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Global participation in sport and leisure-time physical activities: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract
This review aimed to determine the most popular physical activities performed by children, adolescents, and adults globally. Statistic bureau websites and article databases Scopus, ProQuest, SPORTDiscus, and Science Direct were searched between November 17th, 2014 and April 31st, 2015. Eligible studies were published in the last 10 years with participation rates for specific physical activities among individuals five years or older. Data extraction for included articles (n = 64) was assessed independently and agreed upon by two authors. A random-effects model was used to calculate participation rates in specific activities for each age group and region. In total 73,304 articles were retrieved and 64 articles representing 47 countries were included in the final meta-analysis. Among adults, walking was the most popular activity in the Americas (18.9%; 95% CI 10.2 to 32.5), Eastern Mediterranean (15.0%; 95% CI 5.8 to 33.6), Southeast Asia (39.3%; 95% CI 0.9 to 98.0) and Western Pacific (41.8%; 95% CI 25.2 to 60.6). In Europe and Africa, soccer (10.0%; 95% CI 6.5 to 15.1) and running (9.3%; 95% CI 0.9 to 53.9), respectively, were top activities. Child and adolescent participation results were highly dependent upon region. American youth team sport participation was high, while youth from the Eastern Mediterranean and Western Pacific were more likely to report participation in lifelong physical activities. Global data for adults reflects a consistent pattern of participation in running and walking. Among all age groups and regions soccer was popular. In children and adolescents, preferences were variable between regions.
... Running is one of the most popular sport and recreational activities worldwide, consistently ranking within the top five most favored activities, with participation rates spanning from 7.9 to 13.3% globally across the six regions designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) [1]. Further to this, running is a core component of many sports. ...
... For all data analysis, a statistical significance was classed as p < 0.05. Intra-class correlations (ICC (2,1) ) were defined as poor (<0.50), moderate (0.50-0.75), good (0.75-0.90) or excellent (>0.90) [36]. Analytical validity and intrasession reliability were conducted across the whole group, and broken into different sex subgroups (males, females). ...
... Intra-session reliability. To determine the intra-session reliability of the ViMove2 system, Pearson's correlation coefficients (r), ICCs (2,1) and LoA between the two testing timepoints were calculated [38]. ...
Running biomechanics have traditionally been analysed in laboratory settings, but this may not reflect natural running gait. Wearable technology has the potential to enable precise monitoring of running gait beyond the laboratory. This study aimed to evaluate the analytical validity and intra-session reliability of temporal running gait outcomes measured by the ViMove2 wearable system in healthy adults. Seventy-four healthy adults (43 males, 31 females, aged 18–55 years) wore the inertial device, ViMove2 on the tibia. Participants ran on a treadmill for one minute at various speeds (8, 10, 12, 14km/hr), completed in a standardised shoe (Saucony Guide Runner). Running gait was measured with the ViMove2 wearable and 3D motion capture (Vicon). Temporal running gait outcomes included ground contact time (GCT) and cadence (steps/min). GCT and cadence from the ViMove2 had face validity with expected changes in outcome with different running speeds, but ViMove2 tended to over-estimate GCT, and under-estimate cadence compared to the reference, especially at slower speeds. GCT demonstrated moderate to good agreement to the reference at speeds >10km/hr, but poor agreement at 8km/hr and within female runners. Cadence had moderate to excellent agreement across speeds compared to the reference. GCT and cadence had excellent reliability across speeds, but at 8km/hr GCT had good agreement between trials. Overall, temporal gait outcomes of GCT and cadence can be measured with the ViMove2, but accuracy and reliability are impacted at slow running speeds and within female runners. Future work is needed to clarify sex or speed-dependent corrections to algorithms / outcomes to aid interpretation and application.
... Given the widespread running among the general population (Hulteen et al., 2017), and the increasing popularity of ultramarathons in recent decades (RunRepeat, 2021), we aim to identify the factors associated with performance in non-elite runners competing in distances ranging from 5km to ultramarathons. ...
... Running is considered a low-cost practice with easy access that can be performed under a diversity of geographical conditions (Hulteen et al., 2017). The increment in the number of participants in running events (Rizzo, 2021;, and the barriers broken over the last years (Snyder et al., ...
... Running is considered a low-cost practice, accessible and performed under several geographical conditions (Cook & Larsen, 2022;Hulteen et al., 2017). Although considered a social and global phenomenon, running received different importance among cultures worldwide (Cook & Larsen, 2022;Wallace et al., 2022). ...
Our purpose was to investigate the performance predictors in runners, using an ecological approach. The studies were categorized into: theoretical and empirical. For that, different methodological procedures were used. For the theoretical studies, we conducted a systematic review, a study protocol and developed a conceptual model to guide the empirical research. For the empirical studies, we used a two-level of information: runners (level 1), and countries (level two). Using an online survey, we collected data from runners of five countries, between 2022/2023. The questionnaire used allowed us to obtain information in five different domains: demographic information, anthropometric, sociodemographic, training characteristics, and training environment. For information about the countries, secondary and open access data (human development index, and dimensions of culture) were used. A total of 279 non-professional runners from Brazil, Spain, Kenya, Portugal, and Poland were sampled. A cluster analysis, network, and regression models were built, adopting a confidence interval of 95%. The main findings were: 1) the relevance of the predictors range according to the distance covered; 2) runners from different countries receive different types of support, therefore, there is a negative association between the support received and performance; 3) the human development index is associated with the training volume, and age of start in the running practice, both positively associated with performance; 4) there is a positive and significant relationship between countries individualism and performance in running. Future research should continue to investigate the complex interplay between micro and macro environmental factors to gain deeper insights into the performance of runners.
... Compulsory school-based physical activity such as physical education is generally not considered a component of LTPA, as this occurs outside of an individual's freely disposable time. Previous LTPA-focussed research has mostly been quantified by time, frequency, and/or intensity (e.g., light intensity, moderate-vigorous intensity), with little investigation into the impact of the specific activity types of LTPA being performed [12][13][14][15]. ...
... Bélanger and Sabiston, et al. [29] identified that a minimum duration of four years sports participation during adolescence was required to observe such benefits, supporting the requirement for consistent participation during these formative years. Such sporting activities are often promoted in educational and recreational settings during the early years [15]. However, while these activities may promote lifelong PA in adolescent boys, these same effects may not be applicable to females. ...
... Secondly, research was geographically limited to five countries (Canada, United States, Sweden, Norway, and Finland), so findings may not be applicable to other regions. As different countries are known to participate in different activities due to variances in climate, culture, and resources [15], research in other countries is required to better inform how region-specific resourcing is best directed. Thirdly, few studies considered exposure activities separately [28,30,32], with many grouping activities prior to analysis using either logic-informed [28,31,34] or statistical methods [29,33]. ...
Background
Youth leisure-time physical activity participation benefits physical activity habits and health outcomes later in life. However, it is unknown if certain types of leisure-time physical activity contribute to these benefits in different ways; this knowledge could enhance public health efforts. This systematic review aimed to synthesise evidence of the longitudinal associations between childhood and adolescent leisure-time physical activity on adulthood physical activity behaviours and health outcomes.
Methods
A systematic search of the literature was conducted across five databases from inception to July 2022. English, peer-reviewed observational studies with a minimum of two timepoints of data collection were eligible for inclusion. We included studies that investigated the association between participation in leisure-time physical activity types in children and adolescents (i.e., 5–18 years), and physical activity, mental health, or cardiovascular outcomes in adulthood (i.e., ≥ 18 years).
Results
Fourteen studies were included in the review, totalling 34,388 observations across five countries. Running in adolescence was associated with increased adulthood physical activity in both sexes, while sports involvement was associated with an increase in physical activity in males only. Adolescent team sports participation was associated with reduced odds of early adulthood depression, with varying findings for anxiety disorders. There was preliminary evidence of minimum threshold requirements for participation in certain activities before associations with future physical activity or health outcome benefits were observed.
Conclusions
Preliminary findings suggest that the lifelong behavioural and health benefits of adolescent participation in leisure-time physical activity appear to be related to the type of activity undertaken, with potential differences between sexes. With the rarity of longitudinal studies spanning from childhood into adulthood, these findings provide important insights for public health strategies to optimise lifelong health and physical activity participation.
Prospero registration
CRD42022347792.
... Differences in popularity of specific sports disciplines are evident worldwide, with adults mostly favouring running, cycling, swimming, walking and resistance training, globally (Hulteen et al., 2017). In Europe, football emerged as the most popular among adults (10% of all participating adults), followed by running (7.9%) and swimming (7.8%) (Hulteen et al., 2017). ...
... Differences in popularity of specific sports disciplines are evident worldwide, with adults mostly favouring running, cycling, swimming, walking and resistance training, globally (Hulteen et al., 2017). In Europe, football emerged as the most popular among adults (10% of all participating adults), followed by running (7.9%) and swimming (7.8%) (Hulteen et al., 2017). Same study showed that adolescents worldwide had similar preferences, with swimming and running being 42 among top five in each region. ...
Iako su sportski klubovi pogodno okruženje za promicanje zdravstveno-usmjerene tjelesne aktivnosti (ZUTA), samo je 12% građana Europske Unije uključeno u sportske i rekreacijske aktivnosti unutar sportskih klubova. Nedostaju kvantitativni dokazi o čimbenicima vezanim uz posvećenost sportskih organizacija promicanju ZUTA-e i ograničene su spoznaje o „Sports Club for Health (SCforH)“ pokretu, najvećoj europskoj inicijativi za promicanje ZUTA-e u sportskom okruženju. Ovo je doktorsko istraživanje osmišljeno kako bi se nadomjestio nedostatak navedenih spoznaja. Disertacija se sastoji od tri međusobno povezana istraživanja sa sljedećim ciljevima: i) utvrditi razinu i odrednice posvećenosti sportskih organizacija u Europi promicanju ZUTA-e (Studija 1), što predstavlja dokaz potreban da bi se opravdala i informirala Studija 3; ii) konstruirati „EDUcational Course Assessment Toolkit” (EDUCATOOL), odnosno mjerni instrument za vrjednovanje edukacijskih intervencija za promicanje ZUTA-e potreban za Studiju 3, te utvrditi njegove mjerne karakteristike (Studija 2); i iii) procijeniti razinu uključenosti sudionika u SCforH online edukacijski tečaja za promociju ZUTA-e i percipiranu kvalitetu tečaja, te istražiti razlike s obzirom na tip sudionika, pripadnost Europskoj Uniji, regiju Europe i prethodnu upoznatost sa SCforH smjernicama (Studija 3).
Metode:
U presječnoj Studiji 1 sudjelovalo je 536 predstavnika sportskih saveza i olimpijskih odbora iz 36 Europskih država, uključujući tadašnjih 28 članica Europske Unije, 4 države kandidata (Albaniju, Sjevernu Makedoniju, Srbiju i Tursku), te Island, Monako, Norvešku i Švicarsku. Upitnikom su prikupljeni podaci o: i) tipu organizacije kojoj sudionik istraživanja pripada, ii) državi u kojoj je smješteno sjedište organizacije, iii) upoznatosti pojedinih predstavnika organizacije sa SCforH smjernicama, te iv) posvećenosti pojedine organizacije promociji različitih tipova tjelesne
aktivnosti (0 [“uopće nije posvećena”] – 10 [“u potpunosti je posvećena”]). Tipovi tjelesne aktivnosti uključivali su: i) elitni sport, ii) zdravstveno-usmjereni sport (ZUS), iii) zdravstveno usmjereno tjelesno vježbanje (ZUV) i iv) ostale oblike ZUTA-e (ZUO). Posvećenost promociji ZUTA-e izražena je kao aritmetička sredina posvećenosti promociji ZUS, ZUV i ZUO. Izračunati su postotci i njihovi 95%-tni intervali povjerenja za nisku (0-3), srednju (4-6) i visoku (7-10) razinu posvećenosti ZUTA-i u cijelom uzorku i stratificirano prema tipu organizacije, članstvu države u Europskoj Uniji, pripadnosti europskoj regiji, posvećenosti promociji elitnog sporta i upoznatosti
sa SCforH smjernicama. Provedena je i multipla regresijska analiza u kojoj je posvećenost promociji ZUTA-e bila zavisna varijabla, a nezavisne varijable su bile: i) tip organizacije (“nacionalni sportski savez” kao referentna grupa [ref], “europska sportska federacija”, “nacionalna krovna sportska organizacija”, “nacionalni olimpijski odbor”, “nacionalna organizacija sporta za sve”), ii) sjedište u državi pripadnici Europske Unije (“ne” [ref], “da”), iii) regija Europe u kojoj se sjedište organizacije nalazi (“Zapadna” [ref], “Središnja i Istočna”, “Sjeverna”, “Južna”), iv) razina posvećenosti elitnom sportu (“niska” [ref], “srednja”, “visoka”) i upoznatost sa SCforH smjernicama (“ne” [ref], “da”). Rezultati analize su predstavljeni u obliku
nestandardiziranih regresijskih koeficijenata te njihovih 95%-tnih intervala povjerenja i p vrijednosti. Dodatno su provedene tri multiple ordinalne logističke regresije s prethodno navedenim skupom nezavisnih varijabli, te posvećenosti promociji ZUS, ZUV, i ZUO kao zavisnim varijablama.
