Vigorous-intensity Exercise Research Articles

Effects of Moderate-to-Vigorous Acute Exercise on Conscious Perception and Visual Awareness

Background: the effect of acute exercise on cognition covers almost all stages of information processing, but few studies have focused on visual awareness. Reports on the appearance of faint speed-changes in the perception of stimuli were used as an index for visual awareness. Visual awareness was assessed after exercise or rest. Aside from the detection of speed-changes, speed-change discrimination was added as an index of perception. Results: the results showed that reports on the appearance of faint speed-changes were affected by acute aerobic exercise. The d’ index was higher after exercise. The hit rate for speed-change detection was marginally significantly higher after exercise than after the sedentary test condition. Analysis of the results obtained for the discrimination task showed that discrimination speed was boosted only when subjects were aware of the speed-change. Importantly, neither false alarm rate nor response bias was affected by exercise. Conclusions: acute moderate- to vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise improved subjects’ awareness of speed changes. In addition, there was a perceptual advantage due to exercise.

Exercise Volume Versus Intensity and the Progression of Coronary Atherosclerosis in Middle-Aged and Older Athletes: Findings From the MARC-2 Study.

Physical activity and exercise training are associated with a lower risk for coronary events. However, cross-sectional studies in middle-aged and older male athletes revealed increased coronary artery calcification (CAC) and atherosclerotic plaques, which were related to the amount and intensity of lifelong exercise. We examined the longitudinal relationship between exercise training characteristics and coronary atherosclerosis. Middle-aged and older men from the MARC-1 (Measuring Athlete's Risk of Cardiovascular Events 1) study were invited for follow-up in MARC-2 (Measuring Athlete's Risk of Cardiovascular Events 2) study. The prevalence and severity of CAC and plaques were determined by coronary computed tomography angiography. The volume (metabolic equivalent of task [MET] hours/week) and intensity (moderate [3 to 6 MET hours/week]; vigorous [6 to 9 MET hours/week]; and very vigorous [≥9 MET hours/week]) of exercise training were quantified during follow-up. Linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between exercise volume/intensity and markers of coronary atherosclerosis. We included 289 (age, 54 [50 to 60] years [median (Q1 to Q3)]) of the original 318 MARC-1 participants with a follow-up of 6.3±0.5 years (mean±SD). Participants exercised for 41 (25 to 57) MET hours/week during follow-up, of which 0% (0 to 19%) was at moderate intensity, 44% (0 to 84%) was at vigorous intensity, and 34% (0 to 80%) was at very vigorous intensity. Prevalence of CAC and the median CAC score increased from 52% to 71% and 1 (0 to 32) to 31 (0 to 132), respectively. Exercise volume during follow-up was not associated with changes in CAC or plaque. Vigorous intensity exercise (per 10% increase) was associated with a lesser increase in CAC score (β, -0.05 [-0.09 to -0.01]; P=0.02), whereas very vigorous intensity exercise was associated with a greater increase in CAC score (β, 0.05 [0.01 to 0.09] per 10%; P=0.01). Very vigorous exercise was also associated with increased odds of dichotomized plaque progression (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.09 [1.01 to 1.18] per 10%; aOR, 2.04 [0.93 to 4.15] for highest versus lowest very vigorous intensity tertiles, respectively), and specifically with increased calcified plaques (aOR, 1.07 [1.00 to 1.15] per 10%; aOR, 2.09 [1.09 to 4.00] for highest versus lowest tertile, respectively). Exercise intensity but not volume was associated with progression of coronary atherosclerosis during 6-year follow-up. It is intriguing that very vigorous intensity exercise was associated with greater CAC and calcified plaque progression, whereas vigorous intensity exercise was associated with less CAC progression.

