Moderate Training Research Articles

The Relationship of Physical Activity to Anxiety and Resilient Coping Among Higher Education Employees

Background: Physical activity (PA) can positively affect mental health, yet many aspects of this relationship (degree of effectiveness across populations and conditions, biological mechanisms, etc.) remain unexplored. Aim: This study seeks to understand how PA is associated with anxiety, a common mental health condition, and resilient coping, the ability of an individual to overcome personal stress; and, how PA can be utilized to alleviate anxiety and strengthen resilient coping. Methods: Data collected from Health Assessment surveys assessed how several types of PA (moderate, vigorous, moderate-to-vigorous, and strength training) are related to anxiety and resilient coping. Results: Analysis revealed statistically significant relationships between PA and anxiety and PA and resilient coping. The findings from this study establish positive associations between PA and anxiety and resilient coping, emphasizing the powerful influence of PA as a mental health therapeutic. Such results suggest that PA could become a key component for attenuating mental health crises of workforces within higher education institutions. Conclusion: These findings serve as convincing evidence that organizations should assess ways to incorporate PA into their policies and programs for the health and well-being of employees, namely those of higher education institutions.

Effects of Supramaximal Intensity Interval Training on Resistin and Cardiometabolic Health Indices in Overweight Nonpostmenopausal Women.

Adipose tissue is an endocrine organ that produces various bioactive molecules known as adipokines, including resistin, which is be highly expressed in people with obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The effects of supramaximal high intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity interval training (MIIT) on serum levels of resistin and various cardiometabolic health indices, were investigated. Supramaximal and moderate interval training induce comparable effects on serum resistin levels and cardiometabolic health indices. Cohort study. Thirty overweight adult women were assigned to 1 of 3 groups: HIIT (2 sets of 8 intervals, each with 30 seconds exercise at 100%-110% maximal aerobic speed [MAS] followed by 30 seconds rest at 50% MAS; for 6 weeks with 3 sessions per week), MIIT (2 sets of 8 intervals, each with 30 seconds exercise at 70%-80% MAS followed by 30 seconds rest at 50% MAS; for 6 weeks with 3 sessions per week), or a control group. Triglyceride levels were significantly higher in the control group compared with both the HIIT and MIIT groups (P = .02 and .01, respectively). High-density lipoprotein levels were also elevated significantly in the experimental groups compared with the control group (P = .04 and .03, respectively). Serum resistin increased significantly from pretest levels in the control group (P < .01). Between-group comparisons showed that resistin levels were significantly higher in the control group than in the experimental groups (P < .01 and .01, respectively). Six weeks of HIIT can reduce resistin levels and improve cardiometabolic health indicators in nonpostmenopausal women. Although 6 weeks of MIIT does not reduce resistin, it does decrease systolic blood pressure and obesity-related factors in nonmenopausal women. Supramaximal interval training may be recommended to control bioactive molecules produced from adipose tissue that are linked to CVD.

Steady Moderate Exercise Confers Resilience Against Neurodegeneration and Neuroinflammation in a Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease

Intensive aerobic exercise slows the progression of movement disorders in Parkinson's disease (PD) and is therefore recommended as an important component of treatment for PD patients. Studies in animal models of PD have shown that vigorous exercise has neuroprotective effects, and emerging evidence suggests that it may be a disease-modifying treatment in humans. However, many people with PD may not be able to participate in vigorous exercise because of multiple medical conditions that severely limit their physical activity. In this study, we have shown that chronic MPTP treatment in sedentary mice resulted in loss of dopaminergic neurons in the SNpc, decreased levels of neurotrophins, BDNF and GDNF, and increased levels of inflammatory markers and pro-inflammatory changes in immunocompetent cells. Moderate exercise, initiated both before and after chronic MPTP treatment, significantly attenuated the loss of dopaminergic neurons and increased BDNF and GDNF levels even above those in sedentary control mice. No signs of inflammation were observed in MPTP-treated mice, either when training began before or after MPTP treatment. Training induced beneficial changes in the dopaminergic system, increased levels of neurotrophins and suppression of inflammation were similar for both steady moderate (present data) and intense training (our previously published data). This suggests that there is a kind of saturation when the percentage of rescued dopaminergic neurons reaches the highest possible value, and therefore further increases in exercise intensity do not enhance neuroprotection. In conclusion, our present results compared with the previous data show that increasing exercise intensity beyond the level used in this study does not increase the neuroprotective effect of aerobic training in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

