The Effect of Aquatic Exercise on Postural Mobility of Healthy Older Adults with Endomorphic Somatotype

Effect of 4-weeks exercise program using wearable hip-assist robot (EX1) in older adults: one group pre- and post- test

BACKGROUND

Older adults have muscle loss and are at risk of falling. Recently, research in the healthcare field has been actively conducted, and Samsung Electronics has developed EX1, a hip joint assisted robot for exercise. This study aimed to verify the effect of a 4-week combined exercise program applying EX1 on older adults.

METHODS

This study design was an evaluator-blinded, pre- and post-test. A total of 21 older adults performed an exercise program consisting of walking and fitness wearing EX1 for 50 min per session, 3 days a week during the 4-week exercise period. For comparison before and after participating in the exercise program, the spatio-temporal parameters, pelvic movement were analyzed by G-Walk, functional outcomes were evaluated by TUG, muscle power were evaluated by RUSI, and waist-hip ratio were analyzed by Inbody. All data were analyzed before and after exercise using paired t-test, and the statistical significance level was set at 0.05.

RESULTS

In spatio-temporal parameters, stride length showed statistically significant improvements after exercise with EX1 (P < 0.01). Also, propulsion showed statistically significant improvements after exercise with EX1 (P < 0.01) Regarding changes of the gait posture, there was a statistically significant improvement in pelvic movement (P < 0.05). In the functional evaluation, the time required was statistically significantly reduced in the timed up and go test (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate that a 4-week exercise program with EX1 was effective in improving the functional gait of the elderly. However, because the participants were 21, it is difficult to generalize the results.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical Research Information Service, KCT0007367. Registered 08/06/2022.

Analysis of Postural Control in Patients Diagnosed with Unilateral Knee Osteoarthrosis and Its Relationship with the Risk of Falls

Introduction

Knee osteoarthrosis, whether subtle or marked, appears to alter the stability and performance of the knee joint in activities of daily living that prevent the maintenance of bipedal posture. However, there is still a gap in the literature as to how knee osteoarthritis can affect static balance.

Objective

To analyze the performance of postural control in elderly diagnosed with unilateral knee osteoarthrosis.

Materials and Methods

40 elderly people of both sexes participated in this study, divided into two groups containing 20 elderly each. Group 1 (G1) consists of elderly patients who have received a diagnosis of unilateral knee osteoarthritis. Despite undergoing conservative treatment, their condition has shown insufficient improvement, leading to a clinical recommendation for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The G2 group was made up of 20 elderly with an average age of 71.09 years, considered active, who do not have a diagnosis of osteoarthritis in the knee joint and practice physical activity. With the aid of a Baroscan pressure platform, the center of pressure (COP) displacement in the anteroposterior (COPAP) direction and mediolateral direction (COPML) and the area of center of pressure displacement were evaluated during bipedal postural control with eyes open and eyes closed.

Results

During postural control with eyes open and eyes closed, the G1 group showed greater displacement of the COP in the anteroposterior direction-COPAP (p = 0.007)-and mediolateral direction-COPML (p = 0.033)-when compared to the G2 group. As for the area of displacement of the COP, group G1 presented a larger area of displacement (p = 0.002) than group G2 during bipedal postural control with open eyes. For the condition with eyes closed, both groups showed similar behaviors, which resulted in no present statistically significant differences.

Conclusion

The results suggest that unilateral knee osteoarthritis influences bipedal postural control and activities of daily living that require this static balance, since information from the somatosensory system is reduced, resulting in stability of tasks that require body control and promoting the risk of falls. From a clinical perspective, the results suggest that the assessment of bipedal postural control can assist orthopedic physicians in assessing joint stability in patients with unilateral knee osteoarthrosis.