Effects of acute exercise and exercise training on plasma GDF15 concentrations and associations with appetite and cardiometabolic health in individuals with overweight or obesity – A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15) is seemingly involved in appetite control. Acute exercise increases GDF15 concentrations in lean humans, but acute and long-term effects of exercise on GDF15 in individuals with overweight/obesity are unknown. We investigated the effects of acute exercise and exercise training on GDF15 concentrations in individuals with overweight/obesity and associations with appetite and cardiometabolic markers. 90 physically inactive adults (20–45 years) with overweight/obesity were randomized to 6-months habitual lifestyle (CON, n=16), or isocaloric exercise of moderate (MOD, n=37) or vigorous intensity (VIG, n=37), 5 days/week. Testing was performed at baseline, 3, and 6 months. Plasma GDF15 concentrations, other metabolic markers, and subjective appetite were assessed fasted and in response to acute exercise before an ad libitum meal. Cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, insulin sensitivity, and intraabdominal adipose tissue were measured. At baseline, GDF15 increased 18% (95%CI: 4; 34) immediately after acute exercise and 32% (16; 50) 60 min post-exercise. Fasting GDF15 increased 21% (0; 46) in VIG after 3 months (p=0.045), but this attenuated at 6 months (13% (−11; 43), p=0.316) and was unchanged in MOD (11% (−6; 32), p=0.224, across 3 and 6 months). Post-exercise GDF15 did not change in MOD or VIG. GDF15 was not associated with appetite or energy intake. Higher GDF15 was associated with lower cardiorespiratory fitness, central obesity, dyslipidemia, and poorer glycemic control. In conclusion, GDF15 increased in response to acute exercise but was unaffected by exercise training. Higher GDF15 concentrations were associated with a less favorable cardiometabolic profile but not with markers of appetite. This suggests that GDF15 increases in response to acute exercise independent of training state. Whether this has an impact on free-living energy intake and body weight management needs investigation.

The exercise-induced suppression of acylated ghrelin is blunted in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle compared to the follicular phase following vigorous-intensity exercise

Limited work examining woman's appetite-regulatory response to exercise has been focused on the follicular phase (FP) of the menstrual cycle. This is an important limitation as estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) fluctuate across phases with greater concentrations in the luteal phase (LP). Objective: To examine the appetite-regulatory response to vigorous-intensity continuous exercise (VICT) in the FP and LP. Methods: Twelve women completed 30 min of VICT at 80% V˙O2max in the FP and LP. E2, P4, acylated ghrelin, active peptide tyrosine-tyrosine (PYY), active glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and appetite perceptions were measured pre-exercise, 0-, 30-, and 90-min post-exercise. Energy intake was recorded for a 2-day period (day before and of each session). A series of two-way repeated measure ANOVA were used to compare all dependent variables. Results: Pre-exercise E2 (P = 0.005, d = 1.00) and P4 (P < 0.001, d = 1.41) concentrations were greater in the LP than the FP and exercise increased both at 0- and 30-min post-exercise (E2: P < 0.009; P4: P < 0.001, d = 0.63). Acylated ghrelin was lower in the FP versus LP at pre-exercise as well as 0-min (P = 0.006, d = 0.97) and 90-min (P = 0.029, d = 0.72) post-exercise. There were no differences of menstrual phase on PYY (P = 0.359, ηp2 = 0.092), GLP-1 (P = 0.226, ηp2 = 0.130), or overall appetite (P = 0.514, ηp2 = 0.066). Energy intake was greater on the day of in the LP versus the FP (P = 0.003, d = 1.2). Conclusion: Acylated ghrelin was lower in the FP compared to the LP and though there were no differences in anorexigenic hormones or subjective appetite, energy intake was greater on the day of the session in the LP suggesting important differences across the menstrual cycle where greater concentrations of ovarian hormones in the LP may blunt the exercise response.

Effects of acute exercise on memory: Considerations of exercise intensity, post-exercise recovery period and aerobic endurance.

