Effects of 8-week brisk walking combined with table tennis exercise on cardiovascular function in middle-aged and elderly individuals
5 affiliations
- 1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Physical Activity and Health Promotion, Scientific Research Center, Guangzhou Sport University, 1268 Middle Guangzhou Avenue, Guangzhou, Guangdong China
- 2School of Physical Education, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, Guangdong China
- 3Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China
- 4Guangzhou Cadre and Talent Health Management Center, Guangzhou, China
- 5College of International Education, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, Guangdong China
Abstract
Purpose: This study aimed to explore the effects and the underlying mechanisms of an 8-week brisk walking combined with table tennis exercise on the cardiovascular function of the middle-aged and elderly individuals.
Methods: Forty-eight middle-aged and elderly individuals were randomly divided into the brisk walking (BW) group, table tennis (TT) group, brisk walking combined with table tennis (BT) group, and the control group. Body composition parameters were assessed using a body composition analyzer. Cardiovascular function was analyzed by pulse wave velocity (PWV), flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and heart rate variability (HRV) assessment. Plasma biomarkers levels were detected by ELISA. We also analyzed 8-week changes in a composite CVD-Z score based on established cardiovascular risk factors.
Results: The BT group showed a significant increase in muscle mass (37.85 ± 7.26 to 39.01 ± 6.67). However, all three exercise modalities exhibited a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and central systolic blood pressure (CSBP), with a decrease of diastolic blood pressure (CDBP) observed exclusively in the BT group (75.82 ± 7.96 to 71.00 ± 6.53). The PWV analysis revealed significant decrease of the carotid-femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (cfPWV), augmentation index (AIx) and augmentation index normalized to a heart rate of 75 beats per minute (AIx@75) in BT group. While both TT and BT improved FMD (5.78 ± 0.87 to 7.30 ± 1.76 and 6.02 ± 0.95 to 8.06 ± 1.45). The HRV analysis showed BT decreased heart rate (HR), increased percent of NN intervals that differ by more than 50 ms (PNN50), standard deviation of all normal-to-normal RR intervals (SDNN), and high-frequency power (HF). An Increase in total power (TP) was detected in all the three exercise modalities. Furthermore, only BT upregulated serum levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), and downregulated intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1) levels. All exercise groups had reduced composite CVD-Z score after 8 weeks, with the BT group showing the largest numerical reduction.
Conclusion: Collectively, the BT intervention elicited the numerically greater cardiovascular function benefits, independent of weight loss, potentially via reducing arterial stiffness, enhancing parasympathetic activity, and modulating key cardiovascular biomarkers. However, the majority of these favorable numerical changes did not reach statistical significance when compared with standalone brisk walking (BW) or table tennis (TT). Meanwhile, several limitations of this trial should be noted, including its small sample size, passive control design and potential selective outcome reporting.
Trial registration: This study was retrospectively registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) on 28 May 2025, registration number: ChiCTR2500103378, available at: https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=268481.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-026-06431-2.
Related
- Effects of cognitive-motor dual-task walking exercise versus walking-only exercise on cognitive function and patient-centred outcomes in older adults with subjective brain fog: a randomised controlled trial.
- Effects of sensorimotor training combined with short foot exercise on knee and ankle gait kinematics in individuals with flatfoot : A preliminary study
- Effects of grip strengthening combined with scapular stabilization exercise on shoulder muscle strength and functional outcomes in individuals with subacromial pain syndrome : A randomized controlled trial
- The Effects of a Short Foot Exercise Device on Foot Posture, Pain, Balance, and Walking Speed for Individuals With Foot Pain
- Additional Effects of Manual Therapy to Exercise on Pain and Function in Individuals With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
BibTeX
@article{su2026effects,
title = {{Effects of 8-week brisk walking combined with table tennis exercise on cardiovascular function in middle-aged and elderly individuals}},
author = {Caizhu Su and Junhao Huang and Jun Luan and Shenghui Liao and Liangdi Lin and Lei Jiang and Guangnan Liang and Meiman Chen and Yu Liu and Xiaolei Guo and Zheng Feng and Min Hu and Dongdong Gao},
journal = {BMC Cardiovascular Disorders},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12872-026-06431-2},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-026-06431-2},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effects of 8-week brisk walking combined with table tennis exercise on cardiovascular function in middle-aged and elderly individuals
AU - Caizhu Su
AU - Junhao Huang
AU - Jun Luan
AU - Shenghui Liao
AU - Liangdi Lin
AU - Lei Jiang
AU - Guangnan Liang
AU - Meiman Chen
AU - Yu Liu
AU - Xiaolei Guo
AU - Zheng Feng
AU - Min Hu
AU - Dongdong Gao
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/10
JO - BMC Cardiovascular Disorders
DO - 10.1186/s12872-026-06431-2
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-026-06431-2
AB - Purpose: This study aimed to explore the effects and the underlying mechanisms of an 8-week brisk walking combined with table tennis exercise on the cardiovascular function of the middle-aged and elderly individuals. Methods: Forty-eight middle-aged and elderly individuals were randomly divided into the brisk walking (BW) group, table tennis (TT) group, brisk walking combined with table tennis (BT) group, and the control group. Body composition parameters were assessed using a body composition analyzer. Cardiovascular function was analyzed by pulse wave velocity (PWV), flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and heart rate variability (HRV) assessment. Plasma biomarkers levels were detected by ELISA. We also analyzed 8-week changes in a composite CVD-Z score based on established cardiovascular risk factors. Results: The BT group showed a significant increase in muscle mass (37.85 ± 7.26 to 39.01 ± 6.67). However, all three exercise modalities exhibited a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and central systolic blood pressure (CSBP), with a decrease of diastolic blood pressure (CDBP) observed exclusively in the BT group (75.82 ± 7.96 to 71.00 ± 6.53). The PWV analysis revealed significant decrease of the carotid-femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (cfPWV), augmentation index (AIx) and augmentation index normalized to a heart rate of 75 beats per minute (AIx@75) in BT group. While both TT and BT improved FMD (5.78 ± 0.87 to 7.30 ± 1.76 and 6.02 ± 0.95 to 8.06 ± 1.45). The HRV analysis showed BT decreased heart rate (HR), increased percent of NN intervals that differ by more than 50 ms (PNN50), standard deviation of all normal-to-normal RR intervals (SDNN), and high-frequency power (HF). An Increase in total power (TP) was detected in all the three exercise modalities. Furthermore, only BT upregulated serum levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), and downregulated intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1) levels. All exercise groups had reduced composite CVD-Z score after 8 weeks, with the BT group showing the largest numerical reduction. Conclusion: Collectively, the BT intervention elicited the numerically greater cardiovascular function benefits, independent of weight loss, potentially via reducing arterial stiffness, enhancing parasympathetic activity, and modulating key cardiovascular biomarkers. However, the majority of these favorable numerical changes did not reach statistical significance when compared with standalone brisk walking (BW) or table tennis (TT). Meanwhile, several limitations of this trial should be noted, including its small sample size, passive control design and potential selective outcome reporting. Trial registration: This study was retrospectively registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) on 28 May 2025, registration number: ChiCTR2500103378, available at: https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=268481. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-026-06431-2.
SN - 1471-2261
ER -