Using Physical Activity to Enhance Health Outcomes Across the Life Span

Physical activity and DNA methylation-based markers of ageing in 6208 middle-aged and older Australians: cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses

Epigenetic age quantifies biological age using DNA methylation information and is a potential pathway by which physical activity benefits general health. We aimed to assess the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between physical activity and epigenetic age in middle-aged and older Australians. Blood DNA methylation data for 6208 participants (40% female) in the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study (MCCS) were available at baseline (1990-1994, mean age, 59 years) and, of those, for 1009 at follow-up (2003-2007, mean age, 69 years). Physical activity measurements (weighted scores at baseline and follow-up and total MET hours per week at follow-up) were calculated from self-reported questionnaire data. Five blood methylation-based markers of ageing (PCGrimAge, PCPhenoAge, bAge, DNAmFitAge, and DunedinPACE) and four fitness-related markers (DNAmGaitspeed, DNAmGripmax, DNAmVO2max, and DNAmFEV1) were calculated and adjusted for age. Linear regression was used to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between physical activity and epigenetic age. Effect modification by age, sex, and BMI was assessed. At baseline, a standard deviation (SD) increment in physical activity was associated with 0.03-SD (DNAmFitAge, 95%CI = 0.01, 0.06, P = 0.02) to 0.07-SD (bAge, 95%CI = 0.04, 0.09, P = 2 × 10-8) lower epigenetic age. These associations were attenuated after adjustment for other lifestyle variables. Only weak evidence was found for the longitudinal association (N = 1009) of changes in physical activity and epigenetic age (e.g. DNAmFitAge: adjusted β =  - 0.04, 95%CI =  - 0.08, 0.01). The associations were not modified by age, sex, or BMI. In middle-aged and older Australians, higher levels of self-reported physical activity were associated with slightly lower epigenetic age.

Sex-Specific Differences in Cardiovascular Adaptations and Risks in Elite Athletes: Bridging the Gap in Sports Cardiology

BACKGROUND

The growing participation of women in competitive sports necessitates a comprehensive understanding of sex-specific cardiovascular adaptations and risks. Historically, research has predominantly focused on male athletes, leaving a gap in knowledge about the unique cardiovascular dynamics of female peers.

HYPOTHESIS

we hypothesized that female athletes exhibit distinct cardiovascular adaptations and face different risks, influenced by physiological, hormonal, and structural differences.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was conducted, analyzing studies on cardiovascular responses and adaptations in athletes. Data were extracted on hemodynamic changes, autonomic and neural reflex regulation, cardiac remodeling, and arrhythmias. Comparative analyses were performed to identify sex-specific patterns and discrepancies in cardiovascular health outcomes.

RESULTS

We revealed considerable sex differences in cardiovascular adaptations to athletic training. Female athletes generally have longer QT intervals, greater sinoatrial node automaticity, and enhanced atrioventricular node function compared to males. They also exhibit lower sympathetic activity, lower maximal stroke volumes, and a tendency toward eccentric cardiac remodeling. Conversely, male athletes are more prone to concentric hypertrophy and higher incidences of bradyarrhythmia and accessory pathway arrhythmias. Female athletes are more likely to experience symptomatic atrial fibrillation and face higher procedural complications during catheter ablation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings underscore the necessity for sex-specific approaches in sports cardiology. Recognizing and addressing these differences could enhance performance and reduce adverse cardiac events in athletes. Future research should focus on developing tailored screening, prevention, and treatment strategies to bridge the knowledge gap and promote cardiovascular health in both male and female athletes.

Can 'Script Elicitation' Methods Be Used to Promote Physical Activity? An Acceptability Study

Sustaining physical activity may require incorporating activity into everyday routines. Yet, many such routines are executed habitually, so people may not recognise physical activity opportunities. 'Script Elicitation'-a novel intervention method whereby participants detail the content and structure of their routines and are supported to plan modifications to those routines-has not yet been applied to physical activity. This mixed-methods study assessed the acceptability of Script Elicitation for increasing physical activity among office workers. Eleven UK office workers completed the one-to-one Script Elicitation procedure, describing their typical before-, during-, or after-work routines and receiving guidance on incorporating activity into those routines. One week later, they rated the acceptability of the method and completed a semi-structured interview. Physical activity was self-reported at baseline and at the one-week follow-up. Acceptability was descriptively assessed on two quantitative criteria (no clear decrease in physical activity; above-midpoint acceptability scores) and qualitatively explored via Thematic Analysis. The acceptability criteria were met, and participants reported raised awareness of routines and physical activity increases. Script Elicitation appears potentially suitable for promoting activity within everyday routines. If effectiveness is shown in a more rigorous trial, future work will need to develop script-based methods for efficient delivery at scale as a public health intervention.