Konstrukcija evaluacijskog mjernog instrumenta EDUCATOOL u Studiji 2 se odvila kroz četiri faze. Prva faza podrazumijevala je pregled 150 objavljenih radova i knjiga u području konceptualnih okvira i upitnika za evaluaciju edukacijskih tečajeva od kojih je 40 bilo relevantno za daljnju izradu mjernog instrumenta. Druga faza uključivala je razvoj inicijalne verzije upitnika putem otvorenih rasprava koje su uključile tri istraživača, i to na temelju diskusija vođenih nalazima prethodnog pregleda literature. Treća faza uključivala je tri kruga Delphi metode u kojoj
je sudjelovalo pet stručnjaka iz područja vezanih uz problematiku rada (izrada anketa i psihometrija, evaluacija edukacijskih tečajeva, obrazovanje, psihologija te engleski jezik), a koji su revidirali inicijalnu verziju EDUCATOOL-a. U četvrtoj fazi provedene su konzultacije o mogućnostima daljnjeg unaprjeđenja revidirane verzije upitnika, u kojima je sudjelovalo 20 potencijalnih krajnjih korisnika EDUCATOOL-a iz područja: 1) razvoja, provedbe i evaluacije obrazovnih tečaja, 2) srednjeg i visokog obrazovanja, 3) znanosti i 4) upravljanja privatnih organizacija koje provode edukacijske tečajeve. Kako bi se utvrdila valjanost i pouzdanost mjernog instrumenta, 152 sveučilišna studenta sudjelovala su u SCforH online edukacijskom tečaju. Neposredno nakon tečaja i tjedan dana kasnije, sudionici su ispunili EDUCATOOL upitnik namijenjen za primjenu neposredno nakon tečaja („post-course“ upitnik). Šest tjedana nakon
tečaja, te tjedan dana nakon toga, ispunili su EDUCATOOL upitnik namijenjen za naknadnu primjenu („follow-up“ upitnik). Za potrebe utvrđivanja konvergentne valjanosti EDUCATOOL-a, sudionici su također ispunili „Questionnaire for Professional Training Evaluation“ u svim vremenskim točkama. Kako bi se procijenila faktorska valjanost predloženog 4-faktorskog modela EDUCATOOL upitnika, provedena je konfirmatorna faktorska analiza. Interna konzistencija evaluacijskih komponenata izražena je Cronbachovom alfom i njenim 95%-tnim intervalima
povjerenja. Konvergentna valjanost i test-retest pouzdanost izraženi su putem intra-klasnih koeficijenata korelacije (tip [A,1], slučaj 3A prema McGraw and Wong (1996)) i njihovih 95%-tnih intervala povjerenja.
Konačno, Studija 3 uključila je 840 sudionika iz 34 Europske države koji su pripadali sljedećim kategorijama: i) istraživači i nastavnici u visokoškolskim ili istraživačkim institucijama u području sporta, tjelesnog odgoja i promocije zdravlja, ii) predstavnici vladinih tijela, iii) predstavnici instituta za javno zdravstvo i/ili nacionalne kontakt osobe za tjelesnu aktivnost, iv) predstavnici sportskih saveza, v) predstavnici sportskih klubova, vi) studenti visokih učilišta u području sporta, tjelesne i zdravstvene kulture i zdravlja, te vii) ostali dionici u sektorima sporta i javnog zdravstva. Sudionici istraživanja su uključeni u SCforH online edukacijski tečaj. Razina uključenosti sudionika istraživanja u tečaj praćena je putem automatski zabilježenih radnji koje su sudionici izvodili tijekom tečaja i izražena je putem vremena provedenog u tečaju i broja pregledanih sadržaja. Neposredno nakon tečaja, sudionici su ispunili EDUCATOOL „post-course“ upitnik kako bi se procijenila kvaliteta tečaja u pogledu reakcije, učenja, namjere ponašanja, i očekivanih učinaka. Ocjene evaluacijskih komponenti izražene su na skali od 0 do 25 bodova, a ukupna
kvaliteta tečaja (0-100 bodova) izračunata je kao zbroj evaluacijskih komponenti. Multivarijatne razlike u četiri evaluacijske komponente i vremenu provedenom u tečaju po tipu sudionika, pripadnosti Europskoj Uniji, regiji Europe i prethodnoj upoznatosti sa SCforH smjernicama testirane su neparametrijskom multivarijatnom analizom varijance „C-sample test of location“. Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA je korištena za testiranje univarijatnih razlika između grupa, dok su posthoc usporedbe provedene korištenjem Mann-Whitney U testa s Bonferroni korekcijom.
Rezultati:
Studijom 1 je utvrđeno da je približno 75,2% (95%-tni interval povjerenja [IP]: 71,5; 78,8) sportskih organizacija jako (visoko) posvećeno promociji elitnog sporta, te da je samo 28,2% (95% IP: 24,4; 32,0) sportskih organizacija jako (visoko) posvećeno promociji ZUTA-e. Rezultati multiple regresijske analize pokazali su da je veća posvećenost promociji ZUTA-e povezana s nacionalnim olimpijskim odborima (β = 1,48 [95% IP: 0,41; 2,55], p = 0,007), nacionalnim organizacijama sporta za sve (β = 1,68 [95% IP: 0,74; 2,62], p < 0,001), lokacijom sjedišta u Središnjoj i Istočnoj Europi (β = 0,56 [95% IP: 0,01; 1,12], p = 0,047) i upoznatošću sa SCforH smjernicama (β = 0,86 [95% IP: 0,35; 1,37], p < 0,001). Rezultati multiple ordinalne logističke regresije pokazali su da su u odnosu na nacionalne sportske saveze, europske sportske federacije više posvećene promociji ZUS-a, nacionalni olimpijski odbori ZUV-a i ZUO-a, a nacionalne organizacije sporta za sve svih tipova ZUTA-e. Organizacije koje su bile upoznate sa SCforH smjericama također su bile više posvećene promociji svih tipova ZUTA-e. Konačno, u odnosu na organizacije iz Zapadne Europe, organizacije iz Središnje, Istočne i Južne Europe su bile više posvećene promociji ZUO.
U okviru studije 2 razvijen je EDUCATOOL; alat za evaluaciju edukacijskih tečajeva koji se sastoji od dva upitnika („post-course“ i „follow-up“), kalkulatora za izračun rezultata i uputa za primjenu. Svaki od EDUCATOOL upitnika sadrži po 12 čestica grupiranih u sljedeće evaluacijske komponente: i) reakcija; ii) učenje; iii) namjera ponašanja („post-course“)/ponašanje („follow up“); te iv) očekivani učinci („post-course“)/rezultati („follow-up“). Konfirmatornom faktorskom analizom potvrđena je adekvatnost pretpostavljene četiri-faktorske strukture oba EDUCATOOL upitnika, gdje je komparativni indeks „Comparative fit index“ (CFI) iznosio 0,99 za „post-course“ i 1,00 za „follow-up“ upitnik. „Root mean square error of approximation“ (RMSEA) iznosio je 0,05 za „post-course“ i 0,03 za „follow-up“ upitnik, a „Standardised root mean square residual“ (SRMR) iznosio je 0,07 za „post-course“ i 0,03 „follow-up“ upitnik. Intra-klasni koeficijenti korelacije (IKK) za konvergentnu valjanost iznosili su 0,71 (95% IP: 0,61; 0,78) za „post-course“ i 0,86 (95% IP: 0,78; 0,91) za „follow-up“ upitnik. Interna konzistencija evaluacijskih komponenti
izražena Cronbach-ovim alfa koeficijentom kretala se od 0,83 (95% IP: 0,78; 0,87) do 0,88 (95% IP: 0,84; 0,92) za „post-course“ upitnik i od 0,95 (95% IP: 0,93; 0,96) do 0,97 (95% IP: 0,95; 0,98) za „follow-up“ upitnik. Intra-klasni koeficijenti test-retest pouzdanosti iznosili su 0,87 (95% IP: 0,78; 0,92) za „post-course“ i 0,91 (95% IP: 0,85; 0,94) za „follow-up“ upitnik.
U Studiji 3, velika je većina sudionika (92%) pregledala svih 28 sadržaja tečaja, a medijan vremena provedenog u tečaju iznosio je 27,60 minuta (95% IP: 26,93; 28,27). Sudionici su u prosjeku dali izvrsne ocjene za sve evaluacijske komponente kvalitete tečaja (medijan ≥ 20,00), pri čemu je evaluacijska komponenta reakcija imala najveći medijan od 21,67 (95% IP: 21,26; 22,07). Medijan ukupnog rezultata kvalitete tečaja iznosio je 82,50 (95% IP: 81,11; 83,89). Određene komponente kvalitete tečaja bile su nešto bolje ocijenjene od strane sudionika istraživanja iz zemalja izvan EU (u usporedbi sa sudionicima iz država članica EU), te Središnje i Istočne Europe (u usporedbi sa sudionicima iz Zapadne Europe), dok su studenti (u usporedbi s predstavnicima sportskih klubova i organizacija) ocijenili određene evaluacijske komponente niže (p < 0,05 za sve razlike).
Zaključak:
Na temelju rezultata ove doktorske disertacije može se zaključiti da je većina europskih sportskih organizacija primarno usmjerena na elitni sport. Stoga su potrebne koordinirane akcije na nacionalnoj i Europskoj razini za unaprjeđenje promicanja ZUTA-e unutar sportskih organizacija. Kako bi se osigurala učinkovitost budućih intervencija, bilo bi korisno podići svijest o SCforH smjernicama, te razmotriti aktivnosti nacionalnih olimpijskih odbora, nacionalnih organizacija sporta za sve i relevantnih sportskih organizacija u Središnjoj i Istočnoj Europi kao primjere dobre prakse u promociji ZUTA-e. Podizanje svijesti o SCforH smjernicama moguće je napraviti kroz diseminaciju SCforH online tečaja među dionicima u europskom sportskom sektoru. Prethodna tvrdnja utemeljena je u nalazu o visokoj uključenosti i visoko percipiranoj kvaliteti tečaja od strane različitih tipova dionika u sektorima sporta i javnog zdravstva iz 34 europske zemlje. Osim toga, nalazi ove studije mogu se primijeniti i za daljnje unaprjeđenje SCforH tečaja i poboljšanje učinkovitosti diseminacije budućih SCforH i ostalih intervencija za promociju ZUTA-e. U svrhu
budućeg unaprjeđenja SCforH tečaja, važno je kontinuirano evaluirati učinkovitost tečaja. U tu svrhu mogu se koristiti novo-kreirani EDUCATOOL „post-course“ i EDUCATOOL „follow-up“ upitnici. Oba upitnika su pokazala zadovoljavajuću faktorsku valjanost, konvergentnu valjanost, internu konzistenciju i test-retest pouzdanost. Kao takvi, mogu se koristiti za procjenu reakcije, učenja, namjere ponašanja ili ponašanja, te očekivanih učinaka ili rezultata u evaluaciji edukacijskih tečajeva. Njihovoj vrijednosti pridonosi općenita formulacija čestica, sažetost,
jednostavnost primjene i dostupnost, što će omogućiti primjenu u različitim područjima istraživanja i prakse.
Istraživanja provedena u okviru ove doktorske disertacije su pružila vrijedne spoznaje potrebne za unaprjeđenje razumijevanja i promocije ZUTA-e u europskom sportskom sektoru.
... Recreational running is one form of vigorous-intensity physical activity, with evidence of health benefits (Chakravarty et al., 2008;Kozlovskaia et al., 2019;Lee et al., 2014;Oja et al., 2017;Pedisic et al., 2020). Running is one of the most popular global sports and leisure time physical activities (Hulteen et al., 2017) and has several advantages compared to other activities, including that it is inexpensive, can be performed in a variety of contexts, and across different ages, genders, health statuses and ethnicities, thereby overcoming many common barriers to physical activity engagement (Bauman et al., 2012). In Canada, for example, it was found that 27% of individuals who engaged in leisure time sport in the previous 12 months reported running, with running found as one of the most popular sports across diverse cultures and regions (Hulteen et al., 2017). ...
... Running is one of the most popular global sports and leisure time physical activities (Hulteen et al., 2017) and has several advantages compared to other activities, including that it is inexpensive, can be performed in a variety of contexts, and across different ages, genders, health statuses and ethnicities, thereby overcoming many common barriers to physical activity engagement (Bauman et al., 2012). In Canada, for example, it was found that 27% of individuals who engaged in leisure time sport in the previous 12 months reported running, with running found as one of the most popular sports across diverse cultures and regions (Hulteen et al., 2017). Promoting recreational running may help individuals obtain the health benefits of an widely accessible physical activity. ...
Background
Running as a form of physical activity is beneficial to overall health and wellbeing. The aim of the study is to examine ‘run streaking’ (i.e. running on consecutive days, for a minimum period of time or distance, typically at least one mile) as a technique for habit formation and behaviour change.
Methods
Qualitative semi-structured interviews with 21 recreational adult runners (11 female and 10 male). Run streak length ranged from a minimum of 100 days to over 4500 days. Transcripts were analysed using a hybrid deductive–inductive thematic analysis.
Results
Run streaking was reported to lead to several benefits, health improvements and a sense of accomplishment, although many run streakers reported running through injuries and lack of recovery. Accounts of run streaking showed features of automaticity indicative of habitual behaviour. Other behavioural processes identified included motivation, identity, self-regulation and social support. Behavioural streaking showed the potential to influence change in behaviours other than running.
Conclusion
Accounts of run streaking demonstrate an interplay between automatic and deliberate processes in the maintenance of running behaviour. Behavioural streaking is a technique that could be used in other behaviour change contexts beyond running to support habit formation.
... We selected three popular team sports, basketball, volleyball, and soccer for our field experiments, as team sports can provide ideal opportunities for positive contact experiences among children from diverse ethnic backgrounds. These sports are also among the most played and followed globally (Hulteen et al. 2017) while having different gender compositions. ...
... We built upon the work conducted by Storm and their colleagues studying discrimination in women's soccer in Scandinavia in the following ways: by (a) including more types of sports besides soccer, (b) assessing discrimination against Roma children, who constitute the largest ethnic minority group in Europe, (c) incorporating gender as secondary experimental variable alongside ethnicity, and (d) exploring the intersectionality of ethnicity and socioeconomic status. We focused on basketball, volleyball, and soccer, for our field experiments recognizing that these sports are the most popular team sports globally (Hulteen et al. 2017;Ipsos 2021). By taking into account the success and historical impact these sports have had in Hungary, including investments through facilities, academies and talent programs, these team sports are among the six most supported and widely played socalled spectator team sports. ...
