Aspects Of Physical Fitness Research Articles

Improving Physical Fitness through a Circuit Games Model

This study aims to determine how effectively these circuit games can enhance physical fitness among young students and whether this approach can lead to measurable improvements in their overall physical health and capabilities. This study employs the action research method to assess the impact of circuit games on improving student fitness. By observing changes in student behavior and physical capabilities, the researcher aims to determine the effectiveness of the circuit game model in enhancing overall fitness. The TKSI (Test Kebugaran Siswa Indonesia) is used as a key tool to measure and evaluate the students’ fitness levels throughout the study. Through this approach, the study seeks to provide insights into how circuit training games can be effectively utilized to boost physical fitness among students. The results stated that physical fitness is a crucial asset for students, as it significantly enhances their ability to perform daily activities and tasks efficiently. Students with good physical fitness are generally better equipped to handle the demands of both academic and extracurricular activities, while those with lower fitness levels often struggle with fatigue and difficulty in daily tasks. Circuit training games offer a dynamic approach to fitness, combining aerobic exercises with strength training and flexibility. These games involve various stations, each designed to target different aspects of physical fitness, and require students to complete each station within a set time before moving on to the next.

Exercise, vitality and health EVIS

Low back pain is the main cause of disability in Spain, exercise has shown certain benefits in this ailment and could be a safe and effective alternative as an adjuvant in the treatment. The aim is to design a training programme focused on strength and flexibility work to improve the recovery process. Sixty patients (30 women), aged 57.1 ± 9.9 years, were divided into a control group (CG; n = 30; 56.4 ± 9.5 years) and an intervention group (IG; n = 30; 58.3 ± 10.4 years and 71.1 ± 11.3 kg) to which a 4-week training programme was applied. Quality of life, pain, pharmacological treatment and aspects of physical fitness were assessed before and after training. Inter- and intra-group differences were analysed using ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U test and Willcoxon ranks). All patients improved their quality of life, pathology severity index, perceived health and decreased medication (all p < .05). However, only the group of patients who train (GI) improve their strength and flexibility levels (both p < .05); they improve their pathology severity index more, achieving higher strength and flexibility values, higher quality of life, lower pain and lower medication intake than the control group (all p < .05).

Changes in Catalan Adolescents’ Agility over Two Decades: A Temporal Trend Study

Physical fitness is considered an important indicator of health in adolescents. Despite the recognized benefits of regular physical activity, recent studies indicate a decline in physical fitness among adolescents, including agility, a key component of fitness often overlooked in research. This study aimed to investigate trends in agility among urban Catalan adolescents over two decades. A total of 1439 students, aged 13–15 years, participated in the 8 × 10 m shuttle run test between 2002 and 2022. The results revealed a significant decline in agility performance across both boys (F(3,839) = 392, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.584) and girls (F(3,593) = 414, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.677) over time, with notable differences observed between consecutive five-year periods. The findings underscore the urgency of addressing declining physical fitness among adolescents and advocate for enhanced physical education programs and community-based interventions to promote regular physical activity. Recognizing the importance of agility and other aspects of physical fitness in adolescent health, policymakers, educators, and healthcare professionals are urged to collaborate on initiatives to mitigate the risk of future health issues. Further research is recommended to explore the multifaceted influences on adolescent physical fitness and develop targeted interventions to improve overall health outcomes in this population.

Hip joint motion amplitude control based on exponential product formula

Background: Handball is a team sport, and during a game, there is a lot of direct squabbling and close contact between the players. Objective: The goal of the research is to determine how handball training affected several aspects of physical fitness. The study also investigates the relationship between playing handball, passive hip range of motion (ROM), and the development of radiologically detectable hip osteoarthritis (OA) in formerly elite handball players. The research employed the exponential product algorithm for evaluating bilateral radiographs to classify and diagnose hip OA. This technique most likely evaluated subchondral sclerosis, osteophyte formation, joint space narrowing, and other radiological signs of OA in the individuals’ hip joints. Methods: The relationship among the risk of hip OA in long-term top handball players is explored, as well as the connections among hip ROM, OA, and pain. The research was conducted using a sample size of 20 ex-professional handball players and 39 control subjects. Information on demographics, loading patterns during exercise, and history of lower limb joint injury were gathered via a questionnaire. The inclusion criteria for individuals consisted former professional handball players with significant elite-level competitive experience, as well as control subjects with no background of high-impact sports. Confounding characteristics such as age, gender, and previous lower limb joint injuries were carefully controlled for using extensive demographic and injury history evaluations. To identify and categorize hip OA, bilateral radiographs were analyzed using the exponential product algorithm. The goniometer was used to assess the bilateral passive hip ROM. Long-term participation in elite handball at a high level was found to have a strong correlation with the hip development of osteoarthritis (OA). Sixty percent of handball players had been identified with OA in at least one hip joint, compared to only thirteen percent of control patients. Results: Hip flexion and medial rotation in the handball players were significantly decreased, whereas abduction, extension, and lateral rotation were increased considerably compared to the control values. When doing daily activities, the hip joints of the handball players with OA were less painful than those of the OA-afflicted control participants. Retired handball players seem to be at a much higher risk than the general population for developing early hip OA. Conclusion: The repetitive nature of handball-specific movements may result in anomalies that are seldom seen in the general population, which makes diagnosing pain and discomfort a challenging diagnostic challenge for sports physicians.

