The effect of a 10-week Nordic walking training program on the level of GH and LH in elderly women

Effect of a 6-Week Cycle of Nordic Walking Training on Vitamin 25(OH)D3, Calcium-Phosphate Metabolism and Muscle Damage in Multiple Myeloma Patients-Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy affecting older adults. One of the most common myeloma-defining events is the development of symptomatic lytic bone disease. The serum concentrations of calcium (Ca), inorganic phosphorus (P), and vitamin 25(OH)D3 in the serum reflect bone metabolism. An enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a marker of muscle damage, but its serum activity also has an important prognostic value in MM. Myoglobin (Mb) is a small protein present in muscles; its serum level increases when myocytes are damaged. Objectives: In this study, the impact of a 6-week Nordic walking (NW) exercise program on blood parameters related to calcium-phosphate metabolism and damage of skeletal muscles was assessed. Patients and methods: A total of 33 patients with MM in the remission stage, without cytostatic treatment, were allocated and randomly assigned to one of two groups: 17 in the training group (NW) and 16 in the control group (CG). All patients were supplemented per os with vitamin D3 and calcium carbonate daily and received zoledronic acid every 4 weeks (intravenous). Nordic walking training sessions took place 3 times a week for 6 weeks, 1 h each. Blood samples were drawn before and after the 6 weeks of training sessions to assess the serum concentrations of vitamin 25(OH)D3, P, Ca, Mb, and LDH. Results: Patients from the NW group showed a statistically significant decrease in mean serum myoglobin concentration (p = 0.018) and an increase in 25(OH)D3 (p < 0.001) and total Ca (p = 0.001) concentrations. There were no statistically significant changes in the results obtained in CG. Between groups, after 6 weeks, Mb serum concentration was significantly lower in NW (p = 0.041), and 25(OH)D3 was higher (p < 0.001) compared to CG. There was a correlation between the changes in myoglobin, phosphorus, 25(OH)D3, and Ca concentrations after 6 weeks. Conclusions: NW training is a safe and beneficial form of physical exercise for patients with MM without inducing muscle damage. NW performed outside improves serum vitamin 25(OH)D3 concentration.

Postmenopausal women with high TNF-α concentrations presented less reduction in fat and blood lipids

Aims: evaluate the effects of a high-protein diet associated with physical exercise on inflammatory markers and body composition. Methods: the study is a 12-week clinical trial of 26 postmenopausal women who received an individualized high-protein food plan and participated in three multicomponent training sessions each week. Food intake was monitored through eight 24-hour food recalls, and the habitual food intake was estimated. At the beginning and end of the study, anthropometric variables were measured; fat content and lean mass were estimated using formulas, and blood was collected for C-reactive protein (CRP) quantification, including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-18. One-way ANOVA was performed.Results: it was identified that 13 participants had a high-protein (HP) diet and 13 had a standard-protein (SP) diet. The HP group lost weight (p = 0.032); however, there were no changes in the fat content, the lean mass content, or the inflammatory markers. Only women who started the program with lower TNF-α values showed significant loss of total fat (p = 0.049), visceral fat (p = 0.037), triglycerides (p = 0.031), and LDL cholesterol (p = 0.003). Conclusion: postmenopausal women with high concentrations of inflammatory markers are less responsive to strategies for modifying body composition. 

Can walking exercise programs improve health for women in menopause transition and postmenopausal? Findings from a scoping review

OBJECTIVE

Our goal was to explore the range and characteristics of published papers on therapeutic walking programs for menopausal women and to identify program features that resulted in successful outcomes including reduced symptoms and improved long-term wellness.

METHODS

We searched biomedical and exercise-related databases for articles published up to June 1, 2017, using keywords related to menopause and walking. Data were collected into EndNote X8 reference manager to identify and remove duplicates. The final selection included all articles that studied walking as a health intervention for women in menopause transition or postmenopausal.

RESULTS

A total of 3,244 papers were collected from the six databases. After removing duplicates and applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 96 articles were charted, including 77 different walking programs. Walking interventions ranged from 4 weeks to 3 years with an average weekly frequency of 3.8 ± 1.8 and were applied to a variety of symptoms and their biological markers and risk factors. Overall, 91% of the programs showed a beneficial outcome in at least one menopause-related medical issue. Information on menopause-specific symptoms, especially vasomotor symptoms and sleep problems, was scarce.

CONCLUSION

The scoping review highlights the growing interest in walking programs as therapies for menopause and related symptoms and provides evidence of their possible benefit as a wellness option for women in menopause and beyond. Further research would be recommended to establish the therapeutic value of walking programs for women with specific focus on typical menopause symptoms at different stages of menopause. : Video Summary:http://links.lww.com/MENO/A587.

The Effects of Nordic Walking Compared to Conventional Walking on Aerobic Capacity and Lipid Profile in Women Over 55 Years of Age

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Nordic Walking compared to conventional walking on aerobic capacity, the lipid profile, left ventricular ejection fraction, body mass, and body mass index in women over 55 years old.

METHODS

The study was comprised of 74 women over 55 years of age. Participants were randomized to the Nordic Walking (n = 38) or conventional walking (n = 36) training groups. The echocardiogram, treadmill exercise stress test, lipid profile, and body mass were assessed at baseline (pretest) and after 12 weeks (posttest).

