The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of treadmill exercise and bright light exposure on serotonin expression in rat brain. Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned into four groups (n=9 in each group), specifically, control group (CG), exercise group (EG), light group (LG), and exercise+light group (ELG). Rats in EG were subjected to treadmill exercise (5 days/week, 30 min/day), LG rats exposed (5 days/week, 30 min/day, 10,000 Lux), ELG rats subjected to treadmill exercise in combination with exposure, and CG rats remained sedentary over a four-week period. We observed a significant increase in serotonin expression in the raphe obscurus nucleu and the midbrain of rats in EG, LG, and ELG, compared to CG. Interestingly, serotonin expression was significantly increased in ELG, compared to EG and LG in the raphe obscurus nucleu via immunohistochemistry. In the western blot, it showed a increased pattern in ELG, compared to EG and LG. The overall results showed that treadmill exercise and/or bright light had positive effects on serotonin expression in the brain. Therefore, we suggest that moderate exercise or exposure to bright light during a growth child may be beneficial in brain action.
This study measured the accessibility of public exercise facilities within a residental area of a metropolitan community and examined how the accessibility can affect physical activity participation of residents. Initially, a total of 639 residents, who were aged between 19-70, visited Metabolic Syndrome Management Center of the Community Public Health Center, and registered for a Obesity Clinic Program, was listed as potential subjects. And those who responded to Physical Activity Questionnaire were selected for the analyses (n=92, 14.3% of 639). The relationships between physical activity level and accessibility to public exercise facilities were analyzed. Objective distance to public facility was related to ‘volume of participation to vigorous physical activity(r=.209)’, 'total volume of participation to physical activity(r=.206)’. And perceived distance to public facility was related to ‘volume of participation to vigorous-intensity physical activity(r=.235)’. perceived transport time to public facility was related to ‘duration of participation to vigorous-intensity physical activity(r=.239)’, ’volume of participation to vigorous-intensity physical activity(r=.306)’, and ‘volume of participation to total physical activity(r=.273)’. In contrast, the difference between objective distance to public facility and perceived subjective distance to the facility was negatively related to ‘duration of participation to moderate-intensity physical activity(r=-.221)’. The perceived numbers of public facility was positively related to ‘frequency of participation to vigorous-intensity physical activity(r=.237)’, ‘frequency of participation to walking(r=.273)’, ‘volume of participation to walking(r=.251)’ and 'total volume of participation to physical activity(r=.252)’. The predictor of 'total volume of participation to physical activity was perceived numbers of public facility(R2=.153, p=.046). The results revealed that the subjective accessibility to public health facilities was more influential to physical activity participation than the objective accessibility. Further research was warranted while using diverse populations as well as considering a inclusion of environmental factors.
PURPOSE This study investigated the effects of moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE) and high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE), performed postprandially, on blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood lactate levels in men aged 40–50 with prediabetes and prehypertension. METHODS Twelve men with prediabetes and prehypertension were selected. After consuming a liquid meal, the participants participated in three trials: MICE, HIIE, and a non-exercise condition, with a one-week washout period between each trial. The trials were conducted in a counter-balanced manner to ensure equal energy expenditure across conditions. The intensity of the MICE trial was set at 70% of the heart rate reserve (HRR), whereas the HIIE trial alternated between 50% and 90% of HRR for 30 minutes. Blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood lactate levels were measured at various time points during each trial, and a two-way repeated-measures ANOVA was used for analysis. RESULTS 1) In the MICE trial, significant reductions were observed in blood glucose (at 15 and 30 minutes during exercise), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (at 50 minutes post-exercise), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (at 20, 40, 50, and 60 minutes post-exercise). 2) In the HIIE trial, significant reductions in blood glucose (at 15 and 30 minutes during exercise), SBP (at 40 minutes post-exercise), and DBP (at 40 minutes post-exercise) were observed. Blood lactate levels significantly increased. 3) When comparing the two exercise trials, blood glucose in the HIIE trials showed a recovery trend post-exercise, and blood lactate levels increased to a greater extent. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that both MICE and HIIE effectively lower blood glucose during exercise, but HIIE causes a more rapid post-exercise increase in blood glucose compared to MICE. In addition, MICE results in a smaller rise in blood lactate. Therefore, MICE is recommended for improving prediabetes and prehypertension. Future research should compare these effects in healthy individuals and examine long-term adaptations to repeated exercise.
