Exercise intensity and reduction in neurotic symptoms. A controlled follow-up study

The psychological benefits of walking and jogging were compared in 52 symptomatic neurotics over an 8-week training period and subsequent 6-month follow-up. Both groups showed marked reduction of anxiety, depression and global symptoms. Joggers had greater aerobic gain, but no greater psychologic benefit. Significantly larger numbers of joggers dropped out of the study. There was no relationship between aerobic gain and reduction of symptoms at the end of the program. However, at 6 months' follow-up, those with greater aerobic fitness had much lower anxiety levels. Changes in exercise frequency and aerobic capacity were also maintained at follow-up. Depression levels were not associated with aerobic fitness at follow-up. High initial exercise intensity appears to inhibit the forming of new exercise habits.

The effects of exercise and cardiovascular fitness on stereotyped bodyrocking

A severely mentally retarded person residing in a large state institution participated in a 16-week cardiovascular conditioning program. The participant engaged in a high rate of stereotyped bodyrocking. Cardiovascular fitness was estimated by a measure of heart recovery rate obtained during the exercise periods. The amount of bodyrocking was measured prior to, during and following the implementation of the conditioning program. Increased fitness and decreased rates of bodyrocking were noted. These results are encouraging with regard to the implementation of fitness training programs for persons with severe retardation who reside in institutions.

Knee kinematics: the effects of running on cambers

The purpose of this study was to determine the three-dimensional kinematics of the knee joint during running on level surfaces and surfaces of different degrees of camber. Fifteen college-age students (eight males, seven females) having no previous history of knee injury were subjects. A triaxial elgon was used to measure the movement of each subject's right and left knees when running on a horizontal or laterally inclined treadmill at 2.4 m.s-1 during each experimental condition (on the horizontal surface and on cambers of +0.087, +0.174, -0.087, and -0.174 radians). There was a significant difference (P less than 0.05) between +0.174 and -0.174 rad camber mean values for all six dependent variables (i.e., support and swing, flexion-extension, internal and external rotation, and valgus-varus range of motion). There was also a significant difference (P less than 0.05) when +0.174 and -0.174 rad camber were compared to 0 rad camber during both the support and swing phases of flexion-extension. Surface camber mean values for +0.087 and -0.087 rad were significantly different (P less than 0.05) during the swing phase for internal and external rotation. This study showed that the kinematics of the knee joint are significantly altered when running on a laterally inclined surface.

Effect of exercise on the kidney of aging mice

Quantitative light microscopic and ultrastructural kidney changes were studied in young and old mice subjected to moderate exercise. While there was little or no change in the glomeruli of the young animals, the older age-group showed progressive and statistically significant mesangial sclerosis with obliteration of capillary lumina. Electron microscopy also showed electron dense deposits in both the mesangium and subendothelium. Kidney weight in the young mice subjected to exercise was decreased when compared with the controls, while old animals showed a higher kidney weight after 6 weeks of running exercise. Our results of progressive kidney changes in old exercising animals, together with previous studies on myocardial and skeletal muscle showing parallel changes, stress the need for careful clinical studies on the possible damage of these organs in older people who engage in jogging and heavy exercise.

Relations of moderate physical exercise to scores on hostility, aggression, and aggression, and trait-anxiety

100 male subjects were selected from a midwestern university and categorized into 5 jogging groups, advanced, intermediate, beginning, drop-out joggers and nonexercisers, who were administered the Commitment to Running Scale, the Buss-Durkee inventory measuring hostility and aggression, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Analysis of covariance with age as a covariate was performed using a 5 x 2 design with the 5 levels of jogging and status of the jogger (student/nonstudent) as independent variables. Fisher's LSD was used for multiple comparisons. Joggers scored higher than drop-outs or nonexercisers on the Commitment to Running Scale. Nonexercisers had higher mean scores on trait anxiety than advanced, intermediate, and drop-out joggers; advanced joggers had a lower mean trait-anxiety score than any other group. Nonexercisers had higher mean aggression and hostility scores than drop-out or advanced joggers; drop-out and advanced joggers did not differ significantly but their scores were significantly lower than those of other groups of joggers. These findings confirm that jogging affects trait anxiety, hostility, and aggression positively, which supports use of exercise preventively.

