RECENT RESEARCH
Methods : There were 288 subjects for this study . Stool samples were collected at 3-time points for meditators and household controls . Meditators prepared for 2 months for the Samyama , incorporating daily yoga and meditation practices with a vegan diet including 50 % raw foods . Subjects were requested to submit stool samples for 3 time points – 2 months before Samyama ( T1 ), right before Samyama ( T2 ), and 3 months following Samyama ( T3 ). 16 s rRNA sequencing was used to study participants ' microbiome . Alpha and beta diversities along with shortchain fatty acid ( SCFA ) were assessed . Metabolomics were performed on a mass spectrometer coupled to a UHLPC system and analyzed by El-MAVEN software .
Results : Alpha diversity showed no significant differences between meditators and controls , while beta diversity showed significant changes ( padj = 0.001 ) after Samyama in meditators ’ microbiota composition . After the preparation phase , changes in branched short-chain fatty acids , higher levels of iso-valerate ( padj = 0.02 ) and iso-buytrate ( padj = 0.019 ) were observed at T2 in meditators . Other metabolites were also observed to have changed in meditators at timepoint T2 .
Conclusion : This study examined the impact of an advanced meditation program combined with a vegan diet on the gut microbiome . There was an increase in beneficial bacteria even three months after the completion of the Samyama program . Further study is warranted to validate current observations and investigate the significance and mechanisms of action related to diet , meditation , and microbial composition and function , on psychological processes , including mood .
Trial registration : Registration number : NCT04366544 ; Registered on 29 / 04 / 2020 .
Massage , myotherapy and other bodywork
Grace S , Engel R , Barnes L , Bradbury J . The step in time study : A feasibility study of a mobile app for measuring walking ability after massage treatment in patients with osteoarthritis . BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies . 2023 ; 23 , Article number : 95 .
Background : Massage therapy is a popular intervention for those suffering osteoarthritis , however , there is a paucity of evidence to support its effectiveness in osteoarthritis . A simple measure that could potentially assess the benefits of massage treatment is walking speed which is a predictor of mobility and survival length , particularly in ageing populations . The primary aim of the study was to assess the feasibility of using a phone app to measure walking ability in people with osteoarthritis .
Methods : This feasibility study used a prospective , observational design to collect data from massage practitioners and their clients over a 5-week period . Feasibility outcomes included practitioner and client recruitment and protocol compliance . The app MapMyWalk was used to record average speed for each walk . Pre-study surveys and post-study focus groups were conducted . Clients received massage therapy in a massage clinic and were instructed to walk in their own local community for 10 min every other day . Focus group data were analysed thematically . Qualitative data from clients ’ pain and mobility diaries were reported descriptively . Average walking speeds were graphed for each participant in relation to massage treatments .
Results : Fifty-three practitioners expressed interest in the study , 13 completed the training , with 11 successfully recruiting 26 clients , 22 of whom completed the study . 90 % of practitioners collected all required data . A strong motivation for participating practitioners was to contribute to evidence for massage therapy . Client compliance with using the app was high , but low for completing pain and mobility diaries . Average speed remained unchanged for 15 ( 68 %) clients and decreased for seven ( 32 %). Maximum speed increased for 11 ( 50 %) clients , decreased for nine ( 41 %) and remained unchanged for two ( 9 %). However , data retrieved from the app were unreliable for walking speed .
Conclusions : This study demonstrated that it is feasible to recruit massage practitioners and their clients for a study involving mobile / wearable technology to measure changes in walking speed following massage therapy . The results support the development of a larger randomised clinical trial using purposebuilt mobile / wearable technology to measure the medium and long-term effects of massage therapy on people with osteoarthritis .
Torstensen TA , Osteras H . LoMartire R , Rugelbak GM , Grooten WJ , Ang BO . High- Versus Low-Dose Exercise Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis . A Randomized Controlled Multicenter Trial . Annals of Internal Medicine . 2023 . https :// doi . org / 10.7326 / M22-2348
Background : The benefits of exercise in patients with knee osteoarthritis are well documented , but the optimal exercise dose remains unknown .
Objective : To compare high-dose versus low-dose exercise therapy with regard to knee function , pain , and quality of life ( QoL ) in patients with long-term symptomatic knee osteoarthritis .
Design : A Swedish and Norwegian multicenter randomized controlled superiority trial with multiple follow-ups up to 12 months after the intervention . ( ClinicalTrials . gov : NCT02024126 )
Setting : Primary health care facilities .
Patients : 189 patients with diagnosed knee osteoarthritis and a history of pain and decreased knee function were assigned to high-dose therapy ( n = 98 ; 11 exercises ; 70 to 90 minutes ) or low-dose therapy ( n = 91 ; 5 exercises ; 20 to 30 minutes ).
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