Trekking exercise promotes cardiovascular health and fitness benefits in older obese women

Abstract

Trekking includes downhill walking and enhances lower limb strength. Muscle fitness is a predictor of mortality and is associated with cardiovascular risk factors in adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of trekking on cardiovascular health and fitness in older obese women. The participants were randomly assigned to an exercise group (EG, n= 32) and a control group (CG, n= 48). The EG participated in the trekking program for 12 weeks, 3 times per week, and 90 min per session, at a moderate intensity. Cardiovascular health (BMI, percentage of body fat, blood pressure, glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol) and fitness (muscle strength, muscle endurance, balance, and flexibility) were measured before and after the 12-week program. A twoway repeated ANOVA was used to compare and analyze the group differences. Body weight, systolic blood pressure, and muscle strength were significantly different between the groups. These results indicate that trekking played a significant role in the reduction of weight and systolic blood pressure in obese women. The results of this study can be utilized to reduce cardiovascular risk factors associated with aging.

Effects of frequency, intensity, duration and volume of walking interventions on CVD risk factors: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis of randomised controlled trials among inactive healthy adults

“…Four studies reported that walking was ‘self-paced’14 17 21 22 and seven studies noted that walking intensity was at a ‘brisk pace’ 13 16 33 34 41 42 48. In addition, two studies measured the intensity as walking speed44 50 and one study as HR,43 MET,46 RPE47 and ventilator threshold49 each.…”

Physical Activity Status Among Women Referred to Health Centers in Izeh, Iran

“…A center for control and prevention of diseases reported in 2010 a participation rate of 11.5% and 10.3% in the average-level physical activities among +19-year-old males and females in 2014, respectively. The US Sports Medicine recommended physical activity three to five times per week at least 30 minutes a day, which is quite similar to WHO recommendation (4).…”

Infographic. The effects of frequency, intensity, duration and volume of walking interventions on CVD risk factors: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis of randomised controlled trials among inactive healthy adults

“…Screening of the previous review is described elsewhere 7 . The updated search resulted in 10 new studies for inclusion (Foulds 2014, Gaba 2016, Hamdorf 1992, Herzig 2014, Hong 2014, Jasinski 2015, Kang 2014, Kearney 2014, Pospieszna 2017, Zhang 2014. Titles and abstracts from the updated search were screened by three authors (PO, ST, PK).…”