AgingPLUS: A Randomized Trial to Increase Physical Activity in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Abstract Engagement in physical activity (PA) has well-documented benefits for delaying or preventing age-related diseases. Thus, it is important to study innovative ways to increase PA in the adult population. This symposium describes AgingPLUS, an ongoing trial that addresses three psychological mechanisms to increase adults’ PA: Negative views of aging (NVOA), low self-efficacy beliefs, and deficient goal-planning skills. The symposium also presents preliminary findings, based on a pre-pandemic subsample, on changes in explicit NVOA, implicit VOA, and changes in PA. Diehl et al. describe the theoretical background and study design of the ongoing RCT. This also includes the main study hypotheses. Rebok et al. present preliminary findings showing significant effects of the intervention on NVOA and frequency of moderate intensity exercise. Effects on physical function and accelerometry measures were not statistically significant in this subsample. Tseng et al. examined the effects of the intervention on two measures of implicit VOA: a lexical decision-making task (LDMT) and the Brief Implicit Association Test (BIAT). Findings showed that differences in post-intervention latencies on the LDMT were not statistically significant. Differences on post-intervention BIAT d scores also failed to be significant. Finally, Nehrkorn-Bailey et al. tested a multiple mediator model examining the mediational role of self-efficacy (SE) and exercise intention (EI) on PA. Results showed that Week 4 SE significantly mediated the effect of intervention condition to Week 8 anticipated PA engagement. Week 4 EI significantly mediated the effect of intervention condition on Month 6 PA engagement. Anticipated PA effects predicted subsequent involvement in PA.

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The AgingPLUS Trial: Intervening to Promote Physical Activity in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.1683 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 435-435

Author(s):

David Roth ◽

Shang-En (Michelle) Chung ◽

Kaigang Li ◽

Abigail Nehrkorn-Bailey ◽

Katherine Thompson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Physical Function ◽

Motivational Factors ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Moderate Intensity Exercise ◽

Intervention Effects ◽

Standardized Effect Sizes ◽

Mediational Role

Abstract This paper investigated whether the AgingPLUS program promotes physical activity in middle-aged and older adults by examining outcomes at weeks 4 and 8 with baseline scores included as covariates. The analyses assessed intervention effects on negative views of aging (NVOA), physical activity (CHAMPS), physical function (SPPB, VO2max), and accelerometry measures (e.g., minutes sedentary). We found significant intervention effects on NVOA (p < .001) and frequency of moderate intensity exercise (p = 0.048), but no significant effects on physical function, VO2max, or the accelerometry measures. Standardized effect sizes for the significant effects ranged from 0.31 to 1.03 standard deviation units. These findings suggest that AgingPLUS improved motivational factors for engaging in physical activity but did not lead to objective changes in physical activity in the short term. Further research will investigate the mediational role of these motivational factors in enhancing physical activity over the longer term (6 months).

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The Regulation of the Metastatic Cascade by Physical Activity: A Narrative Review

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers12010153 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 153 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sophie van Doorslaer de ten Ryen ◽

Louise Deldicque

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Careful Analysis ◽

The Body ◽

Narrative Review ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Moderate Physical Activity ◽

Moderate Intensity Exercise ◽

Tumor Spread ◽

Warm Up ◽

Cancer Dissemination

The purpose of this narrative review is to provide an overview of the currently available knowledge about the mechanisms by which physical activity may affect metastatic development. The search terms exercise [Title/Abstract] AND metastasis [Title/Abstract] returned 222 articles on PUBMED on the 10 February 2019. After careful analysis of the abstracts, a final selection of 24 articles was made. Physical activity regulates the levels of metastatic factors in each of the five steps of the process. Moderate intensity exercise appears to prevent tumor spread around the body, among others, by normalizing angiogenesis, destroying circulating tumor cells, and decreasing endothelial cells permeability. Contrarily, high-intensity exercise seems to favor cancer dissemination, likely through excessive stress, which can be somewhat counteracted by an appropriate warm-up. In conclusion, chronic adaptations to moderate-intensity endurance exercise seem the most effective way to achieve a preventive effect of exercise on metastases. Altogether, the data gathered here reinforce the importance of encouraging cancer patients to perform moderate physical activity several times a week. To limit the undesired events thereof, a good knowledge of the patient’s training level is important to establish an adapted exercise training program.

