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The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a 12-week strength training, and 3 months of detraining on physical fitness, body composition, and quality of life. Methods: Twenty women underwent assessments pre- and post-training, and after cessation of training. The measurements included waist-to-hip ratio, muscle mass, fat mass, leg press and seated row strength, functional fitness (SFT), and quality of life physical component score (PCS) and mental component score (MCS). Results: Significant interaction (p < 0.01) was found in all tests except for the PCS. The subjects in the EX group significantly improved in all tests (p < 0.01) from pre- to post-training. However, during the detraining, strength, SFT, and MSC significantly worsened from post- to detraining (p < 0.01). Body composition, except for muscle mass, remained unchanged. Conclusions: It seems that body composition persists for prolonged times, compared to performance characteristics. However, the results should be interpreted with caution, because improvements in body composition had small effects (g = ∼0.20–0.32). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lymphoma treatments can produce adverse effects leading to a reduced quality-of-life (QoL). Besides, in patients ≥65years, it can promote an accelerated geriatric decay. We conducted a prospective study on supervised Exercise-Training (ET), in consecutive, patients aged 18–80years, during anti-lymphoma treatments.16/30 (53%), median-age = 65.5y, participated to the ET sessions, this was the Interventional Group (IG); 14/30 (47%), median-age = 63y, were the Reference Group (RG). Both groups participated to the fitness and the QoL assessments, at baseline (T0), 3-months (T1) and 6-months (T2) after the start of chemotherapy. The adherence to the ET program was 50% (95% CI:36–64%). The IG showed substantial improvements compared to the CG in cardiorespiratory fitness (Cooper test) at both T1 and T2 and in all the functional domain of the QoL questionnaire (QLQ-C30) at T2. This study showed ET, during chemotherapy, is feasible and safe, even in patients ≥65 years. Furthermore, it may improve the provision of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the association between exercise and cardiovascular load in Korean mail carriers with high occupational physical activity (OPA). A total of 36 subjects completed a questionnaire, and their heart rates were measured for 3 consecutive days. Treadmill tests were used determine maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). The subjects' relative heart rate (RHR) was 25.6%±4.5%, which was higher than the recommended RHR (24.5%). Daily working hours were 11.1 ± 0.9 hours, which was longer than the maximum acceptable work time (7.8 ± 1.7 hours). Multiple regression analysis showed that daily working hours were positively associated with RHR, but exercise did not show any significant association. According to the results of this study, exercise may not be of benefit to workers with high OPA, suggesting that exercise should be cautiously considered for workers with high OPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Just as increases occurring in performance during the physical exercise period continue to be a topic of research, how long elderly individuals preserve these increases are also researched. The aim of this research is to investigate changes occurring in physical fitness of older adults in the exercise, detraining and retraining periods. The first period of the research included 15 elderly individuals (11 female, 4 male) with mean age 70.5 ± 4.35 15 years, 163 ± 11 cm height, and 68.5 ± 10.8 kg. In the second period, 13 older adults (9 female, 4 male) participated with mean age 70.1 ± 3.28 years, 161 ± 0.08 cm height and 78.8 ± 10.9 kg. Older adults participated in regular multicomponent exercise 2 days per week. The Senior Fitness Test (SFT) battery for older adults was used to assess functional fitness. Exercises were completed for 6 months and then there was a break of 5 months. The detraining effect was investigated. Five months later the second exercise period continued for 6 months. A multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to identify significant differences between the first year and second year. There were significant differences in the physical fitness parameters of leg strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Community-based exercise can support long-term management of Parkinson's disease, although it is not known if personal goals are met in these programs. The objectives of this study were to: (1) examine the goals of community based exercise programs from the participant and instructor perspectives; (2) establish the extent to which these programs meet self-described exercise outcomes; and (3) explore participant and instructor perspectives on barriers to meeting exercise expectations. Materials and Methods: This study explores the experiences of people with Parkinson's disease participating in a structured exercise program at six community sites. A mixed-methods approach was used, including participant and instructor interviews, assessment of exercise intensity, and mapping of exercise dosage to participant goals. Twenty-four exercise participants provided interview, quality of life, and exercise intensity data. Results: Twenty-one participants exercised for primary management of their Parkinson's disease. None met the exercise dosage necessary to meet this primary objective, although 60% met exercise dosage required to prevent disuse deconditioning. Participants and instructors did not describe similar