Accumulating research demonstrates that acute exercise can enhance long-term episodic memory. However, it is unclear if there is an intensity-specific effect of acute exercise on long-term episodic memory function and whether this is influenced by the post-exercise recovery period, which was the primary objective of this experiment. Another uncertainty in the literature is whether aerobic endurance influences the interaction between exercise intensity and post-exercise recovery period on long-term episodic memory function, which was a secondary objective of this study. With exercise intensity and post-exercise recovery period occurring as within-subject factors, and fitness as a between-subject factor, 59 participants (Mage = 20 years) completed 12 primary laboratory visits. These visits included a 20-min bout of exercise (Control, Moderate, and Vigorous), followed by a recovery period (1, 5, 10, and 15 min) and then a word-list episodic memory task, involving an encoding phase and two long-term recall assessments (20-min and 24-h delayed recall). The primary finding from this experiment was that moderate and vigorous-intensity exercise improved memory function when compared to a non-exercise control. A secondary finding was that individuals with higher levels of aerobic endurance, compared to their lesser fit counterparts, had greater memory performance after exercise (moderate or vigorous) when compared to after a control condition. Additionally, individuals with higher levels of aerobic endurance, compared to their lesser fit counterparts, generally performed better on the memory task with longer post-exercise recovery periods. Future research should carefully consider these parameters when evaluating the effects of acute exercise on long-term episodic memory.

Physiological adaptations following vigorous exercise and moderate exercise with superimposed electrical stimulation.

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) induces involuntary muscle contraction, preferentially promotes anaerobic metabolism, and is applicable for increasing exercise intensity. This study aimed to assess whether superimposing NMES onto moderate-intensity voluntary exercise imitates physiological adaptations that occur in response to vigorous voluntary exercise. Eight participants trained with a cycling ergometer at 100% of the ventilatory threshold (VT) (73.3% of peak oxygen consumption) (VOL), and another nine participants trained with the cycling ergometer at 75% of VT (56.2% of peak oxygen consumption) with subtetanic NMES applied to the gluteus and thigh muscles (VOLES), matched to VOL training sessions, for nine weeks. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) in VOLES (12.00 ± 1.50) was significantly lower than in VOL (14.88 ± 1.81) (p < 0.05) during training sessions. Peak power output during the exercise tolerance test was increased in VOL and VOLES following interventions. Oxygen consumption and heart rate (HR) at VT and blood lactate concentration (BLC) at < VT were decreased from before (PRE) to after (POST) training interventions for both VOL and VOLES. There were no significant differences in absolute changes from PRE to POST for peak power output and oxygen consumption, HR, and BLC at a submaximal intensity between VOL and VOLES. Our results suggest that both superimposing subtetanic NMES onto moderate-intensity voluntary exercise and vigorous voluntary intensity exercise induce the improvement in cardiovascular and metabolic systems, but the adaptation of former method is provided without perceived strenuous exertion.

Flexible Sensor Suite Integrated Into Textile for Calcium Ion and Fall Detection

Studies show that excessive loss of sweat calcium is associated with the deterioration of bone mineral density in young athletes during vigorous intensity exercise. Low levels of bone mineral density cause a higher risk of bone fracture, meaning that a single fall can be devastating. This letter reports a smart compression sock that detects calcium levels in sweat and simultaneously scans for a fall and alerts the user accordingly. The sock is washable, and the device is removable using a Velcro pad attached to the inner side of the sock. An electrochemical sensor detects the calcium levels, while a triaxial accelerometer detects a fall event. When paired with a fall detection algorithm, the accelerometer quickly determines if a fall has occurred based on the differential acceleration. The calcium and fall detection units are interfaced with a microcontroller that sends the information to a user interface platform via the Blynk Internet of Things cloud. If the calcium level is above/below the critical value or a fall is detected, a notification along with the user's GPS location is sent to authorized emergency contacts so that the user can be attended to immediately. In addition, the electronic components were soldered onto a flexible printed circuit board. Such an integrated flexible system will allow the continuous monitoring of athletes to drive just-in-time intervention.

