Effects of age on aerobic capacity in heart failure patients under beta-blocker therapy: Possible impact in clinical decision-making?

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Chromium or L-carnitine supplementation during an aerobic conditioning program mildly modified the energy metabolism biomarker response in Mangalarga Marchador fillies

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Correlation between heart rate variability indexes and aerobic physiological variables in patients with COPD

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effect of community-based physical exercise interventions carried out in primary helath care on plasma inflammatory biomarkers and cardiorespiratory fitness

Pós-graduação em Ciências da Motricidade - IBRC

The canonical correlation between the biological markers of performance and physical fitness in high level judo athletes

The objective of this research was to verify the relationship between biological markers of performance of elite judo athletes and performance in different physical fitness tests. Twenty-one judo athletes were involved in the present observational and correlational study. Dermatoglyphic variables and the 2D:4D digit ratio were considered as biological markers, while the physical fitness variables analyzed were body fat, maximal strength, muscular power, the aerobic and anaerobic profile, and performance in specific tests. The statistics involved canonical correlations and a multivariate technique. A high and significant canonical correlation was observed between groups of variables, the first expressed by 1=0.999 (p<0.0001) and the second by 2=0.997 (p<0.001). It appears that, beyond height and body mass, total ridge count, pattern intensity for fingers and 2D:4D had more canonical loading. The physical fitness component of the first canonical variable incorporated, with high intensity were: the sum of skinfold thickness, the bench press onerepetition maximum (1RM), upper and lower body aerobic power. In the second canonical variable, physical fitness was composed of the squat 1RM, suspension time on the bar, the SJFT-index, and mean power during the upper body Wingate test. The data of this investigation showed the interdependence between biological markers of performance and physical fitness in high level judo athletes.

Immunological parameters in elderly women: Correlations with aerobic power, muscle strength and mood state

Purpose: Our objective was to relate immunological data for healthy but sedentary elderly women to aerobic power, strength, and mood state. Methods: We measured peak aerobic power and one-repetition maximum strength along with mood (depression and fatigue), quality of life and carbohydrate intake on 42 women aged 60-77 years. Standard immunological techniques determined natural killer cell count and cytotoxic activity (NKCA), proliferative responses to phytohemaglutinin and OKT3, various lymphocyte subpopulations (CD3(+), CD3(-)CD19(+), CD56(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), CD56(dim) and CD56(bright)), and markers of activation, maturation, down-regulation and susceptibility to apoptosis (CD25(+), CD28(+), CD45RA(+), CD45RO(+), CD69(+), CD95(+), HLA-DR+). Results: Correlations of immune parameters with aerobic power and strength were very similar for absolute and relative immunological data. In the group as a whole, the only correlation with aerobic power was -0.35 (relative CD4(+)CD69(+) count), but in subjects with values <22.6 mL kg(-1) min(-1) correlations ranged from -0.57 (relative CD4(+)CD45RO(+)) to 0.92 (absolute CD56(dim)HLA-DR+). In terms of muscle strength, univariate correlation coefficients ranged from -0.34 (relative and absolute CD3(+)CD4(+)CD8(+)) to +0.48 (absolute CD3(+)HLA-DR+.) and +0.50 (absolute CD8(+)CD45RA(+)CD45RO(+)). Neither NKCA nor lymphocyte proliferation were correlated with aerobic power or muscle strength. Although mood state and quality of life can sometimes be influenced by an individual's fitness level, our multivariate analyses suggested that depression, fatigue and quality of life were more important determinants of immune profile than our fitness measures. Conclusions: Psychological changes associated with aging may have a substantial adverse effect upon the immune system, and immunological function may be enhanced more by addressing these issues than by focusing upon aerobic or resistance training. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Aerobic power in child, cadet and senior judo athletes

