Swimming Exercise Research Articles

Effect of 12 weeks Swimming Exercise Program on MCP-1, Pulse transmit time in obese women

Effect of 12 weeks Swimming Exercise Program on MCP-1, Pulse transmit time in obese women

Swimming exercise regulates indices of skeletal muscle glucose metabolism and attenuates cardiac inflammatory cytokines activity via IL-6/TNF-α pathway in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus (DM) manifests with impaired glucose metabolism that affects the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems. This study investigated the effects of swimming exercise on some indices of muscle glucose metabolism and cardiac inflammatory markers in diabetic rats induced with streptozotocin. Wistar rats of both sexes (150–200 g) were assigned into five groups of seven (7) rats. Group 1: Control (CON), Group 2: Diabetes only (DM), Group 3: Exercise only (EX), Group 4: Diabetes + Exercise (DM + EX), Group 5: Diabetes + Insulin (DM + IN). Type 1 DM was induced via intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). Insulin (6 IU/g) was administered (IP) to animals in group 5. Swimming exercise test was done for 27 days after which animals were euthanized. Blood samples were collected while hamstring muscles and heart were harvested and homogenized to assess biochemical parameters. The body weight, serum insulin level, muscle glucose metabolic indices (glycogen, Glut-4, CK-MB), and cardiac troponin-T were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased. In contrast, the random blood glucose, cardiac TNF-α, and IL-6 levels were increased (P < 0.05) in diabetic rats when compared with the control group. Swimming exercise regimen significantly (P < 0.05) reversed these anomalies by reducing blood glucose and cardiac inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) levels, improving serum insulin, muscle glycogen, and GLUT-4 expression in diabetic rats when compared to the DM group. The cardiac inflammatory cytokine levels in DM + EX were comparable to the DM + IN group. In conclusion, swimming exercise improves muscle glucose metabolism and protects the heart against cardiac inflammation in diabetic conditions.

Temporal adaptation of the postural control following a prolonged fin swimming.

Postural control deteriorates following a transition between two environments, highlighting a sensory conflict when returning to natural conditions. Aquatic immersion offers new perspectives for studying postural control adaptation in transitional situations. Our aim is to study immediate and post-task static postural control adaptation on land after a prolonged fin swimming exercise in total immersion. Standing static postural control was assessed in 14 professional or recreational SCUBA divers (11 men, 3 women; 33.21 ± 10.70years), with eyes open and closed, before, immediately after, and in the following 20min following a fully-immersed 45-min fin swimming exercise. Centre-of-pressure metrics (COP) including average position, amplitude, velocity, length and 95% ellipse were evaluated in medial-lateral (x-axis) and anterior-posterior (y-axis) directions with a force platform. The Romberg ratio was also assessed for each metric. A two-way repeated measures analysis of variance revealed a significant effect of the measurement period on COPx vel (p = 0.01), COPy vel (p < 0.01) and Length (p < 0.01), and of the visual condition on COPy vel (p < 0.01) and Length (p < 0.01). Eyes closed measures were systematically higher than eyes open measures despite there being no significant difference in the Romberg ratio in all periods. Post-immersion, the velocity and total trajectory of the centre of pressure remained systematically lower than baseline values in both visual conditions. Post-immersion, COP velocity and length significantly decreased, suggesting a sensory reweighting strategy potentially associated with ankle stiffening.

Effects of Swimming Exercise and Protein Intake on Growth Factors and Stress Hormones in Mice

Effects of Swimming Exercise and Protein Intake on Growth Factors and Stress Hormones in Mice

Effect of swimming exercise program on quality of life in patients with diabetic foot ulcer

