The Effect of Resistance Training with Outdoor Fitness Equipment on the Body Composition, Physical Fitness, and Physical Health of Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study examined the effect of outdoor-fitness-equipment-based resistance training on the health parameters of middle-aged and older adults, as well as analyzing the effect of age on the results found. A total of 149 volunteers were randomly assigned to the training (TG) and control (CG) groups. The TG performed two weekly sessions of resistance training for 8 weeks using outdoor fitness equipment, while the CG continued with their regular daily activities. Body composition was measured using DXA, and the maximal isometric voluntary contraction in knee extension, elbow flexion, and hand grip were assessed, along with the 4 m walk test, the Timed Up and Go Test, and the Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire. The TG showed a significant increase in the lean mass index (p = 0.002) and maximal isometric voluntary contraction in both legs (p < 0.001) and arms (p < 0.001), as well as in physical functioning (p < 0.001) and the role physical dimension (p = 0.006) of the Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire, compared to the CG, which showed a decrease in all these variables. In addition, the TG showed a greater decrease in fat mass (p < 0.001), fat mass index (p = 0.003), and the Timed Up and Go Test (p < 0.001) than the CG. Age conditioned the evolution of most of the variables analyzed (p < 0.05). In conclusion, resistance training with outdoor fitness equipment may be useful for improving the health of middle-aged and older adults, although age is a factor that could influence the adaptations found.

Optimizing outdoor fitness equipment training for older adults: Benefits and future directions for healthy aging.

Regular physical activity is vital for the health and disease prevention of older adults. Outdoor fitness equipment has gained popularity for natural exercise spaces among middle-aged and older individuals. This narrative review demonstrates that these programs have the potential to improve cardiovascular health, muscle strength, flexibility, balance, and reduce falls, while also enhancing quality of life, alleviating depression and anxiety, and boosting self-esteem. However, our understanding is hindered by limited rigorous experimental studies. Future directions include implementing standardized measurements, conducting long-term studies, and addressing equipment limitations to enable better adjustment of training intensity and promote correct postures on machines. New, more rigorous research is needed to comprehensively understand the psychophysiological and social effects on health. Additionally, suggested modifications could render the machines more effective and safer. The primary objective is to enhance this type of machinery to encourage its use in outdoor spaces, thus aiding adults and older individuals in achieving overall health and enjoying a healthy aging process.

Physical and psychological effects of outdoor fitness equipment training on middle-aged and older adults: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial.

This project will investigate the effectiveness of an 8-week outdoor fitness equipment (OFE) programme on health parameters in healthy community-dwelling middle and older adults, corresponding to the present paper to the study protocol, which follows a single-blind randomised controlled trial design. The training intervention will involve participation in an OFE programme implemented over 8 weeks, two sessions/week. Rating of perceived exertion, heart rate, training volume and adherence to the exercise programme will be registered each session. The control group will not receive any structured exercise programme. Blinded examiners will evaluate before and after the training programme muscle strength with both maximum knee extension and elbow flexion isometric tests, handgrip strength test and five time sit-to-stand test; cardiovascular fitness with 400-metre walking test; postural stability with the balance tests of the short physical performance battery (SPPB) battery; dynamic balance with Timed Up and Go (TUG) test; body composition with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; functional performance by gait speed, TUG and SPPB battery; blood pressure; and sagittal spine disposition and pelvic tilt. Information will also be collected about demographic characteristics, health-related quality of life, satisfaction with life and adherence to the Mediterranean diet questionnaires. After that, sarcopenia, osteoporosis and fracture risk will be calculated. The results derived from this research will increase the knowledge of the effectiveness of OFE training for improving the health of healthy community-dwelling middle and older adults.

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on health parameters and muscle strength of older women: A longitudinal study.

OBJETIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of a 13-week COVID-19 lockdown on health-related parameters in women aged 60-70 years. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty women participated in this longitudinal study. All the assessments were performed before and 13 weeks after the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain (March to June 2020). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A sociodemographic questionnaire was provided, and tests were performed to assess muscle strength, anthropometric measurements, densitometry, blood pressure, blood parameters, Mediterranean diet adherence, and physical activity levels. RESULTS: After the lockdown, both healthy and unhealthy lifestyle groups showed a significant worsening of HDL, cholesterol/HDL lipids, and isometric knee extension strength parameters. However, individuals with an unhealthy lifestyle also showed a significant worsening in LDL lipids, Non-HDL lipids, bone mineral density of the femoral neck, fat mass/height (%), truncal fat mass (absolute and percentage), total fat mass (absolute and percentage) and handgrip strength. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the overall health status of Spanish older women, potentially increasing their susceptibility to comorbidities, such as lipid cholesterol, body fat, and decreased muscle strength.

Sagittal spine disposition and pelvic tilt during outdoor fitness equipment use and their associations with kinanthropometry proportions in middle-aged and older adults.

