The effects of exercise training on mood and perceived coping ability in anxious adults from the general population

A comparison was carried out of the psychological effects of a moderate aerobic training programme (n = 24) and an attention-placebo strength and flexibility training programme (n = 23) in previously inactive anxious adults from the general population. Training consisted of one supervised and three unsupervised sessions per week for 10 weeks. Effects were assessed with the Profile of Mood States, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and questionnaires indexing perceived coping ability. Seven participants dropped out of each condition during the training period. Expectations of benefit assessed pre-training, and satisfaction assessed post-training, did not differ between conditions. The moderate exercise programme led to significant improvements in aerobic fitness, and was associated with significantly greater reductions in tension-anxiety, depression and other moods than the attention-placebo condition, together with increases in perceived ability to cope with stress. Psychological responses were not correlated with changes in fitness assessed with bicycle ergometry or the 12 min walk/run test. These effects were maintained on 3 month follow up.     

Effect of a six-month aerobic exercise training program on cardiovascular responsivity in healthy middle-aged adults.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a six month aerobic exercise training regimen on cardiovascular responsivity to mental arithmetic in healthy middle-aged men and women. Subjects were randomly assigned to a moderate intensity exercise intervention or to an assessment-only control group. Before and after the intervention subjects' heart rates and blood pressures were measured doing a mental arithmetic task (N = 83). Other physiological and psychosocial measures included the Type A structured interview and a maximal exercise treadmill test. Validated adherence to the exercise regimen exceeded 75% and there were significant increases in aerobic capacity in those subjects receiving exercise training. Exercise did not significantly reduce cardiovascular responsivity to the stress task. Type A behavior did not interact with reactivity across exercisers or controls nor was it significantly correlated with adherence. The results are discussed with respect to factors that have been previously reported to potentially influence the exercise/reactivity relationship.     

The effects of aerobic and anaerobic training on fitness, blood pressure, and psychological stress and well-being

To determine whether fitness alters psychological and physiological indices of well-being, male police officers were assigned to either an aerobic or anaerobic training condition or to a no treatment control group. The training groups met three times per week in 45 min sessions aimed at improving either cardiovascular endurance or muscle strength. Aerobic fitness level, heart rate, blood pressure and self-report of stress and well-being were measured prior to and following 10 weeks of training. Post-training fitness measures confirmed the effectiveness of training and between group differences for physiological and self-report measures were found. Subjects undergoing aerobic training evinced larger changes on the self-report measures of well-being and stress than the anaerobic trainers and both groups showed significant improvement when compared to controls. This experiment provides support for the hypothesis that exercise, and in particular aerobic exercise, has positive effects of well-being. It is suggested that future research might usefully explore the particular contribution of different aspects of the training situation to these effects.     

The Acute Effects of Aerobic Dance Exercise with and without Face Mask Use on Attention,Perceived Exertion and Mood States

The present study aimed to determine the effect of wearing a face mask during aerobic dance exercise on cognitive function, more specifically on attention, as well as on perceived exertion and mood states. Thirteen healthy college students (9 males and 4 females: mean age = 17.5 years, height = 1.72 m, weight = 71.00 kg) volunteered to participate in this study. They were randomized to perform aerobic dance exercise while wearing a cloth face mask or no mask or a control condition (sitting on a comfortable chair and reading information about the health benefits of aerobic dance exercise) on three separate occasions (with at least one week of interval). Rate of perceived exertion (RPE), the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) and d2 Attention assessment were assessed before and immediately after each condition. The results demonstrated higher concentration performance for the aerobic dance exercise without face mask than the control condition (p = 0.05). Post RPE and BRUMS fatigue subscale values were significantly higher in the aerobic dance exercise with face mask as compared to the aerobic dance exercise without face mask and control condition (all, p < 0.05). BRUMS vigor subscale value significantly differed across conditions (F = 113.84, p < 0.001, ES = 0.86) and was significantly higher in the aerobic dance exercise group without face mask as compared to the aerobic dance exercise with face mask and the control conditions (both, p < 0.001). This study suggests that face mask use during aerobic dance exercise with moderate intensity did not affect attention. Practitioners, students and athletes should avoid wearing face mask while practicing physical activity or aerobic dance exercise with moderate intensity to improve its acute effect on cognitive function.     

