Previous Exercise Habits Research Articles

Factors predicting long-term physical activity of breast cancer survivors. 5-year-follow-up of the BREX exercise intervention study

Background The benefits of exercise training are well documented among breast cancer (BC) survivors. Patients decrease their physical activity during treatment, and many fail to regain their previous exercise levels. There is therefore a need to define factors supporting long-term physical activity behavior in this patient group, to target supporting interventions aimed at preventing the decline in physical activity (PA). Aim The aim of this study was to determine physical and psychosocial factors explaining long-term physical activity after the adjuvant treatments in BC survivors. Methods Four-hundred forty-six BC survivors followed for 5-years within a randomized exercise trial participated. Factors explaining (1) physical activity after the adjuvant treatments and (2) changes in physical activity in long-term were analyzed using linear regression models and general estimating equation models. Pretreatment leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), demographic, and treatment factors, physical fitness, and quality of life (Qol) at baseline were independent factors. Results Exercise levels increased during the first year, and thereafter remained mostly stable. Higher LTPA, higher fitness level, better Qol and older age at baseline were associated with higher physical activity level after adjuvant treatments (p < .001) in multivariate analysis. Higher levels of fatigue (p < .008) and better emotional functioning (p = .017) at baseline were the main factors associated with increased physical activity during the follow-up. Conclusion Previous exercise habits and Qol after adjuvant chemo-, and radiotherapy were the strongest determinants of long-term physical activity levels in breast cancer survivors. Patients with better emotional functioning increased their exercise activity most as did those patients with higher fatigue levels at baseline. Patients suffering from fatigue after adjuvant treatment managed to increase their exercise levels, in contrast to patients with low emotional functioning, and may benefit from physical exercise interventions. Emotionally deprived patients may benefit from psychosocial support to regain their previous exercise levels.

Google Trends during COVID-19: Raising awareness among physical education teachers

The purpose of this study is to increase awareness among physical education teachers by analyzing the trends in reaching exercise programs on the Google platform during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The exercise trends sought on the Google Trends platform between March 2020 and March 2021, when the pandemic was most intense, were examined. During this phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was observed that the most searched type of exercise on Google was strength training and fitness exercise. The previous exercise habits of individuals, the decisions taken by countries during the pandemic, and the technological methods applied may have been effective in searching for physical activities via Google. This study might contributes to physical education teachers in institutions that provide education for children and youths, to create the content of online or face-to-face exercise programs.&#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: COVID-19; Exercise; Physical Activity; Physical Education

Factors Influencing Patients' Intention to Perform Physical Activity During Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

To examine theoretical and medical variables influencing a patient's intention to perform physical activity during hospitalization for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). 54 patients undergoing HCT at the Seidman Cancer Center in Cleveland, Ohio. A longitudinal, prospective cohort design was used. Instruments included the Self-Report Habit Index, tailored to assess exercise habit, the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Short Form, and an investigator-constructed survey of intention, attitude, control, and subjective norm toward physical activity. Descriptive statistics, univariate logistic regression, and linear regression were used. Intention for physical activity remained high at all time points. Previous exercise habits were not related to intention. Inverse relationships between symptom distress and the theoretical constructs that influence intention occurred at the critical time points of nadir and discharge during transplantation. Nurses should reinforce physical activity regardless of exercise habits. Symptom distress may influence physical activity differently during the transplantation trajectory.

Effects of exercise and dietary habits on the occurrence of polycystic ovary syndrome over 5years of follow-up.

To evaluate the effects of recent and previous exercise and dietary habits on the occurrence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The present study had a population-based case-control phase and a nested case-control phase. Women aged 12-44years with and without PCOS were surveyed using the Semiquantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire to evaluate the correlation of PCOS with recent (last 7days) or previous (5years ago) exercise and dietary habits. No difference in recent physical activity was found between the PCOS and control groups (case-control phase, n=1854). However, patients with PCOS had previously (5years ago; nested case-control phase, n=1149) spent less time physical active in relation to transportation (P=0.003), housekeeping (P=0.023), walking (P<0.001), and activities of moderate intensity (P=0.008), and had spent more time sitting (P<0.001). Dietary nutrients and energy intake did not differ between the two groups (P>0.05 for all comparisons). Previous exercise habits were associated with subsequent PCOS whereas a recently acquired exercise routine was not. Women should avoid long-term sedentary lifestyle habits and focus on adding to the duration of, or enhancing the intensity of, physical activity.

The Effects of a 12-Week Walking Program on Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Walking is a popular and easily accessible form of physical activity. However, walking instruction for older adults is based on the evidence gathered from younger populations. This study evaluated walking conditions, strength, balance, and subjective health status after a 12-week walking-training program in community-dwelling adults > 65 years old. Participants walked 1,921 m (3,158.88 steps) in 26.69 min with a heart rate of 114 beats/min. An analysis of covariance to adjust for previous exercise habits, pretest strength, and subjective health status revealed significant differences in strength and in subjective physical and mental health status between experimental and control groups. This study identified the effects of the walking-training program on community-dwelling elderly adults without changing their previous physical activities.

Predicting general health perception and exercise habits in ankylosing spondylitis

The aims of this study were to describe changes over time in work, civil status, exercise habits, medication, self-reported disease activity, activity limitation, general health perception and body functions, and to predict self-reported general health perception and exercise habits, in 50 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) according to the modified New York criteria. Logistic regressions were used to identify predictors. Exercise frequency decreased and general health perception improved significantly over time, while all other variables remained stable. Predictors for good general health perception were low activity limitation, good general health perception, full-time work and living alone. Predictors of exercise ≥2/week were long symptom duration, previous exercise habits, high disease activity and living alone. We believe our study has contributed to the prediction of exercise habits and good general health perception in AS by suggesting ways of establishing what variables might be important t...

