Cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness in young adult Finnish men between 2003 and 2015

Introduction Physical fitness is strongly related to health and may offer valuable information about public health. We investigated trends in physical fitness, leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), and anthropometry of young healthy adult Finnish men in representative population-based samples between 2003 and 2015. Methods Three independent cross-sectional samples of 18- to 35-year-old Finnish men were assessed in 2003 (n = 889), 2008 (n = 803), and 2015 (n = 690). Cardiorespiratory (VO(2)max) and muscular fitness (1-minute sit-ups and push-ups), body mass, and height were measured. Self-reported LTPA was assessed. Results After adjusting for age, education, and smoking, cardiorespiratory fitness was higher in 2003 (mean: 43.5, 95%CI: 42.9-44.1 mL/kg/min) compared to 2008 (41.3, 95%CI: 40.7-41.9 mL/kg/min) and 2015 (40.6, 95%CI: 40.0-41.2 mL/kg/min) (P <.001), whereas no difference was observed between 2008 and 2015. The lowest values in muscular fitness were observed in 2003, while no clear trends were further noticed. The adjusted BMI was higher in 2008 (25.1, 95%CI: 24.9-25.4) and 2015 (25.3, 95%CI: 25.3, 95%CI: 25.0-25.6) compared to 2003 (24.5, 95%CI: 24.3-24.8) (P <.005). In 2015, a higher proportion of individuals exercised at least four times per week compared to 2003 and 2008 (P <.05). Conclusion The decrease in cardiorespiratory fitness that took place between 2003 and 2008 plateaued after 2008. The plateau is in accordance with the previously observed trend of 5-10 years younger Finnish men. Moreover, muscular fitness was for the most part higher in 2008 and 2015 compared to 2003. Efforts directed to promote regular physical activity and improve physical fitness are needed.Peer reviewe

Association of physical fitness with health-related quality of life in Finnish young men

Abstract Background Currently, there is insufficient evidence available regarding the relationship between level of physical fitness and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in younger adults. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of measured cardiovascular and musculoskeletal physical fitness level on HRQoL in Finnish young men. Methods In a cross-sectional study, we collected data regarding the physical fitness index, including aerobic endurance and muscle fitness, leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), body composition, health, and HRQoL (RAND 36) for 727 men [mean (SD) age 25 (5) years]. Associations between HRQoL and the explanatory parameters were analyzed using the logistic regression analysis model. Results Of the 727 participants who took part in the study, 45% were in the poor category of the physical fitness, while 37% and 18% were in the satisfactory and good fitness categories, respectively. A higher frequency of LTPA was associated with higher fitness (p &lt; 0.001). Better HRQoL in terms of general health, physical functioning, mental health, and vitality were associated with better physical fitness. When the HRQoL of the study participants were compared with that of the age- and gender-weighted Finnish general population, both the good and satisfactory fitness groups had higher HRQoL in all areas other than bodily pain. In a regression analysis, higher LTPA was associated with three dimensions of HRQoL, higher physical fitness with two, and lower number of morbidities with all dimensions, while the effect of age was contradictory. Conclusions Our study of Finnish young men indicates that higher physical fitness and leisure-time physical activity level promotes certain dimensions of HRQoL, while morbidities impair them all. The results highlight the importance of health related physical fitness while promoting HRQoL.peerReviewe

High-Intensity Functional Training Induces Superior Training Adaptations Compared With Traditional Military Physical Training

This study examined the effectiveness of concurrent strength and endurance training with an emphasis on high-intensity functional training (HIFT) during military service. Voluntary male conscripts (aged 18-28 years) were placed in either an experimental (EXP: n = 50-66) or a control (CON: n = 50-67) group. The training for the EXP group included HIFT using body mass, sandbags, and kettlebells. The CON group trained according to the current practice. Physical performance and body composition were assessed at baseline (PRE), at week 10 (MID), and after (POST) the 19-week training period. Significance was set at p < 0.05. The total distance covered in a 12-minute running test increased in both groups, but the change in EXP was superior to the change in CON (11.6%, ES: 0.79 vs. 5.7%, ES: 0.33; p = 0.027). Maximal strength and power characteristics increased in EXP (3.1-5.0%), whereas no improvements were observed in CON. Conscripts with the highest initial fitness showed no improvements in physical performance in either group. Body mass and waist circumference decreased in EXP, whereas CON showed an increase in muscle mass. These findings suggest that HIFT is an effective and time-efficient approach to improve soldiers' aerobic fitness during military service. For the optimal development of strength, the training equipment used may not have provided sufficient and progressive loading to yield considerable strength adaptations. More focus should be placed on sufficient intensity and volume in both strength and endurance training, especially for the most fit soldiers

