Arm Curl Test Research Articles

Associations between dietary patterns and physical fitness among Chinese elderly.

To explore the relationship between dietary patterns and physical fitness among older Chinese (≥60 years) individuals. Cross-sectional survey. Dietary data were collected by a simplified semi-quantitative FFQ. The 30-s Chair Stand test (30sCST), 30-s Arm Curl test (30sACT), 8-foot Time Up-and-Go test (8fTUAGT) and 6-min Walking test (6mWT) were used to assess physical fitness. Dietary patterns were obtained by factor analysis. The association between dietary patterns and physical fitness was explored by multiple logistic regression. Six communities (villages) of three districts in Liaocheng City (Shandong Province, China). A total of 596 residents were recruited from April to May 2017. Among 556 residents who were finally enrolled, 196 were men (35 %) and 360 were women (65 %). Three dietary patterns were identified: 'Western', 'Vegetarian' and 'Modern'. The 30sACT revealed that men in the fourth quartile of the Western pattern were less likely to be classified in the 'high-level' group, but men in the fourth quartile of the Vegetarian pattern were classified in the high-level group. The 6mWT revealed that men in the fourth quartile of the Modern pattern were classified in the high-level group. These associations were independent of confounding factors. Adherence to the Vegetarian pattern and Modern pattern may be protective factors for maintaining good physical fitness in older Chinese individuals. The Western pattern may lead to poor physical fitness in this population.

Comparative effects of water- and land-based combined exercise training in hypertensive older adults

ObjectivesA randomized controlled trial was designed to compare water- and land-based combined (aerobic and resistance) exercise training programs on cardiometabolic parameters, functional fitness, and quality-of-life (QoL) in hypertensive older adults. MethodsFifty-three participants were divided into three groups: 1) land-based exercise group (LET, n=17), 2) water-based exercise group (WET, n=16), and 3) control group (CON, n=20). All programs comprised of a 12-week supervised training program (three 1-hr sessions per week), followed by a 12-week self-supervised training program. Blood pressure (BP), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), total nitrite/nitrate (NOx-), malondialdehyde (MDA), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), blood lipids, functional fitness, and QoL were assessed before and after each period. ResultsFollowing the supervised period, systolic BP, rate-pressure product, GPx, NOx-, MDA, hs-CRP concentrations, physical and psychological domains, and overall QoL significantly improved in both training groups. Only the WET improved LDL-C and lipoprotein combine index. Meanwhile, the 30s chair-stand test and 2-min step test improved only in the LET. Succeeding the self-supervised period, systolic BP and NOx- concentration significantly improved in both training groups. Notwithstanding, the 30s chair-standing and arm curl tests improved only in the LET. ConclusionsBoth training programs rendered ameliorated systolic BP, antioxidant capacity and inflammation, muscular strength, aerobic endurance and QoL with a higher progression in the LET. Nevertheless, metabolic variables were greater improved in the WET. Additionally, due to greater exercise participation, the WET program may be a useful tool in motivating hypertensive older adults to continuously exercise on their own.

Comparison of the physical fitness levels in nursing home residents and community-dwelling older adults

PurposeThis study aimed to compare the physical fitness levels of nursing home residents and community-dwelling older adults. Materials and methodsThe 118 older adults aged between 65–85 living in a nursing home or community participated in the study. The Senior Fitness Test assessed the physical fitness levels of older adults. The older adults performed the chair stand test, arm curl test, 2-min step test, chair sit and reach test, back-scratch test, 8-foot up, and go test. ResultsThe age, cognitive status, gender, body weight, height, smoking, and education status were similar between the groups (p > 0.05). Aerobic endurance, balance, and agility were higher in nursing home residents than in the community-dwelling older adults (p < 0.05). Strength, flexibility, and BMI did not differ between groups ​​(p > 0.05). ConclusionAerobic endurance, balance, and agility may vary depending on the living environment of older adults. The determination of differences in physical fitness between community-dwelling older adults and nursing home residents could provide objective information to develop a physical activity program for older adults.

Senior physical activity contests in nursing homes: a feasibility study.

