Sedentary Young Adults Research Articles

Stair climbing interventions reduce postprandial hyperglycemia but not cognitive functions: findings of a randomized cross-over trial

Prolonged sitting can negatively impact postprandial glucose levels and cognitive functions. Stair climbing interventions have potential to mitigate these risks however remains unexplored. The present study aimed to explore the effects of stair climbing bouts on postprandial glucose and cognitive functions during prolonged sitting. Twenty-eight sedentary young adults (aged 20 – 30 years) underwent two intervention visits after standardized lunch for two hours: (1) STAIR: the participants climbed two flight of stairs for two minutes every 30 minutes; (2) SIT: the participants continued to sit. Blood glucose was measured using capillary finger prick method while attention function was measured using computer-based cognitive tests at baseline, end of 1st hour and 2nd hour. Significant interaction (F2, 54 = 15.96, p <0.001) was observed for conditions and time. During STAIR visit, significant changes in postprandial glucose at 1st hour (β = - 2.6 mmol/dl, p <0.001) and 2nd hour (β = 3.0 mmol/dl, p <0.001). No significant difference in the attention functions with time and conditions was observed. Stair climbing interruptions may be a promising solution to prevent high glycemic excursion occurring during prolonged sitting following postprandial sessions. However, the clinical benefits of stair climbing on attention functions remain unconvinced.

Exercise intensity of virtual reality exergaming modulates the responses to executive function and affective response in sedentary young adults: A randomized, controlled crossover feasibility study

Virtual reality (VR) exergaming is a novel strategy to encourage physical activity and boost emotional well-being. However, its effects on executive function (EF) are not fully understood. This study assessed the immediate and retention effects of immersive VR exergaming, at varying exercise intensities, on EF and affect among sedentary college students. Thirty participants (mean age = 22.2±2.5 years; 18 females) underwent 15-minute sessions of moderate-intensity (MI), high-intensity (HI), and active-control intensity (AC) VR exergaming in a counterbalanced order. EF was evaluated using the Flanker, Task-switching, and N-back tasks before, immediately after, and 30 minutes post-intervention. Emotional valence and arousal were measured by the Feeling Scale and Felt Arousal Scale, respectively. Inverse efficiency score (IES) results indicated that inhibitory control was higher following both MI and HI exergaming compared to AC (p < 0.05), with improvements sustained for 30 minutes. HI VR exergaming showed the greatest improvement (p = 0.048). Both HI and MI also exhibited higher working memory capacity than AC (p < 0.05), with HI performing better (p = 0.039). No significant differences in task-switching performance were observed among the groups (p > 0.05). Emotional valence and arousal were significantly elevated immediately after and sustained for 30 minutes following MI and HI exergaming (p < 0.05). This study demonstrates the cognitive and affective benefits of MI and HI VR exergaming in young adults, with HI VR exergaming showing longer-lasting improvements. These findings suggest that immersive VR exergaming can enhance both physical and cognitive health, potentially improving academic performance and daily functionality in collegiate populations.

Acute Effects of High-intensity Circuit Training Using Body Weight on Body Composition Indices in Sedentary Collegiate Females

High-intensity circuit training (HICT) has become increasingly popular for enhancing health and fitness. However, limited research exists on the effects of high-intensity circuit training using body weight (HICTBW) on body composition in sedentary young adults. This study aimed to explore the impact of a 4-week HICTBW program on body composition in sedentary collegiate females. A randomized controlled trial design was employed. Twenty sedentary collegiate females were randomly assigned to either a training group (n=10), which participated in a 4-week HICTBW program, or a control group (n=10), which did not engage in any training. Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (r = 0.642 to 0.78), measuring body fat percentage, fat mass, muscle mass, waist-to-hip ratio, and body mass index (BMI). Repeated measure ANOVA was used to compare between and within groups. Although no significant differences in body composition variables were observed between pre- and post-training (p&amp;gt;0.05), slight positive changes were noted in all measured parameters. The lack of significant findings may be attributed to the short duration and frequency of the intervention. Future studies with extended training periods are recommended to better understand the potential impact of HICTBW on body composition in sedentary collegiate females. This research highlights the need for more comprehensive studies to validate the effectiveness of HICTBW in improving body composition among this population.

