Differences in physical function, encompassing activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and depression were evaluated across degrees of sarcopenic severity in older adults. A total of 236 participants (78.72±6.92 years), comprising 101 men and 135 women, were classified into four groups: no sarcopenia (23.7%), possible sarcopenia (26.3%), sarcopenia (28.0%), and severe sarcopenia (22.0%). Sarcopenic measures included calf girth, grip strength, 5-time chair stand test, and appendicular skeletal muscle mass. Functional status was assessed using Barthel Index for ADL and Lawton & Brody index for IADL, while depression was measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale-15. All sarcopenic indices differed significantly between groups, with large effect sizes (η 2 =0.340-0.532). ADL and IADL declined with increasing sarcopenic severity, and after age and sex adjustments, physical function (all P<0.001) and depressive symptoms remained significantly different across groups. Analysis of covariance showed that age was independently associated with ADL, IADL, and depression. The association between sarcopenia severity and ADL differed by sex (P=0.011), whereas the relationships of sarcopenia severity with IADL and depression were not influenced by sex. These findings suggest that greater sarcopenia severity is associated with poorer physical function and a higher burden of depressive symptoms. However, while the relationship between sarcopenia severity and ADL appears to be influenced by sex, the associations of IADL and depression with sarcopenia severity seem to be largely driven by age rather than sex.
The purpose of this study is to analyze the efficiency of the high-intensity exercise performances of professional players during matches. Thirty professional players competed in a total of 38 matches throughout the season. 1,558 sprint efforts were recorded and subsequently analyzed. The sprint efficiency assessment tool ensured good interrater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.892; 95% confidence interval, 0.883-0.901) and the validity of the analysis was confirmed by four experts with more than 20 years of experience in football. The total distance and low-intensity running were higher during the first half than during the second half of the season (P<0.01). The positions covering the greatest distances were full back and midfielder. High-intensity running (P<0.05) and sprinting (P<0.01) were higher during home matches than during away matches. The sprint efficiency was higher during the second half than during the first half of the season (P<0.05), but the maximum velocity was higher during the first half of the season (P<0.01). Sprint efficiency was higher for the attack than for the defense and defensive transition situations (P<0.05). Higher duration, distance, and maximum velocity were observed for the excellent efficiency group than for the appropriate group (P<0.05). In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that the development of effective training programs to enhance high-intensity exercise performance, such as sprinting, requires consideration that goes beyond simply physical speed enhancement to encompass situational judgment, timing, path selection, and speed regulation in an integrated way.
This study aimed to identify factors influencing hand hygiene compli-ance among long-term care workers in long-term care facilities based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB). A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 133 long-term care workers from four long-term care facilities in Daegu Metropolitan City and Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Ko-rea. Self-reported questionnaires assessed hand hygiene-related belief factors (behavioral, normative, and control beliefs), core TPB factors (attitude toward behavior, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control), intention, and hand hygiene compliance. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation, and multiple regres-sion analysis were performed. The mean scores for hand hygiene atti-tude, subjective norms, and behavioral intention exceeded the scale midpoint, whereas the scores for control beliefs and perceived behav-ioral control were relatively lower. Hand hygiene compliance was sig-nificantly correlated with behavioral beliefs (r=0.23, P=0.008), control beliefs (r=0.26, P=0.002), attitude toward behavior (r=0.18, P=0.038), perceived behavioral control (r=0.41, P<0.001), and intention (r=0.31, P<0.001). Multiple regression analysis identified perceived behavioral control (β=0.33, P=0.002) and intention (β=0.23, P=0.006) as significant predictors of compliance, explaining 19.1% of the variance (Adjusted R2=0.191). Perceived behavioral control and intention were identified as significant predictors of hand hygiene compliance. Interventions should not only enhance knowledge but also address structural and or-ganizational factors to strengthen caregivers’ perceived control and translate intention into practice.
