Types of Physical Activity and Sports for teens in Maintaining Physical Fitness in Leisure

The purpose of this study was to test for reciprocal relations between physical self-concept (PSC) and participation in physical activity (PA). We hypothesized specific bidirectional relations between PSC dimensions (i.e., perceived endurance, sport competence, and strength and body attractiveness) and participation in corresponding types of PA (i.e., aerobic exercise, team or individual sports, and strength training). Data were gathered from a questionnaire administered to 386 college students on two occasions (3-month interval) to assess PSC and participation in PA. Structural equation modeling revealed significant paths between each PSC dimension and a corresponding type of PA. Students reported more frequent participation in a specific PA when their PSC concerning the activity was high. However, participation in a given PA did not predict subsequent PSC in the corresponding PA, suggesting unidirectional effects of previous PSC on subsequent participation in PA. These results suggest that strategies that contribute to reinforce PSC are primordial and should be targeted as key components for designing effective PA behavior change interventions among college students.

<p dir="ltr">Background</p><p dir="ltr">Physical inactivity and functional decline represent significant challenges for aging populations, warranting effective intervention strategies and reliable assessment methodologies. This thesis investigated test-retest reliability of physical activity and fitness measurements in older adults, examined effects of structured exercise, and assessed longitudinal recovery trajectories in hip osteoarthritis patients following total hip arthroplasty (THA).</p><p dir="ltr">Methods</p><p dir="ltr">Four studies were conducted. Study I (n=78, age 70.9+4.7 years) evaluated accelerometer measurement reliability and monitored physical activity changes following an 8-week exercise intervention (twice-weekly, 60-minute combined training). Study II (n=1,407, age 65-84 years) assessed test-retest reliability of a comprehensive field-based fitness test battery and post an 8-week exercise period across multiple age groups. Study III (n=265, age 71.4+4.7 years) examined sustained and cumulative effects of identical 8-week exercise programs performed in consecutive years. Study IV (n=78, age 74.0+4.5 years) investigated physical fitness and activity patterns in hip osteoarthritis patients undergoing THA, with two assessments pre-operative, 4 months, and 1-year post-surgery.</p><p dir="ltr">Results</p><p dir="ltr">Physical activity parameters demonstrated good to excellent test-retest reliability. Similarly, field-based fitness tests generally showed good reliability across age and sex strata. The 8-week exercise intervention produced significant improvements in physical activity pattens and multiple physical fitness tests. Most fitness test parameters remained stable during the 9-month inter-intervention period, with declines observed in trunk strength endurance. Hip osteoarthritis patients exhibited pre-operative deficits compared to healthy controls in several fitness tests and in moderate- to vigorous physical activity, whereas post-operative improvements at 1-year follow-up were observed for a multitude of physical fitness parameters and exceeding the recommended physical activity levels.</p><p dir="ltr">Conclusions</p><p dir="ltr">This thesis established good test-retest reliability of accelerometer-measured physical activity and most included fitness assessments for monitoring older adults. Structured exercise generated physical activity and fitness benefits in healthy older adults. Moreover, substantial functional and activity improvements were seen following total hip arthroplasty without structured post-operative intervention. These findings underscore the importance of exercise engagement and appropriate surgical intervention to improve both functional capacity and physical activity in older adult populations.</p><h3>List of scientific papers</h3><p dir="ltr">This thesis includes four papers, these will be referenced using their Roman numerals listed below:</p><p dir="ltr">I. <b>Manne Godhe</b>, Marjan Pontén, Johnny Nilsson, Lena Kallings & Eva Andersson. Reliability of the accelerometer to control the effects of physical activity in older adults. Plos One, 17(9), e0274442. (2022). <br><a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0274442">https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0274442</a><br><br></p><p dir="ltr">II. <b>Manne Godhe</b>, Gustaf Rönquist, Johnny Nilsson, Örjan Ekblom, Lillemor Nyberg, Gustav Edman, & Eva Andersson Reliability in Novel Field-Based Fitness Measurements and Postexercise Scores from a Physical Fitness Test Battery in Older Adults. Gerontology, 70(6), 639-660. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1159/000538446<br><a href="https://doi.org/10.1159/000538446">https://doi.org/10.1159/000538446</a><br><br></p><p dir="ltr">III. <b>Manne Godhe</b>, Johnny Nilsson, & Eva Andersson. Short-and Long-Term Effects on Physical Fitness in Older Adults: Results from an 8-Week Exercise Program Repeated in Two Consecutive Years. Geriatrics, 10(1), 15. (2025). https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics10010015<br><a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics10010015">https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics10010015</a><br><br></p><p dir="ltr">IV. <b>Manne Godhe</b>, Anders Stålman, Johnny Nilsson & Eva Andersson. Physical fitness Improvements and Achievement of Recommended Physical Activity Levels One Year After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Longitudinal Study of Physical Function and Activity Patterns [Manuscript]</p><p dir="ltr">Papers I & III were published under Creative Commons CC BY license. Paper II is reproduced in this thesis with permission from Karger Publishers. Paper IV is in manuscript form.