Long-term mild jogging increases insulin action despite no influence on body mass index or VO2 max

Physical training has been shown to improve glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. In the present study, insulin action was determined using the euglycemic clamp technique in six untrained nonobese subjects before, during, and after long-term mild regular jogging. After 1 yr of jogging, steady-state plasma insulin levels (I) decreased significantly, and the metabolic clearance rate of insulin was increased by 87%, although insulin infusion rate during the clamp was constant for each individual. The amount of glucose infused (glucose metabolism, M) tended to increase from 6.16 +/- 0.94 to 8.15 +/- 1.94 mg.kg-1.min-1 after regular jogging for 1 yr, although that was not statistically significant. However, M/I increases significantly from 0.060 +/- 0.012 to 0.184 +/- 0.056 (P less than 0.05) after 1 yr. The concentrations of plasma free fatty acids during the hyperinsulinemic clamp decreased more significantly after 1 yr of jogging (P less than 0.05). The concentrations of plasma glycerol decreased gradually before and after long-term regular jogging, showing only a 50-60% reduction in 120 min. Therefore, long-term mild regular jogging, which did not influence either body mass index or maximal O2 uptake, appears to improve insulin action in both carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and to increase the metabolic clearance rate of insulin.

Beta-endorphin and components of emotionality discriminate between physically active and sedentary men

Differences between physically active and sedentary men were tested by profile comparison. The study identifies the relative importance of circulating beta-endorphin (BE), atherosclerotic disease risk (ADR) index, and selected components of emotionality in discriminating between physically active and sedentary men. The subjects were psychologically normal and medically healthy middle-aged men. Jogging activity was the subject classification criterion. The data were collected on selected physiological (treadmill), biochemical (blood collected from resting subjects), and psychological (Eysenck and MMPI) variables. The physical fitness score (PFS) was used as an index of fitness. Physically active men with a high PFS (n = 21), when compared to the sedentary men with a low PFS (n = 15), exhibited lower basal plasma BE, lower ADR, lower anxiety index (AI), and lower MMPI depression score (D). Canonical correlation analysis showed that PFS and BE in one set were correlated with D and neuroticism (NS) in another set of variables. Discriminant function analysis showed that the AI was the most powerful discriminator between the physically active and sedentary men, followed by BE and NS. Interestingly, BE and NS exhibited the same magnitude of discrimination power. The ADR exhibited less discrimination power, relative to AI, BE, and NS. In conclusion, the physically active men, compared to the sedentary men in this study, exhibited lower basal plasma BE, which appeared to be associated with less atherosclerotic disease risk, less neuroticism, less anxiety, and less depression.

Induction of ovulation with subcutaneous pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone: correlation with body weight and other parameters

We treated 21 anovulatory infertile patients with subcutaneous pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) administered via a syringe pump. Response to treatment was assessed by urinary estrogen excretion and ultrasound measurement of follicular growth. Ten patients ovulated and 8 subsequently conceived, for a total of 10 pregnancies. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was not administered routinely, but two patients required hCG to induce follicular rupture. The majority of the patients who conceived had a body mass index (BMI) of less than 21 and a luteinizing hormone (LH)/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio of less than 1. Conversely, those patients with either elevated BMI or LH or both generally failed to respond satisfactorily to this treatment. It is suggested that pulsatile GnRH is most likely to succeed in inducing ovulation if the BMI is less than 21 and the LH is normal, but is unlikely to be successful if there is both an elevated LH and a BMI of greater than 25. Between these two extremes, the response is variable and a therapeutic trial may be appropriate.

