Effects of Regular Long-Term Circuit Training (Once per Week) on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Previously Sedentary Adults

The purpose of the study was (1) to investigate the effects of regular long-term circuit training (once per week) on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in sedentary adults and (2) to compare training progress with the effects of continued exercise participation by regularly active age-matched individuals. Ten sedentary, middle-aged (51 ± 6 years) individuals (sedentary group, SG) of both sexes performed 32 weeks (1 training session/week) of supervised circuit training and 10 weeks of self-managed training. Effects were compared to an age-matched group (51 ± 8 years; n = 10) of regularly active individuals (active group, AG). CRF (expressed as peak oxygen uptake: VO2peak; peak power output: PPO) and systemic blood pressure (BP) during the incremental test were measured at the start and after the training intervention. CRF decreased significantly within the AG (VO2peak: 43.1 ± 7.3 vs. 40.3 ± 6.5 mL/min/kg, p < 0.05; PPO: 3.3 ± 0.6 vs. 3.1 ± 0.6; p < 0.05) but was maintained in the SG. In addition, significant improvements in restoration of the oxygen level in leg muscles after exercise and reduced systolic BP (180 ± 14 vs. 170 ± 17 mmHg, p = 0.01) at submaximal exercise were found within the SG. However, differences in changes from pre to post did not reach significance between groups. In contrast to the regularly active individuals, circuit training once per week over 32 weeks prevented the aging-related decline of CRF in previously sedentary subjects and reduced systolic BP during submaximal exercise, indicating improved exercise tolerance.

Download Full-text

Percentage of Age-Predicted Cardiorespiratory Fitness Is Inversely Associated with Cardiovascular Disease Mortality: A Prospective Cohort Study

Cardiology ◽

10.1159/000516123 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Jari A. Laukkanen ◽

Sudhir Kurl ◽

Hassan Khan ◽

Francesco Zaccardi ◽

Setor K. Kunutsor

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing ◽

Peak Oxygen Uptake ◽

Standard Deviation Increase ◽

Hazard Ratios ◽

Disease Mortality ◽

Cvd Mortality

Introduction: Percentage of age-predicted cardiorespiratory fitness (% age-predicted CRF) is a potentially useful cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) parameter, but there are limited data on its prognostic relevance for adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes. We aimed to assess the association of % age-predicted CRF with CVD mortality and the extent to which % age-predicted CRF measurements could improve the prediction of CVD mortality. Methods: Peak oxygen uptake, used as the measure of CRF, was directly assessed in 2,276 men who underwent CPX. The age-predicted CRF estimated from a regression equation for age was transformed to % age-predicted CRF with the following formula: (achieved CRF/age-predicted CRF) × 100. Hazard ratios (HRs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) and measures of risk discrimination for CVD mortality were calculated. Results: During a median follow-up of 28.5 years, 643 fatal CVDs were recorded. The relationship between % age-predicted CRF and CVD mortality was dose response in nature. In analysis adjusted for conventional risk factors, one standard deviation increase in % age-predicted CRF was associated with a reduced risk of CVD mortality (HR 0.61; 95% CI: 0.56–0.67), which was minimally attenuated on further adjustment for several other confounders (HR 0.71; 95% CI: 0.64–0.78). Addition of % age-predicted CRF to a CVD mortality risk prediction model containing established risk factors significantly improved risk discrimination and reclassification. Conclusion: Percentage of age-predicted CRF is inversely and independently associated with CVD mortality in a graded fashion and significantly improves the prediction and classification of the long-term risk for CVD mortality beyond established risk factors.

Download Full-text

Physiological responses and cycle characteristics during double-poling versus diagonal-stride roller-skiing in junior cross-country skiers

European Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1007/s00421-021-04689-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Erik P. Andersson ◽

Irina Hämberg ◽

Paulo Cesar Do Nascimento Salvador ◽

Kerry McGawley

Keyword(s):

Oxygen Uptake ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Lactate Concentration ◽

Blood Lactate Concentration ◽

Peak Oxygen Uptake ◽

Submaximal Exercise ◽

Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽

Time To Exhaustion ◽

Double Poling ◽

Cross Country

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to compare physiological factors and cycle characteristics during cross-country (XC) roller-skiing at matched inclines and speeds using the double-poling (DP) and diagonal-stride (DS) sub-techniques in junior female and male XC skiers. Methods Twenty-three well-trained junior XC skiers (11 women, 12 men; age 18.2 ± 1.2 yr.) completed two treadmill roller-skiing tests in a randomized order using either DP or DS. The exercise protocols were identical and included a 5 min warm-up, 4 × 5 min submaximal stages, and an incremental test to exhaustion, all performed at a 5° incline. Results No significant three-way interactions were observed between sex, submaximal exercise intensity, and sub-technique. For the pooled sample, higher values were observed for DP versus DS during submaximal exercise for the mean oxygen uptake kinetics response time (33%), energy cost (18%), heart rate (HR) (9%), blood lactate concentration (5.1 versus 2.1 mmol·L−1), rating of perceived exertion (12%), and cycle rate (25%), while cycle length was lower (19%) (all P < 0.001). During the time-to-exhaustion (TTE) test, peak oxygen uptake ($$\dot{V}$$ V ˙ O2peak), peak HR, and peak oxygen pulse were 8%, 2%, and 6% lower, respectively, for DP than DS, with a 29% shorter TTE during DP (pooled data, all P < 0.001). Conclusion In well-trained junior XC skiers, DP was found to exert a greater physiological load than DS during uphill XC roller-skiing at submaximal intensities. During the TTE test, both female and male athletes were able to ski for longer and reached markedly higher $$\dot{V}$$ V ˙ O2peak values when using DS compared to DP.

