Gymnastik- och idrottshögskolan, GIH

The study aimed to identify a small set of fitness tests that could effectively predict performance in simulated firefighting tasks. Thirty-six (25 male and 11 female) firefighters participated in the study. Strength was evaluated with grip strength, barbell bench rows, and elevated trap bar deadlifts. Work capacity was assessed using a 3-minute pyramid test, executed with and without firefighting equipment. Firefighting performance was evaluated using a simulated work task course comprising stair climbing, hose pull, victim rescue, and equipment carry. We used backward linear regressions to derive models incorporating fitness test results, demographic variables, and oxygen uptake measures as predictors. Statistical significance was set to p < 0.05. The pyramid test without equipment accounted for 59% of the variance in task performance. When body mass and height were included, the model's predictive power increased to 71%. A final model, integrating the pyramid test, body mass, and absolute maximal oxygen uptake capacity (V̇o2max), explained 81% of performance variation. Our findings indicate that V̇o2max is the key factor in firefighter task performance, explaining 69% of the variance. The pyramid test, which estimates V̇o2max and predicted 59% of performance, is simple, time efficient, and can be conducted at stations to assess physical ability and work capacity. Incorporating the pyramid test into regular assessments can help firefighters focus on improving their work capacity, which is essential for achieving better performance.

Background

Sarcopenia is thought to be underlined by age-associated anabolic resistance and dysregulation of intracellular signalling pathways. However, it is unclear whether these phenomena are driven by ageing per se or other confounding factors.

Methods

Lean and healthy young (n = 10, 22 ± 3 years, BMI; 23.4 ± 0.8 kg/m2) and old men (n = 10, 70 ± 3 years, BMI; 22.7 ± 1.3 kg/m2) performed unilateral resistance exercise followed by intake of essential amino acids (EAA). Muscle biopsies were collected from the rested and the exercised leg before, immediately after and 60 and 180 min after EAA intake. Muscle samples were analysed for amino acid concentrations, muscle protein synthesis (MPS) and associated anabolic signalling.

Results

Following exercise, peak plasma levels of EAA and leucine were similar between groups, but the area under the curve was ~11% and ~28% lower in Young (p < 0.01). Absolute levels of muscle EAA and leucine peaked 60 min after exercise, with ~15 and ~21% higher concentrations in the exercising leg (p < 0.01) but with no difference between groups. MPS increased in both the resting (~0.035%·h−1 to 0.056%·h−1, p < 0.05) and exercising leg (~0.035%·h−1 to 0.083%·h−1, p < 0.05) with no difference between groups. Phosphorylation of S6K1Thr389 increased to a similar extent in the exercising leg in both groups but was 2.8-fold higher in the resting leg of Old at the 60 min timepoint (p < 0.001). Phosphorylation of 4E-BP1Ser65 increased following EAA intake and exercise, but differences between legs were statistically different only at 180 min (p < 0.001). However, phosphorylation of this site was on average 78% greater across all timepoints in Old (p < 0.01). Phosphorylation of eEF2Thr56 was reduced (~66% and 39%) in the exercising leg at both timepoints after EAA intake and exercise, with no group differences (p < 0.05). However, phosphorylation at this site was reduced by ~27% also in the resting leg at 60 min, an effect that was only seen in Old (p < 0.01). Total levels of Rheb (~45%), LAT1 (~31%) and Rag B (~31%) were higher in Old (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Lean and healthy old men do not manifest AR as evidenced by potent increases in MPS and mTORC1 signalling following EAA intake and exercise. Maintained anabolic sensitivity with age appears to be a function of a compensatory increase in basal levels of proteins involved in anabolic signalling. Therefore, our results suggest that age per se does not appear to cause AR in human skeletal muscle.

INTRODUCTION: Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) in older adults involves excessive worry and cognitive challenges. Verbal memory impairments is associated to hippocampal dysfunction, with cortisol and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) being important in hippocampal integrity. Research on hippocampal volume and verbal memory in older adults with GAD is limited, with mixed findings. This study investigates verbal memory in older adults with GAD versus healthy controls, and relations with hippocampal volumes.

METHODS: Participants included 49 adults with GAD (M_age = 65.82, SD = 3.94) and 49 controls (M_age = 67.73, SD = 4.11). Verbal memory was assessed using the California Verbal Learning Test Long Delay Free Recall, hippocampal volumes via MRI, BDNF from serum, and cortisol via saliva. We fitted a Bayesian multivariate linear regression with bilateral hippocampal volume as outcome measure, and predictors: age, gender, education, intracranial volume, IQ, BDNF, cortisol, SSRI use, CVLT Long Delay Free Recall (LD FR), CVLT Learning, and diagnostic status*CVLT LD FR interaction.

RESULTS: A credible interaction showed better verbal memory associated to larger hippocampal volume in controls, but this relationship was attenuated in GAD. BDNF and cortisol were not credibly associated with hippocampal volume.

CONCLUSION: Diagnostic status moderates verbal memory and hippocampal volume relations, suggesting a distinct neurocognitive profile in older adults with GAD compared to healthy controls.

