Health Benefits Of Exercise Research Articles

Exercise modes and their association with hypoglycemia episodes in adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review

ObjectiveType 1 diabetes mellitus rates are rising worldwide. The health benefits of physical exercise in this condition are many, but more than 60% do not participate, mainly from fear of...

Using the Theoretical Domains Framework to identify barriers and facilitators to exercise among older adults living with HIV

ABSTRACTPeople with HIV are living longer. However, co-morbidities are often more prevalent and severe than in the general population and have greater impacts on health status. Although compelling evidence exists about the health benefits of exercise in the HIV literature, many people living with HIV tend to be physically inactive. The purpose of this study was to use the Theoretical Domains Framework to investigate the barriers and facilitators to participation in exercise of older people living with HIV. This qualitative study involved in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 12 adults aged 45 years and older recruited from HIV organizations and health centres. Data were analyzed thematically using the Theoretical Domains Framework, and two investigators independently coded transcripts. Six prominent domains were identified from the interviews: Social influences, environmental context and resources, reinforcement, intentions, social and professional role, and knowledge. Themes emerging from the interviews fit into all 14 domains of the Theoretical Domains Framework, and 67% of themes fit into the six most prominent domains. The participants had a working knowledge of exercise and its health benefits but were unfamiliar with specific exercise parameters. The majority identified environmental or resource constraints as salient barriers for participation in exercise programmes. Co-morbidities, injuries, and the side effects of HIV disease and medication were also acknowledged as barriers. Stigma and discrimination from friends, family, people within the LGBTQ community, and health care providers were commonly discussed. Participants spoke of the importance of social support to facilitate participation in exercise programmes. Other facilitators included using technology and incorporating exercise into day-to-day activities. People aging with HIV experience many barriers to exercise. Those designing exercise interventions for people aging with HIV should incorporate strategies to address these obstacles.

The acute effects of walking exercise intensity on systemic cytokines and oxidative stress

PurposeOxidative stress is associated with tissue cytokine secretion although the precise mechanism(s) underpinning this relationship during high intensity intermittent exercise remains unclear. This study investigates the acute response to a bout of high intensity intermittent walking (HIIW), compared to continuous moderate intensity walking (CMW), on various cytokines and biomarkers of oxidative stress.MethodsSeventeen (n = 17) apparently healthy male participants (aged 22.6 ± 4.6 years; dot{V}{text{O}}_{2} max: 53.7 ± 7.1 ml kg−1 min−1) undertook a randomised crossover study consisting of two exercise trials: (1) HIIW requiring 3 × 5 min bursts at 80% dot{V}{text{O}}_{2} max (each separated by 5 min of walking at 30% dot{V}{text{O}}_{2} max) and (2) CMW (60% dot{V}{text{O}}_{2} max for 30 min). Each trial was separated by 7 days. Venous blood samples were obtained pre-exercise, post-exercise and at 2, 4, 24 and 48 h post-exercise for determination of systemic inflammation (IL-6 and TNF-α), lipid soluble antioxidants and oxidative stress (LOOH, H2O2 and the ascorbyl free radical).ResultsBoth IL-6 and TNF-α increased immediately post exercise, regardless of intensity and remained elevated until at least 4 h (main effect for time; p < 0.05). While there was no change in either lipid peroxidation or free radical metabolism (Asc· and H2O2), α-tocopherol increased (pooled HIIW and CMW, p < 0.05), whereas lycopene decreased at 2 h post HIIW (p < 0.05).ConclusionBouts of both HIIW and CMW promote cytokine secretion post exercise, and this seems to be independent of oxidative stress. Further investigation is required to assess how such changes may underpin some of the transient health benefits of exercise.

Cognitive benefits of walking in natural versus built environments

ABSTRACTLeisure time physical activity can be a robust preventer of physical and mental illness. The health benefits of exercise have been well-documented, including decreased risk for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, and increased mood, life-satisfaction and cognitive performance (An, Xiang, Yang, & Yan, 2016; Blair & Morris, 2009). Time spent outdoors is also emerging as a predictor of positive mental health, though the outcomes are often conflated with heightened levels of physical activity. This study sought to confirm the cognitive benefits of exercise in outdoor environments using established cognitive tests while measuring brainwave activity throughout the process using portable electroencephalograph (EEG) headsets. Participants completed cognitive performance tests before and after walking indoors, then again on a different session while walking outdoors. Repeated-measures analyses of variance revealed significant cognitive improvement after both walking sessions, with elevated mental restoration observed for the outdoor walking session, as measured by a Stroop Test. EEG measures revealed a significantly higher level of meditative state during the outdoor walking session, as compared to indoors. In addition, the gains in relaxed and meditative mental states were retained longer after walking outdoors. Results are discussed within the context of growing support for leisure time exposure to natural environments and outdoor prescriptions. Implications for planning, health policy, and public education are proffered in light of these findings.