Competition has been shown to improve motivation and physical performance in young people. This method has been rarely studied in older people. To evaluate the feasibility of senior physical activity (PA) contests between two nursing homes and to assess changes in the motivational level and physical performance of the residents over time. Residents from two Belgian nursing homes were invited to participate in PA contests. A pretest and three contest sessions were organized over a period of 3months. The activities proposed were body balance, gait speed, sit-to-stand performance, arm curl and address tests. Feasibility was measured by contest session adherence (expected score > 80%), difficulty scores (expected score < 40%) and appreciation scores (expected score > 80%). Motivational questionnaires were administered: the BREQ-2 (assessing amotivation, introjected regulation, identified regulation, intrinsic motivation and external motivation) and the A-PMCEQ (assessing ego- and task-involving climates). Friedman's analysis of variance was performed to evaluate the changes in physical performance and motivational levels. Of the 24 participants, seven did not complete all sessions because of medical or personal reasons not related to the study. During the three sessions, the adherence was 86%, the mean difficulty score was 30.8% and the satisfaction score was 87%. After three sessions, residents experienced a significant decrease ranged from 3 to 0 point for amotivation (p = 0.03), 1 to 0 point for external motivation (p = 0.03) and 2.5 to 2 points for ego-involving climate (p = 0.02) and a significant improvement ranged from 0.7 to 0.9m/s for gait speed (p < 0.001), 18.5 to 15.6s for sit-to-stand performance (p < 0.001) and 11.5 to 15 curls for arm curl scores (p < 0.001). In nursing home settings, senior PA contests are feasible and may improve the motivational climate and physical performance.

MUSCLE LOSS IS ASSOCIATED WITH RISK OF ORTHOSTATIC HYPOTENSION IN OLDER MEN AND WOMEN

Muscle provides a reservoir for water to maintain fluid volume and blood pressure, so older adults may be at risk for orthostatic hypotension due to muscle loss with age. To evaluate the association between muscle loss with age and postural blood pressure. Longitudinal comparison of overnight changes in hydration, postural blood pressure, and strength. Community field study. Sixty-nine men and women (76.0 ± 0.8 years) with low (Low) or normal (Normal) muscle based on the Lean Mass Index. Body composition was measured with bioelectrical impedance analysis. Postural blood pressure was measured sequentially (lying, sitting, standing). Strength was measured with a handgrip dynamometer, Arm Curl test, and Chair Stand test. On Day 1, Low had less hydration and a significant drop in postural systolic blood pressure compared to Normal (lying to standing: -11.06 ± 2.36 vs. +1.14 ± 2.20 mmHg, p < 0.001). Overnight, both groups lost significant total body water, while fluid volume was unchanged. On Day 2, both groups experienced significant drops in postural systolic blood pressure, although the drop in Low was more profound and significantly greater than Normal (lying to standing: -16.85 ± 2.50 vs. -3.89 ± 2.52 mmHg, p = 0.001). On both days, Normal compensated for postural changes with increases in postural diastolic blood pressure not observed in Low. Only Low experienced significant overnight decreases in all strength measures. In older men and women, muscle loss with age is accompanied by loss of hydration and less stable early morning postural systolic blood pressure that increase risk for orthostatic hypotension and can also increase risk for falls.

Strength Assessment Under Dual Task Conditions in Women with Fibromyalgia: A Test-Retest Reliability Study.

The present study aimed to: (1) analyze the test–retest reliability of the 30 s chair stand test and the 30 s arm curl test under dual-task conditions; (2) analyze the test–retest reliability of a new variable which assesses the total performance (cognitive + physical) in both tests. A total of 37 women with fibromyalgia participated in the study. Participants completed the 30 s arm curl test and 30 s chair stand test in both simple and dual-task conditions. These tests were repeated after seven days. In the 30 s chair stand dual-task test the reliability was low to good whereas that of the total performance variable was low to moderate. The reliability in both the 30 s arm curl dual-task test and the total performance variable were good to moderate. Both the 30 s chair stand test and 30 s arm curl test under dual-task conditions and the total performance variables had good test–retest reliability. However, it is necessary to consider the fluctuations of the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Effectiveness of a Mini-Trampoline Training Program on Balance and Functional Mobility, Gait Performance, Strength, Fear of Falling and Bone Mineral Density in Older Women with Osteopenia.