Physiological differences in cardiopulmonary exercise testing between children and adults

Purpose: This study examines age- and sex-related physiological differences in cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) between children and adults, focusing on ventilatory thresholds (VT) and oxygen uptake efficiency slope and plateau (OUES; OUEP). Methods: The cross-sectional analysis comprised 24 children (7–11 years), 20 moderately- trained (MTA) and 20 well-trained (WTA) adults (20–30 years). They performed a maximal CPET on a cycle ergometer, while respiratory responses were measured. Linear regression models analyzed differences by age and sex of the key outcome parameters VT1, VT2, OUES and OUEP. Results: Children exhibited higher absolute VO2 at VT1 (d=.66) and VT2 (d=.58) values than MTA but slightly lower VO2 at VT2 values compared to WTA (d=.35). Adults demonstrated higher OUES (MTA: d=.37; WTA: d=1.45) and OUEP (MTA: d=.81; WTA: d=.60) values than children. However, children had higher relative OUES when adjusted for body mass (OUESrel) (MTA: d=.1.80; WTA: d=.87). Males demonstrated higher values as females for VO2 at VT2 (d=.81), OUES (d=.79) and OUEP (d=.41), respectively. In contrast, females had higher VO2 at VT1 (d=.59) and VT2 (d=.44) relative to VO2peak as males. Conclusion: These findings suggest that compared to adults, children rely more on oxidative metabolism, reflected in higher ventilatory thresholds relative to their aerobic capacity. Absolute OUES and OUEP increased with age, but OUESrel values indicate that maturation influences efficiency more than body mass, reflecting underlying metabolic and physiological differences. These age- and sex-specific patterns highlight the need for further longitudinal research to clarify the roles of growth and training on these parameters.

Cardiac myosin binding protein C correlate with cardiac troponin I during an exercise training program in patients with HFrEF.

Cardiac myosin binding protein C (cMyC) is an emerging new biomarker of myocardial injury rising earlier and cleared faster than cardiac troponins. It has discriminatory power similar to high-sensitive troponins in diagnosing myocardial infarction in patients presenting with chest pain. It is also associated with outcome in patients with acute heart failure. It is currently unclear how it relates to cardiac troponins in patients with chronic heart failure undergoing exercise training. This is a post hoc analysis of symptomatic heart failure patients in the multicentre randomized SMARTEX trial. Patients were randomized to one of three arms: high-intensity interval training, moderate continuous training and recommendation of regular exercise serving as control group (CG) for 12weeks. As the training load in the two intervention arms was similar, these patients were merged and constituted the intervention group (IG). Clinical data and measurements were obtained at baseline and at 12weeks. In 205 patients, serum was available for cMyC testing and in 196 patients, serum was available for hs-cTni testing. Due to non-normal distribution, cMyC and hs-cTnI measurements were log-transformed. A Bland-Altman plot was employed to evaluate the agreement of cMyC with hs-cTnI measurements. Lastly, a linear regression model was applied. No significant differences were observed in the change of cMyC levels between the groups throughout the intervention period (∆ cMyC IG: -0.5 [IQR: -3.4; 2.1] vs. ∆ cMyC CG: -0.7 [IQR: -2.7; 2.6]). The change in log hs-cTnI was significantly correlated with the change in log cMyC during the 12-week intervention period, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of R=0.52 (95% CI 0.37-0.66, P<0.001). For every 10% increase in cMyC levels, hs-cTnI levels rose by approximately 5%. Changes in levels of the novel biomarker cMyC were significantly associated with hs-cTnI serum levels in patients with symptomatic chronic HFrEF during a structured 12-week exercise training programme. This may indicate that cMyC has a role as a future marker of subclinical myocardial damage.