RESULTS

The authors found a significant main effect over time in duration (effect size [ES] = 0.59, P < .0001), distance covered (ES = 0.56, P < .0001), peak oxygen consumption (ES = 0.43, P < .0001), metabolic equivalent (ES = 0.29, P < .0001), peak heart rate (ES = 0.2, P < .0001), peak diastolic blood pressure (ES = 0.11, P = .0045), total cholesterol (ES = 0.26, P < .0001), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (ES = 0.16, P = .0005). The authors did not observe a time versus group interaction or the effect between groups. Post hoc tests revealed significant pretraining to posttraining differences in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol after the Nordic Walking training program and in peak diastolic blood pressure after the conventional walking training program. The heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure at rest, peak diastolic blood pressure, somatic parameters (body mass and body mass index), and left ventricular ejection fraction did not change in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

Both training programs resulted in increases in aerobic capacity and decreases in total cholesterol.

Artificial Neural Network Correlation and Biostatistics Evaluation of Physiological and Molecular Parameters in Healthy Young Individuals Performing Regular Exercise

Studies support that regular physical activity (PA) decelerates senescence-related decline of physiological and molecular parameters in the elderly. We have addressed the other end of this spectrum: healthy and young, inactive individuals participated in a 6-month long personal trainer-guided lifestyle program. We have measured physiological and molecular parameters (differentiating high- and low responders) and their correlation with PA (sedentary status). Cluster analysis helped to distinguish individuals with high- or low PA and differentiate high- and low-responders of each parameter. The assessed cardiovascular parameters (heart rate, blood pressure, 6-min walking distance, relative VO₂max), body composition parameters (body fat and muscle mass percentage) metabolic parameters (glucose, insulin, HDL, LDL), immune parameters (cortisol, CRP, lymphocyte counts, hTREC) all showed improvement. Artificial neural network analysis (ANN) showed correlation efficiencies of physiological and molecular parameters using a concept-free approach. ANN analysis appointed PA as the mastermind of molecular level changes. Besides sedentary status, insulin and hTREC showed significant segregation. Biostatistics evaluation also supported the schism of participants for their sedentary status, insulin concentration and hTREC copy number. In the future ANN and biostatistics, may predict individual responses to regular exercise. Our program reveals that high responder individuals of certain parameters may be low responders of others. Our data show that moderate regular PA is essential to counteract senescence in young and healthy individuals, despite individual differences in responsiveness. Such PA may not seem important in the everyday life of young and healthy adults, but shall become the base for healthy aging.

Effects of recreational football on women's fitness and health: adaptations and mechanisms

The review describes the fitness and health effects of recreational football in women aged 18-65 years. The review documents that 2 × 1 h of recreational football training for 12-16 weeks causes marked improvements in maximal oxygen uptake (5-15%) and myocardial function in women. Moreover, mean arterial blood pressure was shown to decrease by 2-5 mmHg in normotensive women and 6-8 mmHg in hypertensive women. This review also show that short-term (< 4 months) and medium-term (4-16 months) recreational football training has major beneficial impact on metabolic health profile in women, with fat losses of 1-3 kg and improvements in blood lipid profile. Lastly, 2 × 1 h per week of recreational football training for women elevates lower extremity bone mineralisation by 1-5% and whole-body bone mineralization by 1-2% within 4-12-month interventions. These training adaptations are related to the high heart rates, high number of fast runs, and multiple changes of direction and speed occurring during recreational football training for untrained women. In conclusion, regular small-sided football training for women is an intense and versatile type of training that combines elements of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), endurance training and strength training, thereby providing optimal stimuli for cardiovascular, metabolic and musculoskeletal fitness. Recreational football, therefore, seems to be an effective tool for prevention and treatment of lifestyle diseases in young and middle-aged women, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes and osteopenia. Future research should elucidate effects of football training for elderly women, and as treatment and rehabilitation of breast cancer patients and other women patient groups.

Physical activity initiated by employer and its health effects; an eight week follow-up study

Background

While the health benefits of physical activity are well established, little is known about health effects of physical activity programs initiated by employer.

Methods

Background data and level of physical activity were collected by questionnaire among 78 men and 43 women working in road maintenance pre and post an 8-week physical activity motivational program. As a part of the program steps measured by accelerometer were registered online where team and individual performances could be continuously monitored. The physical activity levels were registered as 1) those physical active ≤1 time per week, 2) 2–3 times per week and 3) ≥4 times a week. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max), blood pressure, resting heart rate (RHR) and blood samples (glycosylated hemoglobin, lipids and C-reactive protein) were obtained at baseline and after eight weeks. Mixed models were applied to evaluate associations between physical activity and health parameters.

Results

With ≤1 time per week as reference, exercising 2–3 times per week at baseline was associated with higher levels of VO_2max. During follow-up, VO_2max increased with 2.8 mL ∙ kg⁻¹∙ min⁻¹ (95 % CI = 1.4, 4.3).

Women had more favorable body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, RHR and lipid profile than men. Total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), RHR and diastolic blood pressure (dBP) were lower among participants who exercised 2–3 times per week or ≥4 times a week, compared with those with ≤1 time per week. Half of the participants reported increased daily PA during follow-up, with high intensity PA such as jogging by 8.6 min (SD 14.6) and 8.3 min (SD 18.2), among women and men, respectively. During follow-up dBP increased among men. Further, total cholesterol and LDL were reduced by 0.12 mmol/L and 0.13 mmol/L, respectively (95 % CI = −022, –0.01 and −0.22,–0.04).

Conclusions

Exercise several times a week was associated with lower blood pressure and a favorable lipid status compared to lower weekly activity. During the 8-week follow-up of an employer initiated exercise program VO_2max increased, while total cholesterol and LDL were reduced.

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN13033050. Registered 21 August 2015.