Cultural Adaptation of the MABC-2 Checklist as a Screening Tool for Developmental Coordination Disorder in Schools.

The purpose of this study was to adapt the MABC-2 Checklist to Czech primary schools by examining of its content validity and feasibility. The content validity achieved the satisfactory level in the second round of panels of experts on child motor development. The evidence on feasibility was obtained from classroom teachers who described this tool as clear, objective and having logical structure and its administration as comprehensible and fast. The MABC-2 Checklist is applicable instrument for the Czech school environment, but its adaptation to various countries should consider the items representing the common motor skills in local children.

Preschoolers' Attitudes, School Motivation, and Executive Functions in the Context of Various Types of Kindergarten.

European policy has seen a number of changes and innovations in the field of early childhood preschool education over the last decade, which have been reflected in various forms in the policies of individual EU countries. Within the Czech preschool policy, certain innovations and approaches have been implemented in the field of early children education, such as the introduction of compulsory preschool education before entering primary school from 2017, emphasis on inclusive education, equal conditions in education and enabling state-supported diversity in the education concepts of kindergartens. The aim of our study was to assess the influence of various preschool education systems in the Czech Republic in the context of psychological variables reflecting selected children's outcomes which may contribute to future school achievement. The monitored variables were the attitudes, motivations and executive functions of children in the last year of preschool education. A comparison was made between the traditional preschool education program and the so-called alternative types of preschool education, such as Montessori, Waldorf and religious schools. The total sample was divided into four subgroups, namely a group of children attending traditional kindergartens (731, 84.9%), religious (65, 7.5%), Montessori (35, 4.1%), and Waldorf (30, 3.5%) kindergartens. To determine empirical data, the following research methods were used: Attitude Questionnaire, School Performance Motivation Scale, and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). The results of our survey show the fact that the type of kindergarten attended has a significant effect on the child's level of school performance motivation, attitudes toward school as well as executive functions. Significant differences were found between the different types of kindergartens attended in the monitored variables.

Evaluation of the Usability of the Tiger Full-Foot Three-Dimensional Scanner for the Measurements of Basic Foot Dimensions in Clinical Practice.

BACKGROUND: Foot dimension information is important both for footwear design and clinical applications. In recent years, noncontact three-dimensional (3-D) foot digitizers/scanners have become popular because they are noninvasive and are valid and reliable for most of the measures. Some of them also offer automated calculations of basic foot dimensions. We aimed to determine test-retest reliability, objectivity, and concurrent validity of the Tiger full-foot 3-D scanner and the relationship between manual measures of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot and alternative parameters obtained automatically by the scanner. METHODS: Intraclass correlation coefficients and minimal detectable change values were used to assess the reliability and objectivity of the scanner. Concurrent validity and the relationships between the arch height measures were determined by the Pearson correlation coefficient and the limits of agreement between the scanner and the caliper method. RESULTS: The relative and absolute agreement between the repeated measurements obtained by the scanner show excellent reliability and objectivity of linear measures and only good to nearly good test-retest reliability and objectivity of arch height. Correlations between the values obtained by the scanner and the caliper were generally higher in linear measures (rp ≥ 0.929). The representativeness of state of bony architecture by the soft-tissue margin of the medial foot arch demonstrates the lowest correlation among the measurements (rp ≤ 0.526). CONCLUSIONS: The Tiger full-foot 3-D scanner offers excellent reliability and objectivity in linear measures, which correspond to those obtained by the caliper method. However, values obtained by both methods should not be used interchangeably. The arch height measure is less accurate, which could limit its use in some clinical applications. Orthotists and related professions probably appreciate the scanner more than other specialists.

Adaptation and validation of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C) among Czech children.