[Association between weight status and motor competence in schoolchildren from Chilean Patagonia]

Introduction

Background: the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the child population is a global public health problem, with measures such as the promotion of physical activity being necessary. One of the recognized factors for this is the development of motor competence, due to its dynamic interaction with physical activity, so it is necessary to understand its relationship with weight status. Objective: the aims of this study are to determine whether there are differences in the levels of motor competence of schoolchildren in Chilean Patagonia according to their nutritional status, as well as to determine the association between body mass index (BMI) and the levels of motor competence in these schoolchildren. Material and methods: we evaluated 295 boys and girls in 5th and 6th grade of primary school, from educational centres in Coyhaique and Punta Arenas. We used the MOBAK 5-6 test to assess their motor competence. Results: schoolchildren with normal weight status presented higher values of motor competence in self-movement (M = 3.1; SD = 1.84) compared to overweight (M = 2.7; SD = 1.68) and obese schoolchildren (M = 1.7; SD = 1.57), presenting significant differences between all groups (p < 0.001). In object control, no differences were found between the groups. In addition, there was an inverse association of object control with gender (β: 1.49; p < 0.001) and BMI (β: -0.05; p = 0.026), while self-movement had an inverse association with BMI (β: -0.11; 95 % CI: -0.15 -0.07; p < 0.001). Conclusion: weight status and motor competence are associated. Schoolchildren with higher BMI values tend to perform lower in self-movement. These results underline the importance of addressing motor competence in efforts to combat overweight and obesity in children.

Effect of Mat Pilates Training on Blood Pressure, Inflammatory, and Oxidative Profiles in Hypertensive Elderly

To determine the effects of mat Pilates training on blood pressure, inflammatory, and antioxidative markers in hypertensive elderly people, 34 hypertensive subjects aged 60-75 years were randomly divided into a control group (CON; n = 17) and a mat Pilates training group (MP; n = 17). The CON participants conducted normal daily activities and participated in neither organized exercises nor sports training, while those in the MP group received mat Pilates training for 60 min three times/week for 12 weeks. Parameters including blood pressure, cardiovascular function, nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrotic factor-alpha (TNF-α), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malonaldehyde (MDA) were collected at baseline and the end of 12 weeks. The MP group had significantly decreased blood pressure, improved cardiovascular variables, decreased MDA and TNF-α, and increased NO and SOD compared with the CON group and the pre-training period (p < 0.05). In conclusion, these findings demonstrate the positive effects of 12 weeks of mat Pilates training in terms of reducing blood pressure and increasing blood flow related to improvements in anti-inflammatory and antioxidative markers in hypertensive elderly people. Mat Pilates training might be integrated as an alternative therapeutic exercise modality in clinical practice for hypertensive elderly individuals.

Transforming leisure time physical activity into a habit through social institutions

Physical activity is a positive health behavior that has been shown to reduce the risk of physical and mental illnesses; There's strong evidence suggesting that Physical activity, as one of the components of a healthy lifestyle, if transformed into a consistent behavior or habit early in life, becomes easier to sustain throughout the lifecycle and leads to valuable outcomes for the society's health in various physical, mental, and social dimensions. Each social institution, considering its unique role and characteristics, can contribute to shaping individuals' behaviors in societies. Consequently, identifying the role of social institutions in the development of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) as a regular activity and a behavioral habit can result in the selection and implementation of highly effective intervention strategies. Therefore, this research aimed to present a model of the role of social institutions in institutionalizing leisure-time physical activity among Iranian adolescent girls. To collect data, the questionnaires were employed, and for presenting the model, structural equation modeling was utilized. Data analysis showed that the role of three social institutions in the institutionalization of physical activities including habituation, objectification and sedimentation was confirmed, although sedimentation was confirmed in all three institutions at the 0.05 level, which indicates that factors in this area can be investigated. Examining the role of social institutions in institutionalizing behaviors may vary across different ages and genders, which is open to investigation in future studies.

Associations between physical exercise type, fluid intelligence, executive function, and processing speed in the oldest-old (85 +)

BACKGROUND

While much is known about the effects of physical exercise in adult humans, literature on the oldest-old (≥ 85 years old) is sparse. The present study explored the relationship between self-reported engagement in physical exercise and cognition in the oldest-old.

