Exercise Intensity Research Articles

Responses of several measures to different intensity levels of upper limb exergames in children with neurological diagnoses: a pilot study.

Therapy intensity is among the most critical factors influencing neurorehabilitative outcomes. Because of its simplicity, time spent in therapy is the most commonly used measure of therapy intensity. However, time spent in therapy is only a vague estimate of how hard a patient works during therapy. Several measures have been proposed to better capture the amount of work a patient puts forth during therapy. Still, it has never been analyzed how these measures respond to changes in therapist-selected exercise intensity in children with neurological conditions. To investigate the response and the reliability of heart rate variability (HRV), skin conductance (SC), activity counts per minute (AC/min), movement repetitions per minute (MOV/min), and perceived exertion to different therapist-tailored intensity levels of upper limb technology-assisted therapy in children with neurological conditions. In this pilot cross-sectional study, participants engaged in three personalized, randomized exergame intensity levels ("very easy", "challenging", "very difficult") for eight minutes each. We assessed all measures at each intensity level. The experiment was conducted twice on two consecutive days. We quantified reliability using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). We included 12 children and adolescents aged 11.92 (±3.03) years. HRV, MOV/min, and perceived exertion could differentiate among the three intensity levels. HRV, MOV/min, perceived exertion, and AC/min showed moderate to excellent (0.62 ≤ ICC ≤ 0.98) test-retest reliability. HRV, MOV/min, and perceived exertion show potential for becoming valid and reliable intensity measures for an upper limb robotic rehabilitative setting. However, studies with larger sample sizes and more standardized approaches are needed to understand these measures' responses better.

Ramadan fasting and exercise combination therapy: A novel approach for osteoporosis prevention in ovariectomized rats.

Osteoporosis is a chronic bone metabolic disease that affects millions of people worldwide, particularly the elderly and postmenopausal women. It is characterized by weakened bones, increasing the risk of fractures and leading to significant morbidity and mortality. The goal of the current study is to examine the reported osteo-preservative effects of exercise and/or fasting in the Ramadan fasting model (RFM) in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The experimental intervention started 1month following the ovariectomy procedure and consisted of five 15-min exercise sessions per week at 18-25m/min and/or an approximately 13-h fast from sunrise to sunset (6:00 AM-19:00 PM). Serum bone metabolism biomarker levels were measured, and mineral concentrations in femoral ashed bones and digested serum were determined. Additionally, serum bone alkaline phosphatase (b-ALP), parathyroid hormone, osteocalcin, calcitonin, and vitamin D3 concentrations were measured using the competitive enzyme immunoassay technique. Calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus showed a notable decrease in mineral concentration among OVX rat femurs compared with the combination group (OVX + RFM + E) and control groups. In addition, homeostasis of serum concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus was observed to increase in the OVX + RFM + E group rather than in the OVX group without intervention when compared with a control group. Furthermore, fasting and exercise, either alone or concurrently with ovariectomy, induced a non-significant elevation in osteocalcin, parathyroid hormone, and vitamin D3, whereas b-ALP and calcitonin increased significantly compared with those in control rats. The combination of the Ramadan fasting model and moderate intensity exercises among OVX rats manifested advantageous effects in bone biomarkers compared with OVX rats without intervention. This could be recommended as a lifestyle modification that is protective against osteoporosis, especially in the context of depleted estrogen hormone after menopause.

The relationships between age, sex and exercise intensity on cerebral artery haemodynamics during isometric handgrip exercise.

