Physical Fitness In Adults Research Articles

Long-Term Participation in a Community-Based Fitness Program for Hispanic Adults Living with HIV Influences Health-Related Outcomes Fitness in Hispanic Adults Living with HIV

This study primarily evaluated the effects of a nine-month community-based exercise program on cardiometabolic risk factors and physical fitness for adults living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We evaluated several cardiometabolic measures (total cholesterol, triglycerides, and body composition), physical fitness variables (cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle strength and endurance, and flexibility), health status (Karnofsky) and immune profile (CD4) of adults living with HIV who participated in a community-based exercise program for a period of nine months. The exercise program adhered to guidelines from The American College of Sports Medicine and comprised of an aerobic, muscular strengthening/endurance, and neuromuscular training components. Participants were tested at baseline and every three months thereafter. Results showed positive changes in lipid profile (p < 0.040), body composition (p < 0.008), and muscle performance (p < 0.046) without affecting the immune system amongst the participants. In summary, it appears that adults living with HIV could benefit from participating in a community-based exercise programs without affecting their immune system.

Quantifying the contribution of neighborhood parks to physical activity

ObjectiveTo quantify the contribution of U.S. neighborhood parks to the time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) by the local population. MethodsObservational data on the use of 10 parks in five US cities collected during summer and fall 2008 were analyzed by a model-averaging approach. Estimated MVPA time accrued in parks was compared to estimated total MVPA time accrued by the local population, based upon national estimates. ResultsOn average, parks provided roughly 4000hours of use and 1500 MVPA hours per week. Park use accounted for approximately 50% of the vigorous physical activity (VPA) time of those living within 0.5 miles of the park and 16% of those living within 1.0 miles of the park. Parks accounted for a modest proportion of moderate physical activity (MPA) time, about 14% and 4% for those living within 0.5 miles and 1.0 miles of the park, respectively. ConclusionParks have significant roles in supporting vigorous physical activity of the local population. Because they are underutilized and vigorous activity is critical to child development and adult physical fitness, efforts should be made to promote vigorous activity within local parks.

Pain catastrophizing and descriptive indicators of physical fitness for adults participating in a university wellness program

Pain catastrophizing and descriptive indicators of physical fitness for adults participating in a university wellness program

Exercise training for adults with chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide public health problem. In the National Kidney Foundation Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines it is stressed that lifestyle issues such as physical activity should be seen as cornerstones of the therapy. The physical fitness in adults with CKD is so reduced that it impinges on ability and capacity to perform activities in everyday life and occupational tasks. An increasing number of studies have been published regarding health effects of various regular exercise programmes in adults with CKD and in renal transplant patients. We aimed to: 1) assess the effects of regular exercise in adults with CKD and kidney transplant patients; and 2) determine how the exercise programme should be designed (e.g. type, duration, intensity, frequency of exercise) to be able to affect physical fitness and functioning, level of physical activity, cardiovascular dimensions, nutrition, lipids, glucose metabolism, systemic inflammation, muscle morphology and morphometrics, dropout rates, compliance, adverse events and mortality. We searched the Cochrane Renal Group's specialised register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Biosis, Pedro, Amed, AgeLine, PsycINFO and KoreaMed. We also handsearched reference lists of review articles and included studies, conference proceeding's abstracts. There were no language restrictions.Date of last search: May 2010. We included any randomised controlled trial (RCT) enrolling adults with CKD or kidney transplant recipients undergoing any type of physical exercise intervention undertaken for eight weeks or more. Studies using less than eight weeks exercise, those only recommending an increase in physical activity, and studies in which co-interventions are not applied or given to both groups were excluded. Data extraction and assessment of study and data quality were performed independently by the two authors. Continuous outcome data are presented as standardised mean difference (SMD) or mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Forty-five studies, randomising 1863 participants were included in this review. Thirty two studies presented data that could be meta-analysed. Types of exercise training included cardiovascular training, mixed cardiovascular and resistance training, resistance-only training and yoga. Some studies used supervised exercise interventions and others used unsupervised interventions. Exercise intensity was classed as 'high' or 'low', duration of individual exercise sessions ranged from 20 minutes/session to 110 minutes/session, and study duration was from two to 18 months. Seventeen per cent of studies were classed as having an overall low risk of bias, 33% as moderate, and 49% as having a high risk of bias.The results shows that regular exercise significantly improved: 1) physical fitness (aerobic capacity, 24 studies, 847 participants: SMD -0.56, 95% CI -0.70 to -0.42; walking capacity, 7 studies, 191 participants: SMD -0.36, 95% CI-0.65 to -0.06); 2) cardiovascular dimensions (resting diastolic blood pressure, 11 studies, 419 participants: MD 2.32 mm Hg, 95% CI 0.59 to 4.05; resting systolic blood pressure, 9 studies, 347 participants: MD 6.08 mm Hg, 95% CI 2.15 to 10.12; heart rate, 11 studies, 229 participants: MD 6 bpm, 95% CI 10 to 2); 3) some nutritional parameters (albumin, 3 studies, 111 participants: MD -2.28 g/L, 95% CI -4.25 to -0.32; pre-albumin, 3 studies, 111 participants: MD - 44.02 mg/L, 95% CI -71.52 to -16.53; energy intake, 4 studies, 97 participants: SMD -0.47, 95% CI -0.88 to -0.05); and 4) health-related quality of life. Results also showed how exercise should be designed in order to optimise the effect. Other outcomes had insufficient evidence. There is evidence for significant beneficial effects of regular exercise on physical fitness, walking capacity, cardiovascular dimensions (e.g. blood pressure and heart rate), health-related quality of life and some nutritional parameters in adults with CKD. Other outcomes had insufficient evidence due to the lack of data from RCTs. The design of the exercise intervention causes difference in effect size and should be considered when prescribing exercise with the aim of affecting a certain outcome. Future RCTs should focus more on the effects of resistance training interventions or mixed cardiovascular- and resistance training as these exercise types have not been studied as much as cardiovascular exercise.