PurposeTo evaluate the effectiveness of a combined balance-, strength-, and jumping-exercise intervention on a mini-trampoline performed by older women with osteopenia on static balance and functional mobility, gait speed, strength of the upper and lower limbs, fear of falling, as well as to investigate its influence on bone mineral density (BMD).Patient and methodsUsing a randomized controlled study design, participants (range: 56–83 years) were assigned either to the intervention group (IG; n=20, mean age 69.6 ± 5.3 years) performing a specifically tailored intervention on a mini-trampoline or to the control group (CG; n=20, 67.4 ± 6.8 years), that did not undertake any intervention beyond regular osteopenia treatment. The intervention was performed twice a week for 12 weeks, each session lasting 45–60 mins and consisted of balance, strength and jumping exercises. Static balance and functional mobility was measured by one-leg stance (OLS) and timed up and go test (TUG). Upper and lower limb strength was evaluated by the arm curl test (ACT) and the 30-s chair stand test (CST) whereas gait speed was measured by the 6 m walking test (WT). Fear of falling was measured using the Falls Efficacy Scale – International (FES-I). BMD was measured at the lumbar spine and femoral neck using Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).ResultsSignificant interactions (group x time) were found for all parameters (p<0.001) except for BMD, measured at the lumbar spine (p=0.064) and femoral neck (p=0.073). All test parameters of balance and functional mobility tests (OLS, TUG), strength tests (ACT, CST), WT, FES-I and BMD (femoral neck) showed significant improvement in the IG (p<0.05).ConclusionThe combined 12-week intervention was highly effective in improving balance and functional mobility, strength, gait performance and fear of falling in patients with osteopenia.

THE EFFECT OF A GOAL SETTING EXERCISE PROGRAM ON IMPROVING UPPER BODY STRENGTH, LOWER EXTREMITY STRENGTH, BALANCE AND COMMITMENT TO EXERCISE OF PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

The purpose was to examine the effect of goal setting on improving upper body strength, lower extremity strength and balance of individuals with schizophrenia and to monitor the effect of goal setting toward commitment to exercise of schizophrenia patients. The sample consisted of four patients with schizophrenia, aged 48 to 58 years old, all randomly selected and separated into two groups (control and experiment). All patients were already involved in exercising twice per week of 45 minutes each session, within psychiatry hospital premises. Additional goals for experimental group individuals included two extra 10-15 minutes of workout per week to improve post measure results. Instruments used prior and after the application of the goal setting intervention program included the Five times sit to stand test, the Arm curl test and the Time up and go test. Results showed that participants of the experiment group improved their performance in all post measures while control group individuals also improved their scores in two out of the three tests used in this study. Although no generalizations can be made due to the small sample of this study, goal setting seems to have the potential to promote exercise commitment and adoption in patients with schizophrenia. Article visualizations:

High-Intensity Interval Circuit Training Versus Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training on Functional Ability and Body Mass Index in Middle-Aged and Older Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The literature suggests that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is more effective than moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) to improve functional ability. However, there is no evidence on including HIIT in a circuit programme (HIICT). Our objective was to determine what type of training (HIICT or MICT) induces greater adaptations in the functional ability and body mass index of middle-aged and older women. The study used a quasi-experimental randomized controlled trial with 54 participants (age = 67.8 ± 6.2 years). Participants were randomly allocated to HIICT (n = 18), MICT (n = 18) or a non-exercise control group (CG; n = 18). The participants in the HIICT or MICT groups trained twice a week (1 h/session) for 18 weeks. Forty-one subjects were analysed (HIICT; n = 17, MICT; n = 12, CG; n = 12). Five subjects presented adverse events during the study. Strength, gait, cardiorespiratory fitness, balance and body mass index were measured. A significant training x group interaction was found in the arm curl test, where HIICT was statistically better than MICT and CG. Likewise, HIICT was statistically better than the CG in the BMI interaction. In lower limb strength, gait/dynamic balance and cardiorespiratory fitness, both HIICT and MICT were statistically better than the CG. In conclusion, HIICT generated better adaptations in upper limb strength than MICT. Likewise, HIICT generated better adaptations in body mass index than CG. Finally, both HIICT and MICT had a similar influence on strength, cardiorespiratory fitness and gait/dynamic balance.