METHODS

The sample included 184 cognitively healthy participants (98 females, MoCA mean score = 24.81) aged 85 to 99 years old (mean = 88.49 years). Participants completed the Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS) questionnaire and a cognitive battery including NIH-TB, Coding, Symbol Search, Letter Fluency, and Stroop task. Three groups of participants - sedentary (n = 58; MoCA mean score = 24; 36 females; mean age = 89.03), cardio (n = 60; MoCA mean score = 25.08; 29 females; mean age = 88.62), and cardio + strength training (n = 66; MoCA mean score = 25.28; 33 females; mean age = 87.91) - were derived from responses on CHAMPS.

RESULTS

Analyses controlled for years of education, NIH-TB Crystallized Composite, and metabolic equivalent of tasks. The cardio + strength training group had the highest cognitive performances overall and scored significantly better on Coding (p < 0.001) and Symbol Search (p < 0.05) compared to the sedentary group. The cardio + strength training group scored significantly better on Symbol Search, Letter Fluency, and Stroop Color-Word compared to the cardio group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest self-reported exercise in the oldest-old is linked to better performance on cognitive measures of processing speed and executive functioning, and that there may be a synergistic effect of combining aerobic and resistance training on cognition.

Overview of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and associated factors: a scoping review

Around the world, idiopathic scoliosis accounts for the majority of occurrences of adolescent scoliosis. The absence of underlying congenital or neuromuscular problems distinguishes adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), which affects children ages 13 to 18, from other kinds of scoliosis. The prevalence of AIS is influenced by a number of variables, such as physical activity, gender, backpacks, body mass index, and others. AIS has an impact on the child's development not just physically but also psychologically, emotionally, and mentally. This study used nationwide databases to describe the prevalence of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and associated risk variables. The current review analysis showed that AIS was significant worldwide and that adolescent gender, physical activity, body mass index, backpack carrying and backpack weight were all significant risk factors for developing AIS.

Assessment of resources for physical activity and understanding people's perception and practices regarding physical activity in an Indian city

BACKGROUND

Promoting physical activity in urban India is imperative considering the burden of non-communicable diseases in the country. Planning for improving population level physical activity needs sound understanding of availability and quality of resources/facilities for physical activity and knowing people's perception and practices regarding the physical activity.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was undertaken in Kolar city of Karnataka state in India. All the resources/facilities required for supporting physical activity were mapped and their quality was assessed utilizing adapted version of physical activity resource assessment questionnaire. The information regarding latitude, longitude and approximate size of the resource was obtained using a hand-held GPS tracker. 495 individuals aged ≥ 18 years, selected by two stage cluster random sampling with probability proportionate to population size technique, were interviewed to assess their perception and practices regarding physical activity using semi-structured questionnaire and global physical activity questionnaire.

RESULTS

Kolar city has 36.3 physical activity resources per lakh population and per person availability of park and playground area was 0.4 Sq. meters. Available resources were concentrated in the center of the city. Half of the sports facilities and 14 of the 17 recreational facilities in the city were of poor to mediocre quality. 38.2% of adults in Kolar city were found to be physically active. Only 19.2% of the study participants had accessed sports/fitness facilities/playgrounds in past 3 months and only 18.8% of the study participants accessed parks in the previous 3 months. 28.6% to 59.1% of the participants preferred 'walking' for work, college and shopping. Less than 5% of the participants preferred and used cycle as a mode of transport. 1/3rd of the study participants felt that Kolar city is safe of walking and 44.6% felt that the city is safe for cycling.

CONCLUSION

Creating enabling environment by increasing the number and quality of resources/facilities for physical activity along with their equitable distribution is required to promote and improve population level physical activity in Kolar city. Urban planning with a focus on non-motorized transport including walking would contribute to improved people's perception and practices regarding physical activity in the city.

The Relationship Between Trait Mindfulness and Well-Being in College Students: The Serial Mediation Role of Flow Experience and Sports Participation

Purpose

The current college students have a lot of mental pressure due to their heavy study, life and work burdens, and the incidence of college students' problems continues to rise. Sports are considered to be one of the best ways to improve the well-being of college students. However, the mechanism of college students' well-being is still unclear. This article is intended to exploring the mechanism of action of Trait Mindfulness (TM) on well-being in college students.

Methods

Four hundred and ninety six college students were tested with Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale, Flow Experience Scale, Physical Activity Rating Scale, and Subjective Well-being Scale.

Results

College students' trait mindfulness (TM) can predict well-being, college students' trait mindfulness (TM) can have an indirect impact on well-being through flow experience, and college students' trait mindfulness (TM) has an indirect impact on well-being through sports participation. In addition, flow experience and sports participation play a sequential mediating role between college students' trait mindfulness (TM) and well-being.