Low back pain during military service predicts low back pain later in life

Public Library of Science open acces

Liikkumattomuuden lasku kasvaa – vähäisen fyysisen aktiivisuuden ja heikon fyysisen kunnon yhteiskunnalliset kustannukset

Raportin tavoitteena oli selvittää liikunta-, terveys- ja taloustieteellisen yhteistyön avulla terveyden kannalta liian vähäisen fyysisen aktiivisuuden, huonon kunnon ja runsaan paikallaanolon yhteyttä kroonisten kansansairauksien aiheuttamiin yhteiskunnalle muodostuviin suoriin terveydenhuollon kustannuksiin ja tuottavuuskustannuksiin. Yhteensä nämä vuosittaiset kustannukset ja tuottavuuden menetykset ovat 3,2 - 7,5 miljardia euroa. Tästä laskelmasta puuttuvat kaikki alle 10 päivää kestäneiden sairaslomien kustannukset ja kustannukset monista sairauksia joista ei ole julkaistu väestösyyosuuden tunnuslukua. Samoin kustannuksista puuttuu kaikki liikkumattomuuden aiheuttamat arvonlisäveron ja muiden välillisten verojen aiheuttamat menetykset. Edelleen laskelmista puuttuu hiilineutraalin liikkumisen aiheuttamat säästöt. Toisaalta voidaan myös todeta, että liikkumattomuuden vuosittaiset yhteiskunnalliset kustannukset ovat useita miljardeja euroja ja että kustannukset kasvavat vuosittain suomalaisen väestön ikääntymisen ja sairastavuuden kasvun taki

Effects of added endurance or strength training on cardiovascular and neuromuscular performance of conscripts during the 8-week basic training period

 The present series of studies investigated changes in Finnish conscripts’ body composition, aerobic fitness and muscle endurance profiles during the last three decades. A second aim was to examine the effects of added endurance (ET) or strength training (ST) on cardiovascular and neuromuscular performance as well as hormonal responses of conscripts during an 8-week basic training (BT) period when compared to the current standardized (NT) programme. The third aim was to study the effects of these three different training programmes on a novel 3K combat running performance test. The present results showed that aerobic fitness and muscle endurance of 20 year old men in Finland has decreased and that body mass has increased over the last 15 years. Furthermore, the present study demonstrated that the current BT programme of the Finnish Defense Forces, including a high amount of endurance-based military training, led to significant improvements in maximal oxygen uptake, 3K loaded combat running time, and maximal strength of both upper and lower body extremities of conscripts. However, strength development and muscle hypertrophy in the ST group was not significantly higher than in the other groups. Significant increases observed in serum basal testosterone concentrations in all groups indicated that training frequency, volume and intensity were sufficient enough to create positive training responses but ST combined with BT led to increased serum basal cortisol concentrations. The BT programme positively influenced body composition by decreasing body fat and waist circumference in all groups. The magnitude of training-specific gains from added endurance training and from added strength training were blunted by the demands of BT alone, as only minor differences existed between the three groups. The present study suggests that strength training is an essential part of the basic training programme, but it seems that in order to obtain more strength specific training responses, some decreases in the amount of the endurance-based military training are needed. Moreover, some individualization of specific ET and ST training programmes combined with military training may be required

Varusmiesten fyysinen toimintakyky, harjoittelu ja kuormittuminen

nonPeerReviewe

Johdanto sotilaan fyysiseen toimintakykyyn

nonPeerReviewe

KRITOKY-tutkimus : valmiustason ylläpito matalakuormitteisissa kriisinhallintaoperaatioissa edellyttää voima- ja kestävyysharjoittelua

Kuormittumisesta ja fyysisestä harjoittelusta sotilasoperaatioiden aikana on julkaistu kansainvälisestikin varsin vähän tutkimustietoa. Kriisinhallintajoukkojen toimintakykytutkimuksen (KRITOKY) tarkoituksena oli selvittää sotilaiden kuormittumista ja fyysistä aktiivisuutta Libanonin UNIFIL-rauhaturvaoperaatiossa kuuden kuukauden seurantajakson aikana. Lisäksi tutkittiin yhdistetyn voima- ja kestävyysharjoittelun vaikutuksia sotilaiden kehon koostumukseen, hengitys- ja verenkiertoelimistön sekä hermolihasjärjestelmän toimintakykyyn, seerumin hormonitasoihin sekä sotilaan tehtäväkohtaiseen toimintakykyyn. KRITOKY-tutkimus osoitti, että kriisinhallintaoperaation fyysinen kuormitus oli mittausjakson aikana varsin alhainen. Alhaisesta fyysisestä aktiivisuudesta huolimatta sotilaat pääosin säilyttivät lähtötilanteen fyysisen toimintakyvyn tasonsa tai jopa paransivat sitä hieman operaation aikana.peerReviewe