Body composition, cardiovascular fitness and attention of school-aged male children practicing sports club activities: A cross-sectional.

BACKGROUND: The positive effects of physical activity on physical fitness, bone health, academic achievement, cognitive functions, mental health, and reduced obesity have been proven. This study aims to investigate the relationship between sports club activities, physical activity selected health-related fitness, and the d2 attention test. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in different sports clubs. A total of 78 male students aged 10-13 years participating in various branches of sports clubs were included in the study, 42 of whom were assigned to the sports group and 36 to the control group. Questionnaires were administered to assess sports club participation and attention levels, while physical health profiles were tested with body composition and Yo-Yo IR1C performance measures. Data were analyzed according to sports participation and the five most frequently reported sports. The means and standard deviation of each study value were calculated for the total subjects and by participating in sports activity using the IBM SPSS (version 23) analysis program. Data normality was checked and confirmed by the Skewness and Kurtosis Tests. RESULTS: The results showed that boys enrolled in a sports activity had lower body mass (-17.9%, P < 0.05 d = 0.72), body mass index (-13.4%, P < 0.05, d = 0.87), and body fat (%) (-54.1%, P < 0.05, d = 1.38) and higher VO2max 32.3% (P < 0.05, d = 3.67), than the non-active group. The boys active in sports clubs also had better results in the total number of items processed (11%, P < 0.05 d = 0.50) and in concentration performance (17.7%, P < 0.05 d = 0.56) than the non-active group. In correlation analyses, VO2max was negatively associated with body mass, body mass index, and body fat (P = 0.011; P = 0.001 and P = 0.00, respectively) and positively related to the total number of items processed and concentration performance (P = 0.003 and P = 0.015, respectively). In the Pearson Correlation analyses, body fat showed a lower negative correlation with TN (r = 0.33; P = 0.003) and CP (r = 0.28; P = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Boys participating in regular sports have lower body mass, BMI, and BF values. In addition, boys who participated in sports showed higher imaginary fitness and selective attention and concentration capacity results, as expected, for any sports part compared to their body peers. Another attempt from this study is that body mass and body fat percentage recovery are negatively associated with fitness. Considering the increasing prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents due to sedentary living, which has become a worldwide epidemic, it is recommended that pedagogical and public health strategies and policies be developed based on the physical fitness level of children.

A 10-week implementation of the FIT FIRST FOR ALL school-based physical activity concept effectively improves cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition in 7-16-year-old schoolchildren.

Introduction: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of the FIT FIRST FOR ALL school-based physical activity program on health-related physical fitness in Faroese schoolchildren. The program aimed to add three weekly sessions of organized high-intensity physical activity to the standard weekly physical education sessions for all pupils across the entire school. Methods: A non-randomized controlled design was used to evaluate the effects of the program. Two schools participated, including one intervention school (INT; n =179) and one control school (CON; n =181), with pupils aged 7-16 years (grades 1-9). The FIT FIRST FOR ALL program consisted of three weekly 40-minute sessions of age-adjusted high-intensity physical activity over 10 weeks for the INT school, while the CON school continued their normal school program. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included cardiorespiratory fitness (Yo-Yo IR1C test), agility (Arrowhead Agility test), postural balance (Stork Stand), standing long jump performance, body composition, blood pressure, and resting heart rate. Results: A significant time × group effect (p < 0.001) was observed for cardiorespiratory fitness, which increased by 31% [23;39] in INT (p < 0.001) and remained unaltered in CON (7% [-2;16], p = 0.13). In addition, a time × group effect (p < 0.001) was observed for agility, which improved by 2.1% [1.0;3.2] in INT (p < 0.001) and regressed by 3.3% [2.3;4.4] in CON (p < 0.001). No significant between-group effects were found for standing long jump and balance. A time × group effect (p < 0.001) was observed for changes in total muscle mass, which increased by 1.4 kg [1.2;1.5] in INT (p < 0.001) and by 0.4 kg [0.3;0.6] in CON (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a time × group effect (p < 0.001) was observed for total fat percentage, which decreased by -2.3% [-2.8;-1.9] in INT (p < 0.001) and remained unchanged in CON (-0.3% [-0.7;0.1], p = 0.16). No significant time × group effects were found for blood pressure and resting heart rate. Discussion: The FIT FIRST FOR ALL program significantly improved cardiorespiratory fitness and agility, and it led to favorable changes in body composition in the intervention school. These findings suggest that the program is highly effective in enhancing physical fitness and health status across all investigated age groups when implemented at a school-wide level.

