Investigation of the effect of walking and running exercises on some blood parameters in adults

Abstract

This study was conducted in order to investigate the effects of walking and running exercises over some blood parameters of adult individuals. A total of 20 male volunteers with an age average of 48.05 ± 2.30 were included in the study. An exercise program consisting of regular walking and running exercises for 90 minutes per day in three days of a week and for a total of 8 weeks was taken by the volunteers. Participants were asked to continue without changing their diet program. Blood parameters of the participants were measured before and after the exercise program. Furthermore, their heights and body weights were measured, and their Body Mass Indexes were calculated. The results of the measurements taken after 8 weeks of exercise indicate that the pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, cholesterol, Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), and triglyceride values of the participants had decreased significantly (p<0.01) compared to pre-exercise values. While hemoglobin and High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) values displayed meaningful increase (p<0.01), no statistically significant change was detected in body weight and body mass index parameters. As a result, jogging and running exercises were determined to have positive effects on the pulse rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, as well as the other blood parameters evaluated in the study. Body weight and BMI values, on the other hand, were found to have not been affected at all.