Impact of deep water running in interval training (DWR-IT) on body composition, functional capacity, and quality of life in overweight adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundInterval training in deep water running (DWR-IT) is a training method to improve cardiovascular fitness, functional health, and quality of life and to help control body weight. Its main advantages are the reduction of joint overload and a low risk of musculoskeletal injuries. The aim of the study is to investigate the influence of DWR-IT on functional capacity, body composition, and quality of life of overweight middle-aged adults.MethodsThis is a randomized controlled, two-arm, open, parallel clinical trial with overweight adults. Volunteers will be allocated to a water group (WG), which will be submitted to the intervention, or a control group, which will not be subjected to any kind of intervention. The evaluation will be composed of anamnesis, electrical bioimpedance, six-minute walk test (6MWT), questionnaire on the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-lite (IWQOL-LITE), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, chair stand test, arm curl test, and food frequency questionnaire. The DWR-IT will last for 12 weeks, systematically increasing the intensity and training volume.DiscussionThe objective of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effect of DWR-IT on overweight adults. The study is guided through practice based on scientific evidence for the use of training and aquatic rehabilitation. It is expected that after 12 weeks of aquatic intervention there will be a decrease in body fat by about 10%, evaluated by electrical bioimpedance, an increase of about 25% of cardiorespiratory endurance, evaluated by 6MWT, and an improvement of about 25% of physical function domains, self-esteem, distress in public places, and work, analyzed by IWQOL-LITE in the WG.Trial registrationThe study protocol was published in the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC) on June 16, 2016. Registration number: RBR-6dmh7d.

Home-Based Prescribed Pulmonary Exercise in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

As a systemic disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects the respiratory system, inducing restless and exercise dyspnea. It also impacts exercise capacity and forms a vicious circle in which it further aggravates the condition of patients and accelerates disease progression. As a functional holistic exercise, traditional Chinese exercises (TCE) play an important role in the rehabilitation of COPD on the basis of adjusting the breath and performing coordinated movements. This study investigates the effects of prescribed pulmonary exercises (which are modified from TCE) on exercise capacity of upper and lower limbs, endurance exercise capacity, and quality of life in stable COPD patients. The goal is to determine the accessibility of these prescribed exercises in COPD rehabilitation. Participants are randomly divided into a non-exercise control group (CG) or prescribed pulmonary exercise group (PG) at a ratio of 1: 1. The PG receives intervention for 60 min twice per day, 7 days a week, for a total of 3 months. The intensity is measured using the Borg category-ratio 10 scale and with a heart-rate monitor. Then, an exercise capacity test and quality of life questionnaire are scheduled at 1 week before and after the formal intervention. After 3 months of intervention, the 30 s arm curl test, 30 s sit-to-stand test, 6 min walking test, and quality of life show significant improvement in COPD patients (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that prescribed pulmonary exercises can be applied as alternative, convenient, and effective home- and community-based exercises for stable COPD patients.

Effects of 24-week exergame intervention on physical function under single- and dual-task conditions in fibromyalgia: A randomized controlled trial.

To evaluate the effects of 24-week exergame intervention in the physical fitness of women with fibromyalgia in both single- and dual-task conditions. Single-blinded, randomized controlled trial. University facilities. Fifty-five women with fibromyalgia, recruited from the local fibromyalgia association, were randomly assigned to one of the two groups: exercise group and control group. The exercise group completed 24weeks of supervised and group-based exergame protocol, divided into two sessions of 60minutes. The intervention was focused on mobility, postural control, upper and lower limbs coordination, aerobic fitness, and strength. The strength of the upper limbs was measured using the arm curl test. The mobility skill was assessed through the timed-up and go test, and the flexibility of both upper and lower limbs was measured using the back scratch and the sit and reach tests, respectively. Fifty participants completed the study. In the single-task condition, exergame intervention led to significantly higher effects in the arm curl test (P=0.008), sit and reach test (P=0.033), and timed-up and go test (P=0.021). Moreover, under dual-task condition, exergames led to significant effects in all the physical fitness tests (arm curl test, timed-up and go test, back scratch test, and sit and reach test) compared to the control group. Exergame is an effective tool to improve the physical fitness in women with fibromyalgia under single or dual-task conditions.