This study examined the effects of a neuromuscular exercise program on knee joint alignment, pain, and static and dynamic balance in patients with genu varum. Forty female patients aged 40-60 years with radiographically confirmed genu varum and a Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) score ≥18.0 were randomly assigned to either an exercise group (EG, n=20) or a control group (CG, n=20). The EG participated in a supervised neuromuscular exercise program 3 times per week for 12 weeks (60 min/session), while the CG maintained usual daily activities. Radiographic assessments included knee-to-knee length (KTKL), hip inclination angle (HIA), and medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA). Pain was evaluated using the SF-MPQ. Static and dynamic plantar pressure were measured using a pressure analysis system. Data were analyzed using two-way mixed analysis of variance to examine interactions, with Bonferroni correction applied for post hoc analyses (P<0.05). Significant interactions were observed for KTKL, bilateral HIA, bilateral MPTA, and pain scores (all P<0.001). The EG demonstrated reductions in KTKL (-1.09 cm) and pain (-8.15), as well as increases in HIA (right: +1.56°, left: +1.39°) and MPTA (right: +1.11°, left: +0.89°), whereas the CG showed minimal changes. For balance outcomes, significant interactions were identified in selected static and dynamic balance measures (P<0.05), with post hoc analyses indicating improvements primarily in the EG. A 12-week neuromuscular exercise program may be beneficial for improving alignment-related measures, reducing pain, and enhancing selected balance outcomes in individuals with genu varum.
This study aimed to investigate the effects of different rest intervals fol-lowing postactivation performance enhancement (PAPE) on upper- and lower-body skill-related physical fitness in elite athletes. Seven male elite athletes participated in a crossover design and completed four ex-perimental conditions: the control (CON), the 3-min rest (R3), the 8-min rest (R8), and the 12-min rest (R12) groups following PAPE. In the PAPE conditions, participants performed additional warm-up sets at 50% and 70% of one-repetition maximum, followed by one set of five-repetition maximum bench press and squat, whereas the CON did not include PAPE. Results showed that upper-body agility significantly improved in the R3 and R12 groups compared to the CON group (P<0.05), whereas upper-body power and balance showed no significant changes. Low-er-body power and balance were significantly enhanced, with the most consistent improvements observed in the R3 group (P<0.05), while low-er-body agility did not significantly differ among conditions. In whole-body performance, coordination significantly improved in the R3 group compared to the CON group (P<0.05), whereas reaction time and sprint performance were not significantly affected. Overall, the effects of PAPE varied according to performance task and body region, with significant improvements mainly observed in upper-body agility, lower-body power and balance, and whole-body coordination, particularly following the R3 interval. Shorter recovery intervals may provide benefits for selected performance outcomes in elite athletes.
This study investigated the differences between weekly elbow joint use time, pain level, and isokinetic moment in young adults using multiple exposure classification strategies. A total of 67 participants were categorized using three grouping approaches: median-based (<6 hr vs. ≥6 hr/wk), quartile-based (<6, 6-8, 8-10, and >10 hr/wk), and threshold-based (<10 hr vs. ≥10 hr/wk). Elbow joint pain was assessed using a visual analog scale and isokinetic moment was assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer at angular velocities of 60°/sec, 120°/sec, and 180°/sec for both flexion and extension. Across all classification approaches, nondominant elbow pain was consistently lower in higher-use groups (P<0.05), whereas dominant-side pain did not differ significantly. Most isokinetic moments were also comparable between groups; however, dominant flexor peak torque at 120°/sec was slightly lower in the ≥10 hr/wk group (P=0.049). These findings suggest that weekly elbow joint use time is more strongly associated with pain-related neuromuscular adaptation than with measurable strength performance in young adults. Multithreshold classification approaches may provide a more comprehensive framework for evaluating exposure-related upper-extremity functional characteristics.
