Leading a sedentary lifestyle is a risk factor for many diseases, injuries and degenerative processes. Physical exercise can be a protective factor for them, but an inappropriate practice of physical activities can lead to situations where several processes such as fatigue and alterations of the immune system produce the opposite effect.
A doctoral thesis carried out by researcher Elsa Esteban Fernández, from the Department of Nursing of the University of Granada, and directed by professor Rafael Guisado Barrilao, has proved that by applying a fitting-out program and the nutritional contribution of the medicinal plant Phlebodium decumanum, alterations of the immune system can be avoided and the start of muscular fatigue in the lower limbs of skiers can be delayed. This way, assures the researcher, “we are able to get people to do regular physical activity, both recreational and professional.”
Phlebodium decumanu is a kind of fern cultivated at the plantation of Yojoa lake, Honduras. It is currently used as a pharmaceutical product for the treatment of pathologies related to alterations of the immune system.
Healthy lifestyle by maintaining a good physical condition
Several alpine ski instructors who did not usually do programmed exercise collaborated in the study, which was carried out with the cooperation of the High Performance Athletic Training Centre (C.A.R.D) of Sierra Nevada.
For four consecutive weeks participants were subject to three kinds of manipulation treatments with two variables. One experimental group followed a fitting-out program which consisted in sessions of strength and flexibility, a second group received a nutritional contribution of the natural substance Phlebodium decumanu in capsules and a third group had both at the same time.
Phlebodium decumanu extract was obtained as described in the Spanish invention patent ‘Using formulations based on water-soluble fractions of Phlebodium decumanun (exply-37) and/ or Polypodium leucotomos as a nutritional complement in prevention and reversion of the over-exertion syndrome.’
The researcher studied, before and after treatment, responses to intense physical exercise which can entail fatigue in actions similar to the basic technical movements of alpine skiing. In order to do this, she measured several parameters such as cortisol, ammonium ion, lactate, IL-6, creatine kinase and the strength and power of lower limbs via the Bosco anaerobic test, which helped her analyse the effect of every variable alone or the combined effect of both variables.
After a statistical analysis it was proved that there are significant differences in every variable, and that the best results were obtained by the group who followed the fitting-out program together with the nutritional contribution of Phlebodium decumanu.
No side effects
According to the results, therefore, consumption of Phlebodium decumanu constitutes an inmunoprotection during physical exercise, given it mainly minimizes inflammation and also improves inmunoprotection. A simple fitting-out program can create enough neuromuscular adaptations to improve the physical response when a more intense exercise is required, even if it is specific. This way, the two associated actions “involve the sum of their effects and constitute a very efficient and easy preventive strategy which does not have any unwanted side effects for people who live in the snow or who simply enjoy alpine skiing.”
Given the forecasted increase of people partaking in general physical activity in the western world, the researcher assures that “the results of the study are encouraging with respect to the stop in the development of unwanted and harmful effects, which derive from a bad practice of physical exercise and favor ageing and disease.”
Results of the research have been published in several Spanish journals, such as Selección, la Revista Española e Iberoamericana de Medicina de la Educación Física y el Deporte, and Medicina del Deporte. The researcher was also awarded last year the Thesis Prize of the Spanish Royal Academy of Doctors, in the category of Life and Health Sciences.
Reference: Elsa Esteban Fernández. Department of Nursing of the University of Granada. Phone number: 678 605 465. E-mail: elsaef@correo.ugr.es