Impact of combiner aerobic and resistance training on depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

ObjectiveTo summarize the existing literature and evaluate the efficacy of combined resistance and aerobic training in alleviating depressive symptoms among individuals with depression. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on study region, age, depression severity, intervention duration, intervention frequency, and whether the intervention was supervised or unsupervised.MethodsFive databases were thoroughly examined from database establishment until August 20, 2024, to find randomized controlled trials that investigated resistance combined aerobic training impact on depression.ResultsFinally, 27 eligible studies were included, involving a total of 2,342 patients with depression. The outcomes indicated that resistance combined aerobic training notably improved signs of depression in these patients (SMD=-1.39, 95%CI=-1.80 to -0.96, p = 0.000). Subgroup analysis based on study area, age, severity of depressive symptoms, and exercise prescription revealed that resistance combined aerobic training had a particularly significant effect on middle-aged and elderly patients with depression, as well as on those with moderate depression. Additionally, moderate period (9–24 weeks), moderate frequency (3–4 times per week), a total weekly duration of more than 180 min and supervised training displayed the best results.ConclusionResistance combined aerobic training serves as an efficient approach to relieve depression-related symptoms, particularly in middle-aged and elderly patients with depression and those with moderate depression. Moderate training intensity, duration, frequency, and total weekly duration offer the greatest benefit.

Training method and difficulty modulate electrophysiological correlates of visual perceptual learning.

The present study focused on the influence of training methods and task difficulty on event-related potentials (ERPs) at early and later visual perceptual learning (VPL) on a coherent motion identification task. Sixty participants were randomly divided into four groups for training with an adaptive stimulus (staircase group) and three constant stimuli (moderate, easy and difficult intensity groups). Visual performance improved in the staircase and moderate training groups but not in the easy or difficult training groups. ERP results revealed a decreased P1 amplitude in all groups. Additionally, staircase training increased the frontal P2 amplitude; accordingly, moderate constant stimulus training reduced the frontal P2 amplitude and increased the frontal N2 amplitude. Importantly, the change in frontal P2 amplitude was correlated with improved performance, indicating the involvement of cortices responsible for higher-order cognitive processes in VPL. Additionally, the difference in frontal P2 amplitude changes suggests the modulation of training methods (adaptive and consistent) on the role of attention in VPL. Furthermore, although behavior changes were not observed, the brains in the easy and difficult groups still presented different ERP changes. In summary, the results provide electrophysiological evidence for the modulation of training methods and task difficulty in VPL-related neuroplasticity.

Sports Programs for Mental Illness: How Mental Health Professionales Can Provide Effective Support

Despite the positive effects of physical activity, people with mental illness often remain inactive. Exercise recommendations are inconsistent and challenging to follow.This study assessed exercise behavior and the need for programs during and after inpatient treatment to develop clinical recommendations.Patients from the psychiatric clinic at the University of Augsburg were recruited via flyer/QR-Code.A total of 47 patients participated in this survey. Over 70% exercise regularly, and over 70% are interested in peer-sports-groups with low-threshold conditions (e.g. no prior registration required). Strength training and moderate intensity training were favored over endurance sports.Our findings complement the World Health Organization's exercise recommendations. Strength training programs and accessible options may promote physical activity in this population.

Heavy resistance training provides short-term benefits on bone formation in well-functioning older adults.

