International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Bokun Kim

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Guest Editor

Future Convergence Research Institute, Changwon National University, Changwon 51140, Republic of Korea
Interests: geriatrics and gerontology; epidemiology; exercise physiology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Though life expectancy has been increasing in recent years, healthy life expectancy is not coincident with life expectancy owing to chronic health conditions including sarcopenia, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, hypertension, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and cognitive dysfunction. Since the time gap between life expectancy and healthy life expectancy constantly raises health and social care costs, lifestyle improvement depending on exercise and physical activity has been given attention as a safe and cost-effective way to alleviate chronic health conditions and related symptoms. However, there is not enough scientific evidence on how lifestyle improvement depending on exercise and physical activity positively affects physical and mental health. Due to this reason, we cannot provide appropriate lifestyle improvement prescriptions for each patient with chronic health conditions. This Special Issue concentrates on exploring the role of lifestyle improvement depending on exercise and physical activity in preventing and treating chronic health conditions and delivering practical knowledge for all specialists who work for a healthy life expectancy increase.

Dr. Bokun Kim
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

exercise
physical activity
middle-aged and older adults
chronic health condition
geriatrics
exercise rehabilitation
early screening and prediction of health conditions

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 6878 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Novel Approach for Glycemic Management Incorporating Vibration Stimulation of Skeletal Muscle in Obesity

by Mijin Kim, Hanlin Zhang, Taeho Kim, Yutaro Mori, Tomohiro Okura, Kiyoji Tanaka, Tomonori Isobe, Takeji Sakae and Sechang Oh

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(6), 4708; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20064708 - 7 Mar 2023

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Abstract

Because obesity is associated with impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes (T2D), it is important to manage the blood glucose level at an early stage. Nevertheless, people with obesity have significantly lower resistance to muscle fatigue after exercise and exercise adherence. Therefore, we developed a novel “Relaxing-Vibration Training (_RVT)” consisting of 25 postures using vibration stimulation of skeletal muscle and determined the feasibility of _RVT for glycemic management. Thirty-one participants with obesity were enrolled in a controlled trial (CT) and experimental trial (ET) based on a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). During the CT, participants were required to rest in a quiet room. During the ET, the _RVT program (50 Hz, 4 mm), consisting of 25 postures of relaxation and stretching on the vibratory platform, was performed for 40 min. Subsequently, the participants rested as in the CT. Subjective fatigue and muscle stiffness measurements and blood collection were conducted before and after _RVT. In both the CT and ET, interstitial fluid (ISF) glucose concentrations were measured every 15 min for 2 h. The incremental area under the curve value of real-time ISF glucose during an OGTT was significantly lower in the ET than in the CT (ET: 7476.5 ± 2974.9, CT: 8078.5 ± 3077.7, effect size r = 0.4). Additionally, the levels of metabolic glucose regulators associated with myokines, muscle stiffness, and subjective fatigue significantly improved after _RVT. This novel _RVT suggests that it is effective in glycemic management with great potential to improve impaired glucose tolerance and T2D with obesity in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Lifestyle Improvement Depending on Exercise or Physical Activity in Middle-Aged and Older Adults)

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Other

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8 pages, 644 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

The Protective Role of Group Activity Prior to COVID-19 Pandemic Quarantine on the Relation between Loneliness and Quality of Life during COVID-19 Pandemic

by Adi Vitman Schorr, Itamar Yehuda and Ron Mor

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(19), 6897; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20196897 - 8 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1309

Abstract

Background: Studies of aging have suggested that QoL is positively associated with active social contacts and supportive face to face social networks. However, social networks and contacts in later life decrease due to a variety of reasons; the narrowing of social networks contributes to increased social isolation and loneliness and leads to the deterioration of well-being and QoL among adult persons. The goal of this study was to explore the relationship between loneliness feelings and QoL during the COVID-19 quarantine as potentially moderated by group physical activity prior to the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine. Methods: A convenience sample of 99 older adults aged 60 and over was interviewed. Using bootstrapping, we tested the strength and significance of the conditional moderation effect of group physical activity prior to the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine on the relationship between loneliness feelings and QoL during the COVID-19 quarantine. Results: the results demonstrated a direct negative effect between loneliness feelings and QoL during the COVID-19 pandemic and that the relationship was moderated by group physical activity prior to the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine (p = 0.000). Conclusion: the findings indicate that policy makers and professionals working with older adults should seek ways to attract older adults to participate in group physical activity and enjoy its long-term social benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Lifestyle Improvement Depending on Exercise or Physical Activity in Middle-Aged and Older Adults)

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