Telecoaching Interventions for People with Epilepsy: Enhancing Physical Activity and Quality of Life through Digital Health. A Systematic Review.

Background/objectives: Previous studies on aquatic exercises have primarily focused on either physical fitness or psychological outcomes. This study examines the effects of a structured 10-week aqua fitness program on physical fitness and psychosocial outcomes in healthy adult women. Additionally, a 4-week training cessation period was incorporated to assess the sustainability of any observed physical fitness benefits. Methods: A total of 32 female participants (mean age 51.28 ± 9.12 years) with prior aqua aerobics experience engaged in supervised aqua fitness sessions, conducted three times per week (~55 min/session) at moderate intensity (RPE = 12, on a 6-20 scale). The physical fitness outcomes assessed included dominant hand grip strength, lower limb muscle endurance, dynamic balance, mobility, and upper and lower limb flexibility. The psychosocial outcomes included subjective well-being and social inclusion. Results: The results demonstrate significant improvements in dynamic balance (ES = 0.85) and lower limb flexibility (ES = 0.73 and 0.65 for the two limbs, respectively), with smaller yet notable gains observed in other physical fitness outcomes (ES = from 0.20 to 0.48). On the contrary, only a marginal improvement was detected in a single domain of subjective well-being (environmental domain, ES = 0.35) and no changes were observed across the seven domains of social inclusion. Importantly, all physical fitness gains were maintained during the 4-week training cessation period, with lower limb flexibility showing additional improvements. Conclusions: These findings underscore the effectiveness of supervised aqua fitness programs in enhancing physical fitness in middle-aged women, while their impact on psychosocial outcomes appears limited in this population.

ABSTRACTPurpose: To summarize the framework and development procedure of the China National Assessment of Education Quality - Physical Education & Health in 2015 (CNAEQ-PEH 2015), an authoritative and evidence-based national surveillance protocol developed by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China for Grade 4 and Grade 8 students. Methods: The framework of CNAEQ-PEH 2015 included a test battery of physical fitness and health outcomes and self-reported questionnaires regarding facilitators and barriers to physical fitness and health in school settings and family status, completed by students, teachers, and principals. A qualified, standardized, and responsible work procedure was generated to provide insights into the quality of data collection and supervision of large-scale school-based physical fitness testing implementation. Measure development, stratified unequal probability sampling, and implementation were included in the working procedure. Results: In the first circle of the CNAEQ-PEH conducted on June 18, 2015, 111,173 Grade 4 students from 4,015 elementary schools and 72,243 Grade 8 students from 2,461 middle schools, along with their principals (n = 6,447) and physical education (PE) teachers (n = 11,418), were sampled by probability proportionate to size (PPS) across 323 counties in China. Results provided detailed information regarding students’ physical fitness outcomes, learning, lifestyle, and educational environment. Conclusions: CNAEQ-PEH 2015 is a large-scale assessment of physical fitness and health outcomes. It helps provide opportunities to understand the physical fitness and health status of Chinese Grade 4 and 8 students and to study the correlations of physical fitness and health, as well as their relationship with education-related indicators and academic performance.

HighlightsWhat are the main findings?Adapted judo significantly improved physical fitness components (strength, balance, and flexibility) in adolescents with Down syndrome.The intervention also enhanced psychosocial well-being, including self-esteem and social interaction.What are the implications of the main findings?Adapted judo can be considered a multidimensional strategy for promoting health and inclusion in adolescents with Down syndrome.These findings support the integration of adapted martial arts into physical education and therapeutic programs.Background/Objectives: Adolescents with Down syndrome often present limitations in physical fitness and psychosocial well-being, which can affect their health and social inclusion. Adapted physical activity programs, such as martial arts, may offer multidimensional benefits. This study aimed to analyze the effects of an adapted judo intervention on physical fitness and psychosocial outcomes in adolescents with Down syndrome. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was applied with 43 adolescents diagnosed with Down syndrome, allocated to a control group (n = 19) and an intervention group (n = 24). Participants in the intervention group completed a 24-week adapted judo program. Physical fitness was assessed through standardized tests for strength, balance, and flexibility, while psychosocial well-being was evaluated using validated questionnaires on self-esteem and social interaction. Pre- and post-intervention comparisons were conducted using appropriate statistical analyses. Results: Participants showed significant improvements in physical fitness components, particularly in muscular strength and balance (p < 0.05). Flexibility also increased, although to a lesser extent. Psychosocial measures revealed enhanced self-esteem and greater perceived social interaction, indicating positive effects beyond physical health. Conclusions: Adapted judo appears to be an effective multidimensional intervention for adolescents with Down syndrome, promoting both physical and psychosocial benefits. These findings support the inclusion of adapted martial arts in physical education and therapeutic programs aimed at fostering health and social participation in this population.

