The purpose of this randomized controlled study was to investigate the effects of a 12-week coordinative ability training program on adolescents' cognitive functioning, using evaluation tests of ...visuospatial perception, attention, and working memory. We randomly assigned 60 public school students (14-15 years) to either an experimental coordinative abilities training (∼40 min twice/week) group (
= 30) or a control group (
= 30) who received general psycho-physical wellness training (∼40 min., twice a week). At baseline and after training we used two standardized motor tests and a single cognitive measure (Corsi's Block-tapping test) to assess students' visuospatial perception, attention, and working memory. We found a significant Time x Group interaction for the Throwing and Catching Test and Corsi's Block-Tapping test, reflecting a meaningful experimental group improvement (
< 0.001), and there were no significant pre-post changes found in the control group. Thus, a 12-week program of coordinative abilities was able to improve not only coordination skills but aspects of cognitive functioning relevant to academic achievement.
Body image is a multidimensional construct encompassing how we perceive, think, feel, and act toward our bodies and lies on a continuum from healthy body perceptions to unhealthy body perceptions. ...Previous researches suggest that adolescent girls experience higher levels of body dissatisfaction than do their male counterparts. Therefore, the aim of this research was to investigate on gender differences concerning the perceived body dissatisfaction and uneasiness by adolescents and the role played by the physical education in the process of positive development of the mental representation of the corporeity. 100 students (14-15 years) participated voluntarily in the study and were assigned to trained group (n = 50; 25M, 25F) regularly practicing sports outside the school hours, or untrained group (n = 50; 25M, 25F) did not practice any extracurricular physical activity in the period before the study. After anthropometric measurements (BMI), two standardized psychological tests to assess the degree of personal satisfaction towards their body were administered (i.e., Body uneasiness test (BUT) and contour drawing rating scale (CDRS)). BUT and CDRS scores were significantly lower for total trained group and trained females (p < .05). Also, total trained group and males and females trained showed a significant lower BMI (p < .05), whereas no significant difference was observed between the untrained and trained males for BUT and CDRS. Findings showed a better body-size perception and a smaller body uneasiness by trained adolescents. Moreover, girls showed anyway a greater dissatisfaction and uneasiness with the external appearance compared to their male counterpart.
Maintaining appropriate levels of physical exercise is an optimal way for keeping a good state of health. At the same time, optimal exercise performance necessitates an integrated organ system ...response. In this respect, physical exercise has numerous repercussions on metabolism and function of different organs and tissues by enhancing whole-body metabolic homeostasis in response to different exercise-related adaptations. Specifically, both prolonged and intensive physical exercise produce vast changes in multiple and different lipid-related metabolites. Lipidomic technologies allow these changes and adaptations to be clarified, by using a biological system approach they provide scientific understanding of the effect of physical exercise on lipid trajectories. Therefore, this systematic review aims to indicate and clarify the identifying biology of the individual response to different exercise workloads, as well as provide direction for future studies focused on the body’s metabolome exercise-related adaptations. It was performed using five databases (Medline (PubMed), Google Scholar, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library). Two author teams reviewed 105 abstracts for inclusion and at the end of the screening process 50 full texts were analyzed. Lastly, 14 research articles specifically focusing on metabolic responses to exercise in healthy subjects were included. The Oxford quality scoring system scale was used as a quality measure of the reviews. Information was extracted using the participants, intervention, comparison, outcomes (PICOS) format. Despite that fact that it is well-known that lipids are involved in different sport-related changes, it is unclear what types of lipids are involved. Therefore, we analyzed the characteristic lipid species in blood and skeletal muscle, as well as their alterations in response to chronic and acute exercise. Lipidomics analyses of the studies examined revealed medium- and long-chain fatty acids, fatty acid oxidation products, and phospholipids qualitative changes. The main cumulative evidence indicates that both chronic and acute bouts of exercise determine significant changes in lipidomic profiles, but they manifested in very different ways depending on the type of tissue examined. Therefore, this systematic review may offer the possibility to fully understand the individual lipidomics exercise-related response and could be especially important to improve athletic performance and human health.
Physical activity (PA), which includes exercise, can reduce the risk of developing various non-communicable diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), and mitigate their adverse effects. ...However, the mechanisms underlying this ability are not yet fully understood. Among several possible mechanisms proposed, such as the stimulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and nerve growth factor (NGF), the possible involvement of particular vesicular structures enclosed in lipid membranes known as extracellular vesicles (EVs) has recently been investigated. These EVs would appear to exert a paracrine and systemic action through their ability to carry various molecules, particularly so-called microRNAs (miRNAs), performing a function as mediators of intercellular communication. Interestingly, EVs and miRNAs are differentially expressed following PA, but evidence on how different exercise parameters may differentially affect EVs and the miRNAs they carry is still scarce. In this review we summarized the current human findings on the effects of PA and different exercise parameters exerted on EVs and their cargo, focusing on miRNAs molecules, and discussing how this may represent one of the biological mechanisms through which exercise contributes to preventing and slowing NDs.
