P05-14 Effects of a 12-weeks aquatic fitness program in women with osteoarthritis

Abstract Background As a major public health concern, there is a high association between aging and obesity, nutritional deficiencies and physical (in)activity. Thus, diseases related to cartilage are on the list of main concerns of the WHO, assuming the prevention of degeneration of articular cartilage as an important issue for which there are few effective solutions. It is imperative to find preventive strategies that can reduce the incidence of chronic osteoarthritis. Methods Eleven women (58.1±3.3 years-old) diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) enrolled in tri-weekly aquatic fitness 45' sessions, for 12 weeks. Taking advantage of the physical properties of the water for increasing the load, a gradual use of the extension of the levers was defined. The warm-up focused on body alignment, joint mobility and breathing. The fundamental part was based on exercises that combine the cardiorespiratory component with the strength component, promoting a superior range of motion. At the end of each session there was a progressive decrease in load, alternating body segments. Before and after the 12 weeks they performed the Senior Fitness Test, hand-grip strength and body measures. All participants were volunteer, informed consent was obtained and all procedures were in accordance to Helsinki Declaration. Sessions were instructed by a CSCS®. Results Significant and meaningful improvements were observed in lower body strength (p > 0.001; d = 1.10), lower body flexibility (p > 0.001; d = 2.88), aerobic endurance (p > 0.001; d = 0.95), dynamic balance (p > 0.001; d = 1.22) and hand grip strength (p > 0.001; d = 1.56). Significant, but moderate improvements were observed in body mass (p = 0.034; d = 0.56) and waist circumference (p = 0.041; d = 0.66). Conclusions Aquatic fitness induced extensive benefits in women conditioning, suggesting that this activity is able to promote an increase in life quality, even if KOA is diagnosed. This program aims to be a tool for implementing healthy behaviour, based on a physical exercise program to people with KOA. With a demographic trend towards an aging population, today society has dragged itself into a vicious cycle to the proven relationship between OA and obesity, and the increasing prevalence of both. To contribute to solving these problems, it is mandatory to have interdisciplinary perspectives that promote a motivating and lasting activity.


Background
Workers with high occupational physical activity (OPA) experience higher risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) than sedentary workers.In an ageing workforce, greater proportions will be expected to have CVD, and pre-existing CVD are shown to increase vulnerability to exposure of high OPA.However, most of the epidemiological evidence is derived from male cohorts, excluding those with pre-existing CVD, and using clinically manifest disease outcomes that are prone to healthy worker selection bias.To address these limitations and to highlight whether pre-existing CVD indicate vulnerability, this study investigated the effects of OPA on pre-clinical asymptomatic progression of carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) among women.Methods Women participants (N = 905) of the population-based Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Study (KIHD) with data on OPA and IMT were included.Linear mixed models, stratified by pre-existing CVD, estimated the association between OPA and the IMT progression from baseline (1998-2001) through 8-years of follow-up.

Results
Non-stratified analysis showed the greatest 8-year IMT progressions by exposure to light standing or moderately heavy active work (both 0.13 mm).Stratified analysis on within group changes and total level of IMT showed exposure to light standing and moderately heavy active work to give the greatest 8-year IMT progressions, especially pronounced among normotensives and those with pre-existing stenosis or ischemic heart disease (IHD).Women with pre-existing CVD ended up with the greatest total IMT levels (sum of baseline and estimated 8-year IMT change), in spite of less 8-year IMT change than among women with out pre-existing CVD.This may be explained by their initial high IMT level, combined with a celling effect of the change.