In this paper, we examine children’s ethnic discrimination in access to sport. We conducted two field experiments to test whether Roma applicants get greater rejection rates when applying to sport clubs and whether this rate is higher in case Roma applicants have a lower-class background. Basketball, volleyball, and soccer coaches were contacted by e-mail using Roma and non-Roma sounding names, requesting to participate in a trial practice. Previous findings show persistent discrimination of Roma people in Central and Eastern Europe in the labor and housing market and in access to various public services. Our findings in the field of sport in Hungary show that there is significant ethnic discrimination only when a stereotype about Roma people being lower class is activated. Further, gender was found to have a significant effect, with higher positive response rates for mothers applying for a trial session for a daughter, than for a son, regardless of their ethnicity. Our findings suggest a prevailing intersection of class and ethnicity, though our data does not allow for the separation of these two effects. These differences are discussed to better understand the role of intersectionality in discrimination within sport.
... Running is a widely favoured sport worldwide with an ever-increasing rate of participation [1,2]. It is associated with a range of benefits such as better cardiovascular [3], metabolic [4], skeletal [5], and mental health [6], as well as a decrease in all-cause mortality risk [3]; however, running often leads to musculoskeletal overuse injuries [7], especially in novice and recreational runners. ...
... The funding body had no role in the design of the study, in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, or in the writing of this study. 1 ...
Background
Running is a widely practiced sport worldwide associated with a host of benefits on cardiovascular, metabolic, musculoskeletal, and mental health, but often leads to musculoskeletal overuse injuries. The prescription of a foot orthosis (FO) is common to manage musculoskeletal impairments during physical activity or functional tasks. Although FOs are frequently prescribed by clinicians for symptomatic populations of runners, the existing literature supporting the prescription of FOs in runners has predominantly focused on either uninjured individuals or a mix of uninjured and symptomatic populations. Thus, the effects of FOs on the treatment and/or prevention of overuse running injuries need to be investigated to guide future research and assist clinicians in their decision-making process.
Main body
This scoping review aimed to evaluate the immediate and long-term effects of FOs on lower limb biomechanics, neuromuscular parameters, and pain and disability in symptomatic runners, and to identify factors that may influence the effects of FOs. Five databases (CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science) were searched, resulting in 2536 studies. A total of 30 studies, published between 1992 and 2023 (730 symptomatic runners), were included following the removal of duplicates and the screening process. Wearing FOs while running is related to an immediate and a long-term decrease in pain and symptoms of overuse running injuries. Also, wearing FOs while running decreases eversion at the foot/ankle complex, leads to a more lateral plantar pressure at the heel and forefoot, and may change running motor control strategies. Finally, the effectiveness of FOs is influenced by its added features.
Conclusions
This study provides recommendations for future research such as the need for standardized methods in describing FOs, considering participant characteristics such as foot morphology, and comparing different types of FOs. Also, this scoping review provides valuable insights for guiding the prescription and design of FOs, and suggests that integrating FOs into a comprehensive treatment plan may yield better results than standalone first-line treatments. Nonetheless, this scoping review highlights the need for future research to explore the optimal integration of FOs into injury-specific treatment plans.
... Football is the world's most popular sport 4,5 and is characterized as a complex contact sport with high physical, technical, tactical and physiological demands 6 , requiring moments of explosive gestures, like jumping, kicking, tackling, turning, sprinting and changing pace, all of which are enhanced by muscular strength training 7 . Despite the first Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Women's World Cup taking place in 1991 8 , women's football importance has grown exponentially 9 . ...
Background: Anthropometric profiles can contribute to the understanding of a soccer player's fitness. Aims: The aim of this study was to establish the anthropometric characteristics and their relationship with the demarcation of Spanish female first division players in the Women's Professional Football League. Methods: Thirty-eight Spanish First Division female football players (24.1±4.206) years of age, height (165.545±6.059 cm) and weight (60.038±5.17), according the International Society for Advancement in Kinanthropometry, Body weight, Height, Arm and leg circumferences, Skinfold thicknesses were performed three times by an expert in kinanthropometry techniques (accredited level 2) in accordance with ISAK recommendations. Body composition was calculated according to the indications of the Spanish Group of Kinanthropometry. All analyses were performed using R with R commander. Results: Regarding height, goalkeepers were the tallest (p>0.0301). The height of the defenders was greater than that of the forwards (p>0.0303). The thigh crease of the defenders was greater than that of the forwards (p>0.0134). The biileocrestal diameter was greater in midfielders than in forwards (p>0.0463). The muscle percentage of female forwards was higher than that of female defenders (p>0.0304). Conclusion: In conclusion, our study of female soccer players showed some significant differences in height, thigh crease and biileocrestal diameter between the different demarcations that may favor the playing role with which they are associated.
... sport participation in the United states declines steeply with age. this is abundantly clear in both previously collected data [41] and the observation of proportionally who is participating in the activities after high school [42]. this is likely due to the demand for competition for bodies without injury and with excess power, skills, and other virtues expressed in activities that tend to diminish with age. ...
Introduction
In the United States, sport is a common form of youth physical activity (PA) with demonstrated health benefits. However, limited longitudinal dataexists on the psychosocial determinants and consequences of youth sport participation. This study examined grade 6 (11–12-year-old) predictors of high school organized sport participation and effects of high school sport participation on age 26 behavior, mental health and wellbeing.
Methods
Structural equation models tested relationships using the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD). Half of the sample was male, and played organized sports at ages 15 and 18. Eighty percent of the sample was white.
Results
Grade 6 predictors of playing high school sport were: child enjoys PA, parent enjoys PA, parent feels physical education (PE) is important, and vigorous PA minutes/week. Playing sports at ages 15 and 18 was associated with better wellbeing, lower depression, increased sport and fitness activity participation. Enjoyment of PA was directly associated with fitness activities at age 26, more than a decade later. High school sport participation at both age 15 and 18 further mediated relationships between enjoyment with wellbeing and depression at age 26.
Discussion
Sport participation is a common accessible means of PA, and participating in sports in high school is associated with better mental health and PA outcomes at age 26. Fostering enjoyment of PA during childhood helps shape PA in early adulthood and adult mental health benefits derived from high school sport participation.
... In recent decades, endurance running has gained significant popularity among nonprofessional runners, becoming one of the most commonly practiced sports during leisure time [1]. At the same time, interest in understanding contemporary trends and the specific demands of this subgroup of runners has grown [2][3][4]. ...
Despite strength training (ST) being well characterized by professional runners, little is known about the inclusion of ST models for recreational runners. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the presence of ST in the training practices of recreational runners, with a focus on understanding its characteristics and the motivations of recreational athletes for including ST in their routines. To this end, 801 recreational runners (493 male and 308 female) completed a structured questionnaire regarding their training habits, the inclusion of ST, and its characteristics, concerning the type of ST, training volume, and the reasons for including ST in their training programs. To assess the possible associations between categorical variables, data were analyzed using the chi-square test for independent samples. Approximately 625 runners (78.1%) reported that they included ST in their training routine, with a statistically significant difference between the sexes (men: 73.5% vs. women: 85.4%; X2 = 14.09; p = 0.01). Traditional strength training (TST) was the predominant type of ST included (78.5%), with most participants performing 2–4 sets and 8–12 repetitions per set at a frequency of 3–4 sessions per week. The importance of ST was primarily attributed to performance improvement (85%). The results suggest that recreational runners incorporate different types of ST into their training routines, with TST being the predominant type perceived by runners as a valuable asset for improving running performance.
... Running is one of the most popular sports and recreational activities globally, consistently ranking among the top five favored sporting activities, with participation rates ranging from 7.9% to 13.3% across the six regions designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) [1]. Moreover, running serves as a fundamental element in numerous sports. ...
The analysis of running gait has conventionally taken place within an expensive and restricted laboratory space, with wearable technology offering a practical, cost-effective, and unobtrusive way to examine running gait in more natural environments. This pilot study presents a wearable inertial measurement unit (IMU) setup for the continuous analysis of running gait during an outdoor parkrun (i.e., 5 km). The study aimed to (1) provide analytical validation of running gait measures compared to time- and age-graded performance and (2) explore performance validation. Ten healthy adults (7 females, 3 males, mean age 37.2 ± 11.7 years) participated. The participants wore Axivity AX6 IMUs on the talus joint of each foot, recording tri-axial accelerometer and gyroscope data at 200 Hz. Temporal gait characteristics—gait cycle, ground contact time, swing time, and duty factor—were extracted using zero-crossing algorithms. The data were analyzed for correlations between the running performance, foot strike type, and fatigue-induced changes in temporal gait characteristics. Strong correlations were found between the performance time and both the gait cycle and ground contact time, with weak correlations for foot strike types. The analysis of asymmetry and fatigue highlighted modest changes in gait as fatigue increased, but no significant gender differences were found. This setup demonstrates potential for in-field gait analysis for running, providing insights for performance and injury prevention strategies.
... It is well known that musculoskeletal injuries often result in the absence of players during the competition season [2]. According to a systematic review by Ryan et al. [3], soccer is the most popular sport across all age groups and regions. However, a descriptive analysis by Bueno et al. [4] reported that soccer is characterized by a high prevalence of injuries. ...
The psychological readiness of athletes and its connection to their functional status in returning to sport after a musculoskeletal injury has been previously studied. The “Psychological Readiness of Injured Athlete to Return to Sport” (PRIA-RS) questionnaire is a widely used tool designed to assess an athlete’s psychological readiness to return to sport. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the validity and reliability of the PRIA-RS questionnaire in Greek football athletes. The questionnaire was administered to 113 football athletes, and its face validity, content validity, concurrent validity, construct validity, test–retest reliability, and internal consistency were assessed. The face and content validity of the PRIA-RS were supported, and an exploratory factor analysis confirmed the instrument’s original two-factor structure. Its concurrent validity was demonstrated by examining correlations between the PRIA-RS and three other measures: the Causes of Re-Injury Worry Questionnaire, the Sport Confidence Questionnaire for Rehabilitated Athletes Returning to Competition, and the Attention Questionnaire for Rehabilitated Athletes Returning to Competition. The PRIA-RS exhibited a good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.82). The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for the test–retest reliability of each factor were excellent (ICC = 0.97−0.99). Overall, the PRIA-RS appears to be a valid and reliable tool that rehabilitation professionals can utilize in both clinical practice and research by realizing the athletes’ psychological needs and helping them to return safer with no future musculoskeletal injuries.
... Elite teams can often play up to 100 official games, in particular in the NBA if the team competes in the play-offs (at least 82 games during a regular season). European clubs participating in the Euroleague frequently exceed 75 official games (for example: national leagues: 34 games; international leagues: 34 games; national cups: 1-5 games; preseason official tournaments: 1-3 games, etc., in addition to potential play-off matches in each competition), all within an eight-to ten-month season [1]. Basketball players tend to accumulate between two and three games per week during the competitive season, where they are required to perform intermittent high-intensity sport-specific movements, such as sprints, accelerations, and decelerations [2]. ...
This study investigated the impact of consecutive basketball games on the physical demands and well-being of young players under 18 years old (U-18), focusing on the peak demands (PD). Monitoring 17 players over 10 games (5 weekends), external load expressed as relative distance (RD) (m·min −1), high-speed running distance covered (HSR) (m·min −1), maximal accelerations (ACC) (n·min −1), and maximal decelerations (DEC) (n·min −1) normalized by playing time were assessed, and the Hooper index was used to evaluate wellness status. Additionally, linear mixed models and generalized linear mixed models were employed to detect differences, revealing a significant decrease in RD·min −1 (F = 4.71, p = 0.04) during the second back-to-back game. ACC·min −1 also exhibited significant differences (χ 2 = 6.44, p = 0.01) between players in one or two games. However, the PD remained unchanged. Conversely, the Hooper index significantly improved between games (2.67 arb. u. [95% CI 0.11-5.24]; p = 0.04, d = 1.25 large), indicating enhanced well-being on the second competition day. Although RD·min −1 differences suggest the onset of residual fatigue, U-18 teams seem to adapt correctly to a two-game schedule through player auto-regulatory pacing and squad rotation. The positive change in wellness on the second day suggests a need for a comprehensive approach to assessing basketball performance.
... Engaging in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) can enhance and promote a pleasant emotional state [18]. LTPA encompasses organized programs, involvement in sports, and lifestyle hobbies [19,20]. ...
Background: Work-related stress among healthcare employees can lead to burnout, worsened mood, and job dissatisfaction. Although physical activity is known to enhance mood and mental health, its impact on job satisfaction and emotional well-being in healthcare workers is under-researched. This study aimed to explore the associations between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), job satisfaction, and emotional state and to investigate the mediating role of job satisfaction in the effect of LTPA on the emotional state of healthcare workers. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire, including items on LTPA, job satisfaction, and the emotional state, was distributed to 98 healthcare workers affiliated with the Bari Polyclinic Hospital (Mean age = 46.3; SD = 15.4 years). Composite measures of global job satisfaction and emotional state were extracted by Factor Analysis using the principal components method. The relationship between LTPA, job satisfaction, and the emotional state was investigated through General Linear Model (GLM) mediation models. Results: There was no significant direct effect of LTPA on negative emotional states (β = −0.08, p = 0.37). However, job satisfaction significantly mediated this relationship (β = −0.09, p = 0.04), indicating that engaging in LTPA increased job satisfaction, which in turn reduced negative emotional states. Similarly , LTPA did not have a significant direct effect on positive emotional states (β = 0.06, p = 0.48), but it indirectly resulted in increased positive emotional states through its positive impact on job satisfaction (β = 0.12, p = 0.03). Conclusions: The findings indicate that LTPA indirectly influences both negative and positive emotional states through job satisfaction. Engaging in LTPA enhances job satisfaction, which subsequently leads to reductions in negative emotional states and increases in positive emotional states among healthcare workers. These results underscore the importance of promoting physical activity as a strategy to improve job satisfaction (JS) and the emotional well-being of healthcare workers.
... Public health policies should, therefore, be implemented to promote the recommended PA levels in adolescence. Moreover, attractive and achievable strategies may also be considered to accommodate the diverse preferences and potential barriers to PA (i.e., physical limitations for engaging in vigorous activities) in this age group (Hulteen et al., 2017). Our meta-analysis has several limitations. ...
... Running is one of the main trends of physical activity and physical exercise around the world (Hulteen et al., 2017;Thompson, 2021). Despite the health-related benefits (Junior et al., 2015), running-related injuries per 1000 h of running range from 2.5 (i.e., long-distance track and field runners) to 33.0 (e.g., novice runners) (Videbaek et al., 2015). ...
... The study involved 11 regions in 10 European countries. A recent meta-analysis of global sports and leisure activities worldwide found that swimming is still rated as one of the top ve physical activities that children and adolescents participate in during their leisure time in Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Western Paci c, the Americas, and Europe (Hulteen et al., 2017). A speci c area of motor competence is basic swimming competence. ...
Developing and validating assessment standards for basic swimming competences could be a valuable tool for optimizing swimming instruction and improving swimming pro ciency in school children, particularly by aligning instruction with their developmental potential. This study investigated the basic swimming competency levels of younger schoolchildren and assessed the suitability of a test battery for di erentiating these competencies among primary school pupils. The sample consisted of 36 children with an average age of 8.03 ± 2.6 years. The children were divided into two groups: the younger group (YG, N = 20) aged 6-8 years and the older group (OG, N = 16) aged 9-11 years. The Mann-Whitney U test was applied to assess the statistical signi cance of di erences in groups. To quantify the strength of the observed relationships, we calculated e ect sizes (ES) based on Cohen's criteria. The justi cation for including the utilized tests, we conducted a relational analysis When assessing the success of the test items, the OG performed signi cantly better on Tests 1, 2, 6, 7 (p ≤ .05) and in Test 3 (p ≤ .001). In contrast, no signi cant di erence was found between the groups for Test 4 and 5 (p = ns). In conclusion, these ndings suggest that a basic swimming competency test battery may be a useful tool for assessing the swimming competency of younger school-aged children.
... In terms of leisure, systematic reviews, including those by Eime et al. [135] and Hulteen et al. [136], consider PA as a form of leisure, particularly emphasizing the benefits of team sports for physical, psychological and social health. These findings support promoting community sports as a valuable form of PA during children's leisure time. ...
The Spanish basic education curriculum, specifically the section on primary education, addresses global challenges and recognizes schools as essential in health education. Healthy lifestyle habits are fundamental due to their impact on health and well-being, especially in children. This study analyzes the integration of health and healthy lifestyle habits in Spanish autonomous curricular decrees using a qualitative documentary analysis and a comparative approach with a statistical/descriptive basis. The corpus includes the 17 autonomous curricular decrees derived from the Organic Law 3/2020 (LOMLOE). The data, derived from the 17 autonomous curricular decrees, were examined using lexical and grammatical analyses, then processed with Atlas.ti 23 software. The results reveal that the dimensions and categories related to health and healthy lifestyle habits focus mainly on physical aspects. In common areas or fields, physical education and knowledge of the natural, social and cultural environment are the most relevant areas for integrating health and healthy lifestyle habits into the framework in this study. However, the current curriculum proposal lacks continuity between curricular elements. In summary, this study represents a step forward in the recognition of the extent to which health and healthy lifestyle habits are established in the curriculum.
... However, the most popular sports reported by male and female participants in this study align with the most popular sports and leisure-time physical activities reported for children and adolescents in Europe (Hulteen et al., 2017). Lastly, while 'false positive' reports of interpersonal violence experiences in sport are possible, research on the validity of retrospective reports shows 'false negatives' are more common (Hardt and Rutter, 2004). ...
Interpersonal violence in sport has serious consequences for athletes, sports organisations and society at large. Despite recent advances in safeguarding sport participants from interpersonal violence, empirical evidence regarding its prevalence and risk factors across different sports remains scarce. In this study, we investigated differences in the prevalence of interpersonal violence among a convenience sample of 9989 adults from six European countries who participated in organised sport before age 18. Utilising binary logistic regression analyses and CHAID regression tree analyses, we examined variations in reported experiences of neglect, psychological, physical, non-contact sexual and contact sexual forms of interpersonal violence based on gender and three sport classifications: type of sport (individual vs. team), sports attire (non-revealing vs. body-fitting/revealing) and weight-sensitivity (less weight-sensitive vs. weight-sensitive sports). Men participating in team sports reported significantly higher levels of victimisation across all types of interpersonal violence. Women in sports with non-revealing attire and men in less weight-sensitive sports also reported higher prevalence rates. The study underscores the need for a nuanced understanding of interpersonal violence characteristics and dynamics across different sports. Insights into the factors influencing victimisation enable tailored prevention and response strategies to be developed to better address the needs of athletes and sport organisations.
... Prevalência de fraturas por estresse e fatores associados em corredores de rua amadores Prevalence of stress fractures and associated factors in amateur street runners ( Saúde Prevalência de fraturas por estresse e fatores associados em corredores de rua amadores INTRODUÇÃO A corrida, quando comparada a outras modalidades esportivas, é uma atividade versátil e de fácil acesso aos seus praticantes, tendo em vista a pouca necessidade de equipamentos ou instalações específicas para a sua prática 1 . Uma revisão sistemática com metanálise identificou que a corrida estava entre as principais atividades físicas praticadas no lazer, por adultos de 40 países, representando seis regiões do planeta (África, Américas, Europa, Mediterrâneo Ocidental, Sudeste Asiático e Pacífico Ocidental) 2 . No Brasil, a corrida de rua tornou-se uma modalidade dentre as mais praticadas nos últimos anos, reunindo 35 mil pessoas na 95ª edição da Corrida de São Silvestre, no ano de 2019 3,4 . ...
Apesar da prática de exercícios físicos regulares garantir o ganho de múltiplos benefícios à saúde, a literatura aponta que os praticantes de corrida de rua estão suscetíveis ao desenvolvimento de lesões, dentre essas, as fraturas por estresse. Objetivo: investigar a prevalência e os fatores associados a fraturas por estresse em corredores de rua amadores através de um estudo retrospectivo de delineamento transversal. Método: foram investigados 197 corredores de rua amadores com idade de 19 a 76 anos (média de 38,9 ± 10,0 anos) de ambos os sexos, os quais responderam a um questionário autoaplicado via internet. Foram coletadas informações relativas ao sexo, idade, cor da pele, grau de escolaridade, massa corporal, estatura, prova alvo, tempo de prática de corrida, volume e frequência de treinamento, ocorrência de fratura por estresse, histórico de lesões e, para corredoras do sexo feminino, informações sobre o ciclo menstrual. Resultados: a prevalência de fratura por estresse foi de 12,2%, sem diferença entre os sexos. Foi observada maior prevalência de fratura por estresse naqueles que praticam a modalidade acima de 10 anos, com maior volume mensal e maior frequência semanal de treino, que participaram de sete ou mais competições em 2019, que apresentaram lesão anterior à fratura por estresse e que tiveram mais do que duas lesões anteriores à fratura por estresse. Conclusão: Aproximadamente um em cada oito corredores de rua apresentaram fratura por estresse em decorrência da prática da corrida de rua. Maior tempo de prática, volume de treinamento, frequência de competições e lesões anteriores estiveram associados a fraturas por estresse nos corredores.
... Football holds the title as the world's most widely embraced sport; however, it is inevitable that injuries occur in the sport despite its popularity [11,12]. The amalgamation of high-intensity situations, like jumping, landing, and tackling, along with frequent exposure to collisions and physical contact, markedly elevates the likelihood of sustaining injuries, compared to other sports [12][13][14][15]. ...
Football’s global popularity is often overshadowed by frequent lower limb injuries, particularly hamstring strains, which are linked to imbalances in the strength ratio of hamstring-to-quadriceps (H/Q). Research on these factors among Saudi Premier League players, specifically in Madinah City, is limited. Our study is a cross-sectional study that assessed 42 male professional football players from Ohoud Football Club, divided into Underage 17 (UD- 17) and Under age 19 (UD-19) of age groups. The Strength of muscle for hamstrings and quadriceps, as well as the H/Q ratio, was measured using handheld dynamometers (HDD), and demographic data were analyzed using SPSSv26. Results showed that UD-19 players had significantly greater quadriceps strength on both dominants (dominant and non-dominant) sides compared to UD-17 players, with no significant differences in strength of hamstring. The ratio of hamstring to quadriceps was significantly higher in UD-17 players on the dominant side compared to UD-19 players, but statistically significant differences were not found on the non-dominant side. These results suggest that quadriceps strength develops with age and training, potentially reducing injury risk, while the strength of hamstring stabilizes earlier. Tailored training programs focusing on quadriceps strength and balanced hamstring development are recommended for improving injury prevention and performance. Future research involving larger and more diverse samples could further validate these findings and provide a deeper understanding of muscle dynamics in young football players.
... 4 Long-distance running is one of the most popular physical activities across the world. 5 Given the popularity of leisure-time running, its long-term mortality benefits, 6 as well as the superior benefits running may confer over other types of vigorous-intensity physical activity for the prevention of chronic diseases and premature mortality, 7 long-distance running appears to be one of the most costeffective lifestyle interventions from a public health perspective. 8 One of the main drawbacks of running is the high risk of sustaining a running-related injury, 9 which is considered a major barrier WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ON THIS TOPIC ⇒ Soft cushioning of running shoes at the rear part (≃65 N/mm) has previously been associated with lower injury risk in leisure-time runners. ...
Previous work has demonstrated the protective effect of shoe cushioning on injury risk in leisure-time runners, but most models currently available on the market have greater cushioning than those investigated so far. Also, the optimal level of cushioning and the role of cushioning on the forepart of the shoe for injury prevention are still unknown. The main aim of this study is to determine whether (1) current ‘extra soft’ cushioning material at the rear part of the shoe reduces injury risk compared with stiffer material and (2) cushioning under the forepart of the shoe also contributes to injury risk reduction. This randomised trial with a 6-month intervention will involve 1000+ healthy leisure-time runners who will randomly receive one of the three running shoe versions. Study shoe versions will differ in their cushioning properties (ie, stiffness) at the rear or the forepart. Participants will self-report any lower limb or lower back problems on a dedicated electronic system every week, while the system will collect training data from the participant’s sports watch. Time-to-event analyses will be used to compare injury risk between the three study groups and to investigate the association between the runner’s characteristics, cushioning level and position, training and injury risk. The study was approved by the National Ethics Committee for Research (Ref: 202405/02 v2.0), and the protocol has been registered on https://clinicaltrials.gov/ (NCT06384872, 02/08/2024). Outcomes will be disseminated through presentations at international conferences and publications in peer-reviewed journals, popular magazines and specialised websites.
... The menu for fulfilling learners' physical activity needs to be adjusted to the age level of the learners, where they have different habits according to maturity. Regardless of the treatment, the target of active lifestyle habituation should carry over to children's engagement in lifelong physical activity (Hulteen et al., 2017). It shows the importance of considering age differences in designing treatments and learning programs focusing on physical activity. ...
Primary education is an essential foundation for developing all the potential possessed by students, including physical fitness. The persistent inadequacy in children's physical fitness levels raises critical concerns regarding their overall health and well-being, necessitating urgent attention and intervention. This study aimed to assess the physical fitness of elementary school students, evaluate the effectiveness of the Indonesian Physical Fitness Test in measuring their physical fitness, and give policy recommendations. The quantitative descriptive method was used in this study due to its ability to provide numerical data analysis, facilitate systematic measurement, and allow comparative analysis and generalization. Incidental sampling was used to select 120 primary school learners in the Sidoarjo district. Two sets of fitness tests were administered based on child development phases: the Around the World Test for Phase B and a 600m running test for Phase C. Crosstabs analysis on SPSS revealed that male and female learners exhibited similar physical fitness levels, mainly within moderate and healthy categories. Differences were observed based on the phase or grade level (chi-squared=43.843, p=0.000), with Phase B learners generally having moderate to good fitness, while Phase C learners demonstrated lower and middle levels. Overall, there was a decline in fitness with higher grade levels, emphasizing the necessity to rejuvenate physical education for enhanced fitness. Instilling the importance of maintaining and enhancing physical fitness from a young age is crucial, and both teachers and students can actively contribute by enhancing their comprehension of physical literacy through training or by integrating it into the physical education curriculum.
... Sport and physical activities are considered global or worldwide activities [1], and so, traveling to another country to practice sports is becoming more common [2]. The reasons why people travel for sporting events can be to participate either actively, taking part as an athlete in different sporting events, or passively, as a spectator [3]. ...
Recreational running, both on roads and in mountains, is one of the most practiced physical activities worldwide, and so, the motivations behind participating have been quite extensively described in the literature. However, the cultural and environmental motivations behind these athletes traveling to other countries or destinations to compete have not been properly addressed yet. The aim of this research is to analyze the motivations of sport tourists and to compare the motivations that cause mountain runners and city runners to compete. A cross-sectional study with a total of 244 athletes, divided into a group of city marathon runners (N = 118) and a group of mountain ultra-marathon runners (N = 126), was conducted. Athletes completed the Sports Tourism Motivation Scale (STMS), composed of 37 items and nine dimensions, through an online survey. Participants were asked questions related to their age, running experience, distance to events, numbers of nights in hotels and volunteering. The results showed that there were statistically significant differences in four out of the nine dimensions of the STMS between city and mountain runners’ motivations and, likewise, statistical differences were found in some dimensions of the scale related to participants’ sex, age, running experience, numbers of nights in a hotel, travel distance and volunteering. In conclusion, the reasons why runners participate in mountain and city running events are different; likewise, some sociodemographic variables should be taken into account when organizing such sporting events in a sustainable way, in order to provide organizers with the most suitable information and attract the most participants.
... Regarding the physical activity type, running is a widely practiced activity, which is time-efficient, easily accessible, and relatively low in cost [14]. The improvement in cardiorespiratory conditioning is among the main health benefits of running [15]; however, its effects on muscular strength, mass, and quality are poorly studied. ...
