Personal health benefits of Masters athletics competition.

Abstract

CanadaQuestionnaires (750 respondents, 44.4% response rate) examined the long-term health value of endurance exercise training in older age-classed competitors ('Masters Athletes', 551 men and 199 women) over a 7-year period (1985)(1986)(1987)(1988)(1989)(1990)(1991)(1992). The majority had initially completed maximal exercise tests. The weekly time devoted to training, competition and exercise-related travel was 10 to 30 h, and the annual expenditure on clothing, equipment and entrance fees was typically in the range Canadian $500-1500. Despite their age (mean(s.d.) 58(10), current range 40-81 years), only 1.4% reported sustaining a non-fatal heart attack and 0.6% had required bypass surgery over the 7-year interval. The majority (90%) were very interested in good health; 76% considered themselves as less vulnerable to viral illnesses than their peers, and 68% regarded their quality of life as much better than that of their sedentary friends. The majority of former smokers had stopped smoking before they began training, but 37% indicated that exercise had helped them in smoking withdrawal. In keeping with their health-conscious attitude, 59% had regular medical check-ups, and 86% obeyed legislation requiring use of a seat-belt when driving. In contrast with manyolder people, 88% slept well or very well. Slightly over half of the sample (57%) had sustained some injury which had limited their training for one or more weeks over the 7-year study. Although participation in Masters competition appears to carry considerable health benefits, gains may in part reflect an overall healthy lifestyle.

Exercise as Cardiovascular Therapy

“…Abstinence from cigarettes often precedes involvement in physical activity, both characteristics reflecting a health-conscious personality. 53 For a similar reason, many athletes consume large quantities of both water-soluble (C) and fat-soluble (E) vitamins, with potential benefit to the vascular system. The possible role of exercise as an appetite suppressant remains controversial.…”

Overview of the epidemiology of exercise immunology

“…In some instances, the incidence of infection has simply been compared with expectations for the general population. [33][34][35] In other studies, a comparison has been drawn with the experience of the same subjects prior to competition, 36,37 before augmenting physical training, 38,39 before augmenting the aerobic training mileage 32,40 or before an increase of fitness level. 41 In all reports where subjects have served as their own controls, findings are vulnerable to seasonal and secular trends in the incidence of infection.…”

“…The remaining four studies showed either no effect or a decrease in susceptibility to infection; none of these groups were particularly athletic. 41,[46][47][48] Of eight studies with intermediate ratings (8-13 points), five have noted an increased susceptibility to infection; four of these involved distance runners 32,36,40,43,49 and one a mixed sample of international competitors where 19 of 39 athletes had developed signs of chronic fatigue. 50 Of the three studies with a decrease in susceptibility to upper respiratory infection, one involved moderate exercise in elderly subjects 38 and two involved distance runners, 51 one being a group who were covering training distances of up to 42 km/week.…”

The Multidimensional Benefits of Participation in Masters Sports: A Case Study of the ^|^ldquo;Masters Koshien^|^rdquo;

“…Regarding masters sports, previous studies on the beneˆts of participation in masters sports have focused on health-related beneˆts, comparing the characteristics of masters athletes with the general population and reporting favorable results for masters athletes in terms of quality of life, lowered incidence of ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes (Shephard et al, 1995); better oral and dental health (Oba et al, 2004); signiˆcantly fewer incidents of physical and mental disease, high blood pressure, and arteriosclerosis, and less need for internal medicine, surgery, and dental consultations than the same age group in the general population (Bando et al, 2005;Bando et al, 2008); much higher physical performance levels than the average same-aged groups (Isaka, 2007); and moderate agerelated declines in physical performance (Young et al, 2008). In conclusion, previous studies on the beneˆts of sports and physical activities have been carried out using existing quantitative measurement scales.…”