Effects of High Intensity Plank Exercise on Physical Fitness and Immunocyte Function in a Middle-Aged Man: A Case Report

Effects of walking training at different speeds on body composition, muscle contractility, and immunocytes in the elderly: A single-blinded randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

This study investigated the changes in body composition, muscle contractility and immunocytes of the elderly using three types of walking.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Seventy-six participants were randomly assigned to control group (CON), slow walking group (SWG), moderate walking group (MWG), or fast walking group (FWG).

RESULTS

Muscle mass in CON decreased (-2.55 ± 3.63%; P < 0.05), while it increased in FWG (1.92 ± 4.46%; P < 0.05). Fat mass in CON increased, whereas it decreased in MWG and FWG (-18.71 ± 14.22%; P < 0.001). Tc (contraction time) of biceps femoris (BF) decreased in CON, while a decreasing tendency was seen in SWG. Although Tc of BF increased in MWG, it showed a marked increase in FWG (21.19 ± 24.53%; P < 0.05). A similar tendency was observed in the rectus femoris. Leukocytes did not change in CON, but they showed an increasing tendency in MWG and FWG. Neutrophils decreased in CON, whereas the other groups showed an increasing tendency. Lymphocytes (10.25 ± 19.48%; P < 0.01) and helper T cells (14.32 ± 17.99%; P < 0.05) showed an increase in FWG, and NK cell was improved in SWG, but showed a clear increase in MWG (38.45 ± 96.96%; P < 0.05) and FWG (52.69 ± 58.37%; P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study concludes that fast walking by the elderly improves the muscle contractility, which can also be expected to improve the function of immunocytes by increased or maintained muscle mass and decreased fat mass after 12 weeks.

Effect of 11 Weeks of Physical Exercise on Physical Fitness and Executive Functions in Children

Object: The aim of our study was to evaluate and compare the effects of physical exercise interventions on physical fitness and executive functions in children. Methods: Six-year-old children participated in the study and were randomly divided into physical exercise group (PE group, n = 43) and control group (C group, n = 46). The children in the PE group participated in a physical exercise program for 45 min daily, four days a week for 11 weeks. The children in the C group continued with their usual routines. Then, all the children were tested before and after the experiment for body composition (height, weight, BMI), physical fitness (20-m shuttle run test, standing long jump test, grip strength test, 4 × 10 m shuttle run test and sit and reach tests), and executive functions test (animal go/no-go task, working memory span task, simple reaction test and flexible item selection task) before and after the 11-week period. Results: The 11 weeks of physical exercise did not significantly affect the body composition of the children (p > 0.05). The physical fitness and executive functions test results showed that 11 weeks of physical exercise interventions improves physical fitness (cardiopulmonary fitness, muscle strength, speed sensitivity and flexibility quality) and executive functions parameters (inhibitory control, working memory, the reaction time, and cognitive flexibility) in children (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). Conclusion: 11 weeks of physical exercise can improve the physical fitness and executive functions of six-year-old children.

Moderate- to fast-walking improves immunocytes through a positive change of muscle contractility in old women: a pilot study

This study aimed to examine whether compared with a program without walking, intervention programs with three types of walking can improve the muscle property and immunocytes in elderly women. Thirty-two subjects were randomly assigned to control group (CON), slow walking group (SWG), moderate walking group (MWG), and fast walking group (FWG). Three types of walking on treadmill were 30 min a day, 5 days/wk for 12 weeks. Muscle contraction time (Tc), maximum displacement (Dm), and immunocytes were tested by tensiomyography and flow cytometry. After the intervention, FWG had an increasing tendency in the muscle mass compared with other three groups. Tc of biceps femoris (BF) decreased in CON and SWG, while Tc of BF in MWG and FWG (30.58%±23.71%) increased. It was similar in the rectus femoris (RF). Although Dm of BF and RF increased in CON and SWG, those decreased in MWG and FWG. Leucocytes of CON and SWG had a decreasing tendency, those of MWG (9.65%±13.01%) and FWG (13.01%± 13.58%) increased. In the neutrophil, only CON decreased, whereas the three groups showed an increasing tendency. Helper T cell was increased only in FWG (19.61%±19.94%), showing significant differences between groups (P=0.009, η ²=0.378). Natural killer cell was improved in SWG and MWG but showed a clear increase in FWG (75.76%±63.57%). It might be confirmed that walking for elderly increases the muscle property of the lower legs as they walk faster, which might be expected to improve the immunocytes function.

