Effect of regular swimming exercise on the physical composition, strength, and blood lipid of middle-aged women

Health Benefits of Different Sports: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal and Intervention Studies Including 2.6 Million Adult Participants

BACKGROUND

Several reviews have examined the health benefits of participation in specific sports, such as baseball, cricket, cross-country skiing, cycling, downhill skiing, football, golf, judo, rugby, running and swimming. However, new primary studies on the topic have recently been published, and the respective meta-analytic evidence needs to be updated.

OBJECTIVES

To systematically review, summarise and appraise evidence on physical health benefits of participation in different recreational sports.

METHODS

Searches for journal articles were conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, SpoLit, SPORTDiscus, Sports Medicine & Education Index and Web of Science. We included longitudinal and intervention studies investigating physical health outcomes associated with participation in a given sport among generally healthy adults without disability.

RESULTS

A total of 136 papers from 76 studies conducted among 2.6 million participants were included in the review. Our meta-analyses of available evidence found that: (1) cycling reduces the risk of coronary heart disease by 16% (pooled hazard ratio [HR] = 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.80, 0.89), all-cause mortality by 21% (HR = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.73, 0.84), cancer mortality by 10% (HR = 0.90; 95% CI: 0.85, 0.96) and cardiovascular mortality by 20% (HR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.74, 0.86); (2) football has favourable effects on body composition, blood lipids, fasting blood glucose, blood pressure, cardiovascular function at rest, cardiorespiratory fitness and bone strength (p < 0.050); (3) handball has favourable effects on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.050); (4) running reduces the risk of all-cause mortality by 23% (HR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.70, 0.85), cancer mortality by 20% (HR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.72, 0.89) and cardiovascular mortality by 27% (HR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.57, 0.94) and improves body composition, cardiovascular function at rest and cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.010); and (5) swimming reduces the risk of all-cause mortality by 24% (HR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.92) and improves body composition and blood lipids (p < 0.010).

CONCLUSIONS

A range of physical health benefits are associated with participation in recreational cycling, football, handball, running and swimming. More studies are needed to enable meta-analyses of health benefits of participation in other sports. PROSPERO registration number CRD42021234839.

Shoulder pain and injury risk factors in competitive swimmers: A systematic review

AIM

To synthesize and assess the literature for shoulder pain and injury risk factors in competitive swimmers.

DESIGN

Systematic review with best-evidence synthesis.

DATA SOURCES

CINHAL, SportDiscus, Scorpus, PubMed, and Embase databases from 1966 to April 30 2022.

SEARCH AND INCLUSION

Cohort, cross-sectional, and case-control studies investigating shoulder pain or injury risk factors in competitive swimmers were included. Quality of eligible studies were assessed using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Risk factors were divided into four categories: modifiable-intrinsic, modifiable-extrinsic, non-modifiable, and other/secondary.

RESULTS

Of 1356 studies identified, 24 full texts were evaluated for methodological quality, 22 met the criteria and were included in best evidence synthesis. There was no strong evidence supporting or refuting the association between 80 assessed variables and shoulder injury or pain. The swimmers' competitive level (nondirectional), and shoulder muscle recruitment profiles (e.g., increased activity of serratus anterior) exhibited moderate evidence supporting an association. Conversely, internal and external range of motion, middle finger back scratch test, training frequency, specialty stroke, height/weight, sex, and age all had moderate evidence opposing an association. Limited evidence was found for 58 variables, and conflicting for 8. The highest quality study (n = 201) suggested high acute-to-chronic workload ratio and reduced posterior shoulder strength endurance are associated with injury.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to the paucity of high-quality studies, future prospective studies are needed to reevaluate known risk factor associations over exploring additional potential risk factors. Swimming practitioners should be aware of the nondirectional association of a swimmer's competitive level and pain, as squad changes could impact injury incidence. Moreover, swimmers experiencing shoulder pain may show increased activity in shoulder stabilizers during specific movements. Importantly, shoulder strength-endurance may be the most clinically relevant modifiable intrinsic risk factor.

