Articles

Physical consequences of falls in the elderly: a literature review from 1995 to 2010

In the last decade, population ageing has been registered as a global phenomenon. A relation exists between falling and ageing, since falling frequency increases significantly with age. In fact, one in three o...

Authors: Miguel Terroso, Natacha Rosa, Antonio Torres Marques and Ricardo Simoes

Society News

Authors: Yael Netz

Accelerometry analysis of physical activity and sedentary behavior in older adults: a systematic review and data analysis

Accelerometers objectively monitor physical activity and sedentary patterns and are increasingly used in the research setting. It is important to maintain consistency in data analysis and reporting, therefore,...

Authors: E. Gorman, H. M. Hanson, P. H. Yang, K. M. Khan, T. Liu-Ambrose and M. C. Ashe

Physical activity is inversely related to drug consumption in elderly patients with cardiovascular events

Elderly patients with cardiovascular events are characterized by high drug consumptions. Whether high drug consumptions are related to physical activity is not known. In order to examine whether physical activ...

Authors: Francesco Cacciatore, Francesca Mazzella, Luisa Viati, Giancarlo Longobardi, Antonio Magliocca, Claudia Basile, Livia Guadagno, Nicola Ferrara, Franco Rengo and Pasquale Abete

Effects of a multimodal exercise program in pedal dexterity and balance: study with Portuguese older adults of different contexts

This study investigated the effects of a multimodal exercise program (MEP) on pedal dexterity and balance in two groups of older adult participants (65–92 years of age) from a psychiatric hospital center (HC),...

Authors: João Silva, Olga Vasconcelos, Paula Rodrigues and Joana Carvalho

Effects of age and physical activity on response speed in knee flexor and extensor muscles

This study aims to determine the normalized response speed (V _rn) in vastus lateralis (VL) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles in different age groups using tensiomyography. Eighty-four male subjects ...

Authors: D. Rodríguez-Ruiz, J. M. García-Manso, D. Rodríguez-Matoso, S. Sarmiento, M. Da Silva-Grigoletto and R. Pisot

Rapid repetitive passive movement promotes knee proprioception in the elderly

Joint proprioception plays an important role in the generation of coordinated movements, maintenance of normal body posture, body conditioning, motor learning, and relearning. Previous studies have demonstrate...

Authors: Yan-Ying Ju, Jin-Kun Lin, Hsin-Yi Kathy Cheng, Chih-Hsiu Cheng and Alice May-Kuen Wong

Society pages

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Training effects on motor–cognitive dual-task performance in older adults

This systematic review investigated whether healthy older adults benefit from training interventions in motor–cognitive dual-task (DT) situations and which specific aspects of the intervention and/or task sele...

Authors: Bettina Wollesen and Claudia Voelcker-Rehage

What we need to know, where we need to go

Authors: Heinz Mechling

The Multisurface Obstacle Test for Older Adults (MSOT): development and reliability of a novel test for older adults

Locomotion is an essential component of independence and well-being at old age. Performance deficits in the gait of older adults most often become evident on multisurface and varying terrains. Research results...

Authors: Tobias Morat, Daniela Kroeger and Heinz Mechling

Resistance training induced increase in VO₂max in young and older subjects

It is an undeniable fact that resistance training (RT) is a potent stimulus for muscle hypertrophy and strength gain, but it is less understood whether RT can increase maximal aerobic capacity (VO₂max). The purpo...

Authors: Hayao Ozaki, Jeremy P. Loenneke, Robert S. Thiebaud and Takashi Abe

A 1,408 km bicycle tour with prostate cancer patients—results of a pilot study

Negative psychological and physical effects of prostate cancer and its medical treatment may persist many years after diagnosis. The influence of a long cycling tour on rehabilitative or health-related effects...

Authors: Freerk T. Baumann, Eva M. Zopf, Tanja Westhof, Stefanie Krohe, Alexandra Stempin, Matthias Müsgens, Anne Krause, Philipp Zimmer, Julia Beulertz, Wilhelm Bloch and Elke Jäger

Thirty years of physical activity in oncology in Germany—from the birth of the first rehabilitative cancer sports group until today

Since 1978, exercise and sport therapy for oncological patients is a research and education focus at the German Sport University of Cologne. Back then, the top priority for almost all oncological patients was ...

Authors: Klaus Schüle

Endurance training for cancer patients during and shortly after completion of the anti-cancer treatment

Cardiorespiratory fitness is one of the most important indicators of health and improves length of life. The attention and acceptance for endurance training in patients with several cancer diagnoses increased ...

