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Background: Reducing sedentary behavior is a promising intervention target for improving health for older adults; however, few interventions include African American communities. The purpose of this research was to extend the reach of an effective sedentary behavior intervention to African American elders. Methods: Two pilot studies assessed the feasibility (retention, adherence, and safety) and acceptability (participant and leader perspectives) of a 4-wk "Stand Up and Move More" (SUMM) intervention. Sedentary behavior (self-reported and monitor-derived), function (short physical performance battery), and quality of life (SF-36) were measured at baseline (wk0), postintervention (wk4), and follow up (wk12; study 1) to examine preliminary effectiveness of the intervention. Participants (N=26) attended SUMM or an attention-matched stress management intervention (study 2). The magnitude of treatment effects were determined using Hedge's g effect size calculations [small (g =0.20 to 0.49), moderate (g =0.50 to 0.79), large (g >0.80)]. Results: Retention and adherence rates ranged from 50%-100% and 80%-100%, respectively. There were no adverse events. Participants expressed high satisfaction, and the leader of the SUMM intervention indicated that the intervention content was beneficial. Hedges' g revealed negligible to small changes in sedentary behavior (g <0.50)>g=0.51-0.82) and quality of life (g =0.54-1.07) from wk0 to wk4 in study 1; and moderate to large improvements in function (g =0.51-0.88) from wk0 to wk4 in study 2. There was a moderate improvement in quality of life (SF-36 emotional role limitations g =0.54) in the SUMM group only. Conclusion: Given its feasibility, safety, and acceptability, SUMM may be a promising intervention to improve functioning and well-being among African American elders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to examine whether changes in experimentally induced pain perception after acute resistance exercise (RE) are influenced by the time of day that RE is performed. Twenty-one recreationally trained (>1 year of regular recreational RE participation) young men (mean age = 21 years) completed 2 acute RE sessions at different times of day. One RE session was performed between 6:00 and 8:00 in the morning, and the other was performed between 6:00 and 8:00 in the evening. The RE sessions consisted of completing 3 sets of 10 repetitions for 4 different exercises at 75% of each individual's 1 -repetition maximum. Assessments of pain threshold and pain ratings were obtained during exposure to an experimentally induced pressure pain stimulus before and after (1 and 15 minutes) each bout of RE. The results revealed that, irrespective of the time of day RE was performed, pain threshold increased significantly (p < 0.01) at 1 minute after exercise. Pain ratings were also found to be significantly (p < 0.01) lower at 1 minute after RE in both the morning and evening. It is concluded that acute RE results in alterations in the perception of experimentally induced pressure pain and that this hypoalgesic response is not influenced by the time of day that RE is performed. KEY WORDS acute exercise, diurnal variations, hypoalgesia, strength training

Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) is a significant burden for Persian Gulf War Veterans (GWVs), yet the causes are poorly understood. Brain structure abnormalities are observed in GWVs, however relationships with modifiable lifestyle factors such as physical activity (PA) are unknown. We evaluated gray matter volumes and associations with symptoms, PA, and sedentary time in GWVs with and without CMP. Ninety-eight GWVs (10 females) with CMP and 56 GWVs (7 females) controls completed T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, pain and fatigue symptom questionnaires, and PA measurement via actigraphy. Regional gray matter volumes were analyzed using voxel-based morphometry and were compared across groups using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Separate multiple linear regression models were used to test associations between PA intensities, sedentary time, symptoms, and gray matter volumes. Familywise cluster error rates were used to control for multiple comparisons (α = 0.05). GWVs with CMP reported greater pain and fatigue symptoms, worse mood, and engaged in less moderate-to-vigorous PA and more sedentary time than healthy GWVs (all < values, 0.05). GWVs with CMP had smaller gray matter volumes in the bilateral insula and larger volumes in the frontal pole (p > 0.05adjusted). Gray matter volumes in the left insula were associated with pain symptoms (rpartial = 0.26, 20.29; p, 0.05adjusted). No significant associations were observed for either PA or sedentary time (p > 0.05adjusted). GWVs with CMP had smaller gray matter volumes within a critical brain region of the descending pain processing network and larger volumes within brain regions associated with pain sensation and affective processing, which may reflect pain chronification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness and feasibility of translating a 4-week "Stand Up and Move More" (SUMM) intervention by state aging units to older adults (N = 56, M age = 74 years). A randomized controlled trial assessed sedentary behavior, physical function, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) before and after the intervention. Participants included healthy community-dwelling, sedentary (sit > 6 hr/day) and aged ≥ 55 years adults. For the primary outcome, the SUMM group (n = 31) significantly (p <.05) reduced total sedentary time post-intervention by 68 min/day on average (Cohen's d = −0.56) compared with no change in the wait-list control group (n = 25, Cohen's d = 0.12). HRQoL and function also improved (p <.05) in the SUMM group post-intervention. Workshop facilitators indicated the intervention was easy to implement, and participants expressed high satisfaction. The SUMM intervention reduced sedentary time, improved physical function and HRQoL, and was feasible to implement in community settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]