Towards a Functional Approach to the Assessment of Daily Life Physical Activity in Children: Are the PAQ-C and Fitbit Flex-2 Technically Adequate?

Considering the need for functional physical activity (PA) measures in PA settings, this study sought to determine the technical adequacy of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C) and the Fitbit Flex-2, two instruments with promising features for wide use, using the Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer as the criterion reference. A total of 218 Greek children (94 boys, 124 girls; mean age = 10.99 ± 1.52 years) volunteered to join in. Participants wore the PA trackers for seven days and completed the PAQ-C. Moreover, a sub-group (n = 60) recompleted the PAQ-C after a week. Results revealed acceptable internal consistency and excellent test-retest reliability for the PAQ-C. Regarding concurrent validity, weak to moderate correlations with PA parameters recorded by the GT3X+ were revealed for the total PAQ-C and were excellent for the Flex-2, while a Bland-Altman plot indicated good agreement. Finally, in alignment with relevant literature, significant gender, but no age, differences were found in participants' PA records in all the tools applied. The above results support the use of the PAQ-C and the Fitbit Flex-2 in children. Considering that they shed light into different parameters of children's habitual PA, their combined utilisation, providing comprehensive information, is strongly recommended.

Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors of Young Children: Trends from 2009 to 2018.

Over the last decade, the lives of children in several countries, including Greece, have been affected by recession. The aim of the present study was (a) to examine time trends in physical activity (PA) and screen time (ST) of Greek preschool children, together with their family affluence (FA), from 2009 until 2018, and to explore the associations among them; and (b) to investigate the connections of parental educational level and children's BMIs to their achieving ST (<1h/day) and PA (11,500 steps/day) guidelines. A total of 652 children from four cross-sectional cohorts participated. PA was recorded with Omron HJ-720IT-E2 pedometers, whereas ST, family affluence (FA) and parental educational level were reported by participants' parents. The results of the one-way ANOVAs that were computed revealed statistically significant differences among cohorts, albeit of no practical importance, in PA, ST and FA. According to the regressions calculated, neither BMI nor the educational level was related to membership in ST and PA guidelines groups. ST was a significant predictor of children's PA in all week periods (school-time, leisure-time, weekend), whereas FA was not such a strong predictor. Multilevel interventions aiming at both ST and PA seem to be imperative for the benefit of young children's health.

Physical activity in pre-school children: Trends over time and associations with body mass index and screen time.

Background: Pre-school years are important for adopting health behaviours; however, today's children seem to be overweight, present low physical activity (PA) levels and exceed screen time (ST) recommendations.Aim: To examine (a) time trends in PA in Greek pre-school children, (b) the associations among PA, body mass index (BMI) and ST and (c) potential PA differences between boys and girls.Subjects and methods: Data from five cross-sectional cohorts (2005 [n = 252]; 2008 [n = 212]; 2011 [n = 187]; 2014 [n = 194]; 2017 [n = 128]) were compared. PA was assessed using Omron HJ-720IT-E2 pedometers, whereas ST was reported by participants' parents. A 4-way ANOVA was applied on children's average week step counts.Results: A significant association (F = 828.90, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.638) between ST and PA was revealed, with children that had ST < 1 hour/day presenting the higher PA levels and being the only ones that met PA recommendations (11,500 steps/day). Statistically significant PA differences, though of no practical importance, were found among cohorts. There were no significant PA differences between boys and girls or among BMI categories. Nevertheless, obesity prevalence was found to exist at alarming levels (24.5% in 2008-41.4% in 2017), and a large percentage of children (23.6% in 2008-63.3% in 2017) presented excessive ST (> 2 hours/day).Conclusion: Effective interventions aiming at reducing ST and enhancing PA seem imperative if children's health is to be safeguarded.

