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Effects on the Health and Quality of Life of Adults after Physical Exercise

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 11131

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Prof. Dr. Ignacio Martínez González-Moro

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Guest Editor

Research Group "Physical Exercise and Human Performance", Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Interests: sports medicine; human performance; exercise physiology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The WHO suggests that regular physical activity helps prevent and control noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and various types of cancer. It also helps prevent hypertension, maintain a healthy body weight, and can improve mental health, quality of life, and well-being. The quantification of changes in different biological, physical, and biochemical parameters serves to evaluate the effects of physical activity.

Physical activity can take various forms, such as scheduled physical exercise, physical therapy, cardiac rehabilitation, personal training, or physical activity in the workplace.

In addition to the classic musculoskeletal, cardio-respiratory, and metabolic effects, other types of responses to physical activity can be described, including: body composition, improved immunity, tolerance to hypoxia, heart rate variability, and autonomic nervous system activity.

There are techniques that, together with physical exercise, can modify its effects, such as training at altitude or with normobaric hypoxia, the use of relaxation or concentration techniques, regulation of breathing, exposure to extreme temperatures, and ambient music.

It is widely accepted that physical exercise improves quality of life. However, this concept is difficult to define and quantify. Quality of life can be evaluated through qualitative techniques with the use of questionnaires gauging the interests and satisfaction of participants.

Prof. Dr. Ignacio Martínez González-Moro
Guest Editor

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Keywords

physical exercise
quality of life
physical rehabilitation
workplace physical activity
music and sports
training with normobaric hypoxia
cardiac rehabilitation
heart rate variability
fat percentage

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 1380 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Combining Impact-Aerobic and Strength Exercise, and Dietary Habits on Body Composition in Breast Cancer Survivors Treated with Aromatase Inhibitors

by Marisol Garcia-Unciti, Natalia Palacios Samper, Sofía Méndez-Sandoval, Fernando Idoate and Javier Ibáñez-Santos

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(6), 4872; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20064872 - 10 Mar 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2572

Abstract

This study examines both the effect of a twice-weekly combined exercise—1 h session of strength and 1 h session of impact-aerobic—on body composition and dietary habits after one year of treatment with aromatase inhibitors (AI) in breast cancer survivors. Overall, forty-three postmenopausal women with a BMI ≤ 35 kg/m², breast cancer survivors treated with AI, were randomized into two groups: a control group (CG) (n = 22) and a training group (IG) (n = 21). Body composition, i.e., abdominal, visceral, and subcutaneous adipose tissue) was measured by magnetic resonance. In addition, some questionnaires were used to gather dietary data and to measure adherence to the Mediterranean diet. After one year, women in the IG showed a significant improvement in body composition, indicated by decreases in subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue, and total fat tissue. Furthermore, the dietary habits were compatible with moderate adherence to the Mediterranean diet pattern and a low dietary intake of Ca, Zn, Folic Ac, and vitamins D, A, and E. A twice-weekly training program combining impact aerobic exercise and resistance exercise may be effective in improving the body composition for postmenopausal women who have breast cancer treated with AI, and the results suggest the need for nutritional counselling for this population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects on the Health and Quality of Life of Adults after Physical Exercise)

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11 pages, 881 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training on Muscle Oxygenation during Vascular Occlusion Testing in Trained Healthy Adult Males

by Rodrigo Yáñez-Sepúlveda, Humberto Verdugo-Marchese, Daniel Duclos-Bastías, Marcelo Tuesta and Ildefonso Alvear-Ordenes

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(24), 16766; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416766 - 14 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1526

Abstract

Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) may have an additional effect on cardiovascular autonomic modulation, which could improve the metabolism and vascular function of the muscles. Aim: To determine the effects of IMT on vascular and metabolic muscle changes and their relationship to changes in physical performance. Methods: Physically active men were randomly placed into an experimental (IMTG; n = 8) or IMT placebo group (IMTPG; n = 6). For IMT, resistance load was set at 50% and 15% of the maximum dynamic inspiratory strength (S-Index), respectively. Only the IMTG’s weekly load was increased by 5%. In addition, both groups carried out the same concurrent training. Besides the S-Index, a 1.5-mile running test, spirometry, and deoxyhemoglobin (HHb_AUC during occlusion) and reperfusion tissue saturation index (TSI_MB and TSI_MP: time from minimum to baseline and to peak, respectively) in a vascular occlusion test were measured before and after the 4-week training program. In addition, resting heart rate and blood pressure were registered. Results: IMTG improved compared to IMTPG in the S-Index (Δ = 28.23 ± 26.6 cmH₂O), maximal inspiratory flow (MIF: Δ = 0.91 ± 0.6 L/s), maximum oxygen uptake (Δ = 4.48 ± 1.1 mL/kg/min), 1.5-mile run time (Δ = −0.81 ± 0.2 s), TSI_MB (Δ = −3.38 ± 3.1 s) and TSI_MP (Δ = −5.88 ± 3.7 s) with p < 0.05. ΔVO_2max correlated with S-Index (r = 0.619) and MIF (r = 0.583) with p < 0.05. Both ΔTSI_MB and TSI_MP correlated with ΔHHb_AUC (r = 0.516 and 0.596, respectively) and with Δ1.5-mile run time (r = 0.669 and 0.686, respectively) with p < 0.05. Conclusion: IMT improves vascular function, which is related to additional improvements in physical performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects on the Health and Quality of Life of Adults after Physical Exercise)