Intervention Hypothesis for Training with Whole-Body Vibration to Improve Physical Fitness Levels: An Umbrella Review.

Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a training modality, and it seems to be a safe and efficient exercise especially to improve different aspects of physical fitness in different populations. The protocols for WBV are still not standardized. The difficulty in comparing the data confuses the real efficacy of this instrument. Consequently, the objective of this umbrella review is to analyze the protocols previously adopted and eventually to propose a standard operating procedure for WBV training. Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on WBV were searched on the electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus until 18 March 2024. A quality assessment of the studies included has been performed. A total of 20 studies were included in this umbrella review and frequency, magnitude, and amplitude intensity data were recorded. Detailed information about the protocols (static or dynamic exercises, barefoot or with shoes, intensity duration, weekly frequency, and vibration characteristics) was also collected. WBV presents widely different protocols. Consequently, a standard operating procedure has not been proposed for WBV training. A hypothesis of intervention was instead written in which parameters for frequency, amplitude, acceleration, and training mode were proposed.

Comparative Analysis of Adaptive Changes in Immunoendocrine and Physiological Responses to High-Intensity Sprint Interval Training with Progressive and Nonprogressive Loads in Young Wrestlers.

The objective of this study was to explore the effects of a 7-week short sprint interval training (SSIT) with differing in programming volume-loads including progressive (P-SSIT) and nonprogressive (NP-SSIT) approaches on the immunoendocrine, physical fitness attributes and physiological parameters in male wrestlers during the pre-season. Thirty young freestyle wrestlers at the collegiate national-level were included in the study and were divided into three groups: P-SSIT (n = 10), NP-SSIT (n = 10), and an active control group (n = 10). The wrestlers engaged in their specific wrestling training three days weekly, while the P-SSIT and NP-SSIT groups underwent a 7-week SSIT, with scheduling in either progressed or nonprogressed volume-based overloads, three times per week. Before and after the intervention, various aspects of physical fitness (such as 20-m sprint, 4×9-m shuttle run, and maximal strength) and physiological parameters (including cardiorespiratory fitness and anaerobic power output), as well as immunoendocrine responses (such as immunoglobulin-A, testosterone, and cortisol) were measured. Following the training intervention, the control group did not show any significant changes in the variable measured; however, both the P-SSIT and NP-SSIT groups experienced significant improvements (p = 0.001) in physical fitness attributes and physiological parameters with effect sizes ranging from small to very large, and also more adaptive responses compared with control group (p < 0.05). In addition, there were no statistically significant changes observed among the P-SSIT and NP-SSIT groups in terms of immunoendocrine response to training, and physical fitness, as well as physiological parameters (p > 0.05). In conclusion, neither the progressed nor nonprogressed approaches of SSIT demonstrated superior effects on adaptations compared to one another. Therefore, it is recommended for strength and conditioning coaches in wrestling to incorporate both P-SSIT and NP-SSIT into their annual training plan, especially during the pre-season phase, to maximize the physical fitness and physiological parameters of their wrestlers while minimizing changes in immunoendocrine responses.