Enhancing Motor Competence and Physical Activity in Kindergarten.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed at evaluating the effect of the "Walk," an 8-month physical activity (PA) program led by classroom and physical education teachers, on the motor competence (MC) and PA of 5- to 6-year-old children. METHODS: A total of 143 children (mean age = 61.51 [1.85] mo) participated in the study and were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. Children's MC was assessed by the Körperkoordination Test für Kinder (KTK), and PA was objectively measured by Omron HJ-720IT-E2 pedometers. Measurements were performed at baseline, midintervention, and postintervention. A 1-sample t test computed at baseline step counts revealed that children presented significantly lower PA than recommended for their age (P < .001). To examine the effect of the intervention on children's MC and PA, several repeated-measures analyses of variance were utilized on (1) KTK item scores and (2) pedometer data. RESULTS: The results revealed that the Walk project led to practically significant changes in the experimental group compared with the control group in both MC (P < .001, η2 > .14 for all KTK items) and PA (P < .001, η2 = .23). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the efficacy of a PA project, involving both classroom and physical education teachers, for the enhancement of children's MC and PA.

Child and parental physical activity: Is there an association with young children activity?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is to examine the physical activity (PA) of young children and their parents on weekdays and at the weekend, as well as possible associations between them. METHODS: Fifty-eight children (29 boys), aged 5-8 years (mean age = 6.53 years) and the parent who spent more time with them (25 fathers, 33 mothers, mean age 40.67 years) wore Omron HJ-720IT pedometers for seven consecutive days. Two ANOVAs for repeated measures were applied to examine PA differences between genders and week phases (weekdays vs. weekend days) in children and parents. Moreover, one sample t-tests were used to compare participants' PA to the recommended PA, while linear regression analyses were utilized to examine whether parental PA in each week phase was associated with children's PA. RESULTS: Children accumulated more steps on weekdays than at the weekend (F1,56 = 18.58, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.27), while boys presented higher PA than girls (F1,56 = 12.42, p = 0.001, η2 = 0.20), and accomplished the recommended daily PA, in contrast to girls. Mothers and fathers presented similar PA (p = 0.67, η2 = 0.004), with more steps on weekdays than at the weekend (F1,56 = 9.22, p = 0.004, η2 = 0.16). However, their PA was significantly lower than the recommended. Finally, there were no statistically significant associations between parents' and boys' ambulatory activity either on weekdays (p = 0.938) or at the weekend (p = 0.095). On the contrary, parents' PA explained 47% of girls' PA on weekdays (R = 0.68, F1,28 = 22.81, p < 0.001) and 23% at the weekend (R = 0.48, F1,28 = 6.40, p = 0.02) Conclusions: Boys appear to be more physically active than girls in Greece, whereas mothers and fathers present similar ambulatory activity. Moreover, parents' PA is related to that of their daughters and not to that of their sons. Taking into account that both girls and parents did not meet PA recommendations, family-based interventions are needed for both children and parents benefit.

Physical activity may be a potent regulator of bone turnover biomarkers in healthy girls during preadolescence.

This study investigated the effects of different levels of habitual physical activity (PA) assessed by pedometry on bone turnover markers of preadolescent girls according to a cross-sectional experimental design. Sixty prepubertal girls of similar chronological age, bone age, maturity level, and nutritional status were assigned to a low PA (LPA; n = 25), a moderate PA (MPA; n = 17), or a high PA (HPA; n = 18) group. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure areal bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) of the lumbar spine (L2-L4) and dominant hip (femoral neck and trochanter). Blood was collected for the measurement of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone-specific ALP (BSAP), procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (PINP), C-terminal telopeptide of collagen I (CTX), parathyroid hormone (PTH), osteocalcin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, estradiol, testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone concentrations. ANOVA revealed that the HPA group (18,695 ± 1244 steps per day) had a lower daily energy intake and body mass than the MPA group (10,774 ± 521 steps per day) and the LPA group (7633 ± 1099 steps per day). The HPA group had higher (P < 0.05) lumbar and hip BMD and hip BMC than the LPA group and higher (P < 0.05) lumbar BMD than the MPA group. The MPA group had higher (P < 0.05) hip BMC than the LPA group. The HPA group had greater (P < 0.05) values of BSAP, PINP, and ALP and lower (P < 0.05) values of PTH and CTX than the LPA group but not the MPA group. A partial correlation analysis (adjusted for body mass index) revealed a positive correlation of steps per day with BMD and BSAP concentration and a negative correlation with PTH and CTX concentration. In conclusion, PA increases BMD and BMC of premenarcheal girls by favoring bone formation over bone resorption.