Replacing sitting with light-intensity physical activity throughout the day versus 1 bout of vigorous-intensity exercise: similar cardiometabolic health effects in multiple sclerosis. A randomised cross-over study

Purpose Persons with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) are physically inactive and spend more time in sedentary behaviours than healthy persons, which increases the risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases. In this randomised crossover study, the cardiometabolic health effects of replacing sitting with light-intensity physical activity (LIPA) and exercise (EX) were investigated. Materials and methods Twenty-eight mildly disabled PwMS performed four 4-day activity regimens in free-living conditions; CONTROL (habitual activity), SIT, LIPA, and EX. Plasma glucose and insulin (oral glucose tolerance test), plasma lipids, inflammation, resting heart rate, blood pressure, body weight, and perceived exertion were measured (clinical-trials.gov: NCT03919058). Results CONTROL: 9.7 h sitting/day, SIT: 13.3 h sitting/day, LIPA: 8.3 h sitting, 4.7 h standing, and 2.7 h light-intensity walking/day, and EX: 11.6 h sitting/day with 1.3 h vigorous-intensity cycling. Compared to SIT, improvements (p < 0.001) after LIPA and EX were found for insulin total area under the curve (−17 019 ± 5708 and −23 303 ± 7953 pmol/L*min), insulin sensitivity (Matsuda index +1.8 ± 0.3 and +1.9 ± 0.4) and blood lipids (triglycerides: −0.4 ± 0.1 and −0.5 ± 0.1 mmol/L; non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol: −0.3 ± 0.1 and −0.5 ± 0.1 mmol/L), with no difference between LIPA and EX. Perceived exertion was higher after EX compared to LIPA (Borg score [6–20]: +2.6 ± 3.3, p = 0.002). Conclusion Replacing sitting with LIPA throughout the day exerts similar cardiometabolic health effects as a vigorous-intensity exercise in PwMS. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Increasing light-intensity physical activity (LIPA) throughout the day improves cardiometabolic health to the same extent as one vigorous-intensity exercise session Increasing LIPA induces less exertion than performing a vigorous-intensity exercise

Inflammatory Biomarkers in Elite Cross-Country Skiers After a Competition Season: A Case–Control Study

PurposeWhether elite athletes, who have been exposed to vigorous-intensity exercise combined with other stressors, have elevated systemic low-grade inflammation, remains largely unclear. To address this question, we studied the levels of six inflammatory cytokines as potential biomarkers of a low-grade inflammatory state in elite athletes after an 11-month training and competition season.MethodsWe collected sera from 27 Finnish elite cross-country skiers and 27 gender- and age-matched, moderately-exercising controls. The serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), glycoprotein acetyls (GlycA), interleukin 10 (IL-10), and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) cytokines were quantified as surrogate markers of low-grade inflammation.ResultsThe athletes were found to have significantly lower concentrations of CRP (P = 0.0232) and higher concentrations of IL-10, TNF-α, and IFN-γ (P = 0.0097, P = 0.0256, and P = 0.0185, respectively) than the controls. No significant differences between athletes and controls were detected in the concentrations of IL-6 and GlycA. The inflammatory score (IS) did not differ significantly between athletes and controls.ConclusionThe results of this study argued against the hypothesis of a significant chronic low-grade inflammation in response to prolonged high-performance exercise among elite endurance athletes.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Overweight and Obesity and Physical Activity Patterns among Elderly Individuals in Southern Thailand: A Community Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity and physical activity (PA) patterns and to assess the factors associated with obesity among elderly individuals in the southernmost province of Thailand. Materials and Methods: An epidemiological community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among elderly individuals aged 60 years and older. The eligible participants completed a face-to-face inquiry of the study’s questionnaire related to personal characteristics and PA. Local assistant researchers collected these data. BMI was categorized according to the Asian-Pacific cut-off points. Statistical computing was performed with RStudio, and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The prevalence of overweight was 20.3%, and that of obesity was 35.2%. The overweight prevalence and obese prevalence among male and female elderly individuals were 22.7% and 30.3%, and 18.6% and 28.6%, respectively. The obesity prevalence was non-significantly high in the female group. The majority of the elderly participants were non-working. The share of non-working participants was the highest among females and increased with age. The prevalence of lack of exercise was the highest among females. Daily physical activity hours (DPAH) and vigorous-intensity exercise decreased among the female group and the elderly group. Only 47.8% of the present study participants met the PA sufficiency criteria. The 70 to 79, and older than 80 years age group were less likely to be obese than the earlier-stage elderly group (adjusted OR 0.56, 0.31). Furthermore, personal income of 4,001 to 6,000 Baht per month and smokers had a lower likelihood of being obese than the poor elderly group and those who were not smokers (adjusted OR 0.55, 0.37). Conclusion: The prevalence of overweight in these areas was moderate, and that of obesity was quite high. The male overweight and obese prevalence were analogous to those of female elderly individuals. The majority of the elderly participants were non-working. Most were females and increased with age. The majority met PA insufficiency criteria. Personal and health habit factors were associated with obesity among elderly individuals. Keywords: Elderly; Overweight and obesity; Physical activity patterns