Identifying profiles of actual and perceived motor competence measured with aligned instruments: Differences in (enjoyment of) physical fitness.

A person-centred approach was used to examine whether children with various actual and perceived motor competence (AMC and PMC) profiles differ in (enjoyment of) physical fitness (PF). The strength of the relationship between AMC and PMC was also assessed through aligned assessment tools. A sample of 287 7-11-year-old children (47.40% boys, Mage = 8.92 ± .78 years) was assessed on AMC with the KörperkoordinationsTest für Kinder (KTK3), and on PF with six validated fitness tests. Animated videos fully aligned with the AMC- and PF-tests were used to assess children's PMC and enjoyment of PF, respectively. Cluster analyses identified one convergent (i.e. high AMC-high PMC) and three partially convergent AMC-PMC profiles (i.e. low AMC-high PMC). Furthermore, children with relatively high AMC (i.e. high-average profile) reported higher PF (F = 30.99, p < .001), while children with relatively high PMC (i.e. average-high profile) reported higher enjoyment of PF (F = 9.02, p < .001). The correlation between AMC and PMC was significant but weak (r = .16). Overall, it seems important to invest in both children's AMC and PMC as they may support a higher (enjoyment of) PF, potentially leading to higher PA-levels.

When it comes to physical fitness, actual motor competence rather than perceived motor competence seemed to play the biggest role. As extra high perceived motor competence did not add additional benefits in terms of physical fitness, there might have been a ceiling effect of perceived motor competence.When looking at enjoyment of physical fitness, perceived motor competence seemed to be a more important factor than actual motor competence. However, profile analyses revealed that a relatively high perceived motor competence score may not fully compensate the loss of enjoyment in physical fitness when children's actual motor competence is relatively low.

Exploring the Relationship between Fundamental Movement Skills and Health-Related Fitness among First and Second Graders in Korea: Implications for Healthy Childhood Development.

This study investigated the relationship between fundamental movement skills (FMSs) and health-related fitness (HRF) among first and second graders in South Korean elementary schools. It aimed to provide foundational data for developing physical education programs tailored to the motor development stages and fitness levels of younger elementary school students. This study utilized secondary data from the physical activity competence evaluation conducted by the Health Physical Activity Institute (HPAI). In October 2023, the HPAI evaluated the fundamental movement skills (jumping, running, hopping, static balance, dynamic balance, overhand throwing, and kicking) and health-related fitness (muscular strength, cardiorespiratory endurance, and flexibility) of 291 first and second-grade students. The collected data were analyzed through frequency and multiple regression analyses performed using SPSS software. The results revealed that higher scores in jumping and hopping are associated with greater muscular strength, cardiorespiratory endurance, and flexibility. Running had no significant effect on HRF elements. Higher scores in static balance (i.e., that used in single-leg stance) were associated with increased muscular strength, cardiorespiratory endurance, and flexibility, but dynamic balance (balance beam walking) did not have a significant effect. Higher scores in overhand throwing were associated with greater muscular strength and cardiorespiratory endurance, but kicking did not show a significant association. Overall, these findings emphasize the importance of prioritizing jumping and static balance in physical education for the well-rounded health development of first and second graders. Based on the results derived from this study, it is expected to serve as a theoretical basis for including "jumping" and "static balance" in the first and second grade curriculum of elementary schools, thereby providing essential guidance.

