Gholam Rasul Mohammad Rahimi

Low-load blood flow restriction resistance training (BFR-RT) may offer a lower-load alternative to conventional resistance training for older adults, but its cardiovascular responses and neuromuscular benefits remain incompletely characterized. To synthesize the acute cardiovascular responses and chronic cardiovascular and neuromuscular effects of low-load BFR-RT in older adults. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and CINAHL were searched from inception to July 15, 2026. Randomized controlled trials, including parallel-group and crossover designs, comparing low-load BFR-RT with no-exercise/passive control or conventional non-BFR resistance training were eligible. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool. Meta-analyses were performed using mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Twenty-seven studies were included. Acutely, BFR-RT increased systolic blood pressure versus no exercise (MD, 5.30 mmHg; 95% CI, 0.48 to 10.12) and increased diastolic blood pressure (MD, 5.23 mmHg) and mean arterial pressure (MD, 5.81 mmHg) versus conventional resistance training, while heart rate, stroke volume, and cardiac output were not significantly different. Chronically, resting cardiovascular and endothelial outcomes were largely unchanged. Versus no exercise, BFR-RT significantly improved knee-extension, leg-extension, and leg-press 1RM and quadriceps cross-sectional area. Comparisons with conventional resistance training were mixed and outcome-specific. Low-load BFR-RT improves selected neuromuscular outcomes in older adults, particularly relative to no exercise, while cardiovascular responses are comparator-dependent and chronic vascular effects appear largely neutral. These findings support cautious, individualized application rather than assumptions of cardiovascular superiority or equivalence to conventional resistance training.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is associated with pain and reduced functional performance, increasing fall risk in older adults. While conventional physiotherapy is widely used, limited evidence exists regarding the added value of exercise programs on proprioception and balance outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a structured four-week exercise program, in combination with conventional physiotherapy, on function, pain, proprioception, and balance in adults with knee OA. Thirty participants (aged 50–65 years) with clinically diagnosed knee OA were randomly assigned to either an experimental group ( n = 15), which received conventional physiotherapy (including electrotherapy, manual therapy, and therapeutic modalities) combined with structured exercise, or a control group ( n = 15), which received conventional physiotherapy alone. Outcome measures included knee function, pain, proprioception, and static balance. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. Both groups showed significant pre-to post-test improvements across all outcomes ( p < .05). However, the experimental group achieved markedly greater gains in proprioception (−33.85% and −36.04% at 30° and 60°, respectively), static balance (+25.13% eyes-open, +42.25% eyes-closed), and functional reach (+10.87%) compared with the control group. Pain reduction was also greater in the experimental group (−28.02% vs. −19.37%). Improvements in knee function were observed in both groups, with no significant group-by-time interaction. Integrating a targeted exercise program with physiotherapy leads to superior improvements in sensorimotor and functional outcomes in individuals with knee OA. These findings support non-pharmacological strategies to enhance mobility and reduce fall risk in this population.

Summary The prevalence of osteoporosis, particularly among the elderly population and postmenopausal women (PMW), remains a significant public health concern. Women aged 50 to 60 years are especially vulnerable to osteoporosis-related bone loss, emphasizing the need for preventative measures and early intervention. Purpose This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of aerobic, resistance, and combined training on bone mineral density (BMD) in PMW aged 50 to 60 years. Methods A systematic search of six databases (Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus) was conducted. The review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024569040). Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool. A random-effects model was used to calculate mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Forty studies with 2,230 participants were included. All exercise modalities significantly improved BMD at the lumbar spine (MD = 0.02 g/cm²; p < 0.001), total hip (MD = 0.01 g/cm²; p < 0.001), femoral neck (MD = 0.01 g/cm²; p < 0.001), trochanter (MD = 0.02 g/cm²; p < 0.001), and total body (MD = 0.00 g/cm²; p = 0.002). Conclusion Regular exercise, particularly combined aerobic and resistance training, is an effective non-pharmacological strategy to mitigate bone loss and promote skeletal health in PMW.

