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BackgroundEnhancing motor skills is crucial for the functional development of children with cerebral palsy. Virtual reality has emerged as a promising technology for rehabilitating these children.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to systematically evaluate the effects of virtual reality motor games on the gross and fine motor skills of children with cerebral palsy.MethodsA comprehensive search was conducted in databases including PubMed, ProQuest, EBSCOhost, Web of Science, and Wanfang Data, covering publications from their inception to June 1, 2024, to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of virtual reality motor games on the gross and fine motor skills of children with cerebral palsy. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the PEDro scale, and data were analyzed with RevMan software (version 5.4).ResultsNineteen studies involving 850 children with cerebral palsy were included. The results indicated that virtual reality motor games significantly improved gross motor skills [mean difference (MD) 1.67, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.75–2.56; P < 0.001] and fine motor skills [standardized mean difference (SMD) 0.73, 95% CI: 0.30–1.16; P = 0.00008] in children with cerebral palsy.ConclusionsVirtual reality motor games have the potential to significantly enhance both gross and fine motor skills in children with cerebral palsy.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, PROSPERO [CRD42024558713].

Abstract Background Abnormal heart rate recovery (HRR), representing cardiac autonomic dysfunction, is an important predictor of cardiovascular disease. Prolonged sedentary time (ST) is associated with a slower HRR. However, it is not clear how much moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is required to mitigate the adverse effects of sedentary behavior on HRR in young and middle-aged adults. This study aimed to examine the joint association of ST and MVPA with abnormal HRR in this population. Methods A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 1253 participants (aged 20–50 years, 67.8% male) from an observational study assessing cardiopulmonary fitness in Fujian Province, China. HRR measured via cardiopulmonary exercise tests on a treadmill was calculated as the difference between heart rate at peak exercise and 2 min after exercise. When the HRR was ≤ 42 beats·minute−1 within this time, it was considered abnormal. ST and MVPA were assessed by the IPAQ-LF. Individuals were classified as having a low sedentary time (LST [

Objectives The objective of this study was to evaluate the gender differences in the correlation between physical activity (PA) and cognitive subdomains in elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).Design Cross-sectional study.Setting The research was carried out in communities located in Fuzhou, Fujian Province and Beijing Municipality.Participants Community-dwelling elders with T2D and MCI aged 60 years or older were eligible for this study.Primary outcome measures and analyses The weekly PA score was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The cognitive subdomains were evaluated through a battery of cognitive assessments, including the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Trail Making Test Part B, Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) and the Stroop Color-Word Test (SCWT). Multiple linear regression models were employed to examine the association between PA and cognitive subdomains in both male and female individuals.Results In older men, higher total IPAQ score was positively correlated with higher RAVLT (P=0.011) and SCWT (P=0.049). There was a significant interaction between the total PA score and gender in relation to RAVLT (P=0.008) and SCWT (P=0.027). Moreover, there was a positive correlation between moderate-vigorous PA level and RAVLT in older men (P=0.007). Additionally, a positive correlation was found between moderate-vigorous PA level and DSST in older women (P=0.038).Conclusion In older individuals with T2D and MCI, the association between PA and cognitive subdomains differs between men and women. This discrepancy may impact the customisation of exercise recommendations.

Objective: Older adults with sleep disorders (SDs) show impaired working memory abilities, and working memory processes are closely related to the prefrontal cortex (PFC). However, the neural mechanism of working memory impairment in older adults with SD remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate changes in PFC function among older adults with SD when carrying out the N-back task by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Method: A total of 37 older adults with SDs were enrolled in this study and matched with 37 healthy older adults by gender, age, and years of education. Changes in PFC function were observed by fNIRS when carrying out the N-back task. Results: The accuracy on the 0-back and 2-back tasks in the SD group was significantly lower than that in the healthy controls (HC) group. The oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) concentration of channel 8 which located in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was significantly reduced in the SD group during the 2-back task, and the channel-to-channel connectivity between the PFC subregions was significantly decreased. Conclusions: These results suggest that patients with sleep disorders have a weak performance of working memory; indeed, the activation and functional connectivity in the prefrontal subregions were reduced in this study. This may provide new evidence for working memory impairment and brain function changes in elderly SDs.