The associations between organized sport participation and physical fitness and weight status development during adolescence.

OBJECTIVES: We are yet to understand how continuous participation in organized sports, dropout from organized sports, or complete non-participation affect adolescents' trajectories of physical fitness and body mass index (BMI). Thus, the aim was to examine longitudinal changes in cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, and BMI between adolescents 1) who continued or started organized sport participation, 2) who dropped out, and 3) who never participated in organized sport or dropped out before adolescence. DESIGN: Longitudinal observational study. METHODS: Over four years (2017-2021), sport participation, cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, and BMI data were collected annually from 963 participants (Mage = 11.25 ±â€¯0.31). Latent growth curve models were utilized to examine levels (baseline) and slopes (rate of change) of BMI, cardiorespiratory, and muscular fitness in each sport participation group. RESULTS: Fitness levels significantly varied among groups. Continuing sport participants exhibited the highest levels, non-participants the lowest. Both groups showed significant improvements in cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness over time. Dropouts had higher baseline fitness than non-participants but demonstrated no change in cardiorespiratory fitness over time and a significantly smaller increase in muscular fitness than the two other groups. BMI increased similarly in all groups, with non-participants starting at higher baseline levels. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals who continually participated in sports maintained higher levels of fitness than individuals who did not participate in organized sports across adolescence. However, individuals who dropped out of organized sports, showed plateau in their fitness improvements, suggesting that the physical activity previously obtained through organized sports may not be replaced elsewhere.

Developmental relations of achievement goals and affect in physical education.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the developmental relationships between achievement goals and affect in school physical education. METHOD: The study sample comprised 1063 (girls 546) Finnish Grade 6 students (M = 12.27 years ± 0.33 at the beginning of the study). The participants in the study were asked to provide annual assessments about their perceptions of achievement goals, enjoyment, and anxiety. The assessments were conducted four times over three consecutive years. RESULTS: The results indicated that mastery-approach goals were positively associated with enjoyment (between-level), whereas both mastery-avoidance and performance-avoidance goals were positively associated with anxiety (between-level). Additionally, the associations between repeated measures (within-level) of mastery-approach goals and enjoyment were similar each year, whereas mastery- and performance-approach/avoidance goals were consistently associated with anxiety within the same year. Girls reported lower performance-approach goals and enjoyment but higher mastery-avoidance goals and anxiety than boys. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that mastery approach goals exhibit a positive correlation with favorable affective reactions, while performance-avoidance goals demonstrate a connection with maladaptive responses. Physical education teachers should endeavor to establish mastery-oriented goals for their students from the outset of the educational process.

Longitudinal Associations Between Enjoyment of Physical Education, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Muscular Fitness Among Finnish Adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: Students' experiences in physical education (PE) can shape future physical activity (PA) behaviors. PE enjoyment is associated with PA; however, the relationship between PE enjoyment and fitness has not been extensively investigated. The aim of this study was to examine if changes in PE enjoyment were associated with changes in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscular fitness (MF) among Finnish adolescents. METHODS: Study participants were students (n = 1147; 11.27 [±0.32] years at baseline) attending public schools in Finland. Data were collected yearly (2017-2021). The 20 m shuttle run assessed CRF, curl-up/push-up tests assessed MF, and the enjoyment subscale of the Sport Commitment Questionnaire-2 measured PE enjoyment. The random intercept cross-lagged panel model, including repeated measures (within-level) and latent levels (between-level) of PE enjoyment, CRF and MF, was tested. Sex, body mass index, moderate to vigorous PA, and peak height velocity were included as covariates in the analysis. RESULTS: Over 5 years, PE enjoyment decreased, CRF increased until Timepoint 3, and MF remained stable. Positive associations between PE enjoyment and fitness were observed, indicating the greater the PE enjoyment, the higher the fitness. For PE enjoyment, CRF and MF repeated measures were positively associated with measurement of the next year. PE enjoyment was positively related to CRF and MF the years thereafter. CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the importance of quality PE experiences for enjoyment and fitness gains during the transition from primary to secondary school. These findings are important given youth fitness levels are associated with future health status.

