Search Results (3,952)

Background/Objectives: Orchestra musicians are exposed to prolonged asymmetric postures and repetitive upper-quarter loading that may influence postural-control strategies. This exploratory controlled intervention study examined whether a four-week mobilization-based exercise program performed once or twice weekly was associated with changes in static sensory-dependent balance and dynamic voluntary weight-shifting control. Methods: Twenty-three university orchestra musicians (5 males, 18 females; mean age 24.57 ± 3.41 years) were allocated to a no-intervention control group (n = 7), a once-weekly mobilization group (EG1; n = 8), or a twice-weekly mobilization group (EG2; n = 8). Because no contemporaneous documentation of the allocation-sequence generation could be retrieved, the study is reported as a non-randomized exploratory controlled intervention study, and it was registered retrospectively at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT07632950; first posted 8 June 2026, after study completion). Postural control was assessed at baseline, Week 1, and Week 4 using CTSIB and LOS tests. Results: No between-group differences were detected for any CTSIB outcome at any time point or for change scores. Although selected CTSIB variables changed within the control and EG2 groups, the absence of between-group differences indicates that these changes were not intervention-specific. For LOS outcomes, change-score comparisons were significant for Reaction Time (H = 9.076, p = 0.011, ε² = 0.354) and Directional Control (H = 6.214, p = 0.045, ε² = 0.211). After Bonferroni adjustment, only the greater reduction in Reaction Time in EG2 versus control remained significant (p_adj = 0.027). Conclusions: In this small exploratory study, twice-weekly mobilization was associated with faster LOS movement initiation, but the absolute and clinical importance of this change remains uncertain. CTSIB outcomes did not demonstrate an intervention-specific effect; therefore, the findings should be considered hypothesis-generating. Full article

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) were historically viewed as a barrier to vigorous or competitive sport participation, based on theoretical concerns about arrhythmia induction, inappropriate shocks, device damage, and shock-related injury during activity. Contemporary registry data have reframed this paradigm, demonstrating that selected athletes with ICDs can participate in organized sport without the catastrophic outcomes once feared, although these data remain reassuring rather than definitive given selection bias and underrepresentation of high-consequence sports. This review synthesizes contemporary athlete-specific registry data and broader randomized device and programming evidence, alongside current guideline recommendations, to provide a practical framework for the care of athletes with ICDs, addressing indications, which should remain diagnosis-driven rather than sport-driven; device selection, weighing transvenous, subcutaneous, and extravascular platforms against an athlete’s pacing needs, anatomy, and sport-specific trauma risk; and exercise-informed device programming. We then present a longitudinal framework integrating clinical readiness, device readiness, sport-specific risk, emergency preparedness, shared decision-making, and reassessment after clinical or sporting changes. Special populations and priorities for future research are also discussed. Rather than a binary clearance decision, modern management of athletes with ICDs requires an individualized, longitudinally reassessed approach to risk. Full article

Introduction: Black men experience persistent disparities across the prostate cancer continuum, including inequities in access to survivorship support. This study examined the perceived value, acceptability, and experiences of accessing a multicomponent digital survivorship program among Black men with prostate cancer. Methods: This exploratory mixed-methods study was embedded within the ongoing international Phase 4 implementation trial of the Prostate Cancer Patient Empowerment Program (PC-PEP), a six-month digital intervention integrating exercise, pelvic floor muscle training, nutrition, stress management, psychosocial support, and peer connection. Fourteen self-identified Black participants contributed six-month program evaluation and qualitative data collected through open-ended responses and conference-based focus group discussions. Nine participants (64%) had undergone surgery with or without radiation and/or hormone therapy, four (29%) had received radiation with or without hormone therapy, and one (7%) was on active surveillance or had received no treatment. Quantitative data were summarized descriptively, and qualitative data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: PC-PEP was highly valued, with median ratings of 10 (IQR 8–10) for likelihood of recommending the program and 9 (IQR 8–10) for overall usefulness. Among participants with available item-level data, 11/13 (85%) reported lifestyle improvement and 12/13 (92%) endorsed offering PC-PEP as standard care. Qualitative findings identified the value of holistic survivorship support, peer connection, normalization of vulnerability, and support for physical and psychological self-management. Participants also described limited awareness of PC-PEP at diagnosis and reliance on individual clinicians or incidental opportunities to learn about the program. Participants emphasized the need for earlier referral, greater representation, and culturally relevant community outreach. Conclusions: Black men who accessed PC-PEP reported high perceived value and identified benefits across multiple dimensions of survivorship. Their experiences, however, highlighted an important distinction between program availability and meaningful access: participants’ experiences suggest that availability alone may not ensure timely connection to survivorship support. Earlier referral, culturally responsive outreach, and integration of survivorship support into routine prostate cancer care may help close this gap. Full article

