The Effect of Physical Activity Interventions Carried Out in Outdoor Natural Blue and Green Spaces on Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review

In the last few years, interest about the natural environment and its influences on health conditions has been growing. In particular, physical activity interventions carried out in blue and green environment are being investigated as a potential strategy to increase health outcomes in people with and without chronic conditions. Many recent studies reported positive results, but a high number of these studies were focused on people with mental or physical disorders. In this scenario, the present systematic review, conducted according to the PRISMA statement, was aimed at investigating the existing evidence regarding the effects of physical activity interventions carried out in green-blue space settings involving healthy people. A literature search was performed through PubMed, Cochrane, Cinahl, and Psychinfo, and the quality of each study was assessed. Out of 239 identified articles, 75 full texts were screened. Six eligible studies showed an improvement in health outcomes, such as well-being, mood, and physical performance, in the experimental group compared with the control group. No exhaustive conclusion can be drawn based on available evidence. However, this systematic review highlighted the need to extend this kind of intervention to reveal more robust evidence that green and blue exercises benefit health

Maturity Related Differences in Body Composition Assessed by Classic and Specific Bioimpedance Vector Analysis among Male Elite Youth Soccer Players

The aim of this study was to analyze the efficiency of classic and specific bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) in the assessment of maturity related differences in body composition among male elite youth soccer players, and to provide bioelectrical impedance reference data for this category. A group of 178 players (aged 12.1 ± 1.6 years) were registered in a professional Italian soccer team participating in the first division (Serie A). They were divided into three groups according to their maturity status while bioelectrical resistance and reactance were obtained. The classic and specific BIVA procedures were applied, which correct bioelectrical values for body height and body geometry, respectively. Percentage of fat mass (FM%) and total body water (TBW (L)) were estimated from bioelectrical values. Age-specific z-scores of the predicted age at peak height velocity identified 29 players as earlier-, 126 as on time-, and 23 as later-maturing. TBW was higher (p < 0.01) in adolescents classified as “early” maturity status compared to the other two groups and classic BIVA confirmed these results. Conversely, no differences in FM% were found among the groups. Specific vector length showed a higher correlation (r = 0.748) with FM% compared with the classic approach (r = 0.493). Classic vector length showed a stronger association (r = −0.955) with TBW compared with specific (r = −0.263). Specific BIVA turns out to be accurate for the analysis of FM% in athletes, while classic BIVA shows to be a valid approach to evaluate TBW. An original data set of bioelectric impedance reference values of male elite youth soccer players was provide

Effects of Eight-Week Circuit Training with Core Exercises on Performance in Adult Male Soccer Players

Core exercises have been widely promoted in the last 25 years. However, the scientific debate about its efficacy for improving individual and team sports performance is still open. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the effects of circuit training with a core exercise program on physical performance in competitive amateur soccer players. The training was conducted during the off-season period, two times per week for 8 weeks. Pre- and post-evaluations were conducted using the following tests: Y-Balance Test (YB), standing long jump (SLJ), medicine ball chest press (MBC), curl-up (CU), and Illinois Agility Test (IAT). A total of 19 adults were divided into an experimental group (EG, n = 11, age 22 years, weight 71.2 ± 4.8 kg, height 174 ± 5.8 cm) and a control group (CG, n = 8, age 22 years, weight 73.2 ± 4.1 Kg, height 176 ± 6.3 cm). The EG showed significant improvements in lower and upper body strength, core endurance and balance, whereas the CG did not report significant changes in the pre- and post-test comparison. Despite study limitations, our positive results show that circuit training with core exercises appears to be a good strategy for performance improvement in adult soccer player

The Impact of an Adapted Physical Activity Program on Bone Turnover, Physical Performance and Fear of Falling in Osteoporotic Women with Vertebral Fractures: A Quasi-Experimental Pilot Study

Physical activity has been indicated as a potential strategy to counteract osteoporosis (OP). This study of post-menopausal women with osteoporotic vertebral fractures investigated the effect of an adapted physical activity (APA) program on two serum bone turnover biomarkers (Bone Alkaline Phosphatase, B-ALP and C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen, CTX-1), functional capacity (6-Minutes Walking Test, 6MWT), and risk and fear of falls (Tinetti and Falls Efficacy scale). The APA group (n = 12) performed a 1-h group session twice per week for 6 months whereas the control group (n = 9) was asked to maintain their current lifestyle. The exercise program did not affect the serum concentrations of B-ALP and CTX-1 biomarkers measured at the baseline and after 6 months in women of the APA group. Moreover, at the end of intervention no significant differences in serum concentrations for either biomarker was observed between the two study groups. Interestingly, when compared to the control group, women in the APA group showed significant improvement in the functional capacity measures by 6MWT (p = 0.037) and a decrease of the risk and fear of falls as indicated by the Tinetti test (p = 0.043). Based on these findings, exercise could provide new perspectives for the care and management of OP

