scholarly journals Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Outdoor Fitness Equipment Intervention in Achieving Fitness Goals for Seniors

Author(s):  
Hsueh-Wen Chow ◽  
Kun-Tang Chang ◽  
I-Yao Fang

Despite the popularity of outdoor fitness equipment (OFE) in public spaces with the aim of increasing physical activity (PA), very little research has been conducted to investigate the effectiveness of the equipment’s use, especially for achieving the target fitness goal. This study designed an OFE training protocol incorporating four modalities of PA: endurance (air walker and ski machine), resistance (rowing machine and bonny rider), flexibility (arm stretch and shoulder wheel), and balance exercise (waist twister). Seniors who completed the protocol demonstrated that for endurance training, participants were at moderate intensity from heart rate and perceived exertion, while significantly improving cardiac endurance in the two min step test. For resistance/flexibility/balance interventions, only the handgrip strength test, the 30 s chair stand test, the right-hand shoulder flexion test, the right-hand shoulder horizontal abduction test, the single-leg stance test, and the eyes open foam surface clinical test for sensory balance were significant, using a repeated measure analysis of variance. The results demonstrated that older adults aim for the OFE target for specific fitness goals can reach moderate intensity and improve their cardiorespiratory endurance. Yet, results for resistance/flexibility/balance are inconclusive. More studies are needed to carefully assess the effectiveness of using OFE.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (18) ◽  
pp. 8773
Author(s):  
Muhammad Adeel ◽  
Chien-Hung Lai ◽  
Chun-Wei Wu ◽  
Jiunn-Horng Kang ◽  
Jian-Chiun Liou ◽  
...  

Energy expenditure through metabolic equivalent (MET) prediction during resistance exercises in humans can be modeled by using cardiorespiratory parameters. In this study, we aimed to predict MET during six moderate-intensity resistance training sessions consisting of three different exercises. Eleven participants were recruited into two groups; an untrained (n = 5; with no resistance training experience) and a trained group (n = 6; with 2 months resistance training experience). Each participant completed six training sessions separated with a rest interval of 1–2 days. While wearing a mask for indirect calorimetric measurements using Cortex Metalyzer 3B, each participant performed training sessions consisting of three types of dumbbell exercises: shoulder press, deadlift, and squat. The metabolic equivalents (METs), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), blood lactate (BL), and Borg rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured. The MET was predicted using generalized estimating equations (GEE) for repeated measure data collected during exercise and rest periods. It was observed that during exercise period, RER, HR, SBP, and BL for the training group (QIC = 187, 95% CI = −0.012~0.915, p = 0.000*~0.033*) while RER, HR, SBP, DBP, and RPE (QIC = 48, 95% CI = −0.024~0.422, p = 0.000*~0.002*) during resting period for untrained group significantly predicted MET for moderate-intensity interval resistance training. It is concluded that the cardiorespiratory variables are significantly related to MET. During exercise, RER and HR significantly predicted MET for both groups along with additional parameters of SBP and BL for the training group. While during the resting period, RER, HR, SBP, DBP, and RPE related significantly for untrained and BL for training group respectively.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 427-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amin Daneshfar ◽  
Carl J. Petersen ◽  
Majid S. Koozehchian ◽  
Daniel E. Gahreman

This study aimed to identify the acute effects of caffeinated chewing gum (CAF) on bicycle motocross (BMX) time-trial (TT) performance. In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind cross-over design, 14 male BMX riders (age = 20.0 ± 3.3 years; height = 1.78 ± 0.04 m; body mass = 72 ± 4 kg), consumed either (300 mg; 4.2 ± 0.2 mg/kg) caffeinated (300 mg caffeine, 6 g sugars) or a placebo (0 mg caffeine, 0 g sugars) gum, and undertook three BMX TTs. Repeated-measure analysis revealed that CAF has a large ergogenic effect on TT time, F(1, 14) = 33.570, p = .001, ; −1.5% ± 0.4 compared with the placebo. Peak power and maximal power to weight ratio also increased significantly compared with the placebo condition, F(1, 14) = 54.666, p = .001, ; +3.5% ± 0.6, and F(1, 14) = 57.399, p = .001, ; +3% ± 0.3, respectively. Rating of perceived exertion was significantly lower F(1, 14) = 25.020, p = .001, in CAF (6.6 ± 1.3) compared with the placebo (7.2 ± 1.7). Administering a moderate dose (300 mg) of CAF could improve TT time by enhancing power and reducing the perception of exertion. BMX coaches and riders may consider consuming CAF before a BMX race to improve performance and reduce rating of perceived exertion.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel A. Walsh ◽  
Paul J. Stapley ◽  
Jonathan B. H. Shemmell ◽  
Romuald Lepers ◽  
Darryl J. McAndrew