Exploring the Effects of Sensorimotor Training and Relaxation Therapy on Postural Control, Balance, Sleep, and Stress in Sedentary Young Adults: Rationale, Design, and Methodology.

Postural control (PC) and sleep are critical in several aspects of health. Poor sleep negatively influences PC and balance, which is necessary for performing various tasks, from reaching to mobility. Moreover, sleep disturbances and consequent PC and balance deterioration are associated with job accidents, traffic accidents, falls, and injuries. Healthy adults who have inadequate sleep show a decline in optimal functioning, even in the absence of medical illnesses. This suggests that getting enough sleep, both in duration and quality, is essential to maintain optimal health. Moreover, inadequate sleep has also been observed to have a bidirectional relationship with stress levels. However, there is insufficient evidence regarding the impact of non-pharmacological treatments to improve PC, sleep, and stress in the sedentary young adult (YA) population. This article describes the protocol for a study to investigate the effects of sensorimotor training and relaxation therapy on various static and dynamic PC tests, balance measures, and subjective and objective indices of sleep and stress among sedentary YAs with impaired sleep quality. The protocol is also designed to evaluate the effect of these therapies on fatigue, salivary cortisol levels, anxiety, and depression. Methods for assessing the sleep architecture, static and dynamic PC, balance, and stress are described along with the methods of scoring with the primary goal of providing a standardized set of assessment and scoring procedures according to the latest guidelines and gold-standard techniques and measures that can be used reliably at different laboratories. © 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Postural control assessment Basic Protocol 2: Balance assessment Basic Protocol 3: Sleep architecture assessment Basic Protocol 4: Salivary cortisol analysis.

Aerobic Exercise Improves Cognitive Function in Sedentary Young Adults Without Cognitive Impairment

Physical exercise can improve cognitive function of older adults, but the influence of young adults is less clear. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of aerobic exercise on cognitive function of sedentary young adults without cognitive impairment. This study used an experimental method with pre and post test designs on 20 young adults according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Samples were randomly divided into two groups, the control group and the aerobic exercise group. The control group did not do the exercise. The aerobic group exercised by running for 30 minutes (64-76% of maximal heart rate), three time per week for four weeks. Cognitive function was measured using stroop task test. The results showed that there was a significant increase in cognitive function in the aerobic exercise group (p&lt;0.05). There was a significant difference in cognitive function between the aerobic exercise group and the control group (p&lt;0.05). In conclusion, aerobic exercise over four weeks can increase cognitive function in sedentary young adults without cognitive impairment.

The Impact of Whole Pureed Mango on Inflammatory Biomarkers and Immune Function After Post-exhaustive Exercise in Healthy Sedentary Young Adults

The Impact of Whole Pureed Mango on Inflammatory Biomarkers and Immune Function After Post-exhaustive Exercise in Healthy Sedentary Young Adults

Impact of Acute High-intensity Interval Training on Cortical Excitability, M1-related Cognitive Functions, and Myokines: A Randomized Crossover Study

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a time-efficient, safe, and feasible exercise type that can be utilized across different ages and health status. This randomized cross-over study aimed to investigate the effect of acute HIIT on cortical excitability, M1-related cognitive functions, cognition-related myokines, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and Cathepsin B (CTSB). Twenty-three sedentary young adults (mean age: 22.78 years ± 2.87; 14 female) participated in a cross-over design involving two sessions: either 23 min of HIIT or seated rest. Before and after the sessions, cortical excitability was measured using transcranial magnetic stimulation, and M1-related cognitive functions were assessed by the n-back test and mental rotation test. Serum levels of BDNF and CTSB were assessed using the ELISA method before and after the HIIT intervention. We demonstrated that HIIT improved mental rotation and working memory, and increased serum levels of BDNF and CTSB, whereas cortical excitability did not change. Our findings provide evidence that one session of HIIT is effective on M1-related cognitive functions and cognition-related myokines. Future research is warranted to determine whether such findings are transferable to different populations, such as cognitively at-risk children, adults, and older adults, and to prescribe effective exercise programs.

