Balance In Healthy Women Research Articles

Heart rate and cardiac autonomic responses to concomitant deep breathing, hand grip exercise, and circulatory occlusion in healthy young adult men and women

BackgroundDeep breathing (DB) and handgrip (HG) exercise -with and without circulatory occlusion (OC) in muscle-, have been shown to have beneficial effects on cardiovascular function; however, the combination of these maneuvers on heart rate (HR) and cardiac sympathovagal balance have not been previously investigated. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of simultaneous DB, HG, and OC maneuvers on the sympathovagal balance in healthy women and men subjects.Methods and resultsElectrocardiogram and ventilation were measured in 20 healthy subjects (Women: n = 10; age = 27 ± 4 years; weight = 67.1 ± 8.4 kg; and height = 1.6 ± 0.1 m. Men: n = 10; age = 27 ± 3 years; weight = 77.5 ± 10.1 kg; and height = 1.7 ± 0.1 m) at baseline and during DB, DB + HG, or DB + HG + OC protocols. Heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate were continuously recorded, and spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) were calculated to indirectly estimate cardiac autonomic function. Men and women showed similar HR responses to DB, DB + HG and DB + HG + OC. Men exhibited a significant HR decrease following DB + HG + OC protocol which was accompanied by an improvement in cardiac autonomic control evidenced by spectral changes in HRV towards parasympathetic predominance (HRV High frequency: 83.95 ± 1.45 vs. 81.87 ± 1.50 n.u., DB + HG + OC vs. baseline; p < 0.05). In women, there was a marked decrease in HR after completion of both DB + HG and DB + HG + OC tests which was accompanied by a significant increase in cardiac vagal tone (HRV High frequency: 85.29 ± 1.19 vs. 77.93 ± 0.92 n.u., DB + HG vs. baseline; p < 0.05). No adverse effects or discomfort were reported by men or women during experimental procedures. Independent of sex, combination of DB, HG, and OC was tolerable and resulted in decreases in resting HR and elevations in cardiac parasympathetic tone.ConclusionsThese data indicate that combined DB, HG and OC are effective in altering cardiac sympathovagal balance and reducing resting HR in healthy men and women.

Cold-Water Effects on Energy Balance in Healthy Women During Aqua-Cycling.

While the popularity of aquatic physical activities continues to grow among women, the effects on energy expenditure (EE) and appetite control remain unknown. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of water temperature during aqua-cycling session on EE, rate of perceived exertion, energy intake, appetite sensations, and food reward in healthy premenopausal women. Participants completed three experimental sessions, in the postprandial condition, in a randomized order: a land control session (CON), an aqua-cycling session in 18 °C (EXO18), and an aqua-cycling session in 27 °C (EXO27). The EE, food intake, appetite sensations, and food reward were investigated for each condition. EXO18 induced a significant increase in EE (p < .001) and oxygen consumption (p < .01) compared with EXO27. The carbohydrate oxidation was higher in EXO18 session compared with EXO27 and CON (p < .05 and p < .001, respectively). While fat oxidation was higher in exercise sessions compared with CONT (p < .01), no difference was observed between EXO18 and EXO27. Exercise sessions did not alter absolute energy intake session but induced a decrease in relative energy intake (p < .001) and in hunger, desire to eat, and prospective food consumption compared with CON (p < .001). The authors also show here that cold-water exposure can increase EE while rate of perceived exertion is lower at the end of exercise session compared with same exercise at 27 °C (p < .05). An exposure to a moderately cold-water during aqua-cycling is an efficient strategy to promote increased EE and decreased hunger, which may be effective for energy balance management in healthy premenopausal women.

Effect of 30 pilates sessions on body posture, perception and dynamic balance in healthy women

BACKGROUND: The development of research has not followed the increase in the number of Pilates practitioners. So, due to the popularity of the Pilates Method, especially among women, studies that verify the effects of exercises are important. AIM: To verify the effect of 30 sessions of the Pilates Method on static body posture, postural habits, body image perception and dynamic balance in healthy adult women. METHOD: This is a quasi-experimental study, characterized by a 15-week Pilates exercise intervention program, twice a week. Outcomes static body posture, postural habits, body image perception, and dynamic balance were evaluated in three moments: 30 days before the intervention started (M1), just before the intervention started (M2) and ended (M3). RESULTS: Nineteen healthy women [26.8 (3.5) years, 57.9 (6.8) kg, 160.6 (6.9) cm] participated in the study. There were differences in M2 compared to M3, and this represented an increase in the balance score (p&lt;0.001), in the proportion of individuals with aligned trunk postural balance (p=0.002), in the proportion of individuals with a neutral pattern to pick up an object from the floor (p&lt;0.025), and a decrease in the perception of distance between trochanters (p=0.037). CONCLUSION: Thirty Pilates sessions practiced twice a week by healthy adult women can improve dynamic balance, the postural habit of pick up an object from the floor, and static body posture.