Authors: Ruud H. Knols

Exercise medicine for prostate cancer

Since initial reports in the mid-1980s, there has been increasing interest in the application of exercise as medicine for the prevention and management of cancer. A large number of high-quality, randomised, co...

Authors: Robert U. Newton and Daniel A. Galvão

Physical activity and patient-reported outcomes: enhancing impact

Physical activity (PA) is beneficial for cancer survivors across the cancer trajectory. Evidence indicates physical and psychosocial benefits, and ultimately, enhanced overall quality of life, for individuals ...

Authors: S. Nicole Culos-Reed and Lauren Capozzi

Exercise in the setting of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

The procedure of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an intense treatment approach to cure patients from leukemia or lymphoma. Prior, during, and after HSCT, patients experience considerable phys...

Authors: Joachim Wiskemann

The role of physical activity in primary cancer prevention

Few modifiable lifestyle factors have been shown to be associated with reduced cancer risk. For physical activity, more than 200 epidemiologic studies have provided evidence that its association with cancer ri...

Authors: Karen Steindorf

Physical exercise programs following cancer treatment

Oncological patients should engage in physical activities during the entire period of medical treatment and aftercare taking into account the contraindications. Therapeutic exercises should be customized, acco...

Authors: F. T. Baumann

From neuromuscular electrical stimulation and biofeedback-assisted exercise up to triathlon competitions—regular physical activity for cancer patients in Austria

Individual rehabilitation concepts for cancer patients include specific nutrition programs, psychotherapy and many modalities from the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation. At the Medical University o...

Authors: Richard Crevenna

Physical Activity in Oncology

Authors: Freerk T. Baumann and Wilhelm Bloch

3^rd international, interdisciplinary symposium “Physical activity in Oncology” at the German Sport University Cologne from May 11^th ‐ 12^th 2012 – Abstracts

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Role of physical activity in tumor patients and possible underlying mechanisms

A growing knowledge regarding the influence of exercise on adverse physiologic outcomes associated with cancer and its treatment exists. Aside from its effects on psychological behavior, quality of life, and c...

Authors: Wilhelm Bloch, Eva Zopf, Philipp Zimmer and Freerk T. Baumann

Characteristics of optimum falls prevention exercise programmes for community-dwelling older adults using the FITT principle

This review aims to identify the optimal exercise intervention characteristics for falls prevention among community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and over. Articles for inclusion were sourced by searching the ...

Authors: Valerie Power and Amanda M. Clifford

Methodological issues when analysing the role of physical activity in gastric cancer prevention: a critical review

The beneficial effect of physical activity (PA) has been confirmed in several types of cancer (especially colon and breast tumours). However, the role of PA as a risk factor directly related to the incidence o...

Authors: C. Ayán, J. Cancela, A. Molina, T. Fernández and V. Martín

An examination of the mechanisms underlying the effects of physical activity on brain and cognition

Physical activity positively influences brain health and cognitive functioning in older adults. Several physiological and psychological mechanisms have been identified to underlie such a relationship. Cardiova...

Authors: José Marmeleira

Editorial

Authors: Michael Brach

Anorexia, undernutrition, weight loss, sarcopenia, and cachexia of aging

During the period between 2000 and 2030, the number of persons older than 65 years is projected to grow from 550 to 937 million worldwide. Globally, this growth represents an increase from 6.9 to 12 %. Studies...

Authors: Ruirui Hao and Hong Guo

Announcement

Authors: Michael Brach

Muscle weakness in the elderly: role of sarcopenia, dynapenia, and possibilities for rehabilitation

Aging is a multifactorial process leading to changes in skeletal muscle quantity and quality, which cause muscle weakness and disability in the aging population. This paper discusses the reasons for muscle wea...

Authors: Teet Seene and Priit Kaasik

Reliability of accelerometric measurement of physical activity in older adults-the benefit of using the trimmed sum

There is general consensus that physical activity is important for preserving functional capacities of older adults and positively influencing quality of life. While accelerometry is widely accepted and applie...

Authors: Ulrike Sonja Trampisch, Petra Platen, Matthias Trampisch, Anna Moschny, Ulrich Thiem and Timo Hinrichs

Assistive technologies at home and in the workplace—a field of research for exercise science and human movement science

Authors: Michael Brach and Oliver Korn

Successful aging: how does physical activity influence engagement with life?

With the increasing number of individuals over the age of 65 years worldwide, it is critical for society to recognize the importance of helping seniors maintain their health, physical, and cognitive functionin...