Adherence to home-based exercise programs is central to rehabilitation, yet adherence to prescribed rest intervals remains largely unexplored. This narrative review synthesized relevant literature identified through targeted, purposive searches of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for publications from 2000 to 20 July 2026, supplemented by reference-list screening. Direct evidence is extremely limited: no study identified prospectively quantified adherence to prescribed rest intervals in a home-based rehabilitation setting. Accordingly, most interpretation is extrapolated from broader literature on general exercise adherence, resistance training, telerehabilitation, and digital monitoring. Rest duration can influence neuromuscular recovery, fatigue, and performance, providing a physiological rationale for studying recovery timing, but these effects do not establish the clinical consequences of rest-interval non-adherence. We distinguish participant adherence from intervention fidelity and propose temporal fidelity as a hypothesis-generating framework describing concordance between the intended and implemented timing structure of exercise. Explicit prescriptions, patient education, simplified timing cues, supervised familiarization, and digital monitoring are presented as candidate strategies rather than established rest-specific interventions. Prospective studies should objectively measure prescribed and actual recovery periods and determine whether temporal fidelity predicts or improves rehabilitation outcomes. Full article

Background: The aging population in Portugal requires interventions such as multicomponent exercise to maintain the functionality of older adults. The aim of this exploratory pilot study was to investigate preliminary changes in body composition, physical fitness, quality of life and satisfaction with life following a low-frequency multicomponent exercise program delivered in two different community-based contexts (conventional exercise room and Snoezelen room). Methods: This study followed a non-randomized quasi-experimental methodology based on participant preference and logistical availability. Following the baseline assessment, participants self-selected their participation context. Participants who chose to participate in the exercise intervention were assigned to either the Snoezelen Room Group or the Exercise Room Group according to their preference, whereas participants who did not participate in either intervention because of personal preference or logistical constraints formed a non-participating comparison Control Group. The final sample comprised 27 older women: Snoezelen Room Group (n = 14), Exercise Room Group (n = 7), and Control Group (n = 6). The intervention consisted of a 12-week multicomponent program (1 session/week, 45–60 min) carried out in different environments. Body composition, functional physical fitness, quality of life and satisfaction with life were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: The primary between-group analysis of change scores (Δ = post−pre) identified significant differences for body mass (H(2) = 9.516, p = 0.009), with a significant Bonferroni contrast between the Snoezelen and Exercise Room Groups (1 vs. 2; adjusted p = 0.008). For Back Scratch, the Δ-based omnibus test was also significant (H(2) = 7.398, p = 0.025), with Snoezelen differing from the Exercise Room Group (1 vs. 2; adjusted p = 0.020). For quality of life, the Δ-based omnibus test was significant (H(2) = 11.356, p = 0.003), with significant contrasts between Exercise Room and Control Groups (2 vs. 3; adjusted p = 0.003). Secondary between-group analyses at specific time points also identified differences in post-intervention bone mass (H(2) = 8.460, p = 0.015; 1 vs. 2, adjusted p = 0.026; 2 vs. 3, adjusted p = 0.038), muscle mass (H(2) = 7.748, p = 0.021; 1 vs. 2, adjusted p = 0.034), Back Scratch (H(2) = 7.947, p = 0.031; 1 vs. 2, adjusted p = 0.031; 2 vs. 3, adjusted p = 0.050), and 6-Minute Walk (H(2) = 9.015, p = 0.011; 1 vs. 2, adjusted p = 0.012). Conclusions: The findings suggest that a low-frequency multicomponent exercise program may be feasible in community social centers; however, the observed within-group changes and exploratory between-group differences should be interpreted cautiously given the non-randomized design, small sample size, and baseline differences. Larger controlled studies are needed to determine whether the exercise environment contributes to differential outcomes. Full article