Age and sex may alter the cerebral blood flow (CBF) responses to acute isometric exercise, via associated elevations in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and sympathetic activation. Our aim was to determine the relationships between age, sex and exercise intensity on cerebrovascular responses to isometric handgrip exercise. In 78 healthy adults (18-80 years, N=42 female), cerebrovascular responses were assessed during two minute isometric exercise bouts at three intensities (15, 30, 45% maximal voluntary contraction). Intracranial responses of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and posterior cerebral artery (PCA) velocity (v) were measured using transcranial Doppler ultrasound. Extracranial responses of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and vertebral artery (VA) were assessed using Duplex ultrasound. Cardiopulmonary haemodynamic and neural parameters were measured throughout, including muscle sympathetic nerve activity, end-tidal carbon dioxide, and MAP. There were significant positive relationships between exercise intensity and the cerebral responses of the MCAv (P<0.001) and PCAv (P=0.005). There were no effects of intensity on ICA and VA responses (P>0.05), despite intensity-dependent increases in MAP (P<0.001). The increased MCAv response to exercise was blunted with advancing age (P=0.01) with no influence of sex (P=0.86). The present study provides data on age, sex and intensity specific relationships with intracranial and extracranial cerebrovascular responses to isometric exercise. Despite similar ICA, VA, and PCA responses, MCAv responses were attenuated with advancing age during handgrip exercise with no sex dependent influence. Further, intracranial responses were intensity dependent, whereas extracranial blood flow, shear-stress and velocity responses were similarly increased at all intensities during handgrip exercise.

Impact of Combined Exercise and High-Intensity Interval Training on 6-Minute Walk Test Dynamics in Heart Failure Patients with Preserved Ejection Fraction: Results from the ExIC-FEp Trial

(1) Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a clinical challenge, with limited success from current therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to assess the impact of combined exercise (CE) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on key biomechanical parameters during the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) in HFpEF patients. (2) Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 76 sedentary HFpEF patients, divided into three groups as follows: the CE, HIIT, and control groups. CE involves aerobic and strength training, whereas HIIT includes high-intensity intervals. Cadence (steps per minute), distance, maximum heart rate (HRmax), and exercise intensity were measured pre- and postintervention. (3) Results: The results revealed significant improvements in cadence in the CE group compared with the control group (p = 0.009) for intention-to-treat analysis, and in the control and HIIT groups (p = 0.002) for per-protocol analysis. CE also significantly improved HRmax and exercise intensity, suggesting an enhanced cardiovascular response. In contrast, HIIT did not significantly affect these parameters. The correlation between cadence and distance covered during the 6MWT was strong in the overall group (r = 0.762, p &lt; 0.001). (4) Conclusions: These findings suggest that CE is an effective intervention to improve gait efficiency, cardiovascular response, and functional capacity in HFpEF patients, whereas HIIT may require further investigation in this population.

Females have better metabolic flexibility in different metabolically challenging stimuli.

The first aim was to explore the difference in metabolic flexibility between sexes in response to changing exercise intensity under control conditions. The second aim was to evaluate metabolic flexibility between sexes in response to exercise intensity adding two different metabolically challenging stimuli (glycogen depletion and heat). Eleven males (22±3yrs, 176.2±4cm, 68.4±4.9kg and 60.2±4.1ml/kgFFM/min) and nine females (22±2yrs, 166.7±4.5cm, 61.9±2.9kg, 64.2±5.6 ml/kgFFM/min) performed a maximal incremental exercise test (30W every 3min) on a cycle ergometer under three conditions: control (24h high-carbohydrate diet followed by the incremental test), glycogen depletion (glycogen-depletion protocol followed by 24h low-carbohydrate diet and then the incremental test) and heat (24h high-carbohydrate diet followed by 30 min passive heating and then the incremental test in heat). In the last minute of each step, lactate was analysed, fat (FATox/FFM) and carbohydrate oxidation (CHox/FFM) and energy expenditure (EE/FFM) normalized to fat free mass was estimated by indirect calorimetry. Females presented a greater FATox/FFM as exercise intensity increases across conditions (control, glycogen depletion and heat) (p=0.006). In contrast, CHox/FFM was not significantly different between sexes at any specific intensity across conditions (p>0.05). Consequently, EE/FFM was higher in females throughout the different intensities across conditions (p=0.002). Finally, lactate concentration was not different between sexes at the same intensities across conditions (p=0.87). In conclusion, females present a greater metabolic flexibility, due to the higher FATox/FFM throughout the different intensities, regardless of whether the test is performed in a conditions emphasizing the oxidative pathway (glycogen depletion) or the glycolytic pathway (heat). Clinical trials:NCT05703100.

