Exercise Participants Research Articles

The effects of exercise and nicotine replacement therapy on smoking rates in women

Purpose To examine the individual effects of supervised and intensive exercise as well as the combined effects of exercise and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) on (a) smoking cessation and reduction rates and (b) psychological and physiological processes during withdrawal. Methods One-hundred and forty-two inactive female smokers were randomised into the following four groups: exercise + nicotine patch; exercise + no nicotine patch; cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) + nicotine patch and CBT + no nicotine patch. Smoking abstinence (verified by saliva cotinine and expired carbon monoxide), cessation self-efficacy, and physical fitness and body weight were assessed at baseline (week 1), quit date (week 6), program termination (week 12), and 3- and 12-month follow-up. Results There were significant differences in a 7-day point prevalence but not continuous abstinence rates between treatment groups across targeted end points. Consistently higher cessation rates were seen when NRT was added to both treatment programs. Compared with CBT participants, exercise participants had significantly increased functional exercise capacity and had gained significantly less weight during program end points but these differences did not hold at a 12-month follow-up. Compared with exercise participants, CBT participants felt greater cessation efficacy and reported greater knowledge, coping and support resources across all end points. Conclusions Exercise combined with NRT facilitates smoking cessation, improves functional exercise capacity, and delays weight gain in women smokers. We recommend that physicians and health care professionals recommend exercise and NRT together for highly motivated women interested in quitting smoking.

The Effect of a Single Aerobic Training Session on Cognitive Flexibility in Late Middle-Aged Adults

Research has shown that aerobic exercise enhances cognitive function, specifically executive functions. This study examines the effect of acute aerobic exercise on cognitive flexibility - an executive function - in late middle-aged individuals. Fourteen men and 45 women aged 50 - 64, were randomly assigned to moderate exercise (60 % of heart rate reserve), moderately-intense (70 % of heart rate reserve) exercise, and movie-watching control groups after a maximal exercise test. Prior to and following the exercise or control sessions participants performed two cognitive tasks: the Alternate Uses assessing cognitive flexibility and the Digit Span Forward subtest from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Revised assessing attention span. Results indicated significant improvement in Alternate Uses in the exercise groups but not in the control group. No group differences were indicated on the Digit Span. These results provide partial support for the benefit of acute aerobic exercise on cognitive flexibility.

Redesign and initial validation of an instrument to assess the motivational qualities of music in exercise: The Brunel Music Rating Inventory-2

In the present study, a measure to assess the motivational qualities of music in exercise was redesigned, extending previous research efforts (Karageorghis et al., 1999). The original measure, the Brunel Music Rating Inventory (BMRI), had shown limitations in its factor structure and its applicability to non-experts in music selection. Redesign of the BMRI used in-depth interviews with eight participants (mean age 31.9 years, s = 8.9 years) to establish the initial item pool, which was examined using a series of confirmatory factor analyses. A single-factor model provided a good fit across three musical selections with different motivational qualities (comparative fit index, CFI: 0.95–0.98; standardized root mean residual, SRMR: 0.03–0.05). The single-factor model also demonstrated acceptable fit across two independent samples and both sexes using one piece of music (CFI: 0.86–1.00; SRMR: 0.04–0.07). The BMRI was designed for experts in selecting music for exercise (e.g. dance aerobic instructors), whereas the BMRI-2 can be used both by exercise instructors and participants. The psychometric properties of the BMRI-2 are stronger than those of the BMRI and it is easier to use. The BMRI-2 provides a valid and internally consistent tool by which music can be selected to accompany a bout of exercise or a training session. Furthermore, the BMRI-2 enables researchers to standardize music in experimental protocols involving exercise-related tasks.

Analysis of variability and correlation in long-term economic growth rates

Quantifying the uncertainty in future climate change is an important input into policy decisions. Two important sources of uncertainty are economic growth and technological change, which in turn contribute to uncertainty in future emissions. In this paper, we focus on uncertainty in one type of technical change: productivity growth. Estimates of uncertainty in future growth must necessarily include expert judgment, since the future will not necessarily look like the past. But previous uncertainty studies have taken expert judgments based on annual national growth rates, and applied them to models with regional aggregations and multi-year time steps, and often have made crude assumptions about the correlation between regions. This paper analyzes data on the variability and covariability of historical economic productivity growth rates, and investigates the effect of spatial and temporal aggregation on variance. The results are intended to inform participants in expert elicitation exercises on future economic growth uncertainty.

