Effects of Organized Physical Activity on Selected Health Indices among Women Older than 55 Years

Biohumoral Indicators Influenced by Physical Activity in the Elderly

In the scientific landscape, there is a growing interest in defining the role of several biomolecules and humoral indicators of the aging process and in the modifications of these biomarkers induced by physical activity and exercise. The main aim of the present narrative review is to collect the available evidence on the biohumoral indicators that could be modified by physical activity (PA) in the elderly. Online databases including Pubmed, Web of science (Medline), and Scopus were searched for relevant articles published in the last five years in English. Keywords and combination of these used for the search were the following: “biological”, “indicators”, “markers”, “physical”, “activity”, and “elderly”. Thirty-four papers were analyzed for inclusion. Twenty-nine studies were included and divided into four categories: cardiovascular (CV) biomarkers, metabolic biomarkers, inflammatory markers-oxidative stress molecules, and other markers. There are many distinct biomarkers influenced by PA in the elderly, with promising results concerning the metabolic and CV indexes, as a growing number of studies demonstrate the role of PA on improving parameters related to heart function and CV risk like atherogenic lipid profile. Furthermore, it is also a verified hypothesis that PA is able to modify the inflammatory status of the subject by decreasing the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). PA seems also to be able to have a direct effect on the immune system. There is a strong evidence of a positive effect of PA on the health of elderly people that could be evidenced and “quantified” by the modifications of the levels of several biohumoral indicators.

Effect of six-week intervention program on postural stability measures and muscle coactivation in senior-aged women

Objective

The objective involved the analysis of the efficiency of the Program of Movement Recreation of Elderly People (PMREP) exercise program expressed in terms of the stabilography measures and coactivation of muscles in women in the age group of 60–70 years. The assumption that was assumed stems from theoretical implications that the adequate postural stability is manifested in the decrease of the body sways measured by means of a force plate.

Materials and methods

The study involved a group of 60 females, all members of the active seniors’ association. The subjects were in the age range from 60 to 70 years. The subjects were divided into 2 groups of equal size: control and experimental. Subjects in both groups participated in the rehabilitation exercises: experimental (n=16, PMREP – twice a week/60 minutes), control (n=27, PMREP – only once a week/60 minutes).

Results

The study demonstrated that the completion of a 6-week PMREP program resulted in a decrease in the variability and velocity as well as indicators representing center of pressure displacement measured in the feet for the exercises performed with closed eyes with subjects standing on a high foam pad located on a force plate (P=0.001). No significant changes in coactivation of the calf muscles were recorded in the subjects.

Conclusion

The study concludes that a PMREP rehabilitation plan with an adequate program and frequency leads to an improvement of the vestibular system coupled with proprioception understood as an integrated process of sensor activation in the body. However, in regard to the coactivation of the muscles involved in maintaining postural stability, no significant differences have been observed.

Exercise Modulates Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Aging and Cardiovascular Diseases

Despite the wealth of epidemiological and experimental studies indicating the protective role of regular physical activity/exercise training against the sequels of aging and cardiovascular diseases, the molecular transducers of exercise/physical activity benefits are not fully identified but should be further investigated in more integrative and innovative approaches, as they bear the potential for transformative discoveries of novel therapeutic targets. As aging and cardiovascular diseases are associated with a chronic state of oxidative stress and inflammation mediated via complex and interconnected pathways, we will focus in this review on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions of exercise, mainly exerted on adipose tissue, skeletal muscles, immune system, and cardiovascular system by modulating anti-inflammatory/proinflammatory cytokines profile, redox-sensitive transcription factors such as nuclear factor kappa B, activator protein-1, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha, antioxidant and prooxidant enzymes, and repair proteins such as heat shock proteins, proteasome complex, oxoguanine DNA glycosylase, uracil DNA glycosylase, and telomerase. It is important to note that the effects of exercise vary depending on the type, intensity, frequency, and duration of exercise as well as on the individual's characteristics; therefore, the development of personalized exercise programs is essential.