Associations Between Motor Competence and Executive Functions in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Motor competence and executive functions co-develop throughout childhood and adolescence, and there is emerging evidence that improvements in motor competence may have cognitive benefits in these populations. There is a need to provide a quantitative synthesis of the cross-sectional, longitudinal and experimental studies that have examined the association between motor competence and executive functions in school-aged youth. OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of our systematic review was to synthesise evidence of the association between motor competence and executive functions in school-aged children and adolescents (5-18 years). Our secondary aim was to examine key moderators of this association. METHODS: We searched the PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Ovid MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus and EMBASE databases from inception up to 27 June 2023. We included cross-sectional, longitudinal and experimental studies that assessed the association between motor competence (e.g., general motor competence, locomotor skills, object control skills and stability skills) and executive functions (e.g., general executive functions, inhibition, working memory and cognitive flexibility) in children and adolescents aged 5-18 years. RESULTS: In total, 12,117 records were screened for eligibility, and 44 studies were included. From the 44 included studies, we meta-analysed 37 studies with 251 effect sizes using a structural equation modelling approach in the statistical program R. We found a small positive association (r = 0.18, [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.13-0.22]) between motor competence and executive functions. The positive associations were observed in cross-sectional (r = 0.17, [95% CI 0.13-0.22]), longitudinal (r = 0.15, [95% CI 0.03-0.28]) and experimental studies (r = 0.25, [95% CI 0.01-0.45]). We also found that general motor competence (r = 0.25, [95% CI 0.18-0.33]), locomotor (r = 0.15, [95% CI 0.09-0.21]), object control (r = 0.14, [95% CI 0.08-0.20]) and stability (r = 0.14, [95% CI 0.08-0.20]) skills were associated with executive functions. We did not find any moderating effects for participants' age on the associations between motor competence and executive functions. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest a small-to-moderate positive association between motor competence and executive functions in children and adolescents. The small number of experimental studies included in this review support the assertion that interventions targeting children's motor competence may be a promising strategy to improve their executive functions; however, more research is needed to confirm these findings. Future studies should explore the underlying mechanisms linking motor competence and executive functions as their comprehension may be used to optimise future intervention design and delivery. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: CRD42021285134.

Adolescent Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Future Work Ability.

Importance: Although research indicates that low fitness in youth is associated with a higher risk of chronic disability in men, the association of fitness in adolescence with work ability in working men and women remains unknown. Objective: To examine the associations of adolescent health-related physical fitness with future work ability. Design, Setting, and Participants: This 45-year observational cohort study, conducted in Finland, examined the direct and indirect longitudinal associations of objectively measured health-related fitness in adolescence (in 1976) with self-reported work ability and sickness absence in early middle age (in 2001) and the Work Ability Index in late middle age (in 2021). A countrywide stratified random baseline sample included fitness measurements for cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) (running 1.5 km for girls and 2 km for boys), musculoskeletal fitness (MF; standing broad jump and sit-ups for both sexes, pull-ups for boys, and flexed-arm hang for girls), and height and weight, from which body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Structural equation modeling-based path analysis, adjusted for age and sex at baseline and for educational level, work-related physical strain, and leisure-time physical activity in late middle age, was conducted. Data analysis was performed from January to July 2023. Main Outcomes and Measures: Self-reported work ability was measured with structured questions in early middle age and with the validated Work Ability Index in late middle age. Results: The final sample from longitudinal analyses (1207 individuals; 579 [48%] male individuals) consisted of participants with fitness measurement from age 12 to 19 years, and work ability assessment from age 37 to 44 years and/or age 57 to 64 years. Higher adolescent CRF was associated with higher work ability (839 participants; ß = 0.12; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.22; P = .03) and lower sickness absence (834 participants; ß = -0.07; 95% CI, -0.12 to -0.02; P = .004) in early middle age and, indirectly, mediated by work ability in early middle age, with a higher work ability at the end of working age (603 participants; ß = 0.04; 95% CI, 0.001 to 0.08; P = .04). The results remained consistent in both sexes and after adjustment for the confounders. Neither MF nor BMI was associated with work ability (MF, 1192 participants; ß = -0.07; 95% CI, -0.17 to 0.03; BMI, 1207 participants, ß = 0.09; 95% CI, -0.004 to 0.19) or sickness absence (MF, 1185 participants, ß = 0.02; 95% CI, -0.03 to 0.06; BMI, 1202 participants, ß = -0.03; 95% CI, -0.09 to 0.03) in early middle age or with late middle age work ability, mediated by work ability in early middle age (MF, 603 participants, ß = -0.02; 95% CI, -0.06 to 0.01; BMI, 603 participants, ß = 0.03; 95% CI, -0.004 to 0.07). Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that low CRF in youth is associated with poor work ability at the middle and end of working life, which highlights the informative and prognostic value of CRF assessment early in youth. Enhancing CRF in the first decades of life might contribute to better work capacity and productivity in the labor force, which would have implications for health, quality of life, society, and the economy.

