Associations between Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Uruguayan Female Population.

Objective.To examine the influence of a medium-impact exercise program (MIEP) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max) in females with subclinical hypothyroidism (sHT).Materials and Methods.We selected 17 sedentary women with sHT (mean age: 43.1 (standard deviation: 9.7) years). Participants carried out an MIEP consisting of 3 weekly sessions of 60 minutes during 12 weeks. Before and after the exercise program HRQoL was assessed by the SF-12v2 questionnaire, andVO2maxwas evaluated by Rockport walk test.Results.After the 12-week intervention, the participants that performed an MIEP showed improvements in HRQoL in most domains, particularly the vitality domain by 7 points, the social functioning domain by 10 points, the mental health domain by 7 points, and the mental component summary by 7 points. One of the four domains within the physical component summary (general health domain) showed significant effect of the exercise intervention: 6 points. Moreover, the participants that performed exercise showed a higherVO2max(28%;P<0.01).Conclusion.After 12 weeks of medium-impact exercise program, there were remarkable improvements in HRQoL in most domains. Moreover, this exercise program proved to have a positive influence on cardiorespiratory fitness.

Download Full-text

Feasibility Study: Colombian Caribbean Folk Dances to Increase Physical Fitness and Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Women

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2015-0012 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 284-289 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ernesto Pacheco ◽

Diana P. Hoyos ◽

Willinton J. Watts ◽

Lucía Lema ◽

Carlos M. Arango

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Older Women ◽

Caribbean Region ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Recruitment And Retention ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

Fitness And Health

The objectives of the study were to describe the feasibility of an intervention in older women based on folk dances of the Colombian Caribbean region, and to analyze the effects of the intervention on physical fitness and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). A pilot study was conducted in a sample of 27 participants, 15 in the intervention group (IG) and 12 in the comparison group (CG). Caribbean Colombian dance rhythms were introduced as an intervention that lasted 12 weeks. Recruitment and retention was not optimal. Treatment fidelity components indicated that intervention was administered as intended. IG participants showed positive and statistically significant changes in some components of physical fitness. No significant changes were observed in HRQoL indicators for either group. In conclusion, the intervention was feasible, but recruitment and retention was challenging. Folk dances of the Colombian Caribbean region provoked significant results in physical fitness but not in HRQoL.

Download Full-text