Comparison of the effects of acute and regular exercise on intraocular pressure in Turkish athlete and sedentarians

The aim of this study was to investigate the changes that take place in IOP in athletes and people leading sedentary lives subjected to aerobic and anaerobic exercise and how chronic exercise could affect these changes. The study included 20 sportsmen (Group 1), and 20 people leading sedentary lives (Group 2). The intensity of the exercise for both groups was determined according to the Karvonen protocol and executed as an aerobic exercise program involving running on a treadmill for 30 min. Subjects in both groups were subjected to anaerobic exercise according to the Wingate test protocol for 30 s. The intraocular pressure of all subjects before exercise and after aerobic and anaerobic exercise were measured. The IOP before and after exercise aerobic and anaerobic were evaluated by the Willcoxon test whereas the right and left IOP before exercise and after the aerobic and anaerobic exercise programs in both groups were evaluated using the Mann Whitney U test. p values of <.05 were considered significant. Significant differences were found when the pre-exercise and post-aerobic and anaerobic exercise IOPs of the groups were compared (p < .05). Comparison of the post-anaerobic and aerobic exercise revealed a fall in the IOPs of the subjects after the aerobic exercise (p < .01). In this study, exercise was found to lead to a fall in the IOP in both sportsmen and those leading sedentary lives with the fall less apparent under anaerobic conditions than under aerobic conditions. In conclusion, therefore, it can be said that in those with an increased intraocular pressure, regular, moderately intense aerobic exercise rather than short-lived intense exercise could be more useful.     

COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF ACUTE AND REGULAR EXERCISE ON INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE IN TURKISH ATHLETE AND SEDENTARIANS

The aim of this study was to investigate the changes that take place in IOP in athletes and people leading sedentary lives subjected to aerobic and anaerobic exercise and how chronic exercise could affect these changes. The study included 20 sportsmen (Group 1), and 20 people leading sedentary lives (Group 2). The intensity of the exercise for both groups was determined according to the Karvonen protocol and executed as an aerobic exercise program involving running on a treadmill for 30 min. Subjects in both groups were subjected to anaerobic exercise according to the Wingate test protocol for 30 s. The intraocular pressure of all subjects before exercise and after aerobic and anaerobic exercise were measured. The IOP before and after exercise aerobic and anaerobic were evaluated by the Willcoxon test whereas the right and left IOP before exercise and after the aerobic and anaerobic exercise programs in both groups were evaluated using the Mann Whitney U test. p values of <.05 were considered significant. Significant differences were found when the pre-exercise and post-aerobic and anaerobic exercise IOPs of the groups were compared (p < .05). Comparison of the post-anaerobic and aerobic exercise revealed a fall in the IOPs of the subjects after the aerobic exercise (p < .01). In this study, exercise was found to lead to a fall in the IOP in both sportsmen and those leading sedentary lives with the fall less apparent under anaerobic conditions than under aerobic conditions. In conclusion, therefore, it can be said that in those with an increased intraocular pressure, regular, moderately intense aerobic exercise rather than short-lived intense exercise could be more useful.     

Effects of a short-term exercise training program on aerobic fitness, fatigue, health perception and activity level of subjects with multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients of an inpatient rehabilitation program have been randomly assigned to an exercise training (MS-ET) or nontraining group (MS-NI). Before and after 4 weeks of aerobic exercise training, a graded maximal exercise test with measurement of gas exchange and a lung function test was administered to all 26 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Activity level, fatigue and health perception were measured by means of questionnaires. Twenty-six healthy persons served as control group and were matched in respect of age, gender and activity level. Training intervention consisted of 5x30 min sessions per week of bicycle exercise with individualised intensity. Compared with baseline, the MS training group demonstrated a significant rightward placement of the aerobic threshold (AT) (VO2+13%; work rate [WR])+11%), an improvement of health perception (vitality+46%; social interaction+36%), an increase of activity level (+17%) and a tendency to less fatigue. No changes were observed for the MS-NI group and the control groups. Maximal aerobic capacity and lung function were not changed by either training or nontraining in all four groups. Overall compliance to the training program was quite low (65%), whereas incidence of symptom exacerbation by physical activity has been lower than expected (6%).     