Immediate and acute effects of Kinesio taping on back muscle endurance, low back flexibility, and balance among sedentary individuals: A randomized controlled trial

IntroductionSedentary lifestyles is linked to a reduction in back muscle strength, endurance, and balance, consequently increasing the risk of experiencing low back pain. Kinesio taping has been shown to be effective in enhancing endurance, flexibility, and balance. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Kinesio taping on measures of lumbar function in sedentary individuals. MethodForty-four sedentary young adults were randomly assigned into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received Kinesio tape to the lumbar region while the control group received health education. The Schober's test, Single-leg stance test, Y Balance Test, and Biering-Sorensen test were performed at baseline and 30 min and 24 h after the taping intervention. ResultsThere was a statistically significant increase in static balance (single-leg stance test) in the intervention group compared to the control group (p ≤ 0.05). In the Y Balance Test and Biering-Sorensen test, there was no significant difference between the intervention group and control group, though there was a significant increase in both groups from baseline to 24 h after taping. Though low back flexibility (Schober's test) significantly decreased in the intervention group, there was no significant difference between the two groups. ConclusionKinesio taping can immediately improve static balance in people with sedentary behavior. The application of Kinesio tape had no impact on dynamic balance, low back flexibility, or low back muscle endurance.

Walking around the preferred speed: examination of metabolic, perceptual, spatiotemporal and stability parameters.

Walking is the most accessible and common type of physical activity. Exercising at one's self-selected intensity could provide long-term benefits as compared to following prescribed intensities. The aim of this study was to simultaneously examine metabolic, perceptual, spatiotemporal and stability parameters at an absolute 3km·h-1 speed range around the individual preferred walking speed (PWS). Thirty-four young sedentary adults (18 women) volunteered to walk at seven speeds relative to their PWS in 3-min trials interspaced with 3-min rest intervals. Results indicated a significant main effect of speed on all studied variables. While metabolic, perceptual and spatiotemporal values were sensitive to the smallest change in speed (i.e., 0.5km·h-1), a significant increase in the rate of carbohydrate oxidation and decrease in %fat oxidation were only observed at speeds above PWS. Results also revealed significantly higher coefficients of variation for stride characteristics at speeds below PWS only. Moreover, analyses of best fit models showed a quadratic relationship between most variables and speed, with the exceptions of metabolic cost of transport, rating of perceived exertion and stride duration that changed exponentially with speed. PWS coincided with optimized mechanical efficiency, fuel oxidation and gait stability. This indicated that walking below PWS decreased both mechanical efficiency and stability of gait, while walking above PWS increased carbohydrate oxidation. Those factors seem to play an important role as determinants of PWS. We suggest that walking at PWS may provide benefits in terms of fat oxidation while optimizing gait stability.

Anticipatory Heart Rate Before Moderate- and Vigorous-Intensity Exercise Among Sedentary and Physically Active Young Adult Males.

Background Anticipatory heart rate (HR) refers to an increase in HR that occurs in anticipation of a future event or activity. The anticipatory heart rate (HR) response before exercise is an important physiological indicator of exercise readiness. This study aimed to compare the anticipatory HR changes between sedentary and physically active young adult males during moderate- and vigorous-intensity exercise. Understanding these anticipatory heart rate patterns can provide insights into the physiological adaptations and cardiovascular health of individuals with varying physical activity levels. Materials and methods A total of 60 young adult males, comprising sedentary (n = 30) and physically active individuals (n = 30), participated in this study. A brisk walking for a distance of 50 m was considered moderate intensity and one minute of spot jogging at maximum effort with verbal encouragement was considered vigorous intensity exercise. The HR was recorded at baseline, just before the exercise, and on each minute up to 5 minutes after the exercise. Results The study involved 30 physically active young adult males (mean age 20.23 ± 1.43 years) and 30 sedentary adult males (mean age 20.07 ± 1.17 years). In physically active young adults, the resting HR was 76.4±10.89 bpm and just before starting moderate-intensity exercise, it was 78.83±12.98 bpm, paired t-test P = 0.22. The HR just before vigorous-intensity exercise was 80.83±11.18 bpm (paired t-test P = 0.03). In sedentary young adults, the resting HR was 82.23±12.69 bpm and just before starting moderate-intensity exercise, it was 90.13±18.69 bpm, paired t-test P = 0.0008. The HR just before vigorous-intensity exercise was 91.7±15.04 bpm (paired t-test P <0.0001). Conclusion Physically active young adults did not exhibit a significant increase in anticipatory HR before moderate-intensity exercise. However, sedentary individuals exhibit a significant anticipatory HR response. Before vigorous-intensity exercise, both exhibited significant increments in HR. The result highlights the importance of considering the anticipatory HR response as a potential marker of cardiovascular health and exercise readiness.