Background: Physical literacy has been widely acknowledged as the determinant of physical fitness and multidimensional health outcomes, which are usually among the students undertaking sports sciences programs. Nevertheless, there are a few studies on the impact of academic advancement on such parameters among postgraduate scholars. Objective: To describe differences between first-year and second-year MPhil students in sports sciences in physical literacy, physical fitness, and multidimensional health outcomes, and to investigate predictive ability of physical literacy in all health-related outcomes. Methods: The study was a comparative cross-sectional study carried out on 52 MPhil students of sports sciences in the Health Services Academy, Islamabad. The participants were separated into two groups, the first year (n = 28) and the second year (n = 24). The PLAY-self questionnaire was taken to measure physical literacy, field-based tests (aerobic capacity, flexibility, and muscular endurance) to measure physical fitness and the Duke Health Profile and the Spiritual Well-Being Scale to measure health outcomes. The difference between the group was compared with the independent t-tests, and regression analyses were achieved to determine the predictive associations between the physical literacy and health domains. Results: Population On average, physical literacy (M = 76.1 vs. 68.2, p =.014, d=0.72), aerobic capacity (2,450 m vs. 2,210 m, p =.006, d=0.81), flexibility (28.4 cm vs. 24.7 cm, p =.012, d=0.74), physical health (78.5 vs. 70.2, p=.018, d=0 There were no significant differences in the muscular endurance, social health or spiritual health. Physical literacy turned out to be a precursor to all the health areas (= 33- 42, p &lt;. 01), with the higher association between first-year scholars especially with psychological health (=.041). Conclusion: The advancement of academics can be linked to physical literacy, choice of fitness elements and psychological health deterioration among scholars in sports sciences. The implementation of early-stage, curriculum-based wellness interventions would allow preserving embodied and psychological wellness among students during postgraduate training. Keywords: Physical literacy, physical fitness, post graduate students, Health outcomes, sports sciences, psychological health, South Asia.

The decline in physical activity (PA) from youth to young adulthood is evident, though limited research has addressed whether specific factors of K–12 physical education (PE) have any influence on outcomes during college years. This study examined the relationship between college students’ physical fitness and PA behavior and their high school PE experiences. College student volunteers (n = 537) completed a fitness assessment examining aerobic endurance, muscular endurance, body composition, and blood glucose and lipids. A survey examined current PA and PE experience in high school (number of semesters, enjoyment, requirements). Analyses were conducted separately for males and females. Pearson correlations examined relationships between fitness, behavioral, and PE outcomes. Differences in behavioral and fitness outcomes were compared with t tests. The final sample was 56.6% male (n = 298) and 43.4% female (n = 227). For males, analyses revealed that PE enjoyment was significantly related to VO2 max, curl-ups, and vigorous physical activity. Number of semesters of PE in high school was negatively associated with triglycerides and total cholesterol and positively associated with moderate physical activity. Those who took PE when it was not required were more vigorously active than those who did not. Males who had a waiver for PE had a lower body fat percentage, performed more curl-ups, and were more vigorously and moderately active compared with those who had no waiver. Number of semesters of PE in high school was negatively associated with triglycerides and total cholesterol. PE enjoyment was positively associated with VO2 max and push-ups. For females, those who took PE when it wasn’t required had a higher VO2 max and vigorous physical activity compared with those who did not. Females with a waiver for PE class had higher triglycerides and total cholesterol compared with those who did not. Females in a coed PE class had a higher BMI and VO2 max compared with those in a combination class. Effective PE programs that encourage participation and educate students on the benefits of physical activity have the capability to establish lifelong healthy and active habits that translate to the college years, and likely beyond. The main findings of this study have the potential to influence the policies regarding PE requirements for school-aged students in all states, such as possibly increasing PE requirements for all grades and discovering certain aspects of PE that could make it more enjoyable for a larger number of students.Subscribe to TPE

