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Background: This study investigates the effects of a 12-week circuit exercise program on blood pressure, vascular function, and inflammatory cytokines in older obese women with sarcopenia. Methods: Twenty-eight older obese women with sarcopenia (mean age: 78.2 ± 3.7 years) were randomly divided into an exercise group (EG, n = 14) and a control group (CG, n = 14). The EG participated in a 12-week circuit exercise training regimen, conducted three times weekly, with each session lasting between 45 to 75 minutes (progressively increased over time). The CG was advised to maintain their regular daily routines throughout the intervention period. All dependent variables, including blood pressure, vascular function, and inflammation cytokines, were evaluated pre- and post-intervention. Results: Positive changes were observed in the EG in body composition (body fat mass; p < 0.001, body fat percentage; p < 0.01, free-fat mass; p < 0.01), blood pressure (heart rate; p < 0.05, rate pressure product; p < 0.01), vascular function (brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity; p < 0.05, flow-mediated dilation; p < 0.001), and inflammation cytokines (interleukin-6; p < 0.05). In the CG, there was an increase in body fat mass (p < 0.05) and body fat percentage (p < 0.05), while no changes were observed in other variables. Conclusions: The 12-week circuit exercise program significantly reduced blood pressure, improved vascular function, and decreased inflammatory cytokines in obese older women with sarcopenia. However, individual variations in response highlight the need for personalized exercise regimens.
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PURPOSE: This study aims to develop a regression model to estimate peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) by employing different variables. METHODS: In this study, 34 participants were divided into two groups: 19 with cervical injury (CI) and 15 with thoracic injury (TI). Key measurements included VO2peak and related factors such as age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), fat-free mass, body fat percentage, limb and trunk circumferences, spinal cord independence (SCIM III), Korean activities of daily living (K-ADL), and respiratory functions (forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV)). Statistical analyses were conducted using forward selection regression to examine the relationships between these variables. RESULTS: Height, calf circumference, SCIM III score, and PEF were key variables in all patients with SCI (TSCI). For patients with CI, the key variables were height, calf circumference, and MVV, whereas for patients with TI, the key variable was calf circumference. The average explanatory powers of the VO2peak regression model for TSCI were 70.3% (R2) and 66.2% (adjusted R2), with an average standard error of estimate (SEE) of 2.94 ml/kg/min. The average explanatory power for patients with CI was 71.7% (R2) and 66.1% (adjusted R2), with an average SEE of 1.88 ml/kg/min. The average explanatory power for patients with TI was 55.9% (R2) and 52.5% (adjusted R2), with an average SEE of 3.41 ml/kg/min. There was no significant difference between the VO2peak measured and predicted VO2peak for each type of injury. CONCLUSION: The regression model for estimating VO2peak in SCI patients in this preliminary study is as follows: TSCI=39.684-0.144×(Height)-0.513×(Calf)+0.136×(SCIM III)+1.187×(PEF), CI=38.842-0 .158×(Height) - 0.371×(Calf)+0.093×(MVV), TI=42.325-0.813×(Calf).
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PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of gradient and age on energy expenditure and fat metabolism during aerobic exercise at equal intensity in women. METHODS: Thirty women in their twenties (n=15) and fifties (n =15) were enrolled. All subjects performed aerobic exercise on a treadmill for 10 min at 0% and 6% gradient repeatedly to elicit 50%, 60%, and 70% VO2max. RESULTS: Energy expenditure and fat oxidation were higher during aerobic exercise at 6% of the gradient than at 0%, and there was no significant difference in carbohydrate oxidation in any age group. CONCLUSION: Aerobic exercise at a 6% gradient was more favorable for fat oxidation than a 0% gradient in all age groups. In particular, in the case of women in their fifties, walking on a gradient of 6%, which is favorable for increasing fat oxidation, was more effective than walking on flat ground for preventing and reducing obesity. However, to examine the difference in fat oxidation among exercise intensities more accurately, exercise performed for longer than 30 min is required. Follow-up studies are required to investigate the effect of various gradients on physiological and metabolic characteristics when carrying out aerobic exercises for more than 30 min.