Effect of combined exercise training on physical and metabolic fitness in adults with intellectual disability: a controlled trial

Objective: Investigating the effect of combined aerobic and strength training on metabolic and physical fitness in adults with intellectual disabilities compared to endurance training and no training. Design: A controlled trial with patients receiving either combined (COM), endurance (END) or no training (C). Setting: Two centres for intellectual disabilities (Sterrenhuis, Brasschaat and Emiliani, Lokeren, Belgium). Subjects: Forty-five adults with intellectual disabilities (mean age: 42 (9,2), mean body mass index (BMI): 24 (3,9), mean IQ: 56 (5,6)). Intervention: Combined exercise training (n = 15) and endurance training (n = 15) twice a week for 70 minutes per session for 20 weeks and no training (n = 15). Groups were matched for age, sex and intellectual disability. Main measures: Lipid profile, physical fitness (primary); blood pressure and body composition. Results: Compared to no training, combined exercise training has significant positive effects on total cholesterol levels, aerobic capacity, muscle strength and resting systolic blood pressure, while endurance exercise training has significant effects on aerobic capacity and resting systolic blood pressure. Compared to endurance training, combined exercise training resulted in a significant better evolution of total cholesterol (mean differences: −18 versus −3 mg/dl), 1RM upper (+6 versus +1 kg) and lower limb (+25 versus +8 kg) and abdominal muscles (+15 versus +1 kg), hand grip strength (+9 versus +2 kg), muscle fatigue resistance (+11 versus +5 sec), sit-to-stand (+5 versus +2/30 sec) and systolic blood pressure (−15 versus −10 mmHg). Conclusion: This study revealed a tendency towards more beneficial effects of combined exercise training in adults with intellectual disability.

Sustained Involvement in Youth Sports Activities Predicts Reduced Chronic Job Strain in Early Midlife

We examined the long-term effects of youth leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and sports participation on the prevalence of chronic work stress in adulthood. Participants (326 men and 338 women) aged 9 to 18 years were initially enrolled in 1980 and followed until 2007. Data were collected using questionnaires and bicycle ergometry in a subgroup. High youth LTPA and sports participation predicted lower chronic job strain in both sexes. The association was mediated by type A leadership. Participation and persistence in organized youth sports followed a similar pattern. In the subgroup, adult physical fitness only partly accounted for the association. Sustained involvement in youth physical activity and sport lasting at least 3 years is associated with reduced chronic job strain in adulthood. The association was partially explained by type A leadership and physical fitness.