Stability of Lifestyle Behavior - The Answer to Successful Cognitive Aging? A Comparison of Nuns, Monks, Master Athletes and Non-active Older Adults.

Background: Epidemiological studies of the effect of physical activity on cognition demonstrated an inverse relationship between physical activity and cognitive decline. However, such health behaviors are hardly invariable over time. The relative homogeneity of the adult lifestyle of nuns/monks as well as master athletes reduces the likelihood of confounding due to differences in their participation in regular life-long physical activities. The purpose of this study was to determine if there were differences in cognitive functions between nuns/monks, master athletes and sedentary, but otherwise healthy older adults. Additionally, we examined associations between demographic variables (education, sex, age), BMI, physical activity, exercise, and fitness and cognitive performance.Methods: We recruited three groups of healthy participants without cognitive deficits: (1) Nuns/Monks (n = 20; age 77.5 ± 5.56; 5 M, 15 W), (2) Master Athletes (n = 20; age 76.5 ± 5.33; 12 M, 8 W), and (3) Sedentary (n = 20; 76.4 ± 5.96, 6 M, 14 W). Cognitive performance (working memory, inhibition) was measured with a n-back task and a flanker task, participation in physical activities with the “German-PAQ-50+,” and physical fitness with the 30s chair stand and arm curl test.Results: As predicted, ANOVA comparing groups revealed the three groups differed in cognition, physical activity, and physical fitness with inactive older adults performing lower on all tests than the other two groups. Hierarchical regression analyses showed a positive influence of lifestyle stability on accuracy and reaction time for working memory and inhibitory performance. The highest correlation coefficients for fitness and cognitive performance emerged for the group of nuns and monks.Conclusion: Life-long stability of an active lifestyle may confer benefits to some aspects of working memory, attention, and inhibitory control. Longitudinal studies are recommended to further examine the causal relationship of lifestyle stability and cognitive function in such specific cohorts.

Less Is More: A Pilot Study Assessing The Benefit Of Exercise Frequency For Older Adults

There are countless benefits of exercising for older adults including a maintenance of bone density, muscle mass, and the preservation of muscular strength and endurance. Although older adults benefit from exercising it may be more convenient, more accessible, and less of a burden to exercise less times per week. PURPOSE: The purpose of this pilot study is to quantify if there are any added benefits to exercising three days a week compared to two days a week. METHODS: Participants included community dwelling adults (N=36, M=74.34±7.91 years) who self-selected exercise frequency by joining a multi-component fitness class offered in their local community. Classes were held either two or three days per week depending on the location. The Functional Fitness Test and Short Physical Performance Battery were conducted two times 6 months apart at all locations. Results were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: A significant group-by-time interaction was observed for hand-grip strength, F (1, 18) = 7.92, p = .01, with the two days per week group improving by 13% and the three days per week group decreasing by 1.9%. Interactions were not significant for chair stands test, arm curl test, 8 Foot Up-and-Go, or Gait speed, p> .05. There was a significant time effect for the chair stand test [F (1, 15) = 7.54, p = .01], gait speed [F (1, 19) = 7.91, p = .01], and hand-grip strength [F (1, 18) = 4.61, p = .04] with all tests indicating improvements from the first to second test. Univariate effect sizes indicate a trend toward greater improvements in the 2 d/wk group when compared to the 3 d/wk group with the exception of the arm curl which favors 3 d/wk. CONCLUSION: Although results are preliminary, this study indicates that handgrip strength was enhanced when participants were involved in a multi-component exercise program two days per week (13%). Chair stands test, arm curl test, 8 Foot Up-and-Go, and Gait speed increased regardless of the number of days per week of exercise. Notable limitations to the study are the number of males (N=6) compared to females (N=30) and participant’s self-selection of exercise frequency. Also, we did not track outside influences such as physical activity levels, health status, and history of disease. Future studies should confirm these results using an experimental design in a larger, more diverse sample.