PURPOSE This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effectiveness of exercise programs in improving physical fitness among middle-aged adults in Korea. METHODS A literature search was conducted using KCI-registered databases on DBpia, RISS, and KISS up to September 21, 2023. The review followed the PICOSD framework (population: middle-aged adults; intervention: exercise program; comparison: did not participate in exercise program; outcome: physical fitness; study design: randomized controlled trials). Two researchers independently evaluated bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2). The data was synthesized using the CMA 3.0 program, applying a random effects model to estimate the overall effect size using Hedges’g. RESULTS Out of 914 screened documents, 15 studies were selected, comprising 405 participants. The overall effect size for improving physical fitness was significant (g=0.994, 95% CI: 0.712–1.276). Sub-analysis indicated significant improvements in various components, including muscle strength (g=1.295, 95% CI: 0.909-1.682), muscular endurance (g=0.972, 95% CI: 0.637-1.308), cardiorespiratory endurance (g=1.092, 95% CI: 0.453–1.731), flexibility (g=0.883, 95% CI: 0.555–1.210), muscle power (g=1.421, 95% CI: 0.656– 2.186), and agility (g=1.854, 95% CI: 0.347–3.361) compared to the control group. An additional analysis focusing solely on women revealed a slight increase in effect size, although the order of effect sizes remained consistent across fitness components. CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis confirms the effectiveness of exercise programs in enhancing physical fitness in middle-aged adults. The systematic review also highlights key considerations for designing exercise programs for this demographic. Future studies should aim to minimize bias and enhance the quality of reporting to ensure more robust results.
PURPOSE This study sought to investigate the effects of passive warm-up on flexibility, exercise performance, and lactate oxidation rate in track and field athletes. METHODS A total of eight male athletes with more than three years of athlete experience were recruited as participants, and passive warm-up (PW) and active warm-up (AW) treatments were conducted in a single-group crossover study design. The participants performed thermal stimulation at 40°C for 20 minutes as a PW and performed a 60-70% HRmax cycle as an AW. Flexibility and exercise performance were measured after each treatment. Anaerobic power was measured using the Wingate test, and lactic acid concentration was measured. RESULTS Body temperature significantly increased in both PW and AW, and no significant difference was observed in exercise performance between treatments. Flexibility and lactic acid oxidation rate were significantly higher in PW than in AW. CONCLUSIONS In track and field sprinters, PW did not exhibit any significant difference in anaerobic power and exercise performance compared to AW even though no physical exercise was performed, and PW was effective in body temperature, lactic acid oxidation rate, and flexibility. PW suggests the possibility of replacing AW.
PURPOSE This study explores the impact of visual shape and exercise involvement on consumers' evaluation and happiness with healthy functional foods, specifically protein cookies. METHODS Using a one-factor design with two levels (pretty vs. ugly shape) and one measured variable (exercise involvement), we uncover interesting insights. RESULTS Consumers highly engaged in exercise show a greater purchase intention for ugly-shaped healthy functional foods compared to pretty-shaped ones. Conversely, consumers with low exercise involvement express a higher purchase intention and happiness when it comes to pretty-shaped healthy functional foods compared to their ugly counterparts. CONCLUSIONS These findings contribute to the sports management and sports science literature by shedding light on how visual shape influences the evaluation of healthy functional foods by sport consumers. Furthermore, this research offers valuable practical implications for designing the shape of such foods to cater to the preferences of sports enthusiasts.
PURPOSE This study aims to investigate the problems posed by the new “Health Exercise Managers” qualification system implemented in 2015 and suggest a reformation plan for the qualification definition, written test, and practical–oral test. METHODS Eleven experts working in the academia and the exercise prescription field were selected as research participants using purposive sampling method (professors=5, director of sport science division in national research and development institute=1, head of national/private organization that issue Health Exercise Managers certificates=2, and health exercise managers working at university hospitals =3). The results were collected, examined and classified following numerous discussions among the authors. RESULTS First, the qualification definition should be based on “course completion” in the short term and “department certification” in the long term. Second, the written test can be reformed by identifying the core courses related to health exercise management and merging similar or overlapped courses. Also, the grades should be calculated for each question based on the knowledge gained in related courses. Third, the practical–oral test questions should be publicly available in advance to help candidates better prepare and learn practical skills, rather than set the standards for elimination. CONCLUSIONS An overall reformation of the qualification definition, written test, and practical–oral test will solve the problems posed on the quality of the “health exercise managers” qualification system.