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Background</p><p dir="ltr">Physical inactivity and functional decline represent significant challenges for aging populations, warranting effective intervention strategies and reliable assessment methodologies. This thesis investigated test-retest reliability of physical activity and fitness measurements in older adults, examined effects of structured exercise, and assessed longitudinal recovery trajectories in hip osteoarthritis patients following total hip arthroplasty (THA).</p><p dir="ltr">Methods</p><p dir="ltr">Four studies were conducted. Study I (n=78, age 70.9+4.7 years) evaluated accelerometer measurement reliability and monitored physical activity changes following an 8-week exercise intervention (twice-weekly, 60-minute combined training). Study II (n=1,407, age 65-84 years) assessed test-retest reliability of a comprehensive field-based fitness test battery and post an 8-week exercise period across multiple age groups. Study III (n=265, age 71.4+4.7 years) examined sustained and cumulative effects of identical 8-week exercise programs performed in consecutive years. Study IV (n=78, age 74.0+4.5 years) investigated physical fitness and activity patterns in hip osteoarthritis patients undergoing THA, with two assessments pre-operative, 4 months, and 1-year post-surgery.</p><p dir="ltr">Results</p><p dir="ltr">Physical activity parameters demonstrated good to excellent test-retest reliability. Similarly, field-based fitness tests generally showed good reliability across age and sex strata. The 8-week exercise intervention produced significant improvements in physical activity pattens and multiple physical fitness tests. Most fitness test parameters remained stable during the 9-month inter-intervention period, with declines observed in trunk strength endurance. Hip osteoarthritis patients exhibited pre-operative deficits compared to healthy controls in several fitness tests and in moderate- to vigorous physical activity, whereas post-operative improvements at 1-year follow-up were observed for a multitude of physical fitness parameters and exceeding the recommended physical activity levels.</p><p dir="ltr">Conclusions</p><p dir="ltr">This thesis established good test-retest reliability of accelerometer-measured physical activity and most included fitness assessments for monitoring older adults. Structured exercise generated physical activity and fitness benefits in healthy older adults. Moreover, substantial functional and activity improvements were seen following total hip arthroplasty without structured post-operative intervention. These findings underscore the importance of exercise engagement and appropriate surgical intervention to improve both functional capacity and physical activity in older adult populations.</p><h3>List of scientific papers</h3><p dir="ltr">This thesis includes four papers, these will be referenced using their Roman numerals listed below:</p><p dir="ltr">I. <b>Manne Godhe</b>, Marjan Pontén, Johnny Nilsson, Lena Kallings & Eva Andersson. Reliability of the accelerometer to control the effects of physical activity in older adults. Plos One, 17(9), e0274442. (2022). <br><a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0274442">https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0274442</a><br><br></p><p dir="ltr">II. <b>Manne Godhe</b>, Gustaf Rönquist, Johnny Nilsson, Örjan Ekblom, Lillemor Nyberg, Gustav Edman, & Eva Andersson Reliability in Novel Field-Based Fitness Measurements and Postexercise Scores from a Physical Fitness Test Battery in Older Adults. Gerontology, 70(6), 639-660. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1159/000538446<br><a href="https://doi.org/10.1159/000538446">https://doi.org/10.1159/000538446</a><br><br></p><p dir="ltr">III. <b>Manne Godhe</b>, Johnny Nilsson, & Eva Andersson. Short-and Long-Term Effects on Physical Fitness in Older Adults: Results from an 8-Week Exercise Program Repeated in Two Consecutive Years. Geriatrics, 10(1), 15. (2025). https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics10010015<br><a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics10010015">https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics10010015</a><br><br></p><p dir="ltr">IV. <b>Manne Godhe</b>, Anders Stålman, Johnny Nilsson & Eva Andersson. Physical fitness Improvements and Achievement of Recommended Physical Activity Levels One Year After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Longitudinal Study of Physical Function and Activity Patterns [Manuscript]</p><p dir="ltr">Papers I & III were published under Creative Commons CC BY license. Paper II is reproduced in this thesis with permission from Karger Publishers. Paper IV is in manuscript form.</p>

Prevention and treatment of psychiatric disorders through physical activity, exercise, and sport

Physical Activity Measures in the Healthy Communities Study.