Download Full-text

Efficacy of implementing intermittent STOP THE BLEED® reviews on long term retention of hemorrhage control skills of first year medical students

Journal of Osteopathic Medicine ◽

10.1515/jom-2020-0231 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Enkhtsogt Sainbayar ◽

Nathan Holt ◽

Amber Jacobson ◽

Shalini Bhatia ◽

Christina Weaver

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Training Session ◽

Likert Scale ◽

Control Group ◽

First Year ◽

Hemorrhage Control ◽

Term Retention ◽

Long Term Retention

Abstract Context Some medical schools integrate STOP THE BLEED® training into their curricula to teach students how to identify and stop life threatening bleeds; these classes that are taught as single day didactic and hands-on training sessions without posttraining reviews. To improve retention and confidence in hemorrhage control, additional review opportunities are necessary. Objectives To investigate whether intermittent STOP THE BLEED® reviews were effective for long term retention of hemorrhage control skills and improving perceived confidence. Methods First year osteopathic medical students were asked to complete an eight item survey (five Likert scale and three quiz format questions) before (pretraining) and after (posttraining) completing a STOP THE BLEED® training session. After the surveys were collected, students were randomly assigned to one of two study groups. Over a 12 week intervention period, each group watched a 4 min STOP THE BLEED® review video (intervention group) or a “distractor” video (control group) at 4 week intervals. After the 12 weeks, the students were asked to complete an 11 item survey. Results Scores on the posttraining survey were higher than the pretraining survey. The median score on the five Likert scale items was 23 points for the posttraining survey and 14 points for the pretraining survey. Two of the three knowledge based quiz format questions significantly improved from pretraining to posttraining (both p<0.001). On the 11 item postintervention survey, both groups performed similarly on the three quiz questions (all p>0.18), but the intervention group had much higher scores on the Likert scale items than the control group regarding their confidence in their ability to identify and control bleeding (intervention group median = 21.4 points vs. control group median = 16.8 points). Conclusions Intermittent review videos for STOP THE BLEED® training improved medical students’ confidence in their hemorrhage control skills, but the videos did not improve their ability to correctly answer quiz-format questions compared with the control group.

Download Full-text

An Unsuccessful Attempt to Treat Hypertension with Acupuncture

The American Journal of Chinese Medicine ◽

10.1142/s0192415x77000051 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 05 (01) ◽

pp. 39-44 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

K. Sugioka ◽

W. Mao ◽

J. Woods ◽

R. A. Mueller

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Essential Hypertension ◽

Acupuncture Treatment ◽

Plasma Catecholamines ◽

Systemic Blood Pressure ◽

Patient Acceptance ◽

Unsuccessful Attempt ◽

Poor Patient ◽

Beneficial Response

The effectiveness of 5 sets of acupuncture loci in decreasing systemic blood pressure was compared with chlorthalidone and propranolol in patients with essential hypertension. No statistically significant acute or long-term changes in plasma catecholamines, renin activity, or blood pressure and pulse rate were observed as a result of acupuncture treatment. The decrease in blood pressure was significantly less than the observed with propranolol, but not significantly less than produced by chlorthalidone. Because of the poor patient acceptance of acupuncture and in the absence of a beneficial response, we feel acupuncture as employed in this study is of limited value in the management of patients with essential hypertension.

Download Full-text

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.

Download Full-text

Relationship between exclusive breast feeding and cardiorespiratory fitness in children and adolescents: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023223 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (10) ◽

pp. e023223 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carlos Berlanga-Macías ◽

Diana P. Pozuelo-Carrascosa ◽

Celia Álvarez-Bueno ◽

Jose Alberto Martínez-Hortelano ◽

Miriam Garrido-Miguel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Quality Assessment ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽

Breast Feeding ◽

Exclusive Breastfeeding ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Exclusive Breast Feeding

IntroductionBreast feeding has been considered important due to its short-term and long-term benefits on infant and maternal health. Regarding the long-term benefits, the influence of exclusive breastfeeding on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) during childhood and adolescence has been studied, although with controversial conclusions. This study protocol aims to provide a clear and standardised procedure for systematically reviewing the relationship between breast feeding, in terms of duration and exclusivity, and CRF in children and adolescents.Methods and analysisThis systematic review and meta-analysis protocol is reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols. A literature search will be conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library. Observational studies regarding the association between breast feeding and CRF in children and adolescents written in English or Spanish will be included. A Critical Appraisal Checklist for Analytical Cross Sectional Studies and The Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale for longitudinal studies will be used for quality assessment of included studies. Standardised mean differences of CRF by exclusive breastfeeding categories will be calculated as the primary outcome. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression will be performed based on the sources of heterogeneity.Ethics and disseminationThis evidence-based systematic review will summarise the relevant information on the association of exclusive breast feeding and CRF in children and adolescents. The results will be disseminated by publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Given that the data used for this systematic review will be exclusively extracted from published studies, ethical approval will not be required.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018082642.

