Endocrinology 0 Comments
Group Walking Seems to Boost Overall Health
Meta-analysis indicates reductions in blood pressure, body fat, and total cholesterol.
Participating in a walking group may
dramatically improve overall health with little to no adverse effect,
U.K. researchers reported.
A systemic review and meta-analysis of 42 studies found participants of group walking showed significant reduction in mean differences for systolic blood pressure, resting heart rate, body fat, body mass index (BMI), and total cholesterol, according to Sarah Hanson, a PhD candidate, and Andy Jones, PhD, of Norwich Medical School.
"Walking groups are effective and safe with good adherence and wide ranging health benefits," they wrote online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. "They could be a promising intervention as an adjunct to other healthcare, or as a proactive health-promoting activity."
The study looked at 5,145 citations in seven electronic databases, clinical trial registers, grey literature, and reference lists in English language up to November 2013 and identified 42 studies. The eligibility criteria included adults participating in group walking outdoors with outcome directly attributable to the walking intervention.
A total of 1,843 participants walked in outdoor walking groups with at least 1,488 hours of provision and a total of 74,023 hours of participant walking time. Participants involved in this study were from 14 different countries and had a wide range of long-term conditions, including arthritis, dementia, diabetes, fibromyalgia, obesity/overweight, mental health issues, and Parkinson's disease.
The levels of walking were varied in duration and intensity, ranging from 168 to 8,580 minutes of walking over a period of 3 weeks to 1 year, with intensity ranging from self-selected and low to brisk walking and high-intensity intervals. Mean adherence, where stated, was 75%.
The meta-analysis showed statistically significant reductions in mean difference for:
However, the authors pointed out that "the evidence was less clear for other outcomes such as waist circumference, fasting glucose, SF-36 (mental health), and serum lipids such as high-density lipids."
For adverse effects, one study described a fall with a brief absence from the walking program, while another reported a calf injury. In one study in participants with Parkinson's disease, one person experienced exercise-induced hypotension after intense uphill walking in hot weather; four fell on roots and wet ground. Otherwise, the authors stated that there were no injuries, or there was no reference to adverse effects.
The research had some limitations, specifically the analysis of studies in English only. Also, there was no information on walking dose in many of the studies so the authors could not perform an analysis of dose-responses.
Still, the results further demonstrated the dramatic impact walking groups can have on overall health, the authors stated, and are in line with previous research.
A 2013 meta-analysis found that interventions to promote walking in groups boosted physical activity.
Looking specifically at blood pressure, a population survey-based study demonstrated that a reduction of 2 mm Hg in diastolic blood pressure could lower coronary heart risk by 6% and stroke and trans-ischemic attacks by 15%.
A more recent study noted that a reduction of 2 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure could reduce stroke mortality by 10% and mortality from vascular causes in a middle-age population by 7%. That study also suggested a persistent reduction in average blood pressure could decrease large numbers of premature deaths and stroke. Hanson and Jones suggested that outdoor walking groups could be an example of such a practicable method.
A systemic review and meta-analysis of 42 studies found participants of group walking showed significant reduction in mean differences for systolic blood pressure, resting heart rate, body fat, body mass index (BMI), and total cholesterol, according to Sarah Hanson, a PhD candidate, and Andy Jones, PhD, of Norwich Medical School.
"Walking groups are effective and safe with good adherence and wide ranging health benefits," they wrote online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. "They could be a promising intervention as an adjunct to other healthcare, or as a proactive health-promoting activity."
The study looked at 5,145 citations in seven electronic databases, clinical trial registers, grey literature, and reference lists in English language up to November 2013 and identified 42 studies. The eligibility criteria included adults participating in group walking outdoors with outcome directly attributable to the walking intervention.
A total of 1,843 participants walked in outdoor walking groups with at least 1,488 hours of provision and a total of 74,023 hours of participant walking time. Participants involved in this study were from 14 different countries and had a wide range of long-term conditions, including arthritis, dementia, diabetes, fibromyalgia, obesity/overweight, mental health issues, and Parkinson's disease.
The levels of walking were varied in duration and intensity, ranging from 168 to 8,580 minutes of walking over a period of 3 weeks to 1 year, with intensity ranging from self-selected and low to brisk walking and high-intensity intervals. Mean adherence, where stated, was 75%.
The meta-analysis showed statistically significant reductions in mean difference for:
- Systolic blood pressure: -3.72 mm Hg (95% CI minus 5.28-minus 2.17)
- Diastolic blood pressure: -3.14 mm Hg (95% CI minus 4.15-minus 2.13)
- Resting heart rate: -2.88 bpm (95% CI minus 4.13-minus 1.64)
- Body fat: -1.31% (95% CI minus 2.10-minus 0.52)
- BMI: -0.71 kg/m2 (95% CI minus 1.19-minus 0.23)
- Total cholesterol: -0.11 mmol/L (95 CI minus 0.22-minus 0.01)
However, the authors pointed out that "the evidence was less clear for other outcomes such as waist circumference, fasting glucose, SF-36 (mental health), and serum lipids such as high-density lipids."
For adverse effects, one study described a fall with a brief absence from the walking program, while another reported a calf injury. In one study in participants with Parkinson's disease, one person experienced exercise-induced hypotension after intense uphill walking in hot weather; four fell on roots and wet ground. Otherwise, the authors stated that there were no injuries, or there was no reference to adverse effects.
The research had some limitations, specifically the analysis of studies in English only. Also, there was no information on walking dose in many of the studies so the authors could not perform an analysis of dose-responses.
Still, the results further demonstrated the dramatic impact walking groups can have on overall health, the authors stated, and are in line with previous research.
A 2013 meta-analysis found that interventions to promote walking in groups boosted physical activity.
Looking specifically at blood pressure, a population survey-based study demonstrated that a reduction of 2 mm Hg in diastolic blood pressure could lower coronary heart risk by 6% and stroke and trans-ischemic attacks by 15%.
A more recent study noted that a reduction of 2 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure could reduce stroke mortality by 10% and mortality from vascular causes in a middle-age population by 7%. That study also suggested a persistent reduction in average blood pressure could decrease large numbers of premature deaths and stroke. Hanson and Jones suggested that outdoor walking groups could be an example of such a practicable method.
This study was
supported by the Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), the
British Heart Foundation, Economic and Social Research Council, Medical
Research Council, National Institute for Health Research and the
Wellcome Trust.
Hanson and Jones disclosed no relevant relationships with industry.
Hanson and Jones disclosed no relevant relationships with industry.
No comments:
Post a Comment