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Physical Activity and Exercise in the Management of Chronic Disease

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Exercise and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2022) | Viewed by 20479

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Dr. Sechang Oh

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Guest Editor

Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation, R Professional University of Rehabilitation, Tsuchiura 300-0032, Ibaraki, Japan
Interests: exercise; physical activity; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; nutrition; dietary behavior; diabetes; sarcopenia, metabolic syndrome

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Current estimations support a potential decline in life expectancy and quality due to increased chronic diseases such as sarcopenia, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and cognitive dysfunction. Furthermore, chronic diseases present a considerable burden on society by increasing health and social care costs. Our current understanding of daily physical activity and regular exercise helps manage symptoms and improve overall chronic conditions safely and affordably. However, we do not have sufficient scientific evidence of most chronic disease pathophysiology, and we currently cannot provide medical exercise prescriptions appropriate for each patient in most chronic diseases.

The present Special Issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) focuses on how physical activity and exercise can provide a non-invasive role for chronic disease prevention and treatment and delivering a safe and effective exercise prescription for physicians, exercise specialists, and physiotherapists. Papers dealing with the efficacy of alternative exercise available in various medical and physiology fields will also be collected. Research papers, reviews, and case reports are welcome. Other accepted manuscript formats include methodological papers, position papers, brief reports, and commentaries.

Dr. Sechang Oh
Guest Editor

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Keywords

exercise
physical activity
non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
dietary behavior
diabetes
cardiovascular disease
sarcopenia, metabolic syndrome
chronic disease
obesity

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 3307 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differences in Physical Characteristics of the Lower Extremity and Running Biomechanics Between Different Age Groups

by Jongbin Kim and Sang-Kyoon Park

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(7), 4320; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074320 - 4 Apr 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3178

Abstract

(1) Background: The objective of this study was to determine physical and biomechanical changes in age groups upon running. (2) Method: 75 male adults (20–80s) participated in the study. Bone mineral density and lower extremity joint strength were measured according to age-increase targeting. Based on age, correlations among running characteristics, impulse, impact force, maximum vertical ground reaction force, loading rate, lower extremity joint 3D range of motion, joint moment, and power upon running motion were calculated. (3) Result: Older runners tended to show lower bone mineral density, extremity maximum strength, stride time, and stride distance, with smaller RoM and joint power of ankle and knee joints in the sagittal plane, compared with younger subjects. However, there were no significant correlations between age and impact variables (i.e., impulse, impact force, peak GRF, and loading rate) during running. (4) Conclusion: Older runners tend to show weaker physical strength characteristics, such as bone mineral density and muscle strength and lower joint functionality of ankle and knee joints during running, compared with younger runners. Therefore, strengthening the lower extremity muscle and improving dynamic joint function, especially for ankle joints, can be helpful for injury prevention during running. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Exercise in the Management of Chronic Disease)

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14 pages, 988 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physical Fitness—Not Physical Activity Levels—Influence Quality of Life in Anorexia Nervosa

by Alexa Agne, Hugo Olmedillas, Margarita Pérez Ruiz, Miguel del Valle Soto and Maria Fernandez-del-Valle

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(5), 2678; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052678 - 25 Feb 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2859

Abstract

Background: Incorporating physical activity (PA) has been a challenge for health care professionals working with anorexia nervosa (AN) patients. This has contributed to partial physical fitness (PFit) recovery that persists after weight restoration. Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the relationships between PA, sedentary behaviors, PFit, and quality of life (QoL) in a group of adolescents after hospitalization. Methods: QoL, PA, and sedentary behaviors were measured using the Health-Questionnaire Short-Form 36 (SF-36) and accelerometers, while PFit was assessed through cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition (anthropometry), and strength (six repetition maximum) tests in a total of 63 patients. Results: Light-PA (LPA), moderate-PA (MPA), moderate-to-vigorous-PA (MVPA), and relative sedentary time (%ST) did not meet the recommendations (p < 0.001). Only 22% of the patients met MVPA criteria, and ~82% exceeded %ST. SF-36 scores were lower than normative values except the physical component scale. Absolute cardiorespiratory fitness was reduced (p < 0.001) in 84% of the patients, and was positively associated to body weight, body mass index (BMI), circumferences, and muscle areas. Additional positive significant relationships were found between QoL, muscular strength, and body composition, and negative associations between vigorous-to-very vigorous PA and BMI, skinfolds, and percent body fat. Regression analyses revealed lower body strength as an explanatory factor for improved QoL (OR 1.03, 95%CI 1.00–1.07). Conclusions: PFit and QoL scores are poor after hospitalization. LPA, MPA, and MVPA do not meet recommendations. PFit management—with emphasis on improving muscular fitness—may be a valuable strategy for QoL improvement in AN after hospitalization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Exercise in the Management of Chronic Disease)

