Lower Percentage of Fat Mass among Tai Chi Chuan Practitioners

Combat sport in the body composition of the elderly: A systematic review and meta-analysis study

OBJECTIVE

To analyze possible changes in body composition in elderly individuals with combat sports as an intervention.

METHODS

This study is characterized as a systematic review and meta-analysis. The PRISMA criteria were followed, and the study was registered in PROSPERO under the number CRD42023392613. The databases used were MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, and Science Direct. The risk of bias and methodological quality were assessed using Robins-I, Cochrane, and Testex tools.

RESULTS

Of the 126 publications found, 9 studies were included (5 controlled and randomized studies and 4 intervention studies). Of these studies, 6 provided data for the meta-analysis. A total of 126 publications were found and, the studies included in this systematic review had an average of 51 weeks, 3 times a week, and 50 min per session. In the results presented by the meta-analysis the variable body fat showed a reduction (SMD: -0.11; 95% CI: -0.99 to 0.09; p = 0.02; I2 = 0%).

CONCLUSION

Combat sports showed an improvement in the body composition of the elderly, with a reduction in the percentage of body fat.

Long-term Tai Chi practice in older adults is associated with "younger" functional abilities

Age-related alterations in physiology lead to declines in physical function that are associated with numerous adverse outcomes among older adults. Utilizing a hybrid design, we aimed to understand whether both long-term and short-term Tai Chi (TC) training are associated with age-related decline in physical function in healthy older adults. We first conducted cross-sectional comparisons among TC-naïve older adults (n = 60, 64.2 ± 7.7 years), TC-expert older adults (n = 27, 62.8 ± 7.6 years, 24.5 ± 12 years experience), and TC-naïve younger adults (n = 15, 28.7 ± 3.2 years) to inform long-term effects of TC training on physical function, including single leg stance time with eyes closed, grip strength, Timed Up and Go, maximum walking speed, functional reach, and vertical jump for lower-extremity power. There were significant differences among the three groups on all the six tests. For most functional tests, TC-experts performed better than age-matched TC-naïve controls and were statistically indistinguishable from young healthy adult controls. Long-term TC training was associated with higher levels of physical function in older adults, suggesting a potential preventative healthy aging effect. In the randomized longitudinal trial, TC-naïve subjects were randomized (n = 31 to Tai Chi group, n = 29 to usual care control group) to evaluate the short-term effects of TC over 6 months on all outcomes. TC's short-term impacts on physical function were small and not statistically significant. The impact of short-term training in healthy adults is less clear. Both potential longer-term preventive effects and shorter-term restorative effects warrant further research with rigorous, adequately powered controlled clinical trials.

The effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine-based exercise on physical performance, balance and muscle strength among older adults: a systematic review with meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) based exercises have been widely used in the prevention and treatment of balance, cardiopulmonary, and other related diseases in older adults. However, there seems to be no consensus on the improvement and comparison of physical performance, balance, and muscle strength in the elderly population.

OBJECTIVES

To systematically examine the impact of different TCM-based exercises on physical performance, balance, and muscle strength outcomes in the elderly.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane Center, CNKI and Wan Fang between their date of inception and March 2021. This meta-analysis was performed using RevMan5.3 software. Only randomized controlled trials (RCT) or controlled clinical trials (CCT) were considered in TCM-based exercises (Tai Chi, Ba Duan Jin, Qigong). The overall mean difference (MD) or standardized mean difference (SMD), and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.

MAIN RESULTS

A total of 27 studies with 2580 older adults met the inclusion criteria. The pooled analysis indicated that Tai Chi could be more effective in Times up and go (TUG) (MD = - 2.62, 95% CI - 4.00 to - 1.24, P = 0.0002), 5 times sit-stand (MD = - 1.89; 95%CI - 3.38 to - 0.40; P = 0.01), and handgrip strength outcomes (SMD = 0.69; 95%CI 0.52-0.86; P < 0.0001) compared to Ba Duan Jin and Qigong. The older adults performing Qigong could have a better benefit in Single-bed balance (SLB) with eyes closed compared to Tai Chi and Ba Duan Jin (MD = 3.42; 95%CI 1.55 to 5.29; P = 0.0003). Tai Chi also had benefits in terms of balance outcomes compared to those in the control group: Berg Balance scale (BBS) (MD = 1.41; 95% CI 0.03-2.85; P = 0.05), Functional reach test (FRT) (MD = 1.57; 95%CI 1.22-1.93; P < 0.0001). The Tai Chi study meta-analysis demonstrated significant effects on lower limb strength: knee extension (SMD = 0.56; 95%CI 0.26-0.86; P = 0.0003), ankle dorsiflexion (SMD = 0.67; 95%CI 0.02-1.31; P = 0.04) compared to the controls.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review reveals that TCM-based exercises can effectively improve physical performance outcomes, balance outcomes, and muscle strength in the elderly population. While there is limited evidence on the efficacy of other TCM-based lifestyle interventions, more high-quality clinical trials on this topic are warranted.

