Background. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the effect of two different types of Tai Chi programs on the Functional Movement Screening (FMS) in older adults. Methods. Ninety older adults (65.5 ± 4.6 years old) who met the eligibility criteria were randomized into three different groups based on a ratio of 1 : 1 : 1: a traditional Tai Chi exercise (TTC), a simplified Tai Chi exercise (TCRT), or a control group (routine activity). The FMS consisted of the deep squat, hurdle step, in-line lunge, shoulder mobility, active straight leg rise, trunk stability push-up, and rotatory stability, which was used to measure physical function before the present study and after six months of Tai Chi interventions. Results. Seventy-nine participants completed the present study (control = 27, TTC = 23, and TCRT = 29). Significant improvement on the FMS tests between the baseline and after the six-month intervention was observed in both Tai Chi programs, whereas no significant improvement was observed in the control group. In addition, participants in the TCRT group demonstrated greater improvement than those in the TTC group. Conclusions. The TCRT is more effective in improving the physical function in older adults when compared to the traditional Tai Chi modality, particularly for improving balance.
Firefighting rescues are high-hazard activities accompanied by uncertainty, urgency, and complexity. Knowledge of the metabolic characteristics during firefighting rescues is of great value. The purpose of this study was to explore the firefighting-induced physiological responses in greater depth. The urine samples of ten firefighters were collected before and after the simulated firefighting, and the proteins in urine samples were identified by the liquid chromatography–mass spectroscopy. Blood lactate and heart rate were measured. There were 360 proteins up-regulated and 265 proteins downregulated after this simulated firefighting. Changes in protein expression were significantly related to acute inflammatory responses, immune responses, complement activation, and oxidative stress. Beta-2-microglobulin (r = 0.76, p < 0.05) and von Willebrand factors (r = 0.81, p < 0.01) were positively correlated with heart rate during simulated firefighting, and carbonic anhydrase 1 (r = 0.67, p < 0.05) were positively correlated with blood lactate after simulated firefighting. These results illustrated that Beta-2-microglobulin, von Willebrand, and carbonic anhydrase 1 could be regarded as important indicators to evaluate exercise intensity for firefighters.
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