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of visual color perception on autonomic nervous activity and exercise capacity in healthy male college students. METHODS The subjects who were healthy male college student (n=10) were participated in 4 visual colors using by randomized crossover; clear color group (CG), red color group (RG), blue color group (BG) and green color group (GG). All subjects wore goggles for five minutes prior to the exercise to adjust to color, and they did not take off goggles until recovery after exercise. Significant differences between groups were determined by two-way repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS As a result of this study, the low frequency (LF) was significantly higher in RG than those in GG. But the high frequency (HF) was significant higher in BG compared to GG. Exercise capacity such as maximum strength, muscle endurance, reaction time, power, agility and aerobic performance did not differ significantly between all groups. CONCLUSIONS Therefore, our findings suggested that perception of the visual color might be change autonomic nervous activity, while don’t influence exercise capacity.
Purpose This study was designed to investigate the effects of weight-bearing exercise and CareRing treatment on cardiovascular responses, popliteal vein functions, and vascular elasticity of 30-40s women who had worked longer than eight hours a day in a standing position. Methods Thirteen subjects participated in 30 min of standing up treatment (STAND), weight-bearing exercise treatment (EX), and weight-bearing exercise with CareRing treatment (EX+RING). Each subject took part in the three trials repeatedly in a counter-balanced order and proceeded with a wash-out period of at least one week between the respective trials. Results The main results were as follows: 1) Significant reduction in EDV, no change in the diameter of popliteal vein, trend of reduction in blood flow of popliteal vein, and increased baPWV, indicating reduction of vascular elasticity of whole body, were shown in the STAND. 2) CO and EF increased significantly, and TPR decreased significantly in the EX. Blood flow velocity and blood flow volume of popliteal vein increased significantly, and baPWV decreased significantly from immediately after the treatment throughout the recovery phase in the EX. 3) HR, CO, and EF increased significantly in the EX+RING. Blood flow velocity and blood flow volume increased significantly in the EX+RING. Diameter of popliteal vein increased significantly immediately after the treatment and decreased significantly at 40 minutes of recovery. TPR and baPWV decreased significantly immediately after treatment compared to the STAND. Conclusions It was concluded that weight-bearing exercises would be effective in preventing venous or cardiovascular diseases occurred due to long-standing in 30-40s women, who are at high risk for such diseases. Furthermore, it would be more effective to combine pressure treatment with CareRing during weight-bearing exercises.
Purpose The aim of this study is to find how the pyruvate intake and aerobic exercise effect on the body composition, exercise performance ability, blood factor and obesity related hormone, and to verify the effect of pyruvate intake and aerobic exercise as an effective substance for obesity improvement. Methods This study selected 20 obese men in their twenties who has more BMI than 25kg/m2, and are applicable in 25% of the body fat, and randomly sampled group of 10 people for pyruvate intake and aerobic exercise (PYA), and 10 people for placebo intake and aerobic exercise (PLA). Intake of pyruvate and placebo was implemented for 10 weeks, 6 g a day, and aerobic exercise, treadmill exercise in the intensity of 50 ~ 60%’s target heart rate, was conducted for 10 weeks, 3 times a week, 60 minutes a day. To demonstrate the effect of pyruvate intake and aerobic exercise, all of the body composition, exercise performance ability, Lactate, and blood factor and hormone related to obesity were measured before and after the test in the same manner. Results The main results from this study are as follow; 1) In the case of body composition, in PYA, weight(p < .01), BMI(p < .05), body fat percentage(p < .01), and body weight without fat(p < .001) are reduced meaningfully. 2) In the exercise performance ability increased significantly in both PYA(p < .01) and PLA(p < .001) for V˙O2max, Also, in the case of distance during the exercise, PYA(p < .01) and PLA(p < .05) increased significantly in 15 minutes and PYA(p < .01) and PLA(p < .05) 30 minutes, but only in PYA from 45 minutes(p < .01) to 60 minutes(p < .05) 3) In case of Lactate, the significant decrease in PYA during stabilization and the significant increase in PYA after 30 minutes of exercise was not seen after 45 minutes 4) In the case of blood factor, HDL-C showed a meaningful decrease in PLA(p < .05) and Leptin showed a meaningful decrease in PYA(p < .001). Conclusions To sum up these results, it was more effective for the group of PYA which ingested pyruvate in improving obesity, even when the same aerobic exercise is conducted.
