Effects of an Eight-Week Concurrent Training Program with Different Effort Character over Physical Fitness, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Lipid Profile among Hospital Workers: Preliminary Results

Effect of resistance training on lipid profile in postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVE

Physical exercise decreases cardiovascular risk and can alter the lipid profile in postmenopausal women. Although it is believed that resistance training can potentially decrease serum lipid levels in postmenopausal females, the evidence remains inconclusive. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to clarify the impact of resistance training on the lipid profile in postmenopausal women.

METHODS

Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed/Medline and Embase were searched. RCTs that evaluated the effect of resistance training on total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) levels were included in this review. Effect size was estimated using the random effects model. Subgroup analyses based on age, duration of intervention, pre-enrolment serum lipid levels and body mass index were performed.

RESULTS

Data pooled from 19 RCTs revealed that resistance training can reduce TC [weighted mean difference (WMD) -11.47 mg/dl; p = 0.002], LDL-C (WMD -8.48 mg/dl; p = 0.01) and TG (WMD -6.61 mg/dl; p = 0.043) levels. TC levels decreased particularly in subjects aged < 60 years (WMD -10.77 mg/dl; p = 0.003), in RCTs lasting < 16 weeks (WMD -15.70 mg/dl; p = 0.048), and in subjects with hypercholesterolaemia (WMD -12.36 mg/dl; p = 0.001) or obesity (WMD -19.35 mg/dl; p = 0.006) before RCT enrolment. There was a significant decrease in LDL-C (WMD -14.38 mg/dl; p = 0.002) levels in patients with LDL-C ≥ 130 mg/dl before trial enrolment. Resistance training reduced HDL-C (WMD -2.97 mg/dl; p = 0.01) levels particularly in subjects with obesity. TG (WMD -10.71 mg/dl; p = 0.01) levels decreased particularly when the intervention lasted < 16 weeks.

CONCLUSION

Resistance training can decrease TC, LDL-C and TG levels in postmenopausal females. The impact of resistance training on HDL-C levels was small, and was only observed in individuals with obesity. The effect of resistance training on the lipid profile was more notable in short-term interventions and in postmenopausal women with dyslipidaemia or obesity before trial enrolment.

An Enjoyable Workplace Combined Exercise Program for Health Promotion in Trained Employees: Yoga, Pilates, and Circuit Strength Training

Corporate wellness has become an important public health priority through the designing and implementation of different workplace exercise interventions. The objectives of this study were to investigate: (a) the effectiveness of a 4-month workplace combined yoga, Pilates, and circuit strength training program (outside work shift) on health indices, functional capacity, and physical fitness in office employees; and (b) the employees' enjoyment following the program. Fifty physically active office employees (26-55 years old) were equally divided into training (TG) and control groups (CG). The TG followed a 4-month (3 times/week, 50-60 min/training) combined yoga, Pilates, and circuit strength training program. Health indices (body composition, body mass, circumferences, musculoskeletal pains), functional capacity (flexibility, balance), and physical fitness (strength, aerobic capacity) were measured before and after the 4-month time period. After the completion of the program, the TG participants' enjoyment was assessed. The TG significantly improved (p < 0.001) all health, functional capacity (11.3-82.0%), and physical fitness indices (33.9%), except for aerobic capacity, which did not change (p > 0.05). Furthermore, a great percentage of employees (84%) reported high levels of enjoyment. This program could be effectively and safely used in workplace settings as an enjoyable intervention to improve specific health, functional capacity, and physical fitness indices in office employees.

The effects of low-volume combined training on health-related physical fitness outcomes in active young adults. A controlled clinical trial

The effects of combined training (CT) on improving general health are well known, however, few studies have investigated the effects of low-volume CT. So, the aim of this study is to investigate the effects of 6 weeks of low-volume CT on body composition, handgrip strength (HGS), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and affective response (AR) to exercise. Eighteen healthy, active young adult man (mean ​± ​SD, [20.06 ± 1.66] years; [22.23 ± 2.76] ​kg/m²) performed either a low-volume CT (EG, n ​= ​9), or maintained a normal life (CG, n ​= ​9). The CT was composed of three resistance exercises followed by a high intensity-interval training (HIIT) on cycle ergometer performed twice a week. The measures of the body composition, HGS, maximal oxygen consumption ( V ˙ O_2max) and AR to exercise were taken at baseline and after training for analysis. Furthermore, an ANOVA test of repeated measures and t-test paired samples were used with a p ​≤ ​0.05. The results showed that EG improved HGS (pre: [45.67 ± 11.84] ​kg vs. post: [52.44 ± 11.90] ​kg, p ​< ​0.01) and V ˙ O_2max (pre: [41.36 ± 5.16] ​ml⋅kg^-1⋅min^-1 vs. post: [44.07 ± 5.98] ​ml⋅kg^-1⋅min^-1, p ​< ​0.01). Although, for all measures the body composition had not significant differences between weeks (p ​> ​0.05), nevertheless the feeling scale was positive in all weeks and without significant differences between them (p ​> ​0.05). Lastly, for active young adults, the low-volume CT improved HGS, CRF and had a positive outcome in AR, with less volume and time spent than traditional exercise recommendations.

Workplace exercise program in a hospital environment: an effective strategy for the promotion of employees physical and mental health. A randomized controlled study

PURPOSE

The demanding and exhausting working hours, as well as the bad and unsuitable working conditions that prevail in several hospitals, affect employees' physical and mental health. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a daily 6-week supervised workplace exercise program on health indices, functional capacity, overall fitness, subjective vitality, and life satisfaction in health professionals.

METHODS

A randomized controlled study was used. 50 health professionals (40-55 years), working in a hospital environment, were divided into two groups: exercise (EG) and control group (CG). EG performed a 6-week supervised concurrent chair-based exercise program (stretching, strength, balance exercises, aerobic dance; 5 days/week, 30-40 min/day, 2 workouts/day lasted 15-20 min) in the hospital. Health indices (body composition, blood pressure, respiratory function), functional capacity (flexibility, balance), physical fitness (strength, cardiorespiratory fitness), subjective vitality, and life satisfaction were measured before and after the completion of the program. Additionally, after the completion of the program, EG participants' enjoyment was assessed.

RESULTS

EG significantly increased (p < 0.001) lean body mass and respiratory function (range of mean increase 3.5-4.5%, depending on the variable), functional capacity (range of mean increase 18-40%, depending on the variable), lower and upper libs maximal strength (range of mean increase 10-25%, depending on the variable), subjective vitality (41.3%) and life satisfaction (21.5%); while significantly decreased (p < 0.001) heart rate during submaximal test (- 14%), body fat and blood pressure (range of mean decrease - 3.5% to - 5.5%, depending on the variable). In CG, all the above variables did not change. Furthermore, a great percentage of employees (95%) reported high levels of enjoyment.

CONCLUSION

A workplace exercise program may be safely used for the promotion of employees' physical and mental health.