مطالب

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of a pulmonary rehabilitation exercise program on post-COVID-19 patients. Method : Three patients (two women and one man) with different severities, from moderate to severe, were selected. Blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen, and body function were measured at the beginning and end of the exercises, which included 12 sessions of arm and leg cycle ergometer and treadmill with adjustable resistance levels. Patients’ functionality was assessed using the Barthel index, and their quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire. Results: Regarding the first patient, oxygen saturation increased from 85 to 95, the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) result increased from 0 to 420 meters, and the Barthel index increased from 35 to 85. For the second patient, arterial oxygen saturation increased from 82 to 92, the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) result increased from 0 to 390 meters, and the Barthel index increased from 30 to 90. For the third patient, arterial oxygen saturation increased from 87 to 96, the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) result increased from 320 to 510 meters, and the Barthel index increased from 60 to 85. All the patients showed improvements in their physical functions, such as walking, personal affairs, and quality of life. This functional improvement was higher in more severe levels of the disease. Conclusion: Based on the results, it seems that pulmonary rehabilitation exercises for post-COVID-19 patients can contribute to the improvement of their status, arterial oxygen level, quality of life, and pulmonary functionality.

Background: Observational learning is an effective pedagogical approach that can be used as a method to improve motor skill acquisition and also a useful instrument to promote psychological variables such as self-efficacy by emphasizing the motivational aspect. Although, little research is known about the model type and the observation conditions which will optimize learning. Aim: This study aimed to clarify the effect of using a combination of ideal model-observation and self-observation on self-efficacy and learning the forehand service of table tennis. Materials and Methods: Forty females were assigned to one of four experimental groups. All groups received the same instructions concerning how to perform the task, filled out a self-efficacy questionnaire, and then performed 10 pre-test trials. The acquisition phase included six sessions. The retention test was done 72 hours after the last acquisition session. Mixed ANOVA with repeated measures and Bonferroni post hoc tests were conducted, and one-way ANOVA was used to determine group significant differences. Results: The results indicated that observing the combination of skilled and learning models led to the highest self-efficacy for learning, compare with other experimental models. Also, significant learning of the task was shown in the acquisition phase in which the performance of all three experimental groups was clearly superior to the control group. Although in this phase there was no significant difference between the performances of two groups of combined skilled-learning and skilled. The results of the delayed retention test indicated that the performance scores of the combined skilled-learning group were significantly higher than the other three groups. Also, in this phase, the difference between the combined skilled self-observation and control or skilled groups was not significant. Conclusion: Demonstrating a skilled model is the most popular type of observational learning among the instructors and physical education teachers, it is suggested that adding a learning model to that leads to better performance and enhancing the self-efficacy.

Background : There are conflicting findings regarding the effect of various training modalities on the cardiovascular disease mechanisms induced by undesirable modifications in extracellular matrix (ECM) factors such as MMP-9 and TIMP-1. Aim: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different training protocols on the MMP-9 and TIMP-1 gene expression in the myocardium of Wistar male rats. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight adult Wistar male rats (aged: 8 weeks) were randomly allocated into two control (Con8w/base, n=8; and Con16w/end control, n=8) and four training groups (MICT, n=8; PICT, n=8; HIIT, n=8; and MIST, n=8). The training protocols consisted of 8 weeks (5 days/week) of Moderate-Intensity, Continuous Training (MICT: 37 min running with 65% vVO 2 max), Moderate-Intensity, Swimming Training (MIST: 30 min free-swimming), Progressive-Intensity, Continuous Training (PICT: 28 min running with a progressive increase in the incline of the treadmill by 2% per week), and High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT: four running bouts 4 min with 90 to 100% vVO 2 max + 3 min with 50-65% vVO 2 max). Myocardial samples were isolated 24 hours after the last training session. Gene expression was determined using the real-time PCR method. All data (M±SD) were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc tests at α ≤0.05. Results : There were significant differences between MMP-9 and TIMP-1 expression in the animals myocardium after different exercise training protocols ( P <0.01). The lowest and highest MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios were in the HIIT and MICT protocols, respectively. Conclusion: According to our findings, the HIIT protocol may play a more influential role in enhancing myocardial ECM-remodeling and fibrosis indicators during lifespan than the other exercise protocols.