Background: Physical activity(PA) has been shown to benefit cognitive function in older adults. However, the cognitive benefits of exercising for older Chinese adults have not been systematically documented. This study was to conduct a systematic review on evidence that PA is beneficial for cognitive functioning in older Chinese adults.Methods: Major databases, including Pub Med, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Wan Fang, CNKI, and VIP, were searched for studies published in English or Chinese between January 2000 and December 2015. Randomized and non-randomized controlled trials(RCTs and non-RCTs), cohort,case-control and cross-sectional studies that evaluated PA and cognitive function among older Chinese adults were included in this review.Results: Of 53 studies included and reviewed, 33 were observational(22 cross-sectional, 7 case-control, and 4 cohort) and 20 were experimental(15 RCTs, 5 non-RCTs). Observational studies showed an association of reduced risk of cognitive-related diseases(i.e., mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and dementia) through PA, whereas experimental studies reported exercise-induced improvement in multiple domains of cognitive function(i.e., global cognitive function, memory, executive function, attention, language, and processing recourse).Conclusion: This systematic review provides initial evidence that PA may benefit cognition in older Chinese adults. Further studies of individuals with cognitive impairments and prospective and RCT studies having high scientific rigor are needed to corroborate the findings reported in this review.
Background: With the increasing need for high-quality exercise interventions in China, relatively little is known about issues and challenges related to recruitment of older Chinese adults into exercise-based disease prevention interventions. This study aims to describe the recruitment process and outcomes of 2 exercise interventions conducted in Shanghai, China.Methods: Recruitment information was ascertained from 2 community-based randomized controlled trials for 2 exercise interventions, the first designed to improve health outcomes for older women with knee osteoarthritis and the second to study changes in cognitive function in adults with mild cognitive impairment. Results were summarized in terms of recruitment sources, number screened, screening-to-enrollment ratios, and costs.Results: Recruitment was primarily achieved through working with local residential divisions(i.e., neighborhood associations and residential committees). Both studies achieved their planned target number of older adults(45 and 46, respectively) within a 1-year time frame, with a screening-to-randomized ratio of 5:1 and demonstrated excellent retention rates(range 87%–93%) at 6 months. The recruitment cost for the 2studies averaged RMB 189(about USD 30) per initial recruit and RMB 738(about USD 119) per participant randomized. Some major issues encountered during the recruitment process included(1) the use of community neighborhoods to support the conduct of the projects,(2) access to participants, and(3) feasibility.Conclusion: Analysis of the 2 randomized controlled trials has provided valuable insights into the recruitment process and identified resources that can help better planning and recruitment for future interventions. Recommendations aimed at increasing the success of future recruitment efforts are provided.
Purpose: This study aims to explore the effects of running on different surfaces on the characteristics of in-shoe plantar pressure and tibial acceleration. Methods: Thirteen male recreational runners were required to run at 12 km/h velocity on concrete, synthetic track, natural grass, a normal treadmill, and a treadmill equipped with an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) cushioning underlay (treadmill_EVA), respectively. An in-shoe plantar pressure system and an accelerometer attached to the tibial tuberosity were used to record and analyze the characteristics of plantar pressure and tibial impact during running. Results: The results showed that there were no significant differences in the 1 st and 2nd peak plantar pressures (time of occurrence), pressure-time integral, and peak pressure distribution for the concrete, synthetic, grass, and normal treadmill surfaces. No significant differences in peak positive acceleration were observed among the five tested surface conditions. Compared to the concrete surface, however, running on treadmillEVA showed a significant decrease in the 1st peak plantar pressure and the pressure time integral for the impact phase (p 〈 0.05). These can be further ascribed to a reduced peak pressure observed at heel region (p 〈 0.05). Conclusion: There may not be an inevitable relationship between the surface and the lower-limb impact in runners. It is, however, still noteworthy that the effects of different treadmill surfaces should be considered in the interpretation of plantar pressure performance and translation of such results to overground running.
Weijie FuYing FangDavid Ming Shuo LiuLin WangSicong RenYu Liu
Hamstring strain injury is one of most prevalent noncontact injuries in sports that involve high-speed running,such as sprinting,soccer,and rugby.~1In order to optimize prevention strategies and injury rehabilitation,studies have been conducted to understand hamstring function during sprinting.^(2–4)However,differences have long existed in the literature as to the cause of hamstring strain injuries.One of the most