Bouts Of Physical Activity Research Articles

Association of Objectively Measured Timing of Physical Activity Bouts With Cardiovascular Health in Type 2 Diabetes

Moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) improves cardiovascular health. Few studies have examined MVPA timing. We examined the associations of timing of bout-related MVPA with cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular risk in adults with type 2 diabetes. Baseline 7-day hip-worn accelerometry data from Look AHEAD participants (n = 2,153, 57% women) were analyzed to identify bout-related MVPA (≥3 METs/min for ≥10 min). Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed by maximal graded exercise test. Participants were categorized into six groups on the basis of the time of day with the majority of bout-related MVPA (METs × min): ≥50% of bout-related MVPA during the same time window (morning, midday, afternoon, or evening), <50% of bout-related MVPA in any time category (mixed; the reference group), and ≤1 day with bout-related MVPA per week (inactive). Cardiorespiratory fitness was highly associated with timing of bout-related MVPA (P = 0.0005), independent of weekly bout-related MVPA volume and intensity. Importantly, this association varied by sex (P = 0.02). In men, the midday group had the lowest fitness (β = -0.46 [95% CI -0.87, -0.06]), while the mixed group in women was the least fit. Framingham risk score (FRS) was associated with timing of bout-related MVPA (P = 0.02), which also differed by sex (P = 0.0007). The male morning group had the highest 4-year FRS (2.18% [0.70, 3.65]), but no association was observed in women. Timing of bout-related MVPA is associated with cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular risk in men with type 2 diabetes, independent of bout-related MVPA volume and intensity. Prospective studies are needed to determine the impacts of MVPA timing on cardiovascular health.

Associations among masticatory muscle activity, physical activity and self-reported oral behaviours in adult women.

To examine the relationship between masticatory muscle activity (MMA), self-reported oral behaviours (OBs) and overall physical activity (PA) in adult women. MMA and PA were assessed by a wearable electromyography (EMG) device and accelerometer respectively, worn over 2 non-consecutive days by 53 women (mean age 27.5 ± 6.4 years). Following the second recording day, self-reported OBs were assessed. MMA was assessed by the number, amplitude and duration of masseter contraction episodes. Masseter muscle EMG outcome measures were number of contraction episodes per hour (CEs/h) and the relative contraction time (RCT%). PA was assessed by time accumulated in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and 10-min bouts of MVPA per hour. Data were analysed using mixed model analysis. MMA in free-living conditions consisted mostly of low-amplitude (<10% maximum voluntary clenching) and short-duration (<10 s) contraction episodes. Masseter CEs/h were not associated with self-reported levels of OB. Masseter CEs/h were positively associated with time accumulated in MVPA (F = 9.9; p = 0.002) and negatively associated with 10-min bouts of MVPA/h (F = 15.8; p <0.001). RCT% was not significantly associated with either. Objectively assessed MMA is not associated with self-reported OB in free-moving adult females. Moderate to vigorous exercise and physical inactivity are accompanied with an increase in the number of masseter muscle contractions and thus possibly tooth clenching activity. OB can be influenced by the type and extent of PA. Subjective assessment of MMA by questionnaire and/or interviews may be invalid.

Hip and Groin Injury Prevention in Elite Athletes and Team Sport – Current Challenges and Opportunities

Hip and groin injury (HAGI) has been reported as a source of significant time loss in elite sport. Field and court-based sports such as basketball, football, hockey, soccer, among others, require explosive multiplanar movement in single stance and high-speed change of direction. Often situations arise where sub-optimal pre-season training has occurred or congested in-season competition minimizes physiologic recovery periods between bouts of physical activity, both of which could magnify concomitant existing risk factors and increase injury risk. Identification and management of HAGI can be challenging as numerous structures within the region can be drivers of pain and injury, especially when considering the likelihood of concurrent pathology and injury reoccurrence. Focused prevention strategies have been suggested, but their practical clinical implementation has not been heavily investigated across the sporting spectrum. The purpose of this commentary is to review the historical and current state of HAGI, while focusing on applying evidence and clinical experience towards the development of future risk reduction strategies.Level of evidence: 5

The influence of context stability on physical activity and sedentary behaviour habit and behaviour: An ecological momentary assessment study.