Effects of aerobic exercise training and relaxation training on cardiovascular activity during psychological stress

Students who reported experiencing a high number of stressful life events were randomly assigned to: (a) an aerobic training condition, (b) a relaxation training condition, or (c) a no treatment control condition. Immediately before and after the 11 week training/control period, subjects' aerobic fitness and cardiovascular responses to acute psychological stress were assessed. Results indicated that: (1) subjects in the aerobic training condition showed significantly greater improvements in aerobic fitness than subjects in the other conditions, and (2) the subjects in the aerobic training condition showed significantly greater reductions in heart rate during all phases of the stress than subjects in the other conditions. Post-training differences between aerobic and control conditions during the moderate psychological stress were as great as 17 b.p.m. These results provide evidence for the utility of aerobic training for reducing cardiovascular activity during psychological stress, and they are consistent with earlier findings linking fitness to less illness following stress, reductions in depression and enhanced recovery in cardiac patients.     

Effect of low dose robotic-gait training on walking capacity in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy

ObjectiveRobotic gait training presents a promising training modality. Nevertheless, evidence supporting the efficacy of such therapy in children with cerebral palsy remains insufficient. This study aimed to assess the effect of robotic gait training in children/adolescents with cerebral palsy.MethodsTwenty-four children/adolescents with bilateral cerebral palsy (12 female, 10.1 ± 3.1 years, Gross Motor Function Classification System II to IV) took part in this study. They received two 30−45 min sessions/week of Lokomat training for 12-weeks. Muscle strengths, 6-min walk exercise and gait parameters were evaluated pre- and post-training and at 6-months-follow-up. Training effect according to the level of impairment severity (moderate vs severe) was analyzed using a change from the baseline procedure.ResultsA significant increase in muscle strength was observed after training (p ≤ 0.01). Hip flexors and knee extensors strength changes were maintained or improved at follow-up (p < 0.05). Comfortable walking speed was significantly increased by +20% after training with a slight reduction at follow-up compared to post-training condition (−2.7%, p < 0.05). A significant step length increase was observed after training (14%, p ≤ 0.001). The distance covered in 6 min was higher in post-training (+24%, p ≤ 0.001) and maintained at follow-up compared to pre-training conditions. No significant changes in kinematic patterns were observed. The analysis by subgroup showed that both groups of children (with moderate and severe impairments) improved muscle strength and walking capacities after Lokomat training.ConclusionThe suggested Lokomat training induced improvement in walking capacity of children/adolescents with cerebral palsy whatever the level of severity. Hence, Lokomat training could be viewed as a valuable training modality in this population.     

Exercise intensity and reduction in neurotic symptoms. A controlled follow-up study

The psychological benefits of walking and jogging were compared in 52 symptomatic neurotics over an 8-week training period and subsequent 6-month follow-up. Both groups showed marked reduction of anxiety, depression and global symptoms. Joggers had greater aerobic gain, but no greater psychologic benefit. Significantly larger numbers of joggers dropped out of the study. There was no relationship between aerobic gain and reduction of symptoms at the end of the program. However, at 6 months' follow-up, those with greater aerobic fitness had much lower anxiety levels. Changes in exercise frequency and aerobic capacity were also maintained at follow-up. Depression levels were not associated with aerobic fitness at follow-up. High initial exercise intensity appears to inhibit the forming of new exercise habits.     

