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The aim of this study was to determine changes in physical activity, nutrition, sleep behaviour and body composition in wheelchair users with a chronic disability after 12 weeks of using the WHEELS mHealth application (app). A 12-week pre-post intervention study was performed, starting with a 1-week control period. Physical activity and sleep behaviour were continuously measured with a Fitbit charge 3. Self-reported nutritional intake, body mass and waist circumference were collected. Pre-post outcomes were compared with a paired-sample t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Fitbit data were analysed with a mixed model or a panel linear model. Effect sizes were determined and significance was accepted at p <.05. Thirty participants completed the study. No significant changes in physical activity (+1.5 √steps) and sleep quality (–9.7 sleep minutes; −1.2% sleep efficiency) were found. Significant reduction in energy (–1022 kJ, d = 0.71), protein (–8.3 g, d = 0.61) and fat (–13.1 g, d = 0.87) intake, body mass (–2.2 kg, d = 0.61) and waist circumference (–3.3 cm, d = 0.80) were found. Positive changes were found in nutritional behaviour and body composition, but not in physical activity and sleep quality. The WHEELS app seems to partly support healthy lifestyle behaviour. Healthy lifestyle promotion is crucial, especially for wheelchair users as they tend to show poorer lifestyle behaviour despite an increased risk of obesity and comorbidity. The WHEELS lifestyle app seems to be a valuable tool to support healthy nutrition choices and weight loss and to improve body satisfaction, mental health and vitality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The snow cover extent across the Northern Hemisphere has diminished while fire extent and severity has increased over the last five decades with accelerated warming. However, the effects of earlier snowmelt on fire is largely unknown. Here, we assessed the influence of snowmelt timing on fire ignitions across 16 ecoregions of boreal North America. We found spatially divergent trends in earlier (later) snowmelt led to an increasing (decreasing) number of ignitions for the northwestern (southeastern) ecoregions between 1980 and 2019. Similar northwest-southeast divergent trends were observed in the changing length of the snow-free season and correspondingly the fire season length. We observed increases (decreases) over Northwest (Southeast) boreal North America which coincided with a continental dipole in air temperature changes between 2001 and 2019. Earlier snowmelt induced earlier ignitions of between 0.22 and 1.43 days earlier per day of earlier snowmelt in all ecoregions between 2001 to 2019. Early-season ignitions (defined by the 20 % earliest fires per year) developed into significantly larger fires in 8 out of 16 ecoregions and 77 % larger across the whole domain. Using a piecewise structural equation model, we found that earlier snowmelt is a proxy for earlier ignitions but may also result in a cascade of effects from earlier desiccation of fuels and favorable weather conditions that led to earlier ignitions. This indicates that snowmelt timing is an important trigger of land-atmosphere dynamics. Future warming and consequent changes in snowmelt timing may contribute to further increases in western boreal fires while the number of fires in eastern boreal North America may increase too with climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paralympic athletes may be at increased risk for exertional heat illness (EHI) due to reduced thermoregulatory ability as a consequence of their impairment. This study investigated the occurrence of heat-stress related symptoms and EHI, and the use of heat mitigation strategies in Paralympic athletes, both in relation to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and previous events. Paralympic athletes competing in Tokyo 2020 were invited to complete an online survey five weeks prior to the Paralympics and up to eight weeks after the Games. 107 athletes (30 [24–38] years, 52% female, 20 nationalities, 21 sports) completed the survey. 57% of respondents had previously experienced heat-stress related symptoms, while 9% had been medically diagnosed with EHI. In Tokyo, 21% experienced at least one heat-stress related symptom, while none reported an EHI. The most common symptom and EHI were, respectively, dizziness and dehydration. In preparation for Tokyo, 58% of respondents used a heat acclimation strategy, most commonly heat acclimatization, which was more than in preparation for previous events (45%; P = 0.007). Cooling strategies were used by 77% of athletes in Tokyo, compared to 66% during past events (P = 0.18). Cold towels and packs were used most commonly. Respondents reported no medically-diagnosed EHIs during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, despite the hot and humid conditions in the first seven days of competition. Heat acclimation and cooling strategies were used by the majority of athletes, with heat acclimation being adopted more often than for previous competitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the effects of visual control training on expert wheelchair basketball shooting, a skill more difficult than in regular basketball, as players shoot from a seated position to the same rim height. The training consisted of shooting with a visual constraint that forced participants to use target information as late as possible. Participants drove under a large screen that initially blocked the basket. As soon as they saw the basket they shot. When training with the screen, shooting percentages increased. We conclude that visual control training is an effective method to improve wheelchair basketball shooting. The findings support the idea that perceptual-motor learning can be enhanced by manipulating relevant constraints in the training environment, even for expert athletes. (Contains 1 table and 2 figures.)