No evidence of brown adipose tissue activation after 24 weeks of supervised exercise training in young sedentary adults in the ACTIBATE randomized controlled trial

Exercise modulates both brown adipose tissue (BAT) metabolism and white adipose tissue (WAT) browning in murine models. Whether this is true in humans, however, has remained unknown. An unblinded randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02365129) was therefore conducted to study the effects of a 24-week supervised exercise intervention, combining endurance and resistance training, on BAT volume and activity (primary outcome). The study was carried out in the Sport and Health University Research Institute and the Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital of the University of Granada (Spain). One hundred and forty-five young sedentary adults were assigned to either (i) a control group (no exercise, n = 54), (ii) a moderate intensity exercise group (MOD-EX, n = 48), or (iii) a vigorous intensity exercise group (VIG-EX n = 43) by unrestricted randomization. No relevant adverse events were recorded. 97 participants (34 men, 63 women) were included in the final analysis (Control; n = 35, MOD-EX; n = 31, and VIG-EX; n = 31). We observed no changes in BAT volume (Δ Control: −22.2 ± 52.6 ml; Δ MOD-EX: −15.5 ± 62.1 ml, Δ VIG-EX: −6.8 ± 66.4 ml; P = 0.771) or 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake (SUVpeak Δ Control: −2.6 ± 3.1 ml; Δ MOD-EX: −1.2 ± 4.8, Δ VIG-EX: −2.2 ± 5.1; p = 0.476) in either the control or the exercise groups. Thus, we did not find any evidence of an exercise-induced change on BAT volume or activity in young sedentary adults.

Response to Moderate and Vigorous Aerobic/Resistance Exercise in a Woman With Long-COVID

Response to Moderate and Vigorous Aerobic/Resistance Exercise in a Woman With Long-COVID

Effects Of Different Intensities And Durations Of Aerobic Exercise On Vascular Endothelial Function In Middle-aged And Elderly People: A Meta-analysis

PURPOSE: Previous studies have found that aerobic exercise was more effective in improving vascular endothelial function than resistance training, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and other types of exercise, while the effects between different intensities and durations of aerobic exercise were unclear. Therefore, we performed this meta-analysis to investigate the effects of different intensities and durations of aerobic exercise on the vascular endothelial function of middle-aged and elderly people. METHODS: Databases were searched up to April 2021 for studies evaluating the influences of different intensities and durations of aerobic exercise on endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) among healthy middle-aged and elderly people. Data were pooled using random-effects models to obtain the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: A total of 9 studies involving 161 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Aerobic exercise improved the overall FMD of healthy middle-aged and elderly people (WMD, 1.33 [95% CI, 0.37-2.28], p < 0.05). Specifically, vigorous-intensity exercise increased FMD significantly in healthy middle-aged and elderly people (WMD, 1.10 [95% CI, 0.27-1.93], p < 0.05), while moderate-intensity exercise had no significant association with FMD (WMD, 1.49 [95% CI, -0.62-3.60], p < 0.05). In addition, long-term (8 weeks or above) aerobic exercise increased the FMD in healthy middle-aged and elderly people (WMD, 1.63 [95% CI, 0.61-2.66], p < 0.05), while one-time acute aerobic exercise had no significant association with FMD of healthy middle-aged and elderly people (WMD, 0.89 [95% CI, -1.47-3.24], p < 0.05).Specifically, 8 weeks or above of vigorous-intensity exercise increased FMD significantly in healthy middle-aged and elderly people (WMD, 1.48 [95% CI, 1.06-1.90], p < 0.01), while 8 weeks or above of moderate aerobic exercise had no significant association with FMD (WMD, 1.49 [95% CI, -0.62-3.60], p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Aerobic exercise, especially 8 weeks or above of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise, improved the endothelial function in healthy middle-aged and elderly people.