Conclusion
Exposure to light standing work and moderately heavy active work was associated with accellerated progression of IMT, Abstract citation ID: ckac095.081P05-14 Effects of a 12-weeks aquatic fitness program in women with osteoarthritis Pedro Morouc ¸o1 1 Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Leiria, Portugal Corresponding author: pedro.morouco@ipleiria.pt

Background
As a major public health concern, there is a high association between aging and obesity, nutritional deficiencies and physical (in)activity.Thus, diseases related to cartilage are on the list of main concerns of the WHO, assuming the prevention of degeneration of articular cartilage as an important issue for which there are few effective solutions.It is imperative to find preventive strategies that can reduce the incidence of chronic osteoarthritis.Methods Eleven women (58.1AE3.3years-old) diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) enrolled in tri-weekly aquatic fitness 45' sessions, for 12 weeks.Taking advantage of the physical properties of the water for increasing the load, a gradual use of the extension of the levers was defined.The warm-up focused on body alignment, joint mobility and breathing.The fundamental part was based on exercises that combine the cardiorespiratory component with the strength component, promoting a superior range of motion.At the end of each session there was a progressive decrease in load, alternating body segments.Before and after the 12 weeks they performed the Senior Fitness Test, hand-grip strength and body measures.All participants were volunteer, informed consent was obtained and all procedures were in accordance to Helsinki Declaration.Sessions were instructed by a CSCS Õ .Results Significant and meaningful improvements were observed in lower body strength (p > 0.001; d = 1.10), lower body flexibility (p > 0.001; d = 2.88), aerobic endurance (p > 0.001; d = 0.95), dynamic balance (p > 0.001; d = 1.22) and hand grip strength (p > 0.001; d = 1.56).Significant, but moderate improvements were observed in body mass (p = 0.034; d = 0.56) and waist circumference (p = 0.041; d = 0.66).

Conclusions
Aquatic fitness induced extensive benefits in women conditioning, suggesting that this activity is able to promote an increase in life quality, even if KOA is diagnosed.This program aims to be a tool for implementing healthy behaviour, based on a physical exercise program to people with KOA.With a demographic trend towards an aging population, today society has dragged itself into a vicious cycle to the proven relationship between OA and obesity, and the increasing prevalence of Background High levels of occupational physical activity associate to increased risk of cardiovascular disease.However, knowledge regarding the acute effects of different components of the occupational physical activity, such as lifting, on risk factors for cardiovascular disease remains uninvestigated during every day work.Thus, the aim was to investigate the acute effects from exposure to occupational physical activity with and without lifting on heart rate, physical activity and ambulatory blood pressure.Methods A randomized cross-over study among 18 farming workers in Denmark, all working in the stables of pig-producing farms.Workday measurements of heart rate (Actiheart), physical activity (Axivity placed at front thigh and upper back) and ambulatory blood pressure (Spacelabs 90217, measuring every 20th minute) were collected at a workday with and a workday without occupational lifting.The wash out period between the measurements was 48 hours.Data were processed in the Acti4 software.

Objective
The physical activity health paradox, describing contrasting long-term effects of domain-specific physical activity on health, states occupational physical activity (OPA) to be hazardous and leisure time physical activity (LTPA) to be beneficial for health.Yet, the acute effects of OPA and LTPA on cardiovascular risk factors are sparsely investigated.The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects on ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) from steps per hour during work and leisure time among cleaners in Denmark.Methods Data were obtained from a cluster randomized worksite intervention among 91 cleaners in Denmark.Data included a questionnaire, objective physical measurements of weight, height, BMI, ABP and steps per hour.The latter was measured during work and leisure time within a maximum of four continuous days.A preliminary linear regression analysis was conducted as a mixed model including random intercept and slope, allowing for both within-and between-participant variability.The analysis was adjusted for sex, age, job seniority, medication use, smoking, self-reported fitness and BMI.Changes in ABP (mmHg) were estimated per 100 steps/hour.

Conclusion
Our findings show no significant association between steps per hour and ABP, and no contrasting effects between work and leisure time.These acute mechanisms fostering the divergent results need to be further investigated to improve the with a low socioeconomic status (SES), with the aim of reducing health inequality and healthcare utilisation.A twoyear care-PA initiative specifically developed for citizens with a