This research aimed to examine the effect of a swimming exercise program on the quality of life in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). DFUs are a common complication of diabetes that significantly impact patients' physical and psychological well-being and impose a substantial burden on healthcare systems. Physical activity, including swimming, has been shown to improve various aspects of health and well-being. However, its specific effects on the quality of life in patients with DFUs have not been extensively studied. The study included twenty patients diagnosed with DFUs who volunteered to participate in a 12-week swimming exercise program. The program consisted of three one-hour sessions per week, with exercises performed in an indoor swimming pool. Participants' quality of life was assessed using the Diabetic Foot Ulcer Scale Short Form (DFS-SF) before the program and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks into the program. The results demonstrated significant improvements in various domains of quality of life among participants. The leisure, physical health, dependence/daily life, negative emotions, worry about ulcers/feet, and bothered by ulcer care domains all showed positive changes, with reduced scores on negative items and increased scores on positive items over time. These findings highlight the potential benefits of swimming as a therapeutic intervention for improving the quality of life in patients with DFUs. Swimming, as a low-impact aerobic exercise, offers physiological and psychological advantages, including fat burning, mood improvement, stress reduction, and enhanced cognitive function. The study suggests that incorporating swimming exercise programs into the management and treatment of DFUs may lead to improved overall well-being and quality of life for these patients. Further research and larger-scale studies are necessary to validate these findings and explore the long-term effects of swimming exercise programs on the quality of life in patients with DFUs. Nevertheless, this research provides valuable insights for healthcare professionals in developing comprehensive treatment approaches for individuals with DFUs.

Long-term swimming exercise attenuates right ventricular hypertrophy via modulating meta-inflammation in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertensive rats

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a complex disease characterized by elevated pulmonary vascular resistance, resulting in right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy and, eventually, failure, which remains the primary cause of mortality in PAH patients. While current PAH therapies primarily target vascular abnormalities, most fail to address RV dysfunction. Therefore, improving RV function is a critical treatment goal. Exercise has emerged as an effective intervention for PAH, but the specific impact of swimming exercise on this disease and its associated pathological changes has been less extensively studied. In this study, we investigated the effects of swimming training (60 min/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks) on monocrotaline (MCT; 60 mg/kg, i. p.)-induced PAH in rats. Our findings demonstrate that swimming significantly attenuates RV hypertrophy and reduces mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP), mitigating the detrimental effects of PAH. Furthermore, we observed structural remodeling in the right ventricle, including increased myocardial necrosis, collagen deposition, and fibrosis-related protein expression. Swimming exercise training was found to reduce these pathological changes, suggesting a protective effect on the right ventricle. Mechanistically, our study revealed the crucial role of meta-inflammation in PAH and the anti-PAH effects of exercise. Swimming training attenuated macrophage accumulation, reduced serum inflammatory cytokines, and improved systemic and RV insulin sensitivity, highlighting its potential to modulate meta-inflammatory processes. In summary, our study suggests that swimming training exerts a beneficial effect on RV function and hypertrophy in MCT-induced PAH rats by targeting meta-inflammation. These results underscore the potential value of exercise-based rehabilitation as a complementary therapy for PAH patients.

Physiological and immune responses of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) under the regulation of exercise intensity: An integrated perspective of blood, liver and intestinal analysis

This study examined the effects of different water flow durations on serum biochemical indices, liver antioxidant capacity, and intestinal health of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). During a 90-day experiment, 270 largemouth bass (initial weight 96.05 ± 18.87 g) were randomly assigned to three groups: a control group (CG) with a constant flow velocity of 0.3 cm/s, an interval exercise group (IE) with a water flow velocity of 2 bl/s for 8 h/day, and a sustained exercise group (SE) with a continuous flow velocity of 2 bl/s for 24 h/day. The results showed that the IE group had higher total protein (TP) levels than the CG and SE groups (P < 0.05). In contrast, the SE group had lower triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol (CHO) levels (P < 0.05), indicating that exercise intensity significantly affects serum biochemical parameters. The study also evaluated the effects of sustained swimming on liver antioxidant capacity, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal health, and microbial community composition. Antioxidant assays revealed significantly increased activities of superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the SE group, along with the lowest malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (P < 0.05), indicating enhanced antioxidant defenses. Enzyme assays showed a significant increase in trypsin and lipase activities due to swimming exercise (P < 0.05). Intestinal morphology analysis showed increased villus height and wall thickness in the SE group, without visible tissue damage, suggesting improved intestinal structural integrity. Gene expression analysis showed a significant upregulation of pro-inflammatory genes in the IE group and an increase in anti-inflammatory gene expression in the SE group. Microbial community analysis showed no significant differences in alpha diversity, species richness, or total diversity among the groups. However, variations in microbial species distribution at the phylum and genus level were observed, which were likely influenced by exercise intensity. In conclusion, sustained swimming exercise significantly improved antioxidant capacity, intestinal health, and modulated the immune response in largemouth bass. This highlights its potential to improve fish health and sustainability in RAS.