Aerobic training in patients with anoctamin 5 myopathy and hyperckemia

Introduction: Anoctamin 5 deficiency has recently been defined to cause limb‐girdle muscular dystrophy type 2L (LGMD2L) with pronounced hyperCKemia. No treatment interventions have been made so far in this condition. Methods: In 6 patients with LGMD2L, we studied the effect of home‐based, pulse‐watch monitored, moderate‐intensity exercise on a cycle ergometer for 30 minutes, 3 times weekly, for 10 weeks. Plasma creatine kinase (CK) was assessed before, during, and after the program as a marker of muscle damage. Primary outcome measures were maximum oxygen uptake (VO_2max) and time in the 5‐repetitions‐sit‐to‐stand test (FRSTST). Results: Training resulted in improvements in VO_2max (27 ± 7%; P = 0.0001) and FRSTST time (35 ± 12%; P = 0.007). Improvements in physiologic and functional muscle testing were accompanied by stable CK levels and no reports of adverse effects. Conclusions: These findings suggest that supervised aerobic exercise training is safe and effective in improving oxidative capacity and muscle function in patients with anoctamin 5 deficiency. Muscle Nerve 50 : 119–123, 2014     

Light aerobic exercise modulates executive function and cortical excitability

Single bouts of aerobic exercise can modulate cortical excitability and executive cognitive function, but less is known about the effect of light‐intensity exercise, an intensity of exercise more achievable for certain clinical populations. Fourteen healthy adults (aged 22 to 30) completed the following study procedures twice (≥7 days apart) before and after 30 min of either light aerobic exercise (cycling) or seated rest: neurocognitive battery (multitasking performance, inhibitory control and spatial working memory), paired‐pulse TMS measures of cortical excitability. Significant improvements in response times during multitasking performance and increases in intracortical facilitation (ICF) were seen following light aerobic exercise. Light aerobic exercise can modulate cortical excitability and some executive function tasks. Populations with deficits in multitasking ability may benefit from this intervention.     

The acute antipanic and anxiolytic activity of aerobic exercise in patients with panic disorder and healthy control subjects

Regular physical activity is anxiolytic in both healthy subjects and patients with panic disorder. In contrast, acute exercise may induce acute panic attacks or increase subjective anxiety in patients with panic disorder more than in other people. The effects of quiet rest or an aerobic treadmill exercise (30 min at an intensity of 70% of the maximal oxygen uptake, VO_2max) on cholecystokinin tetrapeptide (CCK-4) induced panic attacks were studied in a crossover design in 12 patients with panic disorder and 12 matched healthy subjects. The effects of CCK-4 (25 μg in patients and 50 μg in control subjects) were measured with the Acute Panic Inventory (API) score, comparing panic attack frequencies, total score, and subscores for anxiety and somatic symptoms. CCK-4-induced panic attacks were less frequent after prior exercise: they occurred in 15 (62.5%) subjects after rest (9 patients and 6 control subjects), but only 5 (20.8%) subjects after exercise (4 patients and 1 control subject). In both conditions, CCK-4 administration induced a significant increase in the total API score and the anxiety and somatic symptoms subsores. However, compared to prior rest, exercise resulted in a significantly reduced CCK-4-induced increase of the total API score and the anxiety subscore. In patients with panic disorder exercise increased the total API score and the somatic symptoms subscale but not the anxiety subscore. Patients with panic disorder showed increased somatic but not anxiety symptoms after an acute bout of exercise. Severity of CCK-4-induced panic and anxiety, on the other hand was reduced by exercise. These findings suggest that in addition to exercise training an acute bout of exercise may be used to reduce anxiety and panic attack frequency and intensity in panic disorder patients.     