Exercise Addiction Inventory-3 (EAI-3): Psychometric properties of the Hungarian version

Background and aims: The Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI), based on the components model addictions, is a 6-item instrument used to assess the risk of exercise addiction (REA). Its revised version (EAI-R) was published in 2019 but only differed from the original scale in the response rating range (using a 6-point rather than 5-point Likert scale). In 2023, the EAI-3 was released with two new items (guilt when missing training and exercising despite injury). We aimed to test the validity and reliability of the Hungarian EAI-3 (EAI-3-HU). Methods: We tested 507 regular exercisers (Mage = 38.7 years, SD age = 10.63 years, range age: 18–78 years; 62.7% females) who completed the EAI-3-HU, the obsessive passion subscale of the Passion Scale, and exercise habits questions on the online Qualtrics research platform during autumn/winter 2023–2024. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis resulted in a good model fit for the two factor EAI-3-HU (CFI = .96; TLI = .94; RMSEA = .07; SRMR = .04). However, the covariance between the latent factors was .97, indicating that they measure an identical concept. Thus, a single-factor solution was appropriate (CFI = .96; TLI = .94; RMSEA = .07; SRMR = .04). Testing measurement invariance revealed the partial scalar invariance across genders. The internal reliability of the scale was good (Cronbach’s α = .81). The scale had good convergent validity with obsessive passion (r = .72), and discriminant validity based on exercise frequency as well as exercise intensity (p &lt; .001). Conclusion: The 8-item single factor EAI-3-HU adequately assesses the Hungarian samples’ REA. Nevertheless, it should be kept in perspective that the revised tool, like its predecessors, only assesses a level of ‘risk’, which does not imply morbidity, thus it has no clinical diagnostic value.

Effects of multicomponent exercise intervention on cardiometabolic risk factors in children and young adults with cerebral palsy: a multiple-baseline trial.

Adults with cerebral palsy (CP) have a high risk of cardiometabolic diseases. It is unknown whether this risk is elevated in young people with CP and whether exercise can reduce this risk. Therefore, we investigated the effects of the EXErcise for Cerebral Palsy (EXECP) intervention on cardiometabolic risk in children and young adults with CP and compared this risk to typically developing children and young adults (TDs). Ambulatory male and female participants with spastic CP, aged 9-24 years, and age- and sex-matched TDs without musculoskeletal disorders were recruited. Participants with CP were measured at baseline, after a three-month control period manifesting normal development, and after the three-month strength, gait, and flexibility training intervention. TDs were measured at baseline and after the control period. They did not attend the intervention. Cardiometabolic risk factors included body weight, body fat percentage, and skeletal muscle mass index assessed with bioimpedance; resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure and aortic pulse wave velocity assessed with a non-invasive oscillometric device; fasting plasma high-density and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose levels. Data were analyzed with independent samples t-tests and linear mixed-effects models adjusted for sex and age. The study involved 18 participants with CP (13 males, 9-22year, mean 14.2 ± 4.4) and 17 TDs (12 males, 9-22year, mean 14.6 ± 4.3). At baseline, participants with CP had a 1.0 (95% confidence interval (CI) [-2.0, -0.0]) kg/m2 lower skeletal muscle mass index than TDs. During the control period, no statistically significant between-group differences were observed in the change of any outcome. In the CP group, body weight (β = 1.87, 95% CI [1.04, 2.70]), fat percentage (β = 1.22 [0.07, 2.37], and blood glucose (β = 0.19, 95% CI [0.01, 0.37]) increased, while diastolic blood pressure (β=-2.31, 95% CI [-4.55, -0.06]) and pulse wave velocity (β=-0.44, 95% CI [-0.73, -0.16]) decreased. In the TD group, only body weight increased (β = 0.85, 95% CI [0.01, 1.68]) statistically significantly. In the CP group, no changes were observed during the intervention. Young people with and without CP do not exhibit significant differences in most cardiometabolic risk factors. EXECP intervention may attenuate some adverse development trajectories occurring without the intervention but greater volume and intensity of aerobic exercise may be needed to reduce cardiometabolic risk. ISRCTN69044459; Registration date 21/04/2017.

