Page 31 - Petelin, Ana, ur. 2021. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Zbornik povzetkov z recenzijo / Book of Abstracts. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
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ects of combined exercise on cardiovascular disease risk factors fizioterapija in zdravje starejših odraslih | physiotherapy and health of the elderly
in elderly
Cecilija Barut, Karla Čepon, Andreja Kvas
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Introduction. Cardiovascular diseases represent the number one cause of mor-
tality and morbidity of the world’s population, especially in older adults. They
are associated with many risk factors such as arterial hypertension, hyperlipi-
demia, obesity, metabolic syndrome and others. With aging a decline in mus-
cle performance, strength and heart function occurs, which leads to gener-
al physical weakness and poor quality of life. Exercise is associated with lower
body fat, improving overall health and muscle strength and is therefore para-
mount in reducing risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Aerobic exercise is
thought to act as prevention from cardiovascular disease by stabilizing blood
pressure, lipoprotein density, lowering inflammatory responses and by improv-
ing the function of the cardiovascular system. However, with aerobic exercise
alone it is difficult to increase lean body mass. A combination of aerobic exer-
cise and resistance training, however, could be effective in reducing body fat,
increasing lean body mass, and lowering inflammatory responses in the body.
Organizations related to public health have emphasized the role of exercise as
a non-pharmacological treatment for cardiovascular disease. The purpose of
this article was to present findings on the effects of combined exercise on car-
diovascular disease risk factors in elderly.
Methods. The search for articles was conducted in databases PubMed, PEDro,
Cochrane Library and CINAHL with key words and their combinations in Eng-
lish language: combined exercise AND cardiovascular disease risk factors AND
elderly and in references listed in relevant publications.
Results. We analysed five randomised controlled trials where they compared
combined exercise with aerobic exercise, diet or with a group without treat-
ment. In one study combined exercise compared to aerobic exercise improved
lean body mass, torque in the knee and ankle joint and CRP levels, and im-
proved hypertension and dyslipidemia in another study. Compared to no treat-
ment, combined exercise improved body composition, systolic blood pres-
sure, increased carotid flow velocity and wall shear ratio. In two other studies
who also compared combined exercise with no treatment, improvement was
noted in body composition, cholesterol and triglyceride levels in one, and in
walking speed and ankle joint torque in the other, while blood pressure re-
mained unchanged. In one study, combined exercise was compared to no ex-
ercise, and reduced visceral fat, weight, lower hip to waist ratio, triglyceride
levels and blood pressure were observed in the exercise group combining aer-
obic and strength exercise with diet changes.
Discussion and conclusion. Combined exercise reduces risk factors for cardio-
vascular diseases to a greater extent than aerobic exercise or health educa-
tion. Due to a low number and various quality of reviewed studies, further re-
search is needed.
Keywords: aerobic exercise, resistance training, cardiovascular diseases, older
adults
29
in elderly
Cecilija Barut, Karla Čepon, Andreja Kvas
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Introduction. Cardiovascular diseases represent the number one cause of mor-
tality and morbidity of the world’s population, especially in older adults. They
are associated with many risk factors such as arterial hypertension, hyperlipi-
demia, obesity, metabolic syndrome and others. With aging a decline in mus-
cle performance, strength and heart function occurs, which leads to gener-
al physical weakness and poor quality of life. Exercise is associated with lower
body fat, improving overall health and muscle strength and is therefore para-
mount in reducing risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Aerobic exercise is
thought to act as prevention from cardiovascular disease by stabilizing blood
pressure, lipoprotein density, lowering inflammatory responses and by improv-
ing the function of the cardiovascular system. However, with aerobic exercise
alone it is difficult to increase lean body mass. A combination of aerobic exer-
cise and resistance training, however, could be effective in reducing body fat,
increasing lean body mass, and lowering inflammatory responses in the body.
Organizations related to public health have emphasized the role of exercise as
a non-pharmacological treatment for cardiovascular disease. The purpose of
this article was to present findings on the effects of combined exercise on car-
diovascular disease risk factors in elderly.
Methods. The search for articles was conducted in databases PubMed, PEDro,
Cochrane Library and CINAHL with key words and their combinations in Eng-
lish language: combined exercise AND cardiovascular disease risk factors AND
elderly and in references listed in relevant publications.
Results. We analysed five randomised controlled trials where they compared
combined exercise with aerobic exercise, diet or with a group without treat-
ment. In one study combined exercise compared to aerobic exercise improved
lean body mass, torque in the knee and ankle joint and CRP levels, and im-
proved hypertension and dyslipidemia in another study. Compared to no treat-
ment, combined exercise improved body composition, systolic blood pres-
sure, increased carotid flow velocity and wall shear ratio. In two other studies
who also compared combined exercise with no treatment, improvement was
noted in body composition, cholesterol and triglyceride levels in one, and in
walking speed and ankle joint torque in the other, while blood pressure re-
mained unchanged. In one study, combined exercise was compared to no ex-
ercise, and reduced visceral fat, weight, lower hip to waist ratio, triglyceride
levels and blood pressure were observed in the exercise group combining aer-
obic and strength exercise with diet changes.
Discussion and conclusion. Combined exercise reduces risk factors for cardio-
vascular diseases to a greater extent than aerobic exercise or health educa-
tion. Due to a low number and various quality of reviewed studies, further re-
search is needed.
Keywords: aerobic exercise, resistance training, cardiovascular diseases, older
adults
29