The study aimed to adapt the standardized Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C) into the Czech language and assess its psychometric properties. A forwards-and-backwards translation method was carried out to prepare the Czech PAQ-C version (PAQ-C/CZ), followed by adjustments based on socio-cultural aspects. In the next phase, participants (n = 169) wore accelerometers for seven days. On the 8th day, participants completed the PAQ-C/CZ in school so that it was possible to determine the concurrent validity (correlation between the accelerometer and PAQ-C/CZ data, Spearman's r), internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), item/scale properties (corrected item-total correlations, CITCs), and factor structure (exploratory factor analysis, EFA) for PAQ-C/CZ. In the last phase, participants (n = 63) completed the PAQ-C/CZ twice on two consecutive school days in the morning to determine the test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC; independent sample T-test). The PAQ-C/CZ indicated moderate internal consistency (alpha = 0.77), acceptable item/scale properties (CITCs = 0.29-0.61), and good test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.73-0.94). The EFA findings suggested a single factor model (factor load = 0.32-0.73) for PAQ-C/CZ, with items 2, 3, and 4 contributing low to the total score. Results on concurrent validity showed low but significant association (r = 0.28, p < 0.05) between accelerometer and PAQ-C/CZ data. Considering the study results, the PAQ-C/CZ can be recommended as a tool for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity assessment in large-sample research studies only, but with an emphasis on the interpretation of the correct results.

Adiposity and changes in movement-related behaviors in older adult women in the context of the built environment: a protocol for a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: In older adults, sedentary behaviors increase while physical activity decreases over time following the compositional nature of 24-h behaviors. These changes in movement-related behaviors (MRBs) might be associated with unhealthy weight gain and several health comorbidities. However, information is lacking on how obesity influences longitudinal changes in the composition of MRBs in older adults. Furthermore, the moderating effect of the built environment on prospective associations between obesity and MRBs in older adults is not fully understood. Therefore, using an integrated time-use approach, this study aims to identify prospective associations between obesity and MRBs together with an assessment of the moderating effect of the built environment in elderly women. METHODS: The study was designed as a prospective 7-year follow-up study. It is based on two previous cross-sectional studies that enable the use of participant data (women aged 60+ years, n = 409) as a baseline dataset in the current study. All methods designed for 7-year follow-up are based on previous studies. The data collection comprises device-based measurement of MRBs (ActiGraph GT1M accelerometer), objective assessment of body adiposity (multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis), subjective assessment of the built environment (NEWS-A questionnaire), and other possible confounding factors. Time spent in sedentary behavior, light physical activity, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity will be used as three components in a composition reflecting individual MRBs. In linear multiple compositional regression analysis assessing the prospective association between obesity and MRBs, the 7-year follow-up composition of the three mentioned components represents the dependent variable. The 7-year changes in the percentage of body fat (body adiposity), baseline composition of MRBs, and parameters of the built environment represent regressors. DISCUSSION: This study will use an integrated time-use approach to explore causality from obesity to device-measured behaviors in older women. The design and respective analysis consider the compositional nature of MRBs data and the potential moderating effects of various factors. A comprehensive assessment of causality may help to develop multilevel interventional models that enhance physical activity in older adults.

Evaluation of Plantar Pressure Distribution in Relationship to Body Mass Index in Czech Women During Walking.

BACKGROUND: Excessive body weight seems to be a risk factor for foot loading. We sought to investigate the effect of different body mass index (BMI) levels on plantar pressure distribution during walking. METHODS: In total, 163 women aged 45 to 65 years (mean ± SD: age, 57.4 ± 5.3 years; BMI, 27.0 ± 5.3) participated in the study. The women were divided, on the basis of BMI, into a normal-weight, overweight, or obese group. The study used the four following plantar pressure parameters (PPPs): contact percentage, absolute pressure impulse, relative pressure impulse, and absolute peak pressure, which were recorded in ten foot regions using a pressure measurement system. RESULTS: The normal-weight group, compared with the overweight and obese groups, had significantly lower absolute PPP values. In the hallux, second through fifth metatarsals, midfoot, and heel regions, we observed significant between-group differences in the two absolute PPPs (peak pressure and pressure impulse) (P < .001). Between-group differences in the relative PPPs were found in the fourth metatarsal, midfoot, and medial heel (relative impulse) and in the second metatarsal (contact percentage) (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Higher BMI values correspond to a higher load on the foot during walking in women. The relative foot load in obese women is characterized by a pressure increase in the lateral forefoot and midfoot and by a pressure decrease in the medial heel.

