The Impact of Exercise Timing and Regularity on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Older Adults
Older adults who maintain consistent daily exercise routines may reap significant health benefits, particularly for their cardiovascular and lung health, according to a new study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise.
Research conducted over the past few years has underscored the importance of the body's circadian rhythm in overall health. Disruptions to the sleep-wake cycle can lead to various health issues, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, depression, and certain cancers. The circadian rhythm also governs when people engage in daily activities, such as exercise.
Previous studies have shown that the circadian rhythm can impact physical performance and recovery time. This latest study evaluated the impact of exercise's timing and consistency on older adults' cardiorespiratory fitness.
Approximately 800 older adults, with an average age of 76, participated in the study. Each participant wore a wrist-worn accelerometer for seven days to measure daily activity levels and underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test to assess heart and lung health.
"Cardiorespiratory fitness is a measure of how well your heart, lungs, and muscles work together in response to exercise," said Karyn Esser, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Physiology and Aging in the College of Medicine at the University of Florida, senior author of the study. "Higher values are strongly associated with longer lifespan and lower mortality risks."
Researchers found that participants who were most active during their active periods relative to resting time, and whose maximum daily activity occurred earlier in the day, saw better cardiorespiratory fitness and walking efficiency. Consistency in daily activity patterns, with the highest activity time occurring at the same time every day, also yielded better health outcomes.
Esser noted that her team's findings suggest that exercising earlier in the day could potentially provide additional health benefits, while consistency in daily exercise patterns may also contribute positively to health.
The study's results could lead to tailored exercise recommendations based on individual daily activity rhythms, improving health outcomes for the aging population. Further research will be needed to determine the optimal timing and frequency of exercise for maximum health benefits.
The study's findings align with previous research highlighting high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and regular aerobic exercise as beneficial for maintaining cardiovascular and lung health. In addition, reducing sedentary behavior by replacing sitting time with physical activity has also been shown to improve health outcomes.
Overall, adopting regular exercise routines, such as HIIT and aerobic exercise, and limiting sedentary behavior can lead to significant improvements in older adults' health outcomes.
- Research suggests that exercising earlier in the day could potentially offer additional health benefits for older adults, according to a study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise.
- Karyn Esser, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Physiology and Aging at the University of Florida, stated that higher cardiorespiratory fitness levels, achieved through consistent daily exercise routines, are strongly associated with longer lifespans and lower mortality risks.
- Prior research has indicated that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and regular aerobic exercise are beneficial for maintaining cardiovascular and lung health, which is in line with the study's findings.
- The study showed that older adults who were most active during their active periods relative to resting time, with the highest activity time occurring at the same time every day, had better cardiorespiratory fitness and walking efficiency.
- By following tailored exercise recommendations based on individual daily activity rhythms, health outcomes for the aging population could potentially be improved, according to the study's results.
- Reducing sedentary behavior by replacing sitting time with physical activity has also been shown to improve health outcomes for seniors, highlighting the importance of a fit and active lifestyle for maintaining overall health and wellness during aging.