Can Motor Proficiency in Preschool Age Affect Physical Activity in Adolescence?

BACKGROUND: This study investigated if motor proficiency (MP) in preschool age associate with physical activity (PA) in adolescence. METHODS: In 2004, the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-Short Form (BOTMP-SF) (7) was administered to 413 children, aged 4-6 years, who were classified to MP groups according to their BOTMP-SF total score (TS). In 2014, the PA of 106 former participants (47 boys, 59 girls) was measured with Omron pedometers. MP [three (high; above average; average)] × gender (two) ANOVA and Bonferroni tests were computed on average of steps/week. RESULTS: A significant interaction between the two factors was revealed (F = 15.27, p < .001, η2=.153), indicating that MP influenced male and female PA differently. Only in average MP group, males presented higher PA than females, whereas there were no differences between the two genders in the higher MP groups. Moreover, the only significant difference in PA among male groups was that between high and above average MP groups, while in females there were significant differences among all groups. CONCLUSION: High MP at preschool age positively associated with the PA in adolescence, especially in females. Emphasis on the development of proficient young movers might be beneficial for lifelong PA.

A 2-Month Linear Periodized Resistance Exercise Training Improved Musculoskeletal Fitness and Specific Conditioning of Navy Cadets.

Vantarakis, A, Chatzinikolaou, A, Avloniti, A, Vezos, N, Douroudos, II, Draganidis, D, Jamurtas, AΖ, Kambas, A, Kalligeros, S, and Fatouros, IG. A 2-month linear periodized resistance exercise training improved musculoskeletal fitness and specific conditioning of navy cadets. J Strength Cond Res 31(5): 1362-1370, 2017-Major objectives of army and navy training are the development of readiness, performance, and injury prevention. Numerous studies have examined the effect of specific strength training (ST) programs on performance of Special Forces and military personnel. Although navy personnel have to address on-board conditions that require the development of strength, agility, speed, and task-specific endurance, there is no information regarding the effects of ST on navy-specific performance. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of an 8-week ST on performance of navy cadets. Thirty-one cadets of the Hellenic Naval Academy volunteered to participate and were randomly assigned in 2 groups. Cadets in the Experimental Group participated in a linear periodized ST program in addition to their daily training schedule. Cadets in the control group participated only in pre- and post-measurements. Anthropometrics, maximal oxygen consumption, oxygen consumption during a Navy Obstacle Course (NOC), maximum strength in bench press and squat exercises, hand grip strength, repetitions in push-ups and abdominal test, time to complete a 30-m sprint, and time to complete NOC were measured before and after the intervention. A 2-way repeated-measures analysis of variance showed that ST induced favorable changes in bench press and squat 1 repetition maximum, push-ups, abdominal crunches, time to complete 30-m distance, and time to complete the NOC. These results indicate that an additional ST may induce positive alterations on readiness and performance of navy cadets. The study has the approval of university's institutional review board and ethical committee.

Construct and Concurrent Validity of the Democritos Movement Screening Tool for Preschoolers.