Background/Objectives: Sarcopenia is a muscular disease characterized by loss of muscular strength and function, affecting mainly women, and associated with increased mortality risk. The aim of this study was to compare active women with inactive women of different age groups regarding muscle mass, strength, and muscle quality. Methods: This study included 147 women (85 runners and 62 inactive), divided into <50 and ≥50 years old. Participants were evaluated for knee flexor and extensor peak torque (PT), body composition, and training habits. Results: For knee extensor muscles, there was an age group effect (F(2.146) = 40.5; p < 0.001) on absolute PT (Nm); an age group effect (F(2.146) = 44.1; p < 0.001) and a physical activity group effect (F(2.146) = 113.0; p < 0.001) on PT adjusted by body mass (Nm/kg); and an age group effect (F(2.146) = 36.9; p < 0.001) and a physical activity group effect (F(2.146) = 6.1; p = 0.014) on PT adjusted by lean mass (Nm/kgLM). There was no interaction effect. Conclusion: In both age groups, active women had greater strength and higher muscle quality than inactive women, but the difference in strength, muscle mass, and muscle quality between younger and older women were the same among runners and inactive women.
... As a dominant form of physical activity, running can not only promote residents' well-being [1,2], but also reduces the risks of physical and mental diseases such as obesity and depression [3,4]. Furthermore, running has emerged as one of the most popular physical activities, with the number of runners consistently increasing and reaching hundreds of millions worldwide [5]. Notably, the number of active runners of fitness tracker app in China reached to 54.70 million in 2022. ...
The association between built environment and physical activity has been recognized. However, how and to what extent microscale streetscapes are related to running activity remains underexplored, partly due to the lack of running data in large urban areas. Moreover, few studies have examined the interactive effects of macroscale built environment and microscale streetscapes. This study examines the main and interactive effects of the two-level environments on running intensity, using 9.73 million fitness tracker data from Keep in Shanghai, China. Results of spatial error model showed that: 1) the explanatory power of microscale streetscapes was higher than that of macroscale built environment with R² of 0.245 and 0.240, respectively, which is different from the prior finding that R² is greater for macroscale built environment than for microscale streetscape; 2) sky and green view indexes were positively associated with running intensity, whereas visual crowdedness had a negative effect; 3) there were negative interactions of land use Herfindahl–Hirschman index with sky and green view indexes, while a positive interaction was observed for visual crowdedness. To conclude, greener, more open and less visually crowded streetscapes, can promote running behavior and enhance the benefits of land use mix as well. The findings highlight the importance of streetscapes in promoting running behavior, instead of a supplement to macroscale built environment.
Supplementary Information
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-024-19605-4.
... 18 Importantly, the practice of Qi Gong fitness is not limited by weather or venue and there is no economic cost. This is an advantage that other sports do not have, such as basketball 25 and Tai Chi. 22 The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Qi Gong fitness in alleviating and improving stress, anxiety, and depression among working underprivileged youth through tracking interventions and obtaining effective evidence. ...
Objective
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Qi Gong fitness in alleviating stress, anxiety, and depression among underprivileged working youth with a follow-up study.
Methods
Eighty subjects were randomly assigned to normal groups (NG) and treatment groups (TG), with 40 participants in each group. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7), and 24-Item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-24) were used to evaluate the effect of Qi Gong fitness on alleviating stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms in underprivileged working youth.
Results
There was no significant difference in demographic outcome indicators between NG and TG. The main analytic results showed significant differences (P < .05) in the intra- and inter-group comparisons of NG and TG in stress, anxiety, and depression before and after intervention. When compared with prior intervention, NG and TG after intervention showed more favorable scores in PSS, GAD-7, and HAMD-24, among which PSS (NG: 51.61 ± 4.32 vs. 29.80 ± 3.08; TG: 55.21 ± 5.41 vs. 15.85 ± 2.25; P < .01), GAD-7 (NG: 10.83 ± 2.45 vs. 9.85 ± 2.52; TG: 12.23 ± 1.90 vs. 7.84 ± 1.57; P < .01), and HAMD-24 (NG: 10.83 ± 2.45 vs. 9.85 ± 2.52; TG: 25.63 ± 3.94 vs. 11.40 ± 3.82; P < .01); These results indicate that NG and TG have significant effects on alleviating occupational stress, anxiety, and depression in young underprivileged people.
Conclusion
The study indicates that Qi Gong fitness had a positive effect on reducing and alleviating stress, anxiety, and depression among young underprivileged professionals. This highlights the potential benefits of incorporating Qi Gong fitness into treatment plans.
... Walking has emerged as a primary target for PA promotion to older adults. It is the most commonly performed type of PA [22] and is accessible, simple, and enjoyable [23,24]. Even adjusted for other types of PA, walking is associated with decreased mortality among older adults [25]. ...
Background
Older adult women often do not engage in sufficient physical activity (PA) and can encounter biological changes that exacerbate the negative effects of inadequate activity. Wearable activity monitors can facilitate PA initiation, but evidence of sustained behavior change is lacking. Supplementing wearable technologies with intervention content that evokes enjoyment, interest, meaning, and personal values associated with PA may support long term adherence. In this paper, we present the protocol of an NIA-funded study designed to evaluate the efficacy of CHALLENGE for increasing step count and motivation for PA in insufficiently active older women (Challenges for Healthy Aging: Leveraging Limits for Engaging Networked Game-based Exercise). CHALLENGE uses social media to supplement wearable activity monitors with the autonomy-supportive frame of a game. We hypothesize that CHALLENGE will engender playful experiences that will improve motivation for exercise and lead to sustained increases in step count.
Methods
We will recruit 300 healthy, community dwelling older adult women on a rolling basis and randomize them to receive either the CHALLENGE intervention (experimental arm) or an activity monitor-only intervention (comparison arm). Participants in both groups will receive a wearable activity monitor and personalized weekly feedback emails. In the experimental group, participants will also be added to a private Facebook group, where study staff will post weekly challenges that are designed to elicit playful experiences while walking. Assessments at baseline and 6, 12, and 18 months will measure PA and motivation-related constructs. We will fit linear mixed-effects models to evaluate differences in step count and motivational constructs, and longitudinal mediation models to evaluate if interventional effects are mediated by changes in motivation. We will also conduct thematic content analysis of text and photos posted to Facebook and transcripts from individual interviews.
Discussion
By taking part in a year-long intervention centered on imbuing walking behaviors with playful and celebratory experiences, participating older adult women may internalize changes to their identity and relationship with PA that facilitate sustained behavior change. Study results will have implications for how we can harness powerful and increasingly ubiquitous technologies for health promotion to the vast and growing population of older adults in the U.S. and abroad.
Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT04095923. Registered September 17th, 2019.
... The health benefits arising from regularly engaging in physical activity are widely recognised [8][9][10], with recreational running being a popular activity of choice. In Europe and Africa, running (9%) is the second highest recreational activity engaged in by adults after soccer (10%) [11]. Recreational running, by design, is accessible to all irrespective of age or level of fitness. ...
Purpose
Recreational runners who need refractive visual correction will need to choose the type of visual correction (spectacles, contact lenses, or no correction) to wear when running. The prevalence of correction choices and distinguishing demographic features associated with these choices of correction were investigated.
Methods
A 26-item online questionnaire covering demographics, running habits, and visual corrections used was answered by 941 people. Participants were aged 18 years or older, considered themselves a recreational runner and reported needing refractive correction for everyday life. Bivariate analyses and binary logistic regression were used to determine the variables independently associated with including or avoiding types of correction for running.
Results & conclusions
Participants ran an average of 3.8times, 3.6hours, and 33.4km per week. Running habits were not associated with type of visual correction, suggesting that visual correction does not present a barrier to participating in recreational running. Solely using spectacles for running was the most common choice (38.8%) and they were worn for running at least sometimes by 65.8%. Fewer people wore spectacles for running than for general purposes (98.9%), suggesting spectacles have limitations for running. Spectacle wear for running was significantly associated with not having contact lenses available and longer duration of wearing visual correction. Running without correction was a common choice, with 15.5% of the sample only running without correction, and 26.2% running at least sometimes without their visual correction. Not wearing correction was significantly associated with not having contact lenses, a shorter duration of wearing visual correction, and a lower myopic refractive error. Contact lenses were the sole correction for running for 15.6% and were worn for running at least sometimes by 40.5%. Contact lenses were significantly more likely to be used by women and younger runners. Signposting runners to contact lenses if this has not previously been considered is recommended.
... Z.C.K. Tse 1 , Y. Cao 2 , B.K.H. Chau 1,3,4 , M.K. Yeung 5 , C. Leung 6 , D.H.K. Shum 1,7 implement the game as an intervention in the community (14). Most of the literature on activities for older adults has focused on the benefits of culture-general activities such as reading, exercising, and playing memory games (15,16). Some culture-specific activities, such as Tai-Chi and Qigong, have recently also become major topics of research (17). ...
Playing mahjong is a popular intellectual and social leisure activity in Asian countries. It is culturally believed that this activity is beneficial to cognitive and psychological functioning in older adults. However, empirical evidence of the benefits of playing mahjong is scant and scattered across the Western and Asian literature. This scoping review comprehensively examined previous studies of the relationships between playing mahjong and cognitive, psychological, and functional abilities in older adults, highlighted gaps in the literature, and identified directions for future research. A systematic search of the literature was conducted across thirteen Western and Asian databases. Fifty-three studies, including forty-seven observational and six intervention studies, were identified. Overall, the results of the observational studies suggested that more mahjong-playing experience was associated with better cognitive, psychological, and functional abilities. As an intervention, playing mahjong was found to enhance general cognitive abilities and short-term memory and relieve depressive symptoms. However, because most of the reviewed studies adopted a correlational methodology, the neural mechanism underlying the benefits of playing mahjong awaits further elucidation. The findings of this review suggest that more randomized controlled trials should be conducted to explore the effects of playing mahjong on higher-level cognitive functioning in older populations.
... In this age group, swimming holds the fourth most favored sport position in the United States and Mexico, ranking second only to football in Brazil, Peru, and Argentina (Maillane-Vanegas et al., 2018;Vandermeerschen et al., 2015Vandermeerschen et al., , 2016. Moreover, within the European adolescent demographic, swimming is the second most favored sport, while football retains its primary preference (Hulteen et al., 2017;Maillane-Vanegas et al., 2018). ...
In practical situations, athletes often face certain limitations in the transition to finswimming. Consequently, coaching procedures focus on the conversion of trained-swimmers into finswimming athletes. This study aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of the anthropometric characteristics, aerobic capacity, and respiratory capacity of athletes engaged in finswimming and those trained in traditional swimming. Fifteen male finswimming athletes and trained-swimmers aged 18-19 years participated in the study. They performed a progressive maximal treadmill test under laboratory conditions for measuring their aerobic capacities. Respiratory capacity was measured using spirometer, while body fat percentage was measured using GE Lunar Prodigy DXA. The result showed that the finswimming athletes had statistically higher values of aerobic capacity and respiratory capacity compared to trained-swimmers. Meanwhile, trained-swimmers had statistically higher values of body fat percentage compared to finswimming athletes. Based on these findings, we conclude that finswimmers exhibit a pronounced advantage in aerobic capacity, body fat, and respiratory capacity. While certain parameters, notably respiratory and aerobic capacities, demonstrated marked disparities between the two cohorts, other elements showcased a parallel nature. This conveys the potential for trained swimmers, as identified in this study, to ascend to the levels of athletes by adopting analogous structured training schedules and nutritional regimes akin to those observed in finswimmers.
This systematic review aimed to comprehensively examine the effects of walking on the cardiovascular health of adults and elderly individuals. By evaluating the impacts of various forms and durations of walking on cardiovascular parameters, this study synthesizes findings from the existing literature. Conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, the study involved a thorough review of articles identified through searches in electronic databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane, MEDLINE, and Web of Science, using predefined keywords. A total of 15 articles meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed. The findings indicate that walking generally exerts positive effects on cardiovascular health and plays a significant role in preventing cardiovascular diseases, particularly in elderly individuals. Walking at low to moderate intensities was highlighted for its beneficial effects on cardiovascular parameters. However, the lack of efficacy observed in some studies appears to be influenced by individual differences, frequency, duration, and the design of walking protocols. Future research should focus on longer-term studies with protocols tailored to individual characteristics to achieve clearer and more generalizable outcomes.
Bu araştırmanın amacı ortaöğretim öğrencilerinin dijital oyun oynama motivasyonu ve serbest zaman fiziksel aktivite kısıtlayıcıları arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemektir. Araştırmanın örneklemini 308 erkek, 238 kadın olmak üzere toplam 546 öğrenci oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmada veri toplama aracı olarak; Kişisel bilgi formu, Dijital Oyun Oynama Motivasyon Ölçeği Serbest Zaman Fiziksel Aktivite Kısıtlayıcıları Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde betimsel istatistikler, t- testi ve tek yönlü varyans analizi uygulanmıştır. Ölçekler arasındaki ilişkiyi ortaya koymak üzere Korelasyon Analizi testleri kullanılmıştır. Yapılan analizler sonucunda; dijital oyun oynama motivasyonu cinsiyet değişkenine göre Başarı Canlanma ile Merak ve Sosyal Kabul alt boyutlarında anlamlı fark bulunmuştur. Serbest zaman fiziksel aktivite kısıtlayıcıları cinsiyet değişkenine göre, Tesis, Yetenek Algısı ve Sosyal Çevre alt boyutlarında kadınların ortalama puanları erkeklerinkinden daha yüksek düzeyde olduğu bulunmuştur. Serbest zaman fiziksel aktivite kısıtlayıcılarının dijital oyun oynama süresi değişkenine göre, hiçbir alt boyutta anlamlı fark bulunamamıştır. Dijital oyun oynama motivasyonu ile serbest zaman fiziksel aktivite kısıtlayıcıları arasında pozitif yönlü düşük düzeyde anlamlı ilişki tespit edilmiştir. Sonuç olarak dijital oyun oynama motivasyonu ve serbest zaman fiziksel aktivite kısıtlayıcılarında cinsiyet, okul türü önemli değişkenler olarak ortaya çıkarken, aynı durum dijital oyun oynama süresi için söz konusu değildir. Diğer taraftan bireyleri dijital oyun oynamaya motive eden faktörlerin azaltılması, bireylerin serbest zamanlarında fiziksel aktiviteye katılma durumlarını arttıracağı söylenebilir.