Trends of physical fitness related to weight status: An analysis including over 412,000 Swiss young male conscripts from 2007 to 2022

ObjectiveThe high prevalence of obesity among young adults in the civilian population pose challenges in recruiting physically fit soldiers. We assessed the trend of physical fitness related to weight status among Swiss male conscripts. MethodsCross-sectional data of medical examination data during mandatory conscription for the Swiss Armed Forces, 2007–2022 (N = 412,186). The conscription physical test (CPT) assessed five aspects of physical fitness, each aspect scoring 0–25, one component being an endurance test (ET). CPT and ET categories were defined as per military guidelines: “Insufficient”, “Sufficient”, “Good”, “Very Good” and “Excellent”. Weight status was based on body mass index (BMI). ResultsConscripts with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) and overweight (BMI 25–29.99) had significantly (p < 0.001) lower CPT and ET scores compared to normal weight [multivariable-adjusted mean: 54.7 ± 0.1 and 66.5 ± 0.1, vs. 73.6 ± 0.1 for CPT; 8.8 ± 0.1 and 12.5 ± 0.1, vs. 15.3 ± 0.1 for ET] and a higher likelihood to be categorized as “Insufficient” [weighted relative-risk ratio and (95 %CI): 70.4 (63.7–77.7) and 2.35 (2.16–2.55) for CPT; 77.1 (71.0–83.7) and 3.05 (2.91–3.20) for ET] or “Sufficient” [7.67 (7.38–7.97) and 2.02 (1.99–2.06) for CPT; 8.93 (8.37–9.52) and 2.02 (1.98–2.06) for ET]. Compared to normal weight conscripts, the CPT and ET scores decreased over the conscription years for conscripts with obesity (multivariable-adjusted mean yearly change: −0.11 ± 0.02 for CPT; −0.032 ± 0.007 for ET) and overweight (−0.16 ± 0.01 for CPT and −0.044 ± 0.004 for ET). ConclusionMale Swiss conscripts with overweight and obesity have lower physical fitness than normal weight conscripts, and this condition tends to worsen over the conscription years.

The relationship between fundamental motor skills and physical fitness in preschoolers: a short-term longitudinal study.

Physical fitness and fundamental motor skills are two important aspects for the healthy development of preschoolers. Despite the growing interest in clarifying their relationship, the scarcity of longitudinal studies prevents us from understanding causality. This study employed a cross-lagged model with two time points to investigate the bidirectional relationship between these two aspects. A total of 174 preschoolers (54.0% girls) from 3 to 6 years old (M = 3.96 ± 0.47) were surveyed, they were recruited by convenience from two kindergartens in Beijing, China, and their physical fitness (via CNPFDSM-EC) and fundamental motor skills (via TGMD-3) were tracked over a period of 6 months. The findings revealed a bidirectional predictive effect. The predictive strength of flexibility was found to be lower than other physical fitness aspects, while locomotor skills demonstrated a higher predictive strength than object control skills. This study indicates that physical fitness and fundamental motor skills mutually enhance each other in young children, and both should be emphasized in preschool sports education.

The Effects of Sports Training and Nutritional Intervention on Disabled Athletes’ Abilities of Sports Performance

The differences of sports training for the disabled and the normal are distinct. They exist not only in sports categories but also in training intensity and nutritional intervention for the disabled athletes. Therefore, to keep the competition fair and better show the creativity and value of the disabled athletes, in addition to setting reasonable standards for the sports competition, targeted schemes for training intensity and nutritional intervention are also necessary to promote athletes’ performances and enable them to have a equal competition with other athletes in the aspects of physical fitness, mental ability and live performances, etc. Therefore, this paper takes disabled athletes ‘performance ability as the research object and analyzes how to strengthen the performance of disabled athletes through sports training and nutritional intervention. Hopefully, this study will lay the foundation for the development of disabled athletes in the field of sports.

Creating a circuit training model to improve the agility of seven-year-olds

The objective of this study is to create an efficient circuit training model for 7-year-old kids. Research and development from borg and gall are the research methods used. There are 24 variations as a result of this research and development. Four training posts were developed by researchers, each of which tries to train one or two aspects of physical fitness. Strength, Endurance, Muscular Power, Speed, Flexibility, Agility, Coordination, and Balance are the 10 elements of physical fitness. Following a review of the literature on the characteristics of children aged 7 years, the researchers only created 4 posts, each of which may train one to two physical fitness components. On elementary school pupils in grade 1, this circuit training model's development and research were tested. The test results can be correctly implemented. Following the phases of study and development, it has been determined that this model can be used in schools.

Gamification in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation.

