Are Gyms a Feasible Setting for Exercise Training Interventions in Patients with Cardiovascular Risk Factors? An Italian 10-Years Cross-Sectional Survey Comparison

Abstract

Background: Exercise training is a known important prevention and treatment modality in patients with cardiovascular (CV) diseases. However, the CV risk factors in gym users have been poorly studied. The aim of this study was to monitor CV risk factors of gym users over 10 years in order to investigate whether gyms are used settings for secondary disease prevention. Methods: In 2007 and 2017, a cross-sectional research survey was adopted to determine CV risk factors and habits in gym users (18–69 years) of the Veneto region. These data were analyzed and compared with those of PASSI, a national surveillance system of the Italian population. Results: During the last decade, there has been an increase in gym users over 50 years of age and in people with arterial hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. People attending the gym on medical referral are increasing, but they are still few (<10%). When comparing the collected data with PASSI surveillance, most of the CV risk factors are strongly underrepresented in gym users. Conclusion: The prevalence of gym users with CV risk factors is rather low, regardless of age. Physicians still need to encourage and prescribe physical exercise for secondary prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.

The Effect of Exercise Training on Irisin Secretion in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review

“…It has been previously described that the increase in the post-exercise expression of FNDC5 is higher (>30%) in active subjects compared with their sedentary counterparts or with patients affected by chronic diseases [35]. It can be deduced that patients with T2D, following physical exercise, can obtain a lower increase in irisin secretion than healthy sub-jects but it is probably still relevant for the improvement of their health status [36]. On the other hand, other studies have shown how the beneficial effect of physical exercise on irisin levels is limited only to populations with certain characteristics, including the presence of metabolic diseases [4].…”

Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) Reliability and Proposal of Its Use in Sports

“…SFMA was also used to prescribe a tailored exercise program, after evaluating patients' mobility and stability complaints [35]. This is an interesting aspect to be considered in the field of sport medicine, when prescribing a customized physical activity in patients [36] to be performed in specific medical gyms [37]. A recent study proposes the Arm Care Screen (ACS) as a new tool based on the concepts of the SFMA in high school coaches and investigated intra-rater and inter-rater reliability when administered by high school baseball coaches in a sample of baseball players.…”

Potential Cost Savings for the Healthcare System by Physical Activity in Different Chronic Diseases: A Pilot Study in the Veneto Region of Italy

“…During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, these inter-regional differences became even more pronounced: in 2020, the physically inactive population was 21.3% and 49.3% in the Veneto region and in Southern Italy, respectively. Therefore, it seems reasonable that the economic burden of PI and the potential cost-savings of the PA interventions throughout Italy may be even greater than in the investigated region alone [ 30 , 59 ].…”

“…Therefore, in terms of the prevention and treatment of many chronic conditions, a tailored exercise prescription and programs, based on specific guidelines, are necessary, although still underutilised [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. In order to improve this practice, awareness and knowledge must also be increased, particularly for policy makers.…”