Chronic medical conditions caused by the inadequate adaptation of the body to modern lifestyles, such as physical inactivity and unhealthy diets, are on the rise. This study assessed whether a comprehensive lifestyle intervention, including high volumes of supervised exercise, could improve health outcomes. Eight volunteers with lifestyle-related diseases received a 6-month lifestyle intervention consisting of 8000-10 000 steps/day, 6 moderate-intensity endurance and 3 resistance training sessions per week, a 5-week long hike, and dietary advice. This was followed by 7 months of limited remote supervision, ending 13 months from baseline. The participants (3 females, 5 males; mean age 42.9 years) had conditions including type 2 diabetes (T2D), depression/stress, and metabolic syndrome (MS). After 6 months, body weight decreased significantly by 23 kg (95% CI; -33.7 to -12.2), with a minor non-significant decrease in lean body mass of 1.96 kg (95% CI; -4.34 to 0.27). Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) increased by 18.5 mL/O2/kg/min. (95% CI; 13.8-23.1) and systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased by 33 (95% CI; -39 to -26) and 18 mmHg (95% CI; -23 to -14), respectively. Three of the 4 participants with T2D had normalized glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, and all showed improved 2-h oral glucose tolerance (OGTT) without pharmacological treatment. Participants with T2D continued to lower HbA1c during the 7-month follow-up period. This 6-month lifestyle intervention restored metabolic health and improved cardiovascular health in 8 participants with lifestyle-related diseases while reducing the need for pharmacological treatments. These findings suggest that comprehensive lifestyle changes can reverse several medical conditions caused by evolutionary mismatch.
Studies investigating the mechanisms influencing maximum passive joint range of motion (ROMmax) and stiffness have not objectively assessed the possible influence of stretch speed and/or arousal state. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of arousal state and stretch speed on healthy individuals ROMmax, stiffness, gastrocnemius medialis, and soleus electromyographic activity (EMG). Fourteen participants performed one familiarization and then one testing session on separate days in the laboratory. In the familiarization (Session 1), participants practiced fast (30°/s ankle dorsiflexion) and slow (5°/s) plantar flexor stretches on an isokinetic dynamometer with the knee extended. In the experimental session (Session 2), they performed two slow, then two fast, stretches under three randomized arousal conditions: control (no music), arousing, and relaxing music. Dorsiflexion ROMmax, ankle joint stiffness, muscle activity during stretch, mean heart rate, and perception of arousal were measured. Perception of arousal was greater in the arousing than relaxing condition (p = 0.001). ROMmax was greater during fast (69.1° ± 7.8°) than slow stretches (64.9° ± 10.8°; p = 0.002) with no effect of arousal. Stiffness and EMG were higher at faster speeds, with a significantly greater percentage of stiffness observed in the arousing than the other conditions during faster stretches (p = 0.04). ROMmax was greater at the faster stretch speed despite greater stiffness and muscle activities being produced during the stretch. Thus, despite reflexive muscle activity and viscosity being higher during faster stretches, a greater, not lesser, ROMmax was observed. Arousal state, at least when altered by music, did not seem to affect ROMmax but somewhat influenced stiffness in the faster stretches.
This study investigated longitudinal physical activity (PA) profiles over 7 years in the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER). Cognition, depression, pain, and PA motives were included as determinants of the PA profiles. The 1259 participants, aged 60-77 years at baseline, were randomized into either a control group receiving general health advice, or an intervention group offered a comprehensive 2-year multidomain intervention including physical exercise, diet advice, cognitive training, and vascular risk factor management. The participants reported weekly moderate-intensity PA at baseline and 1, 2, 5, and 7 years after the baseline. Those providing PA data at two or more time points were included (n = 1188). Longitudinal PA profiles were determined using latent class growth analysis, and their associations with baseline determinants via multinomial logistic regression analysis. Interaction terms were added to investigate whether the intervention modified these associations. Six PA profiles were identified: Very high-stable (6%), High-stable (22%), Moderate-declining (47%), Moderate-steeply declining (5%), Low-increasing (9%), and Constantly low (12%). Participants in the intervention group and those motivated by distal and proximal benefits of exercise were likelier to maintain high PA level. Conversely, depressive symptoms and pain were predictors of Constantly low profile. Results show that high baseline PA was generally maintained, while greater variability in PA changes was observed among initially less active participants.
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