Comparison of Predicted vs. Actual Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) for a Submaximal Exercise Test

PURPOSE: To determine the proportion of individuals who over or under predict the exertion associated with a submaximal exercise test and to examine potential gender differences. METHODS: The sample consisted of 38 females and 50 males, aged 27–30 yrs. Participants completed a submaximal graded exercise test that terminated at 85%of age-adjusted maximal heart rate. Participants were asked to predict the level of exertion prior to beginning the test and were asked to give an overall session RPE immediately following the completion of the test. The predicted RPE was subtracted from the post exercise RPE and participants were classified as over predicting, under predicting or accurately predicting the post exercise RPE. RESULTS: Overall, 47% of the participants over estimated, 34% under estimated and 19% accurately estimated the exertion associated with the submaximal test. A significant (p=.014) gender difference was found in that 53% of the females over estimated the exertion compared to 42% of the males and 46% of the males under estimated the exertion compared to 18% of the females. While males were more likely to be classified as physically fit than females (56% vs. 11%), fitness was not significantly related to the likelihood of over or under estimating the exertion. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that females may be more likely to over predict the exertion associated with activity while males may be more likely to under predict the exertion associated with activity. These findings may have implications in better understanding gender differences in overall physical activity

Effects of exercise on subjective aspects of sleep during tobacco withdrawal

Exercise training was examined as a potential moderator of self-reported sleep disturbance during the first 5 weeks of tobacco withdrawal. Three sleep variables were assessed before and after a quit attempt by female smokers who exercised for 80 min per week at moderate intensity over an 11-week period. Comparisons were made to a matched control group of nonexercising women who also quit smoking. Results indicated that perceived difficulty in falling asleep and staying asleep were negatively affected by tobacco withdrawal. Exercise participants did not differ from controls in their ability to stay asleep, but they reported significantly less difficulty falling asleep than controls during initial withdrawal. Discussion focuses on characteristics of the exercise intervention that may have contributed to these findings.

Principle of Medical Screening for Participation in Exercise in Residents in the Community

Pre-participation medical screening is widely used to ensure against potential exercise-related risks. It is reported that the most common underlying cause of cardiac sudden death associated with exercise is coronary artery disease in the adult population. Therefore, the evaluation of coronary risk factors is essential in medical screening for the elderly. In the present study, more than 50% of elderly subjects had one or more coronary risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia and about 10% of elderly subjects had more than 2 risk factors. Some novel coronary risk factors, such as total plasma homocysteine, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, while proposed in the literature, has not had the risk potential significance in medical screening established. Risk stratification based on medical screening is needed to optimize the safety of exercise, and high risk subjects who have signs or symptoms suggestive of cardiovascular diseases, or any coronary risk factor, should undergo further evaluation. Since pre-participation medical screening cannot ensure safety of exercise completely, physical condition check on the day of exercise is effective to enhance safety of exercise. More efficient medical screening systems will be needed to cope with increasing numbers of participants in exercise.

Voluntary Training in Mice and Submandibular Lymphocyte Response to Acute Exercise

Submandibular lymph nodes (SLN) are important for immune responses to antigens in the eye and oral mucosa. Athletes and exercise participants may be at increased risk of ocular, oral, and upper respiratory tract infections. This study was conducted to examine the effects of voluntary training on the distribution, number, and apoptotic status of SLN lymphocytes in response to an acute bout of strenuous exercise. Female C57BL/6 mice were assigned to voluntary wheel-running (WR) exercise (N=20) or were sedentary (N=10) for 16 wk. SLN lymphocytes were examined immediately (EX+Imm) or 24 h (EX+24 h) following strenuous treadmill exercise, or exposure to treadmill conditions without running (NonEX). Intracellular glutathione (GSH), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), cell viability (propidium iodide uptake, PI), surface phosphatidylserine (Annexin V), T-lymphocyte (CD3, CD4, CD8), and B-lymphocyte (CD19) phenotype distribution and number were assessed. The WR mice had a higher number and percent CD8 SLN lymphocytes, higher MMP, and lower Annexin V/PI SLN lymphocytes than controls. Regardless of training status, an acute bout of strenuous exercise decreased the total and phenotype specific (CD3, CD4, CD8) number of cells, MMP, and GSH levels immediately after exercise. WR in mice improved some aspects of cell viability in SLN lymphocytes compared with controls, but did not prevent the transient cell loss after acute treadmill exercise. Given the depletion in intracellular GSH levels, oxidative stress may account for the decline in SLN lymphocyte numbers following acute exercise. Loss of SLN lymphocytes may have consequences for ocular, oral, and upper respiratory tract health in some exercise participants and athletes during periods of overtraining.