The female athlete.

Over the past 30 years, the number of women participating in organized sports has grown dramatically. Several forms of menstrual irregularities have been described in the female athlete: primary and secondary amenorrhoea, oligomenorrhoea, short luteal phases and anovulation. The incidence of menstrual irregularities is much higher in activities where a thin body is required for better performance. The hormonal pattern seen in these athletes is a hypothalamic amenorrhoea profile. There appears to be a decrease in gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulses from the hypothalamus, which in turn decreases the pulsatile secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and shuts down stimulation of ovary. Recently, another type of amenorrhoea has been described in swimmers which is characterized by mild hyperandrogenism. Athletes with low weight are at risk of developing the female athletic triad, which includes amenorrhoea, osteoporosis and disordered eating. Athletes with this triad are susceptible to stress fractures. Other issues include the pregnant athlete. Intensive exercise during pregnancy can cause bradycardia. Safe limits of aerobic exercise in pregnancy depend on previous exercise habits. Infertility, which may develop with exercise, is probably reversible with reduction of exercise or weight gain. High impact sports activities may produce urinary incontinence. Oestrogen replacement therapy is often prescribed in amenorrhoeic athletes, but bone loss may not be completely reversible.

Lack of effects of moderate-high altitude upon lung function in healthy middle-aged volunteers

This study investigates the effects of moderate-high altitude on lung function and exercise performance in 46 volunteers (19 females, 27 males), with a mean age of 42·4±1·4 years (± sem) and varying smoking and exercise habits, who were not previously acclimatized. Measures obtained in the base camp (1140 m) and at altitude (2630 m), in random order, included forced spirometry, maximal voluntary ventilation, maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures, arterial oxygen saturation and capillary lactate concentration after a standardized exercise test. The smoking history, Fagerström test and degree of habitual physical activity were also recorded for each participant. The percentage of smokers was similar in males (19%) and females (21%) ( P=n.s.). Mean habitual physical activity index was 8·2±0·2 (range, 5·88-11·63). At the base camp, all lung function variables were within the normal range. Lactate concentration after exercise averaged 3·7±0·3 mm 1 −1. No significant change was observed at altitude, except for a higher heart rate and a lower arterial oxygen saturation (SaO 2) (both at rest and after inspiratory manoeuvres). The smoking history and the degree of physical activity did not influence lung function or exercise performance at altitude. The results of this study show that in middle-aged, healthy, not particularly well-trained individuals, lung function is not significantly altered by moderate-high altitude, despite the absence of any acclimatization period and independent of their smoking history and previous exercise habits.

Factors affecting adherence of end-stage renal disease patients to an exercise programme.

Recently it has been shown that regular exercise is both physiologically and psychologically beneficial to patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, ESRD patients traditionally have a high non-adherence level to their self-care and medical regimens. To date, their adherence to exercise programmes has not been studied. Background information about employment, medical history, previous exercise habits and locus of control was obtained from 40 volunteer ESRD patients who started exercise at home. Twenty-eight participants maintained the exercise programme, consisting of aerobic activity lasting an average of 25 min, four times per week, for 12 weeks. The adherent patients were found to have encouraging support groups (75 versus 25%), to be between 41 and 60 years of age (64 versus 33%), to have been on dialysis for between 2 and 5 years, and to have loci of control (feeling of control over life events) classed as 'internal' (68 versus 25%). Factors such as sex, race, employment status and depression were found to have little influence on adherence. The major finding of this study was that patients adherent to exercise could be distinguished by unique psychological and psychosocial factors, and that adherence in this population was higher (70 compared with 50%) than some estimates for the general population.

Mood state changes of women as a function of regular aerobic exercise.

The present study examined mood states of aerobic exercisers before and after completing a 15-wk. program. The subjects (ages 18 to 36 yr.) were 86 women enrolled in activity classes at a large state school in the southeast. Subjects were initially classified according to previous exercise habits. Analysis indicated both groups of frequent and infrequent exercisers were similar in mood states. Participation in regular exercise did not significantly change or enhance the mood states from pretreatment measures. Pretest measures of mood states provided poor prediction of posttest measures, indicating extreme variability in subjects' scores.

Effect of moderate physical exercise on serum lipoproteins. A controlled clinical trial with special reference to serum high-density lipoproteins.

A controlled trial is reported on the effects of mild-to-moderate physical activity on serum lipoproteins. After two baseline examinations 100 asymptomatic middle-aged men were randomly assigned to exercise and control groups. The exercise group participated in a 4-month exercise program that consisted of 3-4 weekly sessions. The control group was advised to maintain their previous exercise habits. The success of the program was corroborated by the increase in VO2 in the training group, but not in the control group. Serum triglycerides decreased from 1.54 +/- 0.10 to 1.27 +/- 0.08 mmol/1 (p less than 0.001) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol increased from 1.27 +/- 0.04 to 1.41 +/- 0.04 mmol/1 (p less than 0.01) in the exercise group during the trial. No change was seen in the control group. As the concentration of apolipoprotein AI stayed constant in both groups, the ratio HDL cholesterol/apolipoprotein AI increased only in the exercise group. The level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein AII decreased in both groups during the trial. The alterations in serum triglycerides and HDL cholesterol in the exercise group were not dependent on weight reduction; similar changes were also seen in subjects with constant body weight during the intervention.