Maintained bone health is critical for independent living when aging. Currently, multimodal exercise regimes including weight-bearing exercises with impact are prescribed as optimal for maintaining bone health, while there is less consensus on the effects of resistance training at different intensities upon bone. Here we examined whether bone health was positively influenced by 1year of supervised resistance training at two different intensities. Older adults at retirement age (mean age: 66±3years, n=451) were randomized to either 1year of heavy resistance training (HRT), moderate intensity training (MIT) or a non-exercising control group (CON) in the LISA (LIve active Successful Aging) study. Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed at whole body level, femoral neck, and the lumbar region of the spine (L1-L4) using Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Bone degradation and formation were evaluated with blood C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) and procollagen type I N-propeptide (PINP). Dephosphorylated uncarboxylated matrix Gla-protein (dp-ucMGP) was used as a biomarker of functional vitamin K status. Participants were assessed at baseline, immediately following the intervention (year 1), and at longitudinal follow-ups at years 2 and 4. Two-way mixed model ANOVAs were used to assess group differences at all time points. At the 4-year follow-up n=329 participants (58% women) remained in the study. BMD was not influenced by training and decreased across all groups over the 4years for total body (F3,977=4.617, p=0.003, η2=0.01) and femoral neck both in the dominant (F3,893=45.135, p<0.001, η2=0.13) and non-dominant leg (F3,896=33.821, p<0.001, η2=0.10). Independent of group, CTX increased (F3,932=47.434, p<0.001, η2=0.13) over the 4years. HRT resulted in an increased bone formation (PINP rise) only after the first year with systematic training (t(936)=3.357, p=0.04), and it was more pronounced than in CON (t(312)=2.494, p=0.04). Plasma dp-ucMGP remained unaltered over time in all groups. In general, women had significantly lower BMD and higher levels of CTX and PINP compared to men. We demonstrated that 1year of heavy resistance training positively influenced short-term bone formation in well-functioning older adults, although the effect was not maintained at long-term follow ups. These minor changes in bone biomarkers were not reflected in changes in BMD measured with DXA. clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02123641).

Energy availability and macronutrient intake over a 7-day training period in adolescent rugby players.

Understanding the dietary intake of elite adolescent athletes and its adequacy with sport nutrition recommendation is a key issue for health and player development, as well as performance and recovery. Energy availability needs to be considered to ensure optimal health and performance in young athletes. The present study aimed to quantify energy availability, energy expenditure and macronutrient intake in young male rugby union players competing at national level. Twelve male adolescent players (15.6±0.6 years) completed a 7-days prospective observational study (5 days of training and 2 days of full recovery). Total energy expenditure was estimated using indirect calorimetry and heart rate measurement. Energy intake was assessed using weighed food by a dietitian in cafeteria (training days) and image-based dietary (recovery days). Energy availability was calculated using (energy intake-exercise energy expenditure)/fat-free mass. Mean energy availability was 38.5±7.5, 40.2±5.4 and 47.8±5.1 kcal/kgFFM/d on heavy training, moderate training and recovery days, respectively. Players consumed a low carbohydrate (~5.0 g/kg/d), high protein (~2.0 g/kg/d) and high fat (~1.8 g/kg/d) diet on training and recovery days in relation to current international nutritional recommendations for young athletes. Athletes showed sub-optimal energy availability on training days, high energy availability on recovery days and did not comply with carbohydrate intake recommendations on training nor recovery days. These results highlight the short-term inadequacy of energy availability as a result of low carbohydrate intake, warning about the possible adverse short-term metabolic effects on health and performance of young athletes.

Exercise Training in Heart Failure: Current Evidence and Future Directions.

Heart Failure (HF) is a prevalent condition which places a substantial burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Medical management implemented with exercise training (ET) plays a role in prognostic and functional capacity improvement. The aim of this review is to determine the effect of exercise training (ET) on HFpEF and HFrEF patients as well as exercise modality recommendations in frail and sarcopenic subpopulations. Pharmacological therapy structures the cornerstone of management in HF reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and aids improved survival rates. Mortality reduction with pharmacological treatments in HF preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are yet to be established. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and ET can play an important role in both HFrEF and HFpEF. Preliminary findings suggest that CR significantly improves functional capacity, exercise duration, and quality of life. ET has shown beneficial effects on peak oxygen consumption (pVO2) and 6 min walk test distance in HFrEF and HFpEF patients, as well as a reduction in hospitalisation and mortality rates; however, the limited scope of larger trials reporting on this underscores the need for further research. ET also has been shown to have beneficial effects on depression and anxiety levels. High-intensity training (HIT) and moderate continuous training (MCT) have both shown benefits, while resistance exercise training and ventilatory assistance may also be beneficial. ET adherence rates are higher when enrolled to a supervised programme, but prescription rates remain low worldwide. Larger robust trials are required to determine ET's effects on HF, as well as the most efficacious and personalised exercise prescriptions in HF subtypes.