As population aging accelerates globally, cognitive impairment has emerged as a major public health concern, particularly among older women. This study aimed to examine the independent and combined associations of depression, sarcopenia, frailty, and chronic diseases with cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older women in South Korea. A total of 1,065 women aged ≥65 years were recruited from 13 cities. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination for Dementia Screening. Depression, sarcopenia, and frailty were evaluated using the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form, Strength, Assistance in walking, Rising from a chair, Climbing stairs and Falls questionnaire, and Fried frailty criteria. Information on physician- diagnosed chronic diseases (diabetes, arthritis, and hypertension) was also collected. Continuous variables were analyzed using independent t-tests, and categorical variables were analyzed using chi-square tests. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with cognitive impairment, adjusting for age group, depression, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, sarcopenia, and frailty. Participants with cognitive impairment exhibited significantly higher levels of depression, sarcopenia, frailty, and a greater prevalence of chronic diseases compared to those with normal cognition. In multivariable analyses, depression, diabetes, arthritis, sarcopenia, and frailty remained significantly associated with cognitive impairment. These findings indicate that cognitive impairment in older women is associated with a complex interplay of psychological, physical, and metabolic factors. Addressing modifiable conditions, particularly depression, sarcopenia, and frailty, may be important for reducing the burden of cognitive impairment.
This study compared the effects of ballet exercise and a weight-bearing exercise program on body composition, basic physical fitness, and isokinetic knee muscle function in obese women. Twenty-three participants were randomly assigned to the control group (CG, n=7), ballet exercise group (BEG, n=10), and weight-bearing exercise group (WBEG, n=6). Both exercise groups performed 60-min sessions, 3 times a week, with progressively increased intensity. Body weight and percent body fat decreased significantly only in the BEG (P<0.05 and P<0.01), while no significant changes were observed in skeletal muscle mass across all groups. In the basic physical fitness, the BEG and WBEG showed significant improvements in back strength, flexibility, and left-side dynamic balance, whereas sit-up performance and right-side balance improved significantly only in the BEG. For isokinetic knee muscle function, the results were differentiated between muscle strength (60°/sec) and muscular endurance (240°/sec). At 60°/sec, both exercise groups showed significant improvements primarily in left knee extensor strength, including peak torque and relative peak torque. At 240°/sec, both groups demonstrated significant increases in extensor total work for both limbs, indicating enhanced muscular endurance. Additionally, the BEG showed improvements in right knee flexor total work and average power. These findings suggest that ballet exercise is associated with improvements in body composition, basic physical fitness, and lower-limb muscle function in obese women. In particular, ballet exercise may provide comparable benefits to weight-bearing exercise in enhancing isokinetic muscle function, while offering additional advantages in core endurance and unilateral balance.
Telomere length is a well-known biomarker indicating cellular aging and biological age. Shortening of telomere length is associated with an increased risk of age-related diseases, cellular aging, and reduced regenerative capacity. This study measured changes in peripheral blood telomere length following intravenous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) administration. Changes in telomere length (kb/cell) before and after intravenous MSCs treatment were evaluated, and the consistency and extent of telomere elongation were assessed among subjects of various ages, sexes, and treatment durations. Peripheral blood deoxyribonucleic acid was extracted and telomere lengths were measured in kb/cell units for a retrospective analysis of 19 cases (18 subjects). Treatment durations ranged from 25 days to 14 months, and the ages of the subjects ranged from 34 to 78 years. Intravenous MSCs treatment was associated with a consistent and measurable increase in peripheral blood telomere length. These results support the hypothesis that telomere length can be used as an outcome biomarker and patient selection criterion for MSCs-based antiaging therapy.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the combined effects of treadmill exercise and naringenin treatment on neuronal survival and corticospinal tract (CST) fibers sprouting following spinal cord injury (SCI). Forty male rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n=10 in each group): the normal group (Norm), the SCI+sedentary group (SCI+S), the SCI+naringenin group (SCI+Na), and the SCI+naringenin combined with exercise group (SCI+Na+Ex, n=10). All rats in the SCI were allowed to recover for 2 weeks after injury, and the exercise group subsequently underwent 4 weeks of low-intensity treadmill exercise. Histological and molecular analyses were performed to evaluate astrocyte activation in the dorsal region, neuronal survival in the ventral horn, and axonal elongation in the caudal CST fibers following SCI. As a result, in the dorsal region of the injury site, both treatment groups showed significantly increased glial fibrillary acidic protein expression compared to the SCI+S group, indicating enhanced astrocyte activation. In particular, the SCI+Na+Ex group demonstrated prominent astrocytic infiltration into the cavity. In the ventral horn of the injured spinal cord, the number of mo-tor neurons was significantly preserved in the SCI+Na+Ex group com-pared to the SCI+S group. In the caudal CST, the SCI+Na+Ex group exhibited significantly increased neurofilament-200 expression, suggest-ing enhanced axonal regeneration. Furthermore, regeneration-associated proteins including growth-associated protein-43 and activating transcription factor-3 were significantly increased following the combined intervention. Combined treatment of treadmill exercise and naringenin might be one of the rehabilitation strategies to promote neural recovery after SCI.