Trajectories of osteogenic physical activity in children and adolescents: A 3-year cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: We explored the latent profiles based on locomotor skills and cardiorespiratory fitness in Finnish schoolchildren and examined their associations with latent growth curves of osteogenic physical activity (PA) over three years. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: Altogether 1147 Finnish adolescents aged 11-13 years participated in the study. Osteogenic PA in terms of osteogenic index (OI) was calculated based on acceleration peak histograms using all of the peaks with acceleration >1.3 g. Locomotor skills were assessed using the five-leap and side-to-side jumping tests and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) using 20-metre shuttle run test. The latent growth curve models for the locomotor skills and cardiorespiratory fitness profiles were tested to examine the longitudinal development of OI scores over time three years (from T0 to T3). RESULTS: OI scores were lower amongst children in the "Low locomotor profile" compared with "Moderate" and "High locomotor" profiles. The OI scores linearly decreased from T0 to T3 in each locomotor profile and the decrease was similar in all the profiles. Moreover, OI scores were lower in the "Low CRF profile" compared with "Moderate" and "High CRF" profiles. The OI scores decreased in each profile over time, but the decrease was steepest in the "Low CRF profile", whereas "Moderate" and "High CRF profiles" had similar developmental trajectories. CONCLUSIONS: Children with the highest locomotor skills and higher CRF accumulate more osteogenic PA than their least skilful and fit peers, which can have important implications on bone health in this critical period for bone growth.

The association of adolescent fitness with cardiometabolic diseases in late adulthood: A 45-year longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the associations of adolescent cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscular fitness (MF), and speed-agility fitness (SA) with middle-aged cardiometabolic disease risk and explore sex differences. METHODS: This 45-year prospective cohort study examined the associations between objectively measured fitness at adolescence (12-19 years) and physician-ascertained diabetes mellitus, elevated blood pressure (BP), and coronary heart disease reported either in early (37-44 years) or late (57-64 years) middle age, and self-measurement of waist circumference (WC) in late middle age. Fitness measurements for healthy adolescents in baseline included CRF (1.5 km [girls] and 2 km [boys] run), MF (standing broad jump, sit-ups, pull-ups [boys], and flexed-arm hang [girls]), and SA (50 m dash and 4 × 10 m shuttle run). Logistic regression and general linear models were adjusted for baseline age, sex, and body mass index (BMI), involving data from baseline and at least one follow-up measurement (N up to 1358, 47% males). RESULTS: Adolescent CRF was inversely, and regardless of adiposity, associated with middle age accumulated burden of cardiometabolic conditions in the whole sample (N = 562, ß = -0.10, 95% confidence intervals [CI] [-0.18, -0.03], p = 0.006), and elevated BP in females (N = 256, OR = 0.71, 95% CI [0.51, 0.91]). Overall, we observed stronger associations in females than in males. An inverse association of adolescent MF and SA with middle-aged WC was observed, but it did not show as consistent associations as with CRF. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, adolescent fitness, particularly CRF, was inversely associated with the burden of cardiometabolic conditions up to 45 years. Promotion of fitness in youth may be beneficial in preventing adulthood cardiometabolic diseases.

Which indices of cardiorespiratory fitness are more strongly associated with brain health in children with overweight/obesity?

