Changes of Physical Fitness Variables After 12-Week Health Promotion Exercise Program in Elderly Women : One-Year Follow-up

Introduction: Paramedics’ work includes periods of physically light activity, but also involves short periods of relatively intense physical activity. Even during their studies paramedic students’ days involve a lot of sitting, i.e. physically sedentary behaviour. We initiated a programme to motivate paramedic students to be physically active during their studies. In this study we report physical fitness among paramedic students who for one year participated in brief physical activity counselling consisting of both verbal and a written individually tailored exercise programMethods: A total of 40 paramedic students (26 female, 14 male) had participated voluntarily in a physical activity programme alongside their studies. Subjects’ maximal oxygen consumption and muscle strength were measured at baseline and at one-year follow-up. According to the results of the baseline tests all students were given an individual exercise programme, which included aerobic and muscle strength training.Results: Sixty-five percent (26/40) of the students participated in the follow-up examinations. At baseline male students had higher mean maximal oxygen consumption (VO2Max) and, as expected, greater absolute muscle strength than their female counterparts (all p-values <0.05). During the follow-up females had improved their VO2Max on average by 2.4 ml/kg/min. Furthermore, females on average improved the number of squats by 4.2 [95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.01 to 8.33] repetitions, and males improved the number of push-ups (mean improvement 4.8, 95% CI 1.93 to 7.57), and left arm grip strength (mean improvement 4.0 kg, 95% CI 1.39 to 6.53).Conclusions: It seems to be possible to maintain, and even slightly improve paramedic students’ physical fitness with a self-directed, guided, home exercise programme. This approach could enhance prospective paramedics’ willingness to develop the necessary physical qualities long-term throughout their clinical careers.

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The Effect of Ballet Exercise Program on Physical Fitness, Depression Scale and Cognitive Function of Elderly Women

Dance Research Journal of Dance ◽

10.21317/ksd.77.3.2 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 77 (3) ◽

pp. 23-38

Author(s):

Min-kyo Kim ◽

Deuk-ja Oh

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Function ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Elderly Women ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Exercise Program

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Does a Multicomponent Exercise Program Improve Physical Fitness in Older Adults? Findings From a 5-Year Longitudinal Study

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2020-0070 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Andréa Kruger Gonçalves ◽

Eliane Mattana Griebler ◽

Wagner Albo da Silva ◽

Débora Pastoriza Sant´Helena ◽

Priscilla Cardoso da Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽

Upper Limb ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Potential Benefits ◽

Multicomponent Program ◽

Post Hoc

The objective was to assess the physical fitness of older adults participating in a 5-year multicomponent exercise program. The sample consisted of 138 older adults aged 60–93 years (70.4 ± 7.8 years) evaluated with the Senior Fitness Test (muscle strength, flexibility, balance, and cardiorespiratory fitness). The multicomponent program was carried out between the months of March and November of each year. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations (factor year: Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, and Year 5; factor time: pretest and posttest) with Bonferroni’s post hoc test. Participation in the multicomponent exercise program for 5 years (baseline pretest Year 1 and follow-up Year 5) improved lower and upper limb strength, lower limb flexibility, and balance and cardiorespiratory fitness, while upper limb flexibility was maintained. Year-by-year analysis revealed variable patterns for each fitness parameter. The results of this study show the potential benefits of implementing a long-term community-based exercise program.

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Novel Physical Therapy Protocol Targeting Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy Improves Patient Reported Outcomes that Persist For 1 Year

Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics ◽

10.1177/2473011418s00284 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

pp. 2473011418S0028

Author(s):

Meghan Kelly ◽

Ashlee MacDonald ◽

Rachel Olson ◽

Grace Weyand ◽

Ruth Chimenti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Therapy ◽

Achilles Tendon ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Achilles Tendinopathy ◽