goals for the community-based exercise program. Conclusions: Community-based exercise programs could be optimized by better aligning participant goals and exercise intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the evidence revealing benefits of chronic cardiovascular exercise on executive functions, little research has been conducted on long-term memory. We aimed to investigate the effect of physical exercise on implicit and explicit memory when attention was modulated at encoding in two groups of active and sedentary participants. With this purpose, attention was manipulated in a similar way in the implicit and explicit memory tasks by presenting picture outlines of two familiar objects, one in blue and the other in green, and participants were asked to pay attention only to one of them. Implicit memory was assessed through conceptual priming and explicit memory through a free recall task followed by recognition. The results did not reveal significant differences between groups in conceptual priming or free recall. However, in recognition, while both groups had similar discrimination for attended stimuli, active participants showed lower discrimination between unattended and new stimuli. These results suggested that exercise may have effects on specific cognitive processes, that is, that active participants may suppress non-relevant information better than sedentary participants, making the discrimination between unattended and new items more difficult. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of circuit exercise training and detraining, which is defined by termination of training without additional physical activities, in type 2 diabetic patients. Elderly with type 2 diabetes were divided into a group that exercised for 1 h three times a week for 12 weeks, followed by detraining for 8 weeks, or into a control group. Muscular strength, endurance, flexibility, agility, balance, body mass index (BMI), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and blood lipid profile were measured. Of the 98 diabetic participants who joined this study, 37 patients completed the program (exercise group = 24, control group = 13). After training, muscular strength, flexibility, balance, agility, and endurance in the training group were significantly higher than at baseline and compared to the control group. HbA1c levels decreased in the training group. There was no significant improvement in BMI and blood lipid profile in either group. Flexibility and agility in the training group declined significantly after detraining. In spite of this decline, flexibility and agility were significantly higher compared to the baseline and to the control group. In type 2 diabetic patients, circuit training had a beneficial effect on the indices of physical function and glucose metabolism. Training resulted in good improvement; and during detraining, the effect of exercise training was maintained except in some parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The benefit of exercise for breast cancer-treated women is well documented. However, studies of cardiovascular fitness training for women with breast cancer-related arm lymphedema are rare. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of intensive pole walking on arm lymphedema in women treated for breast cancer. Thirty-five women with unilateral lymphedema were included and twenty-three completed an eight-week exercise intervention consisting of pole walking 3-5 times per week, for 30-60 min, at 70%-80% of their maximum heart rate, preceded by a two-week control period. Measurements of arm lymphedema (water displacement method), body weight, cardiovascular fitness (sub-maximal bicycle ergometer test) and subjective assessments (disability of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) questionnaire; heaviness and tightness using a visual analogue scale (VAS); and well-being) were performed before the control period and before and after the exercise intervention. The results indicated a significant reduction in total arm volume of the lymphedema arm ( p = 0.001), in lymphedema absolute volume ( p = 0.014) and lymphedema relative volume ( p = 0.015). Significant decreases of heart rate ( p = 0.004), DASH score ( p = 0.053) and rating of tightness in the arm ( p = 0.043) were found. Positive and negative influences on well-being were reported. The conclusion of this study is that pole walking is feasible for breast cancer-treated women with arm lymphedema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short, middle, and long-term exercise, as well as the relative intensity of the physical effort, may influence a broad array of laboratory results, and it is thereby of pivotal importance to appropriately differentiate the 'physiologic' from the 'pathological' effects of exercise. Therefore, the values of some biomarkers in physically active subjects may be cautiously interpreted since the results may fall outside the conventional reference ranges. It has been demonstrated that middle and long-term endurance and/or strenuous exercise triggers transient elevations of muscular and cardiac biomarkers. However, no data have been published about the effect of short-term maximal exercise test on the most useful muscular, hepatic and cardiovascular biomarkers. The aim of the present study was to assess the baseline concentrations of muscular, hepatic, and cardiovascular makers between trained and untrained subjects, along with changes induced by maximal exercise test. We measured C reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme (CK-MB), Hs-TnT, NT-proBNP, CK, LDH, AST, and ALT in serum samples of physically active (trained) and