To ensure both optimal health and performances, monitoring physiological and psychological states is of main importance for athletes. It is well known that monitoring heart rate variability and using ...validated questionnaires is useful for monitoring both the health and training status of athletes of different sports. Motorsports such as rally require high levels of physical and mental preparation thus information about psychophysiological status of rally athletes is fundamental. The aim of this study was to assess the autonomic regulation, stress, recovery conditions of one driver and one co-driver competing at the Italian National Rally Championship during their competition period. Heart rate variability parameters, acute recovery and stress states were assessed the day before, during the two days of race and the day following the races. Results showed that driver and co-driver had a sharp decrease of mean RR intervals, root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats, and standard deviation of the N-N interval during race days, while the stress index showed the inverse trend, and this behaviour was clearly visible in the Poincaré plots and power spectrum density graphs. The acute recovery and stress states questionnaire showed significant differences in recovery and stress scoring for the driver but not for the co-driver, although the trends were similar. This study describes the psychophysiological demands of a rally competition period suggesting that a daily evaluation of heart rate variability, recovery, stress states is useful for monitoring health status in rally athletes and could be implemented to make decision about training and recovery strategies.
The purpose of this randomized controlled study was to investigate the impact of a 12-week physical education (PE) program on the self-efficacy of overweight schoolgirls. We randomly assigned 60 ...overweight schoolgirls (15–17 years) to either an experimental moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise (∼90 min, three times a week) group (
n
= 30) or a control group (CG) (
n
= 30) that received non-specific regular PE lessons with activities chosen by the curricular teacher mainly focused on team games and sports skills that aimed to achieve general psycho-physical wellness (∼90 min, three times a week). To assess the starting level of students and significant changes reached, at baseline and after training, a battery of standardized assessment motor tests and a psychometric scale (generalized self-efficacy scale, GES) were administered. At the end of the intervention, the experimental group reported a considerable decrease in body mass index (BMI) and a large improvement in self-efficacy (
p
< 0.001). No significant changes were found in the CG. The results suggested that the 12-week moderate to a vigorous aerobic exercise program is an effective weight loss intervention and a vehicle to promote a range of outcomes important to the qualitative growth of adolescents. In fact, it could provide a positive and significant impact on the self-efficacy of overweight schoolgirls.
Lymphoma patients experience a psychological and physiological decline that could be reversed by exercise. However, little is known about the effects of the exercise on psychological and physical ...fitness variables. Therefore, the purpose of this longitudinal study was to assess self-efficacy, fatigue and physical fitness before and after an eight-week exercise intervention.
Thirty-six participants (54.4 ± 19.1 years) performed a supervised exercise program (~60 min, 2d·wk
). Each session included a combined progressive training of cardiorespiratory, resistance, flexibility and postural education exercises. Self-efficacy and fatigue were measured with the Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy scale and 0-10 rating scale, respectively. Physical fitness was assessed with the body mass index, lower back flexibility, static balance, muscle strength and functional mobility.
Adherence to exercise was high (91.2% ± 4.8%) and no major health problems were noted in the patients over the intervention period. At baseline, significant differences were found between Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients by age and all dependent measures (
< 0.05). Fatigue significantly decreased and the perceived capability to regulate negative affect and to express positive emotions improved after exercise (
< 0.001). Significant improvements were found for body mass index, trunk lateral flexibility, monopodalic balance, isometric handgrip force and functional mobility (
< 0.001). Fatigue was significantly correlated with handgrip force (
= -0.56,
< 0.001) and functional mobility (
= -0.69,
< 0.001).
The supervised exercise program improved psychological and physical fitness without causing adverse effects and health problems. Therefore, exercise to improve fitness levels and reduce perceived fatigue should be considered in the management of lymphoma patients.