Although robust observational data have long associated physical activity with improved colon cancer survival, the lack of randomized evidence has perpetuated a “causality gap,” confining exercise to supportive lifestyle advice and creating a clinical dilemma for surgeons. This paradigm has been fundamentally reshaped by the landmark phase III CHALLENGE trial. This review synthesizes the clinical, epidemiological, and translational evidence establishing exercise as a validated, disease-modifying intervention. In the CHALLENGE trial, a 3-year structured physical activity program significantly improved both disease-free survival (HR 0.72) and overall survival (HR 0.63) in patients with resected stage III or high-risk stage II colon cancer post-adjuvant chemotherapy, demonstrating a clinically meaningful additive benefit following completion of standard adjuvant chemotherapy. Mechanistically, exercise drives a multi-layered host–tumor reprogramming. Each acute exercise bout triggers transient surges of muscle-derived myokines (e.g., IL-6, SPARC) and immune-cell mobilization, enhancing natural killer and CD8⁺ T cell tumor infiltration. Cumulatively, these repeated acute pulses drive chronic adaptations, including downregulation of the pro-proliferative insulin/IGF-1 axis, attenuation of pro-tumor systemic inflammation, and microenvironmental remodeling at metastatic sites. To bridge the implementation gap, exercise oncology must transition from vague recommendations to structured, biomarker-driven clinical prescriptions defining type, dose, and duration. Mirroring the institutional success of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols, physical activity should be systematically embedded into multidisciplinary, post-adjuvant oncologic care pathways. As the primary coordinators of colorectal cancer care, gastrointestinal surgeons must lead the transformation of exercise from optional supportive care into a validated, disease-modifying standard of care. Full article

Wearable inertial sensors have become tools for objectively assessing mobility in older people. This study analyzed whether wearable inertial sensors could detect exercise-induced mobility changes and compared the effects of multicomponent training (MCT) and elastic band training (EBT) on mobility and physical function in older women. Forty-two participants were randomly allocated to either the MCT (n = 21) or EBT (n = 21) group, where 38 (EBT: n = 19; MCT: n = 19) completed the 16-week intervention. Outcomes included instrumented Timed Up-and-Go (iTUG) assessed with a wearable inertial sensor, the Senior Fitness Test, maximal isometric handgrip strength, conventional TUG, anthropometric measurements, health-related quality of life, and blood biomarkers. Data were analyzed using age-adjusted linear mixed-effects models. The iTUG showed shorter completion time (p < 0.001), reduced middle-turn duration (p = 0.004), and increased cadence (p = 0.007). Significant time effects were also observed for chair stand (p = 0.011), arm curl (p < 0.001), and conventional TUG (p = 0.009). No significant group × time interactions were detected. After adjustment for multiple comparisons, no significant changes were observed in anthropometric measures, health-related quality of life, or blood biomarkers. Wearable inertial sensors detected training-related mobility changes, and both exercise programs improved physical function and mobility without between-group differences. Full article

Community-based digital transformation (DX) initiatives are increasingly used to promote healthy aging, although their effects are often evaluated using subjective self-reported measures. This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate a community DX health promotion initiative with Takashimadaira as its primary target area in Japan using wearable sensor data. A total of 500 community-dwelling older adults participated in the initiative, and wearable sensor data were obtained from 355 participants during the five-month observational period. The initiative combined wearable device distribution with event-information dissemination via the messaging platform. Daily step count and heart-rate indices were analyzed. Within-participant analyses showed significant increases in daily step counts in the information-provision groups, whereas the primary linear mixed-effects model showed no significant information-provision × time interaction for daily step count. Information provision was associated with differences in mean and minimum daily heart rate in cross-sectional analyses. Adherence and dropout also varied by residential area. Age, BMI, and exercise frequency were associated with several health-related indices, but these associations were not interpreted as evidence of wearable measurement validity. These findings demonstrate the potential utility of using wearable sensor data to evaluate longitudinal changes in health-related behavior and physiological signals in community-based DX initiatives, while also revealing important feasibility limitations, including substantial attrition (only 222 of 355 participants met the 14-day criterion; 90-day dropout 58.3%) and indicating that observed within-participant changes should not be interpreted as demonstrated intervention effects. Community context may also be relevant to sustained participation in such programs. Full article