Acquisition and Retention Effects of Fundamental Movement Skills on Physical Activity and Health-Related Fitness of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

This study adopted a quasi-experimental design to explore the effects of fundamental movement skill intervention on the acquisition and retention of physical activity levels and health-related fitness in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In the experiments, 11 children received fundamental motor skill training (12 weeks, 60 min/session, 4 times/week), and 10 children maintained traditional physical activity. Assessments were performed using an ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer, health-related fitness pre-post intervention, and 1-month follow-up tests. The sedentary time during physical activity was significantly decreased (p = 0.01), and there were large changes in health-related physical fitness indicators, including significantly improved body composition (body mass index, F(1,19) = 8.631, p = 0.03, partial η2 = 0.312), muscle strength and endurance (sit-ups, F(1,19) = 3.376, p = 0.02, partial η2 = 0.151 and vertical jumps, F(1,19) = 5.309, p = 0.04, partial η2 = 0.218), and flexibility (sit and reach, F(1,19) = 36.228, p = 0.02, partial η2 = 0.656). Moreover, the follow-up tests showed that the children's sedentary time continued to reduce, and the muscle strength and endurance (sit-ups, F(1,19) = 4.215, p = 0.01, partial η2 = 0.426) improved continuously after the intervention. Based on this study, actionable and regular fundamental movement skill programs can be provided in the future as an effective way to achieve the healthy development goals of children with ASD.

Examining body mass index and health-related fitness marker progression of incarcerated minority youth engaged in a sport-leadership program.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a sport-leadership program on minority incarcerated young adults' health-related fitness markers. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: This study occurred at an all-male juvenile detention center. A total of 41 participants in this study were obtained from a sample of 103 incarcerated young adults. Data collection entailed body mass index (BMI) evaluation, cardiovascular endurance tests and 1-min pushups and situps at two different time periods (before and after three months). A 2 × 2 mixed factorial analysis of variances was used to test for differences among the within subjects' factors (time [pre × post]) and between subjects' factors (groups [flex × control]) for the above-mentioned dependent variables. FINDINGS: Over the course of three consecutive months of engagement, preliminary indications demonstrated participants had a slight reduction in BMI and significant increases in cardiovascular endurance and muscle strength. Contrarily, during this same time period, non-participating young adults exhibited significant increases in BMI and decreases in cardiovascular endurance and muscle strength. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Integration of sport-leadership programs is generally not free but can be a low-cost alternative for combatting many issues surrounding physical activity, weight gain and recreational time for those incarcerated.

The impact of inactivity during the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical performance of high school athletes.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted during the 2019-2020 academic year to evaluate the impact of participation in school sports on students' Body Mass Index (BMI) and Assessing Levels of Physical Activity (ALPHA) test scores. Interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a suspension of in-person education, the study resumed in September 2021, refocusing on the effects of pandemic-induced inactivity on the physical fitness levels of the same cohort. METHODS: The study included twenty-nine male high school students (age: 17,24 ± 0,73 years), divided into thirteen athletes (participating in sports such as football, basketball, and track) and sixteen non-athletic counterparts. They underwent reassessment using the ALPHA test battery, evaluating cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and motor skills fitness. Data were analyzed using independent and paired samples t-tests and a two-way repeated measures ANOVA to assess changes over time and between groups. Discriminant function analysis evaluated the ALPHA test's ability to classify students based on their athletic status pre- and post-pandemic. RESULTS: Initially, athlete students exhibited significantly better BMI, 20 m shuttle run, and 4 × 10 m speed run scores compared to their non-athlete peers. After the pandemic, only the 20 m shuttle run scores remained significantly higher for athletes, with diminished distinctions in other fitness areas. The classification accuracy of the ALPHA test battery decreased from 89.7 to 75.9% post-pandemic. CONCLUSION: The enforced sedentary lifestyle due to the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected all students, particularly diminishing health-related fitness parameters such as body composition, cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal strength, and motor skills. Students previously engaged in regular physical activity, notably school athletes, experienced significant fitness declines. This highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions to encourage active lifestyles among youth in the post-pandemic phase, aiming to avert long-term adverse health outcomes.

