Physical performance and compensation strategies of older adults to maintain physical fitness and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.

INTRODUCTION: During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, worldwide restrictions in social life, including the closure of sport facilities, led to a reduction of physical activity and subjective well-being. The aim of this study is to describe physical training habits, and subjective well-being in relation to objective training data from a chip-controlled fitness circuit in the rural area of Oldenburg, Germany. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Overall, 35 older adults (20 women 71 ± 6 y/o and 15 men, 72 ± 7 y/o), regularly exercising in a chip-controlled fitness circuit before the lockdown in March 2020, were interviewed. The training data from February to August 2020 from six strength and two endurance exercise devices were extracted and compared to data before and up to three months after the lockdown. Additionally, participants' personal characteristics, physical activities and quality of life before, during, and after the first lockdown were assessed. RESULTS: The leg score (pre, postJune, postJuly, postAugust: 1207 ± 469 kg, 1248 ± 477 kg, 1254 ± 516 kg, 1283 ± 493 kg; p = 0.137) and endurance scores (ergometer: 0.93 ± 0.35 min- 1 · watt- 1, 0.86 ± 0.31 min- 1 · watt- 1, 0.86 ± 0.31 min- 1 · watt- 1, 0.85 ± 0.28 min- 1 · watt- 1 ; p = 0.442) were not significantly different, in contrast to the rowing score (1426 ± 582 kg, 1558 ± 704 kg, 1630 ± 757 kg, 1680 ± 837 kg; p < 0.001). A significant increase of total energy expenditure (p = 0.026), mainly through gardening, walking, and bike riding was observed. The greatest personal limitation reported, was the loss of social contacts. CONCLUSION: The presented data did not show a decrease in training performance, but a slight trend towards an increase. A compensatory increase in regular outdoor activities seems to have a protective effect against a loss of training performance and may have the potential to stabilize subjective well-being during lockdown periods.

Changes in Musculoskeletal System and Metabolism in Osteoporotic Rats Treated With Urocortin.

Objective: In aging population, postmenopausal osteoporosis and decline of musculoskeletal function, referred to as "frailty syndrome" lead to loss of bone and muscle, causing falls, and fall-related injuries. To limit the impact of this portentous duo, simultaneous treatment of both is needed. Urocortin (UCN) has been reported to improve osteoporotic bone properties while its effect on muscle has not been addressed yet. Design and Methods: We aimed to investigate the effect of urocortin in vivo on skeletal muscle structure in osteopenic rats. Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups: four were ovariectomized (OVX) and one underwent sham operation (SHAM). One ovariectomized group was left untreated (OVX), while one was treated with urocortin s.c. in 3 µg/kg body weight (bw) (OVX+UCN low), one with 30 µg/kg (OVX+UCN high), while one group was treated with estradiol orally (OVX+E: 0.2 mg/kg bw), each for 35 days. Mm. gastrocnemius, longissimus, and soleus were isolated and capillary density as well as diameters of type I and II fibers were measured. In addition, we examined the effect of UCN on tibia using biomechanical, micro-CT and ashing analysis and investigated the blood serum. Results: We demonstrated a positive effect of UCN on M. soleus, in which fiber diameter was positively influenced. The biomechanical and structural parameters of bone were not changed in UCN treated rats. The higher cholesterol, glucose and triglyceride levels in the "UCN high" group raise concern about this treatment. Conclusions: Our results portray urocortin as a substance that can be assessed for future therapeutic treatments of estrogen deficiency. New and Noteworthy: Urocortin has a positive effect on M. soleus (diameter). Urocortin raises serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Bone tissue was not affected by UCN.