Progressive resistance exercise training (RET) enhances skeletal muscle mass in healthy postmenopausal women (HEAs) and breast cancer survivors (BCSs) undergoing endocrine therapy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are recognized as key epigenetic regulators of exercise-induced adaptations, functioning as tumor suppressors, oncomiRs, and modulators of skeletal muscle homeostasis. Nevertheless, the impact of RET on circulating miRNA profiles in this population remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to explore the effects of a 12-week progressive RET program on plasma miRNAs associated with tumor biology and skeletal muscle regulation in HEAs and BCSs. Five HEAs and five BCSs undergoing endocrine therapy completed a 12-week supervised progressive RET program (3 sessions/week, 60–80% 1RM). Plasma samples were collected before and after intervention, and candidate miRNA expression was quantified by qRT-PCR, normalized to hsa-miR-16-5p, and analyzed using the 2^−ΔΔCt method. At baseline, no significant differences were observed between HEA and BCS in tumor suppressor miRNAs (miR-let-7f-5p, miR-125a-5p, miR-342-3p), oncomiRs (miR-21-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-221-3p), or skeletal muscle–related miRNAs (miR-206-3p, miR-486-5p) (p > 0.05). The only exception was miR-375-3p, which showed increased expression in HEA vs BCS (p = 0.037). After 12 weeks of RET, The BCS group showed increases in miR-125a-5p (p = 0.050) and miR-342-3p (p = 0.048) with significant group × time interactions that remained significant after Benjamini–Hochberg False Discovery Rate (BH-FDR) correction (FDR-adjusted p = 0.042 for both). Both groups displayed a nominal increase in miR-375-3p (p = 0.042), which did not remain significant after FDR correction. No significant changes were detected for miR-let-7f-5p or the analyzed oncomiRs in either group. Both miR-206-3p and miR-486-5p exhibited upward trends in the BCS group (p > 0.05). In this exploratory study, 12-week RET program was associated with selective changes in plasma miRNA expression in the HEA and BCS groups, suggesting that this training regimen may act as an epigenetic modulator of circulating miRNAs involved in tumor suppression and skeletal muscle homeostasis. Full article

This study examined the effects of an eight-week core strengthening exercise program on menstrual pain, menstrual symptoms, and quality of life in sedentary female university students with self-reported primary dysmenorrhea. Sixty female students (age: 21.8 ± 3.4 years) were randomly assigned to a core strengthening exercise group (EG; n = 30) or a control group (CG; n = 30). Pain intensity was assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) at baseline (T1), after four weeks (T2) and after eight weeks of intervention (T3). Menstrual symptoms and quality of life were evaluated using the Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire (MSQ) and the WHO Quality of Life–BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), respectively. NRS scores in the EG were significantly lower at T2 and T3 compared with T1 (p < 0.01). The EG showed significant reductions in negative symptoms, pain, management, and total MSQ scores, whereas management and total MSQ scores increased in the CG (p < 0.01). Significant improvements were observed in all WHOQOL domains (physical, psychological, social relationships, and environment) in the EG (p < 0.01). An eight-week core strengthening exercise program may help reduce menstrual pain and symptoms and improve quality of life in female university students with self-reported primary dysmenorrhea. Full article