Modeling the Environmental Collaboration Process: A Deductive Approach

Collaborative processes in which citizen and industry groups develop mutually-acceptable environmental policies have become increasingly popular over the last two decades. In recognition of the importance of these processes, a substantial academic literature has arisen. The models that have developed within this literature have primarily employed the inductive approach. The deductive approach has received little attention, despite its proven value. The purpose of this paper is to employ that approach to construct a model of collaborative negotiations, not to replace the current inductive models, but to provide an alternative perspective on the same topic. Ten hypotheses derived from this model are tested against data drawn from a survey of participants in a land-use planning exercise in the Canadian province of British Columbia.

Modeling the environmental collaboration process: A deductive approach

Collaborative processes in which citizen and industry groups develop mutually acceptable environmental policies have become increasingly popular over the last two decades. In recognition of the importance of these processes, a substantial academic literature has arisen. The models that have developed within this literature have primarily employed the inductive approach. The purpose of this paper is to argue that the deductive approach can offer a valuable alternative perspective; and to employ that approach to construct a model of collaborative negotiations. Seven hypotheses derived from this model are tested against data drawn from a survey of participants in a land-use planning exercise in the Canadian province of British Columbia.

Exercise Accelerates Wound Healing Among Healthy Older Adults: A Preliminary Investigation

Older adults are likely to experience delayed rates of wound healing, impaired neuroendocrine responsiveness, and increased daily stress. Exercise activity has been shown to have a positive effect on physiological functioning and psychological functioning among older adults. This study evaluated the effect of a 3-month exercise program on wound healing, neuroendocrine function, and perceived stress among healthy older adults. Twenty-eight healthy older adults (mean age 61.0 +/- 5.5 years) were assigned randomly to an exercise activity group (n = 13) or to a nonexercise control group (n = 15). One month following baseline randomization, after exercise participants had acclimated to the exercise routine, all participants underwent an experimental wound procedure. Wounds were measured 3 times per week until healed to calculate rate of wound healing. All participants completed assessments of exercise endurance, salivary cortisol, and self-reported stress prior to randomization and at the conclusion of the intervention. Exercise participants achieved significant improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, as reflected by increased oxygen consumption (VO(2)max) and exercise duration. Wound healing occurred at a significantly faster rate in the exercise group [mean = 29.2 (9.0) days] than in the nonexercise group [38.9 (7.4) days; p =.012]. Exercise participants also experienced increased cortisol secretion during stress testing following the intervention. Group differences in wound healing and neuroendocrine responsiveness were found despite low levels of self-reported stress. A relatively short-term exercise intervention is associated with enhanced rates of wound healing among healthy older adults. Thus, exercise activity may be an important component of health care to promote wound healing.

Impact of modified glucose target and exercise interventions on vascular risk factors

Potent glucose-lowering medications other than metformin may impede weight loss in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Supervised exercise programs improve glycemic control without significantly enhancing weight loss; their impact on fitness and blood pressure in T2D remains unclear. In this pilot study, 42 type 2 diabetes patients were randomized to (i) liberalized (10 mmol/l) OR strict (7 mol/l) preprandial glucose thresholds for adjustment of medication other than metformin and (ii) dietary counseling with OR without supervised exercise (2 × 2 factorial design). Weight (−1.2% versus −0.3%, p = 0.38) and hemoglobin A1C changes (−0.8% versus 0%, p = 0.37) were similar for glucose threshold-defined groups. Dietary counseling with supervised exercise participants had greater improvement in mean arterial pressure than those not randomized to an exercise program (−3.3% versus 1.1%, p = 0.02). Overall weight (−1.5% versus 0%, p = 0.06) and fitness changes (5.4% versus 1.5%, p = 0.18) were not significantly different between these groups, but weight (−1.6% versus 0%, p = 0.03) and fitness changes (21.3% versus 1.5%, p = 0.03) were significantly greater among those who attended ≥75% of exercise classes. Liberalizing preprandial thresholds neither enhances weight loss nor compromises hemoglobin A1C. T2D patients who consistently participate in supervised exercise programs may experience modest weight loss and significant improvements in fitness and blood pressure.