Longitudinal Evaluation of Physical Fitness in Adults with Cystic Fibrosis in the Era of CFTR-Modulating-Therapies.

Purpose: Maintaining physical fitness plays an important role in the management of people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). Longitudinal data on the course of physical fitness and the potential impact of the introduction of highly effective CFTR modulator therapy with elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) in adult pwCF are scarce. Methods: Health-related and skill-related components of physical fitness were assessed using an incremental cycle test (Wpeak), plus forward bend (FB), prone bent knee hip extension (HE), plank leg raise (PLR), standing long jump (SLJ), and standing on one leg (OLS). Relevant disease-specific clinical data (body mass index [BMI] and forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1]) were recorded. Results: Twenty-eight adult pwCF (age 26.0 ± 7.8 years) were followed over 5.6 ± 0.9 years; 21 started ETI therapy during this period. Significant improvements from baseline were noted in BMI (p < 0.001) and health-related fitness components (HE, p = 0.002; PLR, p = < 0.001), whereas Wpeak and FB remained stable over time (all p > 0.05). Skill-related components (SLJ, OLS) showed no change (all p > 0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed significant improvements in BMI, FEV1, and health-related fitness measures of muscular strength and endurance (HE, p = 0.009; PLR, p < 0.001) only in pwCF using ETI. Conclusion: Despite the improvements, the impact of ETI on the individual parameters was small. Other factors than implementation of ETI alone need to be considered on the way to a high level of physical fitness in adult pwCF.

Association between physical fitness and perceived work ability among Finnish population: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study aims to examine association between different components of physical fitness and perceived work ability among working age population. METHODS: The population-based study sample included 2050 participants aged 18-74 from the Finnish national Health 2011 study. Physical fitness was assessed by the single leg stand test, the modified push-up test, the vertical jump test and the six-minute walk test, and perceived work ability was assessed via interview. Logistic regression was used for examining the associations between physical fitness and work ability. RESULTS: After adjusting for potential confounders (age, sex, marital status, educational level, work characteristics, total physical activity, daily smoking, BMI and number of diseases), odds ratios indicated that good work ability was more likely among those who had better balance in single leg stand test (OR = 1.54; 95% CI 1.07-2.24), and who belonged in the high fitness thirds in six-minute walking test (OR = 2.08; 95% CI 1.24-3.49) and in vertical jump test (OR = 2.51; 95% CI 1.23-5.12) compared to lowest third. Moreover, moderate (OR = 1.76; 95% CI 1.02-3.05) to high fitness (OR = 2.87; 95% CI 1.40-5.92) in modified push-up test increased the likelihood of good work ability compared to lowest third. CONCLUSION: These study results indicate that good musculoskeletal as well as cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with better perceived work ability. Promoting physical fitness in individual and societal level may be potential targets for maintaining good work ability in working age population.

Health-related fitness in medical students: a curricular intervention in Bogota, Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of a curricular intervention to promote health-related fitness (HRF) among medical students in Bogota, Colombia. METHOD: The study was conducted between May 2014 and December 2015 as part of the medical physiology course, in which 208 medical students were enrolled.The curricular intervention included two lectures on physical activity (PA) and student-led group presentations on the physiological effects of exercise on human physiology. An academic incentive (10% of final grade) was given to students who reported and documented regular PA practice during the semester. This study assessed students' HRF variables, perceptions of the curriculum intervention, and PA practices using quantitative and qualitative approaches. RESULTS: 55% of the students were female, with a mean age of 19.5 years. Body fat, estimated maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max), handgrip, and sit-up strength showed statistically significant improvements at the end of the intervention. Students reported that PA practice was positively influenced by the curriculum intervention, particularly the academic incentive and the HRF tests. Students reported a wide variety of PA practices, which were mainly done with friends, classmates, or family members. Lack of time was the main reported barrier to PA practice. CONCLUSION: The curricular intervention was effective in improving HRF and promoting PA. It remains to be investigated whether these gains are sustained over time.