PURPOSE: To compare the strength of associations between different indices of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and brain health outcomes in children with overweight/obesity. METHODS: Participants were 100 children aged 8-11 years. CRF was assessed using treadmill exercise test (peak oxygen uptake [V̇O2peak ], treadmill time, and V̇O2 at ventilatory threshold) and 20-metre shuttle run test (20mSRT, laps, running speed, estimated V̇O2peak using the equations by Léger et al., Mahar et al., and Matsuzaka et al.). Intelligence, executive functions, and academic performance were assessed using validated methods. Total gray matter and hippocampal volumes were assessed using structural MRI. RESULTS: V̇O2peak /body mass (ß = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.01-0.35) and treadmill time (ß = 0.18-0.21, 95% CI = 0.01-0.39) were positively associated with gray matter volume. 20mSRT laps were positively associated with executive functions (ß = 0.255, 95% CI = 0.089-0.421) and academic performance (ß = 0.199-0.255, 95% CI = 0.006-0.421), and the running speed was positively associated with executive functions (ß = 0.203, 95% CI = 0.039-0.367). Estimated V̇O2peak/Léger et al. was positively associated with intelligence, executive functions, academic performance, and gray matter volume (ß = 0.205-0.282, 95% CI = 0.013-0.500). Estimated V̇O2peak/Mahar et al. and V̇O2peak/Matsuzaka et al. (speed) were positively associated with executive functions (ß = 0.204-0.256, 95% CI = 0.031-0.436). CONCLUSION: Although V̇O2peak is considered the gold standard indicator of CRF in children, peak performance (laps or running speed) and estimated V̇O2peak/Léger et al. derived from 20mSRT had stronger and more consistent associations with brain health outcomes than other indices of CRF in children with overweight/obesity.

A scalable school-based intervention to increase early adolescents' motor competence and health-related fitness.

Schools are key settings for the promotion of students' physical activity, fitness, and motor competence. The purpose of our study was to investigate the efficacy of a 5-month-long intervention program that aimed to increase students' motor competence and health-related fitness during school days. We conducted a quasi-experimental study with 325 Finnish Grade 5 (Mage = 11.26, SD = 0.33) students from five schools. Two schools were allocated to the intervention group and three schools to the control group. The intervention consisted of three components: (a) weekly 20 min session during regular PE lessons, (b) weekly 20 min session during recess, and (c) daily 5-minute-long classroom activity breaks. All activities were designed to systematically develop different elements of motor competence and fitness. The following assessments were conducted at baseline and 5-months: cardiorespiratory fitness levels were measured by 20-meter shuttle run test, muscular fitness by curl-up and push-up tests, and motor competence by 5-leaps and throwing-catching combination tests. We analyzed the data using a multi-group latent change score modeling. Results showed that students in the intervention group developed significantly better in 20-meter shuttle run test (ß = 0.269, p = 0.000, 95% CI [0.141, 0.397]; +5.0 laps), push-up (ß = 0.442, p = 0.000, 95% CI [0.267, 0.617]; +6.5 repetitions), curl-up (ß = 0.353, p = 0.001, 95% CI [0.154, 0.552]; +7.8 repetitions), and throwing-catching combination tests (ß = 0.195, p = 0.019, 95% CI [0.033, 0.356]; +1.1 repetitions) than students in the control group. The intervention program appeared to be feasible and effective in increasing students' cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, and object control skills. This indicates that guided school-based physical activity programs can be influential in promoting physical fitness and motor competence among early adolescent students.

Impact of Motor Competence Profiles on Adolescents' Physical Activity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness across Four Years.

INTRODUCTION: Physical activity levels have decreased over past decades with most adolescents neither meeting the current physical activity recommendations nor demonstrating adequate cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Motor competence (MC) is foundational for a physically active lifestyle; however, children demonstrate significant differences in their levels of MC in a broad foundation of movement skills. This study investigated developmental patterns of physical activity and CRF in children across 4 yr based on their longitudinal MC profiles. METHODS: The data included annual measurements of MC, accelerometry-measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and CRF over 4 yr from the age 11 to 15 ( n = 1147, girls 582, boys 565). Latent profile analysis was used to identify longitudinal MC profiles and latent growth curve modeling to examine intercepts and slopes (s) of MVPA and CRF in these MC profiles. RESULTS: Three different longitudinal MC profiles were identified: low, moderate, and high. The MC profiles showed significant differences in intercepts of CRF and MVPA. The high MC profile showed the highest intercepts for both, but also a statistically significant decline in MVPA over time (s = -3.36, P < 0.001). Cardiorespiratory fitness increased similarly in all three profiles over time: low (s = 1.20, P < 0.01), moderate (s = 1.28, P < 0.001), high (s = 2.21, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the long-term associations between different MC profiles and development of MVPA and CRF. Adolescents with lower MC demonstrated lower levels of MVPA and CRF, indicating decreased participation in physical activities that can optimally enhance CRF. However, significant differences in MVPA levels between MC profiles faded over time in adolescence, whereas significant differences in CRF remained.