This study used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to empirically test the theoretical propositions that habit for and level of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) should be associated with degree of context stability of those behaviours. Older adults (N=104) completed a 10-day EMA protocol and continuous accelerometer monitoring. As part of the EMA protocol older adults answered 6 EMA prompts per day to assess current behaviour as well as social and physical contexts of behaviour. Temporal context was determined via time stamps of EMA questionnaires. Context stability was calculated as the reversed entropy scores of the contexts (physical, social, temporal, behavioural [i.e., type]) of PA and SB weighted for total frequency of context prompts. Habit for PA and SB (operationalized as self-reported behavioural automaticity) was assessed via baseline questionnaire. An ActivPAL monitor was worn to assess average daily time spent in moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA), light PA, and SB, and number of sit-to-stand transitions. More stable physical contexts for physical activity predicted more MVPA (β=10.22) and more stable social contexts for sitting predicted more SB (β=1.36). More variety of time people tended to report engaging in SB, the more SB engaged in (β=-13.76). No context stability scores predicted light PA, sit-to-stand transitions, or habit. Although context stability was related to behaviour, this did not appear to be explained by habit, as habit did not differ by the degree of context stability surrounding bouts of PA or SB.

"Happy, Healthy, and Smart": Student Responses to the Walking Classroom Education Program Aimed to Enhance Physical Activity.

Over 1 in 3 children in US schools is overweight or obese; thus, most teachers believe physical education and activity are necessary K-12 components. One potential avenue to infuse physical activity (PA) in educational settings is integrating in classrooms based on learning objectives and academic outcomes. In this study, we examined student emotion through the use of the Walking Classroom (WC) learning platform. Students from 9 fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms (N=100) in 1 North Carolina county participated in 10 separate focus groups related to their engagement in an active education program. Discussions centered on how engaging in a short bout of PA during a WC podcast impacted students' overall educational experience. Data analysis included open in vivo manual coding methods resulting in major themes and visual word-clouds. Students reported feeling happy, healthy, educated, smart, and excited while walking and learning. Afterwards, students discussed feeling strong, relaxed, energized, happy, and alert. On days students were not able to do a walk, they reported feeling mad, bored, sad, sleepy, and tired. Offering active learning appears to result in students feeling happier, healthier, and smarter.

Feasibility and impact of a 1-minute daily functional exercise regimen prescribed to older adults by their primary care physician.

Despite the inverse relationship between physical activity (PA) and physical function, few older adults achieve PA recommendations. In response to observations that "lack of time" underlies reduced PA among older adults, recent work suggests even short bouts of PA can improve health and fitness. In addition, because they are frequently visited by older adults, an important conduit for PA promotion could be the primary care physician (PCP). However, most PCPs receive little training related to PA, rendering it difficult for them to offer meaningful counseling. Therefore, we explored the feasibility and impact of a PCP-prescribed one-minute daily functional exercise program, consisting of 30s each of bodyweight push-ups and squats, among 24 patients 60years of age or older. 42% of patients who were contacted started the exercise prescription and, over 24-weeks, completed approximately 114 sessions, while 75% completed at least half of the possible daily exercise sessions. As a group, the patients demonstrated increases in both maximal push-up and squat performance, though these increases plateaued following week-12. These preliminary results suggest that a PCP prescription of one-minute of daily functional exercise among older adult patients was feasible, acceptable, and effective for improving functional physical fitness. Given these findings, formal controlled research with recruitment from multiple clinics, random assignment to treatment conditions, and blinded assessments of objective functional physical performance should be pursued.

The chronic effect of physical activity on postprandial triglycerides in postmenopausal women: A randomized controlled study

Background/ObjectiveThis study examined the chronic effect of increased physical activity on postprandial triglycerides in older women. MethodsTwenty-six women, aged 72 ± 5 years (mean ± SD), participated in this study. Participants in the physical activity group (n = 11) were asked to increase their activities above their usual lifestyle levels for 12 weeks. Participants in the control group (n = 15) maintained their usual lifestyle for 12 weeks. All participants rested and consumed a standardized breakfast after a 24-h period of physical activity avoidance at baseline, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks. Blood samples were collected in the fasted state (0 h) and at 2, 4, and 6 h after breakfast. ResultsThe average increased time spent in self-selected activities per day was 1.1 ± 19.3 min over the 12 weeks compared with the baseline in the physical activity group. There was no difference in the postprandial time-averaged triglyceride area under the curve at baseline (1.59 ± 0.81 vs. 1.39 ± 0.67 mmol/L, p = 0.515) or over the 12-week intervention (1.78 ± 1.00 vs. 1.31 ± 0.67 mmol/L, p = 0.212) between the physical activity and control groups. ConclusionPostprandial triglyceride concentrations were not reduced after performing self-selected activities under free-living conditions in older women when these responses were determined 24 h after the last physical activity bout. (Trial registration ID: UMIN000037420).