BACKGROUND: Outdoor fitness training has become popular as a tool for improving the health, especially middle-aged and older adults. For this purpose, outdoor fitness equipment (OFE) have been installed in public areas. However, their safety and effectiveness are still unknown. The aim of the present research was to analyze the sagittal disposition of the spine and pelvic tilt during the use of OFE, and to determine the influence of anthropometric variables on these factors in middle-aged and older adults. METHODS: Seventy healthy volunteers, 56 women and 14 men (age: 63.14 ± 8.19 years) participated in the study. Sagittal spine disposition and pelvic tilt were measured using a Spinal Mouse®, in the relaxed standing position, and during the use of the OFE. In addition, kinanthropometry variables were also measured according to the guidelines of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. RESULTS: Regarding thoracic kyphosis, a significant decrease was found in thoracic kyphosis in the initial position (IP) in single bonny rider (SBR) (p = 0.006) and row (p = 0.046), and a significant increase in the final position (FP) in the row (p = 0.011), surfboard (p < 0.001) and air walker (p = 0.027) machines. In relation to the lumbar curvature and pelvic tilt, a significant decrease in lumbar lordosis and a decrease in pelvic anteversion were observed in the IP and FP in SBR and row; and in the bike (p < 0.001) machine. In the surfboard machine, a significant decrease in lumbar lordosis was found (p = 0.002), with no changes in pelvic tilt. According to the multiple linear regression analysis, the subjects with a higher cormic index and height were more at risk of increasing their thoracic kyphosis, decreasing lumbar lordosis and/or decreasing pelvic anteversion towards pelvic retroversion. CONCLUSIONS: Middle-aged and older adults show spinal misalignments when using the OFE with respect to the standing position, showing a decrease in the thoracic kyphosis in IP of SBR and ROW, and a significant increase in the surfboard and air walker, and in the FP of Row, in the lumbar lordosis in all the OFE in sitting and some in standing, and in the pelvic anteversion in all the OFE in sitting. The variables height and the cormic index explained most of the changes in sagittal spine disposition.

COVID-19 and Social Isolation: A Case for Why Home-Based Resistance Training Is Needed to Maintain Musculoskeletal and Psychosocial Health for Older Adults.

The coronavirus disease outbreak in China has become the world's leading health headline and is causing major panic and public concerns. Public health guidelines in many countries are suggesting that people stay at home to avoid human-to-human transmission of the virus, which may lead to reduced physical activity and greater feelings of isolation. Such effects may be particularly problematic in older adults due to their reduced physical capacities and their potential for increased mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. A potential way to minimize many of these side effects of stay-at-home guidelines may be progressive home-based resistance training. A simple way to provide progressive overload in home-based resistance training may involve elastic resistance, which has been demonstrated to provide similar benefits to traditional resistance training equipment typically found in gymnasiums. Recommendations on how older adults can safely and effectively perform elastic resistance training at home are provided.

Sarcopenia, Diet, Physical Activity and Obesity in European Middle-Aged and Older Adults: The LifeAge Study.

The revised European consensus defined sarcopenia as a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder that is associated with an increased likelihood of adverse outcomes including falls, fractures, physical disability and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia and analyse the influence of diet, physical activity (PA) and obesity index as risk factors of each criteria of sarcopenia. A total of 629 European middle-aged and older adults were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometrics were assessed. Self-reported PA and adherence to the Mediterranean diet were evaluated with the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) and Prevention with Mediterranean Diet questionnaire (PREDIMED), respectively. The functional assessment included handgrip strength, lower body muscle strength, gait speed and agility/dynamic balance. Of the participants, 4.84% to 7.33% showed probable sarcopenia. Sarcopenia was confirmed in 1.16% to 2.93% of participants. Severe sarcopenia was shown by 0.86% to 1.49% of participants. Male; age group ≤65 years; lower body mass index (BMI); high levels of vigorous PA; and the consumption of more than one portion per day of red meat, hamburgers, sausages or cold cuts and/or preferential consumption of rabbit, chicken or turkey instead of beef, pork, hamburgers or sausages (OR = 0.126-0.454; all p < 0.013) resulted as protective factors, and more time of sedentary time (OR = 1.608-2.368; p = 0.032-0.041) resulted as a risk factor for some criteria of sarcopenia. In conclusion, age, diet, PA, and obesity can affect the risk of having low muscle strength, low muscle mass or low functional performance, factors connected with sarcopenia.

Sarcopenia as a Mediator of the Effect of a Gerontogymnastics Program on Cardiorespiratory Fitness of Overweight and Obese Older Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The objectives were to analyze the effect of a gerontogymnastics program on functional ability and fitness on overweight and obese older woman and to understand if sarcopenia mediates its effect. This randomized controlled trial involved 216 overweight and obese women. The experimental group (EG) carried out 12 weeks of a gerontogymnastics program. The assessment was of gait speed, cardiorespiratory fitness, functional capacity, and muscle strength. EG showed significant improvements in almost every test. When the effect of training was adjusted by gait speed, the improvement of the 6 min walk test (MWT) for the trained group was no longer significant (p = 0.127). The improvement of the 6 MWT was significantly and positively associated with the 10 m test (ß = -10.087). After including the 10-m test in the equations, the association between the 6MWT and carrying out the training program decreased but remained significant (ß = -19.904). The mediation analysis showed a significant, direct and indirect effect with a significant Sobel test value (z = 6.606 ± 7.733; p = 0.000). These results indicate that a gerontogymnastics program improves functional capacity and fitness; and the effect of a gerontogymnastics program on CRF is mediated by sarcopenia in older women who are overweight and obese.