Secular trends in 20 m shuttle run test performance of 14- to 15-year-old adolescents from 1995 to 2020.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether Finnish adolescents' cardiorespiratory fitness measured using the 20 m shuttle run test (20mSRT) changed between 1995 and 2020 and to examine between-group variation in the five datasets during the past 25 years. METHODS: Data on five cohorts were collected in 1995 (n = 498), 1998 (n = 796), 2003 (n = 2383), 2010 (n = 1383), and 2020 (n = 719). The 20mSRT was administered, following the exact same protocol, to all cohorts. A general linear contrast model was used to examine cohort differences in the 20mSRT scores. Variation across cohorts was tested using chi-square-based between-group tests. RESULTS: Girls' 20mSRT scores decreased from 1995 to 2010 and remained stable from 2010 to 2020. Boys' 20mSRT scores decreased continuously from 1995 to 2020. In addition, the variation in girls' 20mSRT scores was larger in the 2020 than 2003 cohort, indicating the growth of SRT differences between individuals in 2020 cohort compared to 2003 cohort. Similarly, boys' scores showed greater variation, especially in the 2010 and 2020 cohorts than in the 1998 cohort. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed an overall decline in the cardiorespiratory fitness performance measured by 20mSRT of Finnish adolescents. Boys' scores decreased continuously from 1995 to 2020, whereas girls' scores remained stable after 2010. Examination of the variation in scores further revealed that the gap in scores between the adolescents with the highest and lowest scores increased over time.

Leisure-time physical activity from adolescence to late middle age and its associations with the COVID-19 pandemic: A 45-year follow-up.

We aimed to investigate the association of self-reported leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) over a 45-years from adolescence to late middle age mediated by LTPA in early middle age. We also explored whether LTPA in adolescence and early middle age was associated with change in LTPA during the COVID-19 pandemic. We constructed a path model employing questionnaire data from three LTPA measurements (1976, 2001, 2021) including duplicated assessment for pre- and during COVID-19 in 2021. The direct and indirect associations between LTPA in adolescence, early middle and late middle age were investigated, as well as the impact of previous LTPA on change in late middle age LTPA due to the pandemic. The number of participants per assessment was: n = 2083; n = 1468 (71% of the original); n = 878 (42%) and n = 867 (42%), respectively. However, the number varied depending on the path examined. LTPA in adolescence was associated with LTPA in late middle age, although the association was not strong. LTPA decreased significantly during the pandemic. Earlier LTPA was associated with change in LTPA between before and during COVID-19 among males. This study is the first to demonstrate an association between adolescent and late middle age LTPA. However, the association across the 45-years was low.

Developmental associations of accelerometer measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary time with cardiorespiratory fitness in schoolchildren.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the developmental associations of accelerometer-based moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time (ST) with cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in schoolchildren. DESIGN: A three-year follow-up study. METHODS: Participants were 446 (girls 57 %) Finnish children (M = 11.26 ±â€¯0.32 years) from 17 randomly selected public schools in Finland. Accelerometer-based MVPA and ST were assessed using waist-worn activity monitors and CRF using the 20 m shuttle run test at four measurement points from 2017 to 2020. The developmental associations were tested using the Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model (RI-CLPM) reflecting MVPA, CRF, and ST overall levels and repeated measures over time. RESULTS: The key findings were 1) MVPA was positively associated with CRF, whereas ST was negatively associated with CRF; 2) associations between repeated measures of MVPA and ST with CRF were found only at the final time point; 3) CRF was lower in girls than boys, CRF and MVPA were lower in children with higher BMI, and vice versa; and 4) CRF was higher in children who were still experiencing or had already passed their peak growth spurt than children whose growth spurts had not yet begun. CONCLUSIONS: The results contribute to the growing evidence of a positive developmental association between MVPA engagement and CRF. Furthermore, the inverse association between ST and CRF calls for the avoidance of excessive sedentary behaviour. More effort should be made to promote physically active lifestyles in children and youth.