Daily Life Patterns, Psychophysical Conditions, and Immunity of Adolescents in the COVID-19 Era: A Mixed Research with Qualitative Interviews by a Quasi-Experimental Retrospective Study

Background: This study investigated the daily lifestyle changes, prevalence of psychological depression, physical health status, and immunity of adolescents in Korea resulting from increased isolation and social restriction due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: All subjects included 17-year-old male adolescents. A total of 117 subjects were assigned to one of four groups according to the degree of depression based on item #6 in the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) questionnaire as follows: no-depression group (NDG, n = 71; 61.0%), low-depression group (LDG, n = 23; 19.0%), moderate-depression group (MDG, n = 15; 13.0%), and high-depression group (HDG, n = 8; 7.0%). This study analyzed the data using quantitative and qualitative methods to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic affects adolescents’ daily lives, psychophysiological conditions, and immune function. Results: This study found that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly affects the daily lifestyle pattern, psychophysical condition, and immunocytes of adolescents. In terms of depression, 39.0% of adolescents felt depressed, and 7% of them felt depressed almost every day. Overall, HDG considered themselves unhealthy and felt prone to immune diseases, such as colds. HDG were prone to sleep late, eat more frequently, and work out less. Regarding physical fitness factors, the cardiorespiratory endurance, strength, and power of HDG were significantly lower than those of NDG, LDG, and MDG. Moreover, HDG had the worst body composition, including the lowest muscle mass. Finally, natural killer (NK) cells and T cells were significantly different among groups, with the levels in HDG being significantly lower than those of the other three groups. Conclusions: Since the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affects the daily lives, psychophysical conditions, and immunocytes of adolescents, there is an urgent need to create and provide solutions to adolescents with depression though the number of subjects is few.

Effects of Rhythm Step Training on Physical and Cognitive Functions in Adolescents: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Rhythm step training (RST) for sensorimotor dual tasks is in the spotlight as it provides physical activity that is fun and allows participants to express various and creative movements, although it lacks a scientific evidence base. Therefore, this study was to investigate how RST affects the physical and cognitive functions of adolescents. Materials and Methods: A total of sixty-six female middle-schoolers were divided into non-exercise group (control group, CON, n = 22), step training group (STG, n = 22), and rhythm step training group (RSTG, n = 22). To verify the combined effects of music-based rhythm and exercise, the program was conducted for 45 min/session a day, three times a week for 12 weeks. Results: RST scores increased significantly in the STG and RSTG compared to the CON after 12 weeks. Specifically, the Δ% of RST scores in the RSTG (11.44%) was higher than those of STG (9.01%) and CON (3.91%). By the end of the experiment, the power (p < 0.001), agility (p < 0.001), muscle endurance (p < 0.001), dynamic or static balance (p < 0.001), and gait velocity (p < 0.001) of RSTG were significantly improved compared to the others. The Δ% of all variables in RSTG was higher than those of the CON or STG. In addition, the verbal memory (p < 0.001) and attention (p < 0.001) of cognitive function were significantly improved in RSTG. Specifically, there was more of an increase in Δ% of RSTG for verbal memory (7.52%) and attention (10.33%) than in the CON (verbal memory, 3.34%; attention, 5.83%) or STG (verbal memory, 5.85%; attention, 5.43%). Conclusions: This study confirms that RST had a positive effect on the physical and cognitive functions of female middle-schoolers. We propose that rhythmic exercise combined with music is beneficial for adolescents’ physical and cognitive health.

Detraining Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Fitness, Cytokines, C-Reactive Protein and Immunocytes in Men of Various Age Groups

Background and Objectives: Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus II, levels of physical inactivity have become more severe and widespread than ever before. Physical inactivity is known to have a negative effect on the human body, but the extent to which reduced physical fitness has effected immune function before and after the current pandemic has not yet been uncovered. The aim of this study was to investigate the detraining effects of the COVID-19 confinement period on physical fitness, immunocytes, inflammatory cytokines, and proteins in various age groups. The participants of this study included sixty-four male adults who did not exercise during the pandemic, although they had exercised regularly before. Materials and Methods: Participants were classified by age group, which included the 20s group (20s’G, n = 14), 30s group (30s’G, n = 12), 40s group (40s’G, n = 12), 50s group (50s’G, n = 12), and 60s group (60s’G, n = 14). Results: Regarding body composition, muscle mass significantly decreased, whereas fat mass, fat percentage, and waist/hip ratio significantly increased in most groups. Cardiopulmonary endurance and strength significantly decreased in all groups, while muscle endurance and flexibility decreased in some groups compared to the pre-COVID-19 pandemic. This study confirmed the immunocytopenia and enhanced inflammation due to physical inactivity during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a greater detrimental decrease mainly after the age of 50. Conclusion: This study confirmed a decrease in physical fitness after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, characterized by an increase in fat mass and a decrease in muscle mass, thereby increasing cytokines and reducing immunocytes in the body. While social distancing is important during the pandemic, maintaining physical fitness should also be a top priority.