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IJERPH
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Research on Exercise and Physical Activity in Older People
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Research on Exercise and Physical Activity in Older People

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Sport and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 3636

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zsolt Murlasits

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 7622 Pécs, Hungary
Interests: neuromuscular responses to exercise and physical activity in various populations from athletes to the elderly. functional training; power training; high-velocity training in older adults; concurrent strength and endurance training
Dr. Márk Váczi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 7622 Pécs, Hungary
Interests: physical activity; functional abilities; resistance training; neuromuscular adaptations; aging

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Age-related physiological changes (e.g., sarcopenia) lead to decreased force and power production and increased fatigue, resulting in a significant impairment in activities of daily living, functional decline, and a subsequent reduction in the quality of life. Physical activity has been shown to positively impact health-related outcomes and quality of life both in younger and older populations. While resistance training can effectively increase muscle mass and strength and attenuate various forms of skeletal muscle wasting, endurance exercise has a positive effect on cardiovascular health. With appropriate training, older adults can reverse strength and muscle mass deficits and cardiovascular performance to younger levels and improve physical functioning, resulting in a better quality of life. Importantly, high-velocity/power training and functional training have been shown to provide superior benefits for this population. Age-related functional decline is a complex process involving several physiological systems and lifestyle factors. Thus, more research is needed to fully elucidate the exact role of various factors in this process and define the optimal parameters of exercise and physical activity interventions in this population. The aim of this Special Issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) is to advance this area by promoting applied research conducted in older adults. All types of research studies, especially cross-sectional and longitudinal original research, reviews, and short communications are invited for this Special Issue. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the above mentioned topics are also welcome.

Dr. Zsolt Murlasits
Dr. Márk Váczi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • exercise
  • physical activity
  • cardiovascular fitness
  • functional abilities
  • resistance training
  • neuromuscular adaptations
  • aging
  • elderly
  • sarcopenia
  • quality of life

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 530 KiB  
Article
Musculoskeletal Fitness for Identifying Low Physical Function in Older Women
by Frederico Abreu, Vera Zymbal and Fátima Baptista
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(8), 5485; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20085485 - 12 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1421
Abstract
Aims: This cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the relevance of musculoskeletal fitness for identifying low physical functioning in community-dwelling older women. Methods: Sixty-six older women (73.62 ± 8.23 yrs old) performed a musculoskeletal fitness assessment of the upper and lower limbs. A handheld [...] Read more.
Aims: This cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the relevance of musculoskeletal fitness for identifying low physical functioning in community-dwelling older women. Methods: Sixty-six older women (73.62 ± 8.23 yrs old) performed a musculoskeletal fitness assessment of the upper and lower limbs. A handheld dynamometer was used to evaluate upper-limb muscle strength through a handgrip (HG) test. Lower-limb power and force were assessed from a two-leg countermovement vertical jump (VJ) on a ground reaction force platform. Physical functioning was assessed subjectively using the Composite Physical Function (CPF) questionnaire and objectively by daily step count measured by accelerometry and gait speed/agility assessed by the 8-Foot Up-and-Go (TUG) test. Logistic regressions and ROC curves were carried out to define odds ratios and ideal cutoff values for discriminatory variables. Results: VJ power showed the ability to identify low physical functioning when evaluated through the CPF (14 W/kg, 1011 W), gait speed/agility (15 W/kg, 800 W), or daily accumulated steps (17 W/kg). Considering that VJ power was normalized for body mass, the increase of 1 W/kg corresponds to a decrease of 21%, 19%, or 16% in the chance of low physical functioning when expressed by these variables, respectively. HG strength and VJ force did not show a capacity to identify low physical functioning. Conclusions: The results suggest that VJ power is the only marker of low physical functioning when considering the three benchmarks: perception of physical ability, capacity for mobility, and daily mobility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Exercise and Physical Activity in Older People)
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12 pages, 1024 KiB  
Article
The Effects of a 12-Week-Long Sand Exercise Training Program on Neuromechanical and Functional Parameters in Type II Diabetic Patients with Neuropathy
by Judit Prókai, Zsolt Murlasits, Miklós Bánhidi, László Csóka, Viktória Gréci, Tamás Atlasz and Márk Váczi
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(7), 5413; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20075413 - 05 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1861
Abstract
Studies have proven the effectiveness of different weight-bearing exercise interventions for diabetic patients with neuropathy; however, several adverse effects were reported using solid surfaces. Thus, in the present study, we investigated the effects of a novel sand exercise training intervention on biomechanical and [...] Read more.
Studies have proven the effectiveness of different weight-bearing exercise interventions for diabetic patients with neuropathy; however, several adverse effects were reported using solid surfaces. Thus, in the present study, we investigated the effects of a novel sand exercise training intervention on biomechanical and functional parameters in seven diabetic patients (age = 62.7 ± 9.7 years) with neuropathy. Patients underwent a 12-week sand exercise training program, using strengthening, stretching, balance, and gait exercises. They were tested for ankle plantar- and dorsiflexion peak torque, active range of motion (ROM), timed up and go (TUG), and bilateral static balance. EMG activity of tibialis anterior (TA), gastrocnemius medialis (GM), and lateralis (GL) muscles were measured during unilateral isometric contraction in plantar- and dorsiflexion. In the intervention period, plantarflexion peak torque improved significantly (p = 0.033), while dorsiflexion torque remained unchanged. Plantar- and dorsiflexion ROM increased (p = 0.032) and (p = 0.021), respectively. EMG activity of GM (p = 0.005) and GL (p = 0.002) measured during dorsiflexion and postural sway in the balance test, as well as time to complete the TUG test, decreased significantly (p = 0.021) and (p = 0.002), respectively. No adverse effect was reported during the intervention period. We concluded that sand exercise training can be a safe and effective method to improve plantarflexion strength, ankle flexibility, and balance, which is reflected in better gait function in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Exercise and Physical Activity in Older People)
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