The effect of brisk walking on postural stability, bone mineral density, body weight and composition in women over 50 years with a sedentary occupation: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: To assess the effect of brisk walking on postural stability, bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition in women over 50 years of age with a sedentary occupation. METHODS: A 10-week walking intervention based on self-regulated brisk walking (BW) to or from work of 30-35 min at least 5 times per week. The research included a total of 104 women (58 women in intervention group). The mean center of pressure (COP) velocity in medial-lateral and anterior-posterior directions, mean total COP velocity with eyes open and closed, BMD of the distal forearm and the calcaneus, body weight, fat mass, and lean body mass were assessed. RESULTS: The BW intervention was completed by 76 % of participants. A significant effect (time × group interaction) was confirmed only in the mean COP velocity in the anterior-posterior direction with eyes closed (F = 7.41, P = 0.008). The effect of BW was not confirmed in BMD, body weight, or body composition. The results indicate that the effect of the intervention is influenced by baseline body mass index in body weight, fat mass and visceral adipose tissue. CONCLUSIONS: BW prevents the deterioration of postural stability with eyes closed, which can have a direct effect on reducing the risk of falls under worse spatial orientation and visibility. The presented intervention model is insufficient for weight loss, changes in BMD, or body composition, and its effect should be assessed during a longer period of time. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00007638 , registered March 10, 2015 (retrospectively registered).

Time-motion analysis of basketball players: a reliability assessment of Video Manual Motion Tracker 1.0 software.

This study assessed the measurement error of a monitoring system, the Video Manual Motion Tracker 1.0 (VMMT1.0), during time-motion analysis of basketball players. In this study, four reliability parameters were used to assess the measurement error of the system: the systematic bias, the inter-observer reliability, the intra-observer reliability and the absolute reliability. A basketball game video was used for the analysis. To assess the inter-observer reliability, two observers analysed a player's covered distance for 50 different periods of the game. To assess the relative and absolute reliability of the covered distance, the chosen players were monitored three times by 41 qualified observers. The findings did not indicate a significant systematic bias in the measurement error using the VMMT1.0 (one-way ANOVA, P > 0.05). The intra-observer reliability of the monitoring system was rated as very high (intraclass correlation, ICC = 0.999), similar to its inter-observer reliability (Pearson product-moment correlation, r = 0.994). The absolute reliability does not appear to be significant (standard error of measurement, SEM = 0.34 m). The results showed that the measurement error of the VMMT1.0 is acceptable and comparable with that of other time-motion analysis techniques.

Gender-specific associations between perceived neighbourhood walkability and meeting walking recommendations when walking for transport and recreation for Czech inhabitants over 50 years of age.

Few studies have investigated the different effects that the built environment may have on the physical activity behaviours of men and women. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the gender differences in meeting walking recommendations in relation to perceived neighbourhood walkability attributes within the active transportation and leisure-time domains for Czech inhabitants over 50 years of age. The sample included 1,417 men and 1,422 women who were randomly selected. The Abbreviated Neighbourhood Environment Walkability Scale (ANEWS) was used to obtain information about the perceived environment. The self-administered long version of the IPAQ was used to assess physical activity levels. When walking for transport, men living in neighbourhoods with high street connectivity (OR = 1.47, CI = 1.04-2.9) and higher traffic and crime safety (OR = 1.28, CI = 1.02-1.6) and women living in neighbourhoods with high proximity (OR = 1.36, CI = 1.04-1.77) and high neighbourhood aesthetics (OR = 1.36, CI = 1.04-1.76) were more likely to meet recommended levels of walking. No environmental attributes were found to significantly influence the accomplishment of walking recommendations by men or women when walking for leisure. The study results indicate the gender-specific associations between transportation-related walking and the environment factors. The consideration of those factors in the design of gender-specific walking interventions for Czech inhabitants may help the interventions to be more effective in promotion of physical activity.

A comparison of two motion sensors for the assessment of free-living physical activity of adolescents.

This study assessed and compared the daily step counts recorded by two different motion sensors in order to estimate the free-living physical activity of 135 adolescent girls. Each girl concurrently wore a Yamax pedometer and an ActiGraph accelerometer (criterion measure) every day for seven consecutive days. The convergent validity of the pedometer can be considered intermediate when used to measure the step counts in free-living physical activity; but should be considered with caution when used to classify participants' step counts into corresponding physical activity categories because of a likelihood of 'erroneous' classification in comparison with the accelerometer.