This study is a narrative review aiming at evaluating the current literature of the last 5 years on gamification and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. The article search involved the following MeSH terms at PubMed: "gamification," "exergaming," and "rehabilitation." Original studies in English language were included. After careful analysis of the search results, 17 articles were included in this review. The use of games for rehabilitation was investigated in musculoskeletal rehabilitation conditions such as shoulder surgery, impingement syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, low back pain, fibromyalgia, fracture, and ligament reconstruction. Results were similar or superior to conventional physical therapy or home-based exercises, with the additional benefit of improving motivation to the exercise program. Improvements in quality of life and perceived health status were also observed. The cost-effectiveness of this type of technology was also mentioned as an advantage of exergames in musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Studies involving gamification in musculoskeletal rehabilitation stress the potential of this resource in several aspects of physical fitness, health, and quality of life, also improving motivation and adherence to the exercise treatment.

Relationship between physical fitness and arterial stiffness in Korean older adults.

Pulse-wave velocity (PWV) is a widely used clinical marker of arterial stiffness. Associations between several physical fitness measures and arterial stiffness have been examined. However, these results were inconsistent. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the relationship between various physical fitness parameters and arterial stiffness in older adults. From January 2014 to December 2015, 1500 participants (men, n = 587; mean age, 71.78 ± 5.10 years) in South Korea were enrolled in the study. Koreans aged >65 years who agreed to participate in the study were enrolled. Individuals who were unable to exercise because of underlying conditions were excluded. VO2 max (mL/kg/min), handgrip strength (kg), handgrip strength (kg)/body weight (kg) ratio, one-leg standing time (s), and 10-meter walking speed (m/s) were measured. The brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was measured using a VP-1000 instrument. VO2 max (mL/kg/min), handgrip (kg)/body weight (kg) ratio, one-leg standing time (s), and 10-meter walking speed (m/s) were significantly inversely associated with baPWV. This association was consistent even after adjusting for confounding factors. Our study revealed a significant association between various aspects of physical fitness and arterial stiffness. This study suggests that physical fitness is a useful predictor of arterial stiffness in older adults.

PENGUKURAN ASPEK KEBUGARAN JASMANI KELENTUKAN MENGGUNAKAN INSTRUMEN V-SIT AND REACH TEST

Physical fitness is the ability to perform various activities or a job in daily life and adapt to physical loading without the effects of excessive fatigue. In carrying out various activities, a person needs to increase good flexibility in protecting the body from various kinds of injuries. One of them is flexibility where the physical components of each person have a form of movement that is not rigid, smooth, and flexible. Flexibility in students can be done using the v-sit and reach test instrument. The approach in this study uses a quantitative approach model where the researcher places more emphasis on data analysis numerically or numerically. The analysis will be processed data using statistical methods. This research is useful in knowing aspects of physical fitness and flexibility of junior high school students (SMP) Bangkalan 1 using the v-sit and reach test and to determine differences in student flexibility based on gender. From the results of the study, it was found that the flexibility of students at SMP Negeri 1 Bangkalan, Bangkalan Regency resulted in a good category with a total of 5 people or 16.6% and a very good category with a total of 3 people as much as 10%. Meanwhile for the sufficient category as many as 8 people or 26.6%, for the less type category there are 14 people as much as 46.6%. Meanwhile, the category with the least type has a number that is not left or as much as 0%.

Identifying the Physical Fitness and Health Evaluations for Police Officers: Brief Systematic Review with an Emphasis on the Portuguese Research.

Simple SummaryPolice health and physical fitness are essential for improving quality of life and police skills. This review aims to identify and analyze international and Portuguese studies that have investigated the relationships between various aspects of physical fitness as specified by job descriptions and to understand the health-related requirements of police officers. This will help to select the most used fitness measures and health-related parameters for police officers and improve training curricula for these occupational groups.This review aims (i) to identify and analyze the most used physical fitness tests for police officers (from international and Portuguese studies) and (ii) to understand the health-related physical fitness requirements according to the job descriptions of police officers. A total of 29 studies were included. Eighteen were from around the world and eleven were related to Portuguese police officers. All studies showed acceptable methodological quality in the assessment of physical fitness, and the most used fitness components were muscular strength, endurance, power, aerobic and anaerobic capacity, flexibility, and agility. For the analysis of health parameters, they are insufficient at the international level, while at the Portuguese level we have an acceptable sample. We try to analyze the relationship between physical fitness and health, but the studies conducted so far are insufficient. This review provides summary information (i) to help select the most used fitness measures and health-related parameters for police officers, and (ii) that will serve as a starting point for evaluating the relationship between the health and physical fitness of police officers.

Assessing Physical Fitness of Athletes in a Confined Environment during Prolonged Self-Isolation: Potential Usefulness of the Test of Maximal Number of Burpees Performed in 3 Minutes.