Association of Exercise Intensity with the Prevalence of Glaucoma and Intraocular Pressure in Men: A Study Based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Adequate exercise is essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and preventing ageing-related diseases. The purpose of this study was to assess the associations between exercise and glaucoma, as well as exercise and intraocular pressure (IOP) levels. This study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2008–2012, which in total included 10,243 men aged ≥40 years. The presence of glaucoma and the higher IOP of each eye (IOPmax) taken from the health examination survey and the ophthalmic examination were used for analyses. A questionnaire was used to assess exercise activity, which was analysed regarding intensity, frequency, and duration. Regression analyses were used to determine the relationships of exercise parameters with the odds of glaucoma and IOPmax. The prevalence of glaucoma was significantly lower in men who engaged in moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise compared to those who did not exercise (p = 0.012). The odds for glaucoma were the lowest in men engaged in vigorous intensity exercise (p = 0.009). However, IOPmax was highest in the vigorous intensity exercise group (p = 0.026) with no linear trend pattern. These results suggest that exercise decreased the odds of glaucoma via several factors including non-IOP mechanisms.

Low- to moderate-intensity blood flow restricted walking is not an acute equivalent for unrestricted jogging in young active adults

ABSTRACT This study investigated whether walking with blood flow restriction (BFR) increases acute cardio-respiratory demands to the point that it can be considered an alternative for jogging. Sixteen physically active adults completed five experimental sessions (order randomised), comprising 10 min of treadmill exercise. Two sessions included unrestricted walking, two sessions required walking with BFR cuffs positioned on the lower limbs inflated to 60% of individualised arterial occlusion pressure, and one session was conducted at a jogging pace. Comfortable walking and jogging speeds were calculated during the familiarisation session. Walking speeds were individualised to either 100% (speed: 6.0 ± 0.3km·h-1[low-intensity]) or 120% (speed: 7.2 ± 0.3km·h-1[moderate-intensity]) of comfortable walking speed. The jogging session was unrestricted (speed: 9.1 ± 0.7km·h-1). Initial analysis compared walking conditions across heart rate, left cardiac work index, systolic blood pressure, relative oxygen consumption, minute ventilation, rating of perceived exertion and limb discomfort. Secondary analysis compared the walking session with the highest cardio-respiratory demands to jogging. Initial analysis identified that moderate-intensity with BFR induced the highest cardio-respiratory and perceptual responses compared with any other walking sessions (p < 0.01). Secondary analysis revealed that all cardio-respiratory measures were higher during jogging when compared with moderate-intensity with BFR (p < 0.01), except systolic blood pressure (p = 0.10). All perceptual measures were higher during moderate-intensity with BFR (p < 0.01) compared with jogging. Low- to moderate-intensity BFR-walking produces lower acute cardio-respiratory responses at higher ratings of perceived exertion and discomfort compared with jogging. Overall, BFR-walking does not seem to provide an equivalent exercise modality for unrestricted jogging in physically active adults. Highlights In young active adults, walking with blood flow restriction increases cardio-respiratory demands, yet not to a level equivalent to jogging. Moderate-intensity blood flow restricted walking elicits higher exercise-related sensation of exertion and leg discomfort than jogging. Blood flow restriction application increases exercise severity whereby moderate-intensity BFR-walking and jogging are both considered vigorous-intensity exercise.

