Physical exercise intervention study

Based on the PPP-Botnia in Ostrobothnia, the 2 km walk study pointed out that even 70% of the men and 50% of the women was either bad or extremely bad physical condition.

On the ones with the bad physical condition was stated also the lower tolerance of sugar, the metabolic syndrome (bad fat values of the blood), the fatness of mid-section and rising blood pressure.

In the intervention study the effect of the practice program of 12 months on the metabolism and on the risk factors related to the cardiovascular diseases are studied with the persons with bad physical condition. There were 1 291 person who participated to the study and half of the participants practiced twice a week in a group (nordic walking, water gymnastic exercises, muscle condition). The second half, the control subjects, got personal physical advices but practiced independently. All the participants kept the physical exercise diary.



The objective of the study was to survey how the changes in the physical exercising affected the metabolic risk factors and sugar metabolism. Furthermore, we studied how the appearance of the diabetes with the relatives affects the practice results of the ones to be examined. Part of the practice group also participated in the study dealing with the energy metabolism of muscles and the hereditary factor study. The study was carried out by taking a sample with a needle from the quadricep and from hypodermic fat before the beginning of the study and the second sample after the practice (muscle biopsy). The amount and activity of proteins, which are important from the point of view of the energy metabolism of the muscle were studied. Furthermore, the development of a condition index of the control subjects was compared with the other half of the examined who exercised in a group in the intervention study.

The study consisted of the sugar stress, the blood tests (for the measurement of an insulin and blood fats and for the gene analyses) and the fitness test (walk test) before the beginning and for 1, 2, 3 and 5 years after the beginning research and practice season. Furthermore, the questionnaires were used for clarifying changes in lifestyle and health state experienced. Before practice and placing one year the participants' energy consumption by the body movement and registration of pulse level were followed with the help of the acceleration and pulse meter