Lower-SES and high-minority block groups had reduced access to facilities, which in turn was associated with decreased PA and increased overweight. Inequality in availability of PA facilities may contribute to ethnic and SES disparities in PA and overweight patterns.

No abstract

No abstract

The Exercise Assessment and Screening for You (EASY) is a tool developed to help older individuals, their health care providers, and exercise professionals identify different types of exercise and physical activity regimens that can be tailored to meet the existing health conditions, illnesses, or disabilities of older adults. The EASY tool includes 6 screening questions that were developed based on an expert roundtable and follow-up panel activities. The philosophy behind the EASY is that screening should be a dynamic process in which participants learn to appreciate the importance of engaging in regular exercise, attending to health changes, recognizing a full range of signs and symptoms that might indicate potentially harmful events, and becoming familiar with simple safety tips for initiating and progressively increasing physical activity patterns. Representing a paradigm shift from traditional screening approaches that focus on potential risks of exercising, this tool emphasizes the benefits of exercise and physical activity for all individuals.

Upper crossed syndrome (UCS) refers to the altered muscle activations and movement patterns in scapulae along with some abnormal alignment in the upper quarter, which may contribute to the dysfunction of the cervicothoracic and glenohumeral joints. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a comprehensive corrective exercise program (CCEP) and subsequent detraining on alignment, muscle activation, and movement pattern in men with the UCS. This randomized controlled trial included 24 men. The intervention group conducted CCEP (8 weeks), followed by four weeks of detraining and the control group maintained normal daily activities. Electromyography of selected muscles, scapular dyskinesis test, head, shoulder, and thoracic spine angle were measured at baseline, post-test, and follow-up. There were significant differences for Group x time interaction and also for within-group from pre-test to post-test and follow-up in all outcomes. Also, significant differences were observed in three outcomes at post-test and follow-up between the CCEP and control group in favor of the CCEP. In Conclusion, the present study demonstrates that the CCEP for individuals with UCS is feasible and effective, improving muscle activation imbalance, movement patterns, and alignment. Importantly, these improvements were maintained after four weeks of detraining, suggesting lasting neuromuscular re-training adaptations.

No abstract

Background Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common cause of pain, numbness and tingling in the wrist and hand region and is associated with repetitive wrist and hand use in office workers. However, scarce knowledge exists about the epidemiology of clinically confirmed CTS among Chinese office workers. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of wrist/hand symptoms and CTS in office workers in China and to identify associated risk factors. Methods A cross-sectional survey was carried out in a metropolitan city in China involving 969 respondents (aged 17–49 years) from 30 workplaces. A questionnaire was distributed to each participant to collect their demographic, work-related physical and psychosocial factors, and wrist and hand symptoms. The wrist and hand pain/numbness symptoms were marked on a body chart and the nature and intensity of symptoms, nocturnal symptoms, as well as aggravating activities were also recorded. Clinically confirmed CTS cases were screened based on the history, Phalen’s test, Tinel Sign and skin sensation testing among symptomatic respondents. Logistic regression was employed to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for the occurrence of self-reported wrist and hand symptoms and clinically confirmed CTS. Results The clinically confirmed CTS prevalence was 9.6%. The prevalence of wrist and hand symptoms were 22 and 15%, respectively. Frequently working in pain was associated with higher odds of CTS. Multivariate modelling adjusted for age and gender showed that prolonged computer use time and working without breaks were associated with presence of wrist/hand symptoms (adjusted ORs: 1.11 (95% CI 1.02–1.22) and 1.88 (95% CI 1.12–3.14)). Educational level was inversely associated with CTS and smoking was associated with wrist/hand complaints (adjusted OR: 2.20 (95% CI 1.19–4.07)). Conclusions The prevalence of work-related clinically confirmed CTS symptoms among young office workers in China is high. Frequently working in pain is closely associated with clinically confirmed CTS. Intense computer use and no breaks at work are associated with wrist and hand symptoms.

Stretching is commonly recommended before and after exercise; however, this study showed no significant impact of DS or SS in treating DOMS.