Diagnostic Errors in the Acutely Dizzy Patient-Lessons Learned.

Acute vertigo or dizziness is a frequent presentation to the emergency department (ED), making up between 2.1% and 4.4% of all consultations. Given the nature of the ED where the priority is triage, diagnostic delays and misdiagnoses are common, with as many as a third of vertebrobasilar strokes presenting with acute vertigo or dizziness being missed. Here, we review diagnostic errors identified in the evaluation and treatment of the acutely dizzy patient and discuss strategies to overcome them. Lessons learned include focusing on structured history taking, asking about timing and triggers to inform a targeted examination, assessing subtle ocular motor findings (e.g., by use of HINTS(+)), and avoiding overreliance on brain imaging (including early magnetic resonance imaging including diffusion-weighted sequences [DWI-MRI]). Importantly, up to 20% of DWI-MRI may be false negatives if obtained within the first 24-48 h after symptom onset. Likewise, overreliance on focal neurologic findings to confirm a stroke diagnosis should be avoided because isolated dizziness, vertigo, or even unsteadiness may be the only symptoms in some patients with vertebrobasilar stroke. Furthermore, in patients with triggered episodic vestibular symptoms provocation maneuvers should be preferred over HINTS(+), and a potential diagnosis of stroke should not be immediately dismissed in younger patients presenting with a headache (where migraine may be more common), but the possibility of a vertebral artery dissection should be further evaluated. Importantly, moderate training of non-experts allows for significant improvement in diagnostic accuracy in the acutely dizzy patient and thus should be prioritized.

Eight Weeks of Resistance Training Is Not a Sufficient Stimulus to Improve Body Composition in Post-COVID-19 Elderly Adults

Background: This study sought to assess how body mass (BM) and body composition in post-COVID-19 elderly adults were affected by 8 weeks of resistance training. An additional goal was to determine the agreement between Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) and Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) in elderly people. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention Group, which engaged in 8 weeks of resistance training, and a Control Group, which was advised to maintain their usual activity levels. Before and after the intervention, the body composition was analyzed via the BIA and DXA methods. Results: We found no statistically significant changes in BM or body composition following resistance training. BIA was found to overestimate the participants’ baseline BM and fat-free mass (FFM) and to underestimate the fat mass (FM), compared to the DXA method. There were no significant differences in intervention-induced changes in FM and FFM measured by BIA and DXA. Conclusions: Moderate intensity resistance training lasting 8 weeks was not found to be a sufficient stimulus to improve BM and body composition in post-COVID-19 elderly adults. We also conclude that BIA may serve as a viable alternative to DXA for measuring longitudinal changes in body composition in elderly people.

Comparison of high intensity interval training and moderate intensity continuous training on blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review

Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic condition characterized by insulin resistance and elevated blood glucose levels. This condition can lead to various complications such as vascular and nerve damage. Exercise is one of the interventions for T2DM as it can help control blood glucose levels, such as High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training (MICT). Methods: This study is a systematic review of published journals regarding HIIT and MICT exercise in T2DM patients. Six databases were used in this study: PubMed, Science Direct, Research Gate, SAGE Journals, Scopus, and Web of Science, which were then screened to meet the criteria for eligible studies. Out of 9,431 articles, 5 articles were deemed eligible for use in this study. In total, there were 5 qualifying studies, including 3 RCTs and 2 clinical trials. Results: The effects of HIIT and MICT in reducing blood glucose levels were found to be significant in two studies, while the other two studies showed no significant effect. Bias analysis using RoB2 categorized most of the studies as low risk, although some studies raised concerns. Conclusion: This study concludes that HIIT interventions show a more significant effect in reducing blood glucose levels compared to MICT. However, further research is needed to determine the optimal type and duration of HIIT to effectively manage blood glucose levels.