Association among Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Cardiovascular, Obesity, and Anthropometric Variables of Overweight and Obese Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the independent and combined associations between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (AMedDiet), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and different parameters of overweight and obese middle-aged and older adults. Sixty-two participants were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Fat mass was measured with Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. AMedDiet and physical activity (PA) were assessed with the PREDIMED and Global PA Questionnaire (GPAQ). Maximal aerobic power was assessed using the 6-min walk test. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure (BP) were measured with Omron M6, and double product (DP) and mean BP (MBP) were calculated. Kinanthropometry proportionality variables related to obesity were also calculated. Participants with a low CRF as an independent factor or together with a low AMedDiet obtained significantly higher BP, total and trunk fat mass, and proportionality variables (all p ˂ 0.0001). According to the multiple nonlinear regression analysis, Vo2max, AMedDiet, and sex explained 53.4% of SBP, with this formula: 238.611 - (3.63*Vo2max) + (0.044*Vo2max2) - (13.051*AMedDiet) + (0.68*AMedDiet2) + (12.887*sex). SBP and p rediction SBP with the new formula showed a correlation of 0.731 (p ˂ 0.0001); showing a difference between the values of -0.278 (p = 0.883). In conclusion, CRF as an independent factor and combined with AMedDiet can be associated with BP, body composition, and proportionality in overweight and obese middle-aged and older adults.

Relationship Between the Practice of Physical Activity and Physical Fitness in Physical Education Students: The Integrated Regulation As a Mediating Variable.

The practice of physical activity (PA) contributes to the prevention of chronic diseases such as obesity, metabolic syndrome or cardiovascular diseases, being also directly related to the individual's physical fitness. Therefore, it is necessary to measure and monitoring the levels of PA in childhood and adolescence, since it may be useful to describe their current health status and the association with physical fitness, as well as to reveal putative consequences in the future. Within the educational field, it has been shown that physical education (PE) classes are a favorable context for the creation of healthy physical-sports habits and self-determined motivation could be a key for explaining the level of PA practice. For this reason, the purpose of this research was to study the mediating role of integrated regulation (IR) on the relationship between PA and physical fitness in children and adolescents. A total of 325 students between 11 and 14 years old participated in the study. The level of PA was estimated through the specific Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C), while motivation and IR were measured by using the Perceived Locus of Causality scale (PLOC-2). In addition, physical fitness was measured through the Eurofit fitness battery of tests, composed of three body composition measures and seven tests of different physical capacities. The physical fitness score showed no differences when genders were compared. After regression analysis, the resulting models revealed a good adjustment and correlation between PA practice and physical fitness (ß = 0.173; p < 0.001), being established through the macro Process that this relationship is partially conditioned by the IR (ß = 0.122; p = 0.03). ROC curve analysis estimated the score of 5.88 as a cut-off point to discriminate between levels of IR for students, classified as physically active or not (AUC = 0.67; p < 0.001). The conclusions from these main and other complementary analyses reporting complete mediations, suggest that the IR could be decisive in predicting and explaining the relationship between the practice of PA and physical fitness at these ages, highlighting its importance for a greater adherence to the practice.

Fin type and flutter technique: a study to optimise the oxygen consumption in divers.

The purpose of this research was to assess the variability of the oxygen consumption (VO2) depending on fin type and the flutter technique used for the different divers' profile. Twenty-three SCUBA divers took part in four 2.5 hour sessions to evaluate a total of six fin models and two flutter techniques. The flutter routines lasted 30 minutes per fin and per technique. Measurements of VO2 significantly decreased on Jet (20.42 ml*min-1*kg-1) and XShot fin (20.87 ml*min-1*kg-1) compared to Twin Jet fin (22.81 ml, p < 0.05). In addition, the VO2 was in all cases higher in certified divers than in professional divers (23.87 and 19.00 ml*min-1*kg-1, p = 0.00). These differences were significant between divers' profile and flutter technique (p < 0.05). Similarly, measurements of VO2 were higher in frog kick technique than crawl kick technique (22.97 ml*min-1*kg-1 and 19.96 ml*min-1*kg-1, p = 0.00). These differences were significant between fin type and flutter technique in all fins (p = 0.03). Practitioner summary: This study investigated the impact of fin type, flutter technique and divers' profile on VO2 during diving. Results of this research suggest that combination a diving different factors significantly impacts the divers' VO2, thus providing new perspective for election of fin type and flutter technique according to the divers' profile.