Exercise and the Prevention of Depression: Results of the HUNT Cohort Study.

The purpose of the present study was to address 1) whether exercise provides protection against new-onset depression and anxiety and 2) if so, the intensity and amount of exercise required to gain protection and, lastly, 3) the mechanisms that underlie any association. A "healthy" cohort of 33,908 adults, selected on the basis of having no symptoms of common mental disorder or limiting physical health conditions, was prospectively followed for 11 years. Validated measures of exercise, depression, anxiety, and a range of potential confounding and mediating factors were collected. Undertaking regular leisure-time exercise was associated with reduced incidence of future depression but not anxiety. The majority of this protective effect occurred at low levels of exercise and was observed regardless of intensity. After adjustment for confounders, the population attributable fraction suggests that, assuming the relationship is causal, 12% of future cases of depression could have been prevented if all participants had engaged in at least 1 hour of physical activity each week. The social and physical health benefits of exercise explained a small proportion of the protective effect. Previously proposed biological mechanisms, such as alterations in parasympathetic vagal tone, did not appear to have a role in explaining the protection against depression. Regular leisure-time exercise of any intensity provides protection against future depression but not anxiety. Relatively modest changes in population levels of exercise may have important public mental health benefits and prevent a substantial number of new cases of depression.

Unspoken Playground Rules Discourage Adolescent Physical Activity in School: A Focus Group Study of Constructs in the Prototype Willingness Model.

The health benefits of exercise in school are recognized, yet physical activity continues to decline during early adolescence despite numerous interventions. In this study, we investigated whether the prototype willingness model, an account of adolescent decision making that includes both reasoned behavioral choices and unplanned responses to social environments, might improve understanding of physical activity in school. We conducted focus groups with British pupils aged 12 to 13 years and used deductive thematic analysis to search for themes relating to the model. Participants described reasoned decisions about physical activity outside school and unplanned choices to be inactive during break, in response to social contexts described as more "judgmental" than in primary school. Social contexts appeared characterized by anxiety about competence, negative peer evaluation, and inactive playground norms. The prototype willingness model might more fully explain physical activity in school than reasoned behavioral models alone, indicating potential for interventions targeting anxieties about playground social environments.

Fructose ingestion impairs expression of genes involved in skeletal muscle\u2019s adaptive response to aerobic exercise

BackgroundThe inverse relationship between exercise capacity and its variation over time and both cardiovascular and all-cause mortality suggests the existence of an etiological nexus between cardiometabolic diseases and the molecular regulators of exercise capacity. Coordinated adaptive responses elicited by physical training enhance exercise performance and metabolic efficiency and possibly mediate the health benefits of physical exercise. In contrast, impaired expression of genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis or protein turnover in skeletal muscle—key biological processes involved in adaptation to physical training—leads to insulin resistance and obesity. Ingestion of fructose has been shown to suppress the exercise-induced GLUT4 response in rat skeletal muscle. To evaluate in greater detail how fructose ingestion might blunt the benefits of physical training, we investigated the effects of fructose ingestion on exercise induction of genes that participate in regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and protein turnover in rat’s skeletal muscle.MethodsEight-week-old Wistar rats were randomly assigned to sedentary (C), exercise (treadmill running)-only (E), fructose-only (F), and fructose + exercise (FE) groups and treated accordingly for 8 weeks. Blood and quadriceps femoris were collected for biochemistry, serum insulin, and gene expression analysis. Expression of genes involved in regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and autophagy, GLUT4, and ubiquitin E3 ligases MuRF-1, and MAFbx/Atrogin-1 were assayed with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.ResultsAerobic training improved exercise capacity in both E and FE groups. A main effect of fructose ingestion on body weight and fasting serum triglyceride concentration was detected. Fructose ingestion impaired the expression of PGC-1α, FNDC5, NR4A3, GLUT4, Atg9, Lamp2, Ctsl, Murf-1, and MAFBx/Atrogin-1 in skeletal muscle of both sedentary and exercised animals while expression of Errα and Pparδ was impaired only in exercised rats.ConclusionsOur results show that fructose ingestion impairs the expression of genes involved in biological processes relevant to exercise-induced remodeling of skeletal muscle. This might provide novel insight on how a dietary factor contributes to the genesis of disorders of glucose metabolism.