Short‐ and long‐term effects of endurance training in patients with mitochondrial myopathy

Background and purpose: It is unknown whether prolonged training is a safe treatment to alleviate exercise intolerance in patients with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations. Methods: The effect of 3 and 12 months training and 3–12 months deconditioning was studied in four patients carrying different mtDNA mutations. Results: Three‐month moderate‐intensity training increased oxidative capacity by 23%, which was sustained after 6–12 months of low‐intensity training. Training and deconditioning did not induce adverse effects on clinical symptoms, muscle morphology and mtDNA mutation load in muscle. Conclusion: Long‐term training effectively improves exercise capacity in patients with mitochondrial myopathy, and appears to be safe.     

High intensity eccentric resistance training decreases bradykinesia and improves quality of life in persons with Parkinson's disease: A preliminary study

Persons with Parkinson disease (PD) often demonstrate bradykinesia during mobility tasks. Bradykinesia combined with other PD-related movement deficits may contribute to self-reported reductions in quality of life. At this time, no studies have examined the effects of resistance exercise as an intervention to reduce bradykinesia and improve self-reported quality of life. Therefore, we examined changes in muscle force production, clinical measures of bradykinesia, and quality of life following 12 weeks of a high intensity eccentric resistance exercise program in persons with mild to moderate PD. Twenty individuals with idiopathic PD were matched into an experimental or an active control group. All participants were tested prior to and following a 12-week intervention period. The experimental group performed high intensity quadriceps contractions on an eccentric ergometer 3 days a week for 12 weeks. The active control group participated in an evidence based exercise program of PD. The outcome variables were quadriceps muscle force, clinical bradykinesia measures (gait speed, timed up and go) and disease specific quality of life (Parkinson's disease questionairre-39 [PDQ-39]). Data was analyzed using separate 2 (group) × 2 (time period) ANOVAs. Results demonstrated significant time by group interaction effects for gait speed, timed up and go, and the composite PDQ-39 score (p < 0.05). Muscle force, bradykinesia, and QOL were improved to a greater degree in those that performed high intensity eccentric resistance training compared to an active control group. Additional research is needed to determine if this type of training has long-term impact and if it results in an alteration of the natural history of mobility and QOL decline in persons with PD.     

不同强度力竭运动模型大鼠肝细胞凋亡及相关变化

背景：国内外不少实验证明,不同运动方式容易造成肝损伤,导致不同程度的肝细胞凋亡,其具体机制尚不明确。 目的：建立不同强度力竭运动模型,观察运动后大鼠肝细胞凋亡和肝糖元、NO、钙浓度变化。 设计、时间及地点：随机对照动物实验,超微结构观察,于2004-01/2006-12在湖南师范大学体育学院运动人体科学实验室、中南大学组胚实验室完成。 材料：30只8周龄雄性SD大鼠,体质量(219.2±19.5) g,根据Berdford运动模型将大鼠以随机数字表法分为对照组,中等强度、大强度力竭运动组,每组10只。 方法：运动组先进行3 d的适应性跑台训练,速度为10 m/min,坡度为0°。休息3 d后,中等强度力竭运动组初始速度为10 m/min,持续12 min,逐渐增加运动负荷,达到速度为19.3 m/min,持续到力竭。大强度力竭运动组初始速度为26.8 m/min,持续到力竭。共30 d,1次/d。对照组不进行运动训练。 主要观察指标：运动后即刻取肝组织检测肝糖元、NO和Ca2+及肝细胞凋亡情况。 结果：30只大鼠全部进入结果分析。不同强度力竭运动组大鼠都完成了运动,整个运动过程中未出现拒跑现象,中等强度力竭运动组力竭运动时间为(234.60±60.05) min,大强度力竭运动组力竭运动时间为(92.40±34.61) min。与对照组比较,两种强度力竭运动后,大鼠肝组织肝糖元含量、NO浓度均下降,线粒体Ca2+浓度、肝细胞凋亡指数均升高(P < 0.05,P < 0.01),中等强度力竭运动组效果更明显(P < 0.05)。 结论：中、大强度力竭运动均可导致大鼠肝细胞凋亡,肝糖元含量、NO浓度下降,线粒体Ca2+浓度升高,中等强度力竭运动效果更为显著,可能与力竭运动时间长有关。     

Exercise intensity influences cell injury in rat hippocampal slices exposed to oxygen and glucose deprivation

We evaluated the effects of two levels of daily forced exercise intensity (moderate and high) in the treadmill over cell susceptibility to oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) in hippocampal slices from Wistar rats. Moderate exercise decreased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release after OGD, while a significant increase in LDH release was observed in the high intensity group submitted to OGD. Our data corroborate the hypothesis that higher training intensity exacerbates brain damage, while a moderate intensity reduces the injury caused by in vitro ischemia.     