An Ecological Dynamics Approach to Understanding Human-Environment Interactions in the Adventure Sport Context-Implications for Research and Practice.

The last few decades have witnessed a surge of interest in adventure sports, and has led to an emerging research focus on these activities. However, recent conceptual analyses and scientific reviews have highlighted a major, fundamental question that remains unresolved: what constitutes an adventure sport. Despite several proposals for definitions, the field still seems to lack a shared conceptualization. This deficit may be a serious limitation for research and practice, restricting the development of a more nuanced theoretical explanation of participation and practical implications within and across adventure sports. In this article, we address another crucial question, how can adventure sports be better understood for research and practice? We briefly summarize previous definitions to address evident confusion and a lack of conceptual clarity in the discourse. Alternatively, we propose how an ecological perspective of human behaviors, such as interactions with the environment, may provide an appropriate conceptualization to guide and enhance future research and practice, using examples from activities such as freeride skiing/snowboarding, white-water kayaking, climbing, mountaineering and the fields of sport science, psychology and avalanche research and education. We draw on ecological dynamics as a transdisciplinary approach to discuss how this holistic framework presents a more detailed, nuanced, and precise understanding of adventure sports.

School-Age Children's Actual Motor Competence and Perceived Physical Competence: A 3-Yr Follow-up.

PURPOSE: This study examined school-age children's actual motor competence (MC) and perceived physical competence (PC) over 3 yr along with the covariate effects of gender and body mass index (BMI). METHODS: Participants were 1121 (girls 573, boys 548) children (mean age, 11.26 ± 0.32 yr) from 35 randomly selected public schools across Finland. MC was assessed using three movement tests targeting locomotor, stability, and object control skills, and PC was assessed using the sport competence subscale of the Physical Self-Perception Profile via four-phase monitoring. RESULTS: MC and PC remained stable over time. Of the three variables, locomotor skills showed the strongest association with PC. Lower BMI was associated with advanced MC skills and a less steep decrease in locomotor and stability skills over time. CONCLUSIONS: The acquisition of fundamental motor skills in childhood and early adolescence is a prerequisite for enhancing MC and PC. The contribution of locomotor skills to PC indicated that versatile lower limb strength, speed, dynamic balance, and movement skills are important for positive subjective beliefs about PC capability. Increasing the MC skills of the children in most need, particularly those with high BMI scores, merits special attention.

Development of accelerometer-based light to vigorous physical activity in fitness profiles of school-aged children.

This study examined the developmental trajectories of light (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in fitness profiles derived from motor competence, perceived motor competence, health-related fitness, and MVPA behavior. Locomotor, stability, and object control skills, muscular and cardiovascular fitness, and physical activity were assessed in 510 (girls 285 and boys 225) Finnish school-aged children (Mage  = 11.26 ± 33 years) over three years. Physical activity was measured using hip-mounted accelerometers. Fitness profiles were identified using latent profile analysis, and the development of physical activity levels across four assessments was analyzed with latent growth curve models. Results showed that (1) three homogeneous profiles were identified: At-risk, Intermediate, and Desirable; (2) the Desirable group was more physically active than the other groups, the Intermediate group was more physical active than the At-risk group; and (3) LPA decreased similarly over time, while MVPA remained stable in all three profiles. Initial more advanced motor competence, perceived motor competence, health-related fitness, and higher MVPA behavior were associated with higher levels of long-term LPA and MVPA. This finding supports the importance of motor competence skills acquisition in the early school years. Attention should also be paid to increasing engagement in light physical activities, especially in inactive or insufficiently active children with low motor competence skills.

Identifying childhood movement profiles and comparing differences in mathematical skills between clusters: A latent profile analysis.

The aims of this study were; 1) to identify different movement profiles in sixth graders, and 2) to investigate if there are differences in their mathematical basic (BasicMath) and problem solving (ProbSol) skills between existing movement profiles. The sample included 461 (223 girls, 238 boys) students with a mean age of 11.27 ± .32 years from southern and middle Finland. A latent profile analysis (LPA) revealed four movement profiles: "poor movers", "average movers", "skilled movers" and "expert movers". These profiles differed substantially in their motor competence (MC) and health-related fitness (HRF). A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) also revealed that "poor movers" and "average movers" obtained lower results in BasicMath comparing with "skilled movers". The results of this study suggest that cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, MC and BasicMath are interrelated.