Decreases in resting plasma beta-endorphin/-lipotropin after endurance training

The purpose of the present study was to investigate changes in the resting plasma beta-endorphin/-lipotropin (beta E/beta-LPH) concentration that may occur with exercise training. A treatment group (N = 10) of previously sedentary, psychologically normal, and medically healthy middle-aged men trained for 4 months in a structured fitness program. The treatment group was compared with two age-matched groups: a jogger group (N = 10) and a sedentary group (N = 10). Venous blood was collected in the early morning after the subjects had been fasting for at least 12 h. The subjects were also resting at the time of blood collection. Resting plasma beta E/beta-LPH (measured by radioimmunoassay) decreased (P less than 0.05) following the 4 months of exercise training in the treatment group, from 11.01 +/- 1.62 (SE) to 7.22 +/- 0.99 pmol.1-1. The jogger and sedentary groups demonstrated no changes in the resting plasma beta E/beta-LPH concentration following the 4 months. Aerobic fitness, measured by the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), increased (P less than 0.01) from 36.56 +/- 2.58 (SE) to 44.85 +/- 1.34 ml.kg-1.min-1 in the treatment group after the 4 months of training. There were no changes in VO2max for either the jogger group or the sedentary group following the 4 months. In conclusion, beta E/beta-LPH in the plasma of resting middle-aged men appeared to be decreased after 4 months of aerobic training.

Metabolic costs and heart rate responses to treadmill walking in water at different depths and temperatures

Treadmill walking/jogging in water is a potentially useful therapeutic modality. Since energy costs of this activity are unknown, we compared oxygen consumption (VO2) of treadmill walking/jogging in water to a dry treadmill at speeds of 40.23 to 160.9 meters/min (m/m) in 13.4 m/m increments in 11 subjects. At speeds greater than or equal to 53.6 m/m, ankle depth, below knee, midthigh, and waist depth walking/jogging in water significantly elevated VO2 and heart rate (HR) above dry treadmill walking (P less than 0.05). At speeds greater than or equal to 134.1 m/m, VO2 of waist depth jogging was not significantly greater than dry jogging. These findings showed no gender specificity. Treadmill walking/jogging in waist depth water at temperatures of 30.5 degrees C and 36.1 degrees C was compared to dry treadmill walking in five subjects. The rate of increase of HR compared to VO2 was significantly greater at 30.5 degrees C than dry walking, and greater at 36.1 degrees C than 30.5 degrees C (P less than 0.05). Treadmill walking in water can double the oxygen cost of movement depending on the depth and speed, and the response to increasing speed is nonlinear. Water temperature affects the relationship of HR to VO2 at waist depth, suggesting that water temperature can add a significant thermal load to the cardiovascular system. Metabolic and cardiovascular demands of treadmill walking/jogging in water must be considered when using this modality since greater external work results at much lower speeds than on land.

Piriformis syndrome

The author presents a case of a female runner with left buttock pain aggravated by exercise. She underwent extensive testing by other physicians and received cortisone injections on two occasions. The patient was referred to the podiatry department because of continued discomfort and the inability to run. Examination revealed pain on hip flexion and abduction against resistance. Because of the possibility of piriformis syndrome, she started stretching exercises, reduced her activity, and the pain disappeared. The diagnosis of piriformis syndrome was confirmed by a general surgeon.

Sudden death due to congenital malformation of coronary arteries

A case of sudden death of a 12-year-old girl after jogging, due to congenital malformation of coronary arteries, is presented.

Exercise reverses depressed metabolic rate produced by severe caloric restriction

The effects of caloric restriction and exercise on resting metabolic rate (RMR) were studied in five obese humans. Subjects consumed a 500 kcal.d-1 diet for 4 wk, with the subjects remaining sedentary during the first 2 wk and then exercising 30 min daily at 60% VO2max during the last 2 wk of caloric restriction. After 2 wk of dieting, RMR decreased to approximately 87% of the pre-dieting control value. Over the last 2 wk of dieting with the addition of daily exercise, the fall in RMR was reversed as it returned to the pre-dieting level. In summary, daily exercise reversed the drop in RMR associated with severe caloric restriction.