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13 pages, 1347 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influences of Intense Physical Effort on the Activity of the Autonomous Nervous System and Stress, as Measured with Photoplethysmography

by Ignacio Martínez-González-Moro, Inés Albertus Cámara and María-José Paredes Ruiz

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 16066; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192316066 - 30 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1561

Abstract

Background: The autonomic nervous system, which is composed of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, is closely related to the cardiovascular system. The temporal variation between each of the intervals between the consecutive “R” waves of an electrocardiogram is known as heart rate variability. Depending on the type of activity, both systems can be activated, and also influence the interval between “R” waves. Currently, with advancements in technology and electronic devices, photoplethysmography is used. Photoplethysmography detects changes in the intensity of reflected light that allow differentiation between systole and diastole and, therefore, determines the heart rate, its frequency and its variations. In this way, changes in the autonomic nervous system can be detected by devices such as the Max Pulse^®. Objective: To determine whether the information provided by Max Pulse^® on autonomic balance and stress is modified after intense physical exercise, thereby determining whether there is a relationship with body composition, and also whether there are differences with respect to gender. Materials and Methods: Fifty-three runners (38.9% female) with a mean age of 31.3 ± 8.1 years participated in the study. Two measurements (before and after intense physical effort) were performed with the Max Pulse^® device. The flotoplethysmography measurement lasted 3 min, and was performed in the supine position. The exercise test was performed on a treadmill. It was initiated at a speed of 6 and 7 km/h for women and men, respectively. Subjects indicated the end of the test by making a hand gesture when unable to continue the test. Results: Autonomic nervous system activity and mental stress values decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in men and women, while autonomic nervous system balance decreased only in women. Physical stress increased (p < 0.05) in both sexes. Conclusions: Intense exercise causes changes in variables that assess autonomic nervous system balance and stress, as measured by a device based on photoplethysmography. The changes are evident in both sexes, and are not related to body composition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects on the Health and Quality of Life of Adults after Physical Exercise)

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8 pages, 353 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Feasible Intervention through Simple Exercise for Risk of Falls in Dementia Patients: A Pilot Study

by Ana López-García and Marta Encarnación Sánchez-Ruíz

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 11854; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191911854 - 20 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2285

Abstract

Physical exercise can help older people maintain capacities such as muscle strength, balance, postural control, bone mass, and functionality in ADL that usually decline with age. Dementia patients can attend day care centers where they participate in activities such as cognitive training, music and art therapy, and physical exercise sessions. This research aimed to determine the effectiveness of simple lower limb strength and single leg stance training, feasible in the facilities of day care centers, to reduce the risk of falls in the elderly with dementia. Twenty patients with dementia were divided into intervention and control groups. They participated in mobility, strength, coordination, and balance exercise sessions for 45–50 min on weekdays for 5 weeks. In addition, the intervention group patients performed simple lower limb strength (sit-to-stands) and single leg stance exercises in every session. Risk of falls was assessed with the Tinetti test and the SPPB. Comparisons of post- and pre-intervention scores for the Tinetti test and SPPB were statistically increased (0.8 ± 0.7, p = 0.03; 1.5 ± 1.3 points, p = 0.02) in intervention patients. Simple lower limb strength and single leg stance exercises feasible to be done in day care facilities are effective tools for reducing the risk of falls in the elderly with dementia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects on the Health and Quality of Life of Adults after Physical Exercise)

15 pages, 687 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of a Home-Based Exercise Program on Health-Related Quality of Life and Physical Fitness in Dementia Caregivers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

by Josué Prieto-Prieto, Miguel Madruga, José Carmelo Adsuar, José Luis González-Guerrero and Narcís Gusi

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9319; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159319 - 29 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2466

Abstract

Regular exercise can be an effective health-promotion strategy to improve the physical and mental health of informal caregivers. A randomized controlled trial study was designed to evaluate the effects of a 9-month home-based exercise intervention on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and physical fitness in female family caregivers of persons with dementia. Fifty-four female caregivers were randomly assigned to two groups for the 9-month study period. Participants of the intervention group (n = 25) performed two 60-min exercise sessions per week at home, under the direct supervision of a personal trainer. Participants in the control group (n = 23) continued their habitual leisure-time activities. HRQoL was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire, and physical fitness was measured using a battery of appropriate fitness tests. After 9 months, significant improvements were observed in general health, social function, vitality, hand and leg strength, trunk flexor and extensor endurance, and aerobic endurance in the intervention group. The present intervention was highly adherent and safe for the participants, with no dropout related to the intervention. As a home-based exercise program conducted by a personal trainer face to face, it can be considered as a feasible and appropriate method to improve the most deficient HRQoL dimensions and contribute to preserving the functional capacity of female family caregivers of persons with dementia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects on the Health and Quality of Life of Adults after Physical Exercise)

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