Download Full-text

Alcohol consumption and cardiorespiratory fitness in five population-based studies

European Journal of Preventive Cardiology ◽

10.1177/2047487317738594 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 164-172 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Sebastian E Baumeister ◽

Jonas D Finger ◽

Sven Gläser ◽

Marcus Dörr ◽

Marcello RP Markus ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Oxygen Uptake ◽

Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽

Polynomial Regression ◽

Population Based ◽

Peak Oxygen Uptake ◽

Heavy Episodic Drinking ◽

P Value ◽

Independent Population ◽

Average Alcohol

Background Poor cardiorespiratory fitness is a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity. Alcohol consumption contributes substantially to the burden of disease, but its association with cardiorespiratory fitness is not well described. We examined associations between average alcohol consumption, heavy episodic drinking and cardiorespiratory fitness. Design The design of this study was as a cross-sectional population-based random sample. Methods We analysed data from five independent population-based studies (Study of Health in Pomerania (2008–2012); German Health Interview and Examination Survey (2008–2011); US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2000; NHANES 2001–2002; NHANES 2003–2004) including 7358 men and women aged 20–85 years, free of lung disease or asthma. Cardiorespiratory fitness, quantified by peak oxygen uptake, was assessed using exercise testing. Information regarding average alcohol consumption (ethanol in grams per day (g/d)) and heavy episodic drinking (5+ or 6+ drinks/occasion) was obtained from self-reports. Fractional polynomial regression models were used to determine the best-fitting dose-response relationship. Results Average alcohol consumption displayed an inverted U-type relation with peak oxygen uptake ( p-value<0.0001), after adjustment for age, sex, education, smoking and physical activity. Compared to individuals consuming 10 g/d (moderate consumption), current abstainers and individuals consuming 50 and 60 g/d had significantly lower peak oxygen uptake values (ml/kg/min) (β coefficients = −1.90, β = −0.06, β = −0.31, respectively). Heavy episodic drinking was not associated with peak oxygen uptake. Conclusions Across multiple adult population-based samples, moderate drinkers displayed better fitness than current abstainers and individuals with higher average alcohol consumption.

Download Full-text

Predicting maximal oxygen uptake from a 3-minute progressive knee-ups and step test

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.10831 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. e10831

Author(s):

Yu-Chun Chung ◽

Ching-Yu Huang ◽

Huey-June Wu ◽

Nai-Wen Kan ◽

Chin-Shan Ho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Body Composition ◽

Oxygen Uptake ◽

Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽

Peak Oxygen Uptake ◽

Step Test ◽

Fat Percentage ◽

Fitness Assessment ◽

Adult Participants ◽

Health Related

Background Cardiorespiratory fitness assessment is crucial for diagnosing health risks and assessing interventions. Direct measurement of maximum oxygen uptake (V̇O2 max) yields more objective and accurate results, but it is practical only in a laboratory setting. We therefore investigated whether a 3-min progressive knee-up and step (3MPKS) test can be used to estimate peak oxygen uptake in these settings. Method The data of 166 healthy adult participants were analyzed. We conducted a V̇O2 max test and a subsequent 3MPKS exercise test, in a balanced order, a week later. In a multivariate regression model, sex; age; relative V̇O2 max; body mass index (BMI); body fat percentage (BF); resting heart rate (HR0); and heart rates at the beginning as well as at the first, second, third, and fourth minutes (denoted by HR0, HR1, HR2, HR3, and HR4, respectively) during a step test were used as predictors. Moreover, R2 and standard error of estimate (SEE) were used to evaluate the accuracy of various body composition models in predicting V̇O2max. Results The predicted and actual V̇O2 max values were significantly correlated (BF% model: R2 = 0.624, SEE = 4.982; BMI model: R2 = 0.567, SEE = 5.153). The BF% model yielded more accurate predictions, and the model predictors were sex, age, BF%, HR0, ΔHR3−HR0, and ΔHR3−HR4. Conclusion In our study, involving Taiwanese adults, we constructed and verified a model to predict V̇O2 max, which indicates cardiorespiratory fitness. This model had the predictors sex, age, body composition, and heart rate changes during a step test. Our 3MPKS test has the potential to be widely used in epidemiological research to measure V̇O2 max and other health-related parameters.

Download Full-text