Innovative mobile app solution for facial nerve rehabilitation: a usability analysis.

Facial palsy after vestibular schwannoma surgery is temporary in many cases but can significantly affect patients' quality of life. Physical training-initially guided and subsequently performed by the patient-is of paramount importance for recovery of facial nerve function. The introduction of medical application software (apps) might improve therapy by maintaining motivation for daily home-based training and surveilling patients' rehabilitation progress. We developed a mobile app, "FACEsemper", for home-based facial nerve rehabilitation. This app guides patients through a daily training program comprising six variable exercises, each performed in three repetitions. The app allows the user to customize the exercise intensity for different facial areas and includes a reminder function for daily training. Additional features include photo documentation, a calendar function, training report generation, and the possibility of direct communication with the attending physician. The app's usability was prospectively investigated with 27 subjects, including 8 physicians, 9 patients with facial palsy and 10 healthy subjects, over a two-week period. Usability was assessed using various self-rating questionnaires (i.e., mHealth App Usability Questionnaire, MAUQ; System Usability Scale, SUS; Visual Aesthetics of Apps Inventory, VisAAI) and scores were compared across the groups. The participants reported an average smartphone use of 12.19 years and completed a mean number of 290 ± 163 facial exercises during the study period. Patients used the app significantly more frequently than the other two groups (p = 0.017). The average total scores of the questionnaires were: MAUQ 5.67/7, SUS 89.6/100, VisAAI 5.88/7 and specific rating 6.13/7. In particular, the simplicity of use and craftsmanship of the app were rated very highly. Usability scores did not significantly differ between groups. A primary limitation identified was malfunction of the daily reminder feature in some Android versions. This usability study demonstrated a positive user experience and excellent usability of the FACEsemper app. However, some limitations and areas for improvement were identified. As a next step, the app should be evaluated in a large patient cohort with facial palsy to determine its potential medical benefits for facial rehabilitation compared to traditional training methods.

The Effect of Different Resistance Training Protocols on Cardiac Autonomic Modulation During Exercise Recovery: A Crossover, Randomized, and Controlled Pilot Study

Purpose: This study investigated the impact of two different resistance training (RT) protocols on cardiac autonomic modulation during exercise recovery in trained individuals. It was hypothesized that a hypertrophic resistance training program would induce more significant stress and negatively affect cardiac autonomic modulation compared to a power/force resistance training program. Methods: Six healthy, trained participants (aged 18–40) were randomized in a crossover and controlled pilot study. Participants performed two RT protocols: (i) three sets of 10 repetitions with 85% of 10 RM, 60 s inter-set rest (3x1060s) and (ii) eight sets of three repetitions with 85% of 3 RM, 120 s inter-set rest (8x3120s). Heart rate variability (HRV) was measured before and 30 min after each RT session. Results: Significant reductions in HRV parameters (RMSSD, HF, and SD1) were observed following the 3x1060s protocol (hypertrophic design) compared to baseline. Conversely, the 8x3120s (power/force design) protocol did not show significant changes in HRV parameters. A significant interaction effect for time and RT protocol was found for all HRV measures with more significant reductions observed after 3x1060s compared to 8x3120s. Conclusions: The hypertrophic RT session (3x1060s) significantly reduced HRV parameters, suggesting higher physiological stress and potentially negative implications for cardiac autonomic recovery than the power/force RT session (8x3120s). These findings highlight the importance of considering exercise intensity and protocol design to manage cardiac autonomic stress during resistance training.

Two weeks of exercise alters neuronal extracellular vesicle insulin signaling proteins and pro-BDNF in older adults with prediabetes.

