scholarly journals Combined Chair-Based Exercises Improve Functional Fitness, Mental Well-Being, Salivary Steroid Balance, and Anti-microbial Activity in Pre-frail Older Women

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guilherme Eustáquio Furtado ◽  
Rubens Vinícius Letieri ◽  
Adriana Silva-Caldo ◽  
Joice C. S. Trombeta ◽  
Clara Monteiro ◽  
...  

IntroductionRegular exercise has long been shown to positively impact the immune system responsiveness and improve mental well-being (MWB). However, the putative links between biomarkers of mental health and immune efficiency in exercising subjects have been scarcely investigated. The aim of this study was to verify the effect of a 14-week combined chair-based exercise program (CEP) on salivary steroid hormones and anti-microbial proteins, functional fitness, and MWB indexes in pre-frail older women.MethodsThe participant women (82.8 4.6 years old; n = 32) were randomly divided into the exercising group (CEP, n = 17) and the non-exercising control group (CG, n = 15). The pre/post assessment included: (1) salivary anti-microbial proteins lysozyme; (Lys) and immunoglobulin-A (IgA); (2) salivary steroid hormones of testosterone (TT) and cortisol (COR); (3) functional fitness (gait speed, hand grip strength, and static balance); (4) MWB questionnaires (happiness, depression state, satisfaction with life, and stress).ResultsSignificant differences with large Cohen’s (d) effect sizes were found on increased salivary TT (p < 0.05; d = 0.60) after exercise intervention. The results revealed a decrease in IgA levels after CEP (p < 0.01, d = 0.30). The increase in subjective happiness levels (p < 0.05, d = 0.30) and decrease of stress perception (p < 0.01, d = 2.60) and depressive state (p < 0.05, d = 0.30) were found after intervention in the CEP group. Robust statistical differences in gait speed (p < 0.05; d = 0.60) and balance tests (p < 0.05; d = 0.80) were also found in the CEP group. In control, COR increased moderately (p < 0.05; d = 0.65) while no changes were found for the other indicators. Correlation analyses showed inter-dependence between pre–post variations of MWB, biochemical indexes, and fitness function (e.g., COR inverse correlation with hand grip strength and balance tests).ConclusionThe CEP program was able to improve functional-fitness performance, decrease feelings of stress, and increase happiness. The CEP also induced clinically relevant hormonal and immune responses, which suggests that chair exercises that combine muscular strength, balance, and gait speed training are promising interventions to improve physical and mental health of older pre-frail adults.

2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
K. STOEVER ◽  
A. HEBER ◽  
S. EICHBERG ◽  
W. ZIJLSTRA ◽  
K. BRIXIUS

Background: At present, it is unclear whether older, obese persons with or without sarcopenia respond differently to training. Furthermore, there are no differentiated recommendations for resistance training for this special target group. Objectives: The objectives are to investigate the changes in the physical parameters of older, obese men caused by training and to reappraise the modalities of resistance training for older persons. Design: Pre-test-post-test design. Participants: The participants were 33 physically inactive and obese older men (≥ 65 years, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), with-out severe diseases. Subjects were divided into two groups: NSAR (no or presarcopenia, n= 15) or SAR (sarcopenia, n= 18). Intervention: The intervention consisted of progressive resistance training, twice a week for 16 weeks with finally 80-85% of maximum strength and three sets with 8-12 repetitions. The training contained six exercises for the major muscle groups. Measurements: Sarcopenia was assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), hand-grip strength, skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), and gait speed over a 6-meter walkway. Furthermore, the maximum dynamic strength (1 RM) was assessed. Results: At baseline, the NSAR group had significantly better values in SMI, SPPB score, hand-grip strength, and 1 RM. After training, the results in both groups displayed an increase in 1 RM at the lower limbs (NSAR 18%, SAR 38%) and the upper limbs (NSAR 12%, SAR 14%). Also, the SPPB score (NSAR 11%, SAR 15%) and the 6-m-gait speed (NSAR 5%, SAR 10%) increased. The SAR group was able to increase their right hand-grip strength by 12%, whereas the NSAR group maintained their initial high strength values. SMI did not change in both groups. Conclusions: Both groups show improvements after resistance training with slightly more benefits for men with sarcopenia. Results of this study can be used to define specific training regimens for N(SAR) subjects.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Harris-Love ◽  
Kimberly Benson ◽  
Erin Leasure ◽  
Bernadette Adams ◽  
Valerie McIntosh

The optimal management of sarcopenia requires appropriate endpoint measures to determine intervention efficacy. While hand grip strength is a predictor of morbidity and mortality, lower extremity strength may be better associated with functional activities in comparison to hand grip strength. The purpose of our study was to examine the comparative association of upper and lower extremity strength with common measures of physical performance in older adults. Thirty community-dwelling men, aged 62.5 ± 9.2 years, completed body composition analysis, quantitative strength testing, and performance-based tests of functional status. Hand grip force values were not significantly associated with knee extensor or flexor torque values (p > 0.05). Hand grip force was only associated with fast gait speed, while knee extensor torque at 60°/s was the only variable significantly associated across all functional outcome measures: customary gait speed, fast gait speed, sit to stand time, and the Physical Performance Test (p < 0.02). Hand grip strength was not a proxy measure of lower extremity strength as assessed in this study. Overall, lower extremity muscle strength values had the strongest associations with participant functional performance. Lower extremity strength testing may provide additional value as an endpoint measure in the assessment and clinical management of sarcopenia.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robbert J. J. Gobbens ◽  
Marcel A. L. M. van Assen