Health Benefits of Exercise

Overwhelming evidence exists that lifelong exercise is associated with a longer health span, delaying the onset of 40 chronic conditions/diseases. What is beginning to be learned is the molecular mechanisms by which exercise sustains and improves quality of life. The current review begins with two short considerations. The first short presentation concerns the effects of endurance exercise training on cardiovascular fitness, and how it relates to improved health outcomes. The second short section contemplates emerging molecular connections from endurance training to mental health. Finally, approximately half of the remaining review concentrates on the relationships between type 2 diabetes, mitochondria, and endurance training. It is now clear that physical training is complex biology, invoking polygenic interactions within cells, tissues/organs, systems, with remarkable cross talk occurring among the former list.

Skeletal muscle metabolism during prolonged exercise in Pompe disease.

ObjectivePompe disease (glycogenosis type II) is caused by lysosomal alpha-glucosidase deficiency, which leads to a block in intra-lysosomal glycogen breakdown. In spite of enzyme replacement therapy, Pompe disease continues to be a progressive metabolic myopathy. Considering the health benefits of exercise, it is important in Pompe disease to acquire more information about muscle substrate use during exercise.MethodsSeven adults with Pompe disease were matched to a healthy control group (1:1). We determined (1) peak oxidative capacity (VO2peak) and (2) carbohydrate and fatty acid metabolism during submaximal exercise (33 W) for 1 h, using cycle-ergometer exercise, indirect calorimetry and stable isotopes.ResultsIn the patients, VO2peak was less than half of average control values; mean difference −1659 mL/min (CI: −2450 to −867, P = 0.001). However, the respiratory exchange ratio increased to >1.0 and lactate levels rose 5-fold in the patients, indicating significant glycolytic flux. In line with this, during submaximal exercise, the rates of oxidation (ROX) of carbohydrates and palmitate were similar between patients and controls (mean difference 0.226 g/min (CI: 0.611 to −0.078, P = 0.318) and mean difference 0.016 µmol/kg/min (CI: 1.287 to −1.255, P = 0.710), respectively).ConclusionReflecting muscle weakness and wasting, Pompe disease is associated with markedly reduced maximal exercise capacity. However, glycogenolysis is not impaired in exercise. Unlike in other metabolic myopathies, skeletal muscle substrate use during exercise is normal in Pompe disease rendering exercise less complicated for e.g. medical or recreational purposes.

The effects of voluntary wheel running on neuroinflammatory status: Role of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1.

The health benefits of exercise and physical activity (PA) have been well researched and it is widely accepted that PA is crucial for maintaining health. One of the mechanisms by which exercise and PA exert their beneficial effects is through peripheral immune system adaptations. To date, very few studies have looked at the regulation of neuroimmune reactions in response to PA. We studied the effect of voluntary wheel running (VWR) on pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels, patterns of glial cell activation and expression of immune receptors in the brains of female C57BL/6 mice. By using homozygous monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 null mice, we investigated the role of this key immunoregulatory cytokine in mediating VWR-induced neuroinflammatory responses. We demonstrated that, compared to their sedentary counterparts, C57BL/6 mice exposed for seven weeks to VWR had increased levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, markers of glial cell activation and a trend towards increased expression of toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 in the brain. Measurements of serum cytokines revealed that the alterations in brain cytokine levels could not be explained by the effects of PA on peripheral cytokine levels. We propose that the modified neuroimmune status observed in the VWR group represents an activated immune system, as opposed to a less activated immune system in the sedentary group. Since MCP-1 knockout mice displayed differing patterns of pro- and anti-inflammatory brain cytokine expression and glial activation when compared to their wild-type counterparts, we concluded that the effects of VWR on neuroimmune reactions may be modulated by MCP-1. These identified immunomodulatory effects of PA in the brain could contribute to the observed positive relationship between physically active lifestyles and a reduced risk for a number of neurodegenerative diseases that possess a significant neuroinflammatory component.