IMMUNOLOGICAL PHENOTYPE AND HORMONAL BALANCE IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Serum concentrations of estradiol (Es) and progesterone (Pg), Es, Pg and benzo[a]pyrene-specific IgA and IgG antibodies were studied in 227 postmenopausal healthy women (HW) and 639 breast cancer patients (BCP). The high individual Pg/Es ratio ( 5.0) was revealed in HW (54.6%) and BCP (26.4%, p 0.0001, OR = 0.3) marked as “hormonal balance”. The low Pg/Es (≤ 5.0) ratio was detected more frequently in BCP (OR = 3.3) marked as “hormonal imbalance”. The high Pg/Es ratio was more common in HW with protective immunological phenotype (IgA-Bp/IgA-Pg ≤ 1 and IgA-Es/IgA-Pg ≤ 1) than with procarcinogenic immunological phenotype (IgA-Bp/IgA-Pg 1 and IgA-IgA-Es/IgA-Pg 1): 78.8 vs 47.4%, p = 0.005. The same parameters for IgG-immunological phenotypes in HW were 73.3 and 48.6%, p = 0.002. The differences between IgA-immunological phenotypes were lowered (41.6 vs 24.4%, p 0.007), whereas between IgG-phenotypes it was absent in BCP. Thus, for the first time it was revealed the influence of immunological phenotypes based on antibodies specific to the environmental chemical carcinogens and endogenous steroid hormones on the hormonal balance in HW and its reduced effects in BCP.

FemHab: The effects of bed rest and hypoxia on oxidative stress in healthy women.

Independently, both inactivity and hypoxia augment oxidative stress. This study, part of the FemHab project, investigated the combined effects of bed rest-induced unloading and hypoxic exposure on oxidative stress and antioxidant status. Healthy, eumenorrheic women were randomly assigned to the following three 10-day experimental interventions: normoxic bed rest (NBR;n= 11; PiO2 = 133 mmHg), normobaric hypoxic bed rest (HBR;n= 12; PiO2 = 90 mmHg), and ambulatory hypoxic confinement (HAMB;n= 8: PiO2 = 90 mmHg). Plasma samples, obtained before (Pre), during (D2, D6), immediately after (Post) and 24 h after (Post+1) each intervention, were analyzed for oxidative stress markers [advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitrotyrosine], antioxidant status [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and uric acid (UA)], NO metabolism end-products (NOx), and nitrites. Compared with baseline, AOPP increased in NBR and HBR on D2 (+14%; +12%;P< 0.05), D6 (+19%; +15%;P< 0.05), and Post (+22%; +21%;P< 0.05), respectively. MDA increased at Post+1 in NBR (+116%;P< 0.01) and D2 in HBR (+114%;P< 0.01) and HAMB (+95%;P< 0.05). Nitrotyrosine decreased (-45%;P< 0.05) and nitrites increased (+46%;P< 0.05) at Post+1 in HAMB only. Whereas SOD was higher at D6 (+82%) and Post+1 (+67%) in HAMB only, the catalase activity increased on D6 (128%) and Post (146%) in HBR and HAMB, respectively (P< 0.05). GPX was only reduced on D6 (-20%;P< 0.01) and Post (-18%;P< 0.05) in HBR. No differences were observed in FRAP and NOx. UA was higher at Post in HBR compared with HAMB (P< 0.05). These data indicate that exposure to combined inactivity and hypoxia impairs prooxidant/antioxidant balance in healthy women. Moreover, habitual activity levels, as opposed to inactivity, seem to blunt hypoxia-related oxidative stress via antioxidant system upregulation.