Effects of different exercise modalities on lipid profile in the elderly population: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Dyslipidemia, characterized by elevated total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), as well as decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), has long been recognized as a major risk factor for age-related diseases. Recent studies have shown that exercise can be effective in mitigating dyslipidemia in older adults. The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the effects of different exercise modalities (aerobic exercise [AE], resistance exercise [RE], aerobic+resistance exercise [AE+RE], and high-intensity interval training) on lipid profile in the elderly population, in order to identify the most effective exercise modality for maintaining lipid profile health in older adults.

METHODS

A comprehensive database search of PubMed, EBSCO, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang database. Eligible studies were individually assessed according to the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool version 2, and the data were analyzed and processed using RevMan 5.4.1 analysis software.

RESULTS

This study identified 20 randomized controlled trials with a total of 988 subjects, of which 541 were in the exercise group and 447 in the control group. Our analysis showed that AE significantly reduced TC (P < .05), triglycerides (P < .01), and LDL-C (P < .01), while increasing HDL-C (P < .01) in the elderly population. RE significantly reduced the elevation of TC (P < .01) and LDL-C (P < .05) indices in the elderly population, while AE+RE had a significant effect on decreasing TC (P < .01) and LDL-C (P < .01) indices.

CONCLUSION

Our analysis indicates that AE is the most effective exercise modality for reducing dyslipidemia in older adults, compared to RE, AE+RE, and high-intensity interval training. These findings suggest that AE should be promoted as an important lifestyle intervention to improve lipid profile health in the elderly population. However, further research is needed to investigate the optimal duration, frequency, and intensity of AE required to achieve the most beneficial effects on lipid profile health in older adults.

Gender and Age Differences in Anthropometric Characteristics of Taiwanese Older Adults Aged 65 Years and Older

A previous study provided reference data on the age and gender distribution of anthropometric parameters in Taiwanese adults. However, there are very few large-scale analyses of anthropometric data of older adults in Taiwan. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to describe gender- and age-specific distributions of anthropometric measurements and anthropometry assessments of Taiwanese older adults. This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 22,389 adults aged 65 years or older (8017 males and 14,372 females) who participated in Taiwan's National Physical Fitness Survey 2014-2015. All participants were recruited using stratified convenience sampling from 46 physical fitness test stations in 22 cities or counties in Taiwan. The anthropometric measurements and anthropometry assessments included in the present study were the assessments of height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). The results showed statistically significant differences in weight, height, WC, and WHR across all age groups among both male and female individuals aged 65 years and older in Taiwan. However, there was no significant difference in BMI and HC between males and females in all age groups. Anthropometric status provides an initial assessment of the overall health of the population. This study uses a representative population of Taiwanese older adults over the age of 65 for analysis and provides detailed information on anthropometric data distribution.

Using Traditional Typologies to Understand Posture Movement and Cognitive Performance - A cross sectional study

CONTEXT

We employed two classification methods that characterize psycho-somatotype categorization to understand motor and cognitive performance. The Trunk Index produces three somatotypes/body type categories: ectomorphs, mesomorphs, and endomorphs, and Prakriti classifications categorizes people into three categories: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Comparing these two categorization methods offers insights into anthropometric measures that combine psychological and physical characteristics to account for motor and cognitive behavior.

AIMS

The present study examined variations in cognitive and motor performances using the two typologies - prakriti and somato body types using cross-sectional study design.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The study employed fifty-eight healthy young adults, classified into prakriti (vata, pitta, kapha) and ecto-, meso-, endo-morph body types, to examine their cognitive performance (reaction time [RT] and accuracy), and motor performance (posture stability and posture accuracy) in standing yoga postures.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Analysis of covariance was performed to compare the cognitive and postural performance across the three somato and prakriti types after adjusting for age and gender as covariates. Post-hoc analysis of Bonferroni was performed with the consideration of Levene's test. Partial correlations were employed to investigate the correlation between postural stability and cognitive performance measures for each of the prakriti- and somato-body types as well as between the prakriti typology (scores) and trunk index values (adjusting the effects of age and gender as control variables). A P < 0.05 was selected at the statistical significance level. SPSS 26.0 version was used for the analysis.