The aim of the present study was to compare performance and physiological responses during arm and leg aerobic power tests of combat duration in male child, cadet and senior judo athletes. Power output and physiological parameters, i.e., peak oxygen uptake ((V)over dotO(2)peak), peak ventilation, peak heart rate, lactate, and rate of perceived exertion, of 7 child (under 15 years: age class U15, 12.7 +/- 1.1 yrs), 10 cadet (U17, 14.9 +/- 0.7 yrs) and 8 senior (+20, 29.3 +/- 9.2 yrs) male judo athletes were assessed during incremental tests of combat duration on an arm crank and a cycle ergometer. Children as well as cadets demonstrated higher upper body relative VO(2)peak than seniors (37.3 +/- 4.9, 39.2 +/- 5.0 and 31.0 +/- 2.1 ml.kg(-1).min(-1), respectively); moreover, upper and lower body relative VO(2)peak decreased with increasing age (r = -0.575, p < 0.003 and r = -0.580, p < 0.002, respectively). Children showed lower blood lactate concentrations after cranking as well as after cycling when compared to seniors (7.8 +/- 2.4 vs. 11.4 +/- 2.1 mmol.l(-1) and 7.9 +/- 3.0 vs. 12.0 +/- 1.9 mmol.l(-1), respectively); furthermore, blood lactate values after cranking increased with age (r = 0.473, p < 0.017). These differences should be considered in planning the training for judo athletes of different age classes.

Effects of a combined aerobic and strength training program in youth patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Cure rates of youth with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) have increased in the past decades, but survivor's quality of life and physical fitness has become a growing concern. Although previous reports showed that resistance training is feasible and effective, we hypothesized that a more intense exercise program would also be feasible, but more beneficial than low- to moderate-intensity training programs. We aimed to examine the effects of an exercise program combining high-intensity resistance exercises and moderate-intensity aerobic exercises in young patients undergoing treatment for ALL. A quasi-experimental study was conducted. The patients (n = 6; 5-16 years of age) underwent a 12-week intra-hospital training program involving high-intensity strength exercises and aerobic exercise at 70% of the peak oxygen consumption. At baseline and after 12 weeks, we assessed sub-maximal strength (10 repetition-maximum), quality of life and possible adverse effects. A significant improvement was observed in the sub maximal strength for bench press (71%), lat pull down (50%), leg press (73%) and leg extension (64%) as a result of the training (p < 0.01). The parents' evaluations of their children's quality of life revealed an improvement in fatigue and general quality of life, but the children's self-reported quality of life was not changed. No adverse effects occurred. A 12-week in-hospital training program including high-intensity resistance exercises promotes marked strength improvements in patients during the maintenance phase of the treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia without side-effects. Parents' evaluations of their children revealed an improvement in the quality of life.

Exercise training program based on minimum weekly frequencies: effects on blood pressure and physical fitness in elderly hypertensive patients

Background: Exercise training (ET) can reduce blood pressure (BP) and prevent functional disability. However, the effects of low volumes of training have been poorly studied, especially in elderly hypertensive patients. Objectives: To investigate the effects of a multi-component ET program (aerobic training, strength, flexibility, and balance) on BP, physical fitness, and functional ability of elderly hypertensive patients. Methods: Thirty-six elderly hypertensive patients with optimal clinical treatment underwent a multi-component ET program: two 60-minute sessions a week for 12 weeks at a Basic Health Unit. Results: Compared to pre-training values, systolic and diastolic BP were reduced by 3.6% and 1.2%, respectively (p < 0.001), body mass index was reduced by 1.1% (p < 0.001), and peripheral blood glucose was reduced by 2.5% (p= 0.002). There were improvements in all physical fitness domains: muscle strength (chair-stand test and elbow flexor test; p < 0.001), static balance test (unipedal stance test; p < 0.029), aerobic capacity (stationary gait test; p < 0.001), except for flexibility (sit and reach test). Moreover, there was a reduction in the time required to perform two functional ability tests: "put on sock" and "sit down, stand up, and move around the house" (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Lower volumes of ET improved BP, metabolic parameters, and physical fitness and reflected in the functional ability of elderly hypertensive patients. Trial Registration RBR-2xgjh3.