This study examined whether identical body conditioning program would differentially affect hemodynamic, body composition, and physi-cal fitness parameters across blood pressure (BP) categories, and ex-plored the potential role of autonomic modulation in mediating exer-cise-induced adaptations. In this quasi-experimental study, 85 partici-pants completed a structured 15-week exercise program. All partici-pants were categorized into four groups as follows: normal BP (n=21), elevated BP (n=20), stage 1 hypertension (n=22), and stage 2 hyper-tension (n=22). Because muscle mass and basal metabolic rate (BMR) differed among the groups at baseline, a repeated-measures analysis of covariance was conducted using these variables as covariates to assess the effects of time and group. Significant interactions were ob-served for systolic BP with pronounced reductions in the stage 1 hyper-tension and stage 2 hypertension groups, particularly in stage 2 hyper-tension. Diastolic BP and heart rate also demonstrated significant dif-ferential responses across groups. Cardiorespiratory fitness showed group-dependent responses, with significant group and time × group effects observed for maximal oxygen uptake. In contrast, no significant interactions were found for body weight, fat mass, body circumferenc-es and grip strength. Importantly, the hemodynamic improvements oc-curred independently of changes in body composition and were robust after adjustment for baseline muscle mass and BMR. These findings are consistent with the possibility that exercise-induced autonomic mod-ulation may contribute to early BP improvements; however, direct auto-nomic indices were not measured.
This study analyzed the effects of an 8-week Pilates exercise program on health-related physical fitness and spinal morphology in female college students. As a result of performing 8 weeks of Pilates exercise program, there was a significant difference in flexibility and muscular endurance in the experimental group. In addition, there was a significant difference in lateral deviation after performing 8 weeks of Pilates exercise program. Therefore, it is expected that consistent participation in Pilates exercise will lead to improvements in flexibility, endurance, and lateral deviation. Pilates requires professional and systematic theoretical establishment, and therefore, future research requires more specific qualitative studies on Pilates exercise.
A case of a female patient with hair loss induced by coronavirus dis-ease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination who was treated with autologous CD34+ enriched hematopoietic progenitor cell fraction (CD34+ HPCF) and umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) was reported. The patient presented with generalized pain and hair loss after COVID-19 vaccination. The patient received subcutaneous injec-tions of autologous CD34+ HPCF at 1-cm intervals into the scalp. These injections were administered once a week for a total of 10 times, except in weeks 5 and 10. During this period, UC-MSCs were administered in-travenously at dose of 7×107 cells in 20 mL and subcutaneously at a dose of 1×107 cells in 5 mL into the scalp twice each in weeks 5 and 10. After 12 weeks of treatment, the patient’s hair loss improved without significant adverse effects. Autologous CD34+ HPCF and UC-MSC in-jections showed significant effects on hair loss induced by COVID-19 vaccination.
Adolescence is a critical period during which physical activity (PA) may influence cognitive processes and academic performance (AP). Although PA has been linked to favorable academic outcomes, evidence remains mixed with respect to activity intensity, frequency, and developmental stage. This systematic review narratively synthesized recent empirical studies (2024-2025) examining the relationship between PA and AP in healthy adolescents, with attention to activity characteristics, developmental moderators, and cognitive and psychosocial mediators. Searches in PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar identified 9 original research from 825 articles. Overall, moderate-to-vigorous PA and vigorous PA were generally associated with better AP, however, effect sizes were modest and associations were not uniform. Several studies indicated curvilinear relationships, whereby moderate PA was associated with optimal AP, while higher frequency or intensity was linked to weaker outcomes or inconsistent associations. Positive relationships were more consistently observed in middle school than high school students. Evidence from selected studies suggested that PA may influence AP indirectly through attention, inhibitory control, self-concept, and physical and mental health. These findings support promoting regular, moderate-intensity PA within adolescents' daily routines, particularly in school-based programs, while emphasizing balanced approaches that account for developmental stage and mediating mechanisms.
Activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL), main indica-tors of functional independence in older adults, are closely associated with depression and social networks and represent a critical determi-nant of well-being. Despite the growing body of research, both original and review articles to date have been limited in their ability to provide a comprehensive and coherent explanation of the interrelationships among these three domains, largely due to methodological constraints. Accordingly, this study systematically reviewed a wide range of publi-cations addressing functional ability, depression, and social networks in older adults, with the aim of providing evidence-based insights to in-form strategies for maintaining well-being and preparing for functional decline in aging populations. The synthesized findings indicate that de-clines in functional ability, as reflected by impairments in IADL/ADL, are associated with reduced instrumental ADL, increased depressive symp-toms, and decreased social participation, collectively contributing to a self-reinforcing cycle of functional and psychological deterioration. No-tably, this review demonstrates that while functional disability increases the risk of depression, robust social networks serve as protective fac-tors that mitigate both functional and psychological decline.
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) exposes the developing fetal brain to hyperglycemia and has been linked to adverse neurocognitive out-comes in offspring; however, effective postnatal strategies and underly-ing mechanisms remain incompletely defined. Here, we tested whether early-life aerobic exercise rescues hippocampus-dependent memory impairment and canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling deficits in offspring born to dams with streptozotocin-induced GDM. Pregnant C57BL/6 mice received streptozotocin (40 mg/kg, gestational day 7) or saline. Male offspring were weaned and assigned to sedentary control or treadmill exercise (15 m/min, 60 min/day, 5 days/wk, 2 weeks), generat-ing four groups: saline control (Sal-CON, n=12), saline exercise (Sal-Ex, n=12), GDM control (GDM-CON, n=12), and GDM exercise (GDM-Ex, n=12). Spatial learning and reference memory were assessed using the Morris water maze, and spatial working memory was evaluated with a T-maze task. Hippocampal expression of Wnt3, β-catenin, and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) was quantified by Western blot-ting. GDM offspring exhibited impaired hippocampal memory perfor-mance, evidenced by a reduced hidden-to-visible platform latency ratio in the Morris water maze and loss of novelty preference in the T-maze. These behavioral deficits were accompanied by suppression of canon-ical Wnt signaling, with decreased hippocampal Wnt3 and β-catenin and increased GSK-3β in GDM-CON compared with controls. Notably, postnatal treadmill exercise significantly improved both reference and working memory and normalized Wnt/β-catenin pathway components in GDM offspring. Collectively, these findings indicate that early-life aer-obic exercise mitigates GDM-associated cognitive vulnerability, at least in part, by reactivating hippocampal Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
The global aging population is rapidly increasing, with associated de-clines in motor and cognitive function leading to higher fall risk and re-duced independence. Exercise interventions improve strength, balance, and cognition, but accessibility barriers remain. While technology as-sistance programs are promising, they often lack clinical perspectives, are difficult to adapt, and lack features that encourage participation. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a motion recognition-based interactive training program designed by a physical therapist to en-hance motor function and physical fitness in older adults. Twenty-eight community-dwelling older adults (≥65 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=13) or control group (n=15). The experi-mental group completed three weekly sessions of motion recognition exercises with adaptive feedback for 4 weeks, while the control group performed stretching. Outcomes included task performance metrics (attempts, corrections, accuracy) automatically recorded by the program and fitness measures from the senior fitness test. The experimental group showed significant increases in attempts and corrections across all body parts, with notable accuracy improvement in head movements (p<0.05). Flexibility significantly improved between groups, while both groups improved in lower extremity strength and endurance. No signifi-cant changes were observed in upper limb strength or agility. A clinical-ly designed, motion recognition-based interactive program enhanced motor performance and flexibility in older adults. Incorporating adaptive difficulty and real-time feedback, it shows potential as a scalable, cost-effective digital intervention for promoting active aging.