The beneficial effects of six weeks of swimming exercise on growth hormone and cortisol levels in male mice (Mus musculus)

The beneficial effects of six weeks of swimming exercise on growth hormone and cortisol levels in male mice (Mus musculus)

Combined swimming with melatonin protects against behavioural deficit in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury induced rats associated with modulation of Mst1– MAPK ‐ERK signalling pathway

Background The inconvenience of social and behavioural deficits after cerebral ischaemia reperfusion (I/R) injury is still not well documented. Aim We aimed to study the protective effect of preconditioning swimming exercise combined with melatonin against cerebral I/R induced injury. Methodology Sixty rats were allocated into 6 groups; groups I and II served as control. Groups 3,4,5,6 subjected to bilateral carotid ligation for 30 minutes (min.) followed by reperfusion. Group 3 left untreated while groups 4 and 6; underwent swimming exercise 30 min/day, five days a week for three weeks before the surgery. Groups 5 and 6 treated with melatonin 30 minutes before the operation, then, all rats in groups 4, 5,6 were subjected to I/R. After that, groups 5 and 6 treated with 2nd dose of melatonin 30 minutes after reperfusion. Results Combined strategy exhibited the most neuroprotective effect through prevention of cerebral I/R induced inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis with subsequent improvement in socio behaviour deficits and enhanced Glial cell proliferative capacity. Conclusion The protective contribution of combined strategy is associated with modulation in Macrophage‐stimulating 1/mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MST1/MAPK/ERK) pathway which may explain, at least in part, its protective potential.

Intracerebroventricular administration of the exercise hormone irisin or acute strenuous exercise alleviates epileptic seizure-induced neuroinflammation and improves memory dysfunction in rats

BackgroundStatus epilepticus is a common and potentially life-threatening neurological emergency with a high risk for cognitive and neurobiological impairment. Our aim was to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of centrally administered irisin and acute exhausting exercise against oxidative brain injury and memory dysfunction due to a pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced single seizure. Male Sprague Dawley rats with intracerebroventricular (icv) cannulas were randomly divided into intraperitoneally (ip) saline-injected control and PTZ-injected (45 mg/kg) seizure groups. Both the control and PTZ groups were then treated with irisin (7.5 µg/kg, 2 µl, icv), saline (2 µl, icv) or were forced to an acute bout of strenuous exercise before the ip injection of saline (control) or PTZ. Seizures were evaluated using the Racine score. To evaluate memory performance, a passive avoidance test was performed before and after PTZ injection. Following euthanasia at the 24th hour of seizure induction, brain tissues were removed for histopathological examination and for evaluating oxidative damage, antioxidant capacity, and neurotransmitter levels.ResultsGlutamate/GABA imbalance observed in PTZ rats was corrected by irisin administration (p < 0.001/p < 0.01), while irisin prevented the generation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation (p < 0.05 − 0.001) and replenished the antioxidant catalase and glutathione levels (p < 0.01–0.01) in the cerebral tissue, and reduced the histologically evident neuronal injury due to a single seizure (p < 0.05 − 0.01). Irisin also delayed the onset of seizures (p < 0.05) and improved memory dysfunction (p < 0.05), but did not affect the severity of seizures. The acute exhaustive swimming exercise completed before PTZ-seizure depressed glutamate level (p < 0.001), maintained the oxidant/antioxidant balance, alleviated neuronal injury (p < 0.05 − 0.01) and upregulated cerebral BDNF expression (p < 0.05).ConclusionIn conclusion, acute high-intensity exercise or exogenously administered irisin provides neuroprotection by maintaining the balance of excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmitters and oxidant/antioxidant systems.