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10 pages, 2060 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Handgrip Strength to Predict the Risk of All-Cause and Premature Mortality in Korean Adults: A 10-Year Cohort Study

by Junghoon Kim

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(1), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010039 - 21 Dec 2021

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3002

Abstract

The prospective association of muscular weakness with the risk of all-cause and premature mortality in a general population remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the prospective effects of handgrip strength and muscular weakness on risk for all-cause and premature mortality over 10 years using a large nationwide sample of Korean adults. The study participants included 9229 middle and older adults (4131 males and 5098 females), using data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing 2006–2016. Muscular strength was measured using handgrip strength. Muscle weakness was defined using the sex-specific handgrip strength index based on the Asian Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (AWGSOP). The primary outcome was all-cause and premature mortality assessed based on the death certificate. The hazard ratio (HR) for all-cause mortality was negatively associated with level of handgrip strength independent of potential confounding factors (HR: 2.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.62–2.63 for lowest quartile vs. highest quartile). When examined using muscle weakness defined using the AWGSOP diagnosis, the mortality was 1.56 times higher in the weak group (HR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.36–1.78). We also found that risk of premature mortality was observed in the lowest quartile (HR: 2.34, 95% CI: 1.80–3.05) and the muscle weakness group (HR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.52–2.13) in the fully adjusted model. Our 10-year prospective cohort study showed that handgrip strength and muscle weakness are strongly associated with an increased risk of all-cause and premature mortality in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Exercise in the Management of Chronic Disease)

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12 pages, 915 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Isotemporal Substitution Analysis of Accelerometer-Derived Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity on Cardiometabolic Health in Korean Adults: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

by Jiameng Ma, Hyunshik Kim and Junghoon Kim

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(21), 11102; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111102 - 22 Oct 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3270

Abstract

Reducing sedentary behavior and increasing physical activity may be important for maintaining good cardiometabolic health. However, many studies have focused on the independent effect of sedentary behavior and physical activity, but it is unclear whether replacing time spent in sedentary behavior with physical activity is beneficial for cardiometabolic health. Therefore, this population-based cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the effect of behavioral transformations between sedentary behavior and level of physical activity on cardiometabolic health in Korean adults using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2014–2017. The study participants included 2197 adults from the KNHANES. In the partition model, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was significantly associated with adverse cardiometabolic health, adjusted for potential confounding factors. The odds ratio for adverse cardiometabolic health significantly decreased with the replacement of sedentary behavior and light intensity activity with MVPA in the isotemporal substitution model (p < 0.05). In the models stratified by sex, we observed significant associations between handgrip strength and cardiometabolic health in women (p < 0.001), but not in men. Thus, our findings suggest that replacing sedentary behavior with MVPA may contribute to improved cardiometabolic health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Exercise in the Management of Chronic Disease)

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12 pages, 1278 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Exercise on the Oral Microbiota and Saliva of Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

by Fumihiko Uchida, Sechang Oh, Takashi Shida, Hideo Suzuki, Kenji Yamagata, Yuji Mizokami, Hiroki Bukawa, Kiyoji Tanaka and Junichi Shoda

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(7), 3470; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073470 - 26 Mar 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 6140

Abstract

Exercise can be hypothesized to play an important role in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) treatment by changing the oral bacterial flora and in the mechanism underlying periodontal disease. We performed salivary component analysis before and after an exercise regimen, and genome analysis of the oral bacterial flora to elucidate the underlying mechanism. Obese middle-aged men with NAFLD and periodontal disease were allocated to 12-week exercise (n = 49) or dietary restriction (n = 21) groups. We collected saliva to compare the oral microflora; performed predictive analysis of metagenomic functions; and, measured the salivary immunoglobulin A, cytokine, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and lactoferrin concentrations. The exercise group showed improvements in the clinical indices of oral environment. Salivary component analysis revealed significant reductions in LPS, and lactoferrin during the exercise regimen. Diversity analysis of oral bacterial flora revealed higher alpha- and beta-diversity after the exercise regimen. Analysis of the microbial composition revealed that the numbers of Campylobacter (+83.9%), Corynebacterium (+142.3%), Actinomyces (+75.9%), and Lautropia (+172.9%) were significantly higher, and that of Prevotella (−28.3%) was significantly lower. The findings suggest that an exercise regimen improves the oral environment of NAFLD patients by increasing the diversity of the oral microflora and reducing the number of periodontal bacteria that produce LPS and its capability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Exercise in the Management of Chronic Disease)

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