Adults with prediabetes are at risk for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD). While exercise may lower ADRD risk, the exact mechanism is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that short-term exercise would raise neuronal insulin signaling and pro-BDNF in neuronal extracellular vesicles (nEVs) in prediabetes. Twenty-one older adults (18F, 60.0 ± 8.6 yrs.; BMI: 33.5 ± 1.1 kg/m2) with prediabetes (ADA criteria; 75 g OGTT) were randomized to 12 supervised work-matched continuous (n = 13, 70% HRpeak) or interval (n = 8, 90% HRpeak and 50% HRpeak for 3 min each) sessions over 2-wks for 60 min/d. Aerobic fitness (VO2peak) and body weight were assessed. After an overnight fast, whole-body glucose tolerance (total area under the curve, tAUC) and insulin sensitivity (SIis) were determined from a 120 min 75 g OGTT. nEVs were acquired from 0 and 60 min time-points of the OGTT, and levels of insulin signaling proteins (i.e., p-IRS-1, total-/p-Akt, pERK1/2, pJNK1/2, and pp38) and pro-BNDF were measured. OGTT stimulatory effects were calculated from protein differences (i.e., OGTT 60-0 min). Adults were collapsed into a single group as exercise intensity did not affect nEV outcomes. Exercise raised VO2peak (+1.4 ± 2.0 mL/kg/min, p = 0.008) and insulin sensitivity (p = 0.01) as well as decreased weight (-0.4 ± 0.9 kg, p = 0.04) and whole-body glucose tAUC120min (p = 0.02). Training lowered 0-min pro-BDNF (704.1 ± 1019.0 vs. 414.5 ± 533.5, p = 0.04) and increased OGTT-stimulated tAkt (-51.8 ± 147.2 vs. 95 ± 204.5 a.u., p = 0.01), which was paralleled by reduced pAkt/tAkt at 60 min of the OGTT (1.3 ± 0.2 vs. 1.2 ± 0.1 a.u., p = 0.04). Thus, 2 weeks of exercise altered neuronal insulin signaling responses to glucose ingestion and lowered pro-BNDF among adults with prediabetes, thereby potentially lowering ADRD risk.

Effects of various exercise types on inflammatory response in individuals with overweight and obesity: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

To explore effective exercise types for reducing chronic inflammation in individuals with overweight and obesity (IOO) while accounting for confounders. A systematic search for RCTs in English between January 2000 and August 2023 was conducted to evaluating exercise effects on inflammatory biomarkers in IOO. A network meta-analysis conducted. A total of 123 RCTs were analyzed. Different exercise type yielded distinct effects on various inflammatory biomarkers. Specifically, aerobic exercise combined with resistance training (COM) and aerobic exercise (AE) were the most effective for improving leptin levels. AE exhibited the greatest effectiveness in reducing CRP and increasing adiponectin. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) was identified as the most effective exercise modality for ameliorating IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-10. Resistance training (RT) had the least effect compared to other exercise types. Meta regression and subgroup analyses revealed that high-intensity AE demonstrated a greater effect size compared to moderate-intensity AE. The impact of AE on IL-10 was positively associated with both the training period and the age of participants. Positive correlations were observed between reductions in body fat and the effect sizes of CRP, TNF-α, and IL-10. Gender influenced AE effects on IL-6 and TNF-α, with females responding better. This study highlights the potential of exercise in alleviating the inflammatory status in IOO, with different exercise types showing various effects on specific inflammatory biomarkers. The intensity and duration of exercise had a dose-response relationship with intervention effectiveness. Changes in body composition correlated with the effectiveness of the intervention. COM, AE, and HIIT are recommended exercise approaches.

Hand-grip strength in recreational downhill skiers: a comparison to normative reference values.

Hand-grip strength was evaluated in 757 recreational downhill skiers and compared to 1021 community-dwellers. Findings are reported for age and sex categories consistent with community-dwelling norms. Effect size (Cohen's d) was calculated to estimate the clinical relevance of strength differences between populations. Most male and half of the female age categories of downhill skiers demonstrated higher grip strength of the dominant hand (moderate to large effect size) compared to the reference population. Hand-grip strength in skiers declined with age at a similar rate as in the reference population. Relative grip strength (per kg body mass) was significantly and positively correlated with physical activity (hours/week), and with the number of ski days per year, and negatively with body mass. Thus, hand-grip strength may be related to the type, volume and intensity of exercise regularly performed. These results can help to assess whether the individual hand-grip strength is above or below average with regard to the normal population and the skier population as well and will support advice for training and/or rehabilitation.