Physical Education, Exercise, Fitness and Sports: Early PM&R Leaders Build a Strong Foundation

Objective. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between different types of daily life physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF) and health throughout adulthood. Methods. A total of 723 men and women, aged 28–76 years, participated 1681 times during four measurement points from 1992 to 2010 in this study. We assessed self-reported PA, anthropometrics, physical health status (HS), and PF in each study year. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was used to analyze the measures. Results. PF and HS worsened with increasing age while sports activity (SA) declined. The modeling showed that sex, age, and SES play important roles concerning PA, PF, and HS. Athletes show higher HS and HF than nonathletes. Habitual activity (HA) also showed a positive relationship with PF and HS, but effects were lower than for SA. Work related activity (WRA) showed no meaningful relationship with PF or HS. Conclusions. Comparable amounts of PA can lead to different effects on PF or HS. Our findings underline the importance of contexts, content, and purposes of PA when health or fitness benefits are addressed. Simply moving your body is not enough.

Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines and Health-Related Fitness in Youth

Measurement of physical fitness and physical activity in children and adolescents raise a lot of methodological issues, explaining the scarcity of surveys in European countries and in Switzerland. This article exposes the design and the methods used in a survey on physical fitness, physical activity and health conducted in a region of Switzerland, and discuss the choice of the instruments and the quality control procedure selected to measure physical activity and physical fitness. The survey was conducted in a sample of 3540 students 9-19 years-old and included a battery of physical fitness tests, anthropometrics measurements and a self-report questionnaire on physical activity, sports activity and life styles. An ancillary study in a sub sample assessed daily physical activity with a pedometer, dietary intake with a 3-day dietary record, serum lipids and nutritional status. Some results are displayed as example. Quality control techniques are exposed and the choice of the instrument to assess physical fitness, physical activity, sports, and dietary intake are discussed. Local reference tables are now available for fitness tests and the practicability of fitness testing has been demonstrated in physical education. The research process has induced the sensitisation of schools toward health promotion through physical activity.

Exercise Strategies for Children

BackgroundPatients, who discontinue early, do not benefit from phase I/II clinical trials (early-phase clinical trials (EPCT)). In this study, associations between objective smartphone measurements of physical activity and fitness and early trial discontinuation in patients with cancer participating in EPCT were investigated.MethodsBefore start of treatment, physical activity (steps/day) and physical fitness (meters walked in 6 min) were measured with a smartphone, and patient-reported physical function (PRO-PF) was assessed (EORTC QLQ-C30-PF). Early trial discontinuation was defined as discontinuation ≤ 28 days. Univariable logistic regression analyses were performed to study associations of physical activity, fitness, and function with early trial discontinuation. Optimal cutoff values of physical activity and fitness were assessed with ROCs, based on positive predictive values (PPV).ResultsMedian (interquartile range (IQR)) step count was 4263 (2548–6897) steps/day, mean ± standard deviation 6-min walking distance was 477 ± 120 m and median (IQR) PRO-PF score was 83 (67–95) points. Fourteen patients (12%) discontinued the trial early. Smartphone measurements of physical activity in units of 100 steps per day (odds ratio (OR) = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.94–0.99, p = 0.01), physical fitness (OR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.98–0.99, p < 0.01), and PRO-PF (OR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.94–1.00, p = 0.03) were associated with early trial discontinuation. Optimal cutoff values were < 900 steps for physical activity and < 285 m for physical fitness. PPV for early trial discontinuation was 100% in patients who walked both < 1500 steps per day and < 300 m in 6 min.ConclusionsObjective smartphone measurements of physical activity and fitness are associated with early trial discontinuation. However, cutoff values should be externally validated in a larger cohort before implementation in clinical practice.

Relation Between Self-Reported Physical Activity Level, Fitness, and Cardiometabolic Risk

Relationship between physical activity and physical fitness in school-aged children with developmental language disorders.

The relationships between physical activity, physical fitness, and coronary heart disease risk factors measured in a large community sample were evaluated. Self-reported physical activity using a single question, maximal oxygen consumption estimates derived from the Pawtucket Heart Health Step Test, blood pressure, nonfasting lipids, and body mass index were cross-sectionally evaluated in 381 men and 556 women. The correlation of estimated maximal oxygen consumption and self-reported physical activity was modest but statistically significant (r = 0.13 in men and r = 0.19 in women). Blood pressure, body mass index, and HDL cholesterol were correlated with physical fitness (r = 0.24-0.65) and correlated to self-reported physical activity (r = 0.09-0.14). Evaluation of coronary heart disease risk factors using both physical activity and physical fitness revealed a complex relationship that generally showed a stronger relationship with measures of physical fitness than with physical activity. This study suggests that simultaneous measurement of physical activity and physical fitness may be useful in epidemiologic studies of habitual physical activity and chronic disease.

Physical activity in the prevention and treatment of obesity and its comorbidities: evidence report of independent panel to assess the role of physical activity in the treatment of obesity and its comorbidities.