Based on the definition of recreational sports activities, this paper summarizes the role of recreational sports activities on adolescents’ social competence and initially conducts the design of related survey questionnaires. Then the scientific feasibility of the questionnaire is examined using the reliability test method. The online survey distribution was used to obtain initial data for this paper’s study. The influence of leisure sports activities on adolescents’ social competence was investigated using Spearman’s correlation coefficient and regression model. It was explored that there was a significant positive correlation between the dimensions of leisure sports activities and the dimensions of adolescents’ social competence, satisfying Sig<0.05, in addition to which it was concluded that cooperative spirit = 21.714 + 0.616*facilities + 0.445*time + 0.749*atmosphere + 0.637*cognition + 0.843*interest, and that the independent variable had 78.9% explanatory power for the dependent variable. This study conducted quantitative research on the social competence of adolescents through recreational sports activities using questionnaire scales and mathematical analysis models.
The term sport refers to a collection of competitive or leisure physical activities conducted under certain rules and regulations to enhance individuals' physical capabilities, skills, and endurance. Official figures indicate that there are roughly 6.25 million licensed athletes in Türkiye as of 2022. The projection of this figure in the forthcoming years is crucial for facilitating more efficient sports policy planning. The entire number of athletes in Türkiye till 2040 was projected using artificial neural networks (ANN). The utilization of artificial neural networks to predict the number of athletes facilitates the production of projections for subsequent years. These estimations furnish essential data for the expansion of sports and the growth potential of the sports business. The study utilized the Levenberg-Marquardt and Bayesian Regularization techniques of ANN. By the year 2040, it is projected that Türkiye would have a minimum of 7.33 million athletes. Future research should quantify and analyze the number of athletes across various disciplines utilizing ANN algorithms.
Background
Because of growing concerns regarding repeated head trauma, in 2016, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) banned headers for athletes aged ≤10 years and limited athletes aged 11 to 13 years to practicing headers for 30 minutes per week.
Purpose
To assess whether the USSF header policy was associated with fewer soccer-related concussions after the 2015 season.
Study Design
Descriptive epidemiology study.
Methods
A retrospective cohort from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database was assessed. Age, sex, and injury type were extracted for all soccer-related emergency department visits between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2023. Univariate and multiple regression analyses were used to assess concussions as a percentage of all soccer-related injuries based on sex, age group (6-9, 10-13, and 14-17 years), and year. The following time frames were assessed: 2012-2015, 2016-2019, and 2020-2023.
Results
The proportion of concussions decreased from 8.2% of all soccer-related injuries in 2012-2015 to 6.1% in 2020-2023 ( P < .01). The relative risk reduction for soccer-related concussions presenting to an emergency department in 2020-2023 compared with 2012-2015 was 25.6%. Overall, the proportion of concussions among 10- to 13-year-old and 14- to 17-year-old players was higher than for 6- to 9-year-old players (6.6% and 8.9% vs 4.9%, respectively; P < .01). Despite having a lower frequency of soccer-related injuries overall, female players had a greater proportion of concussions than male players (9.6% vs 6.2% of all soccer-related injuries; P < .01). In the multiple regression analysis, injuries that occurred in 2020-2023 were associated with lower odds of concussion compared with 2012-2015 (odds ratio [OR], 0.75 [95% CI, 0.69-0.81]). Compared with 6- to 9-year-old and male players, the 10- to 13-year-old (OR, 1.30 [95% CI, 1.16-1.45]), 14- to 17-year-old (OR, 1.79 [95% CI, 1.61-1.99]), and female players (OR, 1.53 [95% CI, 1.43-1.63]) were associated with higher odds of concussion.
Conclusion
A 25.6% reduction in the relative risk of presenting to the emergency department with a soccer-related concussion was found when comparing 2020-2023 (after USSF header policy implementation) with 2012-2015 (before policy implementation). The USSF youth soccer header policy may improve player safety by reducing head impacts in the pediatric population.
Introduction
Obesity is a chronic condition affecting around 650 million adults globally, with significant health implications such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) medications have shown efficacy in promoting weight loss among obese individuals, although the weight loss is associated with undesired muscle breakdown. In this study, we investigate the psychosocial determinants of resistance training (RT) behavior among GLP-1 medication users, utilizing the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation Behavior (COM-B) model.
Methods
A 1-wk longitudinal study design was adopted, involving members of a medical weight loss program (95.3% female; body mass index, 32.8 ± 7.0 kg·m ⁻² , 48.8 ± 9.9 yr old), assessing correlates of RT participation through an online survey.
Results
Psychological capabilities ( b = 0.39, standard error (SE) = 0.14; P = 0.004) and reflective motivation had direct effects on frequency ( b = 1.27, SE = 0.52; P = 0.02). Automatic motivation ( b = 3.40, SE = 1.22; P = 0.005) and physical opportunities ( b = 2.05, SE = 0.92; P = 0.02) had direct effects on duration, and psychological capabilities ( b = 0.41, SE = 0.18; P = 0.03) and automatic motivation ( b = 0.27, SE = 0.13; P = 0.04) had direct effects on intensity. Psychological capabilities directly or indirectly influenced all RT participation characteristics, suggesting a critical role of planning and self-monitoring in fostering RT adherence.
Conclusion
For GLP-1 users engaging in RT, targeted behavioral interventions may be useful to mitigate muscle loss. Behavior change strategies should focus on psychological capabilities integrating planning and self-monitoring to enhance RT participation, with future research needed to confirm these results in more diverse and larger populations.
Background
Participation in recreational and competitive sports can predispose people to musculoskeletal injuries. Chronic overuse with insufficient recovery, overloading, and direct contact can result in acute primary tendon ruptures. There is scarce literature regarding the epidemiology of sports-related acute primary tendon ruptures in the United States (US).
Purpose
To identify the incidence rate (IR) of sports-related acute primary tendon ruptures presenting to US emergency departments using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database and describe the trends in the IR from 2001 to 2020.
Study Design
Descriptive epidemiology study.
Methods
The NEISS database was queried using injury case narratives; cases with a clear diagnosis of an acute primary tendon rupture were included in the final analysis. National estimates, estimated IRs (reported as per 1,000,000 person-years at risk), and temporal trends in the annual IR (reported as average annual percent change) of acute primary tendon ruptures were calculated using NEISS sample estimates and US Census Bureau population estimates.
Results
An estimated total of 141,382 patients (95% confidence interval [CI], 107,478-175,286) presented to US emergency departments with a sports-related tendon rupture over the study period (IR, 22.9 person-years at risk [95% CI, 17.4-28.3]). The mean age was 37.7 years (95% CI, 37.0-38.5). Of all cases of a tendon rupture identified from 2001 to 2020, 60.1% were secondary to exercise/sports-related injury mechanisms. An Achilles tendon rupture was the most common injury, representing 55.9% of cases. Basketball was the most common sports-related injury mechanism, accounting for 36.6% of cases. The overall injury rate in male patients was 7.7 times that of female patients (IR ratio, 7.7 [95% CI, 4.4-13.5]; P < .05). The annual incidence of all sports-related tendon ruptures in the US increased significantly from 2001 to 2020 (average annual percent change, 1.9 [95% CI, 1.0-2.8]; P < .01).
Conclusion
Recreational/competitive sports participation accounted for a large proportion of acute primary tendon ruptures in the US during the study period.
Çalışmanın amacı, farklı raket sporlarıyla uğraşan bireylerde atletik zihinsel enerjinin yarışma yönelimleri üzerindeki etkisini belirlemektir. Araştırmaya, 17-31 yaş grubu tenis, badminton ve masa tenisi branşlarındaki gönüllü 215 raket sporcusu katılmıştır. Veri toplama aracı olarak "Atletik Zihinsel Enerji Ölçeği (AZEÖ)" ile "Yarışma Yönelimleri Ölçeği (YYÖ)" kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde SPSS 26 programı ile normal dağılım gösteren verilere bağımsız örneklemler için t testi, çoklu karşılaştırmalar için ANOVA testi, ölçekler arası ilişki için ise Pearson korelasyon analizi kullanılmıştır. AZEÖ analizlerinde; sporcuların cinsiyet değişkeninde yorulmama alt boyutunda, branş değişkeninde dinçlik, motivasyon ve konsantrasyon alt boyutlarında, yaş değişkeninde motivasyon ve konsantrasyon alt boyutlarında, öğrenim durumu değişkeninde ise sakinlik alt boyutunda anlamlı farklılıklar tespit edilmiştir. YYÖ analizlerinde; raket sporcularının branş, yaş ve öğrenim durumu değişkenlerinin çatışma alt boyutunda anlamlı farklılık bulunmuştur. Korelasyon analizinde; atletik zihinsel enerji ölçeği alt boyutları ile yarışma yönelimleri ölçeği alt boyutları arasında pozitif yönde anlamlı ilişki olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda, raket sporcularının bir yandan zihinsel enerjilerinin olumlu etkilerine odaklanarak hareket ettikleri diğer yandan da yarışma yönelimlerinde rakibi yenme ve takdir etme eğilimi sergiledikleri söylenebilir.
El Manual sobre igualdad de género, equidad e inclusión en el deporte es un producto intelectual del proyecto Women in Sport: Relaciones de Género y Perspectivas de Futuro (Women-Up), cofinanciado por la Unión Europea. Esta exhaustiva guía pretende sensibilizar e inspirar la acción en favor de la igualdad de género en el deporte. Involucra a las partes interesadas, como entrenadores deportivos, responsables políticos, educadores y ciudadanos, para destacar el valor del deporte y la actividad física, al tiempo que proporciona estrategias para promover la igualdad, la equidad y la inclusión de género.
This chapter examines the decline in muscular fitness among youth, highlighting its importance for physical and mental health. Over the last five decades, developed countries have seen a worrying decrease in children’s muscular fitness levels associated with poor motor skills, functional limitations, and adverse health outcomes. Despite its significance in overall physical activity (PA), muscular fitness, which includes muscle strength, endurance, and power, is often neglected in PA guidelines.
We discuss muscular fitness dimensions, assessment methods suitable for schools, and the challenges of integrating muscular fitness activities into educational settings. These challenges stem from unclear terminology and guidelines, complicating teachers’ efforts to implement muscular fitness activities. The synergy between muscular fitness and aerobic activity is crucial for addressing exercise deficit disorders in youth.
The chapter stresses the need for specific muscular fitness assessment methods and the role of schools in muscular fitness interventions. It highlights the potential benefits of muscular fitness activities on psychosocial health, motor skills, and lifelong PA habits, advocating for better implementation in school curriculums. Additionally, it outlines the obstacles teachers face, such as a lack of confidence and resources, underscoring the importance of professional development to enhance muscular fitness activity integration into whole school and physical education programs.
Background
The epidemiology of testicular trauma in sports on a national scale has not been well studied. Timely management and treatment following testicular trauma is critical to avoid serious, long-term ramifications of mismanagement.
Objectives
Analyze trends in sports-related testicular trauma based on specific sports and patient demographics and over time.
Methods
The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) was queried for Emergency Department (ED) cases between 2012 and 2021 with injuries in the pubic region related to 10 commonly played sports. Variables examined included patient age, race, disposition, and sport using incidence rate, incidence rate ratios, and chi square analysis.
Results
There were an estimated 28,844 ED cases of sports-related testicular trauma between 2012-2021. Young patients, between 10-14 and 15-19 years old, accounted for a majority of cases, and chi-square analysis showed a significant difference in incidence based on age group (p<0.01). A majority of injuries occurred while athletes played basketball, football, and soccer (73.6%).
Conclusion
Sports related testicular trauma injury rates have remained steady between 2012 and 2021, which suggests greater efforts are necessary to reduce the incidence of sports-related testicular trauma. Education efforts should focus on 10-19 year-olds since they have the highest incidence. Given high incidence in sports like basketball and soccer compared to football and lacrosse, testicular trauma seems to be a risk for athletes competing both recreationally and competitively.
Objective: To determine physical activity status and knowledge, attitude and behavior of adolescents regarding healthy eating. Material and Method: 375 students, from the first year of a state high school in Uskudar, Istanbul, were enrolled in this descriptive study. Participants were filled in a questionnaire including 21 questions about nourishment and physical activity. Participants were considered as knowledgeable if they write 3 food groups in food pyramid in correct consuming order and as eating healthy if they declared to consume at least three food groups in correct order. Results: Mean age of the participants was 15.34±0.63 and 54.4%were female. Among the participants, 50.1% have breakfast every day, %63.9 skips at least one meal a day, and 49.7%participates a sport activity regularly. %39.3 knows food pyramid and %23.3 eat healthy. Girls eat significantly more healthier than boys and boys are more sportive than girls (p<0.05) Conclusion: Knowledge about food pyramid of our participants was not adequate and they were not eating healthy. There is a need to implement educational healthy eating programs targeting adolescent age group.
This study investigates differences in physical activity levels and patterns by participation in sport and day among early and mid-adolescent Spanish girls (N = 177, aged 11-16 years) who responded to a Spanish adaptation of the Four-by-One-Day Recall Physical Activity Questionnaire. The results indicate that the girls spent most of their time engaged in light and very light activity and spent limited amounts of time on moderate and vigorous activity on weekdays and weekends. Moderate and vigorous activity declined from early to mid-adolescence and participation in sport did not appear to prevent a decline in overall physical activity. Educational programmes promoting a more active lifestyle should target young people who are less physically active, while preventing the general decline in physical activity.
