Carlos Ayán

Effects of Resistance Training in Multiple Sclerosis

This study examined the effects of an eight-week progressive resistance training on different strength manifestations, muscle mass and functionality in multiple sclerosis patients. Thirteen volunteered patients (average age 43 years; range 35-51) with a confirmed diagnosis by a neurologist and mild to moderate disability participated twice a week in an eight-week progressive resistance training program after an eight-week control period without training. Intensity ranged from 40-70% of their maximal voluntary contraction. Outcome assessments included magnetic resonance image of the right and left thighs, strength manifestations (maximal voluntary contraction, muscular endurance and power), and functionality by the Up and Go test. All outcome assessments remained unaltered during the eight-week control period. After the eight-week strength training period, isometric strength (+16%, p<0.01), muscular endurance (+84%; p<0.001), maximal power (+51%, p<0.001), muscular hypertrophy from slice 6/27 to slice 11/27 of both thighs (p<0.05), and functionality (p<0.001) improved significantly. Moderate resistance training programs can improve muscle function without injuries and can be a promising therapy to delay the functional deterioration in multiple sclerosis patients.

Effects of two different intensities of aerobic exercise on elderly people with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized pilot study:

Objective: To evaluate the effect of different intensities of aerobic exercise on elderly people with mild cognitive impairment. Design: A randomized trial. Setting: Residential care homes for elderly people. Subjects: Forty-eight patients were included in the study. Interventions: The patients were randomized in three groups. Group A performed aerobic exercise at 40% of heart rate reserve, group B did the same at 60% and group C carried out recreational activities. The duration of the study was three months. Main measures: Cognitive level and functional ability were assessed by means of the Mini Mental State Examination and the Timed Up and Go test before the intervention, at the end of it and three months later as a follow-up. Results: After completion of the aerobic training programme, the patients’ Mini Mental State Examination scores improved marginally (group A from 19.8 ± 5.1 to 20.6 ± 7.3; group B from 20.8 ± 4.6 to 21 ± 5.4). A similar trend was observed for the Timed Up and Go test scores (group A from 18.8 ± 5.3 to 18.5 ± 5 seconds; group B from 15.4 ± 4.2 to 14.3 ± 5.1 seconds). However, no statistically significant differences were found at any time during the evaluation regarding cognitive level and functional autonomy among the three groups. Conclusion: In this pilot study, intensity does not seem to be a determining factor when aerobic exercise is performed by people with mild cognitive impairment.

Lifestyle and health among Spanish university students: differences by gender and academic discipline

Today the need to analyze health behaviour from a gender perspective is as imminent as ever, particularly at university, where the number of women who register is on the rise and has exceeded the number of male students worldwide. We carried out a prevalence study aimed at analyzing Spanish university students’ lifestyles and identify differences according to gender and academic discipline. Of 3,646 eligible subjects doing university courses related to health (Group A), education (Group B) and other professions (Group C), 985 (27.0%) participated in the study. Information was elicited about their physical activity level, disturbed eating attitudes, consumption of alcohol, tobacco and illegal substances. Prevalence and Odds Ratios (OR) were calculated according to sex and kind of academic discipline. The obtained data confirmed that only 27.4% of the students were considered as sufficiently active, while 14.9% of them suffered from disturbed eating attitudes (DEA). Women were particularly less active (OR 0.46 (0.32–0.66); p < 0.0001), and more sedentary than men (OR 1.40 (1.00–1.97); p = 0.03). Binge drinking was more frequent in female than in male students (OR 1.79 (1.29–2.47); p = 0.0004). A third of the analyzed sample admitted that they had used illegal substances, while a lower consumption prevalence was found in women (OR 0.53 (0.40–0.71); p < 0.0001). The studied population was not very active (27.4%), especially women (OR = 0.45). Therefore, it seems that Spanish university students lead an unhealthy lifestyle, a situation which seems more conspicuous amongst females.

Physical exercise improves peripheral BDNF levels and cognitive functions in mild cognitive impairment elderly with different bdnf Val66Met genotypes.

The benefits of physical exercise on improvements in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and cognitive functioning have been reported in the literature. However, the variability of individual responses may be linked to genetic differences. BDNF is considered one of the most plausible factors involved in the cognitive benefits associated with physical activity practice. A single nucleotide polymorphism localized in the gene that codes BDNF results in a missense mutation that promotes an amino acid substitution (Val66Met) in the protein. This process has been associated with decreased levels of BDNF secretion, with corresponding impairments in specific cognitive functions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the effects of a multimodal physical exercise program on peripheral BDNF levels and cognitive functions in elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The participants were genotyped for the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism. Cognitive functions were assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) prior to and after the intervention. Forty-five participants were assigned to the control and trained groups. The trained group participated in a multimodal physical training for a 16-week period. The results showed a significant between-subjects interaction (p < 0.05), which indicates the beneficial contribution of training on cognitive functions independent of the BDNF genotype. However, only participants with BDNF-Met genotypes exhibited significant improvements in peripheral BDNF levels. The BDNF genotype appears to modulate the effects of physical exercise on BDNF secretion, but it does not influence cognition. This is the first study that evaluated the influence of a BDNF polymorphism on physical activity and cognition performance in elderly MCI individuals.

Effect of a multimodal exercise program on sleep disturbances and instrumental activities of daily living performance on Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease patients

To assess the contribution of a multimodal exercise program on the sleep disturbances (SD) and on the performance of instrumental activities daily living (IADL) in patients with clinical diagnosis of Alzheimers disease (AD) and Parkinsons disease patients (PD).