De positiva effekterna av fysisk aktivitet på hälsa, välbefinnande och kognitiva funktioner är väl belagda i en rad publikationer och kunskapssammanställningar. Regelbunden daglig fysisk aktivitet kan främja psykisk hälsa och välbefinnande hos barn och ungdomar i alla skolåldrar.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a severe and prevalent disorder among older adults. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is recommended treatment for GAD, but older adults benefit less than younger peers. Physical exercise has been suggested to improve treatment efficacy. We aimed to determine the efficacy of augmenting CBT with physical exercise for older adults with GAD. This randomised controlled trial included 50 participants (mean [SD] age 66.52 [4.09] years; 39 [78%] female) with GAD. Participants received individual CBT and were randomised to either physical exercise or telephone attention placebo. The main outcome measure was self-reported worry on the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). Secondary outcome measures were clinician-rated remission and self-reported symptoms of anxiety, depression, and quality of life. Although the interaction between time and condition was statistically nonsignificant, moderation analysis revealed that this interaction was significant for participants with low treatment credibility to CBT at baseline. Participants randomised to physical exercise were five times more likely to achieve reliable long-term worry-reduction than placebo control. We found significant differences in favour of physical exercise for secondary measures of depression and anxiety. Participants with better cognitive inhibition at baseline were more likely to achieve clinician-rated remission. Findings suggest that physical exercise augments CBT for older adults with GAD.

Introduction: Information on the long-term maintenance of short-term exercise fitness gains measured by field-based tests is scarce in older adults. This study aimed to investigate short- and long-term changes in various physical fitness parameters after an 8-week exercise program.

Methods: In this longitudinal study, a total of 265 participants (62% women; mean age 71.4 ± 4.7 years) completed a field-based test battery of 12 fitness tests (22 parameters) at 2 pre-tests and 1 post-test following an 8-week exercise program (2 sessions/week, combining aerobic and strength activities) in 2 consecutive years. The tests assessed muscle endurance, muscle strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, and motor fitness.

Results: Significant short-term improvements were observed, e.g., in isometric trunk flexion and extension endurance (21–37%) for both sexes in both years. Lower-body muscular endurance improved in the first year (9–12%) for both sexes, while cardiorespiratory fitness (6-min walk test) improved only for men in both years (3%). No changes were seen in submaximal cycle test heart rates or any balance tests in any year. Most fitness parameters did not significantly decrease during the 9-month inter-intervention period, with a few exceptions in trunk strength and walking distance.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates physical fitness improvements in older adults following short-term exercise interventions and that some of these improvements were maintained long term, whereas a few of these physical fitness test improvements decreased significantly over 9 months in older adults.

Flera internationella studier visar en nedgång i skolelevers motoriska kompetens. I Sverige saknas studier som dokumenterat förändringar i barns motoriska kompetens över tid.

Syfte: Att belysa lärares bedömningar av hur barns motoriska färdigheter förändrats de senaste 10–20 åren.

Metod: Sveriges lärare i idrott och hälsa, som undervisat i förskoleklass och/eller årskurs 1–6 under minst 10 år, inbjöds att i en enkätstudie skatta förändringar i barns motoriska förmåga. Som mätinstrument valdes elva motoriska färdigheter och en öppen fråga, vilka sammanställdes till MUGIH motorikskattning (MI-M11). Av 59 intresseanmälningar besvarade 46 lärare enkätformuläret.

Resultat: Såväl kvalitativa som kvantitativa data visar en betydande nedgång i motorisk kompetens under de senaste 10–20 åren i samtliga elva av lärare skattade färdigheter. En stor förändring till det sämre märks i både förskoleklass–årskurs 3 och årskurs 4–6. Resultaten tyder på att gruppen barn med låg motorisk kompetens har ökat från 15 till drygt 30 procent bland yngre barn (förskoleklass–årskurs 3) under de senaste 15–20 åren. I årskurs 4–6 märks en ökning från 10 till 23 procent under samma period.

Slutsats: De försämringar i motoriska färdigheter som redovisats är alarmerande eftersom motorisk kompetens har stor betydelse för barns deltagande i rörelselek och idrott samt för en livslång hälsosam livsstil. Observationer vid skolstarten kan vara en värdefull strategi för tidig upptäckt av elever i behov av extra motorikstöd. Ökad schemalagd idrottsundervisning, strukturerade motorikobservationer och anpassat motorikstöd skulle kunna bromsa den negativa trenden och eventuellt återställa de sänkta motoriknivåerna bland barn.

Executive functions (EF) decline with age and this decline in older adults with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) may be influenced by heart rate variability (HRV), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and physical fitness. Understanding these relationships is important for tailored treatments in this population. In this study, 51 adults with GAD (M age = 66.46, SD = 4.08) and 51 healthy controls (M age = 67.67, SD = 4.04) were assessed on cognitive inhibition (Stroop task), shifting (Trails part 4), flexibility (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test - Perseverative errors), working memory (Digit Span Backwards), IQ (Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence), high frequency HRV, serum mature BDNF levels, and VO₂ max. Results indicated that participants with GAD exhibited better cognitive inhibition compared to controls, with no general reduction in EF. Cognitive inhibition was predicted by gender, HRV, and BDNF levels, while cognitive shifting was predicted by gender and IQ, and cognitive flexibility and working memory by IQ. The enhanced cognitive inhibition in GAD participants might stem from maladaptive use of this function, characteristic of GAD, or protection from EF decline due to normal HRV. Increased BDNF levels, possibly due to good fitness, or compensatory mechanisms related to the disorder, might also play a role. These findings highlight the complexity of EF and related mechanisms in GAD, highlighting the need for interventions that consider both cognitive and physiological factors for optimal outcomes.