Aged practitioners of orienteering and hiking as a model of healthy aging: physical fitness and quality of life from a randomized clinical trial

Methods: Physical and sports activities in nature have proven to be highly relevant for aged practitioners as they promote vigor, vitality, and well-being. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) compared the effects between orienteering and hiking modalities, with n=96 participants allocated to three groups: the orienteering group (OG), hiking group (HG), and control group (CG). Tests administered included hand grip strength, chair stand, 6 min walk, chair sit-&-reach, and balance. Systemic blood pressure parameters and resting heart rate were monitored in the pre-test and post-test. Differences were analyzed using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE), and effect size (ES) was calculated. Unpaired and paired tests were employed to assess baseline and post-intervention differences after 24 weeks. Results: This RCT highlights the effects of the interaction between groups and time. The main differences were found in the balance in which the OG, reduced -6.23 seconds, with a variation of 29.9% (ES=0.83), while the HG it to -2.12 seconds (ES=0.49), with a variation of 9.9%. Changes in systolic blood pressure (p=0,014) and diastolic blood pressure (p<0.001) parameters were also notable in the OG. Both groups showed a significant intervention effect (p<0.001) compared to the control group, with a large effect size (≥8.0). The quality of life of the intervention groups significantly improved (p<0.001) compared to the control group (p=0.571). Conclusion: Both modalities showed the intervention effect on physical fitness and quality of life, with orienteering demonstrating a greater impact on balance and blood pressure control.

研究方法：户外自然环境中的体力活动与体育运动已被证实对老年参与者极具适用性，因其可有效提升精力、活力与整体健康福祉。本随机对照试验（randomized controlled trial, RCT）对比了定向越野与徒步两种运动干预形式的效果，共纳入96名受试者，随机分为三组：定向越野组（OG）、徒步组（HG）与对照组（CG）。本次试验采集的测试指标包括握力、坐站试验、6分钟步行试验、坐位体前屈与平衡能力测试；并于干预前及干预后监测受试者的系统性血压参数与静息心率。组间差异采用广义估计方程（Generalized Estimating Equations, GEE）进行分析，同时计算效应量（effect size, ES）。干预24周后，通过独立样本检验与配对样本检验评估基线与干预后指标的差异。

研究结果：本随机对照试验证实了组别与时间的交互效应。核心差异体现在平衡能力指标上：定向越野组平衡时长减少6.23秒，变异幅度达29.9%（效应量ES=0.83）；徒步组平衡时长减少2.12秒（ES=0.49），变异幅度为9.9%。定向越野组的收缩压（p=0.014）与舒张压（p<0.001）参数变化同样具有显著统计学意义。与对照组相比，两个干预组均表现出显著的干预效应（p<0.001），且效应量较大（≥8.0）。干预组的生活质量较对照组均有显著提升（p<0.001），而对照组生活质量变化无统计学意义（p=0.571）。

研究结论：两种运动形式均对体能与生活质量产生了积极的干预效应，其中定向越野在平衡能力改善与血压控制方面展现出更为突出的影响。