Background:
In developed countries, individuals experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage - whether a low education level, low income, low-status occupation, or living in a socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhood - are less likely than those more advantaged to engage in eating and physical activity behaviours conducive to optimal health. These socioeconomic inequities in nutrition and physical activity (and some sedentary) behaviours are graded, persistent, and evident across multiple populations and studies. They are concerning in that they mirror socioeconomic inequities in obesity and in health outcomes. Yet there remains a dearth of evidence of the most effective means of addressing these inequities. People experiencing disadvantage face multiple challenges to healthy behaviours that can appear insurmountable. With increasing recognition of the role of underlying structural and societal factors as determinants of nutrition and physical activity behaviours and inequities in these behaviours, and the limited success of behaviour change approaches in addressing these inequities, we might wonder whether there remains a role for behavioural scientists to tackle these challenges.
Discussion:
This debate piece argues that behavioural scientists can play an important role in addressing socioeconomic inequities in nutrition, physical activity and sedentary behaviours, and that this will involve challenging myths and taking on new perspectives. There are successful models for doing so from which we can learn. Addressing socioeconomic inequities in eating, physical activity and sedentary behaviours is challenging. However, successful examples demonstrate that overcoming such challenges is possible, and provide guidance for doing so. Given the disproportionate burden of ill health carried by people experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage, all our nutrition and physical activity interventions, programs and policies should be designed to reach and positively impact these individuals at greatest need.
Background:
Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in youth have been reported to vary by sex, age, weight status and country. However, supporting data are often self-reported and/or do not encompass a wide range of ages or geographical locations. This study aimed to describe objectively-measured physical activity and sedentary time patterns in youth.
Methods:
The International Children's Accelerometry Database (ICAD) consists of ActiGraph accelerometer data from 20 studies in ten countries, processed using common data reduction procedures. Analyses were conducted on 27,637 participants (2.8-18.4 years) who provided at least three days of valid accelerometer data. Linear regression was used to examine associations between age, sex, weight status, country and physical activity outcomes.
Results:
Boys were less sedentary and more active than girls at all ages. After 5 years of age there was an average cross-sectional decrease of 4.2 % in total physical activity with each additional year of age, due mainly to lower levels of light-intensity physical activity and greater time spent sedentary. Physical activity did not differ by weight status in the youngest children, but from age seven onwards, overweight/obese participants were less active than their normal weight counterparts. Physical activity varied between samples from different countries, with a 15-20 % difference between the highest and lowest countries at age 9-10 and a 26-28 % difference at age 12-13.
Conclusions:
Physical activity differed between samples from different countries, but the associations between demographic characteristics and physical activity were consistently observed. Further research is needed to explore environmental and sociocultural explanations for these differences.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are essential to summarize evidence relating to efficacy and safety of health care interventions accurately and reliably. The clarity and transparency of these reports, however, is not optimal. Poor reporting of systematic reviews diminishes their value to clinicians, policy makers, and other users.
Since the development of the QUOROM (QUality Of Reporting Of Meta-analysis) Statement—a reporting guideline published in 1999—there have been several conceptual, methodological, and practical advances regarding the conduct and reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Also, reviews of published systematic reviews have found that key information about these studies is often poorly reported. Realizing these issues, an international group that included experienced authors and methodologists developed PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) as an evolution of the original QUOROM guideline for systematic reviews and meta-analyses of evaluations of health care interventions.
The PRISMA Statement consists of a 27-item checklist and a four-phase flow diagram. The checklist includes items deemed essential for transparent reporting of a systematic review. In this Explanation and Elaboration document, we explain the meaning and rationale for each checklist item. For each item, we include an example of good reporting and, where possible, references to relevant empirical studies and methodological literature. The PRISMA Statement, this document, and the associated Web site (http://www.prisma-statement.org/) should be helpful resources to improve reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
Data on physical activity in children is scarce in Switzerland,
though a better understanding of its levels and changes is of primary
concern for public health. Parent-proxy data from the Swiss
Household Panel survey 2007 were used to describe participation
of 5 to 13 year old children in sport clubs or similar associations.
Almost three quarters of boys and girls were members of such
organisations, with lower participation under about 8 years of age.
The most popular sports practiced among boys were football and
among girls dance and gymnastics. The parents’ socioeconomic
status, physical activity and sports club membership showed an
association with the child’s behaviour. Further exploration of these
relationships may provide a better understanding of possibilities
for intervention.
Background: It has been suggested that young people should develop competence in a variety of ‘lifelong physical activities’ to ensure that they can be active across the lifespan.
Objective: The primary aim of this systematic review is to assess the methodological properties, validity, reliability and test duration of current field-based measures which assess movement skill competency in lifelong physical activities. A secondary aim was to clearly define those characteristics unique to lifelong physical activities
Data Sources: A search of four electronic databases (Scopus, SPORTDiscus, ProQuest and PubMed) was conducted between June 2014 and September 2014 with no date restrictions.
Study Selection: Studies addressing the validity and/or reliability of lifelong physical activity tests were reviewed. Included articles were required to assess lifelong physical activities using process-oriented measures, as well as report either one type of validity or reliability.
Study Appraisal and Synthesis Methods: Assessment criteria for methodological quality were adapted from a checklist used in a previous review of sport skill outcome assessments.
Results: Eight different lifelong physical activities (badminton, cycling, dance, golf, racquetball, resistance training, swimming and tennis) in 17 studies were identified for inclusion. Methodological quality, validity, reliability and test duration (time to assess a single participant), for each article were assessed. Moderate to excellent reliability results were found in 16 of 17 studies with 71% reporting inter-rater reliability and 41% reporting intra-rater reliability. Only four studies in this review reported test-retest reliability. Ten studies reported validity results, of which content validity was cited in 41% of these studies. Construct validity was reported in 24% of studies, while criterion validity was only reported in 12% of studies.
Limitations: There are numerous lifelong physical activities that exist, yet only eight different activities were found.
Conclusion: Moderate to excellent levels of inter- and intra-rater reliability were reported in the majority of studies. However, future work should look to establish test retest reliability. Validity was less commonly reported than reliability and stronger types of validity other than content validity need to be established in future research. Specifically, predictive validity of ‘lifelong physical activity’ movement skill competency is needed to support the assertion that such activities provide the foundation for a lifetime of activity. Test duration varied greatly for tests included in this review and should be carefully considered in future tests to assure that a test has adequate measurement properties, but is still feasible to use.
El objetivo de este estudio es analizar en el conjunto de mujeres y varones mayores de 65 años en España que no practican pero desearían practicar actividad física (demanda latente), las posibles diferencias de género en las expectativas sobre las actividades demandadas y los beneficios que esperan obtener con su práctica. La metodología ha consistido en la realización de entrevistas cara a cara, aplicando un cuestionario estructurado, a una muestra aleatoriamente seleccionada de la población española de 65 años o más. Los 933 sujetos participantes en el estudio tenían una edad media de 74,1 años, siendo el 53,1% mujeres y el 46,9% varones. Los resultados obtenidos revelan que gran parte de estas mujeres mayores parecen tender a concentrar sus demandas en programas de ejercicio físico (39,7%) o de actividades en el medio acuático (39,7%). También gran parte de los varones mayores se inclinan por ambas actividades (33,3% y 28,1%), pero otros prefieren algunos deportes (21,1%) y actividades al aire libre (12,3%). El principal beneficio que estos hombres y mujeres mayores buscan en estas actividades es mantener o mejorar la salud seguidos de diferentes beneficios sociales y de ocupación del tiempo libre. Estas expectativas deberían ser consideradas en los programas dirigidos a este colectivo.
Background
In recent years, there has been a decline in physical activity among adults. Motivation has been shown to be a crucial factor in maintaining physical activity. The purpose of this study was to examine whether motives for participation could accurately discriminate gender, age, and type of physical activity.MethodsA quantitative, cross-sectional descriptive research design was employed. The Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale (PALMS) was used to assess motives for physical activity in 1,360 adults (703 males, 657 females) who had been exercising regularly for at least six months. The PALMS consists of 40 items that constitute eight sub-scales (mastery, enjoyment, psychological condition, physical condition, appearance, others¿ expectations, affiliation, competition/ego). Respondents were divided into two age groups (young adults aged 20 to 40 years and middle-aged adults 41 to 64 years) and five types of activity (individual racing sports plus bowls, team sports, racquet sports, martial arts, and exercise).ResultsThe group discriminant function analyses revealed significant canonical functions correctly classifying the cases into gender (82%), age group (83%), team sport players 76%, individual racing sport plus bowls players 91%, racquet sport players 90%, exercisers 84%, and martial art players 91%. The competition/ego, appearance, physical condition, and mastery sub-scales contributed most to gender differences. Five sub-scales (mastery, psychological condition, others¿ expectations, affiliation, and enjoyment) contributed most to the discriminant function for age. For type of activity, different sub-scales were the strongest contributors to the discriminant function for each type of PA.Conclusion
The findings in this study suggest that strong and important motives for participation in physical activity are different across type of activity, age, and gender in adults. Understanding the motives that influence physical activity participation is critical for developing interventions to promote higher levels of involvement.
This paper presents an analysis of sports activities in adolescent (12 - 15 years old) pupils in the Czech Republic and some EU countries. The aim of the study is to analyse, verify and identify the status quo of children's interests in locomotive activities at basic school and their attitude towards these activities including the determinants that shape that attitude. The study is done with the help of kinatropological research. The method we chose is based on a survey questionnaire along with the analysis and synthesis of the resulting data. We expected that more than 66% of pupils regularly participate in some sports activity. The evaluation of the results proved our hypothesis was true in that 93% of children from the chosen EU countries do indeed regularly participate in some sport. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Report on general findings from the representative "Sport Switzerland 2014" survey that was carried out by telephone (n=10'652) and online questionnaire (n=7'104) in the population aged 15 to 74 years in 2013. The findings show that 69 per cent of the population participate in sport at least once a week. Even though gender differences are declining, age and socio-economic differences in sport participation persist. Currently, the most popular sports in Switzerland are (mountain) hiking (44% of all respondents engage at least occasionally in this activity), cycling (38%), swimming (36%), downhill skiing (35%), jogging (23%), and fitness training (20%).
The discourse of competitive sport is, and has been, a defining feature of physical education for many years. Given the privileged and dominant position competition holds in physical education curricula, it is concerning that competitive physical education remains steeped in traditional pedagogies and that these pedagogies are constrained by teachers' everyday philosophies rather than any explicit understanding of pedagogy or the needs of pupils. This in turn affects pupils' experiences of physical education and specifically the type and form of activities that are offered to pupils. Physical education teachers' biographies generally show a profound attachment to sport, and in particular competitive sport, and the value of competitive sport is significant in the lives and identities of physical education recruits. However, there is a paucity of research specifically in relation to in-service and pre-service physical education teacher's beliefs about competition and its place in physical education. It is well documented that the implicit theories that pre-service, beginning and experienced teachers hold influence their reactions to teacher education and their teaching practice, with their beliefs acting as a filter through which a host of instructional judgements and decisions are made. Thus, it is important to understand pre-service physical education teachers' (PSTs') beliefs about competition. Thirty five (16 men, 15 women, 4 unknown) PSTs completed a reflective journal alongside their participation in a University-based module focused on models-based practice. The data generated were analysed using the procedures and techniques of grounded theory which revealed five major themes grouped in the discussion under the sub-categories of: (1) defining competition; (2) learning through competition; (3) competitive physical education and the sporting pathway; (4) competition needs to be got out of children; and (5) a little competition. The discussion challenges how we transform traditional views of competition and the competitive practices that alienate some young people from physical education.
Few studies have quantified levels of habitual physical activity across the entire intensity range. We aimed to describe variability in total and intensity-specific physical activity levels in UK adolescents across gender, socio-demographic, temporal and body composition strata.
Physical activity energy expenditure and minutes per day (min/d) spent sedentary and in light, moderate, and vigorous intensity physical activity were assessed in 825 adolescents from the ROOTS study (43.5% boys; mean age 15.0 +/- 0.30 years), by 4 days of individually calibrated combined heart rate and movement sensing. Measurement days were classified as weekday or weekend and according to the three school terms: summer (April-July), autumn (September-December), and spring (January-March). Gender and age were self-reported and area-level SES determined by postcode data. Body composition was measured by anthropometry and bio-electrical impedance. Variability in physical activity and sedentary time was analysed by linear multilevel modelling, and logistic multilevel regression was used to determine factors associated with physical inactivity (<60 min moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity/d).
During awake hours (15.8 +/- 0.9 hrs/d), adolescents primarily engaged in light intensity physical activity (517 min/d) and sedentary time (364 min/d). Boys were consistently more physically active and less sedentary than girls, but gender differences were smaller at weekends, as activity levels in boys dropped more markedly when transitioning from weekday to weekend. Boys were more sedentary on both weekend days compared to during the week, whereas girls were more sedentary on Sunday but less sedentary on Saturday. In both genders light intensity physical activity was lower in spring, while moderate physical activity was lower in autumn and spring terms, compared to the summer term; sedentary time was also higher in spring than summer term. Adolescents with higher fatness engaged in less vigorous intensity physical activity. Factors associated with increased odds of physical inactivity were female gender, both weekend days in boys, and specifically Sunday in girls.
Physical activity components vary by gender, temporal factors and body composition in UK adolescents. The available data indicate that in adolescence, girls should be the primary targets of interventions designed to increase physical activity levels.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in March 2011 to study the patterns and determinants of physical activity among 439 secondary-school students in Muscat governorate based on a self-administered questionnaire. Half of the students (52.9%) were enrolled in physical education classes and 95.9% reported after-school physical activities. The recommended level of physical activity (> or = 1680 MET minutes/week) was met by 23.9% of students, being significantly lower among girls (9.8%) than boys (38.8%). More girls were in the stages of pre-contemplation (5.8%) and contemplation (26.7%) of adopting exercise while more boys were in the action (15.4%) and maintenance stages (36.0%). Girls reported significantly more barriers to exercise, related to lack of energy, interest in other activities, lack of encouragement, worries about looks, and time constraints from academic responsibilities and family obligations. The full model logistic regression revealed that boys, 11th-grade students and attempts to regulate weight significantly predicted physical activity meeting the recommended levels.