Effects of a daily physical activity intervention on the health-related fitness status of primary school children: A cluster randomized controlled trial.

An important barrier for a nationwide implementation of a daily physical activity (PA) at primary schools is the lack of spatial and human resources. Therefore, we developed a PA intervention that can be implemented without additional spatial resources or changes in school curricula. In the intervention group, children received a daily PA unit consisting of physical education lessons and simultaneous academic content over a 9-month period. The control group received conventional (physical education) classes. Body weight, height, waist circumference and health-related fitness parameters were measured. Of 412 children (9.7 ± 0.5 years) included, 228 participated in the intervention group. In regression analysis adjusted for baseline, gender, school location, sports club membership (total only) with standardized outcome variables, the intervention group showed a reduction in waist-to-height ratio (B = 0.30, p < 0.001) and an increase in several fitness parameters (cardiorespiratory endurance: B = 0.20, p = 0.037; lower body muscle strength: B = 0.11, p = 0.041; lower body muscle endurance: B = 0.12, p = 0.027; flexibility: B = 0.19, p = 0.019) compared to the control group. Intervention effects for cardiorespiratory endurance and flexibility were more pronounced in the group of children without sports club membership. Thus, especially children with no sport club membership seem to benefit from daily PA in school (Trial registration: DRKS00025515).

A tool to assess fitness among adults in public health studies - Predictive validity of the FFB-Mot questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: Fitness has important implications for physical activity behavior and is associated with various health-related outcomes. It can be assessed through a test battery or a self-reported questionnaire. One example is the FFB-Mot (Funktionsfragebogen Motorik; engl. functional fitness questionnaire) which consist of 28 items to assess four components of fitness in adults: cardiorespiratory fitness/ endurance, muscular strength, gross motor coordination, and flexibility. The aims of this manuscript were to (1) provide an English-version of the FFB-Mot questionnaire (developed from the German-version using translation and back-translation) to the international community of researchers in the areas of physical activity, fitness and health in adults, and (2) examine the predictive validity of the FFB-Mot questionnaire in a large sample of community-dwelling adults. METHODS: We used data from a longitudinal study in Germany with four measurement waves over a period of 18 years, with samples ranging between 310 and 437 participants (1572 adults in total, mean ages 46-58 years). To assess predictive validity, we calculated Pearson correlations between FFB-Mot data collected in 1997 and external health-related criteria (i.e., subjective health status, physician-rated health status, back pain, physical complaints and physical activity in minutes per week) collected in 2002, 2010, and 2015, and separately for males and females. RESULTS: We observed correlations between higher FFB-Mot scores with better subjective health status (in 2002: males, r = 0.25; females, r = 0.18; in 2010: males, r = 0.29; females, r = 0.28; in 2015: males, r = 0.40), and higher physical activity (in 2002: males, r = 0.24; females, r = 0.25; in 2010: males, r = 0.30; females, r = 0.38; in 2015: females, r = 0.27). Higher FFB-Mot scores were also correlated with lower back pain (in 2002: males, r = -0.23; females, r = -0.25; in 2010: females, r = -0.22), less physical complaints (in 2002: males, r = -0.36; females, r = -0.24), and better physician-rated health status (in 2002: males, r = -0.41; females, r = -0.29, 2010: males, r = -0.38; females, r = -0.44; in 2015: males, r = -0.47). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the FFB-Mot to assess fitness in adults has predictive validity for health-related outcomes as indicated by significant correlations, albeit some effect sizes are small. The FFB-Mot may be used as one-time assessment of self-reported fitness, or for repeated testing to assess change of self-reported fitness over time and in different settings (e.g., public health research).