RESULTS

Cognitive performance was observed to vary in terms of RT across somato- and prakriti body types (P < 0.05). Postural stability and cognitive performance are positively connected only for ectomorph body types (P < 0.05). Variations in motor performance were not significant. Barring ectomorph type, no other somato- and prakriti body types showed significant relationships between postural stability and cognitive performance. Likewise, the association between the features used for prakriti classification, and the trunk index scores showed marginal significance, only for a small subset of physical features of prakriti assessment (P = 0.055) (P1).

CONCLUSIONS

Comparing classifications that use psychophysical attributes might offer insights into understanding variations in measures of motor and cognitive performance in a sample of healthy individuals.

Comparing durability of water- and land-based exercise benefits among older adults in South Korea: A randomized controlled trial with 1-year follow-up

BACKGROUND

Aquatic exercise can improve strength, flexibility, and aerobic function while safely providing partial weight-bearing support through viscosity and buoyancy.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of water-based exercise with land-based exercise before and after a 10-week exercise intervention and again at one-year follow-up.

METHODS

Eighty participants aged 65 years and older were randomly assigned to either a water- or a land-based 10-week exercise program. Assessment included the Senior Fitness Test (SFT), the Modified Falls-Efficacy Scale, and the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Hip and knee strength was also measured. All assessments were completed at three time points: pre- (T1), post- (T2), and at 1-year follow-up (T3).

RESULTS

Significant differences were observed between the two groups on three parameters: the SFT timed up-and-go test; lower hip muscle strength in extension, adduction, and external rotation; and quality of life (QoL) measured by the SF-36 (p< 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the SFT chair stand test, dominant arm curl test, two-minute step test, chair sit-and-reach test, back scratch test, and Modified Falls-Efficacy Scale.

CONCLUSION

Aquatic exercise provided greater improvement of physical health and QoL among older people than land-based exercise.

Increasing Fracture Risk Associates With Plasma Circulating MicroRNAs in Aging People's Sarcopenia

Aging generally coincides with a gradual decline in mass and strength of muscles and bone mineral density (BMD). Sarcopenia is closely linked to osteoporosis in the elderly, which can lead to abnormal gait, balance disorders, and dysfunctions, as well as increase in the risks of falls, fractures, weakness, and death. MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are a kind of short and non-coding RNA molecules but can regulate posttranscriptional protein expression. However, we have known little about their participation in age-associated osteoporosis and sarcopenia. The current study aims to confirm those miRNAs as biomarkers for age-related reduction in muscular atrophy associated with human blood fractures. In our study, 10 fracture-risk-related miRNAs (miR-637, miR-148a-3p, miR-125b-5p, miR-124-3p, miR-122-5p, miR-100-5p, miR-93-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-23a-3p, and miR-24-3p) were analyzed. For the initial screening, we determined the abundance of fracture-risk-associated miRNAs by RT-PCR most frequently detected in enrolled 93 elderly with sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia, respectively. Statistically, the relative expression levels of plasma miR-23a-3p, miR-93-5p, and miR-637 in the sarcopenia group were significantly lower than that in the non-sarcopenia group, while the levels of other miRNAs did not change significantly. Moreover, we showed that the levels of ASM/height², handgrip strength, and 4-m velocity in the sarcopenia group were significantly lower than in the non-sarcopenia group. Whereafter, we expanded the sample for further detection and analysis and revealed that the levels of plasma miR-23a-3p, miR-93-5p, and miR-637 in the sarcopenia group were significantly lower than that in the non-sarcopenia group, which is consistent with the initial screening experiment. From our analysis, changes in levels of plasma miR-93-5p and miR-637 were dramatically related to ASM/height². Furthermore, changes in miR-23a and miR-93-5p were significantly affected by ASM/height² in female individuals, with no significant correlations between miRNAs changes and these diagnostic indexes in male individuals after adjusting sex. The study showed that plasma miRNAs changed in an aging-related sarcopenia manner and were associated with increased fracture risk. In aging patients, plasma miR-23a-3p, miR-93-5p, and miR-637 have the potential as biomarkers of sarcopenia, which can affect the development of physiological dysfunction and may be also used in the fracture risk assessment of these patients.