Application Analysis of Digital Resources in University Classical Music Teaching

As an important part of art education in colleges and universities, classical music teaching needs to keep up with the development of The Times and actively integrate into modern digital resources. Firstly, this paper analyzes the current situation and problems of classical music teaching in universities. Then, the potential value of digital resources for problem solving is elaborated in detail, including providing diversified learning resources to help overcome regional restrictions, making it possible to learn anytime and anywhere, and using the visual characteristics of digital technology can make the learning process more intuitive and vivid. Finally, specific and effective strategies are put forward, such as establishing a perfect digital resource database and conducting moderate technical training, so as to deepen the application of digital resources in classical music teaching in colleges and universities. The results show that the use of digital resources can not only change the learning style while increasing the learning fun, but also improve the teaching effect.

The Effect of 4 Weeks of Continuous Exercises with Abdominal Fat Tissue Massage on Body Composition Changes in Overweight People: A Pilot Study

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of 4 weeks of continuous exercise combined withabdominal fat tissue massage on body composition in overweight individuals. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two participants (mean (±SD) age 28(±3) years; BMI 27.5 (±1.7)) wererandomly divided into three groups: continuous training (CT, N= 7), continuous training with massage (CT+MA,N= 8), and massage only (MA, N= 7). The massage groups received 15-minute abdominal massages three timesa week. The CT+MA group performed moderate continuous training at 50-60% VO2peak for 45 minutes afterthe massage. The CT group followed the same training protocol without massage. Body composition wasassessed before and after the intervention, measuring fat percentage, waist to hip ratio (WHR), abdominal hipcircumference, weight, and abdominal skinfold thickness. Results: The PBF, WHR, and skinfold thickness values in the abdominal area of the CT+MA group had asignificant decrease compared to MA and CT groups. Conclusion: The results suggest that abdominal massage before exercise enhances lipolysis and spot fatreduction in the massage area, probably by increasing blood supply to subcutaneous fat tissue. This interventioncould be a practical approach to boost lipolysis in future research.

PERBANDINGAN AIR KELAPA DAN JUS SEMANGKA TERHADAP TINGKAT KEBUGARAN ATLET BASKET REMAJA SMA NEGERI 3 SAMARINDA

The purpose of this study was to evaluated the impact of giving coconut water and watermelon juice on fitness level athletes fitness. This research used a Quasi Experimental Design with a pre- and post-test design with 22 teenage basketball athletes from SMA Negeri 3 Samarinda as subjects. The treatment is given to provide 200 ml of coconut water every 15-20 minutes during a moderate intensity training session for 3 consecutive days. Measurement of fitness levels was carried out by measuring the athlete's VO2max. VO2max was measured using the Bleep Test method at the beginning and the end of treatment. The results of the bivariate analysis using the Wilcoxon statistical test showed that giving coconut water to the fitness level of teenage basketball athletes from SMA Negeri 3 Samarinda had a significant effect with a p-value of 0.011 (p &lt;0.05). and giving watermelon juice had a significant effect on the fitness level of teenage basketball athletes from SMA Negeri 3 Samarinda with a p-value of 0.024 (p &lt;0.05). The results of the bivariate analysis using the Mann Whitney statistical test showed that there was no difference in the fitness level of teenage basketball athletes from SMA Negeri 3 Samarinda in the coconut water treatment group and the watermelon juice treatment group with a p-value 0.607 (p&gt;0.05).

Myocardial Disorders in BDNF-Deficient Rats: Limited Recovery Post-Moderate Endurance Training.

The study aimed to determine whether heterozygous BDNF-deficient (BDNF-knockout, SD-BDNF) rats exhibit pathological changes in the myocardium and to assess whether a 5-week moderate-intensity endurance training program can reverse adverse changes in the heart muscle. Experiments were conducted on four groups of rats: control wild-type, control BDNF knockout, trained wild-type and trained BDNF knockout. Knockout rats were selected due to the presence of symptoms resembling metabolic syndrome in serum and liver while 5-week moderate endurance training was used as an intervention targeted at restoring heart function. Measurements of BDNF/Trk-B concentrations and molecules levels and activities, such as cardiac specific enzymes like creatine kinase and creatine kinase myocardial band, lipids as total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides, metabolic enzymes including alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase and lactate dehydrogenase and interleukin-1 were carried out in myocardium homogenates. In BDNF-deficient rats, the myocardium showed significantly reduced lipid concentrations, decreased metabolic and cardiac enzyme activity, and elevated Trk-B levels, all of which are indicative of myocardial ischemia or hypoxia. These changes in critical biomarkers were consistent with those earlier observed in the livers of BDNF-deficient rats, suggesting a link between the liver and cardiac function. Moderate endurance training led to an increase in creatine kinase activity in the myocardium of trained rats, suggesting increased production and utilization of energy required for myocardial contraction in trained wild-type and knockout populations of rats. BDNF-deficient rats exhibited numerous myocardial abnormalities, most of which were not reversible after moderate-intensity endurance training. These findings provide a basis for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying myocardial disorders in BDNF-deficient rats, which appear to be a suitable model for studying various aspects of metabolic disorders.