THE RELATION BETWEEN HEMOGLOBIN LEVEL AND AEROBIC ENDURANCE, MUSCLE STRENGTH IN THE ELDERLY

Introduction: The increase in the elderly population causes many health problems. One of them is the decline in physical function, making the elderly have difficulty performing daily activities. Some studies suggest the relation between decreased hemoglobin level with aerobic endurance and muscle strength. This study aims to determine the relation between hemoglobin and aerobic endurance, muscle strength in the elderly. &#x0D; Methods: This research is an analytic-correlative research conducted cross-sectionally on 84 respondents in Kelurahan Cideng, Central Jakarta. The data is collected from questionnaires, hemoglobin level (sodium lauryl sulfate-hemoglobin method), and physical performance tests (2-minutes test, arm curl test, and chair stand test).&#x0D; Results: The mean hemoglobin level is 14.37 g/dL. There was a significant relation between hemoglobin with aerobic endurance (p&lt;0.05), whereas no significant relation between hemoglobin with upper and lower limb muscle strength (p&gt;0.05). &#x0D; Conclusion: There was a relation between hemoglobin level with aerobic endurance in the elderly.

Impact of adding a simultaneous cognitive task in the elbow's range of movement during arm curl test in women with fibromyalgia

BackgroundFibromyalgia symptoms cause a significant reduction in the ability to perform daily life activities. These activities require the ability to perform more than one task simultaneously. The main objective of this study was to evaluate how dual-task could modify range of movement, duration of repetitions and performance in the arm curl test in healthy controls and patients with fibromyalgia. MethodsTwenty women participated in this study, divided into two groups: 1) patients with fibromyalgia (N = 10, age = 52.00 [5.08]) and 2) age- and gender-matched healthy controls (N = 10; age = 51.60 [4.09]). The participants had to perform the arm curl test in two conditions: single test condition and performing a dual-task. The dual-task condition consisted of remembering three random unrelated words. ResultsPatients with fibromyalgia completed fewer repetitions than controls during dual-task condition (p-value = 0.015). Furthermore, both groups showed a significant decrease in the range of movement in the dual-task condition when comparing the mean of the three first repetitions with the three last ones (p-value < 0.05). InterpretationThe motor task might be prioritized over the cognitive task at the beginning of the test. However, at the end of the test, the cognitive task could require more attention due to the increased time since the words were heard, and also the motor task could require less attention after some repetitions have been performed. Thus, the addition of a cognitive task could lead to a less conscious execution of the motor task at the end of the test, which may be consistent with a reduced range of movement.

Effects of exercise and nutrition education programs on motor function and eating habit in mild dementia patients.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of physical ac-tivity and nutrition education programs on mild dementia patients with changes in exercise function and eating habits. We examined the effects of pre and post program on 23 old patients with dementia who were diagnosed with menarche or mild dementia with the permission of the dementia center in Incheon city and visited from April to July 2017. The Mini-Mental State Examination score of the subjects in this study was 19.68±3.25, consisting of mild dementia patients. After performing the program for 16 weeks, the senior fitness test showed a significant change in the arm curl test, chair sit-and-reach test, and 2-min step test, and a total score of mini nutrition assessment increased from 19.16 to 21.0. In particular, in a level 2 evaluation, which contains more details such as the condition of taking drugs, number of daily meals, protein food intake condition, intake of vegetables, fruit, and water, whether one can eat alone, and evaluation of nutritive condition, a significant increase from 9.78 to 11.28 was verified. There is a significant increase in nutrition condition recovery as a result of nutrition education. In comparing pre and post program, a significant result was confirmed, and there was significance to provide the basic empirical data for the exercise and dietary life nutritional education of mild dementia patients.