Effects of two different exercise programs on gait parameters in individuals with Parkinson's disease: A pilot study

To date, little attempt has been made to compare or evaluate the effects of different physical exercise programs on gait disorders in people with Parkinsons disease (PD). This pilot study is aimed at obtaining preliminary data of the effects of two different exercise programs on gait parameters in people with PD by means of a biomechanical three-dimensional motion analysis. Twenty-five individuals with idiopathic PD participated either in a land-based (LB) or in a LB plus water-based (LWB) exercise program for 16 weeks. The efficacy of both exercise programs was quantified by means of a biomechanical gait analysis from which spatiotemporal and sagittal plane kinetic (gait speed, stride length, cadence, stride time, simple support time, double support time) and kinematic (angles of the hip, knee, and ankle joints) variables were recorded. Once the intervention ended, significant changes were observed in stride length and single/double support time variables in all the patients. The intergroup analysis revealed the existence of significant differences only in the gait Speed and hip Angle parameters. Few significant improvements in the amplitude of lower limb joints were found. These results suggest that land-based and land-plus-water-based exercise programs can be considered as a useful physical rehabilitation alternative, both equally capable of improving gait impairment on Parkinsons disease.

Influence of the cognitive impairment level on the performance of the Timed “Up & Go” Test (TUG) in elderly institutionalized people

The purpose of this study was to determine clinical variables influence (comorbid medical condition, functional independence, depressive and neuropsychiatric symptoms) on the performance of the TUG, taking into account the level of cognitive impairment in elderly institutionalized people. A cross-sectional analysis of 405 sedentary older adults living in rural home care facilities was carried out. All the participants performed the TUG and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Those who were screened positive for cognitive impairment carried out a battery of specific test aimed to assess their functional independence (Katz Index (KI)), memory function (Fuld Object Memory Evaluation (FOME)), depressive symptoms (Cornell Scale) and neuropsychiatric disturbances (Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI)). Applying multiple linear regression, TUG was associated with age (β=0.161, p<0.001), MMSE (β=-0.013, p<0.001) and KI (β=0.621, p<0.001). According to the defined regression model, it was noticed that the higher the level of cognitive impairment, the lower the adjustment of the model (R(2)=0.593; R(2)=0.493; R(2)=0.478). In conclusion, it seems that the performance of the TUG in institutionalized elderly people who screened positive for dementia, is mainly influenced by their functional independence and their age. Comorbid medical condition, depressive and neuropsychiatric symptoms do not seem to show any association, regardless of the level of cognitive impairment.

Batteries assessing health related fitness in the elderly: a brief review

Evaluation of physical functioning is a key issue in clinical geriatrics and in aging research. In recent years, different physical performance batteries in which individuals are asked to perform several tasks and are evaluated using different criteria have been designed and used in elderly populations. These batteries include different types of test which range from basic motor abilities to relevant everyday activities, depending on the construct area in the domain of physical function that must be measured. This paper reviews and classifies the main physical functioning batteries that can be found in the scientific field of aging research in order to provide knowledge on selection, administration, and interpretation of this indispensable assessment tools.

Correlation between the Yale Physical Activity Survey (YPAS) and a submaximal performance-based test: A study in a population of elderly Spanish women

The aim of this study is to research the degree of correlation between the Spanish version of the questionnaire YPAS and the 6-minute walking test (6MWT) in women over 60. In addition, the authors analyzed the relationship between the variables age and body mass index (BMI) and the walked distance. The study was carried out with 44 elderly women (68.1 ± 5.4 years) who filled in the questionnaire and immediately afterwards performed the 6MWT. Total time and energy expenditure (EE) values obtained in the questionnaire are significantly correlated with the 6MWT (p=0.02; p=0.01, respectively), while BMI and age showed an inverse association (r=-0.433; r=-0.318, respectively) with the walked distance. The Spanish version of YPAS is beginning to be considered as a valid and useful tool for habitual physical activity (PA) measurement and can be used among elderly Spanish speaking women.

Reliability of Two Field-Based Tests for Measuring Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Preschool Children.

Abstract Ayán, C, Cancela, JM, Romero, S, and Alonso, S. Reliability of two field-based tests for measuring cardiorespiratory fitness in preschool children. J Strength Cond Res 29(10): 2874–2880, 2015—This study is aimed at analyzing the reliability of 2 field-based cardiorespiratory fitness tests when applied to a sample specifically made up of preschool-aged children. A total of 97 preschoolers (mean age: 4.36 ± 0.4 years; 50.5% girls) performed Course-Navette and Mini-Cooper tests 3 times (familiarization test and retest). The scores obtained were compared with the results provided by the 3-minute shuttle run test, which is considered to be a reliable field-based test for preschoolers. The Mini-Cooper test showed a high reliability for children aged 4 (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]: 0.942; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.903–0.965) and 5 years old (ICC: 0.946; 95% CI: 0.893–0.973). The reliability of Course-Navette was also high for both 4-year-old (ICC: 0.909; 95% CI: 0.849–0.945) and 5-year-old children (ICC: 0.889; 95% CI: 0.780–0.944). The mean scores of the 3-minute shuttle run test did not show a significant correlation with the mean scores obtained in the Mini-Cooper test and in the Course-Navette test in the 4-year-old children. The results of this study suggest that Course-Navette and Mini-Cooper tests are reliable measures of cardiorespiratory fitness that can be used to assess health-related fitness in preschool children. Nevertheless, some considerations must be taken into account before administering them.