ALPHA-Fitness Battery Research Articles

Factores asociados a la condición física relacionada con la salud en escolares de la ciudad de Dosquebradas Risaralda

Introducción. La actividad física es un factor de primera magnitud que influye en la salud y la condición física en los adultos; por otra parte, es un determinante del riesgo de mortalidad cardiovascular cuando no se practica de forma regular, además del aumento de la incidencia de obesidad en edades tempranas en países desarrollados, como consecuencia de factores contextuales como currículos escolares, reglas de los padres relativas a la seguridad, limitaciones del ambiente físico, entre otros. Objetivo. Describir la condición física relacionada con la salud y sus factores asociados en escolares de la ciudad de Dosquebradas, Risaralda, Colombia. Materiales y Métodos. Estudio de tipo descriptivo transversal, en el cual se calculó una muestra de 339 participantes, matriculados en instituciones educativas públicas y privadas de nivel básico y medio, entre la edad de 12 y 18 años. Se aplica la versión extendida de la batería ALPHA-fitness para evaluar la condición física y una entrevista semiestructurada con la cual se indagó sobre los determinantes sociales de la salud de interés para el estudio. Resultados. El 60% de los escolares evaluados presentaron condición física no saludable en tres de los cuatro componentes que evalúa la batería ALPHA Fitness. Se encuentra significancia estadística (P < 0,05) con el componente muscular y motor, destacando que entre menor sea el nivel educativo del padre en los escolares, estos, tienen entre 1 y 3 veces más posibilidades de tener un nivel no saludable. Conclusiones. Se evidencia una alta prevalencia de condición física no saludable además de como el nivel educativo del padre se relaciona estadísticamente con la condición física evaluada en los escolares de la ciudad de Dosquebradas.

Associations between health-related quality of life and physical fitness in 4-7-year-old Spanish children: the MOVIKIDS study.

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in childhood is defined as an individual's subjective perception of the impact of health status on physical, psychological and social functioning. Nowadays, measuring of HRQOL has become an important outcome indicator in evaluating health-care. However, in younger children, the role of cardiorespiratory and other physical fitness components on HRQOL is unclear. The aims of this study were to analyse the association between components of physical fitness and HRQOL, as well as to determine which component of physical fitness was the best predictor of higher HRQOL. This was a cross-sectional study of 1413 schoolchildren (4 to 7years old) from Spain. HRQOL was evaluated with the KINDL-R questionnaire for parents. Cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength and speed-agility were assessed using the ALPHA-Fitness battery. ANCOVA models were used to assess differences in HRQOL across physical fitness categories, controlling for age and BMI, by gender. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the independent association between the different physical fitness components and HRQOL. Children with high physical fitness levels had better scores in physical well-being, school and total HRQOL score than those who had low physical fitness levels. The best predictor of HRQOL (total score) was muscular strength in boys and speed-agility among girls. Children with high physical fitness levels have higher HRQOL, although the association between components of physical fitness and HRQOL varies according to gender. Improving physical fitness could be a good strategy for improving HRQOL in children.

Valoración de los niveles de condición física de escolares de 11-12 años, mediante la aplicación de la Batería ALPHAFITNES

El estado de salud en la población escolar muestra un elevado índice de sedentarismo y por ello es necesario conocer el estado de salud de los escolares para así poder realizar una adecuada intervención orientada a la actividad física saludable. El objetivo de este estudio es el conocer los niveles de condición física como referencia para orientarnos en el estado de salud de los escolares de 11 a 12 años a través de la aplicación de la Batería ALPHA-Fitness. La muestra consta de N= 79, (38 niños; 41 niñas). Los resultados muestran cómo los niveles de condición física relacionada con la salud están entre los valores muy bajos y bajos de los establecidos por los referentes de la propia batería. Resulta necesario un trabajo de intervención basado en la mejora de la Condición Física y más en las niñas que en los niños.