Due to a prolonged period of quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential to monitor the physical condition of athletes isolated at home with a fitness tool that measures various aspects of physical fitness, which does not require any special equipment, and can be performed within a small space. This study assessed the reliability and validity of the test of performing the maximal number of burpees in 3 min (or 3-MBT) to monitor strength, power, and aerobic endurance in trained athletes. For Part I (reliability of the 3-MBT), 20 (10 male, 10 female) national athletes from various sports performed the 3-MBT on two separate test sessions. Athletes performed as many burpees as possible within 3 min and the primary performance criteria was the number of burpees completed (where a higher number reflected a better performance). The 3-MBT displayed excellent relative reliability in the athletes, with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CV %) of >0.92, and <3.0%, respectively. For Part II (validity of the 3-MBT), 40 (20 M, 20 F) athletes performed the 3-MBT, and the countermovement jump (CMJ), isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), seated medicine ball throw (SMBT), isometric bench (IBP) and maximal aerobic power (VO2max) tests on separate sessions. When data of male and female athletes were pooled, there were significant correlations between relative 3-MBT and relative CMJ height (r = 0.65, large; p < 0.001), relative IMPT peak force (r = 0.50, large; p < 0.001), relative IBP peak force (r = 0.36, moderate, p = 0.02), and relative VO2max (r = 0.50, large; p < 0.001). In conclusion, the 3-MBT is a reliable and reasonably useful test and is a valid assessment of lower body power and strength, upper body strength and aerobic fitness in trained male and female athletes.

The Effect of Menstrual Cycle Physiological Changes on Physical Fitness Patterns in Middle School Students Aged 12-14 Years

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the physiological changes associated with the menstrual cycle on some aspects of physical fitness, specifically speed, agility, and flexibility, among middle school students in Beirut aged 12 to 14 years old. To accomplish this, the study was conducted on a sample of 21 female students who were in good health and had a regular monthly cycle, and the descriptive approach was used to suit the nature of the study. Time and speed during the slalom and 30-meter sprint tests, as well as distance achieved during the trunk flexion test, were measured before and after menstruation. The study's findings revealed statistically significant differences at the level (0.05) in all variables: time, speed, and distance. This demonstrates the effect of the menstrual cycle on the elements of physical fitness, which is the focus of our research. The researchers recommended that physical education programs for girls be aligned with menstrual cycle requirements, taking into account the importance and necessity of exercising and not stopping during this time.

Athlete-Perceived Impact of Frame Running on Physical Fitness, Functional Mobility and Psychosocial Outcomes.

ObjectiveFrame Running (RaceRunning) allows people with moderate-to-severe mobility impairments to participate in physical activity using a 3-wheeled frame with a saddle and handlebars. The aim of this study was to investigate athlete-perceived impact of Frame Running on aspects of physical fitness, functional mobility and psychosocial outcomes.DesignSurvey.ParticipantsFrame Running athletes aged 5 years and over.MethodsA survey was distributed to athletes through their club or sports organization.ResultsThe survey was completed by 115 athletes (53 females). Median age was 17 years (range 5–62 years) and 64 (57%) used a wheelchair or walker for distances over 50 m. Many felt that Frame Running stretched their muscles (n = 93, 87%) and increased their self-confidence (n = 63, 93%). Four (4%) reported extreme fatigue or sore muscles after training (n = 17, 15%). Of the 110 athletes who had been participating in Frame Running for over 3 months, 46 (47%) reported being less out of breath during mobility tasks and 66 (66%) felt they had improved their functional mobility. However, 7 (7%) reported increased muscle tightness and 4 (4%) reported a Frame Running-related injury lasting more than 4 weeks.ConclusionFrame Running is a safe physical activity with athlete-perceived benefits on physical fitness, functional mobility and psychosocial outcomes.LAY ABSTRACTFrame Running (RaceRunning) allows people with moderate-to-severe walking difficulties to walk or run independently using a 3-wheeled frame with a saddle and handlebars. In this study 115 Frame Running athletes living in the UK, Sweden or the Netherlands and aged 5 years or over (or their parents) completed a survey about taking part in Frame Running. More than half used a wheelchair or walker for distances over 50 m. Most felt that Frame Running stretched their muscles and increased their self-confidence. Four athletes perceived extreme fatigue and 17 reported sore muscles after training. Approximately half of the athletes reported that they were less out of breath during mobility tasks (walking, standing) and two thirds reported better functional mobility since they had started Frame Running. Injuries lasting more than 4 weeks were reported by 4 athletes. We conclude that Frame Running is a safe activity with the potential to improve physical fitness, functional mobility, and self-confidence.

