Benefits of Regular Exercise on Inflammatory and Cardiovascular Risk Markers in Normal Weight, Overweight and Obese Adults

Adherence to and effects on physical function parameters of a community-based standardised exercise programme for overweight or obese patients carried out by local sports clubs

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the adherence to a sports-club-based standardised real-life exercise programme for overweight or obese patients. The effects on physical function parameters, anthropometry and quality of life were also assessed.

STUDY DESIGN

Within this prospective cohort study data from patients in Austrian sports-club-based programmes were analysed.

METHODS

Sports-club-based programmes were held twice a week and carried out by local trainers. The target group was overweight or obese patients. Adherence was determined after 2 and 6 months, and physical function parameters were evaluated at baseline and after 2 months.

RESULTS

A total of 71 patients (age: 52.0; standard deviation [SD: 12.1] years; body mass index [BMI]: 37.3 [SD: 8.2] kg/m²) took part in the study. Within the first 2 months the adherence rate was 62%, while 20% (14/71) participated in ≥75% of all offered sessions. After 6 months, 49% (17/35) of the retained sample still participated regularly in an exercise class. At baseline, muscle strength represented only 70% of the age- and sex-specific reference values and could be increased in a range from +4.0% (1.3 [SD: 3.0] kg; muscular endurance for the pectoral muscles) to +22.5% (16.1 [SD: 17.5] kg) (muscular endurance for the lower limb muscles). Concerning endurance capacity, the heart rate for a constant submaximal workload decreased from 126.4 (SD: 21.7) beats per minute at baseline to 120.9 (SD: 21.1) after 2 months (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Sports clubs, as a non-clinical setting, can offer attractive standardised exercise programmes for a minority of overweight or obese patients. Long term changes in life-style, that result in sufficient levels of health enhancing physical activity still remain a huge public health challenge.

Metabolic and Functional Profile of Premenopausal Women With Metabolic Syndrome After Training With Elastics as Compared to Free Weights

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a strength training program (STP) using free weights (FW) versus elastic tubing (ET) in 62 premenopausal, sedentary women diagnosed with metabolic syndrome (MS). Participants were randomly assigned to the FW or ET experimental group (EG) or a control group whose members remained sedentary. Members of each EG followed their assigned STP for 12 weeks, and biomarkers (BMs) related to MS and motor function (MF) parameters were evaluated. Both EGs showed a significant reduction in C-reactive protein level and a positive trend in the other BMs. Almost all MF parameters increased significantly in both EGs. No positive changes were found in the CG. These results indicate that the implementation of an STP, with either FW or ET, improves both metabolic health and MF and should be considered part of the basic approach to health care in women.

Inflammatory Mechanisms Associated with Skeletal Muscle Sequelae after Stroke: Role of Physical Exercise

Inflammatory markers are increased systematically and locally (e.g., skeletal muscle) in stroke patients. Besides being associated with cardiovascular risk factors, proinflammatory cytokines seem to play a key role in muscle atrophy by regulating the pathways involved in this condition. As such, they may cause severe decrease in muscle strength and power, as well as impairment in cardiorespiratory fitness. On the other hand, physical exercise (PE) has been widely suggested as a powerful tool for treating stroke patients, since PE is able to regenerate, even if partially, physical and cognitive functions. However, the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of physical exercise in poststroke patients remain poorly understood. Thus, in this study we analyze the candidate mechanisms associated with muscle atrophy in stroke patients, as well as the modulatory effect of inflammation in this condition. Later, we suggest the two strongest anti-inflammatory candidate mechanisms, myokines and the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, which may be activated by physical exercise and may contribute to a decrease in proinflammatory markers of poststroke patients.