PURPOSE: To examine the construct and concurrent validity of the Democritos Movement Screening Tool for Preschool Children (DEMOST-PRE). METHODS: The DEMOST-PRE was administered to 435 Greek children, aged 48 to 71 months. Construct validity was investigated through correlations between total scores and individual item scores, and scores according to age and sex, whereas concurrent validity was checked by using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-Long Form as the test-criterion on a subsample of 50 children. RESULTS: Moderate to strong, significant correlations (r = 0.390-0.831; P < .001) supported the internal consistency of the test. Age displayed a significant effect on children's scores, whereas sex did not. Furthermore, the intra-rater class coefficient calculated for concurrent validity was found to be 0.80. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the aforementioned findings, the DEMOST-PRE has adequate psychometric properties for the Greek sample analyzed.

ORGANIZED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTH IN PRESCHOOL AGE: A REVIEW.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate how organized Physical Activity (oPA) can contribute to the promotion of preschool aged children's health and specifically to health indicators such as adiposity, bone and skeletal health, cardiometabolic health, motor skill development, cognitive development, and psychosocial health. METHODS: A literature search of interventions aimed at improving health in preschool age was conducted in five electronic databases. Included in the review were only studies meeting the following criteria: published or accepted for publication studies; written in English; intervention with any type of oPA; 2-6 years old participants; pre- and post-objective assessments of the intervention effects; presence of a control group. RESULTS: The majority of studies that met the inclusion criteria (n = 13) considered the effect of oPA on children's motor development, while limited were those which examined the rest of the health indicators--adiposity (n = 4), bone and skeletal health (n = 2), cardiometabolic health (n = 0), cognitive development (n = 2), and psychosocial health (n = 4). CONCLUSIONS: The information about how oPA can influence preschoolers' health status, although promising in most cases, was deficient. Questions about the kind, intensity, amount or frequency of physical activity (PA) required so as children's health to be enhanced still remain. Further research into the relationship between oPA and health in preschool age is required in order to draw conclusions enabling the development of efficient PA programmes to promote children's health.

Antioxidation improves in puberty in normal weight and obese boys, in positive association with exercise-stimulated growth hormone secretion.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress is associated with obesity while the evidence for the role of GH in pro- and antioxidation is inconclusive. This study investigates the relationships between growth hormone (GH), pro- and antioxidation in relation to obesity and puberty before and after an acute bout of exercise. METHODS: In this case-control study, 76 healthy normal-weight and obese, prepubertal and pubertal boys underwent a blood sampling before and immediately after an aerobic exercise bout until exhaustion at 70% maximal oxygen consumption. Markers of prooxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and protein carbonyls (PCs)) and antioxidation (glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione disulfide (GSSG), GSH/GSSG ratio, glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC)) and hormones (GH, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, IGF-BP-3, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and testosterone) were measured. RESULTS: Baseline and postexercise TBARS and PCs were greater, while baseline GSH, GSH/GSSG ratio, GPX, and TAC were lower in obese than that in normal-weight participants. In all participants, waist was the best negative and positive predictor for postexercise GPX and TBARS, respectively. Baseline TAC was greater in pubertal than that in pre-pubertal participants. In all participants, baseline GH was the best negative predictor for postexercise PCs. Significant positive linear correlation exists between the exercise-associated GH, and GSSG increases in pubertal normal-weight boys. CONCLUSIONS: Higher prooxidation and lower antioxidation were observed in obese boys, while antioxidation improves with puberty and postexercise, paralleling GH accentuated secretion.

Pedometer determined physical activity and obesity prevalence of Greek children aged 4-6 years.

