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Background: We estimated the short-term effects of an educational workshop and 10-week outdoor walk group (OWG) compared to the workshop and 10 weekly reminders (WR) on increasing outdoor walking (primary outcome) and walking capacity, health-promoting behavior, and successful aging defined by engagement in meaningful activities and well-being (secondary outcomes) in older adults with difficulty walking outdoors. Methods: In a 4-site, parallel-group randomized controlled trial, two cohorts of community-living older adults (≥ 65 years) reporting difficulty walking outdoors participated. Following a 1-day workshop, participants were stratified and randomized to a 10-week OWG in parks or 10 telephone WR reinforcing workshop content. Masked evaluations occurred at 0, 3, and 5.5 months. We modeled minutes walked outdoors (derived from accelerometry and global positioning system data) using zero-inflated negative binomial regression with log link function, imputing for missing observations. We modeled non-imputed composite measures of walking capacity, health-promoting behavior, and successful aging using generalized linear models with general estimating equations based on a normal distribution and an unstructured correlation matrix. Analyses were adjusted for site, participation on own or with a partner, and cohort. Results: We randomized 190 people to the OWG (n = 98) and WR interventions (n = 92). At 0, 3, and 5.5 months, median outdoor walking minutes was 22.56, 13.04, and 0 in the OWG, and 24.00, 26.07, and 0 in the WR group, respectively. There was no difference between groups in change from baseline in minutes walked outdoors based on incidence rate ratio (IRR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) at 3 months (IRR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.47, 1.14) and 5.5 months (IRR = 0.77, 95% CI 0.44, 1.34). Greater 0 to 3-month change in walking capacity was observed in the OWG compared to the WR group (βz-scored difference = 0.14, 95% CI 0.02, 0.26) driven by significant improvement in walking self-efficacy; other comparisons were not significant. Conclusions: A group, park-based OWG was not superior to WR in increasing outdoor walking activity, health-promoting behavior or successful aging in older adults with difficulty walking outdoors; however, the OWG was superior to telephone WR in improving walking capacity through an increase in walking self-efficacy. Community implementation of the OWG is discussed. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03292510 Date of registration: September 25, 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutrient requirements for para-athletes will be influenced by a variety of factors secondary to their impairment and, therefore, recommendations for para-athletes cannot be drawn directly from that of able-bodied athletes. Information on the dietary intakes of para-athletes is lacking and therefore needs to be examined. This study assessed the nutrient intakes and diet quality of 31 paracyclists via food frequency questionnaires. Based on the dietary reference intakes, most paracyclists consumed intakes above the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) or adequate intake (AI). Recommendations were not met for iodine (males = 87% RDA; females = 62% RDA) or fibre in males (84% AI). A 26% risk of inadequacy was noted for vitamins D and E in females. A total of 42% of females and 75% of males did not meet fibre recommendations (14 g/1000 kcal), and only three athletes (all females) consumed fatty acids in the recommended omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of 4:1 or less. Athletes consumed grains, fruits, and vegetables frequently, though whole grains, pulses, and oily fish were generally consumed less often. Paracyclists appear to be consuming intakes at or above recommendations for most nutrients, though several nutrients were consumed below the recommended amounts; therefore, increasing the variety of foods consumed is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tart cherries have low glycemic index, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and therefore may benefit performance and recovery from exercise. We determined the effects of consuming tart cherry juice versus a high-glycemic index sports drink on cycling performance, substrate oxidation, and recovery of low-frequency fatigue. Using a randomized, counter-balanced cross-over design, with one-month washout, 12 recreational cyclists (8 males and 4 females; 35±16y; VO2peak 38.2±7.4 ml/kg/min) consumed cherry juice or sports drink twice a day (300mL/d) for 4d before and 2d after exercise. On the exercise day, beverages (providing 1g/kg carbohydrate) were consumed 45min before 90min of cycling at 65%VO2peak, followed by a 10km time trial. Blood glucose, lactate, carbohydrate and fat oxidation, respiratory exchange ratio (RER), O2 cost of cycling, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured during the initial 90min of cycling. Muscle soreness, maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and low-frequency fatigue were determined at baseline and after the time trial on the exercise day, and 30min after beverage consumption 24 and 48h later. There were no differences for time trial performance (17±3min cherry juice vs. 17±2min sports drink, p = 0.27) or any other measures between drink conditions. There were time main effects (p<0.05) for isometric MVC (decreasing) and low-frequency fatigue (increasing; i.e. decreased force at low relative to high stimulation frequencies), changing significantly from baseline to post-exercise and then returning to baseline at 24h post-exercise. Tart cherry juice was not effective for improving performance, substrate oxidation during exercise, and recovery from exercise, compared to a high-glycemic