Exploratory analysis of cortical thickness in low- and high-fit young adults.

Studies have shown changes in the human brain associated with physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). The effects of CRF on cortical thickness have been well-described in older adults, where a positive association between CRF and cortical thickness has been reported, but the impact of sustained aerobic activity in young adults remains poorly described. Here, exploratory analysis was performed on cortical thickness data that was collected in groups of fit and sedentary young adults. Twenty healthy sedentary individuals (<2 h/week physical activity) were compared to 20 active individuals (>6 h/week physical activity) and cortical thickness was measured in 34 cortical areas. Cortical thickness values were compared between groups, and correlations between cortical thickness and VO2 max were tested. Cardiorespiratory fitness was significantly higher in active individuals compared to sedentary individuals. Cortical thickness was lower in regions of the left (lateral and medial orbitofrontal cortex, pars orbitalis, pars triangularis, rostral anterior cingulate cortex, superior temporal cortex and frontal pole) and right (lateral and medial orbitofrontal cortex and pars opercularis) hemispheres. Only the left frontal pole and right lateral orbitofrontal cortical thickness remained significant after false discovery rate correction. Negative correlations were observed between VO2 max and cortical thickness in the left (frontal pole) and right (caudal anterior cingulate and medial orbitofrontal cortex) hemispheres. The present exploratory analysis supports previous findings suggesting that neuroplastic effects of cardiorespiratory fitness may be attenuated in young compared with older individuals, underscoring a moderating effect of age on the relationship between fitness and cortical thickness.

Study of Association of the ace2 Polymorphisms rs2285666, rs879922, and rs1978124 with Muscle Strength in Sedentary Young Adult

Skeletal muscle is a plastic tissue with contractile capacity to generate force. Muscle mass plays a crucial role in determining muscle strength. However, the diversity of genetic features among individuals can significantly influence muscle mass development. Among these genetic factors are polymorphisms in the ace gen which codify for angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), an enzyme that belongs to the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). In addition, there are single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 gene (ace2), that codify for an enzyme that is part of the non-classical RAS axis, which has recently been shown to prevent atrophic and fibrotic processes in skeletal muscle. However, the influence of ace2 SNPs on skeletal muscle strength is unknown. This research aims to study the association between the SNPs rs879922, rs2285666, and rs1978124 of the ace2 gene with isometric muscle strength in sedentary young adults. Thirty-eight healthy sedentary men (18-25 years old) who met the exclusion criteria were recruited for the study. Anthropometric measurements were then taken, and a venous blood sample was extracted to determine the allele of each polymorphism studied. Skeletal muscle strength was measured using a handgrip dynamometer. Our results show no differences in grip strength between alleles of ace2 polymorphisms nor in comparing the muscle strength between the most common haplotypes. We can conclude that there is no association of rs879922, rs2285666, and rs1978124 ace2 polymorphisms with isometric grip strength in sedentary young adults, nor is there an association between ace2 haplotypes and muscle strength.