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Morning resolutions, evening disillusions: Theories of willpower affect how health behaviours change across the day

European Journal of Personality ◽

10.1177/0890207020962304 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 089020702096230

Author(s):

Zoë Francis ◽

Jutta Mata ◽

Lavinia Flückiger ◽

Veronika Job

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Health Behaviours ◽

Self Control ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Moderate Intensity Physical Activity ◽

Health Goals ◽

Health Goal ◽

Intensity Physical Activity ◽

Health Intentions

People may be more or less vulnerable to changes in self-control across the day, depending on whether they believe willpower is more or less limited. Limited willpower beliefs might be associated with steeper decreases in self-control across the day, which may result in less goal-consistent behaviour by the evening. Community members with health goals (Sample 1; N = 160; 1814 observations) and students (Sample 2; N = 162; 10,581 observations) completed five surveys per day for one to three weeks, reporting on their recent physical activity, snacking, subjective state, and health intentions. In both samples, more limited willpower beliefs were associated with less low- and moderate-intensity physical activity, particularly later in the day. Limited willpower beliefs were also associated with more snacking in the evenings (Sample 1) or overall (Sample 2). These behavioural patterns were mediated by differential changes in self-efficacy and intentions across the course of the day (in Sample 1), and the above patterns of low- and moderate-physical intensity held after controlling for related individual differences, including trait self-control and chronotype (in Sample 2). Overall, more limited willpower theories were associated with decreasing goal-consistent behaviour as the day progressed, alongside decreasing self-efficacy and weakening health-goal intentions.

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Association between leisure-time physical activity and the risk of chronic diseases

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz186.195 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽

Author(s):

A Dedele ◽

A Miskinyte

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

High Intensity ◽

Leisure Time ◽

Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽

Adult Population ◽

World Health ◽

Health Study ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background According to the World Health Organization, non-communicable diseases or chronic diseases, account for 71 percent of all deaths globally, affecting individuals of all age groups and countries. Epidemiological studies have shown an association between a lack of physical activity (PA) and the risk of raised blood pressure, increased body mass index and obesity that can lead to chronic diseases. Methods The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between leisure-time PA and the risk of chronic diseases among adult population. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 470 men and 641 women who participated in “The Impact of Sustainable Mobility, Physical Activity and Environmental Factors on Urban Population Health Study (ISMA)” in Lithuania. Leisure-time PA was self-reported and divided into three levels: low, moderate and high. Logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of chronic diseases according to leisure-time PA. Results More than half (55%) of the study population engaged in a moderate intensity PA and 12% of participants engaged in a high intensity leisure-time PA. Men 1.6 times more often than women reported engaging in a high intensity PA in leisure time (p = 0.004). Adults who engaged in low intensity leisure-time PA had almost 3 times (OR = 2.91; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.62-5.24) higher risk of chronic diseases, whereas those adults who reported moderate intensity leisure-time PA had an OR of 1.63 (95% CI 0.92-2.87) compared to individuals who engaged in a high-level PA. Conclusions Our findings suggest that high levels of leisure-time PA could reduce the risk of chronic diseases and this effect was significantly stronger in men. Key messages Global decline in PA is related to inaction during leisure time and sedentary behaviour at work and at home that has a major health impact worldwide. High levels of leisure-time PA are important factor for chronic disease prevention.

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Effects of an intervention to reduce fear of falling and increase physical activity during hip and pelvic fracture rehabilitation

Age and Ageing ◽

10.1093/ageing/afaa050 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 49 (5) ◽

pp. 771-778 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Klaus Pfeiffer ◽

Karin Kampe ◽

Jochen Klenk ◽

Kilian Rapp ◽

Michaela Kohler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Physical Performance ◽

Pelvic Fracture ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Fear Of Falling ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Inpatient Rehabilitation ◽