Systolic and diastolic function during cycling at the respiratory threshold between elderly and young healthy individuals

The hemodynamic consequences of aging have been extensively investigated during maximal incremental exercise. However, less is known about the effects of aging on hemodynamics during submaximal steady-state exercise. The aim of the present investigation was to compare the hemodynamics of healthy elderly and young subjects during an exercise bout conducted at the gas threshold (GET) intensity. Two groups of healthy, physically active subjects were studied: the elderly group—EG (n = 11; > 60 years old) and the young group—YG (n = 13; < 35 years old). Both groups performed a 5-min rectangular exercise test at the GET intensity. Hemodynamics were measured using echocardiography. The main finding was that stroke volume responses were higher in the YG than the EG (72.5 ± 16.7 vs. 52.4 ± 8.4 ml, respectively). The increased stroke volume capacity in the YG was the consequence of a greater capacity to increase cardiac preload and contractility and, to a lesser extent, to reduce systemic vascular resistance. Importantly, the atrial contribution to ventricular diastolic filling was substantially higher in the YG when compared to the EG.

Body composition changes during the lockdown-restart transition due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in a group of professional football players

BACKGROUND

At the beginning of March 2020, because of the ongoing pandemic, all sport events were suspended in Italy. The Italian Serie A league abruptly interrupted all competitions and teams could not train in a group anymore. These containment measures were gradually eased in May. The aim of this study was to ascertain the impact of the lockdown-restart transition on the body composition of a group of Italian footballers of a Serie A team during the pandemic.

METHODS

The body composition of 18 male football players (age27.6 ± 4.5 yr.) from an Italian Serie A team was studied by bioelectrical impedance (BIA). Measures were conducted after lockdown, when they restarted to train in group with the ball (T0), and after the first regular match (T1).

RESULTS

Results show that there were no changes in body mass, body mass index, fat mass, fat-free mass, and total body water between T0 and T1. Differently, intracellular water, extracellular water, and phase angle were changed.

CONCLUSIONS

We concluded that the lockdown did not have any impact in athletes' body composition as they kept training at home. Moreover, the BIA method was able to detect subtle signals of shift in body water compartments (intra cellular and extra cellular water) likely due to the different kind of training conducted during and after the lockdown.

Body Composition Symmetry in Long-Term Active Middle-Aged and Older Individuals

This study aimed to analyze body composition and strength symmetry in a sample of 165 middle-aged and elderly Italian volunteers, which included 97 active (67 men and 30 women; 61.17 ± 7.56 years) individuals regularly engaged in Tai Chi Chuan, tennis, or running, and a control group of 59 age-matched sedentary (27 men and 32 women) individuals. Anthropometric and bioelectrical measurements and hand grip strength of both sides were collected. Segmental body composition was analyzed through specific bioelectrical impedance vector analysis. The body composition of the right and left limbs was similar among active individuals (arms: T² = 6.3, n.s.; legs: T² = 5.0, n.s.), with a similar pattern in the three different disciplines. By contrast, the control group showed bilateral asymmetry (arms: T² = 6.8, p < 0.001; legs: T² = 8.8, p < 0.001), mainly because of the higher values of specific reactance (t = 2.4; p = 0.018) and phase angle (t = 2.0; p = 0.054) in the dominant arm, and the higher specific vector length (t = −3.0; p = 0.027) in the left leg. All of the groups showed a higher hand grip strength in the dominant arm (active: t = 7.0, p < 0.001; control: t = 2.9; p < 0.01). In conclusion, the active individuals showed stronger body composition symmetry than the controls, thus indicating a previously undetected positive effect of sport in middle-aged and older adults.

Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis: A Valuable Tool to Monitor Daily Body Hydration Dynamics at Altitude

Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) is a method used to estimate variation in body hydration. We assessed the potential of BIVA for monitoring daily body hydration fluctuations in nine healthy, normally active males under matching normoxic (NX) and hypobaric hypoxic (HH) experimental conditions. Furthermore, we aimed to investigate whether changes in BIVA may correspond with the development of acute mountain sickness (AMS). Subjects were exposed in a hypobaric chamber to both NX (corresponding to an altitude of 262 m) and HH conditions corresponding to an altitude of 3500 m during two four-day sojourns within which food, water intake and physical activity were controlled. Bioimpedance and body weight measurements were performed three times a day and medical symptoms were assessed every morning using the Lake Louise score (LLS). Total body water (TBW) was also assessed on the last day of both sojourns using the deuterium dilution technique. We detected circadian changes in vector length, indicating circadian body water variations that did not differ between NX and HH conditions (ANOVA effects: time: p = 0.018, eta² = 0.149; interaction: p = 0.214, eta² = 0.083; condition: p = 0.920, eta² = 0.001). Even though none of the subjects developed AMS, four subjects showed clinical symptoms according to the LLS during the first 24 hours of HH conditions. These subjects showed a pronounced (Cohen’s d: 1.09), yet not statistically significant (p = 0.206) decrease in phase angle 6 hours after exposure, which may indicate fluid shift from the intracellular to the extracellular compartment. At the end of each sojourn, vector length correlated with deuterium dilution TBW “gold standard” measurements (linear regression: NX: p = 0.002 and r² = 0.756, HH: p < 0.001 and r² = 0.84). BIVA can be considered a valuable method for monitoring body hydration changes at altitude. Whether such changes are related to the development of clinical symptoms associated with AMS, as indicated in the present investigation, must be confirmed in future studies.

Body Composition and Physical Health in Sports Practice: An Editorial

The assessment of the health status of athletes, at all ages, is an aspect of fundamental importance, and, in recent years, the analysis of body composition has become a fundamental and essential part in its evaluation, such as in the optimization of sports performance [...].

Segmental body composition estimated by specific BIVA and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

AIMS

The aim of this study was to analyse the association between specific bioelectric impedance vector analysis (BIVA) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to assess segmental body composition using DXA as the reference technique.

METHODS

The sample comprised 50 young active students who practised or played different sports (25 men, age: 24.37 ± 4.79 y; 25 women, age: 24.32 ± 4.43 y) from the National Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia (INEFC). Anthropometric data (height, weight, arm, waist, and calf circumferences) and bioelectrical measurements (R, ohm; Xc, ohm) were recorded. Body composition was analysed with specific BIVA. DXA was used as the reference method to assess body composition of the whole-body, the trunk, and the limbs. The percentage of fat mass (%FM_DXA) and fat-free mass index (FFMI_DXA = FFM/length²) were calculated. The agreement between specific BIVA and DXA was evaluated by a depth-depth analysis, two-way ANOVA, and Pearson's correlations.

RESULTS

The depth-depth analysis showed a good agreement between DXA and BIVA (F = 14.89, p < 0.001) in both sexes and all body segments. Specific vector length (Zsp; i.e. indicative of %FM) was correlated with %FM_DXA in the whole body and all body segments, and the phase angle was correlated with FFMI_DXA, with he trunk in women as the only exception. Specific BIVA demonstrated to balance the effect of body size on bioelectrical measurements in both whole and segmental approaches.

CONCLUSIONS

Segmental specific BIVA and DXA provided a consistent evaluation of body composition in both sexes, of the whole body and each body segment. The indices %FM and FFMI obtained with DXA were correlated to vector length and phase angle in each segment, respectively. Specific BIVA represents a promising technique for monitoring segmental body composition changes in sport science and clinical applications.

Interpopulation Similarity of Sex and Age-Related Body Composition Variations Among Older Adults

The aim of the study was to analyze sex and age-related body composition variations among older adults from the Brazilian, Italian, and Mexican population. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in 1103 community-dwelling older adults (634 women and 469 men), aged 60 to 89 years, living in Brazil (n = 176), Italy (n = 554), and Mexico (n = 373). Anthropometric measurements were taken, BMI was calculated, and impedance measurements were obtained (resistance, R, reactance, Xc). Specific bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (specific BIVA) was applied, with the specific vector defined by impedance, or vector length (Z = (Rsp² + Xcsp)^0.5), and phase angle (PA = arctan Xc/R 180/π). Population, sex, and age differences in anthropometric and bioelectrical variables were evaluated by means of a two way ANOVA. The mean bioelectrical vectors were graphed by confidence ellipses and statistically compared by the Hotelling's T² test. The three population groups showed differences in body mass and composition (p < 0.001): the Brazilian sample was characterized by greater body dimensions, longer vectors (higher relative content of fat mass), and lower phase angles (lower skeletal muscle mass). Men were taller and heavier than women (p < 0.001) but had a similar BMI (p = 0.102). They also had higher phase angle (higher skeletal muscle mass) (p < 0.001) and lower vector length (lower %FM) (p < 0.001). In the three population groups, the oldest individuals showed lower anthropometric and phase angle values with respect to the youngest ones (p < 0.001), whereas the vector length did not change significantly with age (p = 0.665). Despite the differences between sexes and among populations, the trend of age-related variations was similar in the Brazilian, Italian, and Mexican older adults.