Normalized economical speed is influenced by aging and not by exercise habituation

ObjectiveA U-shaped relationship between energy cost of walking (Cw) and walking speed indicates that there is a specific speed minimizing the Cw, called economical speed (ES). It is mostly slower in older adults than young adults; however, effects of leg length on the ES have been ignored. We investigated effects of aging and exercise habituation on the normalized ES by leg length (ESnormalized). We quantified time delay of stride length and step frequency in sedentary young (SY), active young (AY), and active elderly (AE) adults in response to sinusoidal gait speed change at 30-s and 180-s periods with an amplitude of ± 0.56 m･s− 1.ResultsThe ES was significantly slower in the following sequence: AE, SY, and AY, whereas ESnormalized was slower in the AE than in other young groups, with no difference between AY and SY. AE and SY showed greater step variabilities at the 180-s period, whereas AY showed relatively smaller step variabilities at both periods. Collectively, the ESnormalized slowed due to aging, not due to exercise habituation. When optimizing the appropriate SL-SF combination for sinusoidal speed changes, young and elderly adults may adopt different strategies. Exercise habituation may reduce step variabilities in young adults.

Comparison of Cardiovascular Response to Lower Body and Whole Body Exercise Among Sedentary Young Adults.

Background Cardiovascular responses to exercise are essential indicators of cardiovascular health and fitness. Understanding how different types of exercise, such as lower-body and whole-body exercises, impact these responses is crucial for designing effective fitness programs and assessing cardiovascular function. Aim This study aimed to compare the cardiovascular response of young adults during lower-body exercise using a bicycle ergometer and whole-body exercise on a treadmill. Methods Thirty-two healthy young adults participated in this study. Each participant completed two exercise sessions on separate days: lower-body exercise on a bicycle ergometer with a fixed cadence of 60 rpm with a breaking resistance of 1.75 kg and whole-body exercise on a treadmill with a speed of 1.7 mph and a 10% grade. Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (BP), and diastolic BP were measured at rest and immediately after a three-minute exercise. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests to compare the cardiovascular responses between the two exercise modalities. Results A total of 17 male and 15 female young adults with a mean age of 20.87±1.43 years participated in the study. The male and female participants had similar ages (p =0.56) and body mass indexes (p = 0.1). There was a higher HR (129.16±2.67 versus 150.87±3.23, p<0.0001) and systolic BP (127.29±2.34 versus 144.9±4.16, p<0.0001) and lower diastolic BP (68.97±2.41 versus 62.97±2.31, p<0.0001) in whole body exercise on treadmill compared to lower body exercise in bicycle ergometer. The effect size was large enough as Cohen's d was 7.33, 5.13, and 2.54 for HR, systolic BP, and diastolic BP, respectively. Conclusion In sedentary young adults, treadmill exercise led to higher HR, systolic BP, and lower diastolic BP than bicycle ergometer exercise. Increased muscle recruitment might result in higher energy expenditure, increasing the HR and systolic BP to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the working muscles. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and long-term implications for precise exercise recommendations and better cardiovascular health management.

Modified High-Intensity Interval Training and its effects on immunometabolic regulation in sedentary young adults with overweight and obesity.

Sedentary lifestyles can contribute to obesity and other diseas-es; while chronic low-grade inflammation associated with obesity can lead to metabolic alterations. As physical activity is an alternative to decrease excess weight and its related comorbidities, High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) has recently emerged as effective in regulating whole-body metabolism and inflam-matory processes in people with excess weight.The objective was to compare the effects of a modified HIIT program on peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL), metabolic profile, insulin resistance (IR), andbody composition (BC) in sed-entary adults with excess weight. PBL, biochemical variables, IR, and BC were analyzed in 37 participants, 23 sedentary young adults (17 with overweight and six with obesity), before and after eight weeks of a modified HIIT program and compared with those of 14 healthy-weight participants. The results showed that after HIIT, total lymphocytes, TCD3+, and TCD8+ lymphocytes decreased; granulocytes and naïve TCD3+ cells increased in patients. Regarding partial correlations, we found that changes (Δ) in TCD8+ lymphocytes correlated posi-tively with glucose and LDL -c, while naïve TCD3+ cells correlated with total cholesterol and LDL -c. Δ in TCD4+CD45RA+ cells correlated negatively with Δ in subcutaneous fat tissue and body fat mass. This study reports that sedentary young adults who completed the modified HIIT program showed lymphocyte levels similar to those in healthy-weight individuals and positive changes in the study variables. Such changes suggest immunometabolic regulation through the implementation of HIIT in participants with overweight and obesity.

