FitBits
Exercise ETC's
Review of Exercise Related Research
December 15, 2009
Compiled by Chris Marino, MS, CSCS
Director of Education, Exercise ETC
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Exercise-induced Irregular Heartbeats Not Dangerous for Older Adults
Exercise-induced ventricular tachycardia is an irregular heart rhythm that has been associated with an increased risk for sudden cardiac death. The risk reported for people with known heart disease in earlier studies was twice that of people with no known heart disease. A recent study, however, suggests that this aberrant rhythm may not present a greater risk for sudden death amongst middle-aged and older adults.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins and the National Institutes on Aging tracked the medical records of more than 2000 men and women across a broad age range: 21-96. The data was obtained from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. None of the participants had a history of heart ailments prior to the study. All participants had undergone a minimum of one treadmill exercise test to evaluate the heart's response to vigorous exercise. During the collection period, eighty-one participants experienced episodes of brief irregular heartbeats. These rapid rhythms lasted from three to six heartbeats while the heart rate lingered at ~175 beats per minute. After controlling for age, gender and history of heart disease there was no difference in rates of death between individuals who experienced irregular heartbeats or consistently normal heart beats during vigorous exercise.
The researchers speculate that this finding should instill confidence in the safety of vigorous exercise for older adults who experience irregular heartbeats during training. It remains important, however, that any prospective client with a history of heart disease receives appropriate medical clearance and follows a progressive exercise program matched to their current ability.
David March (2009) Exercise-linked heart irregularity no risk for older adults. Johns Hopkins Medicine. November 30.
Learn
to Prevent Knee Pain
by Understanding Risk Factors
Although Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) represents the most common form of knee pain previous knee research has focused primarily on ligament injury and degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis. PFPS, often referred to as "Runner's Knee" is typically understood to be a type of tendinopathy characterized by pain and inflammation around the front of the knee cap. In a recent study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine researchers report findings of multiple biomechanical risk factors that may be modified to prevent PFPS.
Nearly 1600 participants from the US Naval Academy were tracked for up to 2.5 years beginning in July 2005. Researchers collected baseline data on all participants. Initial testing evaluated jump-landing characteristics using 3-D motion capture, lower body isometric strength, and lower extremity structural alignment.
It was determined that the following factors contribute to the development of PFPS including poor quadriceps flexibility, increased pronation or excessive hip internal rotation during landing from a jump, weak quadriceps and hamstrings, excessively strong hip external rotators, and increased navicular drop representative of weak arches.
By including these factors in a pre-participation screening for individuals with a history of PFPS an effective prevention strategy may be developed. Individuals with current PFPS, however, should be referred to a medical professional for evaluation.
Boling, M.C. et al (2009) A Prospective Investigation of Biomechanical Risk Factors for Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome. American Journal of Sports Medicine.
Improvement
in Stroke Risk
Depends on Exercise Intensity
Ischemic stroke is a consequence of atherosclerotic plaque build up in the arteries that deliver blood to the brain. Genetics aside, the most common causes of stroke include having diagnosed conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension, being overweight, and/or smoking. A recent study published in the journal Neurology suggests that a lack of moderate to vigorous physical activity should be added to the list of direct causes of ischemic stroke. Previously, researchers believed that physical activity was important for its indirect effects on body weight, cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure.
Researchers collected baseline information on leisure-time physical activities from over 3000 stroke-free older men participating in the Northern Manhattan Study. Over the course of a ~9.1 year follow-up, researchers documented nearly 240 ischemic strokes. Interestingly, 40.5% of the population studied was inactive. Moreover, it appears that participation in moderate to vigorous physical exercise was essential to reducing stroke risk when compared to "any" physical activity and even weekly total calorie expenditure.
Although previous studies involving women have reported that light activities provide a small reduction in stroke risk, this study is the first to indicate a need for higher intensity exercise to improve stroke risk factors.
Willey, J. Z., et al, Physical activity and risk of ischemic stroke in the Northern Manhattan Study. Neurology 73: 1774 – 1779.
You Can Have Too Much of a Good Thing
If exercise is to serve an effective anti-aging role we must develop a better understanding of how to manage risk for musculoskeletal injury in an aging population. Overweight and obesity in addition to our increasingly sedentary lifestyle and the high frequency of sports and inactivity-related soft tissue injuries American are currently and have previously suffered is complicating exercise prescription, especially for the middle-aged and older adult population.
For example, a recent presentation at the Radiological Society of North America highlighted a potential link between intense lower-extremity impact-based sports and exercise with the progression of knee osteoarthritis. In this study, researchers reported that asymptomatic knee injuries that occur in middle-age were more severe amongst individuals who participated in impact-based sports and vigorous exercise more frequently.
Researchers studied the knee MRI scans of 236 men and women between age 45 and 55. Participants were questioned about their exercise habits and were then categorized into groups based on low, medium, and high activity levels.
Individuals who recorded the highest level of participation in activities such as sports, vigorous exercise, and yard or housework also possessed the greatest number of knee injuries. In a HealthDay interview, the researchers go as far as recommending we encourage low-impact activities, including cycling or aquatics to reduce the risk of knee joint degeneration.
Although it's difficult to discourage people from participating in an activity they enjoy it might be more beneficial to use this research as support for promoting preventive activities such as strength and flexibility training before signing up for Winter Basketball.
HealthDay News. Lots of Exercise in Midlife May Lead to Osteoarthritis. November 30, 2009.
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