Optimizing a District of Columbia Strategic National Stockpile Dispensing Center

On October 4, 2003, the District of Columbia Department of Health (DOH) held a Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) exercise designed to test its plan for operating mass dispensing centers during a bioterrorist attack or other emergency. The main goals of the exercise were to maximize the throughput of the dispensing plan and improve dispensing procedures. These goals are important for quantifying the resources (eg, numbers and types of staff) necessary to respond to different types and sizes of events, as well as for minimizing the potential for errors or confusion in dispensing medications. We set up the dispensing center according to the District's SNS plan and recruited volunteers to role-play potentially exposed residents. During the exercise, we collected detailed data on the service times for each step in the dispensing process. We also collected observations from exercise participants and observers. We found that the DOH dispensing center could achieve a throughput of 2.5 persons per minute. Using computer modeling, we recommended changes to the dispensing plan that would enable it to achieve a higher throughput of four to five persons per minute. Other recommendations addressed improvements to dispensing plans and procedures.

Effectiveness of an Exercise Program to Improve Forward Head Posture in Normal Adults: A Randomized, Controlled 10-Week Trial

Forward head posture (FHP) is most often described as excessive anterior positioning of the head in relation to a vertical reference line, involving increased cervical spine lordosis (head forward, middle cervical spine extended, lower cervical spine flexed) and rounded shoulders with thoracic kyphosis. Although exercise is routinely used to improve FHP, relatively little data exists on efficacy. The present study was designed to examine the impact of a 10-week targeted and progressive home exercise program on improving FHP. As improvement through exercise of postural alignment depends upon participants adhering to the program, we also looked at issues related to exercise compliance. Seventeen control (C) and 23 exercise (E) participants with a FHP deviation were part of this program. Pre- and post-exercise postural measurements of FHP were obtained from the sagittal plane using the Biotonix TM Postural Analysis System; in addition neck flexion range of motion was measured. Participants were randomly assigned to C or E groups. The E group performed neck extensor and pectoralis major stretches and deep neck flexor and shoulder retractor strengthening exercises for the 10-week period. Two-factor (group, pre-test/post-test) analysis of variance models were used to test main effects and interactions. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) between groups on any pre-test measure. For the E group, there were significant differences and interactions (p<0.05) between pre- and post-tests and also between the E and C groups at post-test for range of motion and one postural measurement. The results demonstrate that a short, home-based targeted exercise program can improve postural alignment related to FHP. These results provide a foundation for further development of postural improvement programs that include an exercise component.

An Acute Bout Of Typical Aerobic Exercise Does Not Alter Circulating Leptin Levels In The Obese

Purpose Recent findings suggest that leptin may be acutely altered in response to abrupt changes in energy balance induced by fluctuations in energy intake. Therefore, it is conceivable that disruptions in energy balance that can be achieved by manipulating energy expenditure may also alter leptin concentration. Obese individuals have increased leptin levels and may be characterized by a state of leptin resistance. As such, we hypothesized that acute exercise increases energy expenditure, which in turn may regulate leptin concentrations in obese individuals. Methods Fifteen healthy obese males (mean age; 24.9 ± 5.6 years, mean BMI; 33.4 ± 2.9) reported for fasting blood draws before 8am to control for the diurnal variation in leptin concentration. Body composition was assessed using Dual Energy Xray Absorbance (DEXA). Participants either underwent a single exercise session of moderate intensity (58.4 % ± 4.0 of VO2max) for 60 min (n = 8), or served as non exercising controls (n = 7). The exercise session elicited an energy expenditure of 567 ± 80 Kcal. Further fasting blood draws were performed at both 24 and 48 hours after the intervention for both the exercise and control participants. Results Baseline plasma leptin levels were positively correlated with BMI (r = 0.65; p<0.01), Body weight (r = 0.64; p<0.01), and percent body fat (r = 0.90; p<0.01) and negatively correlated with VO2max (r = −0.82; p<0.01). In regards to plasma leptin concentration no significant main effects nor the interaction were significant (exercise: pre 23.5 ± 28.3; post 23.7 ± 32.1; 24h-post 35.3 ± 62.2; 48h-post 33.8 ± 59.9, control: pre 44.1 ± 33.2; post 41.6 ± 33.9; 24h-post 44.7 ± 33.5; 48h-post 40.5 ± 32.8 ng/ml). The same was observed for insulin (exercise: pre 20.0 ± 15.1; post 7.9 ± 9.1; 24h-post 13.2 ± 9.3; 48h-post 13.5 ± 10.1, control: pre 14.4 ± 9.3; post 12.7 ± 10.9; 24h-post 18.4 ± 8.2; 48h-post 13.1 ± 8.5 μU/ml). Conclusions These results, consistent with others, may suggest that a bout of acute exercise of moderate intensity and duration may not affect leptin concentration. It is possible that a higher level of energy expenditure maybe required to elicit such a change.