Device-Based Measures of Sedentary Time and Physical Activity Are Associated With Physical Fitness and Body Fat Content.

Introduction/Purpose: Physical activity and sedentary time may associate with physical fitness and body composition. Yet, there exists some observational studies that have investigated the associations of device-based measures of sedentary time and physical activity (PA) with cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and body composition but associations with muscular fitness (MF) are less studied.Methods: Objective sedentary time and physical activity was measured by a hip worn accelerometer from 415 young adult men (age: mean 26, standard deviation 7 years). Cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max) (CRF) was determined using a graded cycle ergometer test until exhaustion. Maximal force of lower extremities was measured isometrically and lower body power was assessed using standing long jump (MF). Body composition was determined with bioimpedance method. Single and compositional approach was used in regression analysis.Results: Mean sedentary time was 707 (standard deviation 133) minutes per day (77 ± 8% of the wear time). Volumes of all PA intensities were positively associated with CRF and associations showed linearly increasing magnitudes with higher intensities in single regression models adjusted for age and smoking (p < 0.001). Similarly, PA intensities were positively associated with lower body MF, however, with weaker associations (p < 0.005). After further adjustment for resistance training, the associations remained significant. The associations of the relative distribution of time within sedentary behavior (SB), light intensity PA (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) behaviors as a whole with using compositional analysis further revealed that within the composition MVPA and SB were positively associated with CRF and MF (p < 0.001), while LPA was not. In addition, within the composition, accumulated PA bouts lasting more than 3 min were consistently associated with CRF and MF, and with all body composition variables (p < 0.001), while sedentary time was associated with body fat percentage (p < 0.001).Conclusion: Promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary time may have positive influence on physical fitness and body fat content, and thereby may offer positive health effects. Physical activity of higher intensities may offer greater benefits.

Patterns of Daily Physical Activity Across the Spectrum of Visual Field Damage in Glaucoma Patients

Visual impairment (VI) has been linked with low physical activity (PA) and higher risk of poor function with aging, yet how VI affects daily patterns of physical activity (PA) is undefined. We assessed the association between visual field (VF) damage and: (i) activity fragmentation and (ii) diurnal patterns of PA in 237 glaucoma patients (mean age=70.6, 51.5% men). PA was measured using the Actical hip-worn accelerometer and VF damage was defined by average VF sensitivity. In adjusted linear models, each 5-dB decrement in IVF sensitivity was associated with 16.3 fewer active minutes/day and 2% higher activity fragmentation (both p<.05). In time-of-day analyses, those with lower IVF sensitivity were less active, but this did not vary by time-of-day. Older adults with worse VF damage demonstrate shorter, more fragmented bouts of PA throughout the day, which may reflect lower physiologic functioning. Future work should examine the temporality of this association.

Is replacing sedentary time with bouts of physical activity associated with inflammatory biomarkers in children?

This study aimed to investigate the theoretical impact of reallocating a specific amount of sedentary time with an equal amount of (a) total and (b) ≥1-minute bout-accumulated time spent in different activity intensities, on inflammatory biomarkers in 8- to 9-year-old children. Accelerometry and inflammatory biomarker baseline data from the Transform-Us! Study (complete cases n=149) were utilized. Isotemporal linear models with the Gaussian distribution and identity link functions were used to assess associations between the activity replacements and seven individual inflammatory biomarkers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), and Interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10, as well as combined inflammatory and pro-inflammatory composite scores. Eighty-five percent of children met physical activity recommendations. Replacing 10minutes of sedentary time per day with VPA, regardless of how this was accumulated, was beneficially associated with CRP and both combined composite scores. In contrast, replacing 10min/day of sedentary time with≥1-minute MPA bouts was detrimentally associated with CRP and the inflammatory composite score. Substitutions with other activity intensities were not significantly associated with any individual inflammatory biomarkers, or combined inflammatory and pro-inflammatory composite scores. In healthy and active school-aged children, evidence of the theoretical impact of replacing sedentary time with physical activity, regardless of intensity or accumulation, on markers of systemic inflammation was limited. Longitudinal research is needed to investigate the long-term impacts of reallocating sedentary time with physical activity, and particularly VPA, for inflammatory biomarkers in children, including those with increased risk of inflammation.