BACKGROUND: Pre-school age is important for developing healthy attitudes towards physical activity (PA). However, research on pre-schoolers' pedometer-determined PA is limited. AIM: To describe pre-schoolers' ambulatory activity; investigate step count differences in respect to Body Mass Index (BMI) categories and examine the prevalence of obesity. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Pre-school aged children (n = 250; 5.5 ± 0.4 years) from Komotini (Greece) wore Omron HJ-720IT-E2 pedometers for 10 consecutive days. Height and weight were measured and BMI was calculated. RESULTS: Three-way repeated measures ANOVAs revealed that children performed more steps on weekdays than during weekends (p < 0.001) and during leisure time than school (p < 0.001). Significant differences appeared between normal and obese children's counts on weekdays (p < 0.001), weekend days (p < 0.05), during school (p < 0.001), after school (p < 0.005) and in weekly steps (p < 0.005). No gender differences were detected. Moreover, according to a sample t-test analysis, children's daily steps were significantly different from the 10,000 steps/day guideline, while obesity prevalence was 15.6%. CONCLUSION: School-based ambulatory activity is lower than after school ambulatory activity, independent of BMI-category and gender, although obese children demonstrated fewer steps. Taking into account the high rate of both the obesity prevalence and children not meeting the 10,000 steps/day guideline, the need for preventive policies becomes obvious.

The Democritos Movement Screening Tool for Preschool Children (DEMOST-PRE©): development and factorial validity.

The aim of this study was (a) to develop an assessment tool (the Democritos Movement Screening Tool for Preschool Children - DEMOST-PRE), designed to provide preschool educators, clinicians and researchers with information about assessment and screening of the motor proficiency of children aged 4-6 years, as well as the development and control of movement programmes and (b) to assess its factorial validity. First, tool's content and face validity were established and its final structure was determined. Then, the DEMOST-PRE was administered to 435 children (197 girls) aged 48-71 months (M=60.48 months, SD=6.98). The factor analysis conducted revealed two distinct components. Present evidence combined with the DEMOST-PRE administrative traits make it promising for preschool aged children's assessment.

The microcycle of inflammation and performance changes after a basketball match.

Basketball incorporates intense eccentric muscle activity that induces muscle microtrauma and an inflammatory response. This study investigated time-dependent inflammatory and performance responses during a weekly microcycle after a basketball match. Twenty elite-standard players underwent a trial that comprised a match followed by a 6-day simulated in-season microcycle. The trial was preceded by a control condition that did not have a match. Blood sampling and tests of maximal-intensity exercise performance and muscle damage occurred before each condition, immediately after the match and daily thereafter for 6 consecutive days. The match induced marked increases in heart rate, lactate, ammonia, glucose, non-esterified fatty acids and triglycerides. Performance deteriorated for 24-48 h after the match, whereas knee flexor and extensor soreness increased for 48 and 24 h post-match, respectively. Inflammatory (leukocytes, C-reactive protein, creatine kinase activity, adhesion molecules, cortisol, uric acid and cytokines) and oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, protein carbonyls, oxidised glutathione, antioxidant capacity, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) markers increased for ~24 h and subsided thereafter. Reduced glutathione declined for 24 h after exercise. These results suggest that a basketball match elicits moderate and relatively brief (~24-48 h) inflammatory responses, is associated with marked but short-lived performance deterioration, but is less stressful than other intermittent-type sports.

The effect of leg kick on sprint front crawl swimming.

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of leg kick on the pattern, the orientation and the propulsive forces produced by the hand, the efficiency of the arm stroke, the trunk inclination, the inter-arm coordination and the intra-cyclic horizontal velocity variation of the hip in sprint front crawl swimming. Nine female swimmers swam two maximal trials of 25 m front crawl, with and without leg kick. Four camcorders were used to record the underwater movements. Using the legs, the mean swimming velocity increased significantly. On the contrary, the velocity and the orientation of the hand, the magnitude and the direction of the propulsive forces, as well as the Froude efficiency of the arm stroke were not modified. The hip intra-cyclic horizontal velocity variation was also not changed, while the index of coordination decreased significantly. A significant decrease (13%) was also observed in the inclination of the trunk. Thus, the positive effect of leg kick on the swimming speed, besides the obvious direct generation of propulsive forces from the legs, could probably be attributed to the reduction of the body's inclination, while the generation of the propulsive forces and the efficiency of the arm stroke seem not to be significantly affected.

A microcycle of inflammation following a team handball game.