A school-based physical activity promotion intervention in children: rationale and study protocol for the PREVIENE Project

BackgroundThe lack of physical activity and increasing time spent in sedentary behaviours during childhood place importance on developing low cost, easy-toimplement school-based interventions to increase physical activity among children. The PREVIENE Project will evaluate the effectiveness of five innovative, simple, and feasible interventions (active commuting to/from school, active Physical Education lessons, active school recess, sleep health promotion, and an integrated program incorporating all 4 interventions) to improve physical activity, fitness, anthropometry, sleep health, academic achievement, and health-related quality of life in primary school children.MethodsA total of 300 children (grade 3; 8-9 years of age) from six schools in Granada (Spain) will be enrolled in one of the 8-week interventions (one intervention per school; 50 children per school) or a control group (no intervention school; 50 children). Outcomes will include physical activity (measured by accelerometry), physical fitness (assessed using the ALPHA fitness battery), and anthropometry (height, weight and waist circumference). Furthermore, they will include sleep health (measured by accelerometers, a sleep diary, and sleep health questionnaires), academic achievement (grades from the official school’s records), and health-related quality of life (child and parental questionnaires). To assess the effectiveness of the different interventions on objectively measured PA and the other outcomes, the generalized linear model will be used.DiscussionThe PREVIENE Project will provide the information about the effectiveness and implementation of different school-based interventions for physical activity promotion in primary school children.

Physical activity, physical fitness and quality of diet in schoolchildren from 8 to 12 years

The assessment of physical activity, physical fitness, and dietary quality in early ages is a physiological and public health need to contribute to the consolidation of a healthy lifestyle during adulthood.Hypotheses and objectives: Schoolchildren with a better level of physical activity have a better physical condition; schoolchildren with a higher level of physical activity have a better quality of diet; schoolchildren with a better level of physical condition have a better quality of the diet. The objective was to analyze the relationship between physical activity, physical condition and diet quality. A cross-sectional descriptive study with 298 schoolchildren aged 8-12 years. Fitness was assessed using the ALPHA-Fitness battery and physical activity and diet quality was assessed by means of questionnaires. Schoolchildren with a better level of physical activity had a better level of physical fitness. The schoolchildren with a better level of physical condition showed a higher level of physical activity. Schoolchildren with a high level of physical activity and an average level of physical fitness, as well as schoolchildren with a high level of physical fitness (regardless of their level of physical activity), presented a better quality of the diet. The relationship between physical activity and physical condition is positive and bidirectional. Physical activity, fitness, and quality of diet are positively related.

Physical Exercise Program To Improve The Sport Performance On Speed Skating In Children

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of physical exercise program on sport performance of children speed skaters. METHODS: A total of 52 children speed skaters (aged=9.09±0.27; 69.2% girls) from Ecuador participated in the study. The ALPHA-Fitness battery was used to analyze the body composition and physical fitness: muscular fitness (hand-grip strength and standing long jump test), speed-agility (4x10-m shuttle run test), and cardiovascular fitness (20-m shuttle run test). Sport performance was measured by the time-marks of the different modalities of the speed skating (combined test, time trial, sprint and hare test). All participants were evaluated before and after 10-weeks of intervention based on a physical exercise program (90-min/ session, 4-days/week). A mixed factorial ANOVA was used to analyze effects and interactions of the study factors age (<10-y and >10-y), sex (boys and girls), and measure moments (baseline and post-intervention) on body composition, physical fitness, and sport performance. RESULTS: Post-intervention compared with baseline, weight was lower in girls <10-yr (MD=0.66± 0.30 Kg, p=0.033), fat mass was lower in girls <10-yr and >10-yr (MD= 7.37±1.21 Kg, p<0.001; MD=7.71±1.71 Kg, p<0.001), muscle mass was lower in boys >10-yr (MD=0.13± 0.06 Kg, p<0.035) and bone mass was higher in girls <10-yr DM=0.28±0.09, p=0.03). The muscular fitness of upper limbs was higher post-intervention compared with baseline in boys <10-yr (DM=1.55± 0.57, p=0.010) and girls <10-yr (MD=1.58±0.35, p<0.01). For lower limbs, muscular fitness post-intervention was higher in girls <10-yr (MD=5.20± 2.28, p=0.02). The cardiovascular fitness was higher post-intervention in girls <10-yr (MD=0.65±0.20, p=0.002) compared with baseline. The time marks of the combined test post-intervention was lower in boys >10-yr (MD=6.06 ±2.00, p=0.004, in time trial the time-mark was lower in boys <10-yr (MD=0.71± 0.19, p=0.001), girls <10-yr (MD=0.52±0.12, p<0.001) and in girls >10-yr (MD=0.38±0.17 p=0.027) compared with baseline. The time-mark in sprint was lower for girls <10-yr (MD=2.39±1.02, p=0.023) post-intervention. CONCLUSION: A 10-weeks physical exercise intervention improves sport performance in children speed skaters, what are directly related with sex and age.