Actual vs. perceived exertion during active virtual reality game exercise.

BackgroundVirtual exercise has become more common as emerging and converging technologies make active virtual reality games (AVRGs) a viable mode of exercise for health and fitness. Our lab has previously shown that AVRGs can elicit moderate to vigorous exercise intensities that meet recommended health benefit guidelines. Dissociative attentional focuses during AVRG gameplay have the potential to widen the gap between participants' perception of exertion and actual exertion.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine actual exertion (AEx) vs. perceived exertion (PEx) levels during AVRGs by measuring heart rate (HR) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) in two different settings.Materials and methodsHR and RPE were collected on participants (N = 32; age 22.6 ± 2.6) during 10 min of gameplay in LabS and GymS using the HTC VIVE with the following games played: Fruit Ninja VR (FNVR), Beat Saber (BS), and Holopoint (HP).ResultsParticipants exhibited significantly higher levels of AEx compared to reported PEx for all three AVRGs (Intensity): FNVR [AEx = 11.6 ± 1.8 (Light), PEx = 9.0 ± 2.0 (Very Light)], BS [AEx = 11.3 ± 1.7 (Light), PEx = 10.3 ± 2.1 (Very Light)], HP [AEx = 13.1 ± 2.3 (Somewhat Hard), PEx = 12.3 ± 2.4 (Light–Somewhat Hard)]. Additionally, participants playing in the GymS experienced significantly higher levels of AEx [12.4 ± 2.3 (Light–Somewhat Hard)] and PEx [10.8 ± 2.5 (Very Light–Light)] compared to the LabS [AEx = 11.6 ± 1.8 (Light), PEx = 10.3 ± 2.6 (Very Light–Light)].ConclusionPerceptions of exertion may be lower than actual exertion during AVRG gameplay, and exertion levels can be influenced by the setting in which AVRGs are played. This may inform VR developers and health clinicians who aim to incorporate exercise/fitness regimens into upcoming ‘virtual worlds' currently being developed at large scales (i.e., the “metaverse”).

Whey protein improves glycemia during an oral glucose tolerance test compared to vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise in young adult men

BackgroundBoth aerobic exercise and whey protein can improve glucose regulation. The purpose of this study was to investigate how a single bout of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise and whey protein, independently, as well as when combined, influence glycemia during an oral glucose tolerance test in sedentary, young men.MethodsHealthy males (n = 11) completed four randomized trials: no exercise/no whey protein (R); exercise (EX; walking at 70% VO2max for 60 min); 50 g of whey protein (W); and exercise combined with 50 g of whey protein (EXW). Each trial included a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) that was completed after an overnight fast. Blood samples were collected over a two-hour period during the OGTT. For EX and EXW, the exercise was performed the evening before the OGTT and the 50 g of whey protein was dissolved in 250 mL of water and was consumed as a preload 30 min prior to the OGTT. For R and EX, participants consumed 250 mL of water prior to the OGTT. Plasma samples were analyzed for glucose, insulin, C-peptide, glucagon, gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) and glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1), and postprandial incremental area under the curve (iAUC) was calculated for each.ResultsGlucose iAUC was reduced during W (− 32.9 ± 22.3 mmol/L) compared to R (122.7 ± 29.8 mmol/L; p < 0.01) and EX (154.3 ± 29.2 mmol/L; p < 0.01). Similarly, glucose iAUC was reduced for EXW (17.4 ± 28.9 mmol/L) compared to R and EX (p < 0.01 for both). There were no differences in iAUC for insulin, C-peptide, GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon between the four trials. Insulin, C-peptide, glucagon, GIP, and GLP-1 were elevated during the whey protein preload period for W and EXW compared to EX and R (p < 0.01). There were no differences for insulin, C-peptide, glucagon, GIP, or GLP-1 between trials for the remaining duration of the OGTT.ConclusionsGlucose responses during an oral glucose tolerance test were improved for W compared to EX. There were no additional improvements in glucose responses when vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise was combined with whey protein (EXW).

Safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of implementing supervised exercise into the clinical care of individuals with advanced cancer

Objective To evaluate the safety, feasibility, and preliminary effectiveness of implementing supervised exercise programming into the clinical care of individuals with advanced cancer. Design Single group implementation feasibility study using a pre–posttest design. Setting Exercise Oncology Unit of the Spanish Cancer Association (a cancer-specific community facility outside the hospital setting). Participants Adult individuals with advanced cancer profile involving advanced local cancer or distant metastases. Intervention A 12-week, twice-weekly, supervised, clinic-based multi-component exercise program. Main Measure Paired t-tests were used to assess pre–post changes and analyses of covariance were used to compare effects based on selected participant characteristics. Results Eighty-four individuals with advanced cancer completed the baseline assessment, with six participants withdrawing prior to the start of the program. Of the 78 participants, 17 dropped out, thus, a total of 61 completed the final assessment. Mean adherence was 82.5%. No serious adverse events occurred. Exercise significantly improved VO2max by 5.2 mL·kg·min (p < 0.001), chest strength (p < 0.001), leg strength (p < 0.001), lean body mass (p = 0.003), skeletal muscle mass (p < 0.002), % body fat (p = 0.02), quality of life by 5.3 points (p = 0.009), fatigue by 3.2 points (p = 0.012), and physical activity by 1680 METs/week (p < 0.001). Conclusions Our clinically supervised and tailored exercise program involving moderate to vigorous intensity exercise was found to be feasible, safe, and effective for individuals with advanced cancer. Implications for Cancer Survivors With proper screening and supervision, individuals with advanced cancer can benefit from tailored exercise oncology support as part of an overall therapeutic care plan.

Exergaming for physical activity: A systematic review

Objective This review evaluates current literature on intensity selection, perceptual responses, activity enjoyment and adherence rates of exergaming. Methods The literature search identified manuscripts that investigated exercise intensity, perceptual responses, or exercise adherence of exergaming in young adults. Results Based on results of 29 studies, the current review suggest some exergaming activities have the potential to elicit moderate to vigorous exercise intensity and could potentially be substituted for traditional exercise. Additionally, exergame activities may aid in the start of exercise adherence by lowering the individual’s perceived exertion when playing exergames. Exergaming not only has the potential to enhance enjoyment through an exercise objective but also through the distracting nature of video games. Conclusions Exergaming shows potential to be substituted for traditional exercise and could offer a new, varied form of exercise for sedentary individuals. Future research should examine the influence of exergaming experience on intensity selection and adherence rates.

The relationships between socioeconomic status, dietary knowledge and patterns, and physical activity with adiposity in urban South African women

Background: This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES), dietary knowledge and patterns, and physical activity level with body mass index of urban South African young women. Methods: Data were collected on 160 black South African women (aged 18–24 years) and included household SES, food frequency and nutritional knowledge questionnaires, self-reported physical activity and anthropometry. To assess household SES index, 1–7 assets were categorised as a lower household SES and those with 8–13 assets as a higher household SES. Structural equation modelling analysis was used to determine the direct, indirect and total effects on adiposity of household SES, age, education, nutrition knowledge score, dietary patterns and physical activity. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was similar among women from high SES households compared with their low SES peers (48.4 vs. 44.8%). More than half (53%) of the women had poor dietary knowledge. Women from low SES households spent more time in moderate to vigorous intensity exercise (MVPA) compared with their high SES counterparts. Two distinct dietary patterns (Western and mixed) were identified. SEM results show that a unit increase in adherence to the ‘Mixed’ dietary pattern compared with ‘Western’ was associated with a 0.81 lower BMI kg/m2 (95% CI −1.54; −0.08), while ≥ 150 minutes’ MVPA per week was associated with a 1.94 lower BMI kg/m2 (95% CI −3.48; −0.41). Conclusion: The associations of SES, diet and physical activity on BMI must be taken into account when developing and designing interventions that target improvement in young women’s health.