index sports drink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proper dietary intake is important for masters athletes because of the physiological changes that occur with aging and the unique nutritional needs when competing at high levels. We evaluated the dietary intake of masters athletes competing at the World Masters Athletics Championships (outdoor games, Tampere, Finland, 2022, and indoor games, Torun, Poland, 2023). A total of 43 athletes (16 females and 27 males, mean age 59.2 ± 10.3 y, height 168 ± 8 cm, and body mass 62.3 ± 10.8 kg) participating in endurance (n = 21), sprint (n = 16), jumping (2), multi-component (e.g., decathlon; n = 3), and throwing (n = 1) events provided 24 h dietary recalls while participating in the games. Carbohydrate intake was below the recommended levels for endurance athletes. Protein intake was below the recommended levels for masters athletes, except for female athletes involved in power events (i.e., sprinters and jumpers). Other nutrient intakes that were below the recommended levels included vitamins D and E, calcium, potassium, vitamin A (except for female endurance athletes), folate (except for female power athletes), vitamin C for female endurance athletes, vitamin K and fiber for males, and zinc for endurance athletes. We conclude that while competing at world championships, many athletes are not consuming the recommended levels of carbohydrates, protein, and micronutrients. Athletes attending these games would benefit from increased nutritional support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Walking is a common activity among older adults. However, the effects of walking on health-related outcomes in people with low bone mineral density (BMD) are unknown. The authors included randomized controlled trials comparing walking to control in individuals aged ≥50 years with low BMD and at risk of fractures. The authors identified 13 randomized controlled trials: nine multicomponent interventions including walking, one that was walking only, and three Nordic walking trials. Most studies had a high risk of bias. Nordic walking may improve the Timed Up-and-Go values (1.39 s, 95% CI [1.00, 1.78], very low certainty). Multicomponent interventions including walking improved the 6-min walk test (39.37 m, 95% CI [21.83, 56.91], very low certainty) and lumbar spine BMD (0.01 g/cm2, 95% CI [0.00, 0.03], low certainty evidence). The effects on quality of life or femoral neck BMD were not significant. There were insufficient data on fractures, falls, or mortality. Nordic walking may improve physical functioning. The effects on other outcomes are less certain; one may need to combine walking with other exercises to be of benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aerobic exercise is recommended for reducing blood pressure; however, recent studies indicate that stretching may also be effective. The authors compared 8 weeks of stretching versus walking exercise in men and women with high-normal blood pressure or stage 1 hypertension (ie, 130/85-159/99 mm Hg). Methods: Forty men and women (61.6 y) were randomized to a stretching or brisk walking exercise program (30 min/d, 5 d/wk for 8 wk). Blood pressure was assessed during sitting and supine positions and for 24 hours using a portable monitor before and after the training programs. Results: The stretching program elicited greater reductions than the walking program (P < .05) for sitting systolic (146 [9] to 140 [12] vs 139 [9] to 142 [12] mm Hg), supine diastolic (85 [7] to 78 [8] vs 81 [7] to 82 [7] mm Hg), and nighttime diastolic (67 [8] to 65 [10] vs 68 [8] to 73 [12] mm Hg) blood pressures. The stretching program elicited greater reductions than the walking program (P < .05) for mean arterial pressure assessed in sitting (108 [7] to 103 [6] vs 105 [6] vs 105 [8] mm Hg), supine (102 [9] to 96 [9] vs 99 [6] to 99 [7] mm Hg), and at night (86 [9] to 83 [10] vs 88 [9] to 93 [12] mm Hg). Conclusions: An 8-week stretching program was superior to brisk walking for reducing blood pressure in individuals with high-normal blood pressure or stage 1 hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dark chocolate (DC) is high in flavonoids and has been shown to increase nitric oxide in the blood. Increased nitric oxide has the potential to improve delivery of oxygen to muscle, especially in hypoxic conditions, such as altitude. Our aim was to assess the impact of DC supplementation on cycling performance at altitude. Twelve healthy, trained cyclists (n = 2 females, n = 10 males; age = 35 [12] years; height = 177 [7] cm; mass = 75.2 [11.0] kg; VO2max = 55 [6] ml·kg−1·min−1) were randomized to supplement with 60 g of DC or placebo twice per day for 14 days in a double-blind crossover study. After the 2 weeks of supplementation, the participants attended a laboratory session in which they consumed 120 g of DC or placebo and then cycled for 90 min at 50% peak power output, followed immediately by a 10-km time trial (TT) at simulated altitude (15% O2). The plasma concentration of blood glucose and lactate were measured before and at 15, 30, 60, and 90 min during the steady-state exercise and post TT, while muscular and prefrontal cortex oxygenation was measured continuously throughout exercise using near-infrared spectroscopy. DC resulted in a higher concentration of blood glucose (5.5 [0.5] vs. 5.3 [0.9] mmol/L) throughout the trial and lower blood lactate concentration following the TT (7.7 [1.92] vs. 10.0 [4.6] mmol/L) compared with the placebo. DC had no effect on the TT performance (19.04 [2.16] vs. 19.21 ± 1.96 min) or oxygenation status in either the prefrontal cortex or muscle. The authors conclude that, although it provided some metabolic benefit, DC is not effective as an ergogenic aid during TT cycling at simulated altitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]