Skeletal muscle mitochondria in the elderly: effects of physical fitness and exercise training.

Context: Sarcopenia is thought to be associated with mitochondrial (M) loss. It is unclear whether the decrease in M content is consequent to aging per se or to decreased physical activity. Objectives: To examine the influence of fitness on M content and function, and to assess whether exercise could improve M function in older adults. Design and subjects: Three distinct studies were conducted: 1) a cross-sectional observation comparing M content and fitness in a large heterogeneous cohort of older adults; 2) a case-control study comparing chronically endurance-trained older adults (A) and sedentary (S) subjects matched for age and gender; 3) a 4-month exercise intervention in S. Setting: University-based clinical research center Outcomes: M volume density (Mv) was assessed by electron microscopy from vastus lateralis biopsies, electron transport chain proteins (ETC) by western blotting, mRNAs for transcription factors involved in M biogenesis by qRT-PCR and in-vivo oxidative capacity (ATPmax) by (31)P-MR spectroscopy. Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) was measured by GXT. Results: VO2peak was strongly correlated with Mv in eighty 60-80 yo adults. Comparison of A vs. S revealed differences in Mv, ATPmax and some ETC complexes. Finally, exercise intervention confirmed that S are able to recover Mv, ATPmax and specific transcription factors. Conclusions: These data suggest that 1) aging per se is not the primary culprit leading to M dysfunction, 2) an aerobic exercise program, even at an older age, can ameliorate the loss in skeletal muscle M content and may prevent aging muscle comorbidities and 3) the improvement of M function is all about content.

Physical fitness of industrial firefighters

Firefighting is widely known to be one of the most physically demanding civilian occupations. A subset of this is Industrial Firefighting, which places similarly high physical demands on Industrial Firefighters. Although there are some studies on community firefighters, literature is scant on Industrial Firefighters and their physical fitness. ^ A cross-sectional study of Industrial Firefighters in Petrochemical companies in Texas was carried out in 1996–98 to assess their physical fitness and to develop a set of physical agility criteria useful in their selection and ongoing fitness for duty evaluations. ^ A physical agility criteria and a fitness scorecard was developed based on seven parameters (resting heart rate, diastolic blood pressure, aerobic capacity, muscle strength, muscle endurance, trunk flexibility and total body fat) of musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory fitness. Each indicator received a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 20 points, based on individual performance. Therefore a minimum and maximum achievable score for the entire battery of tests was 0 and 140 respectively. Of the 111 study subjects, 5 (4.5%) were far above average, 31 (28%) above average, 46 (41.5 %) average, 29 (26%) below average and 0 (0%) far below average as deemed by the physical fitness scorecard. The mean score was 77 (±23) with a minimum and maximum score of 35 and 135 respectively. ^ Following univariate analysis an exploratory factor analysis to group variables and to assess the overall role of constituent variables in total fitness of a firefighter was developed. This was followed by a stepwise linear regression analysis using aerobic capacity as a dependent variable. ^ Finally, a graded implementation strategy was devised, such that all existing Industrial Firefighters would have an opportunity to improve or maintain their physical fitness at or above average level as deemed by the fitness scorecard. ^

Predictors of weight stability in women and men: The aerobic center longitudinal study, 1987--1995

