New Insights into Exercise Intervention for Aging and Geriatric Diseases: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Sports Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 May 2025 | Viewed by 4120

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Reductions in exercise and physical activity related to advanced aging are known to lead to physical deconditioning and increased risks of geriatric syndromes such as sarcopenia, cognitive decline, mood disorders, frailty, and dependency. Fortunately, over the last decade, many clinical and interventional studies with large prospective cohorts have been conducted, and the outcomes suggest that exercise interventions may be a useful clinical strategy to improve health and functional outcomes for those with geriatric diseases. However, current exercise interventions continue to face challenges concerning their feasibility and safety—issues that remain insufficiently resolved. Furthermore, the limited sustainability of these interventions—evidenced by poor long-term adherence—potentially diminishes the clinically significant outcomes achievable through sustained physical activity. Therefore, it is critical to develop and implement effective exercise interventions that not only promote ongoing physical activity but also maintain their feasibility and safety over time. Emerging evidence increasingly supports the notion that advancements in digital therapeutic exercises and rehabilitation techniques, including the utilization of wearable devices, fitness trackers, sensors, and virtual reality, could significantly enhance healthcare systems and augment the sustainability of exercise and physical activity programs tailored to the elderly population. Such technological advances may enhance the efficacy of exercise interventions used to manage and treat geriatric diseases such as sarcopenia, cognitive decline, osteoporosis, mood disorders, frailty, and dependency. This Special Issue will focus on new insights into effective exercise intervention approaches to delay aging and the onset of diseases associated with advanced aging. We published 15 papers in the first edition. For more details, please visit: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/jcm/special_issues/Exercise_Intervention_Aging_Geriatric_Diseases.

Prof. Dr. Hyuntae Park
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • exercise intervention
  • exercise adherence and feasibility
  • digital exercise therapy
  • digital therapeutics
  • mild cognitive impairment
  • osteoporosis
  • dementia
  • sarcopenia
  • frailty
  • depression
  • sleep disorder
  • obesity
  • geriatric disease

