ECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH17
INTRODUCTION: Lung function declines with age in the absence of disease (Verleden et al. 2021; Schneider et al. 2021). Specifically, impairments in small airway function and increased lung parenchymal stiffness have been observed in older adults compared to younger individuals (Sicard et al. 2018). However, the acute effects of exercise on lung mechanics remain underexplored in this population. The aim of this study was to examine the combined effect of duration and intensity on respiratory resistance (Rrs), reflecting the resistive characteristics of the respiratory system, and reactance (Xrs), an index of the elastic properties of the airways, in older adults. METHODS: Men and women (inclusion age 65-80) completed an incremental treadmill test to volitional exhaustion, during which heart rate (Frontier X2, Fourth Frontier, USA) and pulmonary gas exchange parameters (Quark CPET, COSMED, Italy) were continuously monitored. On separate visits, participants performed a 10 min exercise bout at workloads corresponding with VT1-15% (session 1, moderate intensity domain) and a 30 min exercise bout at VT1+15% until volitional exhaustion (session 2, heavy/severe intensity domain) on a treadmill. Lung mechanics were assessed pre- and post-exercise during tidal breathing using an oscillometer (FIRST, RESTECH Italy) at 5 Hz according to international standards (King et al. 2020). RESULTS: Five women and three men (age range: 66-73 yr, height: 169 ± 8.7 cm, BMI: 23.7 ± 1.8 kg/m2) completed both the incremental treadmill test to volitional exhaustion (V̇O2-PEAK = 35.1 ± 5.3 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹, peak heart rate = 170 ± 9 bpm, V̇O2-VT1 = 24.3 ± 5.6 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) and the two experimental exercise bouts. The average heart rate during the two sessions differed significantly (session 1 = 61.4 ± 4.4% vs. session 2 = 83.1± 7.3% of the HRpeak; p < 0.001). In this context, there were significant across session differences in the pre-to-post exercise changes in the inspiratory component of Xrs (session 1 = 0.057 ± 0.062 vs. session 2 = -0.065 ± 0.161 cmH2O·s/L; p = 0.040) indicating a decrease in lung parenchymal stiffness only after the longer and more intense bout of exercise. We postulate that the greater metabolic demand and associated hyperventilation induced by session 2 promoted mechanical stretching of the peripheral airways leading to airway smooth muscle relaxation and transient bronchodilation (Pellegrino et al., 1999). A confirmatory trend toward a decrease in the inspiratory component of the Rrs was observed from pre to post exercise during session 2 (1.92 ± 0.81 vs. 1.80 ± 0.65 cmH2O·s/L; p = 0.160). CONCLUSION: Initial findings suggest a transient improvement of peripheral airway compliance following prolonged heavy intensity but not shorter duration moderate intensity exercise in healthy older adults. Larger studies are required to confirm these observations and to isolate the impacts of sex, age, and exercise intensity / duration on pulmonary mechanics.
Read CV Guia TagliapietraECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH17
INTRODUCTION: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common chronic lung disease that not only endangers individual health but also imposes a heavy medical burden on society. Research shows that reasonable exercise can effectively delay the progression of the disease, Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese mind–body practice that combines slow movement, diaphragmatic breathing, and focused attention. Evidence supports its benefits for physical function and mental well-being in people with chronic diseases. This study maps the past decade’s global research on Tai Chi for COPD, identifying key trends, hotspots, and gaps to guide future work. METHODS: We searched the Web of Science Core Collection (2011–2025) using the topic query TS=("Tai chi*") AND ("COPD" OR "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease") to identify studies and reviews on Tai Chi for COPD. After screening, 99 articles were analyzed using VOSviewer to map publication trends, country/institution affiliations, and research hotspots. RESULTS: In recent years, the research on Tai Chi treatment for COPD has continuously attracted international attention, and the number of related publications has remained stable. The top three countries in terms of publication volume are China, the United States, and the United Kingdom, and a cooperative network centered on China has been formed. The academic teams with high productivity and both publication volume and centrality mainly rely on universities and hospitals, including the University of Sydney, Harvard University, and Brigham&Women's Hospital. Waynezzai has the highest publication volume in the past 10 years and has established extensive cooperative relationships with other scholars. The co-occurrence analysis of keywords shows that after removing the original search terms, a total of 168 nodes and 718 links were obtained. The high-frequency keywords include quality of life, rehabilitation, physical-activity, etc. The emerging keywords in the past three years are guidelines, trials, efficacy, meta-analysis, and prevalence, indicating that early research focused on the effectiveness of Tai Chi in improving the quality of life and rehabilitation of COPD patients, and the recent research hotspots have shifted to clarifying the specific treatment plans and dose-effect relationships of Tai Chi for COPD. The cluster analysis of key reference literature obtained 7 clusters, and the top 10 cited articles were mostly related clinical trials. CONCLUSION: Current international research mainly focuses on the mechanism and effect analysis of Tai Chi in treating COPD, and future research still needs to continue conducting clinical trials on the improvement of the rehabilitation process and quality of life of COPD patients by Tai Chi.
Read CV Geng QianECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH17