Objective: Somatosensory abnormalities are linked to clinical pain outcomes in individuals with spinal pain. However, a range of factors might confound the relationship between altered somatosensory function and clinical pain outcomes. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the literature to assess the level of evidence of associations between psychological, social, physical activity, and sleep measures and somatosensory function (assessed via sensory psychophysical testing) among individuals with spinal pain. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed in 6 electronic databases from their inception to June 2018. Two reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality using a modified Quality in Prognostic Studies (QUIPS) tool and supplemented with recommendations from the Critical Appraisal and Data Extraction for the Systematic Review of Prediction Modelling Studies (CHARMS) checklist and the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool. The level of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) system. Data were pooled to evaluate the strength of the relationships of interest. Results: Among the 17 factors identified in the included studies, pain catastrophizing, depression, and pain-related fear have significant negative (small to fair) associations with pain thresholds. A “very low” to “moderate” quality of evidence was found for all the investigated factors. Subgroup analysis showed a smaller effect size for pain catastrophizing/fear of movement and pain thresholds in individuals with low back pain. Conclusions: Psychological factors are associated negatively with pain thresholds and they need to be adjusted when establishing predictive relationships between somatosensory function and pain outcomes in individuals with spinal pain.

Objective Alteration in somatosensory function has been linked to pain experience in individuals with joint pain. In this systematic review we aimed to establish the level of evidence of associations between psychological, social, physical activity, and sleep measures and somatosensory function that were assessed via quantitative sensory testing (QST) among individuals with joint pain. Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted in 6 electronic databases from their inception to July 2019. Two reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality using a modified Quality in Prognostic Studies (QUIPS) tool and supplemented with recommendations from the Critical Appraisal and Data Extraction for Systematic Review of Prediction Modelling Studies (CHARMS) checklist and the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS‐2) tool. The level of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) system. Data were pooled to evaluate the strength of the relationships of interest. Results Seventeen studies related to joint pain were included. Pain catastrophizing, depression, anxiety, and physical activity level have been shown to have a significant (small to fair) association with several QST measures. Pressure pain threshold (PPT) is the only measure that was found to be consistently correlated with all the domains. The overall quality of evidence for all factors ranged from very low to moderate. Subgroup analysis revealed a stronger association for depression and pain catastrophizing and PPT and temporal pain summation in individuals with shoulder pain. Conclusion Psychological factors and physical activity levels are associated with somatosensory function in people with joint pain. These factors need to be adjusted when establishing predictive relationships between somatosensory function and pain outcomes in individuals with joint pain.

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Total Quality of Life ScoreAll of the items are used to calculate the total score, which reflects overall quality of life.

Tendency to falling in older people, with and without cognitive impairment, living in an elderly home was assessed. A descriptive analytical study was carried out with 50 elderly people (25 males) aged between 60 - 85 years. Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and, Five Times Sit to Stand Test (FTSST) were used to determine risk of falling and functional lower extremity strength of each participant. The Folstein Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were used to assess cognition.The cognitive scores were significantly lower in fallers compared to non-fallers (p=0.0001). Fallers demonstrated significantly poor lower extremity strength (p=0.0001). Older people with cognitive impairment demonstrated poor functional lower extremity strength than those without cognitive impairement (p=0.002). The difference in falling tendency between males and females was not statistically significant.

Swimming is a popular sport in the world which competed at many different levels. Anthropometric parameters in teenagers including swimmers in Sri Lanka are not well documented. It is important to study on swimming and its effect on BMI and body fat levels because more children taking up swimming at school at competition levels.

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