Association between lifestyle factors and thyroid function in young sedentary euthyroid adults

PurposeThe present work examines the associations of dietary habits, sedentarism, physical activity (PA) levels and sleep habits, with thyroid function in young euthyroid adults. MethodsA total of 105 young euthyroid adults participated in this cross-sectional study. Thyroid function was determined in fasting conditions (> 6 h). Dietary habits were measured by a food frequency questionnaire and three non-consecutive 24 h recalls, and different dietary intake and patterns were then estimated. The time spent in sedentary, PA levels and sleep habits were objectively measured using a wrist-worn accelerometer. ResultsEnergy and carbohydrate intake were positively associated with thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) (β = 0.222; R2 = 0.102; P = 0.022 and β = 0.425; R2 = 0.129; P = 0.007, respectively) whereas fat intake was negatively associated with TSH (β = −0.428; R2 = 0.137; P = 0.004). Energy intake was also positively associated with free triiodothyronine (β = 0.277; R2 = 0.137; P = 0.004). Further, adherence to the Mediterranean diet was negatively related to TSH and free thyroxine (FT4) (β = −0.221; R2 = 0.113; P = 0.020 and β = −0.268; R2 = 0.071; P = 0.007, respectively). Vigorous-intensity and overall PA were negatively associated with FT4 (β = −0.227; R2 = 0.052; P = 0.022 and β = −0.204; R2 = 0.042; P = 0.041, respectively). In contrast, no associations were found between sleep parameters and thyroid function. ConclusionsLifestyle factors such as dietary intake and PA levels seems to be related to thyroid function even in young euthyroid adults.

Visibility Graph Analysis of Heartbeat Time Series: Comparison of Young vs. Old, Healthy vs. Diseased, Rest vs. Exercise, and Sedentary vs. Active.

Using the visibility graph algorithm (VGA), a complex network can be associated with a time series, such that the properties of the time series can be obtained by studying those of the network. Any value of the time series becomes a node of the network, and the number of other nodes that it is connected to can be quantified. The degree of connectivity of a node is positively correlated with its magnitude. The slope of the regression line is denoted by k-M, and, in this work, this parameter was calculated for the cardiac interbeat time series of different contrasting groups, namely: young vs. elderly; healthy subjects vs. patients with congestive heart failure (CHF); young subjects and adults at rest vs. exercising young subjects and adults; and, finally, sedentary young subjects and adults vs. active young subjects and adults. In addition, other network parameters, including the average degree and the average path length, of these time series networks were also analyzed. Significant differences were observed in the k-M parameter, average degree, and average path length for all analyzed groups. This methodology based on the analysis of the three mentioned parameters of complex networks has the advantage that such parameters are very easy to calculate, and it is useful to classify heartbeat time series of subjects with CHF vs. healthy subjects, and also for young vs. elderly subjects and sedentary vs. active subjects.

Evaluation of Caffeine Ingested Timing on Endurance Performance based on CYP1A2 rs762551 Profiling in Healthy Sedentary Young Adults.

Caffeine is generally suggested to increase VO2max in endurance performance. Nevertheless, the response to caffeine ingestion does not seem to be uniform across individuals. Therefore, caffeine ingested timing on endurance performance based on the type of CYP1A2 single nucleotide polymorphism rs762551, that were classified as fast and slow metabolizers, need to be evaluated. Thirty participants participated in this study. DNA was obtained from saliva samples and genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Each respondent completed beep tests under three treatments blindly: placebo, 4 mg/kg body mass of caffeine one hour, and two hours before test. Caffeine increased estimated VO2max in fast metabolizers (caffeine=29.39±4.79, placebo=27.33±4.02, p<0.05) and slow metabolizers (caffeine=31.25±6.19, placebo=29.17±5.32, p<0.05) in one hour before test. Caffeine also increased estimated VO2max in fast metabolizers (caffeine=28.91±4.65, placebo=27.33±4.02, p<0.05) and slow metabolizers (caffeine=32.53±6.68, placebo=29.17±5.32, p<0.05) in two hour before test. However, for slow metabolizers, the increasing was greater when caffeine was administered two hours before test (slow=3.37±2.07, fast=1.57±1.62, p<0.05). Genetic variance may affect the optimal caffeine ingestion timing, sedentary individuals who want to enhance their endurance performance may ingest caffeine 1 hour before exercise for fast metabolizers and 2 hours before exercise for slow metabolizers.

