16 weeks of moderate intensity resistance exercise improves strength but is insufficient to alter brain structure in Gulf War Veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain: a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain (CMP) is a primary condition of Veterans who were deployed to the Persian Gulf War. The mechanisms that underlie CMP in these Veterans are unknown and few efficacious treatment options exist. This study tested the effects of 16 weeks of resistance exercise training (RET) on gray matter (GM) volume and white matter (WM) microstructure in Gulf War Veterans (GWVs) with CMP compared to GWV waitlist controls (WLC).

Safety and efficacy of short-term structured resistance exercise in Gulf War Veterans with chronic unexplained muscle pain: A randomized controlled trial.

Aims: Chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain (CMP) is a primary condition of Veterans suffering from Gulf War illness. This study evaluated the influence of resistance exercise training (RET) on symptoms, mood, perception of improvement, fitness, and total physical activity in Gulf War Veterans (GWV) with CMP.

Main Methods: Fifty-four GWV with CMP were randomly assigned to 16 weeks of RET (n = 28) or wait-list control (n = 26).

Nociceptive stress interferes with neural processing of cognitive stimuli in Gulf War Veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Aims: Disrupted cognition and chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) are prevalent experiences among Gulf War Veterans (GWV). A negative association between CMP and cognition (i.e.

A qualitative analysis of barriers and facilitators to reducing sedentary time in adults with chronic low back pain.

Background: Sedentary time (SED) is associated with many detrimental health outcomes, yet little is known about what factors influence one's ability to reduce SED. Even less is known about these factors in specific patient populations for whom high levels of SED may influence symptoms, such as those with chronic low back pain (cLBP). The purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore participants' perceptions of factors that influenced their ability to reduce SED across an 8-week intervention to reduce SED in adults with cLBP and elevated depressive symptoms.

Current and 1-Year Psychological and Physical Effects of Replacing Sedentary Time With Time in Other Behaviors.

Introduction: Sedentary time is inversely associated with health. Capturing 24 hours of behavior (i.e.

Sedentary Behavior and Quality of Life in Individuals With Parkinson's Disease.

Sedentary behavior is a growing public health concern and may have particular relevance for the Parkinson disease (PD) population. However, the influence of sedentary time on factors associated with quality of life (QOL) in PD is unknown. The primary purpose of this study was to examine relationships between sedentary behaviors and markers of PD-specific QOL.

The Behavioral Wellness in Pregnancy study: a randomized controlled trial of a multi-component intervention to promote appropriate weight gain.

Background: Adequate weight gain during pregnancy is important to both maternal and fetal outcomes. To date, randomized controlled trials have not been effective at increasing the proportion of women meeting gestational weight-gain guidelines.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether a multi-component behavioral intervention with a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist significantly improves the proportion of women who adhere to the 2009 Institute of Medicine weight-gain guidelines.

Intervening to reduce sedentary behavior in older adults - pilot results.

Older adults spend most of their day in sedentary behavior (SB) (i.e., prolonged sitting), increasing risk for negative health outcomes, functional loss, and diminished ability for activities of daily living.

Evaluating Motivational Interviewing and Habit Formation to Enhance the Effect of Activity Trackers on Healthy Adults' Activity Levels: Randomized Intervention.

Background: While widely used and endorsed, there is limited evidence supporting the benefits of activity trackers for increasing physical activity; these devices may be more effective when combined with additional strategies that promote sustained behavior change like motivational interviewing (MI) and habit development.

Objective: This study aims to determine the utility of wearable activity trackers alone or in combination with these behavior change strategies for promoting improvements in active and sedentary behaviors.

Methods: A sample of 91 adults (48/91 female, 53%) was randomized to receive a Fitbit Charge alone or in combination with MI and habit education for 12 weeks.

Changes in sedentary time are associated with changes in mental wellbeing over 1 year in young adults.

Excessive sedentary time is related to poor mental health. However, much of the current literature uses cross-sectional data and/or self-reported sedentary time, and does not assess factors such as sedentary bout length. To address these limitations, the influence of objectively measured sedentary time including sedentary bout length (i.

Catastrophizing Interferes with Cognitive Modulation of Pain in Women with Fibromyalgia.

Background: Pain modulation is a critical function of the nociceptive system that includes the ability to engage descending pain control systems to maintain a functional balance between facilitation and inhibition of incoming sensory stimuli. Dysfunctional pain modulation is associated with increased risk for chronic pain and is characteristic of fibromyalgia (FM). Catastrophizing is also common in FM.

Comparison of In-Person and Online Motivational Interviewing-Based Health Coaching.

Health coaching is a common approach for promoting lifestyle changes, but little is known about the effectiveness of different delivery methods. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of in-person versus online health coaching when used as part of a facilitated behavior change program. To increase translatability, the study used a naturalistic design that enabled participants to self-select the coaching delivery method (Group) as well as the target behavior (diet, physical activity, or weight management).