Comparison of physical fitness, activity, and quality of life of the children with epilepsy and their healthy peers

ObjectiveTo identify physical fitness and activity levels, and health-related quality of life of children with epilepsy in Turkey and compare the results with their healthy peers. MethodsThe study included 21 children with epilepsy (with no seizures and not taking anti-epileptic drugs for at least a year) and 20 healthy peers. The FitnessGram Physical Fitness Test Battery was used to assess physical fitness, the 6-Minute Walk Test to assess physical performance, the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL) to assess the quality of life, and a pedometer was used to assess the physical activity of the children. ResultsThe physical fitness assessments including the trunk-lift test and flamingo balance test results were significantly lower in the children with epilepsy (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of BMI, the cadence-based curl-up test, the push-up test and the back saver sit/reach test (p > 0.05). Physical activity, physical performance, and quality of life results were significantly lower in children with epilepsy (p < 0.05). ConclusionThe presence of epilepsy may negatively affect many aspects of physical fitness, physical activity, and quality of life in childhood. The children with epilepsy adopted a more sedentary lifestyle than their healthy peers. Quality of life outcomes reveal that epilepsy has negative physical and psychosocial effects on children. These results support the necessity of raising awareness in both health professionals and families to encourage their children to be more active.

Fitness, Cognition, And Default Mode Network Connectivity In Monozygotic Twins From The Human Connectome Project

Behaviors that promote physical fitness are also believed to change brain structure and function in ways that improve cognition. Functional organization of the default mode network (DMN), an intrinsic brain network, is associated with a wide range of cognitive functions and with some aspects of physical fitness. The contribution of fitness-related behaviors (nurture) independent of genes (nature) to a putative DMN-cognition relationship remains largely unknown. PURPOSE: To determine whether behaviors that contribute to fitness also contribute to a relationship between DMN functional connectivity and cognition. METHODS: Eighty-four monozygotic twin pairs (55 female twin pairs; 22-35 years old) completed tests of fitness and cognition (NIH Toolbox) and underwent ‘resting-state’ fMRI as part of the Human Connectome Project. Twin pairs were grouped (concordant, discordant) according to differences in a composite score of fitness based on endurance, gait speed, and grip strength. Differences in fluid and crystallized cognition scores were computed similarly. Minimally pre-processed dense timeseries (91 k greyordinates) were parcellated (Cole-Anticevic Partition) and Pearson correlation coefficients were computed between DMN areas (109 areas x 4800 TRs) to represent DMN functional connectivity. Negative coefficients were discarded. Partial least squares correlation was used to determine if DMN functional connectivity was associated with cognition. A network of bootstrap ratios (109 x 109) revealed important DMN ‘edges’ and degree centrality revealed important DMN ‘nodes’ that contributed to the relationship. RESULTS: A pattern of DMN functional connectivity was inversely associated with performance on a vocabulary test (both groups) and directly associated with greater performance on tests of executive function and processing speed (discordant group only) (p = .006, 5000 random permutations). This relationship was characterized by low centrality of the left caudate and right cerebellar lobule IV and high centrality of the right presubiculum and parahippocampal area. CONCLUSION: In the absence of genetic variation between monozygotic twin pairs discordant for fitness, fitness-related behaviors may have changed the functional organization of the DMN in a way that improved fluid cognition.

Very preterm birth and cognitive control: The mediating roles of motor skills and physical fitness

The neurophysiological mechanisms underlying executive function deficits in very preterm born children still remain unclear. Moreover, evidence on factors that can be modified by behavior and exert an influence on these deficits is lacking. The present case-control study examined the association between very preterm birth and neurophysiological indices of response inhibition (i.e. the N200-P300 complex) as well as the potential mediation of this association by aspects of physical fitness. 54 children born very preterm completed a submaximal cycling ergometer test and a motor skill test battery. Event-related potentials elicited by a Go/NoGo task were recorded using electroencephalography. Cases were then matched to full-term children (age: 11 ± 0.7 y). A higher error rate on NoGo trials was found in children born very preterm compared to those born full-term. Path-analyses further revealed that very preterm birth was associated with decreased NoGo P300 amplitude. Motor skills, but not aerobic fitness, fully mediated this association. In early adolescence, very preterm birth is associated with less effective recruitment of attentional resources for stimulus evaluation processes. The improvement of motor skills rather than cardiorespiratory fitness appears promising for reducing this specific impairment in cognitive control.