School-Based TGfU Volleyball Intervention Improves Physical Fitness and Body Composition in Primary School Students: A Cluster-Randomized Trial.

This study aimed to explore whether a 16-week Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) volleyball intervention could improve primary school students' physical fitness and body composition. Eighty-eight primary school students (age 13.3 ± 0.3 years) were randomized to a TGfU volleyball intervention group (VG) or a control group (CG). The CG attended three regular physical education (PE) classes per week, while the VG attended two regular PE classes and a TGfU volleyball intervention that was implemented in the third PE class. Body composition components (body weight, body mass index, skinfold thickness, body fat percentage, and muscle mass percentage) and physical fitness (flexibility, vertical jumps (squat and countermovement jump-SJ/CMJ), 30 m sprint, agility, and cardiorespiratory fitness) assessments were performed pre-and post-intervention period. Significant interaction effects between VG and CG and pre- and post-test were found for the sum of five skinfolds (p < 0.0005, ŋp2 = 0.168), body fat % (p < 0.0005, ŋp2 = 0.200), muscle mass % (p < 0.0005, ŋp2 = 0.247), SJ (p = 0.002, ŋp2 = 0.103), CMJ (p = 0.001, ŋp2 = 0.120), 30 m sprint (p = 0.019, ŋp2 = 0.062), agility T-test (p < 0.0005, ŋp2 = 0.238), and VO2max (p < 0.0005, ŋp2 = 0.253). Further examination revealed a greater improvement among VG students compared to CG students in certain body composition and physical fitness outcomes. Implementing a TGfU volleyball intervention in the physical education curriculum appears to have effective stimuli for reducing adiposity and promoting physical fitness levels in seventh-grade primary school students.

Socioeconomic inequalities in health-related fitness gradient shifts between 2001 and 2022 in young Polish adults.

Background: This study aimed to assess the importance of socioeconomic status (SES) on health-related fitness (H-RF) measurements in young adults and determine the impact of SES over 20 years of substantial social and economic changes in Poland. Material and methods: The study compared H-RF differences between 2001 (P1) and 2022 (P2) in 252 volunteers aged 18 to 28 years who were grouped into quartiles based on SES and gender. The variables measured included height, weight, body mass index, body fat mass, hand strength (hand grip), abdomen strength (sit-ups), flexibility (sit and reach), and leg power (standing long jump), with a synthetic motor performance index (MPSI) calculated for each participant. Results: Health-related differences based on social inequalities included body fat mass and MPSI, and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed an interaction between SES and period on motor performance (F = 2.73, p = 0.045). In addition, post-hoc tests revealed differences in P1 between SES quartiles one and two (p = 0.028). Over the last 20 years, physical fitness decreased and body fat increased. The regression slope showed decreased motor performance with higher amounts of body fat in P2 subjects compared to their P1 peers. Conclusion: The observed trends may be associated with lifestyle changes shaped by technology development, high-energy and low-quality food access, and increased physical inactivity.

Correlation of fundamental movement skills with health-related fitness elements in children and adolescents: A systematic review.

Objective: To examine the correlations between fundamental movement skills and health-related fitness elements (cardiopulmonary function, flexibility, body composition, muscle strength and endurance) in children and adolescents and investigate the evaluation methods and tools of fundamental movement skills and health-related fitness. Methods: Six electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, EBSCO and CNKI) were searched, and the research literature on the correlation between children's and adolescents' fundamental movement skills and health-related fitness published since 2002 was collected. The guidelines of the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement and the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement were used to evaluate the quality of the literature, and the sources, samples, measurement methods, main results and statistical data of the study were analyzed, summarized and discussed. Results: After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 49 studies were included. There were 13 tools for evaluating fundamental movement skills and 4 tools for evaluating comprehensive health-related fitness in the included literature. Sufficient research evidence supports a significant positive correlation between fundamental movement skills and cardiopulmonary function (10, 100%) and muscle strength and endurance (12, 100%), and most studies support the positive correlation between fundamental movement skills and flexibility (4, 66.7%), and the significant negative correlation between fundamental movement skills and body composition (29, 67.4%). Studies used skinfold, AF%, BF%, FM, and FFMI as evaluation methods. They showed a consistently significant negative correlation between body composition and fundamental movement skills (9, 100%), while BMI or waist circumference as evaluation methods showed no consistent significant negative correlation result (20, 58.8%). Moreover, in the sub-item evaluation of fundamental movement skills, object manipulation, locomotor and balance skills were all significantly and positively correlated with cardiopulmonary function and muscle strength and endurance. In contrast, locomotor skills were more closely related to body composition than object manipulation skills. Conclusion: A significant correlation exists between children's and adolescents' fundamental movement skills and health-related fitness elements.