Relationship of strength, joint kinesthesia, and plantar tactile sensation to dynamic and static postural stability among patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Objective: Postural stability is essential for high-level physical activities after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). This study was conducted to investigate the relationship of muscle strength, joint kinesthesia, and plantar tactile sensation to dynamic and static postural stability among patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Methods: Forty-four patients over 6 months post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (age: 27.9 ± 6.8 years, height: 181.7 ± 8.7 cm, weight: 80.6 ± 9.4 kg, postoperative duration: 10.3 ± 3.6 months) participated in this study. Their static and dynamic postural stability, muscle strength, hamstring/quadriceps ratio, joint kinesthesia, and plantar tactile sensation were measured. Partial correlations were used to determine the correlation of the above-mentioned variables with time to stabilization (TTS) and root mean square of the center of pressure (COP-RMS) in anterior-posterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions. Results: Both TTS_AP and TTS_ML were related to muscle strength and joint kinesthesia of knee flexion and extension; COP-RMS_AP was correlated with plantar tactile sensations at great toe and arch, while COP-RMS_ML was correlated with joint kinesthesia of knee flexion, and plantar tactile sensation at great toe and heel. Dynamic stability was sequentially correlated with strength and joint kinesthesia, while static stability was sequentially correlated with plantar tactile sensation and joint kinesthesia. Conclusion: Among patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, strength is related to dynamic postural stability, joint kinesthesia is related to dynamic and static postural stability, and plantar tactile sensation is related to static postural stability. Strength has a higher level of relationship to dynamic stability than joint kinesthesia, and plantar tactile sensation has a higher level of relationship to static stability than joint kinesthesia.

Evidence-Based Musculoskeletal Care for Swimmers: A Critical Analysis Review

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Swimming is a popular activity with numerous health benefits.

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Swimming involves complex biomechanical movements that, especially if performed incorrectly, can lead to musculoskeletal injuries.

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The shoulder is the most commonly affected joint, although lower-extremity and spine injuries have also been reported.

Predictors of regular physical activity behavior and quality of life in post-menopausal Iranian women based on the multi-theory model

This research aims to identify the predictive factors related to the initiation and sustaining of regular physical activity behaviors and their influence in adapting to menopausal symptoms. The study uses the multi-theory model (MTM) as the conceptual framework. The descriptive cross-sectional research was conducted on 200 post-menopausal women aged 45-55 years. All participants were referred to health centers, where they completed a three-part questionnaire involving: demographic information, a questionnaire on the influence of regular physical activity on the onset and sustaining of menopause using the MTM, and a standard questionnaire of menopausal quality of life. Data were collected, managed, and analyzed using SPSS 20 and AMOS 23 software. This study reveals that behavioral confidence and changes in the physical environment with coefficients of 0.55 and 0.14 respectively had a direct and significant impact on the initiation of regular physical activity-related behaviors during menopause. The construct of participatory dialogue had no significant impact on the initiation of regular physical activity-related behaviors and menopause. Regarding the sustainability of regular physical activity, the emotional transformation construct with a coefficient of 0.73 and change in social environment construct with a coefficient of 0.11 directly and significantly impact keeping regular physical activity behaviors due to menopause. Therefore, interventions based on the MTM can prove very useful for this specific population. In addition, the use of constructs validated by this study will especially be useful in producing evidence-based intervention for the target population.

Study of Anthropometric and Body Composition Variables in the Overweight/Obese, Sedentary Elderly Men Using WATERinMOTION Aqua Training: A cross-Sectional Study

Background: The effect of aqua training on human body composition still causes inconsistency. Objectives: This study was set to identify the effects of WATERinMOTION (WiM) as a water-based exercise on anthropometric and body composition variables without dietetic supervision in overweight/obese, sedentary elderly men. Methods: Participants (n = 70; age: 70.5 ± 4.4 years) derived by purposive and accessible selection were randomly distributed to either a one-month WiM aqua training group (n = 35, two weekly sessions each included 55 minutes on WiM aqua training) or a control group (n = 35, at the same time in sitting state). Anthropometric measures (height, weight, and waist circumference [WC]) and body composition variables (body mass index [BMI], fat mass [FM], total body water [TBW], and free fat mass [FFM]) were evaluated pre/post-study. Results: Upon analysis, statistically significant changes (P ≤ 0.05) were set on weight, BMI, and FM by comparing pre/post study for the WiM group. Furthermore, comparing groups at post disclosed a significant change in anthropometric measures (weight and WC) and body composition variables (BMI, FM, TBW, and FFM). Conclusions: A short-run, non-diet-supervised WiM program suggests supporting a loss in weight, FM, and BMI in overweight/obese, sedentary elderly men.