Gravity magnetic resonance imaging measurement of muscle pump change accompanied by aging and posture

AIM

To date no age-comparative study has been reported about effect of exercise on muscle pump action change, while its effect is suggested to differ in ages. This study aims to clarify the changes in muscle pump action with aging by measuring the muscle and vein area, and blood flow in lower legs.

METHODS

Subjects were healthy volunteers and consisted of three groups: young age group (N = 20), middle age group (N = 20) and old age group (N = 16). The lower leg flexor muscle area and popliteal vein area were measured by using T1-weighed magnetic resonance imaging at the condition pre- and post-ankle exercise in three positions. Moreover, popliteal blood flow velocity was also measured using phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging.

RESULTS

The elderly had the highest number of individuals who had exercise habits (p < .001). In a multiple linear regression analysis, sitting posture, leg muscle volume, and rate of change in the soleus muscle were significantly related to blood flow velocity change.

CONCLUSIONS

No difference was found in the changes in muscle pump action with age. The study results suggested that elderly people with exercise habits might be able to maintain the muscle pump action.

Efficacy of hydrotherapy treatment for the management of chronic low back pain

AIMS

The study investigated the influence of hydrotherapy method-based McKenzie and Williams among patients with non-specific low back pain (NSLBP).

METHODS

Semi-experimental pretest-posttest with a control group design trial was conducted at Health Service Center, Qazvin, Iran. Twenty-eight NSLBP patients (16 men and 12 women, age: 42.5 ± 7 years) were recruited. Hydrotherapy program developed based on McKenzie and Williams therapy was performed individually 3 days per week for 20 sessions. Therefore, the study compared a hydrotherapy group (based on McKenzie and Williams therapy) to a control group. Participants attended a hydrotherapy program under the supervision of a hydrotherapist. The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), and Straight Leg Raise Test (SLRT) were measured at the beginning, middle, and at the end of the 20 sessions to determine pain and functionality of the patient's improvement.

RESULTS

Overall, NPRS, RMDQ, and SLRT scores were improved in hydrotherapy group in the 10th session and 20th session compared with baseline (p ≤ 0.001) and control group (p ≤ 0.001). No difference in the treatment variables between the 10th session and the 20th session was observed (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicated that the NSLBP symptom was improved after 10 sessions of hydrotherapy program developed based on McKenzie and Williams therapy.

Effects of TRX Suspension Training on Proprioception and Muscle Strength in Female Athletes with Functional Ankle Instability

Background: Functional ankle instability (FAI) is a common consequence of ankle sprain injury, especially in high-impact sports. Objectives: To investigate the effect of six weeks of suspension training with total resistance exercises (TRX) on proprioception and muscle strength in female athletes with FAI. Methods: Thirty female athletes with FAI (age: 21.9 ± 2.2 years, height: 169.3 ± 4.2 cm, and weight: 59.8 ± 6.1 kg) were randomly assigned to two equally numbered groups: TRX training and controls based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. In the pre-test, the anthropometric variables and also proprioception accuracy and muscle strength of subjects were evaluated by joint angle reset test (JART) and manual muscle testing (MMT) in both dorsiflexion and plantarflexion motions. The training group completed three sessions per week with progressive load for six weeks, and each training session lasted 15 - 20 minutes, whilst control subjects continued with their normal activity without special sport activities. After six weeks of training, all tests performed in the pre-test phase were also performed in the post-test phase. The t-test was used for statistic analysis (α ≤ 0.05). Results: The findings showed that TRX training significantly improved the proprioception accuracy (P ≤ 0.001) and muscle strength (P ≤ 0.001) in the training group rather than the control group. No statistically significant difference was found in any of the tests between pre-test and post-test for the control group (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Six weeks of TRX suspension training had a positive effect on strength and proprioception accuracy in female athletes with FAI.