Motor Competence and Health-related Fitness of School-Age Children: A Two-Year Latent Transition Analysis.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were twofold: 1) to identify latent physical performance profiles of motor competence (MC) and cardiorespiratory (CF) and muscular fitness (MF) among school-age children and 2) explore transition probabilities in physical performance profiles over a 2-yr period. METHODS: The present sample comprised 1148 (583 girls, 565 boys) elementary school students (baseline Mage = 11.27 ± 0.32), and data were collected annually (equal intervals) over a period of 2 yr which resulted in a total of three measurements. The measures used were the throwing-catching combination test, 5-leaps and two-legged jumps from side-to-side test (MC), 20-meter shuttle run test (CF), and curl-up and push-up tests (MF). Latent transition analysis was used to identify and track physical performance profiles derived from the measurements of MC, CF, and MF scores. RESULTS: The key findings were: 1) three physical performance profiles were identified: (a) low (28% of the sample; lowest level in each category), (b) moderate (43% of the sample; higher MC, CF, and MF than low), (c) high (29% of the sample; highest MF); 2) the number of physical performance profiles and probability to belong to a given profile were stable across time; 3) the highest transition probability was found in the high group, where some students had transitioned to the moderate group at T2; and 4) girls were most likely to belong to the low group. CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrated that children's physical performance profiles are stable from late childhood to early adolescence. This study suggests that the early elementary school years are essential for the development of children's MC and health-related fitness.

Development of Children's Actual and Perceived Motor Competence, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Physical Activity, and BMI.

PURPOSE: To examine synergistic associations between developmental trajectories of motor competence, perceived motor competence, cardiorespiratory fitness, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and body mass index (BMI) from late childhood to adolescence. METHODS: In this 3-yr follow-up study, motor competence, perceived motor competence, cardiorespiratory fitness, MVPA, and BMI were assessed in 1167 Finnish school-age children (girls = 583, boys = 565; Mage = 11.27 ± 0.33). Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was measured using hip-mounted accelerometers. Developmental trajectories were analyzed using latent growth curve modeling. RESULTS: The development of motor competence, cardiorespiratory fitness, and BMI was positive over time, whereas the development of perceived motor competence and physical activity was negative. The development of BMI was inversely associated with the development of cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: In the transition from late childhood to adolescence, motor competence, cardiorespiratory fitness, and BMI increased, and perceived motor competence and physical activity decreased. However, individual variance in the developmental trajectories was significant. Moreover, children with a greater increase in BMI showed a greater decrease in cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity from late childhood to adolescence.

Acute effects of wearing compression knee-length socks on ankle joint position sense in community-dwelling older adults.

Functional proprioceptive information is required to allow an individual to interact with the environment effectively for everyday activities such as locomotion and object manipulation. Specifically, research suggests that application of compression garments could improve proprioceptive regulation of action by enhancing sensorimotor system noise in individuals of different ages and capacities. However, limited research has been conducted with samples of elderly people thus far. This study aimed to examine acute effects of wearing knee-length socks (KLS) of various compression levels on ankle joint position sense in community-dwelling, older adults. A total of 26 participants (12 male and 14 female), aged between 65 and 84 years, were randomly recruited from local senior activity centres in Singapore. A repeated-measures design was used to determine effects on joint position awareness of three different treatments-wearing clinical compression socks (20-30 mmHg); wearing non-clinical compression socks (< 20 mmHg); wearing normal socks, and one control condition (barefoot). Participants were required to use the dominant foot to indicate 8 levels of steepness (2.5°, 5°, 7.5°, 10°, 12.5°, 15°, 17.5°, and 20°), while standing on a modified slope box, in a plantar flexion position. Findings showed that wearing clinical compression KLS significantly reduced the mean absolute errors compared to the barefoot condition. However, there were no significant differences observed between other KLS and barefoot conditions. Among the KLS of various compression levels, results suggested that only wearing clinical compression KLS (20-30 mmHg) improved the precision of estimation of ankle joint plantar flexion movement, by reducing absolute performance errors in elderly people. It is concluded that wearing clinical compression KLS could potentially provide an affordable strategy to ameliorate negative effects of ageing on the proprioception system to enhance balance and postural control in community-dwelling individuals.