BackgroundIn the literature, professions that impose body standards for daily performance are designated as non-conventional professions (i.e. models, athletes, ballet dancers), with great emphasis on the female population. More than a job, it becomes a lifestyle to those inserted in this environment, thus, thousands of children and adolescents seek inclusion and success in these professions due to financial and media gains. Such professions are associated with several health-related risk factors. The purpose of this study was to identify and compare among physical fitness levels, cardiometabolic health markers, mental health and dietary habits in non-conventional professions.MethodsThe sample consisted of 41 female individuals aged between 14 and 24 years, allocated into four groups, control group composed by university students (UG = 11), models (MG = 11), ballet dancers (BG = 11), and athletes’ group (AG = 8). Physical fitness outcomes (cardiorespiratory fitness, flexibility, maximal dynamic strength, muscular endurance and body composition); biochemical outcomes (high-density lipoprotein [HDL], low-density lipoprotein [LDL], total cholesterol [TC], fasting glucose [FG], fasting insulin [FI], C-reactive protein [CRP]), diet quality and mental health were evaluated.ResultsNo impairments were observed in the health markers evaluated among groups, both for health-related physical fitness and biochemical outcomes. However, low levels of bone mineral density (BMD) were observed. Even with statistically significant differences between the groups for chronological age (p = 0.002), menarche (p = 0.004), career length (p = 0.001), height (p = 0.001), body mass index (p = 0.018), waist-to-height ratio (p < 0.001), %Fat (p = 0.020), VO2peak (p = 0.020), maximal dynamic strength of knee extensors (p = 0.031) and elbow flexors (p = 0,001) and flexibility (p < 0.001), all these values are within the normal range for health.ConclusionThe professions analyzed do not seem to interfere in the physical fitness and cardiometabolic health of the girls assessed. However, we identified that exposure to these profession can impair mental health (depressive symptoms in 100% of participants) and body composition (BMD 63% of participants).

Objectives. The study aimed to identify the impact of structured school-based physical activity program on physical fitness and psychosocial well-being of pre-adolescent students. Materials and Methods. The quasi-experimental pre-test post-test control group research was utilized. Intact schools were used to assign a total of 100 and 120 students (between 10-12 years old), who were to be placed either in Intervention (n = 60) or Control group (n = 60). The intervention course was a 8-week structured physical activity programme carrying out three sessions a week (45 minutes/session), and involved progressive endurance, strength, agility and cooperative activities. The results of the physical fitness were aerobic endurance (PACER), muscular endurance (push-up test), and agility (pro-agility shuttle run). The variables based on psychosocial factors were estimated by self-perception, intrinsic motivation, peer support, and mental well-being through culturally adjusted and validated questionnaires. Data analysis was performed using paired t-tests, mixed ANOVA, and ANCOVA. Effect sizes and confidence intervals were also provided. Results. The intervention group demonstrated statistically significant improvements across all physical fitness and psychosocial outcomes (p &lt; .01), accompanied by large effect sizes (Cohen’s d &gt; 1.60; partial η² &gt; .40). In contrast, the control group showed no statistically significant changes and negligible effect sizes. In addition, strong positive correlations were observed among psychosocial variables, suggesting coordinated improvements across psychological domains. Conclusions. The findings of this study suggest that the structured school-based physical activity significantly enhances the physical fitness and psychosocial well-being of pre-adolescents, thus making it reasonable to incorporate it into the routine school programs.

This scoping review provides an overview of the relationship between physical activity, physical fitness, cognition, and academic outcomes in Latino school-aged children and identifies areas for future research. A primary search was conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and ERIC for original-research articles meeting the inclusion criteria; the search results were uploaded into PICO Portal and assessed by two independent reviewers. Of the 488 initial search results, 50 articles were eligible for full-text review, and 38 were included in this review. Most studies were cross-sectional, conducted in the United States or Chile, and included children 5-18 years old. Overall, the majority of articles reported positive associations between physical activity or physical fitness and cognitive outcomes (n = 11/12; 91.7%), and physical activity or physical fitness and academic outcomes (n = 22/28; 78.6%). In sum, this review provided consistent evidence for higher amounts of physical activity and greater physical fitness to be associated with various positive cognitive and academic outcomes in a school-aged Latino population. This scoping review also elucidated a substantial gap in the research regarding study design, with a discernible lack of interventional efforts. Future studies should test physical activity interventional strategies to optimize cognitive and academic outcomes in school-aged Latino populations.

This study examined and compared physical activity behaviors and fitness outcomes among college students enrolled in 8‑week and 16‑week fitness courses at a historically Black college and university (HBCU) in the southeastern United States. Using a quasi‑experimental design grounded in Ajzen’s (1991) Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), physical fitness and behavioral intention outcomes were analyzed across course formats. Participants included 57 students who completed pre‑ and post‑fitness assessments and an early‑semester physical activity behavior survey. Results indicated significant pre‑ to post‑test improvements in both course formats, with broader multidimensional gains observed in the 8‑week course. Students reported positive exercise attitudes and moderate‑to‑high intentions for moderate‑to‑vigorous physical activity. No significant between‑group differences were detected across course length. Findings suggest that both condensed and traditional academic fitness formats can effectively promote physical activity engagement in HBCU populations. Implications for fitness curriculum design, behavioral sustainability, and equitable access to structured physical activity are discussed.

Developmental perspectives on motor competence and physical fitness in youth.

