Tiago V Barreira

• Ph.D Human Performance
• Professor (Associate) at Syracuse University

Analyzing video footage of falls in older adults has emerged as an alternative to traditional lab studies. However, this approach is limited by the labor-intensive process of manually labeling body parts. To address this limitation, we aimed to validate the use of the AI-based pose estimation algorithm (OpenPose) in assessing the hip impact velocit...

Children's fundamental movement skills (FMS) require planned and guided interventions to develop appropriately. We investigated the effect of a novel Physical Education (PE) method to develop children's object control, locomotor skills, and motor competence. Further, we examined children's trainability, i.e., their differential responses to the new...

Introduction: Combined high sedentary time (ST) and low moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) has been associated with adverse cardiovascular events. However, accurately assessing ST and MVPA in older adults is challenging in clinical practice. Purpose: To investigate whether step count can identify older adults with unhealthier movement...

Objective To investigate the relationship of biological characteristics (age, sex, and obesity), movement behaviors (physical activity and sedentary time), and family socioeconomic status with fundamental movement skills (FMS) in primary school children. Methods This cross‐sectional study sampled 1014 children (537 girls) aged 6 to 10 years from 2...

Objective: The present study probes into the association between children’s fundamental movement skills (FMS) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during weekdays and weekends. Methods: This cross-sectional sample included 1014 children aged 6-10 years from the REACT project. Physical activity was assessed with accelerometry, and five...

Objective The aim was to (1) estimate the relationship between physical fitness (PF) and object control fundamental movement skills (FMS), (2) identify child characteristics that relate with PF and FMS, and (3) examine associations between the school environment, PF, and FMS. Methods The sample included 1014 Portuguese children aged 6–10 years fro...

Objective This paper examines the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) using a multivariate multilevel approach and investigates the links between individual and school‐related correlates with children's BMI and CRF. Methods This cross‐sectional sample included 1014 children (6–10 years) from 25 Portuguese...

Introduction: Physical activity has significant positive effects on health. Accelerometers can be used to track daily physical activity. The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a commercially available health and fitness tracker, but its validity for tracking steps among individuals with transtibial amputation has not been examined. Therefore, the purpose of this...

Purpose To describe the development of a Compendium for estimating the energy costs of activities in adults ≥60 years (OA Compendium). Methods Physical activities (PAs) and their metabolic equivalent of task (MET) values were obtained from a systematic search of studies published in 4 sport and exercise databases (PubMed, Embase, SPORTDiscus (EBSC...

Background The Compendium of Physical Activities was published in 1993 to improve the comparability of energy expenditure values assigned to self-reported physical activity (PA) across studies. The original version was updated in 2000, and again in 2011, and has been widely used to support PA research, practice, and public health guidelines. Metho...

Background We previously demonstrated that a heuristic (i.e., evidence-based, rounded yet practical) cadence threshold of ≥ 100 steps/min was associated with absolutely-defined moderate intensity physical activity (i.e., ≥ 3 metabolic equivalents [METs]) in older adults 61–85 years of age. Although it was difficult to ascertain achievement of absol...

Objective Whether sleep is related to fundamental movement skills (FMS) in the pediatric population is largely unknown. The objective of this study was to examine the association between sleep characteristics (duration, efficiency, regularity) and FMS proficiency levels in school‐aged children. Methods This cross‐sectional study included 996 child...

Objectives The REACT project was designed around two main aims: (1) to assess children's growth and motor development after the COVID‐19 pandemic and (2) to follow their fundamental movement skills' developmental trajectories over 18 months using a novel technological device (Meu Educativo®) in their physical education classes. In this article, our...

Objectives The REACT project was designed around two main aims: (1) to assess children's growth and motor development after the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) to follow their fundamental movement skills' developmental trajectories over 18 months using a novel technological device (Meu Educativo®) in their physical education classes. In this introductor...

Background: To investigate the association of daily step volume and intensity with cardiometabolic risk in older adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 248 community-dwelling older adults (66.0 ± 4.6 years; 78 % females). The daily step volume and intensity were assessed using accelerometry. Cardiometabolic risk was defined using a...

