The Effectiveness of Pilates Training Interventions on Older Adults' Balance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pilates training intervention programs have gained attention as a potential approach to enhancing balance in older adults, thereby reducing the risk of falls. In light of these considerations, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to critically evaluate the existing evidence and determine the effect of Pilates training intervention programs on older adults' balance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The literature was searched through the PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases from inception until July 2023. The primary keywords used for the literature search included "elderly" or "older adults" and "pilates training" and "balance". RESULTS: The systematic review through qualitative analysis showed robust evidence about the efficacy of Pilates intervention programs in improving older adults' balance. The pooled meta-analysis of static and dynamic balance showed that eight (53%) out of a total fifteen analyzed interventions presented a significant effect of Pilates in improving the participants' balance, without between-study heterogeneity. In addition, the meta-analysis regarding dynamic balance showed that six (67%) out of nine analyzed interventions presented a significant effect of Pilates in improving the participants' balance, without heterogeneity between studies. Similarly, the meta-analysis regarding static balance showed that four (50%) out of eight analyzed studies presented significant effects on the older adults' balance, where moderate between-study heterogeneity was found. Sensitivity analysis showed that three studies reduced the between-study heterogeneity (19, 17.6, and 17%), regressing from moderate to low heterogeneity, p < 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review and meta-analysis underscores the potential of Pilates training as a valuable intervention to enhance balance in the elderly population.

Effects of intervention programs on child and adolescent BMI: A meta-analysis study.

BACKGROUND: This meta-analysis study aims to assess the efficacy of school-based and after-school intervention programs on the BMIs of child and adolescents, addressing the correlation between some moderating variables. METHODS: We analyzed 52 studies (N = 28,236) published between 2000-2011. RESULTS: The overall effect size was 0.068 (P < .001), school (r = .069) and after-school intervention (r = .065). Programs conducted with children aged between 15-19 years were the most effective (r = .133). Interventions programs with boys and girls show better effect sizes (r = .110) than programs that included just girls (r = .073). There were no significant differences between the programs implemented in school and after-school (P = .770). The effect size was higher in interventions lasting 1 year (r = .095), with physical activity and nutritional education (r = .148), and that included 3-5 sessions of physical activity per week (r = .080). The effect size also increased as the level of parental involvement increased. CONCLUSIONS: Although of low magnitude (r = .068), the intervention programs had a positive effect in prevention and decreasing obesity in children. This effect seems to be higher in older children's, involving interventions with physical activity and nutritional education combined, with parent's participation and with 1-year duration. School or after-school interventions had a similar effect.

Prevalence of overweight/obesity and its association with sedentary behavior in children.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children in the northeast region of Portugal, and to examine its association with sedentary behavior. METHODS: Data were collected on 1786 children (907 boys, 879 girls) aged 6 to 13 years. Body mass index was calculated from measured height and weight (weight in kg/height in m squared). Overweight and obesity were determined using the International Obesity Task Force cutoff values. Sedentary behavior was assessed based on means of transport to and from school and time spent watching TV and playing video games (TVPC). RESULTS: The prevalences of overweight and obesity were 22.6% and 9.4% respectively. The differences between the sexes for both overweight and obesity were not significant. Most of the children (78.4%) go to school by car. Boys spend more time on TVPC than girls, both on weekdays and on weekends. The logistic regression model indicated a significant effect of 1.5 hours of TVPC by boys during weekdays (OR=0.246; p=0.015). Boys who spent less than 1.5 hours on weekdays on TVPC were 75.4% less likely to be overweight than those who spent more than 1.5 hours. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 32%. Only 12.2% of the children spend less than 1.5 hours on TVPC. Boys who spend less than 1.5 hours on TVPC are 75.4% less likely to be overweight/obese than those who spend more than 1.5 hours.

Actigraph calibration in obese/overweight and type 2 diabetes mellitus middle-aged to old adult patients.