P02.177. Effects of Bach Rescue remedy on cardiac autonomic balance in healthy women

Methods In this two-stage crossover trial, seven females (mean age 26±4 years) were randomlyassigned to a sequence of two treatments (Rescue remedy and placebo) with a onemonth wash-out period. The Rescue remedy consisted of four drops of five flower essences (cherry plum, clematis, impatiens, rock rose and Star of Bethlehem) dissolved in brandy and 250 ml of distilled water. The placebo consisted of four drops of brandy in 250 ml of distilled water. Cardiac autonomic functions were evaluated by frequency domain indices (LF, low frequency power and HF, high frequency power) of heart rate variability at baseline and after the intervention. Percentage changes were calculated and compared between the Rescue remedy and placebo groups using Wilcoxon signed rank sum test.

The Effect of a Senior Jazz Dance Class on Static Balance in Healthy Women Over 50 Years of Age: A Pilot Study

The purpose of this pilot study is to assess the impact of a senior jazz dance class on static balance for healthy women over 50 years of age using the NeuroCom Smart Balance Master System (Balance Master). A total of 12 healthy women aged 54-88 years completed a 15-week jazz dance class which they attended 1 time per week for 90 min per class. Balance data were collected using the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) at baseline (pre), at 7 weeks (mid), and after 15 weeks (post). An equilibrium score measuring postural sway was calculated for each of six different conditions. The composite equilibrium score (all six conditions integrated to 1 score) was used as an overall measure of balance. Repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were used to compare the means of each participant's SOT composite equilibrium score in addition to the equilibrium score for each individual condition (1-6) across the 3 time points (pre, mid, post). There was a statistically significant difference among the means, p < .0005. Pairwise (Bonferroni) post hoc analyses revealed the following statistically significant findings for SOT composite equilibrium scores for the pre (67.33 + 10.43), mid (75.25 + 6.97), and post (79.00 + 4.97) measurements: premid (p = .008); prepost (p < .0005); midpost (p = .033). In addition, correlational statistics were used to determine any relationship between SOT scores and age. Results indicated that administration of a 15-week jazz dance class 1 time per week was beneficial in improving static balance as measured by the Balance Master SOT.

Circulating ghrelin is sensitive to changes in body weight during a diet and exercise program in normal-weight young women.

Ghrelin is directly involved with short-term regulation of energy balance. Although circulating levels of ghrelin are elevated in anorexia nervosa and reduced in obesity, the role of ghrelin in regulating long-term energy balance in healthy women has not been investigated. We examined the effects of a 3-month energy deficit-imposing diet and exercise intervention on circulating ghrelin in normal-weight, healthy women. Body composition, resting metabolic rate, and serum ghrelin were measured at pre-, mid-, and postintervention in controls (n = 7), who performed no exercise, and exercising women who remained weight stable (n = 5) or lost weight (n = 10). Exercise training occurred five times per week, and subjects were fed a specific diet. Ghrelin significantly increased over time (770 +/- 296 to 1322 +/- 664 pmol/liter) in the weight-loss group compared with the controls and the weight-stable group (P < 0.05). Changes in ghrelin were negatively correlated with changes in body weight (r = -0.61; P < 0.05). Body fat, body weight, and resting metabolic rate significantly decreased in the weight-loss group before the increase in ghrelin. These findings suggest that ghrelin responds in a compensatory manner to changes in energy homeostasis in healthy young women, and that ghrelin exhibits particular sensitivity to changes in body weight.

Effects of cervical collars on standing balance.

The effect of cervical collars on standing balance in two age groups was examined. Twenty healthy women aged 60 to 78 years and 20 healthy women aged 18 to 29 years stood on a Kistler force platform with and without a cervical collar. Total, lateral and anteroposterior sway velocity were measured in each of three positions; long-base stance and eyes open, wide-base stance and eyes open, and wide-base stance and eyes closed. Analysis of variance showed no significant difference (p < .05) between the collar and no collar conditions for any of the standing balance measures. Older women had significantly more sway velocity (p < .001) than younger women during long-base standing both with and without the collar. Also they showed significantly more sway velocity in both the total (p < .01) and the anteroposterior (AP) directions (p < .001) of wide-base standing. There were no significant lateral sway velocity differences (p < .05). With eyes closed, sway velocity was greater in all age groups. In the wide-based condition there were significant differences in sway velocity between AP (p < .001) and total and lateral (p < .01). These results indicate that a cervical collar does not disturb standing balance in healthy women in the age groups tested.