Objectives: This study examined whether children with special needs (SN) achieve current physical activity (PA) guidelines and identify whether habitual PA levels, recess PA and play behaviours differed between different SN’s. Methods: Twenty-five children (aged 11.16 ± 2.37) had PA monitored over 7-days using accelerometry. Recess behaviours were observed using the System for Observing Children’s Activity and Relationships during Play (SOCARP). Participants’ SN(s) were categorised as either autism (AUS), behavioural and emotional needs (BEN) or any other SN (OTH). Results: Children took part in 46.88 minutes ± 9.10 of MVPA. BEN children (65.55 min ± 20.50) were more active than AUS (43.40 minutes ± 27.50). AUS children spent more time playing alone and less time in groups then the BEN and OTH groups (p≤ 0.05). Conclusions: Only 3 children met PA guidelines, with all 3 having BEN. PA levels and play behaviours differ by SN.

Objective: Objectives: A military-ethos intervention can enhance engagement in learning and educational attainment. However, such programmes have typically been delivered in a residential setting. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a twelve-month, military-ethos physical activity intervention on educational attainment, attendance and behaviour. Methods: Seven primary (five intervention) and five secondary schools (four intervention) were recruited and 228 primary school (152 intervention; 9.8±0.4 yrs) and 167 secondary school pupils (97 intervention; 13.8±0.4 yrs) participated. Attainment, attendance and behaviour ratings were collected at baseline, 3-, 6- and 12-months and analysed using multilevel modelling. Results: Significant intervention effects were found at 3 months for Maths, 3 and 6 months in English, 6 months for attendance and across time for both positive social and problem behaviours. Effects were independent of sex and school level. Conclusions: Findings support the utility of the Commando Joe’s intervention as a whole-school strategy to enhance educational and behavioural outcomes. Arch Exerc Health Dis 5 (1-2): 377-385, 2015

The aim of thisstudy was to identify the effect of somatotype and body composition variableson explosive power of college level men students. The sample consisted of youngcollege students (n= 500) divided into two groups: athletes undergoing Bachelorof Physical Education course (n= 250) aged 23.86 ± 0.36 years; and non-athletes,college students do not take part regular physical activities (n=250) aged 22.16± 0.88 years. The somatotype was assessed using the Heath & Carter method. Assessingbody composition of the subject various anthropometric measurements were taken.Sargent vertical jump test was used to assess leg explosive power. The measureswere compared between the two groups using the Student t-test for independentsamples. The two groups differed significantly in terms of body weight, % bodyfat, lean body mass, % skeletal muscle mass and somatotype. The vertical jumpwas positively significantly correlated with % skeletal muscle mass, lean bodymass, mesomorphy and ectomorphy components of somatotype; on the other handbody weight, height, % body fat, body surface area and endomorphy component ofsomatotype significantly negatively correlated. In conclusion, somatotype and body compositionvariables are important factors in determining leg explosive power.Keywords:Vertical jump; % body fat; Lean body mass.

Introduction: The lack of physical activity (PA) in children is an important health risk factor. Previous studies have shown that some environmental features may be associated with PA levels.Objectives: Find and comprehend which environmental features were mostly positively associated with children’s physical activity.Methods: Twenty-eight studies that assessed association between the environmental features and physical activity among children (ages 3 to 12-years) and fulfilled selection criteria were systematically reviewed.Results: Results across the various studies showed that facilities and parks/playgrounds are mostly positively associated with children’s PA. Sidewalks and bike lanes were positively associated to PA in all studies. Safety, traffic and weather showed inconsistent associations with children’s PA.Conclusions: Beginning to understand which environmental features contribute more to PA in children can lead to increased levels of PA. Keywords: PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, ENVIRONMENT, CHILDREN

Abstract: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common progressive neurodegenerative condition after Alzheimer’s Disease. It is characterized by a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra region of the brain. Symptoms and signs manifest as motor disorders affecting balance and physical capacity, and non-motor symptoms such as cognitive decline and mood disorders. People with PD face considerable difficulties coping with associated physical and psychological changes which affect their quality of life. The main form of treatment is pharmacological which alleviates some of the symptoms but does not slow the progression of the disease. Creatine monohydrate (Cr) may have therapeutic benefits in conditions where energy dysfunction and high rates of apoptosis are present. Cr supplementation may provide a protective effect by augmenting cytosolic high energy phosphate stores thereby prolonging the survival of ‘at risk’ cells in neurodegenerative diseases. Emerging evidence suggests supplementation may offer specific benefits in the treatment of mood disorders associated with PD. Many different types of exercise have shown efficacy in enhancing physical capacity, balance and quality of life. Recently, research has demonstrated the potential benefits of diverse modes of exercise such as aquatic exercise and boxing in PD. Combining exercise with Cr supplementation can enhance exercise induced muscular strength and power adaptations and may further improve exercise capacity and neuromuscular function. This review will critique evidence relating to the potential efficacy of Cr supplementation and exercise as a putative therapeutic approach in the treatment of the physiological and psychological challenges presented by PD.