Psychological effects of exercise: a randomized cross-over trial

We tested the effect of beginning an exercise program on the mood of sedentary men who were free of psychopathology. Fourteen men were randomly assigned to either an exercise program or a control period for 12 weeks and then switched to the converse condition. The exercise was nonsocial and of moderate intensity. Exercise did not improve anger, tension, confusion, depression, fatigue, vigor, or total mood disturbance more than a control period. We conclude that beginning an exercise program, in itself, produces minimal psychological benefits. We hypothesize that other conditions, e.g. the presence of emotional problems, socialization along with exercise, or a training effect must be present for exercise to produce psychological benefits.     

Repeated bouts of aerobic exercise enhance regulatory T cell responses in a murine asthma model

We have reported previously that moderate intensity aerobic exercise training attenuates airway inflammation in a murine asthma model. Recent studies implicate regulatory T (Treg) cells in decreasing asthma-related airway inflammation; as such, the current study examined the effect of exercise on Treg cell function in a murine asthma model. Mice were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) prior to the start of exercise training at a moderate intensity 3×/week for 4 weeks; exercise was performed as treadmill running (13.5 m/min, 0% grade). Mice were OVA challenged repeatedly throughout the exercise protocol. At protocol completion, mice were analyzed for changes in the number and suppressive function of CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ cells isolated from lungs, mediastinal lymph nodes, and spleens. Results show that exercise increased significantly the number of Foxp3⁺ cells within the lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes, but not the spleens, of OVA-treated mice as compared with sedentary controls. Exercise also enhanced the suppression function of CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ Treg cells derived from OVA-treated mice as compared with sedentary controls. Specifically, Treg cells from exercised, OVA-treated mice more effectively suppressed CD4⁺CD25^? cell proliferation and Th2 cytokine production in vitro. Enhanced suppression was associated with increased protein levels of TGF-β and lesser amounts of IL-10 and IL-17; however, blocking TGF-β had no effect on suppressive functions. These data demonstrate that exercise-mediated increases in Treg cell function may play a role in the attenuation of airway inflammation. Further, these results indicate that moderate intensity aerobic exercise training may alter the Treg cell function within the asthmatic airway.     

Systematically developed pilot randomized controlled trial of exercise and cognition in persons with multiple sclerosis

ABSTRACT

Cognitive impairment is common and debilitating among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) and might be managed with exercise training. The present pilot study adopted a single-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) design and is the first to examine the effect of a systematically developed, progressive treadmill walking exercise training intervention on cognition among fully ambulatory persons with MS. Ten fully ambulatory females with MS were randomly assigned into exercise training intervention or waitlist control conditions. The intervention condition involved 12 weeks of supervised, progressive chronic treadmill walking exercise training. Participants underwent measures of cognition (i.e., cognitive processing speed (CPS), executive function), walking performance, and cardiorespiratory fitness before and after the 12-week period; baseline and follow-up assessments were performed by blinded assessors. Overall, there were large intervention effects on CPS (d = 0.95), walking performance (d = 0.76), and cardiorespiratory fitness (d > 1.08). The change in cardiorespiratory fitness was significantly associated with change in CPS (r = .60), but not walking performance. This small pilot RCT provides preliminary proof-of-concept data supporting progressive treadmill walking exercise training for potentially improving CPS, walking performance, and cardiorespiratory fitness in fully ambulatory persons with MS, and that improved fitness might be a possible mechanism for improved CPS.