Home Exercise ◽

Sf 36 ◽

Patient Reported ◽

One Year ◽

Therapy Protocol

Category: Sports Introduction/Purpose: Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy (IAT) affects 5% of the general population and up to 20% of the athletic population. Despite trials of non-surgical management such as physical therapy and heels lifts, more than 50% of patients ultimately pursue surgery. One hypothesis regarding the development of IAT pain and stiffness is that ankle dorsiflexion and associated calcaneal impingement causes transverse compression of the tendon insertion, inducing metaplastic changes within the Achilles tendon, and bursa, contributing to inflammation. Thus the aim of the current study is to examine the effect of a home exercise program designed to minimize compression of insertional tissues for patients with IAT on patient reported outcomes (PRO) measures at 3 months and one year. Methods: Thirty-five patients with IAT were enrolled in the study from May 2014 until June 2015 as two separate cohorts (21 and 14 patients, respectively) of whom 26 completed the study (mean age: 56.7 + 10.1 years, BMI: 29.5 + 6.0 kg/m2, 58% women). One patient elected for surgery prior to completing the physical therapy protocol. Physical therapy exercises were progressive eccentric loading of the Achilles tendon and seated isometric plantar flexion that were performed 4 times a week for 3 months. The Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment – Achilles (VISA-A), the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) and the SF-36 questionnaires were completed at baseline and at the completion of the 3-month physical therapy protocol. Six of the 14 patients in the second cohort returned for a 1 year follow up visit; four patients were lost to follow up and 4 had undergone surgical intervention prior to 1-year follow up. Results: Completion of the 3 month protocol resulted in statistically significant improvements in VISA-A, FAAM ADL and sports scores as well as multiple subcategories of the SF-36 (physical function, role limiting physical function, energy/vitality, social functioning and general pain). Twenty-two of the 26 patients (~85%) that completed the study had clinically significant, greater than MCID, improvements in their VISA-A and/or FAAM scores. In the second cohort, all six patients that returned for a one year follow up assessment maintained their improved VISA-A and FAAM scores observed at the end of the initial physical therapy protocol. Of the four patients that underwent surgical intervention prior to follow up, two did not demonstrate improvement in any of their outcomes following the initial study period. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that a physical therapy home exercise program utilizing eccentric and isometric Achilles exercises may result in a greater improvement in functional outcomes compared to other exercise programs that do not progressively increase both ankle dorsiflexion and Achilles tendon loading. Furthermore, improvements in pain and function result in increased energy and social wellbeing. Finally, symptomatic improvement that occurs after 3 months is likely to persist for at least one year following initial treatment.

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The Effect of Participation in a Health Exercise Program on Physical Fitness and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Elderly Women

Journal of Sport and Leisure Studies ◽

10.51979/kssls.2014.02.55.637 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 55 ◽

pp. 637-646

Author(s):

Jae Jin Kim ◽

Mun Gi Choi ◽

Jin Hong Kim

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Elderly Women ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Cardiovascular Disease Risk ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

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The effects of “Workplace Health Promotion Program” in nurses: A randomized controlled trial and one-year follow-up

Health Care For Women International ◽

10.1080/07399332.2020.1800013 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-17

Author(s):

Gokcen Akyurek ◽

Nergis Avci ◽

Gamze Ekici

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Workplace Health Promotion ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Health Promotion Program ◽

Workplace Health ◽

Promotion Program ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

One Year

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Can Active Aerobic Exercise Reduce the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Prehypertensive Elderly Women by Improving HDL Cholesterol and Inflammatory Markers?

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17165910 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (16) ◽

pp. 5910

Author(s):

Nayoung Ahn ◽

Kijin Kim

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Aerobic Exercise ◽

Inflammatory Markers ◽

Elderly Women ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Fitness Level ◽

Tnf Α

This study aims to verify the efficacy of exercise programs designed to prevent and treat hypertension-induced cardiovascular disease (CVD) by analyzing the effects of a 6-month active aerobic exercise program, administered to prehypertensive elderly women, on reducing the risk of developing CVD by enhancing their physical fitness level and improving the detailed markers of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and inflammatory markers. We assigned the elderly women (≥65 years) recruited into normal blood pressure (120–129/80–84; NBP, n = 18) and high-normal blood pressure (130–139/85–89; HNBP, n = 12) groups according to the European guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension. The exercise program was made up of combined workouts of elastic band resistance exercise and aerobics with dance music. The program took place three times a week for six months, with each session lasting 60 min. We measured pre- and post-intervention body composition, blood pressure, physical fitness level, blood lipids profile, HDL-C, SAA, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-4, IL-15, CRP, and HSP70 and calculated the Framingham risk scores for comparison. A significant post-intervention reduction in the mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) was observed in the HNBP group (p < 0.001), with significant increase in HDL-C (p < 0.01) and significant decrease in serum amyloid A (SAA) concentration (p < 0.01). A significant improvement in physical fitness factors such as physical efficiency index (PEI) was also observed in the HNBP group (p < 0.05). The post-intervention TNF-α, IL-6, and SAA concentrations were more significantly lower in the HNBP than in the NBP group (p < 0.05). Compared to the baseline values, a significant decrease in SAA concentration (p < 0.01) and significant increase in HSP70 concentration (p < 0.001) were observed in the HNBP group. The HNBP group’s 10-year CVD risk was also significantly reduced (p < 0.05). The pre–post differences in SBP and DBP were significantly correlated with those in the anti-inflammatory markers IL-4 and IL-15 (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the 6-month active aerobic exercise program of moderate intensity administered to prehypertensive elderly women (≥65 years) had the effect of reducing the 10-year CVD risk through a substantial reduction in SBP, overall physical fitness improvement, increase in HDL-C, decrease in SAA concentration, and substantial decrease in inflammatory biomarkers. It was also confirmed that an increase in anti-inflammatory markers, which showed a small range of increase with respect to the decrease in blood pressure, may have a major effect.

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