Effects of Low-Immersive vs. High-Immersive Exercise Environment on Postural Stability and Reaction and Motor Time of Healthy Young Adults.

(1) Background: Many young adults spend their time playing games and watching television. This type of spending time should be used effectively, so it's worth adding exercise and immersion to them. Bearing in mind that the video games and physical exercise also improve postural stability, motor time (MT) and reaction time (RT), it is worth reaching for new technologies with immersion that are widely available and can be used, for example, as a remote intervention. This study aimed to compare the effects of a low vs. high-immersive exercise environment on postural stability, RT and MT in young adults. (2) Methods: Ninety-three participants were randomly divided into a control group (CG; n = 48) and experimental group (EG; n = 45). The CG exercised according to the Tabata self-made video display on a television set, and the EG exercised according to the Audio Trip exergame. In addition to the postural stability, RT and MT, we monitored the heart rate, breath rate and energy expenditure for safety reasons and to note any differences. (3) Results: Significant differences were observed for both groups in RT (F(2.182) = 3.14, p = 0.046, η2 = 0.03) and MT (F(2.182) = 3.07, p = 0.049, η2 = 0.03) and in postural stability in eyes closed (EC): F(2.182) = 3.66, p = 0.028, η2 = 0.04 and eyes open in one leg (EO-OL): F(2.182) = 5.814, p = 0.04, η2 = 0.07. (4) Conclusions: The inclusion of a higher immersion produces greater improvements in RT, MT. Additionally, after a low-immersive exercise environment, participants have higher center of pressure (COP) path length values with EC and EO-OL tests, which testifies to less postural stability. Regarding COP trajectory, a smaller area surface means better performance for high-immersive participants after 30 min of exercise.

The impact of health education on physical activity correlates in college students.

Objective To examine the effects of a 15-week, conceptually based university health/wellness course on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels, psychosocial factors, and health-related fitness knowledge (HRFK). Participants: 125 undergraduates enrolled during spring 2016 semester. Methods: Participants completed pre- and post-course surveys with questions on MVPA levels, exercise self-efficacy (SE), exercise motivation, and HRFK. Wilcoxon rank sum tests examined changes in SE, motivation, and HFRK. A multiple regression analysis examined associations among HRFK, psychosocial factors, and MVPA. Results: HRFK and MVPA increased from baseline to post-course assessment (p<.01). An increase in SE was associated with an increase in MVPA (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Enrollment in a conceptually based health/wellness course may increase MVPA and HRFK in college students. Although the increase in SE post-course was not significant, it was associated with an increase in MVPA. These results support adoption of health/wellness programming to attenuate decreases in MVPA typically observed in college students.