The Effect of a Traditional Dance Training Program on the Physical Fitness of Adults with Hearing Loss

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a traditional dance training program on aerobic capacity and muscle strength of adults with hearing loss. Twenty-three adults with hearing loss were separated into 2 groups. Thirteen subjects (6 men, 7 women, mean age, 25.7 +/- 3.9 years) constituted the intervention group, whereas 10 subjects (5 men, 5 women, mean age, 26.4 +/- 5.9 years) formed the control group. Pretraining and posttraining treadmill tests were performed to determine heart rate (HR peak), peak minute ventilation (VE peak), peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak, absolute and relative), and time to exhaustion (min). Peak torque of hamstring and quadriceps muscles at angular velocities of 60 degrees /s, 180 degrees /s, and 300 degrees /s was also measured. The intervention group followed a 12-week traditional dance training program, whereas the control group received no training during this period. Repeated measures of multiple analyses of variance were used to test mean differences between the values of both groups. A paired t-test was used to compare the values within each group prior and after program participation. A significance level of 0.05 was used for all tests. Following the 12-week training program, significant improvements in peak physiological parameters were seen for the intervention group for peak minute ventilation, peak oxygen consumption (both absolute and relative), time to exhaustion, and peak torque values between the 2 measurements (initial and final). No significant improvements in peak physiological parameters and peak torque were noticed in the control group. In conclusion, adults with hearing loss can improve their physical fitness levels with the application of a systematic and well-designed traditional dance training program.

Assessment of physical fitness in adults by field testing supported by the specific software for personal computer based use

Physical inactivity is the second most important risk factor for development of cardiovascular diseases. Various field tests were developed for assessment of the fitness in general population. We aimed to assess the applicability and effectiveness of the specific software for UKK 2-km walking test data management. Descriptive results and statistical analysis on physical fitness of 383 adults are presented. The UKK 2-km walking test could be used as a feasible alternative for measurement of cardiovascular fitness. The test was integrated to exercise related health promotion programme, and widely available information technologies will be used for data management.

Improvements in physical fitness in adults with Down syndrome.

The effectiveness of an exercise training program for 52 adults with Down syndrome (M age = 39.4 years) was evaluated. The training program consisted of cardiovascular (30 minutes) and strength exercise (15 minutes) for 12 weeks, 3 days a week for 45-minutes per session. Compared to control subjects, the training group improved significantly in cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength and endurance and had a slight but significant reduction in body weight. Greater effort must be made to promote increases in physical activity participation among persons with Down syndrome and developmental disabilities in order to reduce the potential health risks associated with low fitness and sedentary behavior.

Adolescent motor skill and performance: Is physical activity in adolescence related to adult physical fitness?

Adolescent motor skill and performance: Is physical activity in adolescence related to adult physical fitness?

Adolescent motor skill and performance: is physical activity in adolescence related to adult physical fitness?

In the Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study (AGAHLS), a cohort of about 400 boys and girls (mean age 13 years) were followed over a period of 20 years. Over that period repeated measurements were done of body dimensions (height, weight, skinfolds), physical fitness (eight motor performance field tests: plate tapping, bent arm hang, 10 x 5 m sprint, arm pull, sit and reach, standing high jump, 10 leg lifts, 12-min endurance run, and one laboratory test to measure maximal aerobic power), and physical activity (by a cross-check interview). Three research questions were studied: (1) Is there a positive relationship between adolescent fitness (age 13-17 years) and adult physical activity (age 33 years)? (2) Do physical fitness and physical activity track from adolescence into adulthood? (3) What is the longitudinal relationship between physical fitness and physical activity? Multiple linear regression analysis showed that of the 9 physical fitness tests, only the 12-min endurance run and the maximal aerobic power during adolescence are significant (P < 0.05) predictors of adult physical activity. The effects are not influenced by biological age but by sex: only in females are the predictions significant (P < 0.05) Tracking over the period of 20 years estimated from stability coefficients showed values for physical fitness varying between 0.83 (plate tapping) to 0.38 (standing high jump and maximal aerobic power). Physical activity shows lower stability coefficients (0.35-0.29). A longitudinal linear regression technique was used to analyse the relationship between physical activity and physical fitness over the 20-year period; in this analysis corrections were made for both time-dependent (time, biological age, and cardiovascular factors) and time-independent variables (sex). All physical fitness tests show positive and significant (P < 0.05) standardized regression coefficients with physical activity, but the explained variance is less than 1%. Only maximal aerobic power has a higher explained variance of 1.8%. It can be concluded that: (1) Physical fitness in adolescence is only weakly related to adult physical activity; (2) between age 13 and 33 years, physical activity has low stability and physical fitness was higher stability; and (3) the longitudinal relationships between physical fitness and physical activity are only meaningful with maximal aerobic power.