Herein, we investigated whether daily steps can discriminate between older adults with unhealthy and healthy joint profiles of sedentary time (ST) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Apparently healthy community-dwelling older adults aged 60–80 years were included in this cross-sectional analysis (n = 258). Daily steps, ST, and MVPA...

The isolating nature of various COVID-19 mandates may have reduced physical activity (PA) and increased mental health symptomology among individuals with amputation. However, an investigation of mental health across PA levels before and after the onset of COVID-19 among this group has not been conducted. Therefore, the objective of this study was t...

Background eHealth interventions using active video games (AVGs) offer an alternative method to help children exercise, especially during a pandemic where options are limited. There is limited data on costs associated with developing and implementing such interventions. Objectives We quantified the costs of delivering an eHealth RCT intervention a...

Background: Standardized validation indices (i.e., accuracy, bias, and precision) provide a comprehensive comparison of step counting wearable technologies. Purpose: To expand a previously published child/youth catalog of validity indices to include adults (21-40, 41-60 and 61-85 years of age) assessed across a range of treadmill speeds (slow [0...

Purpose : To determine accuracy of activPAL Technologies’ CREA algorithm to assess bedtime, wake time, and sleep time. Methods : As part of a larger study, 104 participants recorded nightly sleep logs (LOGs) and wore the activPAL accelerometer at the thigh and ActiGraph accelerometer at the hip for 24 hr/day, for seven consecutive days. For sleep L...

The present study investigated the relationship between birth size and activity patterns. One hundred and twenty-four adults wore accelerometers for 7 days. Birth weight was adjusted for gestational age (AdjBW). The overall association between time spent in MVPA/day and AdjBW was not significant (B = 5.64, p = .09). MVPA/day increased by 7.02 min (...

IntroductionThere are well-established sex differences in central hemodynamic and cardiac adaptations to endurance exercise; however, controversial evidence suggests that excessive endurance exercise may be related to detrimental cardiovascular adaptations in marathoners.PurposeTo examine left ventricle (LV) structure, LV function, 24-h central hem...

Step-based metrics provide simple measures of ambulatory activity, yet device software either includes undisclosed proprietary step detection algorithms or simply does not compute step-based metrics. We aimed to develop and validate a simple algorithm to accurately detect steps across various ambulatory and nonambulatory activities. Seventy-five ad...

Background There is evidence showing an inverse association between steps/day and arterial stiffness in adults. However, the relationship of steps/day and peak cadence with arterial stiffness is poorly understood in older adults. This study aimed to investigate the association between steps/day and peak cadence with arterial stiffness in older adul...

Sleep is typically measured using self-reported tools in population studies despite well-known limitations such as random error and systematic bias (1). Actigraphy is gaining in popularity to assess sleep in the population because it provides more objectivity than questionnaires (2, 3). However, there are currently no age-specific normative sleep d...

Background Maternal behaviors and exposures affect fetal growth and development. Smoking, malnutrition, sedentary behavior, and stress can each lead to fetal programming and intra-uterine growth restriction. As a result, tissue development may be impaired. Problems with muscle formation can lead to reductions in muscle performance throughout life....

Background Heuristic (i.e., evidence-based, rounded) cadences of ≥100 and ≥ 130 steps/min have consistently corresponded with absolutely-defined moderate (3 metabolic equivalents [METs]) and vigorous (6 METs) physical activity intensity, respectively, in adults 21–60 years of age. There is no consensus regarding similar thresholds in older adults....

Abstract Background Wearable technologies play an important role in measuring physical activity (PA) and promoting health. Standardized validation indices (i.e., accuracy, bias, and precision) compare performance of step counting wearable technologies in young people. Purpose To produce a catalog of validity indices for step counting wearable techn...

The aim of the present study was to examine the sex-related associations between accelerometer-measured daily step counts and adiposity indicators in adults from eight Latin American countries. We analyzed data from 2524 adults (aged 18–65 years) from the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health. Device-measured daily step counts were measured...