Investigating the Influence of Limb Blood Flow on Contraction-Induced Muscle Growth and the Impact of that Growth on Changes in Maximal Strength.

Changes in skeletal muscle size may be affected by resting blood flow (e.g., nutrient delivery) and this change in size is a hypothesized mechanism for changes in strength. To determine: 1) whether the relationship between isometric training and muscle growth depends on baseline blood flow or is mediated by a change in blood flow and 2) whether muscle growth mediates changes in maximal isometric strength. 179 participants were randomized into: low-intensity isometric handgrip exercise (LI), low-intensity isometric handgrip exercise with blood flow restriction (LI-BFR), maximal handgrip exercise (MAX), and a non-exercise control (CONTROL). Muscle thickness, strength, and resting limb blood flow were measured before and after the six-week intervention. Baseline blood flow did not moderate training effects on muscle thickness changes (MTHchg) (p = 0.666), and moderated mediation tests were non-significant. Although the LI-BFR group showed a significant effect on MTHchg (p = 0.018), MTHchg was not significantly related to handgrip strength change (HGchg) (p = 0.281), suggesting no mediation of the training-to-strength effect by MTHchg. Both the LI-BFR (p = 0.004) and MAX (p < 0.001) groups exhibited positive direct effects on HGchg compared to CONTROL. Furthermore, there were no differences between training groups and CONTROL on blood flow change (BFchg), BFchg and MTHchg were not significantly related, and neither BFchg nor MTHchg predicted HGchg, providing no evidence for mediated pathways. Muscle growth may not have occurred to an extent that would require vascular adaptation. Training maximally induced the greatest strength adaptations but was seemingly not driven by muscle growth.

PENERAPAN SENAM HIPERTENSI SEBAGAI INTERVENSI NON-FARMAKOLOGIS PADA LANSIA DI PUSKESMAS ARJUNO KOTA MALANG

Hypertension in the elderly poses significant health challenges, so effective non-pharmacological interventions are needed. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of hypertension gymnastics as a non-pharmacological intervention for elderly patients at the Arjuno Health Center, Malang City. The research method used was a qualitative case study, which involved two elderly subjects with hypertension over a period of two weeks. Data collection was carried out through in-depth interviews, direct observation, and blood pressure measurements before and after the gymnastics intervention. This hypertension gymnastics program includes light to moderate aerobic exercise and flexibility training. The results showed a consistent decrease in blood pressure in both participants, with an average decrease in systolic pressure of 10-15 mmHg and diastolic pressure of 5-10 mmHg over the study period. In addition, participants showed increased knowledge about hypertension management and motivation to engage in physical activity. Subjective symptoms such as headaches and sleep disturbances also improved. The effectiveness of hypertension exercises in this study was achieved through a dose of exercise in the form of a frequency of 4 times per week with a duration of 30 minutes per session, which was proven to provide a significant reduction in blood pressure. This gymnastics program emphasizes light to moderate intensity aerobic exercise, which has been shown to help improve cardiovascular function and lower vascular resistance. This research contributes to the development of scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of structured gymnastics programs in the management of hypertension in the elderly. These results confirm the importance of hypertension gymnastics as an integral part of primary care strategies for hypertensive elderly patients, emphasizing the importance of a tailored non-pharmacological approach to improve blood pressure control and overall quality of life.