POSTURAL CONTROL DURING MOTOR DUAL-TASK IN YOUNG ADULTS WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Introduction: Center of pressure (CoP) is an objective measure to assess postural control. A higher displacement of the CoP position can express a decline in postural control. Previous studies have demonstrated that a sedentary lifestyle affects balance negatively and increases the risk of falling. In addition, most activities of daily living involve performing two or more tasks concurrently. Thus, while performing a dual or multi-tasks, it is essential to maintain an adequate postural control to prevent the risk of falls and injuries. Objective: The main goal of this study was to compare the center of pressure displacement between healthy young adults with different levels of physical activity during motor dual-task performance. Method: After checking eligibility criteria, 35 healthy young adults (23.09 ± 3.97 years, mean ± SD) were recruited to perform a motor dual-task: maintaining quiet upright standing posture while performing a concurrent motor task – answer the smartphone, during 60 s. The total excursion of the center of pressure (TOTEX_CoP), the displacement anterior-posterior (CoP-AP), and medial-lateral (CoP-ML) of the center of pressure were recorded by Bertec® force plate, and the data was assessed with a Matlab routine. To analyze center of pressure excursions in different levels of physical activity, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) – short version was used to assess physical activity levels. Then, the participants were divided into three groups: sedentary (n=5), minimally active (n=13), and highly active (n=17). Statistical analyses were performed using IBM-SPSS (version 25.0). To compare center of pressure displacement between different levels of physical activity during motor dual-task was used the Kruskal-Wallis test. The significance level was set at p &amp;lt; 0.05, and the data were shown as the median and interquartile range (IQR). Results: A tendency for a higher total displacement of the center of pressure was observed in the sedentary group (TOTEX_CoP: 3110.67 (2466.54-3908.73) mm) compared to the physically active groups (minimally active - TOTEX_CoP: 2600.75 (2500.34-3205.97) mm; highly active - TOTEX_CoP: 2712.99 (2499.01-3275.84) mm), but differences were not statistically significant between the three groups (p &amp;gt; 0.05). The same happened in the anteroposterior and mediolateral center of pressure displacement (p &amp;gt; 0.05). Conclusions: Physically active young adults did not present less postural oscillation than sedentary young adults during motor dual-task performance. The small sample in each physical activity group could have contributed to the lack of statistical significance. Therefore, we suggest more studies that assess the influence of the level of physical activity on postural control.

Aging and Possible Benefits or Negatives of Lifelong Endurance Running: How Master Male Athletes Differ from Young Athletes and Elderly Sedentary?

Regular physical activity, recommended by the WHO, is crucial in maintaining a good physical fitness level and health status and slows down the effects of aging. However, there is a lack of knowledge of whether lifelong endurance running, with a volume and frequency above the WHO limits, still brings the same benefits, or several negative effects too. The present study aims to examine the protentional benefits and risks of lifelong endurance running training in Master male athletes, as this level of physical activity is above the WHO recommendations. Within the study, four main groups of participants will be included: (1) endurance-trained master athletes, (2) endurance-trained young athletes, (3) young sedentary adults, and (4) elderly sedentary. Both groups of athletes are strictly marathon runners, who are still actively running. The broad spectrum of the diagnostic tests, from the questionnaires, physical fitness testing, and blood sampling to muscle biopsy, will be performed to obtain the possibility of complexly analyzing the effects of lifelong endurance physical activity on the human body and aging. Moreover, the study will try to discover and explain new relationships between endurance running and diagnostic parameters, not only within aging.