Frailty is a predictor of disability. A proper understanding of the contribution of individual indicators of frailty in the prediction of disability is a requisite for preventive interventions. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive power of the individual physical frailty indicators: gait speed, physical activity, hand grip strength, Body Mass Index (BMI), fatigue, and balance, for ADL and IADL disability. The sample consisted of 505 community-dwelling persons (≥75 years, response rate 35.1%). Respondents first participated between November 2007 and June 2008, and a subset of all respondents participated again one year later (N=264, 52.3% response rate). ADL and IADL disability were assessed by the Groningen Activity Restriction Scale. BMI was assessed by self-report, and the other physical frailty indicators were assessed with the TUG test (gait speed), the LAPAQ (physical activity), a hand grip strength test, the SFQ (fatigue), and the Four-test balance scale. All six physical frailty indicators were associated with ADL and IADL disability. After controlling for previous disability, sociodemographic characteristics, self-perceived lifestyle, and chronic diseases, only gait speed was predictive of both ADL and IADL disability, whereas there was a small effect of fatigue on IADL disability. Hence, these physical frailty indicators should be included in frailty assessment when predicting future disability.


2020 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovana Zarpellon Mazo ◽  
Raquel Ester Lima ◽  
Pedro Silvelo Franco ◽  
Leonardo Hoffmann ◽  
Enaiane Cristina Menezes

Abstract Introduction: Physical exercise is used as a strategy for the prevention of falls because it improves the physical fitness of older adults. Objective: To determine which components of physical fitness are predictors of falls in elderly female exercise practitioners. Method: Longitudinal, descriptive, comparative study. The components of physical fitness (upper and lower limb strength and flexibility, agility, aerobic endurance, and hand grip strength) and the occurrence or not of falls in the last 12 months were analyzed in 80 older women practitioners of exercise from 2013 to 2016. Descriptive analysis, ROC curve attributing cut-off points, and binary logistic regression for the prediction of falls were used. Results: The mean age of the participants was 67.46 years (SD=7.65). Over the years, a significant difference between elderly fallers and non-fallers was observed for right hand grip strength (2013 and 2015), left hand grip strength (2014 and 2015), lower limb flexibility (2013, 2014 and 2015), agility (2015), and aerobic endurance (2015). In adjusted analysis, older women with poor lower limb flexibility in 2013 had a higher risk of falls in 2016 (OR=4.98; 95%CI 1.12 - 22.1). Older women with poor flexibility in 2015 also had a higher risk of falls (OR= 6.08; 95%CI 1.06 - 34.67). Conclusion: Poor performance in the lower limb flexibility, right and left hand grip strength, agility and aerobic endurance tests was associated with falls and these components are predictors of future falls in elderly exercise practitioners.


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 1173-1178
Author(s):  
Rubén López ◽  
Paula Cisternas-Vallejos ◽  
Yesenia Devaud ◽  
Rodrigo Muñoz-Cofré ◽  
Alejandro Gómez-Bruton ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 215 ◽  
pp. 487-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinod Chainani ◽  
Sameer Shaharyar ◽  
Kairavee Dave ◽  
Vivek Choksi ◽  
Sharmila Ravindranathan ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 62-67
Author(s):  
Marija Trajkov ◽  
Ivan Cuk ◽  
Fadilj Eminovic ◽  
Dragana Kljajic ◽  
Milivoj Dopsaj

2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 347-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joana Mendes ◽  
Cláudia Afonso ◽  
Pedro Moreira ◽  
Patrícia Padrão ◽  
Alejandro Santos ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 431-446
Author(s):  
Soubhagyalaxmi Mohanty ◽  
Balaram Pradhan ◽  
Alex Hankey

Physical activities provide fundamental benefits to children’s health and well-being. They are vital for development and healthy life, but participation of children with visual impairment is limited. Herein, the authors report results of a 16-wk yoga program, evaluating its effects on physical fitness in children with visual impairment. Eighty-three children age 9–16 years (12.37 ± 2.19) participated in a 2-arm, single-blind wait-list-controlled study at a residential school in south India. Participants (yoga group 41, controls 42) were assessed on muscle strength, flexibility, endurance, coordination, and respiratory health. Significant improvements in physical fitness were observed after the yoga intervention (Group × Time interactions for right-hand grip strength, p  < .001; sit-up, p  < .001; sit and reach, p  < .001; bilateral plate tapping, p  < .001; and peak expiratory flow rate, p  < .001). Left-hand grip strength showed main effects of time, although there were no Group × Time interactions. Results demonstrate yoga’s ability to improve a wide range of physical variables in children with visual impairment.


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