Muscle-strengthening exercise and health: Does session duration or weekly volume influence the prevalence of chronic health conditions?

Mini-Oral Presentation A3.12

Authors

  • Jane Shakespear-Druery University of Southern Queensland
  • Katrien De Cocker University of Southern Queensland; Ghent University
  • Stuart Biddle University of Southern Queensland
  • Jason Bennie University of Southern Queensland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.453

Keywords:

Muscle-Strengthening Exercise, Prevalence, Chronic Health Conditions, Physical Activity

Abstract

Background: Muscle-strengthening exercise (MSE) has multiple health benefits. However, with epidemiological research largely focusing on participation frequency (times/week), little is known about the associations between other participation parameters (i.e. duration/volume) with health conditions. Purpose: To examine the association between weekly duration and volume of MSE with chronic health conditions in a representative sample of UK adults. Methods: Cross-sectional data from 16,301 UK adults aged ≥16 years, from the Health Survey for England (2012, 2016). Self-reported MSE mode (own bodyweight, gym-based strength exercise) duration and volume, was assessed against five self-reported chronic conditions (diabetes; anxiety/depression; heart, respiratory and musculoskeletal conditions). Poisson regression with robust error variance were used to calculate the prevalence ratios of each chronic condition (outcome variable) across MSE (exposure variables: duration (minutes: 0 [reference]; 10-20; 21-59; ≥60/session); and volume (0 [reference]; low <mean; high ≥mean/week) for each mode and the modes combined. Results: Most (81.5%) did no MSE. However, in those who did, undertaking any MSE regardless of mode, duration or volume was associated with a reduced likelihood of conditions such as diabetes (APRs 0.39-0.25; 0.35-0.34), conditions affecting the heart (APRs 0.60-0.33; 0.51-0.32), respiratory (APRs 0.67-0.49; 0.50-0.49), and musculoskeletal systems (APRs 0.63-0.45; 0.57-0.43), and anxiety/depression (APRs 0.68-0.46; 0.59). Associations remained after adjustment for potential cofounders e.g. sex, age, body mass index, smoking, alcohol). Conclusions: While participation in own bodyweight or gym-based strength MSE is low, irrespective of mode, duration or volume, MSE was associated with a lower prevalence of chronic health conditions. Funding: Nil.

Published

2021-09-30

How to Cite

Shakespear-Druery, J., De Cocker, K., Biddle, S., & Bennie, J. (2021). Muscle-strengthening exercise and health: Does session duration or weekly volume influence the prevalence of chronic health conditions? Mini-Oral Presentation A3.12. The Health & Fitness Journal of Canada, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.453