physically inactive (sedentary) male collected before, immediately after a maximal exercise test and after a 30-min recovery period. Trained subjects tend to have significantly raised base concentrations of CK, CK-MB, ALT, and LDH compared to sedentary individuals, and this can be clearly interpreted as a mild injury of skeletal muscle. A single maximal exercise was also effective to transiently increase the concentrations of NT-proBNP, but not those of Hs-TnT, thus suggesting that the cardiac involvement is mostly benign in nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exercise has been shown to have positive effects on the brain and cognition in healthy older adults, though no study has directly examined possible cognitive benefits of formal exercise programs in persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) living in structured facilities. Thirty-one participants completed neuropsychological testing and measures of cardiovascular fitness at baseline and after 6 months of a structured exercise program that included aerobic and resistance training. While exercise improved cardiovascular fitness in persons with MCI, there was no improvement in cognitive function. Rather, MCI patients in this sample declined in performance on several tests sensitive to Alzheimer's disease. Examined in the context of past work, it appears exercise may be beneficial prior to the onset of MCI, though less helpful after its onset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This pilot, multiple case study primarily examined deconditioning effects on four physical fitness components in eight participants with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Fitness results after training were contrasted with fitness results immediately following two periods of inactivity. These preliminary data suggest that aspects of physical deconditioning among people with FMS may be highly individualized; therefore, making any generalizations about physical detraining in this population requires more study. Also, results regarding FMS symptoms and psychosocial factors following training versus no training on these eight participants suggest that deconditioning on these factors is very individualized. Knowledge of data-based, deconditioning information relative to FMS is important for professionals who work with older adult patients, especially activity directors who coordinate/direct recreational exercise programs or physical rehabilitation programs that involve exercise in nursing homes. Deconditioning effects from program closings, activity staff absences, or missing sessions for any reason may potentially affect fitness, FMS symptoms, psychosocial function, and possibly activities of daily living (ADL). This potential negative effect on ADL can increase workload and place much more stress on the nursing staff. All of this requires more research for a more thorough understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our understanding of the relationship between physical activity and health is constantly evolving. Therefore, the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences convened a panel of experts to review the literature and produce guidelines that health professionals might use. In the ABC of Physical Activity for Health, A is for All healthy adults, B is for Beginners, and C is for Conditioned individuals. All healthy adults aged 18-65 years should aim to take part in at least 150 min of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, or at least 75 min of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week, or equivalent combinations of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activities. Moderate-intensity activities are those in which heart rate and breathing are raised, but it is possible to speak comfortably. Vigorous-intensity activities are those in which heart rate is higher, breathing is heavier, and conversation is harder. Aerobic activities should be undertaken in bouts of at least 10 min and, ideally, should be performed on five or more days a week. All healthy adults should also perform muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days a week. Weight training, circuit classes, yoga, and other muscle-strengthening activities offer additional health benefits and may help older adults to maintain physical independence. Beginners should work steadily towards meeting the physical activity levels recommended for all healthy adults. Even small increases in activity will bring some health benefits in the early stages and it is important to set achievable goals that provide success, build confidence, and increase motivation. For example, a beginner might be asked to walk an extra 10 min every other day for several weeks to slowly reach the recommended levels of activity for all healthy adults. It is also critical that beginners find activities they enjoy and gain support in becoming more active from family and friends. Conditioned individuals who have met the physical activity levels recommended for all healthy adults for at least 6 months may obtain additional health benefits by engaging in 300 min or more of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, or 150 min or more of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity each week, or equivalent combinations of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activities. Adults who find it difficult to maintain a normal weight and adults with increased risk of cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes may in particular benefit from going beyond the levels of activity recommended for all healthy adults and gradually progressing towards meeting the recommendations for