The Impact of Fragmented Physical Activity on Physical Function in European Older Adults in the SITLESS Study

Patterns of physical activity (PA) may be associated with physical function independently of total volume. The study aim was to explore associations of PA fragmentation (PAF) and function in ≥65-year-old European adults (SITLESS study: n=1360). The ActiGraph wGT3X+ accelerometer was worn for seven consecutive days at the dominant hip. PAF was assessed as the ratio of the number of ≥10-second PA bouts divided by an individual’s total minutes in PA. Physical function was assessed using the 2-minute maximum walk test (2MWT) and short physical performance battery test (SPPB). Multiple linear regression was utilized adjusting for relevant covariates. Lower PA fragmentation was significantly (p<0.01) associated with longer 2MWT distances and better SPPB scores. The model explained 54% and 41% of the variance in the 2MWT distance and in SPPB score, respectively. Increased PAF seems associated with reduced physical function; independent of sedentary behavior and numerous important health and socio-demographic covariates.

Patterning of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior at and Away from School in Preadolescent Children

ABSTRACT Background: Understanding how and where children accumulate their physical activity (PA) and sedentary minutes throughout the day has important implications for behavioral interventions. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the duration and intensity of habitual PA and sedentary time (SED) at and away from school among preadolescent children. Methods: Data from twenty-one children ages 7–11 (57% girls; 57% nonwhite; 24% overweight/obese) were included in this analysis. Proportion of time spent in PA, SED, and SED bouts were examined on school days (in-school and out-of-school) and non-school days via accelerometry. Results: When comparing school time with non-school time on school days, children accumulated a higher proportion of light PA while in-school [49.3% (i.e. 5 min 18 s) vs. 39.6% (i.e. 3 h 53 min), p = .01]. While at school, the proportion of time spent in SED was less [46.3% (i.e. 3 h 7 min) vs. 56.3% (i.e. 5 h 32 min), p = .01] and fewer children spent time engaged in prolonged sitting compared to out-of-school [uninterrupted SED for 30 min 52.4% (i.e. 11 children) vs. 85.7% (i.e. 18 children), p = .02] Discussion: These findings suggest children are proportionately most active and least sedentary when at school, yet children only accumulated approximately 18 min of moderate-to-vigorous PA in this environment. Translation to Health Education Practice: These preliminary findings can help to inform physical activity programming designed to promote life-long physical activity behaviors in children.

Adherence to physical activity and cardiovascular recommendations during the 2years after stroke rehabilitation discharge.

Objective measurement is essential to represent habitual physical activity. To date only one study has objectively measured physical activity for>12months after stroke. This study aimed to measure physical activity, cardiovascular risk factors, mobility, mood, fatigue and cognition during the 2years after rehabilitation discharge and to investigate whether stroke survivors meet physical activity and cardiovascular risk recommendations. This was a longitudinal observational study. Survivors of a first-ever stroke admitted to a large metropolitan rehabilitation hospital were recruited. Outcomes were measured at rehabilitation discharge and 6, 12 and 24months later. Outcomes were physical activity measured by the SenseWear Armband (e.g., moderate-vigorous physical activity, steps/day) and cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., blood pressure, fasting lipid profile and plasma glucose, waist circumference, body mass index), mobility, mood, fatigue and cognition. Changes over time were evaluated with random-effects regression modelling. Participants (n=79, 33% female) had mean (SD) age of 65 (14) years and median gait speed 1.2m/s (interquartile range: 0.8-1.4) at baseline. We found no change in physical activity levels over time. Step count and time spent in bouts of moderate-vigorous physical activity remained low. Many participants achieved the recommended 30min of daily moderate-vigorous physical activity at baseline, but this was decreased at 2years (72% [57/79] versus 65% [37/57]). Adherence to cardiovascular recommendations decreased over time, notably for body mass index, plasma glucose and triglyceride levels. Waist circumference and body mass index increased at each time point relative to baseline (by a mean of 3.2cm and 1.2kg.m2, respectively, at 2years, P<0.01). This is the largest longitudinal study of objectively measured physical activity after stroke. Adherence to cardiovascular risk recommendations decreased over time post-stroke, and physical activity levels remained low. Stroke survivors may benefit from annual multidisciplinary reviews to identify increasing risk and initiate appropriate interventions.