Investigating the Role of Exercise Pattern in Acute Cardiovagal Recovery.

Research on intermittent training has mainly focused on the effects of exercise intensity while overlooking the specific impact of the modulations associated with alternating exercise and recovery. This study investigated how the frequency of modulations during moderate-intensity exercise affects post-exercise vagal reactivation. Healthy, active females and males aged 18-39 years were recruited for the study. Participants completed three treadmill running sessions on separate days. Each moderate-intensity session accumulated 30 min at 90% of the intensity associated with the second ventilatory threshold and were performed as either high-frequency intermittent (HiFi; 15 x [2 min + 2 min recovery]), low-frequency intermittent (LoFi; 5 x [6 min + 2 min recovery]), or continuous training (MICT; 1 x 30 min). Heart rate recovery (HRrec) at 1 min and heart rate variability recovery (HRVrec; lnRMSSD) were assessed in response to submaximal constant-speed tests performed prior to (CST1) and following (CST2) each of the exercise sessions. HRrec, HRVrec, blood lactate (BLa), and blood pressure were also collected during the exercise sessions. Twenty-one individuals (8 females, 13 males) participated in the study. HRrec from CST2 was faster in HiFi vs. MICT (p < 0.001), while HRVrec post-CST2 was higher following HiFi vs. both LoFi (p = 0.024) and MICT (p < 0.001). BLa increased in all conditions (p = 0.007) but remained lower during HiFi compared to LoFi and MICT (both p < 0.001). Diastolic blood pressure did not change during exercise with HiFi (p = 0.939) but decreased during LoFi (p = 0.006) and MICT (p = 0.008). Exercise pattern influences the physiologic response to exercise. Higher frequencies of modulations can preserve vagal activity and expedite post-exercise recovery, suggesting moderate-intensity intermittent exercise as a potential strategy to mitigate autonomic impact and acute physiological stress while maintaining total work performed.

Exercise cardiovascular magnetic resonance shows improved diastolic filling by atrioventricular area difference in athletes and controls.

Hydraulic force, a novel mechanism shown to aid diastolic filling, can be calculated by assessing the geometrical relationship between the left ventricular and atrial short-axis areas (atrioventricular area difference, AVAD). During exercise both ventricular and atrial volumes change due to altered loading conditions compared to rest, but it is unknown to what extent this affects AVAD. The aim of this study was to investigate if AVAD differs when going from rest to exercise in sedentary controls and athletes. We included 13 sedentary controls and 20 endurance athletes to undergo cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging at rest and during moderate and vigorous exercise using a CMR-compatible ergometer. AVAD was calculated as the largest ventricular short-axis area minus the largest atrial short-axis area in end-diastole (ED) and end-systole (ES) as measured from CMR short-axis images. AVAD in ED increased during moderate exercise in both sedentary controls and athletes, thus aiding diastolic filling, but did not increase further during vigorous exercise. AVAD in ES was negative in both groups at rest and decreased further with increasing exercise intensity in sedentary controls, whereas athletes remained unchanged. In conclusion, results from AVAD in ED indicate the net hydraulic force to further augment diastolic filling during moderate exercise when compared to rest, providing new insights into the mechanism by which diastolic function increases during exercise.

Photobiomodulation Enhances the Effect of Strength Training on Insulin Resistance Regardless of Exercise Volume in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet.

The aim was to investigate the effects of different volumes of strength training (ST) in association with photobiomodulation (PBMt) in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) on insulin resistance (IR). Male Swiss albino mice were fed HFD and performed high- or low-volume (one-third) ST (3 days/week), associated with PBMt (660 nm + 850 nm; ~42 J delivered) or not (lights off). ST improved IR, lowered visceral adiposity and circulating cytokines, and increased skeletal muscle hypertrophy and mitochondrial activity. The smaller volume of ST did not interfere with the improvement in IR, mitochondrial activity, or inflammatory profile, but exerted a smaller effect on visceral adiposity and skeletal muscle hypertrophy. Association with PBMt further improved IR, regardless of ST volume, although it did not affect adiposity, mitochondrial activity, and the inflammatory profile. Interestingly, PBMt positively affected quadriceps, but attenuated gluteus maximus hypertrophy. The association with PBMt induced greater improvement than ST alone.