Condición física y calidad de vida en escolares de 8 a 12 años

Introducción. La condición física (CF) es un importante indicador fisiológico del estado de salud de la población en general y de los escolares en particular.Objetivo. Analizar la relación entre CF y calidad de vida (CV) en una muestra de escolares de primaria.Materiales y métodos. Estudio transversal en el que participaron 298 escolares (159 mujeres y 139 varones) de entre 8 y 12 años de la región de Murcia, en España, durante el periodo 2013-2014. La CF se valoró mediante la batería ALPHA-fitness y su nivel (bajo, medio y alto) fue categorizado con base en estudios previos, la CV se valoró mediante el cuestionario KIDSCREEN-10 Index y para establecer la relación entre ambas variables se realizó un análisis de varianza simple.Resultados. El valor global de la CF se asoció de manera positiva con la CV (F=3.997; p=0.019).Conclusiones. Los resultados sugieren que los escolares con un mejor estado de CF tienen una mayor CV. Se precisan estudios de intervención dirigidos al desarrollo de la CF para evaluar las posibles mejoras en los niveles de CV de los jóvenes.

Capacidad aeróbica y su relación con parámetros de la condición física saludable en escolares

Background and objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between aerobic capacity and other parameters determining fitness in primary school. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study, 298 schoolchildren (139 males and 159 females) aged 8-12. Body composition (weight and height) and physical fitness (capacity, motor aerobic and musculoskeletal) was assessed by ALPHA-Fitness battery. Aerobic capacity and body mass index (under/normal-weight and overweight/obesity) were categorized using standard criteria. The variable motor / muscle overall capacity was calculated, and the maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) was indirectly estimated. Results: The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) found that men have better values in the test 4x10m (p &lt;0.001), longitudinal jump (p &lt;0.001), Course-Navette (p &lt;0.001) and in VO2max (p &lt;0.001). The ANOVA test showed that schoolchildren with better aerobic capacity have lower weight and body mass index (p &lt;0.001 for both), better performance in the test longitudinal jump (p &lt;0.001) and better overall motor / muscle capacity, and increased VO2max (p &lt;0.001 for both). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that schoolchildren with healthy cardiorespiratory fitness had better physical fitness and are more likely to have healthy anthropometric parameters.

Effects Of Exercise Prescription Program Among Sedentary, Overweigh Or Obese Adults With Hypertension Or Diabetes.

PURPOSE: To explore the effects of an 8-week exercise prescription program based on high intensity (9 METs or greater) cardio-respiratory fitness and resistance training among sedentary, overweight or obese adults with hypertension or diabetes METHODS: seventy adults (28 women, 42men) age 47-64 recieved the prescribed program (8 week high intensity cardiovascular and resistance training two times per week) other 60 adults recieved another program (couselling): cholesterol, triglycerides and blood glucose were measured at the begining and at the end of the program and one month after the end of the program with the Accutrend Plus (roche), also physical fitness was measured with the new ALPHA fitness battery. Blood presure was measured with omron MIT elite plus. RESULTS: experimental group has a lot increased health levels respect to control group and also comparing the experimental group at the begining of the program. physical fitness has increased 16% in cardiovascular fitness, 50% in strength and almost 120% in flexibility. CONCLUSIONS: 8 week prescription program based on high intensity cardio vascular and resistance training present very high benefits in terms of cholesterol, triglycerides and blood glucose and also in physical fitness in overweight adults.