BACKGROUND: Several methods exist to asses and control physical intensity levels of subjects engaged in physical activities programs, accelerometry is a method that could be easily used in the field. The purposes were: to calibrate Actigraph in middle-aged to old obese/overweight and DM2 adult patients; and to determine the threshold counts for sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity (PA). METHODS: Sample comprise 26 participants (62.6 +/- 6.5 years of age) of both gender. Counts and VO2 were simultaneously assessed during: resting, seating, standing, walking at 2.5 km x h(-1), 5 km x h(-1), and 6 km x h(-1). A hierarchical linear model was used to derive a regression equation between MET and counts. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was used to define thresholds for PA levels. RESULTS: The regression equation was: MET 1.388400490262 + 0.001312683420044 (counts x min(-1)), r = .867. The threshold counts for sedentary-light, light-moderate and moderate-vigorous PA were: 200, 1240, 2400 counts-min(-1) respectively. CONCLUSION: The Actigraph is a valid and useful device for the assessment of the amount of time spent in each PA intensity levels in obese/overweight and DM2 middle-aged to old adult patients.

Net heart rate to prescribe physical activity in middle-aged to older active adults.

THIS STUDY HAD A TWOFOLD PURPOSE: i) to develop a regression equation to estimate metabolic equivalent (MET) in walk/run by heart rate increment above rest (NetHR), and; ii) to determine NetHR thresholds for light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity (PA), from middle aged to elderly. Sample 1 (prediction sample) comprised 39 subjects (19 male and 20 female), with 58.2 ± 11.0 years old. Sample 2 (validation sample) comprised 40 subjects (18 male and 22 female) with 63.3 ± 7.0 years old. Each participant did the following activities in sequence, a 15min rest period in supine position, walk at 3km/h, walk at 4.5km/h, and walk at 6km/h, for 6 min at each walk velocity interval. The oxygen up-take (VO2) and heart rate (HR) were continuously and simultaneously assessed. A hierarchical linear model was used to analyze the relationship between metabolic equivalent (MET) and NetHR. The regression equation for MET prediction was: MET = 1.265780 + 0.109479 NetHR. The NetHR thresholds (upper limit) for light, moderate and vigorous PA were 16 and 35 and 70 bpm, respectively. NetHR is a practical, valid and non-invasive method to prescribe physical activity, taking in account individual characteristics (HR at rest combined with NetHR) in middle-aged to older adults. Key pointsPhysical activity intensity can be prescribed by NetHR, in middle aged to older active adults.NetHR thresholds (upper limit) for light (<3 MET), moderate (3 to 6 MET) and vigorous (6 to 9 MET) PA were respectively 17, 43 and 67 bpm.WE CAN ESTIMATE MET INTENSITY LEVEL BY EQUATION: MET = 1.265780 + 0.109479 .NetHR.

Fatores genéticos na variação inter-fratrias das componentes do somatótipo / Genetic and environmental factors in the variability of somatotype components of siblings

Esta pesquisa pretende determinar a influência de fatores genéticos e ambientais na variação interfratriasnas componentes do somatótipo, bem como apresentar, de modo didático, um conjunto deetapas associados a pesquisa de Genética Quantitativa. A amostra foi constituída por 366 pares deirmãos dos 10 aos 18 anos de idade residentes no nordeste de Portugal Continental. As componentes dosomatótipo foram estimadas com base no protocolo descrito por CARTER & HEATH (1990), a partir de 10medidas somáticas. A análise exploratória dos dados foi efetuada nos “softwares” SPSS e PEDSTATS. Asestimativas dos fatores genéticos foram obtidas no “software” SAGE. Os resultados salientaram umaelevada qualidade da informação (erro técnico de medida ¼1%). A componente mesomorfa é a maiselevada qualquer que seja a estrutura das irmandades: irmão-irmão, irmã-irmã, ou irmão-irmã. Mesmodepois de ajustadas para diferentes covariáveis as estimativas dos fatores genéticos são elevadas: 0,49para a endomorfia, 0,55 para a mesomorfia, e 0,71 para e ectomorfia. Estes resultados sugerem apresença de fatores genéticos substanciais a governar a variação no somatótipo no seio da população.