The Combined Effect of Tribulus terrestris Hydroalcoholic Extract and Swimming Exercise on Memory and Oxidative Stress in Old Male Rats

ABSTRACT Background and objective This study aims to assess the effect of swim exercise along with consumption of bindii hydroalcoholic extract on memory and the oxidative stress markers in old male rats. Materials and methods This study was conducted on 32 old (400–500 g) and eight young male Wistar rats. The groups included young, old, old bindii (200 mg/kg), old exercise, and old bindii exercise (concurrent swimming training). All interventions were performed within 14 days. The animals’ spatial memory was evaluated by the Y maze, radial maze, and shuttle box, Oxidative stress factors were also measured. Results Compared to the old control group, the bindii extract along with swimming exercise significantly increased the periodic behavior percentage in the Y maze and the delay time in entry into the dark chamber in the shuttle box but no significant difference was seen in the reference memory error in the radial maze. Also, a significant increase in the amount of catalase (CAT) and antioxidant capacity (TAC) and a significant decrease in the amount of malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed in all treatment groups. Conclusion These results show that exercise, along with the bindii extract consumption, can improve spatial and avoidance memory in old rats probably through the reduction of oxidative stress effects.

Exercise as a promising alternative for sciatic nerve injury pain relief: a meta-analysis.

The efficacy of drug therapies in managing neuropathic pain is constrained by their limited effectiveness and potential for adverse effects. In contrast, exercise has emerged as a promising alternative for pain relief. In this study, we conducted a systematic evaluation of the therapeutic impact of exercise on neuropathic pain resulting from sciatic nerve injury in rodent models. The PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were retrieved before April 2024. A series of studies regarding the effect of treadmill, swimming, wheel and other exercises on neuropathic pain induced by sciatic nerve injury in rats and mice were collected. Using predefined inclusion criteria, two researchers independently performed literature screening, data extraction, and methodological quality assessment utilizing SYRCLE's risk of bias tool for animal studies. Statistical analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.3 and STATA 12.0 analysis software. A total of 12 relevant academic sources were included in the analysis of controlled animal studies, with 133 rodents in the exercise group and 135 rodents in the sedentary group. The meta-analysis revealed that exercise was associated with a significant increase in paw withdrawal mechanical threshold [Standard Mean Difference (SMD) = 0.84, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.28-1.40, p = 0.003] and paw withdrawal thermal latency (SMD = 1.54, 95%CI: 0.93-2.15, p < 0.0001) in rats and mice with sciatic nerve injury. Subgroup analyses were conducted to evaluate the impact of exercise duration on heterogeneity. The results showed that postoperative exercise duration ≤3 weeks could significantly elevate paw withdrawal mechanical threshold (SMD = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.62-1.46, p < 0.00001). Postoperative exercise duration ≤4 weeks could significantly improve paw withdrawal thermal latency (SMD = 1.93, 95% CI:1.19-2.67, p < 0.00001). Exercise represents an effective method for improving mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity resulting from sciatic nerve injury in rodents. Factors such as pain models, the initiation of exercise, the type of exercise, and the species of rodent do not significantly impact the development of exercise-induced hypoalgesia. However, the duration of postoperative exercise plays a crucial role in the onset of exercise-induced hypoalgesia.