Adherence to an adapted physical activity program in sedentary adults

Background/Objective. Physical exercise plays a key role in the prevention and prognosis of chronic diseases. Despite this evidence, a low percentage of patients regularly perform physical activity. A better understanding of the variables associated with poor adherence may help to develop some strategies to encourage people to participate in exercise interventions. This study investigated the factors influencing adherence to an Adapted Physical Activity (APA) program in subjects suffering from Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) clinically stable, Type 2 diabetes, or metabolic syndrome. Secondary end point was to test the efficacy of the exercise training on fitness parameters (VO2, Speed and Time) by 1 km test. Methods. The program was planned in two phases. Phase 1: individual and supervised training free program for 4 weeks; Phase 2: paid training supervised program involved small groups of 4-6 participants for 8 weeks. Results. 117 patients (50-64 years, 49 men and 68 women) started the APA program, but only 32 patients (17 men and 15 women) completed phase 2. As collected during telephone interviews, the main factors that influenced adherence including health status, work commitments or family problems. Regarding the physical efficacy, an improvement of the three fitness parameters was observed in the 32 patients who completed the 12 weeks of the APA program. Conclusions. The identification of factors that can influence adherence to exercise programs is the first step in planning and improving health interventions. These parameters have an important public health interest.This work was supported by Emilia Romagna Local Grant (1154/2011)

Cardiovascular Effects of Whole-Body Cryotherapy in Non-professional Athletes

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to investigate changes in heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and body temperature in non-professional trained runners during whole body cryotherapy (WBC). METHODS: Ten middle-distance runners received 3 once-a-day sessions of WBC. Subjects underwent BP measurements and ECG recorded before and immediately after the daily WBC session. During WBC we recorded a single lead trace (D1) for heart rhythm control. In addition, the 5 vital signs Blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and body temperature were monitored before, during, and after all WBC session. RESULTS: We did not report significant changes in ECG main intervals (PR, QT, and QTc). Mean heart rate changed from 50.98 ± 4.43 bpm (before) to 56.83 ± 4.26 bpm after WBC session (p < 0.05). The mean systolic blood pressure did not change significantly during and after WBC [b baseline: 118 ± 5 mmHg, changed to 120 ± 3 mmHg during WBC, and to 121 ± 2 mmHg after session (p < 0.05 vs. baseline)]. Mean respiratory rate did not change during WBC as well as oxygen saturations (98 vs. 99%). Body temperature was slightly increased after WBC, however it remains within physiological values CONCLUSION: In non-professional athletes WBC did not affect cardiovascular response and can be safely used. However, further studies are required to confirm these promising results of safety in elderly non-athlete subjects

Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown on Adherence to Individual 2 Home or Gym Based Exercise Training among Women with 3 Post-Menopausal Osteoporosis

Adherence is important for an exercise program’s efficacy. This study aims at investigating whether the COVID-19 lockdown had different consequences on the adherence to an exercise program specifically designed for women with postmenopausal osteoporosis when administered as individual home training (IHT) or gym group training (GGT). At the start of the lockdown, which imposed the temporary closure of any gym activities, GGT participants were invited to continue to exercise at home. IHT participants continued to exercise at home as usual. Adherence was recorded via logs and measured as the percentage of exercise sessions actually performed out of the total number of scheduled sessions in three 1-month periods: one before (PRE) and two after (M1 and M2) the beginning of lockdown. Before lockdown, IHT (66.8% ± 26.6) and GGT (76.3% ± 26.6) adherence were similar. During lockdown, IHT participation increased (M1: 81.5% ± 31.0; M2: 88.0% ± 28.3), while that of GGT showed no statistical differences (M1: 79.4% ± 34.2; M2: 80.6% ± 36.4). Exercise protocols based on supervised gym practice must consider the possibility of disruptive events, which could cause a sudden interruption of gym activity and include educational initiatives to instruct participants to exercise effectively and safely without a trainer’s direct supervision

The body of evidence of late-life depression: the complex relationship between depressive symptoms, movement, dyspnea and cognition

Background: Physical symptoms play an important role in late-life depression and may contribute to residual symptomatology after antidepressant treatment. In this exploratory study, we examined the role of specific bodily dimensions including movement, respiratory functions, fear of falling, cognition, and physical weakness in older people with depression.Methods: Clinically stable older patients with major depression within a Psychiatric Consultation-Liaison program for Primary Care underwent comprehensive assessment of depressive symptoms, instrumental movement analysis, dyspnea, weakness, activity limitations, cognitive function, and fear of falling. Network analysis was performed to explore the unique adjusted associations between clinical dimensions.Results: Sadness was associated with worse turning and walking ability and movement transitions from walking to sitting, as well as with worse general cognitive abilities. Sadness was also connected with dyspnea, while neurovegetative depressive burden was connected with activity limitations.Discussion: Limitations of motor and cognitive function, dyspnea, and weakness may contribute to the persistence of residual symptoms of late-life depression