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary hemoglobinopathy characterized by chronic anemia, recurrent pain episodes, and multi-organ complications, which collectively impact patients’ quality of life and functional capacity. Exercise and physical activity are recognized as essential components of general health and well-being; however, their role in individuals with SCD remains underexplored due to concerns regarding safety, tolerance, and the potential to precipitate vaso-occlusive crises. This study aimed to assess the patterns and frequency of exercise and physical activity among patients with sickle cell disease using a validated questionnaire. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on patients diagnosed with sickle cell disease at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. After obtaining ethical approval, we contacted the patients by phone or met them in person and administered the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). Data on age, gender, comorbid conditions, disease-related variables, and weekly physical activity were collected. Total physical activity was expressed in metabolic equivalent of task (MET)-minutes per week, and participants achieving ≥600 MET-minutes per week were classified as meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation. Results: Of the 97 patients, males represented 52.6% of the participants, with a median age of 33 years. Overall, 70.1% of the patients were on hydroxyurea, and 14.4% had undergone splenectomy. More than half of the patients (56.7%) reported difficulties with exercise. According to the findings, 39% of the patients were getting enough physical activity each week, as recommended by the WHO. Male patients were significantly more likely to meet the WHO physical activity recommendation (p = 0.003), whereas no statistically significant associations were observed for age, nationality, body mass index, hemoglobin level, hydroxyurea use, splenectomy, hospital admissions, transfusion history, comorbidities, or exercise-related symptoms (all p > 0.05). Conclusions: Our data suggest that a significant proportion of patients with SCD did not achieve the WHO-recommended physical activity level, with adherence observed in only about forty percent of participants, and that adherence was more common in male patients (adjusted odds ratio 3.30, 95% CI 1.36–8.52, after multivariable adjustment for age, body mass index, hemoglobin, and transfusion status). This association was concentrated in occupational rather than recreational activity and was not explained by the clinical variables measured. Because no comparison group was studied, the extent to which this shortfall is attributable to SCD itself, rather than to the population-level inactivity already documented in Saudi Arabia, cannot be determined from these data. These findings identify a potential area for targeted intervention, particularly among women, and underscore the need for further research into disease-specific and sociocultural barriers before tailored programs can be developed. Further larger, controlled, multi-center studies are necessary to clarify the specific contribution of SCD to inactivity and to guide individualized physical activity promotion in this population. Full article

Background/Objectives: Modifiable lifestyle behaviors may be relevant to osteoporotic fracture risk, but their cumulative association across different levels of skeletal health remains unclear. This study investigated the association between a cumulative lifestyle score and osteoporotic fracture risk according to baseline bone mineral density (BMD) category in older women. Methods: We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study using Korean National Health Insurance Service data from 541,770 women aged 66 years who underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry through the national life-transition health screening program between 2010 and 2016. A cumulative lifestyle score ranging from 0 to 3 was constructed by assigning one point each for regular exercise, non- or ex-smoking status, and non-drinking status. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate associations with any, vertebral, hip, and other osteoporotic fractures across normal BMD, osteopenia, and osteoporosis groups. Results: Higher lifestyle scores were generally associated with lower osteoporotic fracture hazards across BMD categories. For any fracture, the adjusted hazard ratios for lifestyle score 3 versus 0 were 0.746 (95% CI, 0.564–0.987) in the normal BMD group, 0.747 (95% CI, 0.630–0.885) in the osteopenia group, and 0.786 (95% CI, 0.668–0.924) in the osteoporosis group. No statistical evidence of interaction between lifestyle score and BMD category was observed. The incidence-rate differences between scores 0 and 3 for any fracture were 4.49, 6.03, and 5.99 per 1000 person-years in the normal BMD, osteopenia, and osteoporosis groups, respectively. Conclusions: A more favorable cumulative lifestyle profile was associated with lower osteoporotic fracture risk across BMD categories in older women. Although there was no statistical evidence that the relative associations differed by BMD category, larger incidence-rate differences were observed among women with lower BMD. These observational findings support the potential value of integrated lifestyle assessment as a complementary component of fracture-risk assessment and counseling. Full article

Background: Multicomponent exercise promotes healthy aging, but evidence in community-dwelling older women remains limited. This study examined pre–post changes in functional fitness and cardiovascular health following participation in a six-month multicomponent exercise program. Methods: Thirty-five community-dwelling older women (71.39 ± 6.82 years) participated in a quasi-experimental pre–post intervention study. Participants completed supervised multicomponent exercise sessions twice weekly for six months. Anthropometric, cardiovascular, and functional fitness outcomes were assessed before and after the program. Results: Reductions were observed in body mass (68.03 ± 11.39 vs. 66.29 ± 10.02 kg; p < 0.001) and body mass index (26.56 ± 3.71 vs. 25.90 ± 3.22 kg·m⁻²; p < 0.05). Lower post-test values were also observed for systolic blood pressure (125 ± 9 vs. 121 ± 10 mmHg; p = 0.026), resting heart rate (85 ± 12 vs. 77 ± 11 bpm; p = 0.008), and double product (10,359 ± 1899 vs. 9701 ± 1705 mmHg·bpm; p = 0.027). Handgrip strength was higher at post-test in both the dominant hand (20.98 ± 5.47 vs. 22.53 ± 6.31 kgf; p = 0.007) and non-dominant hand (19.23 ± 4.99 vs. 21.20 ± 5.61 kgf; p < 0.001). Functional aerobic capacity was also higher at post-test (95.74 ± 21.35 vs. 110.41 ± 22.86 steps; p < 0.001), while flexibility values were higher in the left Chair Sit-and-Reach Test (−15.92 ± 10.48 vs. −12.97 ± 10.91 cm; p = 0.001) and left Back Scratch Test (−3.65 ± 6.82 vs. 4.32 ± 7.83 cm; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Participation in a twice-weekly multicomponent exercise program for six months was associated with favorable pre–post changes in functional fitness and cardiovascular health in community-dwelling older women. Full article