Adapted Sojourn Models to Estimate Activity Intensity in Youth: A Suite of Tools.

Unlabelled: The challenges of using physical activity data from accelerometers have been compounded with the recent focus on wrist-worn monitors and raw acceleration (as opposed to activity counts).

Purpose: This study developed and systematically evaluated a suite of new accelerometer processing models for youth.

Methods: Four adaptations of the Sojourn method were developed using data from a laboratory-based experiment in which youth (N = 54) performed structured activity routines.

Nonworksite Interventions to Reduce Sedentary Behavior among Adults: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: Sedentary behavior has been identified as a major health risk. While interventions to reduce time spent sedentary have become increasingly prevalent, the vast majority of this work in adults has been focused on workplace sedentary behavior, and often pairs sedentary reduction interventions with increasing physical activity. As research designed to specifically decrease sedentary time that is not limited to the workplace becomes available, identifying strategies and approaches, along with feasibility and efficacy of these interventions, is warranted.

Cerebral white matter structure is disrupted in Gulf War Veterans with chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) affects ∼25% of the 700,000 Veterans deployed during the Persian Gulf War (1990-1991). The cause of their pain is unknown, and there are no efficacious treatments. A small body of literature suggests that brain abnormalities exist in Gulf War Veterans (GVs), yet relationships between brain abnormalities and disease symptoms remain largely unexplored.

Surveillance of Youth Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior With Wrist Accelerometry.

Introduction: Accurate tracking of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) is important to advance public health, but little is known about how to interpret wrist-worn accelerometer data. This study compares youth estimates of SB and moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) obtained using raw and count-based processing methods.

Methods: Data were collected between April and October 2014 for the National Cancer Institute's Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating Study: a cross-sectional Internet-based study of youth/family cancer prevention behaviors.

Lab-based validation of different data processing methods for wrist-worn ActiGraph accelerometers in young adults.

Unlabelled: The wrist is increasingly being used as the preferred site for objectively assessing physical activity but the relative accuracy of processing methods for wrist data has not been determined.

Objective: This study evaluates the validity of four processing methods for wrist-worn ActiGraph (AG) data against energy expenditure (EE) measured using a portable metabolic analyzer (OM; Oxycon mobile) and the Compendium of physical activity.

Approach: Fifty-one adults (ages 18-40) completed 15 activities ranging from sedentary to vigorous in a laboratory setting while wearing an AG and the OM.

Comparative effectiveness of guided weight loss and physical activity monitoring for weight loss and metabolic risks: A pilot study.

Many consumer-based physical activity monitors (PAMs) are available but it is not clear how to use them to most effectively promote weight loss. The purpose of this pilot study was to compare the effectiveness of a personal PAM, a guided weight loss program (GWL), and the combination of these approaches on weight loss and metabolic risk. Participants completed the study in two cohorts: Fall 2010 and Spring 2011.

Relationships between cardiorespiratory fitness, hippocampal volume, and episodic memory in a population at risk for Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) has been shown to be related to brain health in older adults. In individuals at risk for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), CRF may be a modifiable risk factor that could attenuate anticipated declines in brain volume and episodic memory. The objective of this study was to determine the association between CRF and both hippocampal volume and episodic memory in a cohort of cognitively healthy older adults with familial and/or genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Neural consequences of post-exertion malaise in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Post exertion malaise is one of the most debilitating aspects of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, yet the neurobiological consequences are largely unexplored. The objective of the study was to determine the neural consequences of acute exercise using functional brain imaging. Fifteen female Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients and 15 healthy female controls completed 30min of submaximal exercise (70% of peak heart rate) on a cycle ergometer.

Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia Is Not Influenced by Physical Activity Type and Amount.

Unlabelled: Physical activity (PA), especially vigorous-intensity PA, has been shown to be related to pain sensitivity. The relationship among PA levels and PA types on endogenous pain inhibition after exercise, termed exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH), remains unclear.

Purpose: This studied examined the EIH response to pressure stimuli among college-age women of differing activity levels.

Psychobiological Responses to Preferred and Prescribed Intensity Exercise in Major Depressive Disorder.

Unlabelled: Exercise acutely improves mood in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, it is unknown whether benefits differ depending on whether exercise intensity is self-selected or prescribed.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare psychological and biological responses to preferred and prescribed steady-state exercise intensities to a patient-selected preferred intensity.

Meeting physical activity recommendations may be protective against temporal lobe atrophy in older adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: Physical activity (PA) is associated with brain health in older adults. However, it is unknown whether the current physical activity recommendations (PAR) impart substantive benefit. The objective of this study was to compare temporal lobe volumes between older adults who met PAR and those who did not.