Health effects of recreation outdoors

INTERVENTION: There are three experimental conditions which represented three different levels of exposure to nature (indoor, simulated outdoor and outdoor) and all tests in each condition is identical. Indoor condition. The room which represents the indoor condition is a plain test room with only the equipment required to complete the experiment. Simulated outdoor condition. The room representing the simulated outdoor condition is identical to the indoor room but decorated with a photo wallpaper of a beech forest, nature sounds (blackbird Turdus merula song), many green indoor plants and artificial daylight consisting of four fluorescent tubes. Outdoor condition. A lush suburban garden represents the outdoor condition, and the bike ergometer and the recovery chair was facing a deciduous forest. The site was chosen in order to minimize distinct disturbing urban sounds such as traffic but could also provide the feeling of being in nature. All subjects will participate in each experimental condition and given that there are three experimental conditions there are six different orders that the participating subjects can perform the experiment. The exact order each subject will conduct the experiments is randomized. Procedure The subjects are instructed to avoid any strenuous physical activity 48 h before the testing. They are also instructed to avoid eating 2 hours before they come to the test site. When the subjects arrive at the test site, independent of experimental situation, they are fitted with a heart rate monitor, and a venous catheter is inserted in the antecubital vein. After those initial procedure CONDITION: Effects of exercise in healthy men and women aged 65 or older ; Not Applicable PRIMARY OUTCOME: ; 1. Power output (W) during exercise is determined based on the resistance and cadence on the cycle ergometer; 2. Ratings of self perceived exertion is measured using BORG RPE 6‐20 scale during the test at minutes 1‐6 and upon the termination of the test and at minutes 10, 20, 30, 60, 120 of recovery; 3. Heart rate is measured using a heart rate monitor (Polar RS800CX, Polar Electro Oy, Kempele, Finland) at baseline, during the test at minutes 1‐6, upon the termination of the test, and at minutes 10, 20, 30, 60, 120 of recovery.; 4. Blood pressure is measured using an automated blood pressure meter (Welch Allyn ProBP 3400, Welch Allyn, NY, USA) at baseline, upon the termination of the test, and at minutes 10, 20, 30, 60, 120; 5. Lactate is measured using a lactate meter (Lactate plus, Nova Biomedical, MA, USA ) at baseline, upon the termination of the test, and at minutes 10, 20, 30, 60, 120 of recovery; 6. White blood cells (total cell count, lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils) is measured using a HemoCue WBC Diff (HemoCue AB Ängelholm, Sweden) at baseline, upon the termination of the test, and at minutes 10, 20, 30, 60, 120 of recovery; 7. All biomarkers are measured using The MAGPIX assay system that is based on ELISA principles and utilize xMAP technology (Luminex Corp., Austin, TX), and xPONENT 4.2 software (Luminex), immunoassay at baseline, upon termination of the test and at minutes 30, 60, and 120 after the test. The following biomarkers are analyzed:; 7.1. Cortisol (Stress); 7.2. Interleukin‐6 and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (Immunologic response); 7.3. Insulin and glucose (Metabolic response); 7.4. Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (Brain health); SECONDARY OUTCOME: ; 1. Time spent outdoors measured using a questionnaire at baseline; 2. Attitudes towards nature measured using a questionnaire at baseline; 3. Degree of environmental friendliness measured using a questionnaire at baseline; 4. Sociodemographic factors measured using a questionnaire at baseline; INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. 65 years or older 2. A self‐rated physical fitness of = 6 on the Wisén scale, which is equivalent to being able to walk or cycle at a moderate pace for at least 30 minutes