Perceived physical fitness mediates the relationship between parental support and physical activity enjoyment in overweight and obese adolescents.

The relationship between parental support and physical activity enjoyment appears to be mediated by individual-level factors. The aim of this study was to examine whether the relationship between perceived parental support and physical activity enjoyment is mediated by overweight and obese adolescents' physical fitness, both subjectively and objectively assessed. A total of 163 participants (mean age =14.30 years, 55.8% boys) with an average body mass index of 28.97 kg/m2 took part in this study. Participants completed a questionnaire of parental influence regarding physical activity, a questionnaire of physical self-perception and several fitness tests (cardiorespiratory fitness, lower limbs muscular strength and flexibility) using the ALPHA-fitness battery. The results showed that relationship between perceived parental support and physical activity enjoyment is mediated by the overweight and obese adolescents' perceived cardiorespiratory fitness and flexibility. We suggest to create educational guidelines for parents to increase the support and improve overweight and obese students' positive perceived physical competence, in order to achieve a greater adherence to physical activity and greater physical activity enjoyment.

Effects of Pilates on fall risk factors in community-dwelling elderly women: A randomized, controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: the main objective was to analyze the effects that an exercise programme based on the Pilates method would have on balance confidence, fear of falling, and postural control among women ≥60 years old. METHODS: a total of 110 women (69.15 ± 8.94 years) participated in this randomized, controlled trial that took place in Jaén (Spain). The participants were randomly assigned to either a control group (n = 55), which received no intervention, or to a Pilates group (n = 55), which carried out an exercise programme based on the Pilates method in 60-minute sessions for 12 weeks. The Falls Efficacy Scale-International and the activity-specific balance confidence scale were respectively used to assess fear of falling and balance confidence in performing activities of daily living. Postural control was evaluated using a stabilometric platform. RESULTS: Regarding balance confidence, the Pilates group showed higher values compared to the control group (77.52 ± 18.27 vs 72.35 ± 16.39, Cohen's d = 0.030). Women in the Pilates group showed lower fear of falling, compared to those of the control group (22.07 ± 5.73 vs 27.9 ± 6.95, Cohen's d = 0.041). Finally, concerning static balance, participants of the Pilates group experienced statistically significant improvements on the velocity and anteroposterior movements of the centre of pressure with eyes open and closed respectively (Cohen's d = 0.44 and 0.35 respectively). CONCLUSION: A 12-week Pilates training programme has beneficial effects on balance confidence, fear of falling and postural stability, in elderly women.

Analysis of the Effect Size of Overweight in Muscular Strength Tests Among Adolescents: Reference Values According to Sex, Age, and Body Mass Index.

Martínez-López, EJ, De La Torre-Cruz, M, Suárez-Manzano, S, and Ruiz-Ariza, A. Analysis of the effect size of overweight in muscular strength tests among adolescents: reference values according to sex, age, and body mass index. J Strength Cond Res 32(5): 1404-1414, 2018-The aim of this paper is to quantify the effect size of overweight on the results of muscular strength tests in adolescents and to report percentile tables based on sex, age, and body mass index (BMI). The study hypothesized that the effect size obtained from the difference between normal-weight and overweight youth would be greater than the differences between sexes within the same age group. A total of 11,044 Spanish adolescents (48.5% girls) aged 14.39 ± 1.21 years (range: 12-16 years) from 42 secondary schools participated in the research. Muscular strength was evaluated using standing long jump, hand grip strength (manual dynamometer), and sit-ups (30 seconds). The effect size was analyzed using the adjusted Hedges' g. The results show that 76.3 and 72.8% of overweight boys and girls, respectively, performed a standing long jump equal to or less than the normal-weight average. The 67.4 and 67.1% of overweight boys and girls, respectively, showed manual dynamometer values equal to or greater than the normal-weight average. Finally, 68.7 and 65.9% of overweight boys and girls, respectively, obtained measures for 30 seconds of sit-ups equal to or lower than the normal-weight average. It can therefore be concluded that the differential effect size between boys and girls is higher than that between normal-weight and overweight adolescents in the 3 strength tests analyzed. Despite the above, these results suggest the value of taking into account the BMI when assessing the muscular strength of young people, in addition to sex and age.

