among adolescents. Sixty-three healthy adolescents (14-18 years) were assessed at the baseline (before social distancing imposition) for PAL (BL-PAL) and fitness variables; and next at the follow-up (2 months following social distancing commencement) for PAL (FU-PAL). A significant PAL decline was evidenced for the entire sample ( P < .001) that was notably affected by PAL shifts among boys ( P < .001) rather than girls ( P = .07). Consistently, fitness variables (explosive strength, flexibility, and aerobic endurance) were positively correlated with BL-PAL and FU-PAL for boys and girls, where clearest associations were observed between baseline strength and aerobic endurance with PAL. With remarkable PAL declines among adolescents in challenging situations, like the COVID-19 pandemic, physical literacy is essential to preserve PAL.

Purpose: To appraise the effects of incremental aerobic training (IAT) on systemic inflammatory mediators, cardiorespiratory indices, and functional capacity in obese children with bronchial asthma. Methods: This study included 30 children with asthma (age = 8–16 y) allocated randomly into either the control group (n = 15; received the traditional pulmonary rehabilitation program) or IAT group (n = 15; engaged in 8 weeks of IAT in addition to the traditional pulmonary rehabilitation program). The systemic inflammatory mediators (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and interleukin-6), cardiorespiratory indices (peak oxygen uptake, minute ventilation, maximum heart rate, heart rate recovery at 1 min after exercises, and oxygen pulse), and functional capacity (represented by 6-min walk test) were analyzed pretreatment and posttreatment. Results: A significant reduction in the level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 and increase in peak oxygen uptake, minute ventilation, maximum heart rate, and heart rate recovery at 1 minute after exercises was observed among the IAT group as compared with the control group. In addition, the IAT group covered a longer distance in the 6-minute walk test than the control group, suggesting favorable functional capacity. Conclusion: The study results imply that IAT has the potential to improve the inflammatory profile, cardiorespiratory fitness, and functional capacity of obese children with bronchial asthma.

Purpose: To determine whether a 12-week, lower body-targeted aqua-plyometric (AquaPlyo) exercise program could improve muscle strength, bone mineral properties, and physical fitness in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was adopted and included 48 patients with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (age: 12–18 y). Patients were assigned to undergo either AquaPlyo exercises (AquaPlyo group, n = 24) or standard exercises (control group, n = 24). The outcome measures were assessed pretreatment and posttreatment and included concentric quadriceps peak torque, bone mineral properties (areal bone mineral density [BMD], volumetric BMD, bone mineral content, and BMD Z score), and physical fitness. Results: A significant posttreatment increase in the concentric quadriceps peak torque was detected in the AquaPlyo group compared with the control group (either at an angular velocity of 90°/s [right side: P = .016, left side: P = .025] or 180°/s [right side: P = .007, left side: P = .029]). Besides, a considerably greater improvement in the areal BMD (P = .0006), volumetric BMD (P = .027), bone mineral content (P = .002), and BMD Z score (P = .0004) was observed in the AquaPlyo group. Moreover, a remarkably greater rise in the physical fitness (P < .001) was revealed in the AquaPlyo group. Conclusion: AquaPlyo training can efficiently enhance muscle strength, improve bone mineral properties, and boost physical fitness in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objective Physical activity is a significant health determinant and is likely to be influenced by social-distancing rules imposed by authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explored gender-based differences in physical activity levels (PALs) and associated factors amid COVID-19 pandemic in adolescents. Methods In this prospective analysis, 112 healthy adolescents (15.63 ± 1.21 years) participated. They were assessed at the baseline (before the announcement of COVID-19 as a global pandemic) for anthropometry, fitness status, and PALs (baseline-PALs), and next at the follow-up (three months of imposed social-distancing rules) for PALs (follow-up-PALs) over an internet-based platform through the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents. Results A significant PALs decline was evidenced for the whole sample ( P < .001) and such a decline was predominantly affected by significant PALs reduction among males ( P < .001) rather than in females ( P = .06). The fitness variables (explosive power, muscle endurance, flexibility, and aerobic endurance) were consistently positively correlated with the baseline- and follow-up-PALs in both genders with particularly prominent associations of PALs with explosive power and aerobic endurance. Conclusion Physical literacy is necessary for PALs preservation, given the remarkable PALs decreases among adolescents during challenging circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Frozen shoulder is a major musculoskeletal illness in diabetic patients. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of shock wave and corticosteroid injection in the management of diabetic frozen shoulder patients. Fifty subjects with diabetic frozen shoulder were divided randomly into group A (the intra-articular corticosteroid injection group) and group B that received 12 sessions of shock wave therapy, while each patient in both groups received the traditional physiotherapy program. The level of pain and disability, the range of motion, as well as the glucose triad were evaluated before patient assignment to each group, during the study and at the end of the study. Compared to the pretreatment evaluations there were significant improvements of shoulder pain and disability and in shoulder flexion and abduction range of motion in both groups (p < 0.05). The shock wave group revealed a more significant improvement the intra-articular corticosteroid injection group, where p was 0.001 for shoulder pain and disability and shoulder flexion and abduction. Regarding the effect of both interventions on the glucose triad, there were significant improvements in glucose control with group B, where p was 0.001. Shock waves provide a more effective and safer treatment modality for diabetic frozen shoulder treatment than corticosteroid intra-articular injection.