Differences of mandibular condylar cartilage thickness of Mus musculus after given different intensities of physical stress

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the differences in the thickness of Mus musculus mandible cartilage after being given low, moderate, and high-intensity physical stress. Materials and Methods: This research is an experimental laboratory study. A total of 12 Mus musculus were divided into four groups, which are the control group(C), low (LS), moderate(MS), and high-intensity physical stress group(HS). The physical stress group was given treatment with swimming exercises using 3%, 6%, and 9% of body weight with a duration of 40%, 70%, and maximum swimming time calculation. After the experiment was carried out, the animal was decapitated and deparaffinized using xylol to dissolve paraffin in tissue to make histopathology preparations that were stained with hematoxylin-eosin. The thickness of mandibular condylar cartilage was calculated under a light microscope with a magnification of 400x and analyzed using the One Way ANOVA test to determine if the relationship between the sets of data in the treatment group is statistically significant (p&lt;0.05). Results: The thickness of the mandibular cartilage was measured to be thinner in the MS group (56.30 ± 6.11) and the HS group (78.04 ± 19.31) compared to the C group 85,85 ± 7,20. Statistical analysis with One Way ANOVA test showed that all groups had a significant difference in the thickness of mandibular condylar cartilage (p=0.049). Conclusions: There was a difference in the thickness of the mandibular cartilage after giving low, moderate, and high-intensity physical stress.

Effect of Swimming Exercise on Levels of Blood Glucose, Adiponectin, Glucose-6-Phosphatase and Lipid Profile in Diabetic Wistar Rats

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic condition that causes persistent hyperglycemia due to insulin action or secretion. Regular physical exercise has been reported to improve glycemia and lipid profile in diabetes. However, literature is scare on the effects of swimming exercise on the serum levels of adiponectin and glucose 6 phosphatase in Wister rats with diabetes This study therefore, investigated the effects of swimming exercise on adiponectin, glucose 6-phosphatase and lipid profile in male Wistar rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. This study was carried out on 25 male Wistar rats grouped into five groups (n=5/group): group 1=control, group 2=diabetes, group 3=diabetes treated with metformin, group 4=non-diabetes and swimming exercise, group 5=diabetes and swimming exercise. Animals in groups 2, 3, and 5 were induced with Streptozotocin (STZ) 50 mg/kg intraperitoneally. After 72 hours of diabetes induction, animals with a blood glucose level of ≥ 200 mg/dl were confirmed diabetics and used for the study. Group 3 animals were treated with metformin 200mg/kg giving orally for 28 days. Animals in groups 4 and 5 were subjected to swimming exercises for 5-10 minutes during the first week until they could swim freely for 30 minutes. The animals were then allowed to swim 5 days per week for 28 days. Swimming exercise for 28 days significantly reduced blood glucose, glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Ppase), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Total cholesterol (TC), and Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels but caused significant increase in adiponectin and High-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels in diabetic rats compared with untreated diabetic rats. There was a significant decrease in triglyceride (TG) of diabetic animals caused by swimming for 28 days. This study demonstrated that swimming exercise for 28 days may help lower glucose level and improve insulin sensitivity by increasing adiponectin level and decreasing G6Pase activity in diabetic rats. Also, swimming exercise may help improve lipid profile in diabetic rats.

Validity of Current Smartwatches for Triathlon Training: How Accurate Are Heart Rate, Distance, and Swimming Readings?

Smartwatches are one of the most relevant fitness trends of the past two decades, and they collect increasing amounts of health and movement data. The accuracy of these data may be questionable and requires further investigation. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to validate smartwatches for use in triathlon training. Ten different smartwatches were tested for accuracy in measuring heart rates, distances (via global navigation satellite systems, GNSSs), swim stroke rates and the number of swim laps in a 50 m Olympic-size pool. The optical heart rate measurement function of each smartwatch was compared to that of a chest strap. Thirty participants (15 females, 15 males) ran five 3 min intervals on a motorised treadmill to evaluate the accuracy of the heart rate measurements. Moreover, for each smartwatch, running and cycling distance tracking was tested over six runs of 4000 m on a 400 m tartan stadium track, six hilly outdoor runs over 3.4 km, and four repetitions of a 36.8 km road bike course, respectively. Three swimming protocols ranging from 200 m to 400 m were performed in triplicate in a 50 m Olympic-size pool, evaluating the tracked distance and the detected number of strokes. The mean absolute percentage errors (MAPEs) for the average heart rate measurements varied between 3.1% and 8.3%, with the coefficient of determination ranging from 0.22 to 0.79. MAPE results ranged from 0.8% to 12.1% for the 4000 m run on the 400 m track, from 0.2% to 7.5% for the 3.4 km outdoor run, and from 0.0% to 4.2% for the 36.8 km bike ride. For the swimming tests, in contrast, the deviations from the true distance varied greatly, starting at a 0.0% MAPE for the 400 m freestyle and reaching 91.7% for the 200 m medley with style changes every 25 m. In summary, for some of the smartwatches, the measurement results deviated substantially from the true values. Measurements taken while road cycling over longer distances with only a few curves were in relative terms more accurate than those taken during outdoor runs and even more accurate than those taken on the 400 m track. In the swimming exercises, the accuracy of the measured distances was severely deteriorated by the medley changes among the majority of the smartwatches. Altogether, the results of this study should help in assessing the accuracy and thus the suitability of smartwatches for general triathlon training.