Perfiles de orientación hacia la meta y su relación con indicadores de actividad físico-deportiva / Goal Orientation Profiles and Their Relation with Indicators of Physical Activity

Resumen El presente estudio examinó la motivación hacia la actividad física empleando la teoría de la orientación hacia la meta. Un total de 786 estudiantes participaron en este estudio. Un procedimiento de análisis de cluster jerárquico permitió identificar cuatro perfiles de orientación hacia la meta. El perfil más adaptativo (alta tarea/alto ego/altas expectativas) se asoció con la obtención de los mejores resultados. Se concluye que los jóvenes con una alta motivación hacia la tarea, alto ego y expectativas de ejecución obtienen las mayores muestras de apoyo por parte de familiares e iguales para la práctica de actividad física se perciben más autoeficaces para realizar dicha actividad, se atribuyen una mejor forma física autopercibida y manifiestan una práctica más frecuente de actividad físico-deportiva.

Abstract This paper researches motivation for physical activity in the framework of the goal orientation theory. This work is based on data from 786 students. Hierarchical cluster analysis allowed identifying four goal orientation profiles. The most adaptive profile (high task, high ego, high expectancy) is associated with the best results. Students with high motivation for physical activity, ego, and performance expectancy are concluded to obtain more indications of support from their relatives and peers for physical activity practice, perceive themselves self-effective to complete this activity, claim their better self-perceived fitness, and show more frequent physical-sports activity.

Effects of a six-week Pilates intervention on balance and fear of falling in women aged over 65 with chronic low-back pain: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effects of six weeks of Pilates regarding functional balance, fear of falling and pain in community living women older than 65 years old with chronic low-back pain. STUDY DESIGN: A single blind controlled randomized trial of six weeks of Pilates in addition to physiotherapy treatment (n=50) vs. physiotherapy treatment alone (n=47) was conducted on 97 community living women (71.14 ± 3.30 years) with chronic low-back pain (CLBP). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Main outcome measures were fear of falling (FoF), assessed by the Falls Efficacy Scale-international; functional mobility and balance, measured with the Timed up and Go Test; and pain, evaluated using the numeric rating scale. RESULTS: Only the Pilates group showed improvement in FoF (ES; d=.68) and functional mobility and balance (ES; d=1.12) after treatment, and also had better results in pain (ES; d=1.46) than the physiotherapy-only group. CONCLUSIONS: Six weeks of Pilates exercises may be effective in fall prevention through the improvement of FoF, functional balance, and pain in Spanish women over 65 years old with CLBP.

[Influence of active commuting on happiness, well-being, psychological distress and body shape in adolescents]. / Influencia del desplazamiento activo sobre la felicidad, el bienestar, la angustia psicológica y la imagen corporal en adolescentes.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the association between active commuting to secondary school and indicators of psychological health in a sample of 1012 adolescents. METHOD: Active commuting was assessed through a questionnaire, subjective happiness with the Subjective Happiness Scale, well-being and psychological distress with the General Well-Being Scale, and body shape was assessed using the short version of the Body Shape Questionnaire. RESULTS: Adolescents who spent more than 15 minutes per day actively commuting to secondary school had higher levels of subjective happiness (p=0.032) and psychological well-being (p=0.021) and lower levels of psychological distress (p=0.021) than adolescents who spent 15 minutes or less per day. There were no differences in body shape between less and more active adolescents (p >0.05). CONCLUSION: Active commuting to secondary school for more of 15 minutes per day is recommended because it is associated with higher levels of happiness and well-being in adolescents.