It is estimated that more than half the U.S. adult population is overweight or obese as classified by a body mass index of 25.0–29.9 or ≥30 kg/m 2, respectively. Since the current treatment approaches for long-term maintenance of weight loss are lacking, the National Institutes of Health state that an effective approach may be to focus on weight gain prevention. There is a limited body of literature describing how adults maintain a stable weight as they age. It is hypothesized that weight stability is the result of a balance between energy consumption and energy expenditure as influenced by diet, lifestyle, behavior, genetics and environment. The purpose of this research was to examine the dietary intake and behaviors, lifestyle habits, and risk factors for weight change that predict weight stability in a cohort of 2101 men and 389 women aged 20 to 8 7 years in the Aerobic Center Longitudinal Study regardless of body weight at baseline. At baseline, participants completed a maximal exercise treadmill test to determine cardiorespiratory fitness, a medical history questionnaire, which included self-reported measures of weight, dietary behaviors, lifestyle habits, and risk factors for weight change, a three-day diet record, and a mail-back version of the medical history questionnaire in 1990 or 1995. All analyses were performed separately for men and women. Results from multivariate regression analyses indicated that the strongest predictor of follow-up weight for men and women was previous weight, accounting for 87.0% and 81.9% of the variance, respectively. Age, length of follow-up and eating habits were also significant predictors of follow-up weight in men, though these variables only explained 3% of the variance. For women, length of follow-up and currently being on a diet were significantly associated with follow-up weight but these variables explained only an additional 2% of the variance. Understanding the factors that influence weight change has tremendous public health importance for developing effective methods to prevent weight gain. Since current weight was the strongest predictor of previous weight, preventing initial weight gain by maintaining a stable weight may be the most effective method to combat the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity. ^

Joint effects of pulmonary function and aerobic power on survival in a cohort of healthy adults

Objective measurements of physical fitness and pulmonary function are related individually to long-term survival, both in healthy people and in those who are ill. These factors are furthermore known to be related to one another physiologically in people with pulmonary disease, because advanced pulmonary disease causes ventilatory limitation to exercise. Healthy people do not have ventilatory limitation to exercise, but rather have ventilatory reserve. The relationship between pulmonary function and exercise performance in healthy people is minimal. Exercise performance has been shown to modify the effect of pulmonary function on mortality in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but the relationship between these factors in healthy people has not been studied and is not known. The purpose of this study is to quantify the joint effects of pulmonary function and exercise performance as these bear on mortality in a cohort of healthy adults. This investigation is an historical cohort study over 20 years of follow-up of 29,624 adults who had complete preventive medicine, spirometry and treadmill stress examinations at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Texas.^ In 20 years of follow-up, there were 738 evaluable deaths. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV$\sb1$) percent of predicted, treadmill time in minutes percent of predicted, age, gender, body mass index, baseline smoking status, serum glucose and serum total cholesterol were all significant, independent predictors of mortality risk. There were no frank interactions, although age had an important increasing effect on the risk associated with smoking when other covariates were controlled for in a proportional-hazards model. There was no confounding effect of exercise performance on pulmonary function. In agreement with the pertinent literature on independent effects, each unit increase in FEV$\sb1$ percent predicted was associated with about eight tenths of a percent reduction in adjusted mortality rate. The concept of physiologic reserve is useful in interpretation of the findings. Since pulmonary function does not limit exercise tolerance in healthy adults, it is reasonable to expect that exercise tolerance would not modify the effect of pulmonary function on mortality. Epidemiologic techniques are useful for elucidating physiological correlates of mortality risk. ^

Longitudinal relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and academic achievement

Copyright © 2016 by the American College of Sports Medicine

Relationship between homocysteine and cardiorespiratory fitness is sex-dependent

Elevated plasma homocysteine is recognized as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Recently, there have been conflicting reports of the relationship between physical activity and homocysteine. A more objective measure of physical activity is cardiorespiratory fitness; however, its relationship with homocysteine has yet to be investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and plasma homocysteine. Cross-sectional associations between cardiorespiratory fitness (VO(2)max) and plasma homocysteine were examined in 49 men and 11 women. A submaximal bicycle test was used to determine VO(2)max and plasma homocysteine was measured using high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Dietary analysis determined B vitamin intake. There was a significant inverse relationship between plasma homocysteine concentration and VO(2)max in women (r = -0.81, P = 0.003) but not in men (r = -0.09, P = 0.95). There were no significant relationships between plasma homocysteine and age, BMI, body fat, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol. In summary, elevated cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with decreased plasma homocysteine concentrations in women. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.