Does the volume of physical exercise influence sleep quality in patients with fibromyalgia?

To investigate the association between the volume of exercise and the quality of sleep in patients with fibromyalgia. This is a cross-sectional study carried out from 2010 to 2019 in patients over 18 years old from the research project at a university in Brazil. Instruments related to sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, physical exercise, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were applied. Participants were classified as inactive, insufficiently active, or active. In the statistical analysis, the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used. Binary logistic and multinomial regression were also performed. The majority of participants were physically inactive and had poor sleep quality; 68.3% with poor sleep quality were inactive. In the analysis of the difference between the three groups, sleep latency (time it takes to fall asleep) (p=0.00) and total PSQI (p=0.04) were significantly different. When the analysis was performed between active and inactive individuals, significant differences were found in sleep latency (p=0.02), daytime dysfunction (difficulties in performing daytime tasks due to poor sleep quality) (p=0.02), and the total PSQI (p=0.02). Binary logistic regression with crude analysis showed that inactive participants are 4.3 times more likely to have poor sleep quality when compared to active participants (odds ratio = 4.311; 95% confidence interval 1.338-13.888; p=0.014). Multinomial regression analysis showed that being physically active can be a protective factor. There is a high prevalence of sleep disorders and insufficient practice of physical exercise among patients with fibromyalgia. It is suggested that regular physical exercise may be related to sleep quality, and more active participants have fewer sleep disorders, with exercise being a protective factor.

Mechanisms of adaptations in cardiorespiratory fitness with exercise prescriptions differing in volume and intensity in middle-age men

Background: To examine the mechanisms of adaptations in cardiorespiratory fitness with different dose of amount and intensity exercise training in middle-aged men. Methods: A total of 67 sedentary subjects aged 40-49 yr were assigned to participate for 12 weeks in a control group or in one of three exercise groups: 1) low volume/moderate intensity 2) low volume/vigorous intensity and 3) high volume/vigorous intensity. They were tested for VO2max, cardiac output (Q) and stroke volume (SV) before and after training and maximal arterial-venous oxygen difference (a-vO2diff) calculated by the Fick Equation. Results: Contrasted to control group, VO2max increased similar in both LVVI and HVVI groups after 12 weeks; It indicated that the intensity of exercise appears to make a greater benefit than the amount of exercise on VO2max. However, Maximal cardiac output (Qmax) and a-vO2diff contributed to increase VO2max were differences in both of vigorous intensity groups. In LVVI group, Qmax together with maximal a-vO2diff contributed to the greater VO2max; in HVVI group, the majority of the increment in VO2max was relied on larger Qmax whereas a widened a-vO2diff. Conclusion: It is appropriate to recommend vigorous intensity exercise to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and encourage higher amount to confer additional benefit for Qmax.

Correlation analysis of exercise volume and musculoskeletal disorders in people with income level differences: research based on the 2011–2018 NHANES dataset

ObjectivesSocioeconomic factors significantly impact human health; however, the impact of exercise and income on musculoskeletal system health remains unclear. Our study aims to explore the relationship between exercise and income with musculoskeletal system health in young and middle-aged adults.DesignThis cross-sectional study used data from 7,515 adults aged 20–59 years, which were obtained from the US NHANES, 2011–2018. Participants’ musculoskeletal system health was evaluated on the basis of them having osteopenia, osteoporosis, or sarcopenia.MethodsOrdinal regression was used to explore the correlation between income level, exercise volume, and musculoskeletal system health. Mediating effect analysis was used to assess whether the exercise volume affected the impact of income levels on musculoskeletal system health. Ordinal regression and restricted cubic spline curve were used to further analyze the relationship between exercise and income level.ResultsIn the analysis of adjusted all covariates, the probability of having good musculoskeletal system health in high-income participants was higher than that of low- or middle-income participants. The probability of having good musculoskeletal system health in the actively exercising group higher than that of the participants exercised insufficiently or sufficiently. Mediating effect of exercise masked the effect of income on musculoskeletal system health. Participants with low income levels tended to spend more time exercising that those who had high income levels; exercise volume and income level had a significant non-linear relationship.ConclusionThe findings presented will help identify young and middle-aged adults who are most at risk of developing musculoskeletal health problem and will likely benefit from certain lifestyle interventions.