(1) To estimate the proportion of Dutch wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI) who meet different SCI exercise guidelines; (2) to evaluate which demographic and lesion characteristics are associated with meeting these guidelines; (3) whether meeting these guidelines is associated with physical fitness and health. Based on the PASIPD questionnaire items, participants were allocated to meeting two SCI aerobic exercise guidelines, which differ in exercise load. Differences in personal, lesion, fitness, and health characteristics between groups were tested with a one-way ANOVA. Multiple regression analyses were performed to evaluate if meeting guidelines was associated with better fitness and health. Statistical significance was accepted at p < 0.05. Of the 358 included participants, 63.1% met at least one aerobic exercise guideline. Being female, older age, having tetraplegia, and lower educational level were associated with a lower likelihood to meet the aerobic exercise guidelines. Meeting aerobic exercise guidelines showed a positive association with all respiratory and exercise capacity parameters. Limited associations were found between meeting exercise guidelines and health. Meeting exercise guidelines was associated with better respiratory functions and exercise capacity with additional fitness and some body composition benefits in higher exercise activity levels. Meeting SCI exercise guidelines are associated with better respiratory functions and exercise capacity with additional fitness and body composition benefits when higher exercising at higher activity levels, emphasizing the value and importance of regular exercise in individuals with SCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. This study aims at showing the effects in muscle activity and arm function under the influence of the inhibitory muscle technique of the Kinesio tape method in healthy muscles. Methods. Overall, 20 apparently healthy subjects underwent the procedures 3 times, in 3 different tape conditions: no tape, Kinesio tape, and non-elastic tape. The muscle activity was obtained in millivolts through electromyography on biceps brachii and deltoid during 3 specific tasks, and the arm function was determined in seconds with the Action Research Arm Test, a standardized tool conceived to assess upper extremity function, divided into the subscales of grasp, grip, pinch, and gross movement. Results. The electromyography results and most of the Action Research Arm Test dimensions did not show any statistically significant differences in any comparison (p > 0.05) between the tape conditions. However, there could be a tendency to perform movements faster under the influence of the Kinesio tape, as implied in the dimensions of grip (p = 0.01) and total (p = 0.04) of the Action Research Arm Test. Conclusions. The Kinesio tape inhibitory muscle technique and tape conditions did not evoke significant effects in muscle activity or arm function in apparently healthy muscles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human movement, rehabilitation, and allied sciences have embraced their ambitions within the cycle of "RehabMove" congresses over the past 30 years. This combination of disciplines and collaborations in the Netherlands has tried to provide answers to questions in the fields of rehabilitation and adapted sports, while simultaneously generating new questions and challenges. These research questions help us to further deepen our understanding of (impaired) human movement and functioning, with and without supportive technologies, and stress the importance of continued multidisciplinary (inter)national collaboration. This position stand provides answers that were conceived by the authors in a creative process underlining the preparation of the 6th RehabMove Congress. The take-home message of the RehabMove2018 Congress is a plea for continued multidisciplinary research in the fields of rehabilitation and adapted sports. This should be aimed at more individualized notions of human functioning, practice, and training, but also of performance, improved supportive technology, and appropriate "human and technology asset management" at both individual and organization levels and over the lifespan. With this, we anticipate to support the development of rehabilitation sciences and technology and to stimulate the use of rehabilitation notions in general health care. We also hope to help ensure a stronger embodiment of preventive and lifestyle medicine in rehabilitation practice. Indeed, general health care and rehabilitation practice require a healthy and active lifestyle management and research agenda in the context of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Continued multidisciplinary (international) collaboration will stimulate the development of rehabilitation and human movement sciences. Notions from "human and technology asset management and ergonomics" are fundamental to rehabilitation practice and research. The rehabilitation concept will further merge into general health care and the quality there-off. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]