This review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) compared to usual care (UC) or moderate-intensity training (MIE) on physical fitness and health-related outcomes in cancer patients across all stages of therapy and aftercare. Databases were systematically searched in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines until October 4th, 2018. Eligibility criteria included adult patients of various cancer types, performing HIIT vs. UC or MIE. Outcomes of interest included physical fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness [VO2peak] and functional capacity) and health-related outcomes (body composition, quality of life, cancer-related fatigue, and blood-borne biomarkers). Mean differences (MD) were calculated and pooled to generate effect sizes for VO2peak. The search identified 1453 studies, out of which 12 articles were included. The average duration of interventions was 6.7 ± 3.0weeks, with 2.8 ± 0.5 sessions per week. The meta-analysis for VO2peak showed superiority of HIIT compared to UC (MD 3.73; 95% CI 2.07, 5.39; p < 0.001) but not MIE (MD 1.36; 95% CI - 1.62, 4.35; p = 0.370). Similarly, no superior effects of HIIT compared to MIE were found for quality of life or changes in lean mass, while evidence was provided for a larger reduction in fat mass. This systematic review showed that short-term HIIT induces similar positive effects on physical fitness and health-related outcomes as MIE but seems to be superior compared to UC. Thus, HIIT might be a time-efficient intervention for cancer patients across all stages of therapy and aftercare. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is superior compared to usucal carein improving physical fitness and health-related outcomes in cancer patients across all stages of therapy and aftercare. Currently, there is no evidence for the benefits of HIIT compared to aerobic training of moderate intensity (MIE) for changes in cardiorespiratory fitness, lean mass and patient-reported outcomes. Reductions in fat mass may be more pronounced in HIIT compared to MIE when training is performed in aftercare.

This research raises the issue of whether there is a relationship between physical fitness and science learning outcomes at SMP Negeri 8 Bekasi for the 2022/2023 academic year. This research aims to determine the relationship between physical fitness and the science learning outcomes of students at SMP Negeri 8 Bekasi for the 2022/2023 academic year. This research uses descriptive research methods. The population in this study was 180 class IX students of SMP Negeri 8 Bekasi for the 2022/2023 class. Then 35 people were taken using a random sampling technique (20% of the total population). Physical fitness data collection techniques using physical fitness tests and science learning outcomes by taking documentation data in the form of student report cards. Data processing is carried out using the correlation formula. The results of the research show that there is a significant relationship between physical fitness and science learning outcomes for students of IX SMP Negeri 8 Bekasi in the 2012/2013 academic year with (r = 0.70). Physical fitness contributes 49.7% to science learning outcomes at SMP Negeri 8 Bekasi.

Background and Study Aim. The difficult situation in Ukraine related to military operations has created significant challenges for education and sports. This study aimed to examine the impact of volleyball training on the physical fitness and mental health of college students in this context. Physical activity and sports have been shown to have numerous benefits for both physical and mental health. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of volleyball classes on the physical fitness and health outcomes of college students. Materials and Methods. Ten third-year college students participated in the study, all of whom agreed to participate voluntarily. Over a period of three months, the students attended volleyball classes. The following tests were used to measure physical fitness: Shuttle run 3×10 meters (seconds), Running 60 meters (seconds), Jumping up (centimeters), and Jumping over a rope in 30 seconds. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: A comparison of the results at the beginning and end of the study showed significant changes in jumping up and jumping over a rope in 30 seconds (p&lt;0.001). The results of the other tests also showed improvement. Conclusions. The results of this study suggest that volleyball classes had a positive effect on the physical fitness of college students. Specifically, the classes contributed to improvements in all of the tests used to measure physical fitness. Therefore, volleyball classes may be an effective means of promoting physical activity and improving the physical fitness and health outcomes of college students. However, it is recommended that colleges prioritize the safety and well-being of their students above all else by continuing to offer online classes and minimizing in-person gatherings, including sports activities, as much as possible.

Purpose: This study compares differences in physical fitness (PF), learning motivation, and learning outcomes based on senior high school students' BMI (BMI). It examines students' PF across different BMI categories, the relationship between BMI and learning motivation, and Physical Education learning outcomes based on BMI. Materials and Methods: This study uses a quantitative approach of ex-post-facto type and comparative studies. The research population is 859 senior high school students. The sample was 95 students, who were selected using random cluster sampling and purposive random sampling techniques. The instruments used are TKJI, learning motivation scales, and grades. The data was analyzed using a multivariate statistical analysis of variance (MANOVA). Result: 1) There were differences in PF, learning motivation, and learning outcomes of students based on BMI (sig 0.000); 2) There is a difference in students' PF based on BMI (sig 0.000); 3) There was no difference in student learning motivation based on BMI (sig 0.867); 4) There is a difference in the learning outcomes of Physical Education students based on BMI (sig 0.000). Conclusion: This study found differences in PF and Physical Education learning outcomes based on BMI but not in learning motivation. The results highlight the need for tailored learning models, improved strategies, and a more decisive role for Physical Education in student well-being and learning quality.

The association between performance parameters of physical fitness and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing colorectal surgery: An evaluation of care data