The secreted form of the α-Klotho gene (S-Klotho), which is considered a powerful biomarker of longevity, makes it an attractive target as an anti-ageing therapy against functional decline, sarcopenic obesity, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, and neurodegenerative disorders. The S-Klotho plasma levels could be related to physical exercise inasmuch physical exercise is involved in physiological pathways that regulate the S-Klotho plasma levels. FIT-AGEING will determine the effect of different training modalities on the S-Klotho plasma levels (primary outcome) in sedentary healthy adults. FIT-AGEING will also investigate the physiological consequences of activating the klotho gene (secondary outcomes). FIT-AGEING will recruit 80 sedentary, healthy adults (50% women) aged 45-65 years old. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to a non-exercise group, i.e. the control group, (n = 20), a physical activity recommendation from World Health Organization group (n = 20), a high intensity interval training group (n = 20), and a whole-body electromyostimulation group (n = 20). The laboratory measurements will be taken at the baseline and 12 weeks later including the S-Klotho plasma levels, physical fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength), body composition, basal metabolic rate, heart rate variability, maximal fat oxidation, health blood biomarkers, free-living physical activity, sleep habits, reaction time, cognitive variables, and health-related questionnaires. We will also obtain dietary habits data and cardiovascular disease risk factors.

This study aimed to investigate the influence of different exercise training modalities [(i) a concurrent training based on physical activity recommendation from the World Health Organization group (PAR group), (ii) a high intensity interval training group (HIIT group), and (iii) a high intensity interval training adding whole-body electromyostimulation group (WB-EMS group)] on physical fitness in sedentary middle-aged adults. A total of 89 (52.7% women) middle-aged sedentary adults (53.7 ± 5.1 years old) were enrolled in the FIT-AGING study. Cardiorespiratory fitness was determined by a maximum treadmill test using indirect calorimetry. Lower, upper, and core body muscular strength were assessed by an isokinetic strength test, by the handgrip strength test, and by several core strength endurance tests, respectively. All the exercise types induced similar increases on cardiorespiratory fitness (Δ VO₂max ≥ 11%, Δ maximal heart rate ≥ 8%, and Δ total test duration ≥ 14%; all P ≤ 0.034), as well as on muscular strength (Δ extension and flexion peak torque ≥ 10%, Δ total hand grip ≥ 3%, Δ core strength endurance tests ≥ 20%; all P ≤ 0.050) compared with a control group. In conclusion, our results suggest that a 12-week structured exercise intervention improves physical fitness regardless of the training program in sedentary middle-aged adults. Despite slightly greater improvements in some physical fitness variables, the changes observed in the WB-EMS group were not superior to the other exercise programs.

Fryer, SM, Giles, D, Garrido Palomino, I, de la O Puerta, A, and España-Romero, V. Hemodynamic and cardiorespiratory predictors of sport rock climbing performance.J Strength Cond Res32(12): 3543–3550, 2018—Rock climbing performance has been suggested to involve a notable contribution from aerobic metabolism. Previously, it has been shown that forearm oxygenation kinetics can be used to distinguish ability groups and predict red-point sport climbing performance. Currently, it is not known if forearm oxygenation kinetics or a sport-specific assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness best predicts sport rock climbing performance. The aim of the study was to determine whether forearm oxidative capacity index, maximal deoxygenation (Δ score) during a treadwall JOURNAL/jscr/04.03/00124278-201812000-00029/29FFU1/v/2023-08-19T002809Z/r/image-tiff peak test, treadwall JOURNAL/jscr/04.03/00124278-201812000-00029/29FFU1/v/2023-08-19T002809Z/r/image-tiff peak, or running JOURNAL/jscr/04.03/00124278-201812000-00029/29FFU1/v/2023-08-19T002809Z/r/image-tiff max best predicts self-reported sport climbing performance. Twenty-one male sport rock climbers completed a treadwall JOURNAL/jscr/04.03/00124278-201812000-00029/29FFU1/v/2023-08-19T002809Z/r/image-tiff peak, running JOURNAL/jscr/04.03/00124278-201812000-00029/29FFU1/v/2023-08-19T002809Z/r/image-tiff max, and an assessment of near-infrared spectroscopy–derived oxidative capacity index. Linear regression, adjusted for age and experience (years), revealed that forearm oxidative capacity index, treadwall maximal deoxygenation (Δ), and treadwall JOURNAL/jscr/04.03/00124278-201812000-00029/29FFU1/v/2023-08-19T002809Z/r/image-tiff peak all significantly predicted self-reported red-point sport climbing ability (AdjR²= −0.398, −0.255, and 0.374, respectively), whereas treadmill running JOURNAL/jscr/04.03/00124278-201812000-00029/29FFU1/v/2023-08-19T002809Z/r/image-tiff max did not (AdjR²= −0.052). Additionally, multiple regression suggested that the combined significant aerobic predictors accounted for 67% of the variance in red-point climbing ability. Findings suggest that training for sport rock climbing performance should look to incorporate modalities that focus on (a) improving local forearm aerobic capacity and (b) improving whole-body aerobic capacity using sport-specific apparatus, such as treadwalls.