Background Heuristic cadence (steps/min) thresholds of ≥100 and ≥ 130 steps/min correspond with absolutely-defined moderate (3 metabolic equivalents [METs]; 1 MET = 3.5 mL O2·kg− 1·min− 1) and vigorous (6 METs) intensity, respectively. Scarce evidence informs cadence thresholds for relatively-defined moderate (≥ 64% heart rate maximum [HRmax = 220-...

Purpose: Portable methods for assessing energy expenditure outside the laboratory and clinical environments are becoming more widely used. As such, it is important to understand the accuracy of such devices. Therefore, the purpose was to determine the reliability and validity of the COSMED K5 portable metabolic system. Methods: Reliability and v...

Background Few studies have examined the relationship of one’s habitual physical activity level and autonomic nervous system (ANS) modulation on sleep quality in smokers. Objective The aim of this study was to identify changes in the sleep quality of smokers and its relation with their habitual physical activity level and ANS modulation. Methods...

Background In younger adults (i.e., those < 40 years of age) a walking cadence of 100 steps/min is a consistently supported threshold indicative of absolutely-defined moderate intensity ambulation (i.e., ≥ 3 metabolic equivalents; METs). Less is known about the cadence-intensity relationship in adults of middle-age. Purpose To establish heuristic...

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between strength and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in young women. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and extra-media thickness (EMT) were used as measures of subclinical atherosclerosis and CVD risk. Muscular strength, IMT, and EMT were measured in 70 young women (me...

Background Although physical activity (PA) has been shown in helping prevent and treat obesity, current PA interventions are still not effective in ameliorating the obesity epidemic. Additional forms of PA need to be investigated to improve PA engagement and outcomes. We hypothesize that pairing a narrative (i.e., story) with an active video game (...

Dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) is a low‐cost, minimal radiation technique commonly used to assess bone density and body composition that can also provide a measure of abdominal aortic calcification (AAC). We examined the association between pulse pressure (PP) and DXA‐derived AAC in a nationally representative sample of US adults. Analyses...

Background & Aims To assess the influence of acute water ingestion on body composition analyses via Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA). Methods One hundred (44 females; 56 males; Age = 24.2 ± 6.7 yrs; Height = 175.8±12.1 cm; Body Mass = 76.1±16.5 kg) volunteers took part in this study. Participants underwent an initial DXA scan. Immediately fo...

Objective Children's differences in moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity levels are not at random. This study investigates the relevance of individual‐ and school‐level characteristics in explaining these differences. Methods In total, 307 children (154 girls) aged 5–10 years, from 19 Portuguese schools, were sampled. Height and weight were meas...

The health benefits of objectively measured physical activity volume versus intensity have rarely been studied, particularly in non-western populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between cardiometabolic risk factors and stepping activity including; volume (step count), intensity (cadence) or inactivity (zero-steps/min...

Introduction: Measurement of Blood Pressure (BP) in children provides insight into future Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) risk. Objective: To examine the feasibility and reliability of home BP monitoring in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and compare to office BP measurement. Methods: Seven day home BP monitoring was completed using an el...

Introduction: Previous studies have linked short sleep duration, poor sleep quality, and late sleep timing with lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children. However, almost all studies relied solely on self-reported sleep information, and most studies were conducted in high-income countries. To address these gaps, we studied both devi...

Obesity can negatively influence walking cadence, reducing the overall intensity of daily activities and increasing the risk of weight gain. Purpose Objectively describe the walking cadence of individuals’ long-term post-bariatric surgery. Methods Fifty-eight participants, 51.2 ± 8.9 years old, with a BMI of 34.6 ± 10.1 kg/m², 10.0 ± 3.1 years po...

Background: It is well documented that individuals participating in land-based aerobic activities receive several fitness-related benefits. Given its virtual weightlessness, thermoregulatory comfort, and ease of movements, aqua-based aerobic activities are commonly perceived as a simpler form of exercise, therefore, lacking the fitness-related ben...