Effects of home-based prescribed pulmonary exercise by patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) not only affects pulmonary function but also leads to skeletal muscle dysfunction. The various characteristics of different forms of traditional Chinese exercise lead to inconsistent clinical effects in COPD patients. Hence, the present study carefully combined and rearranged liuzijue, wuqinxi, baduanjin, and yijinjing into a pulmonary exercise program targeting COPD patients.Methods/designThis study is a single-blind, randomized controlled trial. A random number table will be generated by an independent person. Each number will be placed in a sealed opaque envelop to blind assignment. All outcome assessors will be blinded to group assignment.COPD patients between 40 and 80 years of age, with stable medical treatment and no regular participation in regular exercise in the last 6 months will be included. All participants will be recruited from the Respiratory Medicine Department of Yue-Yang Integrative Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.All participants will continue to follow their medical treatment. They will be randomly assigned to one of four groups in a 1:1:1:1 ratio: (1) usual care (control group, CG), (2) pulmonary exercise group (PG), (3) resistance exercise group (RG), or (4) combined pulmonary exercise and resistance exercise group (PRG). CG participants will receive medical treatment only. PG participants will perform 60 min of exercise twice a day 7 days a week for 3 months, with 1 day’s exercise per week at hospital under guidance and supervision. RG participants will perform 60 min of resistance exercise once a day, three times a week for 3 months, with 1 day’s exercise per week at hospital under guidance and supervision. PRG participants will perform 60 min of prescribed pulmonary exercise combined with resistance exercise for 3 months.The outcomes include the isokinetic strength of peripheral skeletal muscle, surface electromyography, 6-min walking distance, 30-s arm curl test, pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, dyspnea, body composition, physical activity, quality of life, and Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy Scale.DiscussionThe results of this study will compensate for the current inadequate understanding of prescribed pulmonary exercise and may provide a new, simple, convenient, and effective home-based exercise intervention for COPD patients.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-1800017405. Registered on 28 July 2018.

Evaluating the muscular strength, functional capacity, and risk of sarcopenia in elderly women who practice Mat Pilates

Abstract Introduction: Despite the importance of appropriate levels of muscular strength to maintain the functional capacity and a healthy life in old age, the current literature still lacks studies that investigate the profile of elderly women who practice Mat Pilates regarding these variables. Objective: This study aimed to analyze muscular strength, functional capacity, and risk of sarcopenia in elderly women who practiced Mat Pilates. Method: This is a cross-sectional study carried out with 50 elderly women who practice Mat Pilates in the city of Maringá, Paraná. Sociodemographic and health questionnaires were used, in addition to tests created by a Latin American development group for maturity called Grupo de Desenvolvimento Latino Americano para a Maturidade (GDLAM), sitting-rising test, arm curl test, and SARC-F questionnaire. For data analysis, Shapiro-Wilk and Mann-Whitney U tests, as well as Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficients, were used. The level of significance was p &lt; 0.05. Results: The 70-79-year-old elderly women showed worse results in the functional capacity and muscular strength tests of the upper limbs and a higher risk of sarcopenia than the individuals who were under 70 years of age. Muscular strength was inversely related to the reduction of the risk of sarcopenia, and functional capacity was directly associated with this risk. Conclusion: A good functional capacity seems to be related to the reduction of the risk of sarcopenia. Age seems to be an intervening factor for reducing muscular strength levels and functional capacity and increasing the risk of sarcopenia.

Effects of an Intensive Inpatient Rehabilitation Program in Elderly Patients with Obesity

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the short-term effectiveness of an intensive inpatient multidimensional rehabilitation program (MRP), including diet, exercise, and behavioral therapy, in elderly patients with severe obesity. Methods: Forty-four elderly patients (old; age 69.3 ± 3.5 years, BMI 41.9 ± 14.9) were analyzed against 215 younger patients (young; age 48.2 ± 18.5 years, BMI 43.9 ± 9.4), who were used as controls. All patients underwent MRP, based on group therapy guided by a multidisciplinary team (physicians, dietitians, exercise trainers, psychologists). We evaluated changes in anthropometry, cardiovascular risk factors, physical fitness, quality of life, and eating behavior. Results: After 3 weeks of MRP, we observed a reduction in body weight (old –3.8%, young –4.3%), BMI (old –3.9%, young –4.4%), waist circumference (old –3.4%, young –4.1%), total cholesterol (old –14.0%, young –15.0%), and fasting glucose (old –8.3%, young –8.1%), as well as improved performance in the Six-Minute-Walk Test (old +28.7%, young +15.3%), chair-stand test (old +24.8%, young +26.9%), and arm-curl test (old +15.2%, young +27.3%). Significant improvement was registered in all other analyzed domains. Conclusion: Our 3-week MRP provided significant clinical and functional improvement, which was similar between elderly and younger patients with severe obesity. In the long-term, this may be translated into better quality of life, through better management of obesity-associated morbidities and reduced frailty.