Objectives
In-depth analysis of the relationship between sports participation and stress among adult women and men.Design644 women and 783 men, 20–65 years, from the SPAH Flemish-Policy-Research-Centre, reported data on participation in favourite sports and mental health.Method
Gender-specific multiple MANOVAs with stress appraisal and the stress response of emotional distress as dependent variables, and participation in 15 different types of sports as independent variables, including effect sizes (Cohen’s d) per sport-type.ResultsVery little difference in perceived-stress and emotional-distress existed in women and men who participated in different sport-types, suggesting that “one-activity-fits-all recommendations” are likely inappropriate. Different sports are suitable for different individuals, and it is important that one finds the sport that suits one best. Conversely, significant associations between participation in walking and in meditation sports manifested with both stress appraisal and emotional distress among women, and significant associations between participation in ball games and in water sports manifested with emotional distress among men.Conclusions
The paper gathered substantial comprehensive insight and connected its quantitative data to existing qualitative data, presenting stimulating theoretical arguments. Sport-type related variations in the physical activity – mental health relationship were analyzed, based on the theory of mindful movement and the complexity paradigm identifying 3 coordinates on which the physical activity – mental health complexity unravels, based on: activity domains, mental health dimensions, and individual characteristics. The mindful movement theory proposes an underlying mechanism that could explain the positive physical activity – mental health relationship, and the complexity paradigm provides basis for creating a workable definition for ther concept of mindful physical activity.
There are specific guidelines regarding the level of physical activity (PA) required to provide health benefits. However, the research underpinning these PA guidelines does not address the element of social health. Furthermore, there is insufficient evidence about the levels or types of PA associated specifically with psychological health. This paper first presents the results of a systematic review of the psychological and social health benefits of participation in sport by children and adolescents. Secondly, the information arising from the systematic review has been used to develop a conceptual model.
A systematic review of 14 electronic databases was conducted in June 2012, and studies published since 1990 were considered for inclusion. Studies that addressed mental and/or social health benefits from participation in sport were included.
A total of 3668 publications were initially identified, of which 30 met the selection criteria. There were many different psychological and social health benefits reported, with the most commonly being improved self-esteem, social interaction followed by fewer depressive symptoms. Sport may be associated with improved psychosocial health above and beyond improvements attributable to participation in PA. Specifically, team sport seems to be associated with improved health outcomes compared to individual activities, due to the social nature of the participation. A conceptual model, Health through Sport, is proposed. The model depicts the relationship between psychological, psychosocial and social health domains, and their positive associations with sport participation, as reported in the literature. However, it is acknowledged that the capacity to determine the existence and direction of causal links between participation and health is limited by the fact that the majority of studies identified (n=21) were cross-sectional.
It is recommended that community sport participation is advocated as a form of leisure time PA for children and adolescents, in an effort to not only improve physical health in relation to such matters as the obesity crisis, but also to enhance psychological and social health outcomes. It is also recommended that the causal link between participation in sport and psychosocial health be further investigated and the conceptual model of Health through Sport tested.
A broad consensus has emerged in recent years in relation to the desirability of one particular purpose for physical education (PE); namely, the promotion of lifelong participation in sport and physical activity. This paper represents an attempt to rectify what is taken to be the relative failure of those investigating (whilst typically advocating) lifelong participation through PE to make use of a sociological perspective on leisure, youth cultures and sport. More specifically, it brings the seminal work of someone often referred to as a 'founding father' of the field, Ken Roberts, to bear on the topic, on the premise that any study of young people's propensity towards ongoing involvement in sport and physical activity needs to be viewed as an aspect of their lives 'in the round' and that, in this regard, Roberts' contribution is especially important. The paper argues that among a number of lessons to be learned from Roberts' work over the last decade or so is that sports participation—contrary to the common-sense views of teachers, government and other interested parties—has become part of present-day youth cultures and that this is, in no small measure, a consequence of a trend over the last 25 or so years towards a broadening of PE curricula in a manner that mutually reinforces broader trends in young people's leisure styles. The paper concludes that if lifelong participation is to be a primary aim of PE, then there needs to be a shift in policy towards the development of wide sporting repertoires, during the crucial secondary school years by, amongst other things, incorporating a significant element of choice on the part of pupils from a broad range of curricula and extracurricular activities, including so-called 'lifestyle' activities.
Background: Promoting physical activity is a public health priority, and changes in the environmental contexts of adults’ activity choices are believed to be crucial. However, of the factors associated with physical activity, environmental influences are among the least understood.Method: Using journal scans and computerized literature database searches, we identified 19 quantitative studies that assessed the relationships with physical activity behavior of perceived and objectively determined physical environment attributes. Findings were categorized into those examining five categories: accessibility of facilities, opportunities for activity, weather, safety, and aesthetic attributes.Results: Accessibility, opportunities, and aesthetic attributes had significant associations with physical activity. Weather and safety showed less-strong relationships. Where studies pooled different categories to create composite variables, the associations were less likely to be statistically significant.Conclusions: Physical environment factors have consistent associations with physical activity behavior. Further development of ecologic and environmental models, together with behavior-specific and context-specific measurement strategies, should help in further understanding of these associations. Prospective studies are required to identify possible causal relationships.
Chronic diseases are major killers in the modern era. Physical inactivity is a primary cause of most chronic diseases. The initial third of the article considers: activity and prevention definitions; historical evidence showing physical inactivity is detrimental to health and normal organ functional capacities; cause versus treatment; physical activity and inactivity mechanisms differ; gene-environment interaction (including aerobic training adaptations, personalized medicine, and co-twin physical activity); and specificity of adaptations to type of training. Next, physical activity/exercise is examined as primary prevention against 35 chronic conditions [accelerated biological aging/premature death, low cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max), sarcopenia, metabolic syndrome, obesity, insulin resistance, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, coronary heart disease, peripheral artery disease, hypertension, stroke, congestive heart failure, endothelial dysfunction, arterial dyslipidemia, hemostasis, deep vein thrombosis, cognitive dysfunction, depression and anxiety, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, balance, bone fracture/falls, rheumatoid arthritis, colon cancer, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, polycystic ovary syndrome, erectile dysfunction, pain, diverticulitis, constipation, and gallbladder diseases]. The article ends with consideration of deterioration of risk factors in longerterm sedentary groups; clinical consequences of inactive childhood/adolescence; and public policy. In summary, the body rapidly maladapts to insufficient physical activity, and if continued, results in substantial decreases in both total and quality years of life. Taken together, conclusive evidence exists that physical inactivity is one important cause of most chronic diseases. In addition, physical activity primarily prevents, or delays, chronic diseases, implying that chronic disease need not be an inevitable outcome during life.
Objectives: The first purpose of this study was to examine low-income parents' and their children's perceptions of the benefits associated with participation in youth sport. The second purpose was to examine parents' perceptions of the challenges associated with providing their children sporting opportunities. Design: Interpretive Description qualitative approach (Thorne, 2008). Methods: Thirty-five individual interviews were conducted with parents and children from 17 low-income families. Data were transcribed and subjected to interpretive description analytic techniques. Results: Analysis produced three main findings: (1) Parents and children reported that sport participation was associated with a range of personal and social developmental benefits; (2) Parents reported that several remaining barriers and constraints restricted the extent to which their children could engage in sport and gain sustained developmental benefits; and, (3) Parents offered several possible solutions to the problem of engaging their children in sport. Conclusions: Findings demonstrate the value and importance of providing sport to children from low-income families, but highlight that increased efforts are needed to overcome remaining barriers and sustain long-term participation and benefits.
The Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity (CSPPA) study is a unique multi-centre/
discipline study undertaken by three Irish institutions, Dublin City University, University of
Limerick and University College Cork. The study sought to assess participation in physical activity,
physical education and sport (PAPES) among 10�18 year olds in Ireland. This paper shares what
Irish children and young people convey, using their own voices, about their sport and physical
activity (PA) experiences and how such experiences may result in their feeling included or excluded
in PAPES. Eighteen focus groups (FG) with 124 boys and girls elicited descriptive data from
students and were conducted with homogeneous groups of 6�8 boys and girls aged 12�18 years
(selected for convenience) identified as male/female, primary/post-primary and generally active/
inactive. Five themes (‘being with friends’, ‘variety in activity content’, ‘experiencing fun’, ‘time
constraints’ and ‘opportunity to be outside’) ran across the three PAPES opportunities for young
people. Overall data revealed that these young people have a positive attitude towards PA which
does not diminish as they age despite activity levels decreasing. Other choices of activity
participation (e.g. debate, music), or more focused activities took the place of previous choices
as young people came to realise what they most enjoyed. If we are to encourage and provide
opportunities for young people to choose active lifestyles, it is important that we address what these
young people report affects their involvement in PA across a number of contexts. Two such
developments within Irish school and community contexts are discussed: Active School Flag
initiative and Senior Cycle Physical Education framework.
Background
Much research has been conducted into the determinants of physical activity (PA) participation among adolescent girls. However, the more specific question of what are the determinants of particular forms of PA participation, such as the link between participation through a sports club, has not been investigated. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between participation in a sports club and socio-economic status (SES), access to facilities, and family and peer support, for female adolescents.
Methods
A survey of 732 female adolescent school students (521 metropolitan, 211 non-metropolitan; 489 Year 7, 243 Year 11) was conducted. The survey included demographic information (living arrangements, ethnicity indicators, and indicators of SES such as parental education and employment status and locality); access to facilities; and family and peer support (travel, encouragement, watching, praise, joint participation). For each characteristic, sports club participants and non-participants were compared using chi-square tests. Multiple mediation analyses were used to investigate the role of access, family and peer support in the link between SES and sport participation.
Results
There were significant associations (p<0.05) between sports club participation and: all demographic characteristics; all measures of family and peer support; and access to sport-related facilities. Highest levels of participation were associated with monolingual Australian-born families, with two parents, at least one of whom was well-educated, with both parents employed, and high levels of parental assistance, engagement and support. Participation in club sport among both younger and older adolescent girls was significantly positively associated with the SES of both their neighbourhoods and their households, particularly in metropolitan areas. These associations were most strongly mediated by family support and by access to facilities.
Conclusions
To facilitate and promote greater participation in club sport among adolescent girls from low SES neighbourhoods and households, strategies should target modifiable determinants such as facility access and parental support. This will involve improving access to sports facilities and promoting, encouraging and assisting parents to provide support for their daughters’ participation in sport clubs.
The promotion of lifetime participation in physical activity is a major goal of physical education, which this study considered in the context of curricular and extracurricular opportunities. Questionnaires focusing on PE provision were completed by 51 heads of physical education (HoPE). Results showed that team games predominated over lifetime activities in Key Stages 3 and 4 (p < .01), while lifetime activities were more prominent during extra-curricular time (p< .01). Female HoPE offered more lifetime activities than team games as part of their curricular (p < .01) and extracurricular provision. In contrast, male HoPE provided most opportunities for team games (p < .01). Schools place a significant emphasis on team games, often at the expense of lifetime activities. Physical educators must recognize which activities have the greatest carry-over value into adult life, and aim to provide more opportunities for allstudents to experience these activities.
The regulation of gene expression is essential for eukaryotes, as it drives the processes of cellular differentiation and morphogenesis, leading to the creation of different cell types in multicellular organisms. RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) provides researchers with a powerful toolbox for characterization and quantification of transcriptome. Many different human tissue/cell transcriptome datasets coming from RNA-Seq technology are available on public data resource. The fundamental issue here is how to develop an effective analysis method to estimate expression pattern similarities between different tumor tissues and their corresponding normal tissues. We define the gene expression pattern from three directions: 1) expression breadth, which reflects gene expression on/off status, and mainly concerns ubiquitously expressed genes; 2) low/high or constant/variable expression genes, based on gene expression level and variation; and 3) the regulation of gene expression at the gene structure level. The cluster analysis indicates that gene expression pattern is higher related to physiological condition rather than tissue spatial distance. Two sets of human housekeeping (HK) genes are defined according to cell/tissue types, respectively. To characterize the gene expression pattern in gene expression level and variation, we firstly apply improved K-means algorithm and a gene expression variance model. We find that cancer-associated HK genes (a HK gene is specific in cancer group, while not in normal group) are expressed higher and more variable in cancer condition than in normal condition. Cancer-associated HK genes prefer to AT-rich genes, and they are enriched in cell cycle regulation related functions and constitute some cancer signatures. The expression of large genes is also avoided in cancer group. These studies will help us understand which cell type-specific patterns of gene expression differ among different cell types, and particularly for cancer.
Studies of the physical activity of 17-year-old adolescents attending selected schools in Lithuania were conducted in 2010 with the use of the IPAQ. The adolescents differed with respect to the scope of leisure time possessed. Considerably more boys than girls indicated that they had a sufficient amount of leisure time, but to the contrary, considerably more girls than boys declared that they possessed an insufficient amount of free time. The majority of schoolchildren were characterized by a high level of physical activity, with the larger group being boys. Low activity was not observed among boys, and in only a few girls. Moderate effort constituted the highest percentage of physical activity among adolescents, whereas an intensive activity - the lowest. Considering the total area of activity, there dominated occupational activity (education), while its smallest percentage was devoted to sports and recreation. Boys evaluated their physical efficacy in more negative terms than girls. Adolescents with a higher self-reported efficacy were characterized by higher physical activity. The majority of adolescents had a normal BMI. Girls and boys had different preferences concerning motor activities. Girls mainly used walks, bicycle riding, and running, while boys also chose bicycle riding and running, and played sports games. The adolescents also had new expectations - girls reported mainly horse riding, aerobics and dancing, whereas boys mentioned football and bodybuilding fitness exercises.