Control Group ◽

Behavioural Intervention ◽

Post Intervention

Abstract Background fear of falling and reduced fall-related self-efficacy are frequent consequences of falls and associated with poorer rehabilitation outcomes. To address these psychological consequences, geriatric inpatient rehabilitation was augmented with a cognitive behavioural intervention (“Step by Step”) and evaluated in a RCT. Methods one hundred fifteen hip and pelvic fracture patients (age = 82.5 years, 70% female) admitted to geriatric inpatient rehabilitation were randomly allocated to the intervention or control group. The intervention consisted of eight additional individual sessions during inpatient rehabilitation, one home visit and four telephone calls delivered over 2 months after discharge. Both groups received geriatric inpatient rehabilitation. Primary outcomes were fall-related self-efficacy (short falls efficacy scale-international) and physical activity as measured by daily walking duration (activPAL3™ sensor) after admission to rehabilitation, before discharge and 1-month post-intervention. Results in covariance analyses, patients in the intervention group showed a significant improvement in fall-related self-efficacy (P = 0.025, d = −0.42), but no difference in total daily walking duration (P = 0.688, d = 0.07) 1-month post-intervention compared to the control condition. Further significant effects in favour of the intervention group were found in the secondary outcomes “perceived ability to manage falls” (P = 0.031, d = 0.41), “physical performance” (short physical performance battery) (P = 0.002, d = 0.58) and a lower “number of falls” (P = 0.029, d = −0.45). Conclusions the intervention improved psychological and physical performance measures but did not increase daily walking duration. For the inpatient part of the intervention further research on the required minimum intensity needed to be effective is of interest. Duration and components used to improve physical activity after discharge should be reconsidered.

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Pulmonary oxygen uptake kinetics

10.1093/med/9780198757672.003.0013 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Alan R Barker ◽

Neil Armstrong

Keyword(s):

Oxygen Uptake ◽

Oxidative Phosphorylation ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Phase Ii ◽

Slow Component ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Heavy Exercise ◽

Moderate Intensity Exercise ◽

Pulmonary Oxygen Uptake ◽

Age Related

The pulmonary oxygen uptake (pV̇O2) kinetic response to exercise provides valuable non-invasive insight into the control of oxidative phosphorylation and determinants of exercise tolerance in children and adolescents. Few methodologically robust studies have investigated pV̇O2 kinetics in children and adolescents, but age- and sex-related differences have been identified. There is a clear age-related slowing of phase II pV̇O2 kinetics during heavy and very heavy exercise, with a trend showing during moderate intensity exercise. During heavy and very heavy exercise the oxygen cost is higher for phase II and the pV̇O2 component is truncated in children. Sex-related differences occur during heavy, but not moderate, intensity exercise, with boys having faster phase II pV̇O2 kinetics and a smaller pV̇O2 slow component compared to girls. The mechanisms underlying these differences are likely related to changes in phosphate feedback controllers of oxidative phosphorylation, muscle oxygen delivery, and/or muscle fibre recruitment strategies.

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The effect of breaking up prolonged sitting on paired associative stimulation-induced plasticity

Experimental Brain Research ◽

10.1007/s00221-020-05866-z ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 238 (11) ◽

pp. 2497-2506 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

E. Bojsen-Møller ◽

M. M. Ekblom ◽

O. Tarassova ◽

D. W. Dunstan ◽

O. Ekblom

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Motor Cortex ◽

Fixed Effects ◽

Primary Motor Cortex ◽

Short Interval ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Moderate Intensity Exercise ◽

Abductor Pollicis Brevis ◽

Paired Associative Stimulation

Abstract Paired associative stimulation (PAS) can induce plasticity in the motor cortex, as measured by changes in corticospinal excitability (CSE). This effect is attenuated in older and less active individuals. Although a single bout of exercise enhances PAS-induced plasticity in young, physically inactive adults, it is not yet known if physical activity interventions affect PAS-induced neuroplasticity in middle-aged inactive individuals. Sixteen inactive middle-aged office workers participated in a randomized cross-over design investigating how CSE and short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) were affected by PAS preceded by 3 h of sitting (SIT), 3 h of sitting interrupted every 30 min by 3 min of frequent short bouts of physical activity (FPA) and 2.5 h of sitting followed by 25 min of moderate-intensity exercise (EXE). Transcranial magnetic stimulation was applied over the primary motor cortex (M1) of the dominant abductor pollicis brevis to induce recruitment curves before and 5 min and 30 min post-PAS. Linear mixed models were used to compare changes in CSE using time and condition as fixed effects and subjects as random effects. There was a main effect of time on CSE and planned within-condition comparisons showed that CSE was significantly increased from baseline to 5 min and 30 min post-PAS, in the FPA condition, with no significant changes in the SIT or EXE conditions. SICI decreased from baseline to 5 min post-PAS, but this was not related to changes in CSE. Our findings suggest that in middle-aged inactive adults, FPAs may promote corticospinal neuroplasticity. Possible mechanisms are discussed.