AbstractThis study investigated the effects of eccentric (ECC) and concentric (CON) semi-recumbent leg cycling on global corticospinal excitability (CSE), assessed through the activity of a non-exercised hand muscle. Thirteen healthy male adults completed two 30-min bouts of moderate intensity ECC and CON recumbent cycling on separate days. Power output (POutput), heart rate (HR) and cadence were monitored during cycling. Global CSE was assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation to elicit motor-evoked potentials (MEP) in the right first dorsal interosseous muscle before (‘Pre’), interleaved (at 10 and 20 mins, t10 and t20, respectively), immediately after (post, P0), and 30-min post exercise (P30). Participants briefly stopped pedalling (no more than 60 s) while stimulation was applied at the t10 and t20 time-points of cycling. Mean POutput, and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) did not differ between ECC and CON cycling and HR was significantly lower during ECC cycling (P = 0.01). Group mean MEP amplitudes were not significantly different between ECC and CON cycling at P0, t10, t20, and P30 and CON (at P > 0.05). Individual participant ratios of POutput and MEP amplitude showed large variability across the two modes of cycling, as did changes in slope of stimulus-response curves. These results suggest that compared to ‘Pre’ values, group mean CSE is not significantly affected by low-moderate intensity leg cycling in both modes. However, POutput and CSE show wide inter-participant variability which has implications for individual neural responses to CON and ECC cycling and rates of adaptation to a novel (ECC) mode. The study of CSE should therefore be analysed for each participant individually in relation to relevant physiological variables and account for familiarisation to semi-recumbent ECC leg cycling.


Information ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aisha Muhammad Abdullahi ◽  
Kiemute Oyibo ◽  
Rita Orji ◽  
Abdullahi Abubakar Kawu

The fact that individuals may react differently toward persuasive strategies gave birth to a shift in persuasive technology (PT) design from the one-size-fits-all traditional approach to the individualized approach which conforms to individuals’ preferences. Given that learners’ gender, age, and cognitive level can affect their response to different learning instructions, it is given primacy of place in persuasive educational technology (PET) design. However, the effect of gender, age, and cognitive ability on learners’ susceptibility to persuasive strategies did not receive the right attention in the extant literature. To close this gap, we carried out an empirical study among 461 participants to investigate whether learners’ gender, age, and cognitive ability significantly affect learners’ susceptibility to three key persuasive strategies (social learning, reward, and trustworthiness) in PETs. The results of a repeated measure analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) revealed that people with high cognitive level are more likely to be susceptible to social learning, while people with low cognitive level are more likely to be susceptible to trustworthiness. Comparatively, our results revealed that males are more likely to be susceptible to social learning, while females are more likely to be susceptible to reward and trustworthiness. Furthermore, our results revealed that younger adults are more likely to be susceptible to social learning and reward, while older adults are more likely to be susceptible to trustworthiness. Our findings reveal potential persuasive strategies which designers can employ to personalize PTs to individual users in higher learning based on their susceptibility profile determined by age, gender, and cognitive level.


Author(s):  
Berit Kristin Labott ◽  
Steffen Held ◽  
Lars Donath

The present study investigated the time course of repetitive maximal isometric grip strength, depending on the arm position, laterality (dominant vs. non-dominant side), and climbing level. The intervention aimed to provide a feasible indicator of maximal strength-endurance in climbing. Seventeen recreational (climbing level (CL): 6.8 (SD 0.5) on the Union Internationale des Associations d’Alpinisme (UIAA) metric scale) and eleven ambitious (CL: 8.7 (SD 0.6) UIAA metric scale) climbers (age: 27 (8) years; BMI: 21.6 (1.9) kg/m2; ape index (arm span divided by body height): 1.05 (0.18); training volume: 2.2 (1.0) h/week). Participants completed maximal isometric handgrip strength (Fmax) tests in four positions (left and right hand beside the trunk as well as left and right hand above the shoulder) plus twelve repetitive work-relief cycles, lasting 4 and 1 s where isometric strength, heart rate, and perceived exertion were recorded. Fmax differed between groups in nearly all positions. A large side × position × time × group interaction was observed for repetitive isometric grip strength (p = 0.009, ηp2 = 0.71). However, subsequent post-hoc tests did not reveal a significant difference between groups during each testing position. Additional correlation analysis between asymmetry and CL showed an inverse relationship for ambitious climbers (r = −0.71). In conclusion, the degree of grip strength decline did not relevantly differentiate between ambitious and recreational climbers. Thus, the time course of handgrip strength seems to mainly rely on maximal grip strength during the first contraction.


1986 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 667-671
Author(s):  
Sheik N. Irarhan

This study examined 3 types of pinch strength and handgrip strength among children between the ages of 5.3 and 7.9 years. Maximal strength of four pulp pinches, the chuck pinch and the lateral pinch were measured as well as maximal handgrip strength. Data analysis showed that the chuck and lateral pinched were the strongest while the pulp pinch with the little finger was the weakest. The pulp pincnes with the index and with the middle finger were stronger than that with the ring finger. Males were slightly stronger than females, the difference being only 13%. The right hand pinches were not significantly stronger than left hand pinches, the difference being only 5%. The major hand of subjects with dominant left hand was only 84% as strong as the major hand of subjects with dominant right hand. Pinch strength increased with age by 50% for a 2.6 year difference.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Matsuo ◽  
Akira Ishii ◽  
Takayuki Minami ◽  
Hitoshi Nanjo ◽  
Takahiro Yoshikawa