Game On! Preparing Your Clients for Recreational Sports

In Brief Learning Objective To assist health/fitness professionals and exercise participants to adequately prepare for sports participation and develop training programs that will further promote fitness. Learn how to carefully design fitness programs for sports participation that include base fitness conditioning, sport-specific conditioning, and in-season conditioning that will help your clients achieve a higher level of fitness, prevent exercise-related injuries, and make sports participation more enjoyable.

A Typology of Public Engagement Mechanisms

Imprecise definition of key terms in the “public participation” domain have hindered the conduct of good research and militated against the development and implementation of effective participation practices. In this article, we define key concepts in the domain: public communication, public consultation, and public participation. These concepts are differentiated according to the nature and flow of information between exercise sponsors and participants. According to such an information flow perspective, an exercise’s effectiveness may be ascertained by the efficiency with which full, relevant information is elicited from all appropriate sources, transferred to (and processed by) all appropriate recipients, and combined(when required) to give an aggregate/consensual response. Key variables that may theoretically affect effectiveness—and on which engagement mechanisms differ—are identified and used to develop a typology of mechanisms. The resultant typology reveals four communication, six consultation, and four participation mechanism classes. Limitations to the typology are discussed, and future research needs identified.

How to Prepare a Good Plant Sample for Internal Reference Material

To evaluate their daily work in analytical measurements, all soil analysis laboratories must have their own low‐cost reference material to substitute high‐cost certified reference materials. This standard can be used to substitute routine use of high‐cost certified reference material (CRM). This standard can be used to substitute routine use of CRM or conventionalized reference materials in case the former are not available. This article presents a simple procedure for preparing a standard for plant material that has high quality and homogeneity for internal use in laboratories. This procedure can also be used to prepare homogeneous soil samples. As a preliminary analytical indicator of homogeneity, water‐soluble potassium and total zinc contents were used. The Levene test was selected as the statistical test of homogeneity of the material. The process is iterative and concludes when the value of F of the results obtained from the analysis of variance of the residuals is less than the critical value of F for a given selected probability. It is recommended that a p=0.01 be used. The homogenized sample was distributed to participants in an intercomparison exercise to validate the results of the laboratory preparation.

The exercise-induced enhancement of influenza immunity is mediated in part by improvements in psychosocial factors in older adults

The primary goal of this study was to determine whether exercise-associated improvements of the immune response to influenza vaccination were mediated by improvements in psychosocial factors in older adults. At baseline, prior to the exercise intervention, older adult participants were immunized with influenza vaccine. Blood samples collected pre-immunization, 1, 4, and 12 weeks post-immunization were analyzed for anti-influenza antibody, whereas influenza-specific cytokine (IFNγ) was evaluated at 1 week post-immunization. Depression and sense of coherence were measured pre-immunization. Four weeks post-immunization, participants were randomly assigned to either an aerobic exercise group ( n = 14) or a control group ( n = 14). After a 10-month exercise intervention, the immunization, blood collections, and psychosocial measures were repeated. At the post-intervention evaluation, exercise participants had improved scores on depression and sense of coherence. Also post-intervention, exercise participants had a greater increase in antibody and IFNγ production. After controlling for the effect of both psychosocial measures, the exercise treatment remained significant with respect to antibody titer suggesting that the increases in antibody were not mediated by improvement in the psychosocial factors. In contrast, the enhancement of IFNγ appeared to be mediated at least in part by the psychosocial factors. After controlling for psychosocial factors, exercise treatment was no longer significantly related to the change in IFNγ. Taken together, our findings may suggest that the mechanism(s) of exercise-induced improvement in immunocompetence involve both physiological and psychological pathways.

The Effect of Regular Exercise on Cardiovascular Inflammation Markers in Elderly Korean Men

This study was performed to investigate the effect of regular aerobic exercise on the representative markers of cardiovascular inflammatory diseases. Biomarkers of cardiovascular disease were measured in 89 healthy elderly males (age range; 47–88) living in Seoul, Korea. Questionnaires were used to assess the status of the regular exercise participants. Various factors associated with chronic cardiovascular diseases, including total cholesterol, triglyceride, phospholipid, platelet, and C-reactive protein were lowered in regular exercise participants (p<0.05). In contrast, serum albumin concentration was higher in the exercised group compared with a non-exercised group (p<0.05). Therefore it was concluded that participation in regular exercise reduces cardiovascular inflammation and offers protection against chronic cardiovascular disease in elderly Korean men.