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Affect and Self-Efficacy Responses During Moderate-Intensity Exercise Among Low-Active Women: The Effect of Cognitive Appraisal

Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology ◽

10.1123/jsep.32.2.154 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 154-175 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Amy S. Welch ◽

Angie Hulley ◽

Mark Beauchamp

Keyword(s):

Self Efficacy ◽

Acute Exercise ◽

Cognitive Appraisal ◽

Ventilatory Threshold ◽

Rebound Effect ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Exercise Duration ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Moderate Intensity Exercise ◽

Ergometer Exercise

To investigate the relationship between cognitive and affective responses during acute exercise, 24 low-active females completed two 30-min bouts of cycle ergometer exercise at 90% of the ventilatory threshold. In one condition participants had full knowledge of the exercise duration (KD); in the other, exercise duration was unknown (UD). Affect and self-efficacy were measured before and every 3 min during exercise, and affect was also measured postexercise. Affect declined throughout the first half of both conditions, and continued its decline until the end of the UD condition, when a rebound effect was observed. Self-efficacy during exercise displayed a similar pattern. Hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated that during-exercise self-efficacy was a stronger predictor of during-exercise affect than preexercise self-efficacy, and that this relationship was strongest at the end of exercise when duration was unknown. These results indicate that repetitive cognitive appraisal of self and the task could impact the exercise experiences of low-active women during the adoption phase of an exercise program.

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Acute moderate-intensity exercise in middle-aged men has neither an anti- nor proinflammatory effect

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.00096.2008 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 105 (1) ◽

pp. 260-265 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Daniella Markovitch ◽

Rex M. Tyrrell ◽

Dylan Thompson

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Endothelial Cells ◽

Inflammatory Response ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Heme Oxygenase 1 ◽

Moderate Intensity Exercise ◽

Moderate Intensity Physical Activity ◽

Cultured Endothelial Cells ◽

Intensity Physical Activity ◽

Anti Inflammatory

Strenuous exercise induces an initial pro- and subsequent anti-inflammatory response, and it has been suggested that this may be one of the ways that regular exercise reduces chronic inflammation and therefore the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, public health recommendations emphasize moderate-intensity physical activity, and it is important to understand whether moderate-intensity exercise has a similar anti-inflammatory effect. Twelve sedentary male volunteers (age 54 ± 4 yr) completed two main trials, moderate-intensity exercise and rest (30 min at 50% maximal oxygen uptake vs. sitting, respectively). There were no significant changes in circulating neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, or serum interleukin-6, interleukin-10, and C-reactive protein concentration over the 7 days following exercise. Similarly, lymphocyte adhesion to cultured endothelial cells and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression in lymphocytes and monocytes were not affected by walking at any time point. These results suggest that the long-term anti-inflammatory and antiatherogenic effects of regular moderate-intensity physical activity must be explained by something other than a profound net anti-inflammatory response to each exercise bout since a single bout of walking did not lead to a change in various markers of inflammation or lymphocyte adherence to cultured endothelial cells.

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Is Fun For Wellness Engaging? Evaluation of User Experience of an Online Intervention to Promote Well-Being and Physical Activity

Frontiers in Computer Science ◽

10.3389/fcomp.2021.690389 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

Author(s):

Michael P. Scarpa ◽

Isaac Prilletensky ◽

Adam McMahon ◽

Nicholas D. Myers ◽

Ora Prilleltensky ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

User Experience ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Adult Population ◽

Online Intervention ◽

Well Being ◽

Ease Of Use ◽

Great Promise ◽

Self Monitoring ◽

Interactive Nature

Online well-being interventions demonstrate great promise in terms of both engagement and outcomes. Fun For Wellness (FFW) is a novel online intervention grounded in self-efficacy theory and intended to improve multidimensional well-being and physical activity through multi-modal methods. These strategies include capability-enhancing opportunities, learning experiences such as games, video vignettes, and self-assessments. RCT studies have suggested that FFW is efficacious in improving subjective and domain-specific well-being, and effective in improving mental health, physical health, physical activity, and self-efficacy in United States. adults who are overweight and in the general population. The present study uses qualitative and quantitative user experience data collected during two RCT trials to understand and evaluate engagement with FFW, its drivers, and its outcomes. Results suggest that FFW is enjoyable, moderately engaging, and easy to use; and contributes to positive outcomes including skill development and enhanced confidence, for both overweight individuals and the general adult population. Drivers of engagement appear to include rewards, gamification, scenario-based learning, visual tracking for self-monitoring, ease of use and simple communications, and the entertaining, interactive nature of program activities. Findings indicate that there are opportunities to streamline and simplify the experience. These results can help improve FFW and contribute to the science of engagement with online interventions designed to improve well-being.

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