Increasing evidence supports the importance of the gut microbiota (GM) in regulating multiple functions related to host physical health and, more recently, through the gut–brain axis (GBA), mental ...health. Similarly, the literature on the impact of physical activity (PA), including exercise, on GM and GBA is growing. Therefore, this narrative review summarizes and critically appraises the existing literature that delves into the benefits or adverse effects produced by PA on physical and mental health status through modifications of the GM, highlighting differences and similarities between preclinical and human studies. The same exercise in animal models, whether performed voluntarily or forced, has different effects on the GM, just as, in humans, intense endurance exercise can have a negative influence. In humans and animals, only aerobic PA seems able to modify the composition of the GM, whereas cardiovascular fitness appears related to specific microbial taxa or metabolites that promote a state of physical health. The PA favors bacterial strains that can promote physical performance and that can induce beneficial changes in the brain. Currently, it seems useful to prioritize aerobic activities at a moderate and not prolonged intensity. There may be greater benefits if PA is undertaken from a young age and the effects on the GM seem to gradually disappear when the activity is stopped. The PA produces modifications in the GM that can mediate and induce mental health benefits.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world and cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is the most common disease in cancer patients that received radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and ...biotherapy. Many studies recommended physical activity and exercise to improve fatigue. This systematic review aims to provide a qualitative synthesis of Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of Aerobic, Resistance, Endurance and combined exercises on CRF versus control or different exercise group in cancer adult patients and survivors that did not receive palliative care. This systematic review is written and presented according to PRISMA protocols. Articles in the English language were collected using the PubMed and WoS databases from 2001 January 1st to 2019 September 1st. Only RCTs lasted 5 weeks or more were analysed of which CRF outcomes were examined. A total of 15 RCTs met our inclusion criteria. Different outcomes in CRF self-reports were found between Aerobic, Resistance, Endurance and Combined exercises. Findings suggest that exercise improves CRF, especially with aerobic or combined programs. The outcomes of trials could help exercise professionals to properly plan the sessions by dosing the volume and intensity. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to better understand the benefits of physical exercise on cancer patients.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a leading cause of mortality globally, emphasizing the need for effective preventive measures. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a multicomponent ...compared to an aerobic training program on the hemodynamic parameters, physical fitness, psychophysical health status and quality of life (QoL) of adults and elderly with stabilized CVDs.
Thirty-three subjects (19M and 14F; age 69.5 ± 4.9 years; BMI 27.34 ± 4.95 kg/m2) suffering from CVDs voluntarily participated in this 10-week randomized controlled study and were allocated into three groups: multicomponent training group (MTG; 6M, 6F; cardiorespiratory, resistance, flexibility and breathing exercises; 60′, 2d·wk-1), aerobic training group (ATG; 7M, 5F; aerobic-only training; 60′, 2d·wk-1) or a wait-list control group (CG; 6M, 3F; no PA). Hemodynamic parameters were assessed through resting hearth rate (RHR) and peripheral-systolic and diastolic blood pressure (P-SBP/P-DBP). Physical fitness was assessed via a 30” chair stand test (30CST), timed up and go (TUG) test, handgrip strength (HGS) test, and 2’ step test (TMST). The health status, QoL and enjoyment were evaluated with short form-12 (SF-12), world health organization quality of life-bref (WHOQoL-bref) and physical activity enjoyment scale (PACES), respectively.
After the intervention, MTG showed significant improvements in hemodynamic parameters (95 % CI, RHR: 2.76 to 9.07; P-SBP: 3.28 to 13.71; P-DBP: 3.56 to 8.94; p < 0.001), physical fitness (95 % CI, 30CST: 4.42 to −1.90; TUG: 0.56 to 1.58; TMST: 35.24 to −18.58; Dominant HGS: 4.00 to −1.65; Undominant HGS: 2.87 to −0.79, p < 0.001) and enjoyment (PACES: 15.18 to −5.48, p < 0.001) compared to CG; ATG showed significant improvement in hemodynamic parameters (95 % CI, RHR: 1.76 to 8.07; P-SBP: 3.19 to 13.63; P-DBP: 4.47 to 9.85, p < 0.001), physical fitness (95 % CI, 30CST: 2.59 to −0.07; TUG: 0.03 to 1.05; Dominant HGS: 2.42 to −0.07, p < 0.05; TMST: 36.08 to −19.41, p < 0.001) and enjoyment (PACES: 14.68 to −4.98, p < 0.001) compared to CG. No significant changes were observed in QoL and SF-12 (p > 0.05). Significant differences between MTG and ATG were only found in physical fitness variables (95 % CI, 30CST: 3.21 to −0.45, p < 0.01; Dominant HGS: 0.00 to 3.00, p < 0.05).
Findings showed significant improvements in hemodynamic parameters and physical fitness suggesting the effectiveness of the multicomponent exercise program, similar to aerobic-only training, and greater efficacy for lower limb strength and dominant hand grip strength in adults and elderly with stabilized CVDs. Both exercise groups showed similar levels of enjoyment.
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