Physical Fitness of Adults with an Intellectual Disability: A 13-Year Follow-up Study

The purpose of this study was to describe the change in physical fitness of middle-aged adults with an intellectual disability over a period of 13 years. Participants were 32 adults who worked in a supported work environment in Montreal and had been participants in a physical fitness study in 1983. Using the Canadian Standardized Test of Fitness, the participants were evaluated for cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition. A home visit prior to the testing session refamiliarized the participants with the test procedures. Two forms of analysis were used to describe the change in fitness over 13 years. First, a 2 × 2 (Group × Time) analysis of variance for each dependent variable assessed change over time. Second, effect sizes were calculated to measure the magnitude of change in fitness over the 13-year period in comparison to those without an intellectual disability. As expected, te physical fitness levels of the participants were low when compared to those without a disability and declined over the 13 years. In addition, the magnitude of change over the 13 years, as compared to those without a disability, was greater for male and female participants for body mass index and percentage of body fat and for female participants for cardiovascular endurance and sit-ups. It appears that adults with an intellectual disability may be particularly at risk for declining health associated with aging and low physical fitness.

Evaluation of physical activity measured via accelerometry in rural fourth-grade children.

Interest in the benefits of exercise has prompted increased research examining the relationship between physical activity and health status in adults. More recently, considerable research effort has been directed toward the role of physical activity in young children as a precursor to adult physical fitness. The purpose of this study was to estimate the relationship between physical activity measured via accelerometry and body mass index, body mass, body composition, and physical fitness in fourth-grade boys and girls during physical education lessons. 54 fourth-grade students in rural Pennsylvania (28 girls, M age 9.6, SD = .56; 26 boys, M age 9.5, SD = .51) were subjects. Girls were significantly less active during all lessons measured (p < .001). The results of linear regression analyses indicated that physical activity was negatively associated with body mass index, body mass, and body fat percentage (p < .05), and positively associated with physical fitness (VO2max) (p < .01). These data indicate the need for curricular intervention to motivate girls to increase their activity during structured physical education lessons and demonstrate the efficacy of the body mass index as a screening tool within the schools.

EVALUATION OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY MEASURED VIA ACCELEROMETRY IN RURAL FOURTH-GRADE CHILDREN

Interest in the benefits of exercise has prompted increased research examining the relationship between physical activity and health status in adults. More recently, considerable research effort has been directed toward the role of physical activity in young children as a precursor to adult physical fitness. The purpose of this study was to estimate the relationship between physical activity measured via accelerometry and body mass index, body mass, body composition, and physical fitness in fourth-grade boys and girls during physical education lessons. 54 fourth-grade students in rural Pennsylvania (28 girls, M age 9.6, SD = .56; 26 boys, M age 9.5, SD = .51) were subjects. Girls were significantly less active during all lessons measured (p<.001). The results of linear regression analyses indicated that physical activity was negatively associated with body mass index, body mass, and body fat percentage (p< .05), and positively associated with physical fitness (V̇O2max) (p<.01). These data indicate the need for curricular intervention to motívate girls to increase their activity during structured physical education lessons and demonstrate the efficacy of the body mass index as a screening tool within the schools.