This study investigated the time-course of performance and inflammatory responses during a simulated 6-day in-season microcycle following a team handball (TH) game. Twenty-four handball players participated in a 1-week control trial and in an experimental trial (TH game participation followed by a 6-day training microcycle). Concentrations of lactate, glucose, glycerol, triglycerides, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs), and ammonia were measured pregame and postgame. Heart rate (HR) was monitored during the game. Performance (jumping, speed, agility, line-drill testing, and strength), muscle damage (knee range of motion [ROM], knee extensors/flexors delayed onset muscle soreness [DOMS], and creatine kinase activity [CK]), inflammatory (leukocyte count, C-reactive protein, interleukins 1ß and 6 [IL-1ß and IL-6], soluble vascular adhesion molecule 1 [sVCAM-1], p-selectin, uric acid, cortisol, and testosterone), and oxidative stress (malondialdehyde [MDA], protein carbonyls [PC], reduced [GSH] and oxidized glutathione [GSSG], total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase, glutathione peroxidase activity [GPX]) markers were determined pregame, postgame, and daily for 6 consecutive days postgame. The game induced a marked rise of HR (∼170 b·min-1), lactate (∼8-fold), glycerol (60%), NEFA (105%), and ammonia (∼62%). Performance deteriorated until 24 hours postgame. Knee ROM decreased (3-5%), whereas DOMS and CK increased (3- to 5-fold and 80-100%, respectively) 24 hours postgame. Leukocyte count, IL-1ß, IL-6, cortisol, MDA, PC, and catalase increased only immediately postgame. C-reactive protein and uric acid increased at 24 hours; sVCAM-1, GSSG, and GPX peaked postgame and remained elevated for 24 hours. The GSH declined until 24 hours postgame. Results suggest that a TH game represents a strong metabolic challenge and induces a short-lived and modest inflammatory response that may affect performance for as long as 24 hours postgame.

Physical activity is associated with bone geometry of premenarcheal girls in a dose-dependent manner.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between habitual physical activity (PA) level and peripheral qualitative computed tomography-determined quantitative tibia characteristics of premenarcheal girls. METHODS: Premenarcheal girls matched for age (10-13 years), bone age and maturity level were assigned into: a) low PA group (LPA, n=25), b) moderate PA group (MPA, n=17), and c) high PA group (HPA, n=18). Participants' daily dietary intake, tibia's geometry and serum levels of calcium and vitamin D were assessed. RESULTS: Premenarcheal girls demonstrating HPA exhibited greater pericortical thickness, cross-sectional area (CSA) and bone mineral content (BMC) (p<.001) in cortical bone, greater BMC, volumetric bone density (vBMD) and polar stress strength index (SSIp) in trabecular bone (p<0.001-0.05) and greater total BMC (p<.05) and vBMD (p<.01) when compared to their physically inactive or moderately active counterparts. MPA exhibited greater values of cortical BMC (p<.01) and SSIp (p<.05) than LPA. Partial correlation analysis (adjusted for BMI) revealed modest associations between PA score and bone geometry parameters (r=0.36-0.49, p<.05) at 38% of tibia length. CONCLUSIONS: Habitual PA affects geometry of both cortical and trabecular areas of a long bone of premenarcheal girls in a dose-dependent manner. Specifically, PA increases both the density and size of cortical bone but only the density of trabecular bone during preadolescence. Given the importance of peak bone mass for future fracture risk, high levels of PA during childhood could be a major target for public health interventions aimed at optimising bone health in prepubertal children when the greatest bone gains occur.

The time-frame of acute resistance exercise effects on football skill performance: the impact of exercise intensity.