Objectives: The School Physical Education (SPE) is an excellent way to improve moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA). To improve health and fitness, the guidelines recommend that at least 50% of class time should be spent in MVPA, and few studies on this assumption have been conducted. In this way, the objective of this study was to quantifying the amount of MVPA obtained during a SPE class, according to age and gender. Methods: This study was conducted in 3 randomly selected Portuguese public schools. A random sample of 191 teenage volunteers aged between 12 to 17 years, composed by 98 males (14.51 ± 1.754 years) and 93 females (14.59 ± 1.831 years) were recruited. Accelerometer was used. Results: The mean time spent in MVPA during SPE class (MVPA/SPE) was 25.36 ± 15.69 minutes, which corresponds to 28.18% of the total time spent in SPE class. Males spend significantly more time in MVPA/SPE than females (28.95 vs. 21.58 minutes; p <0.05). As long the age increases, there is a time reduction spent in MVPA/SPE. Conclusion: The proportion of practice in MVPA during SPE class time (28.18%) fell short of the 50% recommended by guidelines to improve health. The SPE has an important role in increase daily MVPA, namely as long the age increases. Numerous possibilities exist for improving MVPA in SPE. Health-enhancing activity needs to be recognized as an important element of SPE classes.

Research into how people living with HIV experience body changes, such as lipodystrophy, is limited. On the other hand, physical activity has been recommended to improve the quality of life of these patients . Objectives : The study compared the body image-BI in lipodystrophyc and non-lipodystrophyc HIV-infected patients, sedentary and physically active. Methods: A total of 32 HIV-infected patients (age=45±2 yrs, body mass index-BMI=22.8±1.0 kg.m - 2 ; CD4+T=506.1±46.0 cell.mm - ³; CD4+T%=20.5±2.0%) were assigned into four groups: Lip-Sed (sedentary lipodystrophyc; n=9); Lip-Act (physically active lipodystrophyc; n=7); NLip-Sed (sedentary non-lipodystrophyc; n=9); NLip-Act (physically active non-lipodystrophyc; n=7). Objective BI was assessed by means of the comparison between the actual BMI and self-reported actual silhouette-AS and ideal silhouette-IS. AS and IS were obtained using the Silhouette Matching Task-SMT with 12 figures representing BMI from 17.5 to 37.5 kg.m -2 . Subjective BI was assessed through the Body Image Questionnaire-BIQ which reflects the affective body perception. Results: The Lip-Sed showed lower IS compared to BMI and AS (P>0.05), which on their turn were higher than in Lip-Act, NLip-Sed, and NLip-Act (P>0.05). On the other hand, BMI in NLip-Act was close to IS (P>0.05), but higher than AS (P<0.05). With regard to the BIQ, compared to the other groups Lip-Sed exhibited lower values for almost all the different traits, which probably led to a significant lower perception for the overall ‘social acceptance of the body’ (P<0.05). Conclusion: The lipodystrophy associated negatively with objective and subjective BI in HIV-infected patients, where as regular physical activity had positive relationship with BI, especially in lypodystrophic subjects.

Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effect of an acute swimming exercise session on nucleotide catabolism in rat blood serum. Design: Male Wistar rats were divided in two groups: exercise and sedentary. In the exercise group, the rats were submitted to one swimming session (60 min) with a constant load of 4% of body weight in the tail. Results: The exercise group presented a significant increase on NTPDase (55.5% and 43.1%, for ATP and ADP, respectively), 5’-nucleotidase (57.4%), and NPP (24.2%) activities. Conclusion: Our results have shown that nucleotidases are activated after one session of aerobic swimming exercise in rat blood serum, suggesting that these enzymes may promote an increase in adenosine levels, and consequently an exercise-mediated vasodilatation.