Postural Control and Neuromuscular Activation in 11-13-Year-Old Athletic Boy Swimmers.

This study compared postural control and neuromuscular activation in athletic swimmers (A-S) and non-athletic swimmers (N-A-S) in older children. Ten A-S and ten N-A-S underwent assessments of center of pressure (CoP) parameters under static and dynamic surfaces in two directions (dynamic mediolateral (DML) and dynamic anteroposterior (DAP)) in eyes-open (EO) and eyes-closed (EC) conditions, and electromyography (EMG) parameters under DAP and DML directions in EO and EC conditions. Results showed that A-S demonstrated significantly superior postural control (p < 0.05), with smaller CoP area and lower CoP mean velocity compared with N-A-S, particularly in static with EC, DAP with EO and EC, and DML with EO conditions. A-S exhibited significantly larger neuromuscular activation amplitudes (p < 0.05), especially in the AP direction. These findings suggested that athletic swimming training may enhance postural control and neuromuscular activation in 11-13-year-old children, emphasizing the potential benefits of incorporating swimming exercises in these children.

NADPH mimics the antidepressant effects of exercise in a chronic unpredictable stress rat model

Exercise is known to be an effective intervention for depression. NADPH has been demonstrated to have neuroprotective effects in our previous studies. This study aimed to investigate if NADPH has antidepressant effects and can mimic the effects of exercise in a chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) rat model. CUS rats underwent an 8-week swimming exercise (30 min/d, 5d/w) or were intraperitoneally administered 4 mg/kg or 8 mg/kg NADPH. The open field test (OFT), sucrose preference test (SPT), novelty-suppressed feeding test (NSFT), and forced swimming test (FST) were used to examine the antidepressant-like behaviors of the rats. Exercise, 4 mg/kg, and 8 mg/kg NADPH similarly reduced anxiety, as demonstrated by the number of fecal pellets. Meanwhile, exercise and 8 mg/kg NADPH significantly increased locomotion activity in the OFT. Exercise, 4 mg/kg, and 8 mg/kg NADPH effectively reversed CUS-induced anhedonia in rats in the SPT. Exercise, 4 mg/kg, and 8 mg/kg NADPH had no impact on appetite of depressed rats; however, 8 mg/kg NADPH increased the rats’ exploratory activity in the NSFT. Exercise, 4 mg/kg, and 8 mg/kg NADPH significantly reduced the immobility time of CUS model rats, while exercise and 8 mg/kg NADPH postponed the early CUS-induced "immobility" in the FST. These results demonstrated that NADPH has similar antidepressant-like effects to exercise in CUS-induced depression model rats and is a potential exercise-mimicking antidepressant.

