Unilateral resistance training induces significant contraction type-dependent gains in the contralateral untrained limb. Methodological issues in the included studies are outlined to provide guidance for a reliable quantification of CE in future studies.

These preliminary findings suggest that stroke patients in the subacute stage can improve their motor and balance abilities after an early short duration of cycling training.

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Patients with haemophilia are now widely advised to participate in sport activities. However, no extensive data are available about their actual participation. The aim of this study was to describe the type; intensity and duration of leisure time physical activity (PA) among young patients with severe hemophilia and to assess whether there are differences in bleeding profile and muscle strength in related to activity intensity. Forty-four boys (ages 12-25 years) with severe haemophilia were studied. PA was assessed by the Godin and Shephard (G&S) questionnaire. Bleeding profile was determined based on a one month diary filled by each patient. Muscle strength of the lower limbs muscles was assessed using a hand held dynamometer. Only three subjects did not perform any PA. Twenty-five of the participants performed strenuous PA at least once a week. An inverse, moderate association (r(p) =-0.45, P < 0.002) was found between the G&S score and age. There were no significant differences in bleeding frequency or pain but a significant difference in the cause of bleed was found: those who exercised strenuously showed a higher proportion of bleeds due to traumatic reasons (P < 0.01). No differences in muscle strength values were noted in related to activity intensity also no linear association was noted between muscle strength and bleeding profile. Further investigation, including prospective studies, is needed in order to assess the temporal sequencing between training and the occurrence of bleeds and bleeds cause.

The objective of this study was to compare the short-term effectiveness of rehabilitation treatment with a standard drug treatment for urge urinary incontinence (UUI). The study design includes parallel clinical trial in an outpatient urogynecologic clinic setting. The subjects were 44 women who suffered from UUI and who were systematically assigned to a rehabilitation group (REH) (N=24) or a medication group (MED) (N=20). The intervention for REH was consisted of five visits during a 3-month period of pelvic floor muscle training and behavioral training, whereas for MED was extended release oxybutynin at 5 mg/day, for 3 months. The urinary symptoms considered were frequency of voiding per day and night (freq/day and freq/night), number of incontinent episodes per week based on a bladder diary, and data based on the Incontinence Quality of Life Instrument (I-QoL). In the within-group comparison, both groups had improved significantly over time with respect to urinary symptoms and I-QoL (p<0.01). In addition, there was a significant group-time interaction effect on freq/day. While REH improved during the 3-month follow-up period, the MED group deteriorated to mean baseline value (p<0.01). A significant negative association was found between the urinary symptoms and the I-QoL at the end of follow-up (r (p)=-0.35 to -0.62, p<0.05). Three months after the intervention, both groups maintained the achievements of the intervention period. In addition, the REH group demonstrated additional improvement in mean freq/day while the condition of MED patients deteriorated to baseline values.