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This article aims to evaluate the sleep quality in individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Searches were conducted in the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and PEDro databases, on May 22, 2020. In the publications, 208 articles were found and, considering the eligibility criteria, 10 articles were included at the end, showing the effects on sleep quality during the pandemic, in populations hospitalized, quarantined, and in frontline health professionals. The PSQI measured sleep disorders and a higher score indicated poor sleep quality. Nine articles were classified with evidence level IV and one as level III-2. Eight studies present a “serious” risk of bias and two in “moderate”. The studies investigated different populations and described the results as “poor” sleep quality, considering the PSQI on quarantined individuals and frontline health professionals as the most committed. A poor sleep quality was found in the populations evaluated in the selected publications, probably, due to the COVID-19 to contribute as a risk factor for mental health. Psychological interventions must be made to minimize the consequences through social support and social capital.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect on the quality of life of two non-pharmacological interventions isolated or in combination: (i) passive whole-body vibration exercise (WBVE), and (ii) auriculotherapy (AT). One hundred three participants with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) were allocated to: (a) a vibration group (WBVEG; n = 17) that performed WBVE (peak-to-peak displacement: 2.5 to 7.5 mm, frequency: 5 to 14 Hz, Peak acceleration: 0.12 to 2.95 g), two days/weekly for five weeks, (b) an AT group (ATG; n = 21), stimulation of three specific auriculotherapy points (Kidney, Knee and Shenmen) in each ear pavilion, (c) WBVE + AT (WBVE + AT; n = 20) and (d) respective control groups (WBVE_CG, n = 15; AT_CG, n = 12; WBVE + AT_CG, n = 18). The participants filled out the WHOQOL-bref Questionnaire before the first and after the last sessions. Statistical differences in the various domains of the WHOQOL-bref were not found. In conclusion, WBVE or AT alone or combined did not contribute in altering the quality of life of individuals exposed to these interventions.

Introduction: Among chronic diseases, knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a joint disease that causes important progressive alterations in the articular and periarticular structures, including synovial inflammation. Exercise has been suggested as an intervention to KOA individuals, and studies suggest that whole-body vibration (WBV) exercise decreases pain levels and favours the functionality of KOA individuals. Objective: The aim of the present study is to analyze the acute effects of WBV exercise on pain levels, functionality (Timed Up and Go (TUG test), anterior trunk flexion (ATF)), and rating of exertion of elderly obese KOA individuals. Methods: Thirty-seven individuals with KOA were allocated to a WBV exercise group (WBVEG), n = 19 (15 females/4 males), and a control group (CG), n = 18 (15 females/3 males). WBVEG performed one session of WBV exercise (11 min, using 5 Hz, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 mm, 0.12, 0.25, and 0.37 g). Three bouts were performed (working time of 3 min and rest time of 1 min) using a side-alternating vibrating platform (VP). The same position was used in CG; however, the VP was turned off and there was equipment coupled to the VP that emitted a sound like the vibrations. The pain level was evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS). Functionality was evaluated with a TUG test and ATF. The rating of subjectively perceived exertion was measured with the category ratio CR-10 (BORG Scale CR-10), Results: A reduction of pain levels in WBVEG after the intervention (p = 0.001) and intergroups (p = 0.041) was found. A decrease of TUG test time in both groups (p = 0.001) and intergroups (p = 0.045) was found, while no statistical changes were observed in the Borg Scale score. Significant improvements of flexibility in both groups (p = 0.001) and intergroups (p = 0.043) were found. Conclusion: One session of WBV exercise can lead to important improvements in individuals with KOA, possibly triggered by physiological responses. However, more studies are needed, in this clinical context, to confirm these results.

Background: Inflammation is considered to be a vital defense mechanism for health, acting as a protective response of the immune system through a satisfactory inflammatory biomarker response (IBR). IBR, as well as being beneficial to the organism, can be also responsible for a variety of chronic inflammatory diseases. Whole-body vibration (WBV) exercise is a type of physical exercise that can act on inflammation responses due its capacity for stimulating the sensory components that promote systemic responses. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of WBV on IBR in different clinical status. Methods: This is a systematic review that includes randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effects of WBV exercise on IBR. The methodological quality, risk of bias, and level of evidence were rated. Results: Four RCTs met the selection criteria. The studies showed benefits associated with IBR (e.g., cytokines, adipokines, and C-reactive protein) in various clinical conditions, including healthy populations and some chronic diseases (such as obesity, aging disorders, and knee osteoarthritis), using several WBV protocols. Conclusions: WBV might be useful in the management of inflammatory conditions.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) can cause functional disability. Neuromuscular function is relevant in the development and progression of KOA. It can be evaluated by the analysis of the surface electromyography (sEMG), which has an important role in the understanding of KOA. Whole-body vibration (WBV) is an intervention suggested to treat KOA. The objective of this work was to verify the effectiveness of WBV on the functionality of lower limbs by the electromyographic profile of the vastus lateralis (VL) muscles during the five-repetition chair stand test (5CST) in patients with KOA. This was a two-period crossover trial study (8-week washout). Nineteen patients with KOA were allocated to the group submitted to WBV (WBVG), with peak-to-peak displacement of 2.5 to 7.5 mm, frequency from 5 to 14 Hz, and acceleration peak from 0.12 to 2.95 g, or to the control group (0 Hz) (2 days per week for 5 weeks). The 5CST and the sEMG of the VL during 5CST were evaluated before and after the interventions. Results: Significant differences in 5CST were evident only in WBVG (p = 0.018), showing a decrease of the execution time. The sEMG profile showed no significative difference. Therefore, only 10 sessions of WBV with comfortable posture can bring about improvement in functionality of KOA patients without alteration of the muscle excitation.

Down-syndrome (DS) the most common genetic disorder worldwide. Whole-body-vibration-exercise (WBVE) has been recommended for individuals with DS. To verify the efficacy of WBVE on sleep disorders, body-composition (BC) and clinical parameters of children with DS. It is a randomized cross-over-trial. Children with DS, 5-12 years, both-genders will be selected. The sleep disorders will be evaluated by the “Infant sleep questionnaire Reimão and Lefevre” and by the “Sleep disturbance scale in children”. The BC will be measure by bioimpedance and the skin temperature using infrared-thermography. WBVE will be performed seating in an ancillary-chair or sitting on the base of the vibrating platform, with 2.5 mm, 5Hz. Each session (5 series, 30-seconds on vibration, 1-minute of rest). It is expected improvement responses on sleep, BC and some clinical parameters. It is expected that this WBVE protocol will bring important clinical contributions for children with DS.