Exercise metabolism in 2016: Health benefits of exercise - more than meets the eye!

Although regular physical activity can prevent or reduce the risk of many age-related diseases, the molecular mechanisms underpinning the protective effects of exercise are largely unknown. In 2016, a series of studies demonstrated that crosstalk between tissues during exercise can protect against metabolic disease, cancer, retinal degeneration and memory loss. These studies provide a molecular basis for the concept of 'exercise as medicine'.

COMPARISON OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVEL BETWEEN COLOMBIAN AND BRAZILIAN PHYSICAL EDUCATION STUDENTS

Introduction: Evidence suggests that populations of developing countries present high levels of sedentarism. In contrast, it is also shown that educational level and access to information regarding the health benefits of exercise can raise a population’s level of physical activity (LPA). Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the morphological profile (MP), level of physical activity (LPA) and cardiovascular risk among Brazilian (BPES) and Colombian physical education students (CPES) in an effort to determine if these specific subjects presented different results among themselves and in relation to normative data for each country. Method: The subjects, 59 BPES and 65 CPES, were evaluated through IPAQ in its short form, and had their MP determined through a bioelectric scale and waist measurement to determine the cardiovascular risk. Results: As result we verified that between BPES and CPES only waist circumference (WC) had significant difference (p = 0.016), being higher for CPES males. Comparing the results of the subjects with normative data, with the exception of CPES males, we observed higher LPA, better MP, and lower WC values. Female CPES were more active than their male peers, the opposite being true for the Brazilian subjects. Conclusion: We conclude that the repetitive exposition to information regarding the benefits of physical activity and the access to installations that allows for its practice not only raises LPA of physical education students, but also improves, in general, their MP and cardiovascular risk.

The Cognitive Benefits of Exercise in Youth

ABSTRACT As our schools and children struggle to meet ever-changing and mandated academic standards, challenges in the time spent on physical activity continue to arise. On the other hand, however, we continue to face a global climate mired in the midst of an obesity epidemic. It is widely accepted that the health benefits of exercise are wide-ranging and powerful. It appears that cognitive function and academic achievement are additional realms beyond the physical where exercise is beneficial. The school setting presents a unique public health opportunity to enact change on a variety of levels. As sports medicine and exercise specialists, we need to support efforts that increase access to quality physical fitness across the board for all children.

The Impact of Intense Exercise on Semen Quality

With expanding knowledge on the health benefits of exercise, there is an increasing demand for information on the andrological consequences of participating in sports. These consequences are especially important in the context of infertility problems worldwide. The so-called “male factor” is reported in up to 50% of couples having trouble with conception. The answer to the question, “Is physical activity good for male reproductive health?” is not straightforward. A number of studies have suggested that significant changes in semen parameters may occur due to sports training of certain types, intensities, and durations. The changes to these parameters vary in scope, direction, and magnitude. Findings in recreational athletes have also differed from those in professional athletes. This review of the current literature suggests that intense physical activity may affect the semen concentration, as well as the number of motile and morphologically normal spermatozoa. Training at higher intensities and with increased loads seems to be associated with more profound changes in semen quality. In recreational athletes, exercise has either a positive or neutral effect on semen parameters. Due to many limitations (e.g., global sperm count trends, concerns about the quality control of sperm evaluations, and new standards for semen analysis), comparisons among historical data and their interpretation are difficult.

Resistance Exercise in Pregnancy and Outcome.

As the health benefits of exercise are increasingly recognized, the traditional advice to rest during pregnancy has changed toward a more healthy and active pregnancy, therefore different forms of exercise have been integrated into the life of the pregnant woman. Although the benefits of using a combination of resistance and aerobic exercises are not yet determined, studies about resistance and strengthen training programs are few although no adverse outcomes were reported.

Work out by Walking: A Pilot Exercise Program for Individuals With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders.

The health benefits of exercise are well documented, yet annual health care costs related to physical inactivity are well within the billions. Furthermore, individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) are more likely to lead sedentary lives, exercise less than the general population, and die prematurely from preventable causes. Previous research examining the effects of exercise on individuals with SSDs has been encouraging yet limited in creating accessible and sustainable interventions. The current pilot study developed and evaluated the impact of Work out by Walking (WOW), a multicomponent group walking intervention on the health of 16 individuals with SSDs. Results indicated improvements in indicators of physical health, activity level, social support, and mental health and a high level of program satisfaction. Future research should examine multicomponent group walking programs for individuals with SSDs in larger samples and with the inclusion of a comparison condition.