Assessment of Structure, Function, and Rhythm of the Heart with Echocardiography and Electrocardiography in Adolescent Swimmers

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiac parameters by using electrocardiography and echocardiography in adolescent swimmers. Twenty-two adolescent swimmers and 22 gender- and age-matched sedentary controls admitted to our center between November 2018 and May 2019 were included in this study. In addition to demographical characteristics, participants were assessed via a 12-lead electrocardiography and two-dimensional echocardiography for cardiac function. On the echocardiography, end-systolic and end-diastolic interventricular septum, end-systolic and end-diastolic left ventricular posterior wall thicknesses, left atrial width, Tricuspid E, left ventricular mass and left ventricular mass index were higher in the swimmers when compared to the sedentary controls (P < 0.05). On the electrocardiography, Tp-e duration which reflects ventricular transmural repolarization, and Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/corrected QT ratios were higher in the swimmers than the sedentary controls (P < 0.05). In conclusion, swimming exercise in children leads to concentric thickening of left ventricle and induces an increase in Tp-e duration, and Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/corrected QT ratios, which are the novel markers for risk of ventricular arrhythmias.

An Updated Review of the Epidemiology of Swimming Injuries

OBJECTIVE

To carry out a systematic review to update the scientific evidence on the incidence and prevalence of injuries in the swimming discipline, as well as the location, type, and mechanism of the injuries, and to assess whether studies are meeting methodological recommendations for data collection and injury surveillance. TYPE: Analytical-Systematic review.

LITERATURE SURVEY

The databases of PubMed and Sportdiscus were used to search for studies that describe the epidemiology of injuries in adult swimmers between 2010 and March 2020.

METHODOLOGY

Of the 864 articles identified, 14 studies were finally included in this review. The methodological quality of the studies was analyzed with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) scale and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed.

SYNTHESIS

The results showed a high prevalence of shoulder, knee, and lower back injuries among swimmers due to overuse. These injuries were mainly short-term tendon muscles; there were reported data differences between genders.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the publication of an injury surveillance single and multisport events document and a consensus on data collection and injury surveillance in swimming, there are huge methodological limitations that do not allow firm conclusions. As such, more epidemiological studies following guidelines for data collection and injury surveillance are needed to establish differences by gender, age group, and swimming stroke.

Barriers towards exercise and physical activity of different ethnic groups in middle-aged female Singaporeans

The government has collaborated with the Health Promotion Board in coming out a bountiful of initiatives for the citizens to engage in exercise. Despite the initiatives, the obesity rate in middle-aged women is still high. This study seeks to understand and identify the vast barriers that prevent middle-aged women from exercising. Purposive sampling and semi-structured interview were conducted for the participants. The analysis of the interview revealed the significance of barriers in three areas: Priority of Family and Work Commitments, Minimal Promotion of Subsidized Initiatives by the Government, and Discrimination through the Usage of Language. It highlights that racial barriers are minimal and better time management would be appropriate to engage a healthier lifestyle. The study suggested female Singaporeans to incorporate sports in the lifestyle, more aggressive promotion of subsidized initiatives and the use of common languages (English) in the exercise class.

Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction and Future Pharmacological Strategies: a Glance in the Crystal Ball

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The current definition of heart failure is mainly based on an inappropriate measure of cardiac function, i.e., left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The initial sole entity, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF, LVEF <40%), was complemented by the addition of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF, LVEF ≥50%) and most recently, heart failure with mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF, LVEF 40-49%). Initially, HFpEF was believed to be a purely left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Pathophysiological concepts of HFpEF have changed considerably during the last years. In addition to intrinsic cardiac mechanisms, the heart failure pathogenesis is increasingly considered as driven by non-cardiac systemic processes including metabolic disorders, ischemic conditions, and pro-inflammatory/pro-fibrotic or immunological alterations. Presentation and pathophysiology of HFpEF is heterogeneous, and its management remains a challenge since evidence of therapeutic benefits is scarce. Up to now, there are no therapies improving survival in patients with HFpEF.

RECENT FINDINGS

Several results from clinical and preclinical interventions targeting non-cardiac mechanisms or non-pharmacological interventions including new anti-diabetic or anti-inflammatory drugs, mitochondrial-targeted anti-oxidants, anti-fibrotic strategies, microRNases incl. antagomirs, cell therapeutic options, and high-density lipoprotein-raising strategies are promising and under further investigation. This review addresses mechanisms and available data of current best clinical practice and novel approaches towards HFpEF.