The purpose of this study was to determine the recovery rate of football skill performance following resistance exercise of moderate or high intensity. Ten elite football players participated in three different trials: control, low-intensity resistance exercise (4 sets, 8-10 repetitions/set, 65-70% 1 repetition maximum [1RM]) and high-intensity resistance exercise (4 sets, 4-6 repetitions/set, 85-90% 1RM) in a counterbalanced manner. In each experimental condition, participants were evaluated pre, post, and at 24, 48, 72 h post exercise time points. Football skill performance was assessed through the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test, long passing, dribbling, shooting and heading. Delayed onset muscle soreness, knee joint range of motion, and muscle strength (1RM) in squat were considered as muscle damage markers. Blood samples analysed for creatine kinase activity, C-reactive protein, and leukocyte count. Passing and shooting performance declined (P < 0.05) post-exercise following resistance exercise. Strength declined post-exercise following high-intensity resistance exercise. Both trials induced only a mild muscle damage and inflammatory response in an intensity-dependent manner. These results indicate that football skill performance is minimally affected by acute resistance exercise independent of intensity suggesting that elite players may be able to participate in a football practice or match after only 24 h following a strength training session.

The relationship between motor proficiency and pedometer-determined physical activity in young children.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between motor proficiency and pedometer-determined physical activity in 5-6 year-old children. Participants (n = 232) were randomly recruited and assessed from 30 kindergartens in Northern Greece. Two trained researchers administered the measurements for the assessment of children's motor proficiency by using the BOTMP-SF. Physical activity was assessed by OMRON pedometers. Significant relationships between BOTMP-SF standard score and steps (S), aerobic walking time (AWT) and aerobic steps (AS), (p < .05) were found. When motor proficiency was divided into quartiles to assess the distribution of the relationship between motor proficiency and pedometer-derived variables, significant associations were found for AWT, S and AS (p < .001). Young children with high levels of motor proficiency were more active in contrast to their peers with lower motor proficiency. The findings add to the growing body of literature that considers motor skills/abilities as important elements of physical activity participation. ( ABBREVIATIONS: S-steps per day; AS-aerobic steps per day; AWT-aerobic walking time (minutes·day(-1)); BOTMP-SF-Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-Short Form (standard score)).

The validity of two Omron pedometers during treadmill walking is speed dependent.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of walking speed on the accuracy of measurement of steps, distance, and energy expenditure of two commercially available Omron pedometers [HJ-720IT-E2 (HJ-720) and HJ-113-E (HJ-113)]. Twenty-four untrained males (age, 22.7 ± 2.8 years; BMI, 24.38 ± 2.19 kg m(-2); body fat (%), 16 ± 2.2; VO(2max), 40.2 ± 6.5 ml kg(-1) min(-1)) and 18 females (age, 22.4 ± 2.9 years; BMI, 21.68 ± 2.43 kg m(-2); body fat (%), 23% ± 1.8; VO(2max), 35.9 ± 2.8 ml kg(-1) min(-1)) walked at five different velocities (54, 67, 80, 94 and 107 m min(-1)) on a treadmill in 5-min stages while wearing three types of pedometers: (a) HJ-720, (b) HJ-113, and (c) Yamax Digi-Walker SW-200 (YAM). Step-count for each pedometer was recorded at the end of each stage and compared with the value of a hand counter. Additionally, Omron pedometers were evaluated on their distance and energy expenditure (against VO(2) measurement with a gas-exchange analyzer) accuracy during each stage. HJ-720 and HJ-113 demonstrated high accuracy (r = 0.80-0.99) at all speeds. YAM underestimated step-count only at 54 m min(-1) (r = 0.46). HJ-720 and HJ-113 overestimated distance at slower speeds and underestimated distance at faster speeds, providing mean distance values that where to within 1.5-4% at 80 m min(-1). HJ-720 and HJ-113 underestimated energy expenditure (gross kilocalories) by 28%, when compared to indirect calorimetry. These results suggest that although the Omron HJ-720 and HJ-113 pedometers are accurate in the measurement of step-count, they demonstrate limited accuracy in the assessment of traveled distance and energy expenditure in a speed-dependent manner.