Effect of Programed Walking Exercise Using Bot Fit in Younger Adults

IntroductionPhysical inactivity and sedentary behavior both increase the risk of chronic disease and mortality. Regular participation in physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior play important roles in maintaining physical health and disease prevention.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of programed walking exercise using a wearable hip exoskeleton, Bot Fit on muscle strength, muscle effort, and the kinematics of the pelvis in younger adults.MethodsWe designed three parallel experimental conditions and randomly assigned participants to one of three groups: those assigned to exercise using an interval program of Bot Fit (interval group), those who used a power program of Bot Fit (power group), and a control group who exercised without Bot Fit. A total of 45 young adults participated in 18 exercise-intervention sessions over six weeks, and all participants were assessed at two time points: before and after the 18 exercise sessions. Each assessment evaluated muscle strength, muscle effort, and the kinematics of the pelvis during walking. In addition, the number of steps, distance, energy expenditure, and heart rate for 30 min during the exercise sessions were recorded.ResultsA significant increase in the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) of the left biceps femoris (BF) was evident in the interval group, while significant changes in the MVC of the bilateral BF were seen in the power group after Bot Fit exercise. A significant decrease of muscle effort in the right BF in the interval group and right lumbar erector spinae and bilateral BF in the power group were also observed. In addition, the symmetry index of pelvic tilt significantly improved in the interval group, and greater exercise volume and intensity in both the interval and power groups compared with the control group were confirmed as measured by the number of steps, distance, energy expenditure, and heart rate.ConclusionsThe results of this study confirmed the beneficial effect of programed walking exercise using the Bot Fit on muscle strength of trunk and lower extremities, muscle effort, and pelvic movement symmetry in younger adults. Personalized exercise programs can be provided for younger adults using various resistance or assistance modes of robotic device with the Bot Fit.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05862077. Registered 22 March 2022, https://register.clinicaltrials.gov/.

Acute effect of resistive aquatic high-intensity interval training on metabolic costs in adults.

The effects of Aquatic High-Intensity Interval Training (AHIIT) and resistive AHIIT (Resistive AHIIT) to improve metabolic responses were not yet known. This study was to compare the metabolic responses and perceived effort in young healthy adults in a single session of AHIIT and resistive AHIIT. 20 healthy subjects (9 females, 11 males) performed a stationary running at a matched exercise intensity prior AHIIT and resistive AHIIT [10 × 1-min bouts of stationary running at 90% maximum heart rate (HR max) separated by 1-min active recovery] to examine the metabolic and cardiometabolic outcomes. Mixed effects models were applied to analyze the effects of group, time, and the interaction between group and time on both outcomes. The level of correlations between metabolic variables was checked by Pearson's linear correlation. There are significant differences on pre and post resting energy expenditure (REE) within both AHIIT and resistive AHIIT groups (p < 0.01) respectively as well as the subjective rate of perceived exertion (RPE) (p < 0.01) within RAHIIT group. A moderate correlation found on respiratory exertional ratio (RER) and RPE in resistive AHIIT (r = 0.534). No significant differences between groups in terms of HR max, mean heart rate (HR mean), peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak) and total energy expenditure (TEE) (p = 0.50, p = 0.48, p = 0.81, p = 0.59). Resistive AHIIT provides comparable benefits of metabolic outcomes with AHIIT. Comparable results allowed AHIIT and resistive AHIIT prescriptions precisely.