Effects of a Clinical Exercise Program on Health-Related Fitness and Quality of Life in Spanish Cancer Patients Receiving Adjuvant Therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To report the feasibility and effectiveness of a newly developed clinical exercise program for improving maximal cardiorespiratory fitness in Spanish cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation. We also examined the effectiveness of the exercise program for improving maximal muscular strength, body composition, fatigue, and quality of life, and explored if the effectiveness varied based on selected patient characteristics. DESIGN: The study was a single group implementation feasibility study using a pre-posttest design. METHODS: Participants performed a 12-week, twice-weekly, supervised, multi-component exercise program during adjuvant therapy. Paired t-tests were used to assess pre-post changes, and analyses of covariance were used to compare effectiveness based on selected patient characteristics. RESULTS: We had 100 cancer patients referred to the clinical exercise program of which 85 (85%) initiated the exercise program and 76 (89%) completed the post-intervention fitness assessment. Exercise significantly improved VO2max by 4.8 mL/kg/minutes (P < .001, d = 0.74). Exercise also significantly improved chest strength (P < .001, d = 0.82), leg strength (P < .001, d = 1.27), lean body mass (P < .001, d = 0.11), skeletal muscle mass (P < .001; d = 0.09), fat mass (P < .001; d = 0.10), % body fat (P < .001; d = 0.17), quality of life (P = .0017; d = 0.41), and fatigue (P = .007; d = 0.46). Treatment modality, cancer type, and age affected some exercise responses, especially related to body composition changes. CONCLUSIONS: A 12-week, supervised, multi-component exercise program was effective for improving health-related fitness and quality of life in Spanish cancer patients receiving adjuvant therapy. Our results show the benefits of incorporating clinical exercise programming into the supportive care of cancer patients receiving treatments. REGISTRATION: The study protocol is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05078216).

Effects of a School-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Obesity, Health-Related Physical Fitness, and Blood Pressure in Children with Intellectual Disability: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Children with intellectual disability (ID) are more vulnerable to health conditions than their typically developing peers. Evidence of effective interventions is scarce. A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 30 overweight and obese children with intellectual disability (ID) in China to evaluate a 12-week school-based physical activity intervention for obesity, health-related physical fitness (HRPF), and blood pressure. The intervention consisted of 24 physical activity (PA) sessions (2 sessions/week, 60 min/session), with exercise intensity progressively increasing from a moderate level to a vigorous level. All participants were followed up for 12 weeks after the intervention period to evaluate sustained effects. Outcomes were repeatedly measured at baseline, after the intervention, and after follow-up. The intervention was effective in reducing some obesity-related outcomes (including weight and body mass index) and improving some HRPF-related outcomes (including the 6 min walk test and the 30 s sit-to-stand test), with the significant effects being sustained after the 12-week follow-up. No effect was observed on blood pressure. The findings of this study contribute to the development and implementation of PA interventions to reduce obesity and improve HRPF in children with ID.

Effects of neuromuscular training on athletes physical fitness in sports: A systematic review.

Objective: This review study aimed to assess the impact of neuromuscular training (NT) on athletes' physical fitness in sports. Methods: Three independent reviewers conducted a literature search in various databases: EBSCOHOST, PubMed, WOS, Mendeley, Scopus, ProQuest, Science Direct, additional references, and Google Scholar. The methodological quality was examined using Lubans' predetermined methods, and data that included trials were excluded. Results: This review included 18 well-conducted systematic studies from 144 relevant publications. These studies were reviewed and have been given a score of 6. Medium-risk studies were scored 3 or 4, while low-risk studies were scored 5 or 6. None of the studies had a high-risk bias. The NT intervention revealed that balance (n = 10) was the main characteristic of physical fitness that was evaluated, followed by agility (n = 6), muscular strength (n = 4), speed (n = 5), endurance and muscular power (n = 2). Subsequently, most studies used an intervention such as plyometric and strength training exercises to improve agility, balance, and muscular strength among athletes. Conclusion: This review implicated that (NT) focuses on exercises that enhance motor skills which aid athletes in moving their bodies according to their situational needs. The athletes' slower and faster directions influence their agility, muscular strength, and balance, essential for player performance. It is recommended for future research to investigate the effects of neuromuscular training (length of 12-weeks, frequency of 3 days per week and 90-min duration) on physical fitness components (coordination, reaction-time, flexibility, cardiovascular fitness, cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition) that are essential for all ages of male and female athletes in all sports.