Authors: Jacqueline A. Liffiton, Sean Horton, Joseph Baker and Patricia L. Weir

Subjective well-being and exercise in the second half of life: a critical review of theoretical approaches

Research has shown repeatedly that the “feeling better” effect of exercise is far more moderate than generally claimed. Examinations of subgroups in secondary analyses also indicate that numerous further varia...

Authors: Katrin Lehnert, Gorden Sudeck and Achim Conzelmann

Is water-based exercise training sufficient to improve physical fitness in the elderly?

The research on the effects of aquatic exercise is a field that has grown rapidly in the last decade. The majority of the available literature is focused on the benefits of water-based exercise programs for pe...

Authors: Marco Bergamin, Silvano Zanuso, Brent A. Alvar, Andrea Ermolao and Marco Zaccaria

Reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment I

The Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA)-I is widely used assessment tool for evaluation of balance and gait properties. The aim of this study was to translate POMA-I to Turkish and to assess its re...

Authors: Serap D. Yücel, Füsun Şahin, Beril Doğu, Tülay Şahin, Banu Kuran and Sevda Gürsakal

Is whole-body vibration beneficial for seniors?

Normal aging processes result in losses of functional flexibility and muscular strength, which increase seniors’ fall risk and dependence on others. A relatively new intervention to reduce and/or reverse the a...

Authors: C. Lachance, P. Weir, K. Kenno and S. Horton

Impact of physical activity on activity of daily living in moderate to severe dementia: a critical review

The objectives of this study were to describe the different modalities of physical activity programs designed for moderate to severe dementia and to identify their impact on functional independence in activiti...

Authors: Elisabeth Burge, Nicolas Kuhne, André Berchtold, Christine Maupetit and Armin von Gunten

Serious games in prevention and rehabilitation—a new panacea for elderly people?

Digital games cannot only be used for fun and entertainment. The term “serious games” (SG) denotes digital games serving serious purposes like education, training, advertising, research and health. Recently, a...

Authors: Josef Wiemeyer and Annika Kliem

Society News

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Special issue—socioeconomic perspective on physical activity and aging

Authors: Heinz Mechling

Socioeconomic perspectives on physical activity and aging

Authors: Christoph Breuer and Tim Pawlowski

Balance dysfunction and falls in people with lower limb arthritis: factors contributing to risk and effectiveness of exercise interventions

Chronic musculoskeletal conditions in the lower extremities, particularly arthritis, and the chronic pain associated with them, are independent risk factors for falls, with approximately 50% of people with art...

Authors: Pazit Levinger, Susannah Wallman and Keith Hill

The differences of sarcopenia-related phenotypes: effects of gender and population

Sarcopenia is a serious condition especially in the elderly population mainly characterized by the loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength with aging. Extremity skeletal muscle mass index (EMMI) (sum of skel...

Authors: Kai Zhong, Shu-feng Lei, Fang Yang, Xiang-ding Chen, Li-jun Tan, Xue-zhen Zhu, Qing Tian and Hong-wen Deng

Impact of physical activity and sedentary behaviour on fall risks in older people: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

The objective of this work was to summarise and evaluate the evidence showing that physical activity is a protector factor as regards falls in older people. Relevant studies were identified through a systemati...

Authors: Marie Thibaud, Frédéric Bloch, Caroline Tournoux-Facon, Cyril Brèque, Anne Sophie Rigaud, Benoît Dugué and Gilles Kemoun

The impact of unsupervised regular walking on health: a sample of Turkish middle-aged and older adults

Regular walking is one of the most recommended and popular physical activity worldwide. This study (1) detected the effects of unsupervised regular walking on physical and cognitive functioning, emotional stat...

Authors: Orcin Telli Atalay and Uğur Cavlak

Falls recall—limitations of the most used inclusion criteria

The demographic changes in the industrialized countries place new and important challenges to health care providers, politicians, and modern society. Many older persons wish to maintain independence and mobili...

Authors: Ellen Freiberger and Paul de Vreede

Estimation of energy expenditure using accelerometers and activity-based energy models—validation of a new device

Over the last few years, the estimation of energy expenditure with accelerometers has become more and more accurate due to improvements in sensor technology. Significant enhancement could be reached by model-b...

Authors: Sascha Härtel, Jens-Peter Gnam, Simone Löffler and Klaus Bös

Results of the European thematic network ageing and disability: improving the quality of life of elderly persons through more physical activity

Experts in Adapted Physical Activity (APA) for elderly persons from 66 higher education institutions of 29 European countries worked during 3 years together (2004–2007) in producing education materials to prom...

Authors: Herman Van Coppenolle, S. Djobova, A. Niemiro, I. Dobreva and K. U. Leuven