conditioned individuals. Physical activity is beneficial to health with or without weight loss, but adults who find it difficult to maintain a normal weight should probably be encouraged to reduce energy intake and minimize time spent in sedentary behaviours to prevent further weight gain. Children and young people aged 5-16 years should accumulate at least 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per day, including vigorous-intensity aerobic activities that improve bone density and muscle strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Physically active physicians are more apt to counsel patients about exercise.Purposes: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a physician fitness program on resident physician cardiovascular fitness, physical activity behavior/stage of change, and physical activity counseling behavior/attitudes.Methods: A prospective, intervention study with measurements at baseline (before intervention), 3 months (immediately after intervention), and 6 months (3 months after intervention) evaluated a multifaceted exercise program for 48 internal medicine residents. Resident physician cardiovascular fitness, energy expenditure, physical activity stage of change, knowledge, attitudes, and counseling behavior were measured.Results: Resident physician fitness significantly declined over time (baseline VO-170 = 29.1 ml/kg/min, first follow-up VO-170 = 27.3 ml/kg/min, and second follow-up VO-170 = 26.2 ml/kg/min; p = .001). Although there was no change in overall energy expenditure, the number of resident physicians in the precontemplation or contemplation stage of change significantly declined with a corresponding increase in the number in a"higher"stage of change at first (p = .0034) and second follow-up (p = .024). There was a nonsignificant increase in self-reported patient counseling. Resident physician counseling confidence and perceived success significantly improved at first follow-up only (p = .01 and p = .03, respectively).Conclusion: Although resident physician fitness and energy expenditure did not improve after intervention, a significant improvement in resident physician physical activity stage of change and attitudes toward patient counseling was noted. Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm whether these changes are attributable to the intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the cross-validation of the YMCA Submaximal Cycle Ergometer Test to predict maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). VO2max is an important indicator of health-risk status, specifically for coronary heart disease. Direct measurement of VO2max is considered to be the most accurate means of determining cardiovascular fitness level. According to a literature search, no published cross- validation specifically examines the YMCA submaximal cycle ergometer test. The mean difference of the prediction was calculated by subtnLcting TM VO2max from the YMCA-predicted VO2max.

Although the role of exercise in improving mood is well established, less is known about moderators of this effect, particularly outside of the laboratory. The current study examined the effect of gender, type of exercise, level of exertion, and duration of workout on the exercise-mood relationship in a naturalistic setting. One hundred and thirty five participants (64 females) either engaged in weight training ( n = 52) or cardiovascular ( n = 83) exercise. Pre- and post-exercise assessments of mood were collected and changes in two types of mood, negative mood and exhaustion , were examined. Overall, participants reported improved mood after exercise in both domains. Workout duration and level of exertion significantly moderated the relationship of exercise to mood improvement (i.e., an increase in either corresponded to greater improved mood, p s<0.05). Overall, women showed more improved mood than men in the domain of exhaustion ( p = 0.001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents abstracts of several research papers including "Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)," "Contrasting Pressure-Support Ventilation and Helium- Oxygen During Exercise in Severe COPD," and "Susceptibility to Exacerbation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease," published in different journals.

The article presents information related to physical health. Experts have recommended that youths between the ages of six and 18 should participate every day in 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity that is enjoyable and developmentally appropriate. Obesity may be less deadly than previously believed, but it remains a major killer according to a widely publicized study published in the April 20, 2005 issue of the "Journal of the American Medical Association." In a study presented last spring at the American College of Sports Medicine's annual Health and Fitness Summit & Exposition, researcher Michelle Olson and her research team found that Pilates enhances flexibility and muscular fitness and endurance, but may have little potential to improve cardiovascular fitness or to reduce body weight. A study published in the February 2005 issue of the "American Journal of Preventive Medicine," has tried to objectively quantify the "walkability" of a neighborhood and its effects on people's physical activity levels.

Discusses a study done at the Harvard School of Public Health on the link between leptin, obesity, exercise, cardiovascular health, and diabetes. Details on the exercise trials of the participants; How the manipulation of genes can alter obesity levels; Speculation of the researchers on the link of high leptin levels on heart disease.