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 1887 KiB  
Article
Impact of Resistance Exercise and Nitrate Supplementation on Muscle Function and Clinical Outcomes After Knee Osteoarthritis Surgery in Middle-Aged Women with Sarcopenia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
by Han-Soo Park, Jin-Ho Yoon and Jae-Keun Oh
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(2), 615; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14020615 - 18 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 771
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Sarcopenia, characterized by reduced muscle mass and strength, is associated with osteoarthritis (OA), particularly in middle-aged women, and may worsen postoperatively. Resistance exercise (RE) can resolve sarcopenia; however, recovery is often suboptimal. Nitrate (NO3) supplementation may enhance muscle recovery [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Sarcopenia, characterized by reduced muscle mass and strength, is associated with osteoarthritis (OA), particularly in middle-aged women, and may worsen postoperatively. Resistance exercise (RE) can resolve sarcopenia; however, recovery is often suboptimal. Nitrate (NO3) supplementation may enhance muscle recovery and complement RE. We investigated whether NO3 supplementation combined with RE improves thigh muscle mass and strength in middle-aged women during postoperative rehabilitation. Methods: We conducted a prospective randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study including 36 middle-aged women with sarcopenia and cartilage defects undergoing mesenchymal stem cell implantation. Participants were assigned to RE with NO3 supplementation (NG, n = 18) or with placebo (PG, n = 18) groups. Both groups underwent 12 weeks of supervised RE. The primary outcomes were thigh muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and knee strength, whereas functional and clinical measures, including the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), skeletal muscle index (SMI), International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores, were secondary outcomes. Results: Thigh muscle CSA decreased in the PG but was maintained in the NG. Knee extension strength improved significantly in the NG compared with that in the PG at 6 and 12 weeks. Knee flexion strength also improved rapidly in the NG, with a significant increase at 6 weeks. SPPB and IKDC scores improved significantly in the NG. However, similar improvements were observed for WOMAC scores in both groups. Conclusions: NO3 supplementation combined with RE effectively prevented muscle atrophy and enhanced muscle strength in our study participants, indicating potential for improving postoperative recovery. Full article
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11 pages, 1094 KiB  
Article
Relationship Between Poor Sleep and Depressive Symptoms in Korean Elite Youth Athletes
by Youngju Choi, Seoyeon Kim, Soo-Hyun Park, Kitae Kim, Rye Kyeong Kim, Hyo-Bum Kwak and Jinkyung Cho
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(2), 479; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14020479 - 14 Jan 2025
Viewed by 857
Abstract
Background: Sleep and mental health are crucial to elite youth athletes, who face combined pressures of training, competition, school, and social commitments. We examined the association between sleep and depression in elite youth athletes. Methods: We analyzed data of 248 Korean [...] Read more.
Background: Sleep and mental health are crucial to elite youth athletes, who face combined pressures of training, competition, school, and social commitments. We examined the association between sleep and depression in elite youth athletes. Methods: We analyzed data of 248 Korean world-class youth athletes (aged 13–19 years). The athletes completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Results: Overall, 50.4% of the athletes were considered poor sleepers (global PSQI score ≥ 5.5); 23.8% reported depressive symptoms (CES-D score ≥ 16). Depression was 4.26 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.00–9.09, p < 0.001) more likely in poor than in good sleepers. Odds of depression were increased with poor subjective sleep quality (odds ratio [OR]: 4.62; 95%CI, 2.10–10.18, p < 0.001), prolonged sleep latency (OR: 2.45: 95% CI, 1.28–4.69, p < 0.01), increased sleep disturbances (OR: 3.98: 95% CI, 1.83–8.63, p < 0.001), and daytime dysfunction (OR: 3.28; 95% CI, 1.67–6.44, p < 0.001). Depressive symptoms were associated with worse sleep, particularly poor subjective sleep quality, prolonged sleep latency, increased sleep disturbances, and increased daytime dysfunction. Conclusions: These results suggest that depressive symptoms are associated with poor sleep in the elite youth athlete population. Full article
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24 pages, 2376 KiB  
Article
Adapted Taekwondo Improves Postural Balance and Health-Related Quality of Life Concerning Multicomponent Training and Walking Exercise in Older Females: A Randomized Controlled Trial (TKD and Aging Project)
by Pablo Valdés-Badilla, Tomás Herrera-Valenzuela, Eduardo Guzmán-Muñoz, Jordan Hernandez-Martinez, Izham Cid-Calfucura, Edgar Vásquez-Carrasco, Juan Aristegui-Mondaca, Pablo Aravena-Sagardia, Jorge Mota, José Zapata-Bastias, Cristian Luarte-Rocha and Braulio Henrique Magnani Branco
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(23), 7250; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13237250 - 28 Nov 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1166
Abstract
Background/Objectives: This study aimed to assess and compare the effects of an adapted taekwondo (TKD) program, multicomponent training (MCT), walking exercise (WE), and inactive control group (CG) on blood pressure, morphological variables, frequency of food consumption, cognitive status, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: This study aimed to assess and compare the effects of an adapted taekwondo (TKD) program, multicomponent training (MCT), walking exercise (WE), and inactive control group (CG) on blood pressure, morphological variables, frequency of food consumption, cognitive status, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical fitness tests, and postural balance in independent older females. Methods: A randomized controlled trial study was conducted with the following groups: TKD (n = 13), MCT (n = 12), WE (n = 12), and CG (n = 14), considering three/weekly 60-min/sessions for 16-weeks. A two-factor mixed analysis of the variance model with repeated measures was performed. Results: TKD improved significantly more in phonetic fluency (p = 0.021; ES = 1.89) than WE and in general health (p = 0.033; ES = 1.11) than CG. Both TKD and MCT improved significantly more than CG in the 30 s chair stand, arm curl, chair sit-and-reach, timed up-and-go, maximal isometric handgrip strength, and postural balance for the eyes closed condition in the area and anteroposterior velocity (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Only TKD improved the area (p = 0.008; ES = 1.00) and mediolateral velocity (p = 0.019; ES = 0.79) for the eyes open condition, and mediolateral velocity (p = 0.021; ES = 1.57) for the eyes closed condition. Blood pressure, morphological variables, and food consumption frequency showed no significant intragroup or intergroup interactions. TKD equivalently improved HRQoL and physical fitness to MCT, with better postural balance in older females. Full article
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20 pages, 3510 KiB  
Systematic Review
Effectiveness of Combined Cognitive Stimulation and Physical Activity Interventions on Activities of Daily Living, Cognitive Function, and Physical Function in Older People with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis
by Edgar Vásquez-Carrasco, Celia Sánchez Gómez, Pablo Valdés-Badilla, Jordan Hernandez-Martinez, Francisca Villagrán-Silva, Pablo Aravena-Sagardia, Cristian Sandoval and Pedro Moruno Miralles
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(7), 2261; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14072261 - 26 Mar 2025
Viewed by 860
Abstract
Background/Objectives: This systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to evaluate and synthesize scientific evidence about the combined cognitive stimulation and physical activity interventions on Activities of Daily Living (ADL), cognitive function, and physical function in older people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Methods: A [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: This systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to evaluate and synthesize scientific evidence about the combined cognitive stimulation and physical activity interventions on Activities of Daily Living (ADL), cognitive function, and physical function in older people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted between August 2024 and October 2024 using the core collection of six generic databases: PubMed, EBSCOhost, CINAHL Complete, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science. The PRISMA, RoB 2, and GRADEpro tools assessed the evidence’s methodological quality and certainty. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO, CRD42024577229. Results: Of 270 records identified in the databases, 9 studies were analyzed using the PICOS format. The MMSE meta-analysis showed significant improvements in cognitive function in favor of the experimental groups (p = 0.010). In contrast, no significant improvements were found for TMT-A (p = 0.51) and TMT-B (p = 0.37). No significant differences were reported for the other variables studied. Conclusions: Cognitive function, as measured by the MMSE, showed significant improvements, while the interventions analyzed did not produce significant improvements in ADL or physical function among older people with MCI. Individual studies suggest that programs that integrate both cognitive stimulation and physical activity components may provide some benefits. Full article
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