The Health Benefits of Exercise and Physical Activity

Physical inactivity is a modifiable risk factor (similar to dyslipidemia and hypertension) for a variety of chronic diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular disease. Exercise provides a clear health benefit, which serves in the primary and secondary prevention of these disease processes (the most important being a reduction in cardiovascular disease and premature death). The physiologic mechanisms for such a benefit occur at both a cellular and multisystem level. Prolonged periods of occupational or leisure-time sitting have adverse health effects independent of exercise performed before or after. Almost any form of physical activity (PA) is beneficial, whether part of a regular exercise program or as a series of intermittent, incidental, non-purposeful, lifestyle-embedded activity (causing non-exercise activity thermogenesis or NEAT). The health benefits of exercise appear to be dose-dependent. Physicians should recommend near daily exercise which includes at various times strength training, stretching, and aerobic activity in addition to emphasizing adjustments that allow for reduced sitting and increased activity during daily routines. Patients should understand that for optimal health, exercise is no longer optional.

The Role of Compensatory Adaptations and Individual Variability in Exercise Prescription

Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for public health. Due to the decline in physical demands of daily living exercise becomes an increasingly important contributor to an active lifestyle. The evidence on health benefits of exercise, particularly regarding weight loss, however, remains equivocal. In addition to lack of adherence to an exercise program, participants display behavioral and physiological adaptations that potentially mitigate exercise-induced health benefits. Specifically, a reduction in non-exercise physical activity (PA) and/or an increase in energy intake along with metabolic adaptations have been suggested to affect exercise-induced health benefits. There is also a large inter-individual variability, which makes some participants more receptive to exercise-induced weight loss than others. Even in the absence of weight loss exercise, however, provides various health benefits such as an increase in cardiorespiratory fitness, beneficial changes in blood lipids and blood pressure. In fact, some of these benefits have been more pronounced in participants who did not experience weight loss. In order to enhance the understanding of the role of exercise in health promotion a better understanding of compensatory adaptations is needed along with an identification of characteristics that contribute to inter-individual variability in response to exercise interventions.

Pediatric Exercise Science: A Brief Overview.

Interest in the physiological responses to exercise unique to the pediatric age group has grown exponentially over the past 50 years. A number of issues surrounding children's exercise have been particularly responsible for this trend, particularly a) recognition of the health benefits of exercise in youth, b) the growing involvement of young persons in highly intense levels of sports play, and c) the role that exercise may play in the diagnosis and management of children with chronic disease. As a consequence, current research to date has provided a comprehensive picture of the features specific to children's response to exercise. Future challenges facing the field of pediatric exercise science involve translating this information into practical guidelines which can be applied to the realms of clinical medical practice, preventive health initiatives, and athletic training regimens which are appropriate for this age group.

106 An Exploration of the Facilitators and Barriers for People with Osteoarthritis to Engage in Exercise: An Exploratory Approach with Participant Involvement

Background/Aims: The benefits of exercise on general health are well publicised for people with people with osteoarthritis (OA). However, there is a lack of engagement in healthy activity and exercise by people with OA and despite the known benefit of exercise there is a lack of understanding of the factors that facilitate people with OA engaging with physical activity and exercise. The aim of the study was to explore the perceptions of Patient and Public Involvement representatives with OA on the facilitators and barriers for their engagement with exercise. Methods: Using a qualitative semi-structured interview, transcripts of the participants’ conversations with the interviewer were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: Seven separate themes were identified that acted as facilitators and barriers for people with OA to engage with exercise. These were: type of exercise; benefits of exercise; drawbacks of exercise; effects of exercise; public information; psychological impact; and social support. The main findings indicated that: 1. When a person knows and understands the health benefits of exercise, then they are more likely to engage in exercise. 2. For those with OA, greater emphasis on physical activity rather than exercise may be more useful to encourage engagement. 3. Simple, clear consistent messages related to exercise for people with OA are required from all public health bodies and health care professionals. Conclusions: These findings are useful to guide future research by informing which areas are important to people with OA when considering engagement with exercise. These may help with the design of studies and interventions. The use of language was particularly important when engaging with this group with older people expressing feelings of isolation where particular terms relating to sport and exercise were used. There is a need for a consistent public information message to clearly communicate to the public about the benefits of exercise both on general health and for OA.