Conclusion

Flow experience and sports participation play a sequential mediating role between college students' trait mindfulness(TM) and well-being. The current research results indicate that college students get well-being in sport activities. Trait mindfulness influences the behavioral tendency of sports participation through the mediation of thinking activities and cognitive function sequences. The results of this study provide a new literature reference for expanding the theory of positive emotion expansion and well-being. In addition, this study also provides an important basis for improving college students' well-being and college education.

The Influence of Climate on Flourishing and Motivational Outcomes for U.S. Masters Swimmers

The climate in which older adults exercise and participate in sport may play a role in promoting a lifetime commitment to exercising. However, little research has examined the relationship of caring (C) and task-involving (TI) climates, motivation, and well-being with respect to older adult athletes. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between Masters swimmers' perceptions of the climate, effort, enjoyment, and flourishing as well as explore the mediating effects of effort and enjoyment on the relationship between climate and flourishing. U.S. Masters swimmers (n = 294; M_age = 63.57 years; 84.40% White) with 1-80 years of swimming experience (M = 34.54 years) participating in coach-led programs completed an online survey. The results of latent variable, multiple-mediator analyses via structural equation modeling revealed two important contributions to the literature: (1) when Masters swimmers perceived that they were in C and TI climates, they were more likely to report higher levels of effort and greater enjoyment and flourishing; (2) the Masters swimmers' effort levels directly influenced their flourishing, mediating the relationship between climates and flourishing. This research has important implications for practice and policy, as U.S. Masters Swimming appears to be a fruitful avenue for promoting an enjoyable physical activity that can be experienced throughout a lifetime.

Motives and Barriers for Regular Physical Activity among Medical Students from the Western Balkans (South-East Europe Region)

Regular physical activity (PA) has multiple beneficial effects on students' health, effectively reducing the risk of various non-communicable diseases. Various factors play a role in an individual's motivation to engage in and maintain regular PA. So far, no research dealing with the motives and barriers for regular PA among medical students has been conducted in the countries of the Western Balkans. The aim of this study was to identify the motives and barriers related to regular PA and compare them with different demographic, socioeconomic, and individual lifestyle factors among Western Balkans medical students. The research was conducted in a form of a cross-sectional study. It included 2452 medical students from 14 faculties in five countries (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Serbia). The most commonly reported motive of medical students for regular PA is to feel better, followed by stress reduction, to look better, the desire to lose weight, and to control chronic disease. PA improvement motives are more frequently associated with the female gender, more advanced years of study, a normal weight, above average household income, and a non-smoking status. Faculty obligations are the most common barrier for regular PA among medical students, followed by other barriers, such as financial situation, current life situation, and health conditions. Barriers are more frequently reported by male students who are overweight or obese, who have a below average income, and are smokers. It is necessary for public health authorities to examine and take into account the perceived motives and barriers when forming activities and policies that aim at increasing the level of PA, in order to enhance the health of the student population.

Mindfulness practice during COVID-19 crisis: Implications for confinement, physical inactivity, and sedentarism

COVID-19 pandemic has radically impacted and altered the lives of billions of people around the world. Due to strict government policies, most individuals now find themselves confined at home with limited movement permissible. Although these measures are enforced to help abate the rate of infection, such restrictions have huge implications for the psychophysiological health, lifestyle, and overall well-being of individuals. The COVID-19 confined circumstances, coupled with the gradually declining levels of physical activity and rising levels of sedentarism that is prevalent in the modern society, can have deleterious effect on the psychological, physical, and social health of individuals. This paper argues for essential alternative measures to be introduced that would not only assuage the detrimental effects of COVID-19 confinement, physical inactivity, and sedentarism in the short-term, but also promote psychophysiological health and well-being in the long-term. In particular, this paper recommends the practice of mindfulness as a viable option under the current circumstances. This paper further outlines the health benefits of mindfulness practice and illustrates two effective and efficient practices — mindful breathing and mantram chanting — that could be suitably utilized under the current altered and confined COVID-19 arrangement by individuals across the life span. Potential benefits, recommendations, and risks have also been addressed.

Moving Mindfully: The Role of Mindfulness Practice in Physical Activity and Health Behaviours

Participation in regular physical activity yields numerous psychological and physical health benefits. Despite this, a large proportion of the global population is increasingly becoming inactive and sedentary, which has been linked to various causes of morbidity and mortality. One practice that has been found to encourage healthy participation in physical activity and associated health behaviours is mindfulness. Mindfulness practices have been consistently linked to higher levels of physical activity participation. However, the relationship between mindfulness practices and physical activity remains ambiguous. This present paper comments on the role of mindfulness practice in physical activity and health behaviours. Implications for future research and practice have also been addressed.