The aims of this study were to determine the influence of genetic and environmental factors in siblingsvariation in somatotype components, as well as to present a sequence of didactic steps when conductinga Quantitative Genetic analysis. The sample is comprised of 366 sibling pairs aged from 10 to 18 years of age residing in the northeast of Portugal. Somatotype components were estimated according toCARTER & HEATH (1990) protocol based on 10 somatic measurements. Exploratory data analysis was donein SPSS and PEDSTATS. Genetic factors were estimated in the SAGE software. Results showed a highquality of data available (technical error of measurement ¼1%). Mesomorphy was the most salientcomponent is physique structure of siblings, being it brother-brother, sister-sister, or brother-sister.Even when adjusted for covariates, genetic factors are high: 0.49 for endomorphy, 0.55 for mesomorphy,and 0.71 for ectomorphy. These results suggest that substancial genetic factors govern somatotypevariation in the population.

Semelhança somatotipológica entre irmãos / Sibling similarities in somatotype

O presente estudo visou averiguar a semelhança somatotipológica entre irmãos. A amostra foi constituída por 366 pares de irmãos de ambos os sexos com idades compreendidas entre os 10 e os 18 anos. Foram efectuadas medições de altura; peso; três pregas de adiposidade subcutânea (tricipital, subescapular e supraíliaca); dois perímetros (braquial e geminal) e dois diâmetros (bicôndilo-umeral e bicôndilo-fémural), sendo o somatótipo calculado de acordo com o procedimento de Heath-Carter. Os procedimentos estatísticos utilizados foram os seguintes: coeficiente de correlação de Pearson e correlação canónica, calculados no software SYSTAT 11.0. Os principais resultados foram: (1) os valores de correlação entre irmãs são superiores na endomorfia (r=0,46) e ectomorfia (r=0,40); (2) os rapazes entre si apresentam maior semelhança na componente ectomórfica (r=0,44);(3) na mesomorfia os valores de correlação são moderados tanto para pares de irmãs como para os pares de irmãos rapazes; (4) nos pares de irmãos de sexo oposto os valores de correlação são muito baixos em qualquer uma das componentes do somatótipo (0,07 a 0,27); (5) de acordo com o conceito tridimensional do somatótipo, os resultados da análise canónica (Rc=0,51) indicam uma semelhança somatotipológica superior nos irmãos dosexo masculino. De uma forma geral, os valores de correlação entre os pares de irmãos sugerem uma semelhança somatotipológica moderada.

The present study aim to analyze the similarity in somatotype. The sample comprised 366 sibling pairs of both sex, with 10 to 18 years of age. Height, weight, triceps, subscapular, upraspinale, and median calf skinfolds,biepcondylar of the humerus and femur, upper arm girth, elbow flexed and tensed, calf girth were measured andsomatotype was calculated according of the Heath-Carter method. Pearson correlation was used to analyze thesibling similarities in each somatotype component. Canonical correlation was used to analyze sibling similaritiesin somatotype as a tridimensional unity, calculated in software SYSTAT 11.0. The main results were: (1) in sistersthe correlations are higher in endomorphy (r=0,46) and ectomorphy (r=0,40); (2) in brothers the highest correlation was in ectomorphy component (r=0,44); (3) in mesomorphy the correlation values are moderate both in brothers and sisters. (4) In sibling pairs of opposite sex, the correlation values are low in all three components (0,07 to 0,27); (5) The results of canonical correlation showed a higher similarity in brothers (Rc=0,51) than in the others sibling pairs. In general the correlation between siblings suggests a moderate similarity in somatotype.

Estabilidade e mudança nos níveis de actividade física. Uma revisão da literatura baseada na noção e valores do tracking / Stability and change in physical activity levels. A literature review based in the concept and values of tracking

Esta revisão pretende efectuar uma abordagem aos conceitos de estabilidade e tracking, bem como resumir os principais resultados de estudos longitudinais sobre estabilidade da actividade física. Faz-se a distinção entre os diferentes tipos de estabilidade: estrutural, normativa ou da covariância, de nível ou das médias, e ipsativa. Aborda-se a problemática do tracking, da sua multiplicidade de significações e operacionalizações. Os principais resultados sobre a estabilidade da actividade física salientam, que na generalidade, os seus valores são baixos a moderados. Este quadro genérico coloca desafios à investigação de inúmeros pesquisadores, desde epidemiologistas a professores de educação física