Background: Upper-body exercise is increasingly applied in athletic and exercise settings; however, acute physiological and perceptual differences compared to lower-body exercise remain insufficiently characterized. This study compared maximal performance parameters during incremental upper- and lower-body exercise in healthy adults. Methods: Seventeen moderately trained participants (eight females, nine males) completed randomized incremental tests on a hand crank ergometer (HCE) and a cycle ergometer (CE). Maximal fat oxidation (MFO), intensity at maximal fat oxidation (FAT_max), peak oxygen uptake (VO₂^peak), maximal heart rate (HR_peak), peak power output (PPO), immediate post-exercise lactate (LA_post), and differentiated ratings of perceived exertion (RPE_breathing and RPE_muscles) were assessed. Results: MFO was significantly lower during HCE compared with CE (0.26 vs. 0.55 g·min⁻¹, p < 0.001), occurring at a lower FAT_max (42.6% vs. 51.6% of VO₂^peak_, p = 0.016). Furthermore, relative VO₂^peak (34.1 vs. 48.9 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹, p < 0.001), HR_peak (178 vs. 189 beats·min⁻¹, p < 0.001), and relative PPO (1.8 vs. 4.1 W·kg⁻¹, p < 0.001) were substantially reduced during HCE. While RPE_breathing was higher during CE (19.1 vs. 17.6, p < 0.001), RPE_muscles (19.4 vs. 19.8, p = 0.111) and LA_post (9.8 vs. 8.6 mmol·L⁻¹, p = 0.060) did not differ significantly between modalities. No significant modality-by-sex interactions were observed for any outcome. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate pronounced modality-specific differences in metabolic, cardiorespiratory, and perceptual responses. Exercise modality should therefore be carefully considered when interpreting maximal exercise tests and prescribing training or rehabilitation programs. Full article

Background/Objectives: Age-related increases in oxidative stress and chronic low-grade inflammation contribute to skeletal muscle deterioration, impaired physical performance, and loss of functional independence in older adults. Regular exercise may counteract these processes by improving both musculoskeletal function and systemic redox homeostasis; however, the effects of multimodal functional exercise on antioxidant defence mechanisms and innate immune redox regulation remain incompletely understood. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate changes associated with a six-week multimodal functional exercise program in body composition, muscle strength, physical performance, antioxidant defence and phagocyte oxidative burst activity in older women. Methods: Seventeen physically inactive women aged over 65 years participated in a six-week functional training program consisting of aerobic, resistance, balance, coordination, and proprioceptive exercises performed twice weekly. Body composition, handgrip strength, and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) scores were assessed before and after the intervention. In addition, serum antioxidant enzyme activities, total antioxidant capacity, lipid peroxidation markers, nitrite/nitrate concentrations, and phagocyte oxidative burst activity were determined. Results: Following the intervention, improvements were observed in skeletal muscle mass, muscle percentage, handgrip strength, and SPPB scores, while body fat mass and body fat percentage decreased. Catalase activity increased, whereas superoxide dismutase activity, glutathione peroxidase activity, and lipid peroxidation markers remained unchanged. Serum nitrite/nitrate concentrations increased following the intervention. Although neutrophil counts did not change, phagocyte oxidative burst activity decreased significantly. Conclusions: These findings indicate that a six-week multimodal functional exercise program was associated with favourable changes in body composition, enhanced muscle strength, and improved functional performance in previously inactive older women. In parallel, favourable changes in antioxidant defence, nitric oxide metabolism, and immune-related redox regulation were also observed following the intervention, supporting the potential role of multimodal functional training as an effective non-pharmacological strategy for promoting healthy ageing. Full article