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- Title
Effect of weekly hiking on cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly.
- Authors
Gatterer, H.; Raab, C.; Pramsohler, S.; Faulhaber, M.; Burtscher, M.; Netzer, N.
- Abstract
Background: Hiking is one of the most popular activities among the elderly in Alpine regions. Due to the long-lasting, moderately intensive nature of this form of physical activity, hiking is generally considered to be beneficial to health. However, it is currently unclear whether once-weekly hiking-as commonly practiced at weekends-really does yield such positive effects in elderly persons aged 60 years and over. Objectives: This study investigated the effect of a single weekly mountain hiking session on cardiovascular risk factors. Materials and methods: A 9-month mountain hiking program was completed by 14 male (age 65.6 ± 2.7 years) and 10 female (age 66.2 ± 4.4 years) elderly participants. The program consisted of a single weekly hiking session with the goal of achieving a 500-m altitude increase within 3 h. Before and after the 9-month program, an electrocardiogram (ECG) was performed and blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), high-density (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) measurements were made. Results: The elderly participants showed a normal cardiovascular risk profile at the start of the investigation. The estimated net energy expenditure for one hiking session was approximately 521 ± 91 kcal. Over the 9-month period, no changes were found in any of the investigated parameters for the entire group. However, participants with untreated hypertension showed a reduced systolic blood pressure. Conclusion: The present investigation showed that moderate-intensity activity only at weekends does not improve cardiovascular risk factors in elderly persons with a relatively normal cardiovascular risk profile. Conversely, elderly persons suffering from hypertension might profit from such a practice.
- Subjects
HIKING; PHYSICAL activity measurement; HEALTH promotion; HIGH density lipoproteins; LOW density lipoproteins
- Publication
Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie, 2015, Vol 48, Issue 2, p150
- ISSN
0948-6704
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00391-014-0622-0