Association Between Brain Volumes and Patterns of Physical Activity in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Larger brain volumes are often associated with more free-living physical activity (PA) in cognitively normal older adults. Yet, whether greater brain volumes are associated with more favorable (less fragmented) PA patterns, and whether this association is stronger than with total PA, remains unknown. Brain magnetic resonance imaging and wrist-worn accelerometer data were collected in 301 participants (mean age = 77 [SD = 7] years, 59% women) enrolled in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Linear regression models were fit to examine whether brain volumes (cc) were cross-sectionally associated with: (a) total daily PA minutes and (b) activity fragmentation (mean number of PA bouts / total PA minutes × 100). Sensitivity analyses were conducted by adjusting for counterpart PA variables (eg, fragmentation covariate included in the PA minutes model). Greater white matter volumes in the parietal and temporal lobes were associated with higher daily PA minutes (2.6 [SE = 1.0] and 3.8 [0.9] min/day, respectively; p < .009 for both) after adjusting for demographics, behavioral factors, medical conditions, gait speed, apolipoprotein E e4 status, and intracranial volume. Greater temporal white matter volume was associated with lower fragmentation (-0.16% [0.05], p = .003). In sensitivity analyses, observed associations between brain volumes and daily PA minutes remained significant while associations with fragmentation no longer remained significant. Our results suggest white matter brain structure in cognitively normal older adults is associated with the total amount of PA and, to a lesser extent, the PA accumulation patterns. More work is needed to elucidate the longitudinal relationship between brain structure and function and PA patterns with aging.

Adding web-based behavioural support to exercise referral schemes for inactive adults with chronic health conditions: the e-coachER RCT.

There is modest evidence that exercise referral schemes increase physical activity in inactive individuals with chronic health conditions. There is a need to identify additional ways to improve the effects of exercise referral schemes on long-term physical activity. To determine if adding the e-coachER intervention to exercise referral schemes is more clinically effective and cost-effective in increasing physical activity after 1 year than usual exercise referral schemes. A pragmatic, multicentre, two-arm randomised controlled trial, with a mixed-methods process evaluation and health economic analysis. Participants were allocated in a 1 : 1 ratio to either exercise referral schemes plus e-coachER (intervention) or exercise referral schemes alone (control). Patients were referred to exercise referral schemes in Plymouth, Birmingham and Glasgow. There were 450 participants aged 16-74 years, with a body mass index of 30-40 kg/m2, with hypertension, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, lower limb osteoarthritis or a current/recent history of treatment for depression, who were also inactive, contactable via e-mail and internet users. e-coachER was designed to augment exercise referral schemes. Participants received a pedometer and fridge magnet with physical activity recording sheets, and a user guide to access the web-based support in the form of seven 'steps to health'. e-coachER aimed to build the use of behavioural skills (e.g. self-monitoring) while strengthening favourable beliefs in the importance of physical activity, competence, autonomy in physical activity choices and relatedness. All participants were referred to a standard exercise referral scheme. Minutes of moderate and vigorous physical activity in ≥ 10-minute bouts measured by an accelerometer over 1 week at 12 months, worn ≥ 16 hours per day for ≥ 4 days including ≥ 1 weekend day. Other accelerometer-derived physical activity measures, self-reported physical activity, exercise referral scheme attendance and EuroQol-5 Dimensions, five-level version, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores were collected at 4 and 12 months post randomisation. Participants had a mean body mass index of 32.6 (standard deviation) 4.4 kg/m2, were referred primarily for weight loss and were mostly confident self-rated information technology users. Primary outcome analysis involving those with usable data showed a weak indicative effect in favour of the intervention group (n = 108) compared with the control group (n = 124); 11.8 weekly minutes of moderate and vigorous physical activity (95% confidence interval -2.1 to 26.0 minutes; p = 0.10). Sixty-four per cent of intervention participants logged on at least once; they gave generally positive feedback on the web-based support. The intervention had no effect on other physical activity outcomes, exercise referral scheme attendance (78% in the control group vs. 75% in the intervention group) or EuroQol-5 Dimensions, five-level version, or Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores, but did enhance a number of process outcomes (i.e. confidence, importance and competence) compared with the control group at 4 months, but not at 12 months. At 12 months, the intervention group incurred an additional mean cost of £439 (95% confidence interval -£182 to £1060) compared with the control group, but generated more quality-adjusted life-years (mean 0.026, 95% confidence interval 0.013 to 0.040), with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of an additional £16,885 per quality-adjusted life-year. A significant proportion (46%) of participants were not included in the primary analysis because of study withdrawal and insufficient device wear-time, so the results must be interpreted with caution. The regression model fit for the primary outcome was poor because of the considerable proportion of participants [142/243 (58%)] who recorded no instances of ≥ 10-minute bouts of moderate and vigorous physical activity at 12 months post randomisation. The design and rigorous evaluation of cost-effective and scalable ways to increase exercise referral scheme uptake and maintenance of moderate and vigorous physical activity are needed among patients with chronic conditions. Adding e-coachER to usual exercise referral schemes had only a weak indicative effect on long-term rigorously defined, objectively assessed moderate and vigorous physical activity. The provision of the e-coachER support package led to an additional cost and has a 63% probability of being cost-effective based on the UK threshold of £30,000 per quality-adjusted life-year. The intervention did improve some process outcomes as specified in our logic model. Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN15644451. This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 24, No. 63. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Physical Exertion Diminishes Static and Dynamic Balance in Firefighters