Background: Aquatic training is emerging as a multifaceted therapy for enhancing health parameters, particularly among elderly populations. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a three‐month aquatic training on physical functioning, including balance, muscular strength, and flexibility, among healthy older men. Methods: From an initial sample of 80 elderly men, 45 healthy participants (mean age: 75.5 years) were randomly assigned to either the intervention ( n = 23) or control group ( n = 22). The intervention group participated in three 60‐min sessions per week for 12 weeks. Functional fitness variables, encompassing upper and lower body flexibility and muscular strength, along with dynamic and static balance, were assessed using multiple tests at both baseline and postintervention. The training load increased gradually over the 12‐week program, ranging between 50% and 70% of heart rate reserve (HRR). Exercise intensity was controlled using the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) scale, aiming for a targeted range of 12–15 on the Borg scale. The control group maintained their usual daily activities throughout the study period, providing a basis for comparison with the exercise intervention group. Results: No significant baseline differences in demographic characteristics were observed between the study groups ( p > 0.05). Compared to the control group, the intervention group demonstrated significant improvements across all outcome measures, including static balance, dynamic balance, upper and lower body flexibility, and upper and lower body muscular strength ( p < 0.001). Conclusion: The study findings highlight the efficacy of aquatic training in enhancing various aspects of physical functioning among older men, supporting the growing recognition of aquatic training as an effective therapeutic approach for promoting vitality and independence in elderly populations.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impacts of water exercise training on functional and hemodynamic responses in HF patients. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted until February 15, 2024, using multiple databases. Mean difference (MD) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results: Sixteen studies, comprising 349 participants with HF, were included. Water exercise led to enhancements in peak VO ₂ (MD, 2.85 mL/kg/min; 95% CI, 1.89 to 3.80; p < .00001) and resting heart rate (MD, −4.16 bm; 95% CI, −6.85 to −1.46; p = .002) compared to no exercising controls. Water plus land exercise reduced resting heart rate (MD, −1.41 bm; 95% CI, −2.13 to −0.69; p = .0001) compared to land exercise alone. Furthermore, acute water exercises decreased resting heart rate (MD, −3.85 bm; 95% CI, −6.49 to −1.21; p = .004) and increased stroke volume (MD, 14.68 mL/beat; 95% CI, 8.57 to 20.79; p < .00001) and cardiac output (MD, 0.5 L/min; 95% CI, 0.27 to 0.73; p < .00001) compared to baseline. Conclusion: These findings suggest that water exercise holds promise as an effective intervention for enhancing functional capacity and hemodynamic parameters in individuals with HF, highlighting the importance of further research to optimize its implementation and elucidate long-term benefits.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effects of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training (MICT) on glycemic control, beta-cell function, and aerobic fitness in women with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Methods: Thirty-six women with T2DM were assigned equally to HIIT, MICT, and control (CON) groups. Participants in the exercise cohorts underwent a 12-week training regimen (three sessions per week), while the CON group maintained an inactive lifestyle. Glycaemia variables, beta-cell function, maximal oxygen uptake (VO _2max ), lipid profiles, and body composition were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Results: Both HIIT and MICT interventions led to significant improvements in glucose, insulin, HbA1c, and insulin resistance index. Moreover, visceral adiposity index (VAI), lipid accumulation product (LAP), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels significantly decreased in the HIIT and MICT groups after 12 weeks. Triglyceride (TG) levels decreased only after MICT, while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels increased after both interventions. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO _2max ), body mass, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC) significantly improved in all exercise groups. Notably, the HIIT group showed greater reductions in body mass compared to MICT. Nevertheless, beta-cell function remained unaltered after these two exercise regimens. Conclusion: Both HIIT and MICT interventions effectively managed T2DM in women, regardless of exercise intensity. The HIIT regimen can be considered for time-efficient lifestyle interventions in people with T2DM.