Swimming exercise alleviates pathological bone features in curdlan-injected SKG mice by inducing irisin expression

This study assessed the therapeutic potential of swimming exercise in the curdlan-injected SKG mouse model and investigated the modulatory effects of irisin on inflammation. Curdlan-injected SKG were randomly assigned to either a home-cage group or a swimming group for 6 weeks. Changes in clinical arthritis scores and ankle thickness were measured weekly. Post-swimming program, mice were anesthetized for collection of vastus lateralis muscle and blood, which was followed by histological analysis, micro-CT imaging of the ankle joints, and the measurement of pro-inflammatory cytokines and irisin levels. Additionally, curdlan-injected SKG mice were intravenously injected with recombinant irisin protein and observed. Finally, serum levels of irisin in healthy control and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patient groups were measured by ELISA. The swimming group of curdlan-injected SKG mice exhibited significant improvements in arthritis and enthesitis compared to the home-cage group. In particular, micro-CT and histological analyses revealed a notable reduction in pathological bone features in the swimming group compared to the home-cage group. Muscle endurance was also enhanced in the swimming group compared to the home-cage group, as determined by the wire-hanging test. Intriguingly, irisin levels not only were statistically increased in the swimming group but, also, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels were decreased. Additionally, injection of irisin protein slightly attenuated both arthritis and enthesitis in curdlan-injected SKG mice. Meanwhile, irisin serum levels were declined in AS patients. Overall, we found that swimming exercise attenuated pathological bone features in an AS animal model, potentially mediated by increased irisin serum levels with associated anti-inflammatory effects.

The Role Of Swimming Training In Preventing Preeclampsia During Pregnancy

Introduction: Preeclampsia is a serious complication that affects pregnant women and poses risks to both maternal and fetal health. Understanding the relationship between swimming training and the risk of preeclampsia is crucial in developing comprehensive guidelines and exercise programs. This knowledge can empower pregnant women and healthcare professionals to utilize swimming as part of a strategy for preventing and managing preeclampsia. Materials &amp; Methods: The research method involved a thorough literature search in various sources such as electronic databases, journals, and other related articles. Inclusion criteria were set to select studies relevant to the research topic. The results of the literature search were systematically analyzed and synthesized. Results: According to the findings of this study, swimming training has a significant role in preventing preeclampsia during pregnancy. Engaging in regular swimming exercises during pregnancy can effectively reduce the risk of developing preeclampsia. The underlying mechanisms that contribute to this preventive effect include improved blood circulation, better control of blood pressure, and a reduction in inflammation within the body. These research findings hold important implications for the development of comprehensive guidelines and exercise programs specifically designed for pregnant women. By incorporating swimming as a part of the prevention and management strategy for preeclampsia, pregnant women and healthcare professionals can benefit greatly Conclusions: The effectiveness of swimming training in preventing preeclampsia during pregnancy by improving blood circulation, blood pressure control, and reducing inflammation

Enhancing brain health: Swimming-induced BDNF release and epigenetic influence in MS female mouse models

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition characterized by inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS), impacting sensory, motor, and cognitive abilities. Globally, around three million individuals are affected by MS, with up to 97,000 cases in Iran attributed to genetic predispositions along with various environmental factors like smoking. Cognitive impairment affects a significant portion of patients, ranging from 45% to 70%. This study investigates the impact of regular aerobic swimming exercise for four weeks, mild cognitive impairment induced by encephalomyelitis, and their combination on the expression of microRNA-142-3p and its correlation with the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in relation to spatial memory. Twenty-one C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups. RT-PCR was used for microRNA expression analysis, and BDNF levels were assessed via western blotting. Clinical scores and animal weights were monitored daily. EAE induction led to an increase in microRNA-142-3p expression and a decrease in BDNF levels compared to the control group. Exercise inversed them significantly, and improved spatial memory. Our findings indicate that engaging in regular swimming exercise can counteract the up-regulation of miR-142-3p in brain tissue, which likely contributes to mild cognitive impairment induced by MS. Additionally, the increase in BDNF following exercise appears to be associated with miR-142-3p and the enhancement of cognitive function. Thus, the therapeutic benefits of exercise, particularly in releasing BDNF to improve cognitive function in MS patients, warrant consideration. Lifestyle modifications have the potential to effectively modulate environmental influences and ethnicity, underscoring their significance in MS management.