PROGRESS REPORTS; A METHOD FOR ADJUSTING INDIVIDUALIZED EXERCISE PRESCRIPTIONS

528 Ball State University's Adult Physical Fitness Program (APFP) has developed a progress report protocol to summarize physiological changes that occurred during exercise training, to document exercise adherence, and to update exercise prescription for members of the APFP. The progress reporting protocol is designed to perform an assessment for members biannually and typically involves several steps. The protocol begins with a review of exercise frequency, intensity, duration, attendance and weekly energy expenditure estimates. Resistance training information including the number of repetitions, sets and average weight lifted during each exercise is also reviewed. Members are then scheduled for an assessment in the APFP fitness center on the exercise mode of their choice. Body weight, resting heart rate and blood pressure are measured prior to the assessment. After a three minute warm-up, measurements are performed during two stages (i.e. 60 and 80% of maximal oxygen uptake) (VO2max). Percentages of VO2max are determined during a graded exercise test (GXT) when the member joins the APFP. Values collected during the assessment are then compared to values from the same relative exercise intensity during the GXT. Exercise leaders review the assessment and provide copies of the results including a short narrative and graphs to document significant physiological changes. Exercise leaders meet individually with members and solicit feedback concerning program operations and to establish new fitness goals. Based on the data and goals of the member, exercise leaders adjust the exercise prescription to achieve those goals.

EFFECT OF HARD VERSUS LIGHT-MODERATE INTENSITY EXERCISE TRAINING ON HEALTH AND FITNESS BENEFITS.

1341 The recent Surgeon General's Report recommendations suggest that moderate intensity activity/exercise can produce health and fitness benefits. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of hard vs. light-moderate exercise intensities on health and fitness benefits. Nineteen sedentary men and women (47 ± 12 yrs) with at least one coronary risk factor participated. Subjects were tested (VO2max, blood pressure, blood lipids, body composition) prior to and 22-32 weeks after participating ≥2 days/wk in the Adult Physical Fitness Program. Subjects were grouped into those who trained below 60% of their maximal heart rate range (Light-Moderate) and those who trained above 70% (Hard). Results were: TableTableThese preliminary results demonstrated modest training effects within this subject pool. Those that self-selected a hard training intensity did show a more favorable adaptation in DBP compared to those that trained at light-moderate intensities. In conclusion, this study demonstrated health and fitness benefits when training at least 2 days/week, with greater effects when training at a hard vs. light-moderate intensity with regards to DBP.

Teen physical activity guidelines

All adolescents should be moderately physically active daily, and should vigorously exercise at least three times a week, according to physical-activity guidelines developed from the International Consensus Conference on Physical Activity Guidelines for Adolescents. Published in the November 1994 issue of Pediatric Exercise Science, the guidelines represent research efforts of 13 health organizations, including the Academy, who met in San Diego in 1993 to develop age-specific, adolescent physical-activity guidelines. Designed to promote physical and psychological teen health, goals include increasing probable continued adult physical fitness.

Cardiovascular benefits and assessment of physical activity and physical fitness in adults

HASKELL, WILLIAM L.; LEON, ARTHUR S.; CASPERSEN, CARL J.; FROELICHER, VICTOR F.; HAGBERG, JAMES M.; HARLAN, WILLIAM; HOLLOSZY, JOHN O.; REGENSTEINER, JUDITH G.; THOMPSON, PAUL D.; WASHBURN, RICHARD A.; WILSON, PETER W. F. Author Information

Television Viewing and Physical Fitness in Adults

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which time spent watching television is associated with cardiovascular fitness among 8,885 adults. Potential confounding effects of age, gender, smoking, length of work week, time reported exercising each week, and obesity were also examined. Subjects who watched TV more than 4 hours per day (frequent viewers) were 0.37 times as likely to be physically fit as those who watched TV less than 1 hour per day (infrequent viewers) with age and gender controlled. Similarly, adults who watched TV 3-4 hours per day (moderately frequent viewers) were 0.45 times as likely to be fit as infrequent watchers. Adjustment for potential confounders, particularly measured body fat and reported exercise duration in combination, weakened the TV viewing/fitness relation moderately. Given the findings of this study and the results of previous research, caution should be exercised regarding excessive television viewing.

Field Tests That Evaluate Adult Physical Fitness

Field Tests That Evaluate Adult Physical Fitness