Background: To determine if children's moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time varied across levels of household income in countries at different levels of Human Development Index (HDI), consistent with the theory of epidemiological transition. Methods: Data from 6548 children (55% girls) aged 9-11 years from 12 countrie...

Walking cadence (steps per minute) is associated with the intensity of ambulatory behavior. This analysis provides normative values for peak 30-min cadence, an indicator of "natural best effort" during free-living behavior. A sample of 1,196 older adults (aged from 60 to 85+) with accelerometer data from the National Health and Nutrition Examinatio...

Background Previous studies have reported that walking cadence (steps/min) is associated with absolutely-defined intensity (metabolic equivalents; METs), such that cadence-based thresholds could serve as reasonable proxy values for ambulatory intensities. Purpose To establish definitive heuristic (i.e., evidence-based, practical, rounded) threshol...

Purpose: Physical activity participation is essential for the healthy development of basic locomotor skills and for the overall wellbeing of children. Unfortunately, for children with visual impairments the opportunities to engage in physical activity are limited compared with their peers without disabilities. The purpose of this study was to deter...

The primary aim of this investigation was to determine the ergogenic effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) amongst twenty apparently healthy males during submaximal exercise. In Session 1, 20 participants (Age = 35.0 ± 15.0 yrs; Height = 179.9 ± 8.5 cm; Body Mass = 85.4 ± 12.0 kg) were familiarized with all equipment. Sessions 2–4 i...

Background: Children’s physical fitness is potentially influenced by biological, behavioural and environmental factors. Aim: To investigate the importance of individual-level and school-level characteristics in explaining variation in children’s physical fitness. Subjects and methods: The sample comprised 354 Portuguese children, aged 5-10 years. P...

Hypertension, even when pharmaceutically controlled, may accelerate arterial stiffening and impair changes in blood flow necessary to support neural activity (neurovascular coupling [NVC]). Optimal NVC requires continuous, non-pulsatile flow, which is partially determined by extra- and intra-cranial vessel function. Purpose: Examine extra- and intr...

Objective: Children's differences in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity levels are not at random. This study investigates the relevance of individual- and school-level characteristics in explaining these differences. Methods: In total, 307 children (154 girls) aged 5-10 years, from 19 Portuguese schools, were sampled. Height and weight were...

Despite having the desire to become physically active as a family, parents of children with visual impairments often lack the skills and resources needed to provide appropriate physical activities (PAs) for their children. The purpose of this study was to explore the intentions of parents of children with visual impairments toward including their c...

Purpose: This study investigated the relationship between outdoor time and physical activity (PA), sedentary time (SED), and body mass index z scores among children from 12 lower-middle-income, upper-middle-income, and high-income countries. Methods: In total, 6478 children (54.4% girls) aged 9-11 years participated. Outdoor time was self-report...

Hypertension, even when controlled, may accelerate arterial stiffening and impair the ability of the cerebrovasculature to increase blood flow to support neural activity (neurovascular coupling [NVC]). Optimal NVC depends on continuous, non-pulsatile flow, which is partially determined by extra- and intra-cranial vessel function. We sought to compa...

Background: Active workstation alternatives (e.g., treadmill desks and pedal desks) have the potential to elevate workplace energy expenditure by replacing occupational sedentary behavior with opportunities to generate low-intensity non-exercise physical activity, but only to the extent that workers find them acceptable and congruent with their pr...

PurposeHealth-related quality of life has been related to physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep among children from developed nations. These relationships have rarely been assessed in developing nations, nor have behaviors been considered in their true context, as mutually exclusive and exhaustive parts of the movement behavior compositi...

Background Cadence (steps/min) may be a reasonable proxy-indicator of ambulatory intensity. A summary of current evidence is needed for cadence-based metrics supporting benchmark (standard or point of reference) and threshold (minimums associated with desired outcomes) values that are informed by a systematic process. Objective To review how fast,...