title: Effect of weekly hiking on cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hiking is one of the most popular activities among the elderly in Alpine regions. Due to the long-lasting, moderately intensive nature of this form of physical activity, hiking is generally considered to be beneficial to health. However, it is currently unclear whether once-weekly hiking--as commonly practiced at weekends--really does yield such positive effects in elderly persons aged 60 years and over.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the effect of a single weekly mountain hiking session on cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 9-month mountain hiking program was completed by 14 male (age 65.6 ± 2.7 years) and 10 female (age 66.2 ± 4.4 years) elderly participants. The program consisted of a single weekly hiking session with the goal of achieving a 500-m altitude increase within 3 h. Before and after the 9-month program, an electrocardiogram (ECG) was performed and blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), high-density (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) measurements were made.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The elderly participants showed a normal cardiovascular risk profile at the start of the investigation. The estimated net energy expenditure for one hiking session was approximately 521 ± 91 kcal. Over the 9-month period, no changes were found in any of the investigated parameters for the entire group. However, participants with untreated hypertension showed a reduced systolic blood pressure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present investigation showed that moderate-intensity activity only at weekends does not improve cardiovascular risk factors in elderly persons with a relatively normal cardiovascular risk profile. Conversely, elderly persons suffering from hypertension might profit from such a practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science, University Innsbruck, Fürstenweg 185, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria, Hannes.gatterer@uibk.ac.at.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gatterer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Raab
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pramsohler
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faulhaber
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burtscher
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Netzer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000531:Altitude; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000379:methods; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*