Abstract The right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has been proposed to be the brain region regulating performance through fatigue sensation in fatigue, but direct evidence has been lacking for right DLPFC activation when physical performance is suppressed in the presence of fatigue sensation. We examined whether the right DLPFC is activated when physical performance is suppressed by re-experiencing a fatigue sensation. Eighteen healthy male volunteers participated. They performed a rest session followed by a handgrip session to induce physical fatigue sensation. Then, they were instructed to re-experience the state of the right hand with (i.e., the target condition) and without (i.e., the control condition) fatigue sensation as experienced in the handgrip and rest sessions, respectively, while performing motor imagery of maximum handgrip of the right hand. Neural activity during both conditions was recorded using magnetoencephalography. The level of fatigue sensation was higher in the target condition than in the control condition. Decreases of handgrip strength and beta band power in the right Brodmann’s area 46 were observed in the target condition, suggesting that the right DLPFC is involved in the regulation of physical performance through fatigue sensation. These findings may help elucidate the neural mechanisms regulating performance under fatigue conditions.


Author(s):  
Fernando Diefenthaeler ◽  
Raphael Luiz Sakugawa ◽  
Rodolfo André Dellagrana ◽  
Bruno Follmer ◽  
Elisa Cristina Lemos ◽  
...  

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1980-0037.2017v19n1p108 Several studies showed that respiratory exchange ratio (RER) have been used as an alternative to evaluate the aerobic capacity in a single incremental test. However, few studies have investigated trained runners. The aim of this study was to verify if the respiratory exchange ratio (RER) could be used as an alternative criterion for estimating anaerobic threshold (AT) in long-distance runners. Nineteen male long-distance runners volunteered to participate in the study. An incremental treadmill test was performed with initial speed of 10 km·h-1 with increments of 1 km·h-1 every 1 min until voluntary exhaustion. The variables measured were oxygen uptake (VO2), first and second ventilatory thresholds (VT1 and VT2, respectively), intensity corresponding to RER level of1.0 (iRER1.0), peak velocity (PV), heart rate (HR), and rate of perceived exertion (RPE). One-way repeated measure analysis variance was used, following Bonferroni post hoc test. Agreement between parameters was evaluated by Pearson correlation and dispersion error. There were no significant differences between iRER1.0 and VT2 parameters. The correlations were significant between iRER1.0 and VT2 parameters for absolute and relative VO2, speed, and HR (r=0.95; r=0.60; r=0.72; r=0.81, respectively). A small mean error (-0.2 km·h-1) was observed between iRER1.0 and VT2. However, it was also observed an overestimation trend for high speeds. In conclusion, iRER1.0 can be used as an alternative method to detect AT in long distance runners. However, its use is limited in runners with high aerobic capacity.


1946 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-2

In the article “Infant Speech Sounds and Intelligence” by Orvis C. Irwin and Han Piao Chen, in the December 1945 issue of the Journal, the paragraph which begins at the bottom of the left hand column on page 295 should have been placed immediately below the first paragraph at the top of the right hand column on page 296. To the authors we express our sincere apologies.


VASA ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 344-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jandus ◽  
Bianda ◽  
Alerci ◽  
Gallino ◽  
Marone

A 55-year-old woman was referred because of diffuse pruritic erythematous lesions and an ischemic process of the third finger of her right hand. She was known to have anaemia secondary to hypermenorrhea. She presented six months before admission with a cutaneous infiltration on the left cubital cavity after a paravenous leakage of intravenous iron substitution. She then reported a progressive pruritic erythematous swelling of her left arm and lower extremities and trunk. Skin biopsy of a lesion on the right leg revealed a fibrillar, small-vessel vasculitis containing many eosinophils.Two months later she reported Raynaud symptoms in both hands, with a persistent violaceous coloration of the skin and cold sensation of her third digit of the right hand. A round 1.5 cm well-delimited swelling on the medial site of the left elbow was noted. The third digit of her right hand was cold and of violet colour. Eosinophilia (19 % of total leucocytes) was present. Doppler-duplex arterial examination of the upper extremities showed an occlusion of the cubital artery down to the palmar arcade on the right arm. Selective angiography of the right subclavian and brachial arteries showed diffuse alteration of the blood flow in the cubital artery and hand, with fine collateral circulation in the carpal region. Neither secondary causes of hypereosinophilia nor a myeloproliferative process was found. Considering the skin biopsy results and having excluded other causes of eosinophilia, we assumed the diagnosis of an eosinophilic vasculitis. Treatment with tacrolimus and high dose steroids was started, the latter tapered within 12 months and then stopped, but a dramatic flare-up of the vasculitis with Raynaud phenomenon occurred. A new immunosupressive approach with steroids and methotrexate was then introduced. This case of aggressive eosinophilic vasculitis is difficult to classify into the usual forms of vasculitis and constitutes a therapeutic challenge given the resistance to current immunosuppressive regimens.


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