Effect of atenolol or prazosin on maximal exercise performance in hypertensive joggers

We evaluated maximal performance during cycle ergometry and treadmill exercise in 14 hypertensive male joggers treated with prazosin or atenolol in an unblinded, placebo-controlled, crossover design. Maximal oxygen uptake was measured during both exercise modalities; cardiac output was measured only during cycle ergometry using the acetylene rebreathing technique. Both drugs reduced resting systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Prazosin reduced total peripheral resistance during submaximal exercise but had little effect on maximal cycle and treadmill performance. Atenolol, in contrast, reduced treadmill duration, maximal oxygen uptake, and heart rate compared with placebo. Atenolol also increased stroke volume and the arterial venous oxygen difference and reduced cardiac output during cycle exercise. Both drugs produced similar reductions in exercise diastolic pressure, but exercise systolic pressure was lower only during atenolol treatment. Prazosin was better tolerated by the subjects and was preferred by 10 of the men. We conclude that both drugs effectively reduced resting blood pressure, but that atenolol decreased exercise cardiac output and may impede exercise performance in physically active hypertensive subjects.

Beta-endorphin and components of depression as powerful discriminators between joggers and sedentary middle-aged men

This study identifies the relative importance of resting plasma beta-endorphin, used as a marker of perceived stress, and components of non-clinical depression that discriminate between physically active joggers and sedentary men. The profiles of joggers (n = 10) and sedentary (n = 10) middle-aged men (40-60 yr) were compared. The jogger group had been running about 20 miles per week for at least 3 yr.

RESULTS

as expected, the joggers exhibited greater physical fitness, but lower circulating beta-endorphin (measured with the subjects at rest). The joggers also exhibited greater emotional stability (Eysenck scores), and lower depression (MMPI Scale 2 scores). In addition, the joggers had lower scores on MMPI subscales of depression: subjective depression, physical malfunctioning, mental dullness, and brooding. Multivariate discriminant function analyses showed that subjective depression, beta-endorphin, and physical malfunctioning were powerful discriminators between the jogger and sedentary groups.

IN CONCLUSION

(1) subjective depression appeared to be the MMPI component of depression that most powerfully discriminated between joggers and sedentary middle-aged men in this study. (2) Lower beta-endorphin may be an adaptation to exercise training and was related to greater emotional stability and lower depression, especially lower subjective depression. (3) The lower beta-endorphin in the jogger group may be related to lower perceived stress in the joggers, relative to the sedentary group.

[Compartment pressure of the anterior tibial area in jogging]

31 healthy persons had to run on a treadmill under defined conditions at a constant speed of 8 km/h. Pressure in the anterior flexor-muscles compartment was measured regulary in time before, during and after running; the size of the compartment was documented by sonography. The measured pressure was attached to the respective compartment size. The runners were divided into three groups based on characteristic pressure-courses: the normal-type with average values below 50 mmHg, the indifference-type with a distinctly higher pressure than 50 mmHg and the risk-type with values more than 70 mmHg. A correlation between exercise-pressure and time of post-exercising decrease of pressure was found. While the normal type reached the starting pressure within 6 minutes the indifference and risk type didn't succeed in decreasing after this period of time. No change of compartmental size was measured while the pressure increased on exertion.

Performance assessment of the Terry Fox jogging prosthesis for above-knee amputees

The Terry Fox jogging (TFJ) prosthesis was developed at Chedoke-McMaster Hospital to alleviate the asymmetric jogging pattern experienced by above-knee amputees when attempting to jog with conventional walking prostheses. This prosthesis features a spring-loaded, telescoping shank designed to eliminate any vaulting action and control the trunk motion during stance. The spring is intended to attenuate the impact forces and release its stored energy at push-off to provide momentum transfer to the jogger. This prosthesis was comprehensively assessed in the gait laboratory, by evaluating the kinematics, energy and power flow patterns of an above-knee amputee jogger wearing the TFJ prosthesis. Included in the assessment is the ability of the prosthesis to satisfy a set of relevant design criteria that have been established from non-amputee jogging patterns. An increased swing phase time for the prosthetic limb and the need to have the knee hyperextended throughout the stance phase contributed to an asymmetric jogging style. The telescoping action did lower the amputee's centre of mass, thereby reducing the vaulting effect. However, the spring only imparted a lifting action to the jogger and the ground reaction forces were double those of a non-amputee jogger. These findings clearly indicate a need to redesign the TFJ prosthesis and are being incorporated in the design of a new physiological jogging prosthesis.

