Key result
An 8-week intervention of brisk walking combined with table tennis elicited numerically greater cardiovascular function benefits, including a reduced composite CVD-Z score, compared to standalone exercises, though most differences were not statistically significant.
Why the study?
To explore the effects and underlying mechanisms of an 8-week brisk walking combined with table tennis exercise intervention on cardiovascular function in middle-aged and elderly individuals.
Does an 8-week brisk walking combined with table tennis exercise program improve cardiovascular function in middle-aged and elderly individuals?
RCT (n=48)
Randomly divided
No
Does an 8-week brisk walking combined with table tennis exercise program improve cardiovascular function in middle-aged and elderly individuals?
An 8-week combined brisk walking and table tennis program improves surrogate markers of cardiovascular health in older adults, though it may not be statistically superior to single-modality exercise.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Combined exercise may enhance surrogate CVD markers in older adults; leaves open superiority over single modalities in larger trials.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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 .
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A 2026 study conducted an RCT in Low habitual physical activity (n=48). Brisk walking combined with table tennis vs. Brisk walking alone, table tennis alone, and passive control was evaluated on Composite CVD-Z score. An 8-week intervention of brisk walking combined with table tennis elicited numerically greater cardiovascular function benefits, including a reduced composite CVD-Z score, compared to standalone exercises, though most differences were not statistically significant.
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