Jogging and contrast sensitivity

Threshold contrast sensitivity was measured using sinusoidal gratings with the method of increasing contrast both before and after jogging in fresh air. The mean contrast sensitivity of 11 subjects was higher after jogging at all three spatial frequencies studied (1, 6 and 19 c/deg). The differences were statistically significant. The effect of jogging was subject to individual variation, some 'unstable' subjects responding strongly and some 'stable' subjects showing no change at all. Two 'unstable' subjects were tested several times, and their strong response proved to be repeatable.

Ventilatory threshold and training heart rate in exercising cardiac patients

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between previously prescribed training heart rates (THR) for patients training for six months or more in a cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP), calculated Karvonen percentage heart rate reserve (THRk), and the ventilatory threshold (VT). In twenty male patients (ages 41-63) with documented coronary heart disease (CAD) [non-medicated] mean training heart rate (THR, 75% HRmax) was determined by a telemetry during training sessions. Incremental treadmill testing for determinations of the gas-exchange VT VOE vs. (VO2, Excess CO2) was performed, and the HR at the VT (VTHR) was determined. VO2max was 35.57 +/- 5.57 mL.kg-1.min-1; the VT, expressed as a percentage of VO2max, was 54.45%. The mean THR (133.8 +/- 13.4 bpm) and calculated THRk (141.1 +/- 9.74 bpm) were significantly greater (p less than .05) than the VTHR (124.8 +/- 15.5 bpm), indicating that VT occurs below intensities determined by other methods.

Bilateral pelvic masses in a long-distance cyclist

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Changes in plasma lipids and lipoproteins in overweight men during weight loss through dieting as compared with exercise

We studied separately the influence of two methods for losing fat weight on the levels of plasma lipids and lipoproteins in overweight sedentary men--decreasing energy intake without increasing exercise (diet), and increasing energy expenditure without altering energy intake (exercise, primarily running)--in a one-year randomized controlled trial. As compared with controls (n = 42), dieters (n = 42) had significant loss of total body weight (-7.8 +/- 0.9 kg [mean +/- SE]), fat weight (-5.6 +/- 0.8 kg), and lean (non-fat) weight (-2.1 +/- 0.5 kg) (P less than 0.001 for each variable), and exercisers (n = 47) had significant loss of total body weight (-4.6 +/- 0.8 kg) and fat weight (-3.8 +/- 0.7 kg) (P less than 0.001 for both variables) but not lean weight (-0.7 +/- 0.4 kg). Fat-weight loss did not differ significantly between dieters and exercisers. All subjects were discouraged from altering their diet composition; however, dieters and exercisers had slight reductions in the percentage of kilojoules derived from fat. As compared with the control group, both weight-loss groups had significant increases (P less than 0.01) in plasma concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (diet vs. exercise, 0.13 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.12 +/- 0.03 mmol per liter), HDL2 cholesterol (0.07 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.07 +/- 0.02 mmol per liter), and HDL3 cholesterol (0.07 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.06 +/- 0.02 mmol per liter) and significant decreases (P less than 0.05) in triglyceride levels (diet vs. exercise, -0.35 +/- 0.14 vs. -0.24 +/- 0.12 mmol per liter). Levels of total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were not significantly changed, relative to values in controls. None of these changes were significantly different between dieters and exercisers. Thus, we conclude that fat loss through dieting or exercising produces comparable and favorable changes in plasma lipoprotein concentrations.