Half of all work-related injuries in the fire service are musculoskeletal-based due to slips, trips, and overexertion. This study evaluated the effects of physical exertion on balance in firefighters. Forty-one firefighters completed a physical exertion protocol with static and dynamic balance assessments while in personal protective equipment. Following the physical exertion protocol, we identified a significant decrease in anterior reach of the right limb, and significant increases in rectangular displacement area in both double- and single-legged stances. Balance is diminished in firefighters wearing personal protective equipment after engaging in a short bout of physical activity, suggesting a potential risk factor for lower extremity injury in the fire service.

Associations of Environmental Features With Outdoor Physical Activity on Weekdays and Weekend Days: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Older People.

Background: Physical activity (PA) of higher intensity and longer duration mainly accumulates from older adults' out-of-home activities. Outdoor PA is influenced by environmental features; however, the day-to-day variability of PA and its associations with environmental features have not been widely studied. This study focused on the associations of environmental features with accelerometer-measured PA in older people on weekdays and weekend days.Methods: The study population comprised 167 community-dwelling older people aged 75–90 years. Accelerometers were worn on 7 consecutive days and a structured interview on physical functioning, health, and socioeconomic factors was administered. A geographic information system (GIS) was used to assess environmental features within a distance of 500 (number of land types, road network slope, intersection, and residential densities) or 1,000 m (habitat diversity within natural and green areas) from participants' homes. Accelerometer-based PA [number of PA bouts >10 min and minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA)] was analyzed for weekdays and weekend days separately. Associations between environmental features and PA were analyzed using linear regression models.Results: Participants accumulated on average 0.60 PA bouts and 34.2 MVPA minutes on weekdays and 0.50 PA bouts and 31.5 MVPA minutes on weekend days. Especially participants with low overall PA were less active at weekends. Habitat diversity in natural and green areas, intersection density, and residential density were positively associated with numbers of PA bouts and MVPA minutes on weekdays. Moreover, more diversity in natural and green areas was associated with more MVPA minutes on weekend days. A higher road network slope was negatively associated with the number of PA bouts throughout the week and with MVPA minutes on weekend days.Conclusions: Environmental features close to home, especially PA-supportive infrastructural features and services, were more strongly associated with weekday than weekend PA. This suggests that older people's out-of-home activities, typically conducted on weekdays, are related to service use. However, greater diversity of natural areas close to home seemed to motivate older adults to engage in higher MVPA throughout the week.

Untapping the Health Enhancing Potential of Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity (VILPA): Rationale, Scoping Review, and a 4-Pillar Research Framework

Recently revised public health guidelines acknowledge the health benefits of regular intermittent bouts of vigorous intensity incidental physical activity done as part of daily living, such as carrying shopping bags, walking uphill, and stair climbing. Despite this recognition and the advantages such lifestyle physical activity has over continuous vigorous intensity structured exercise, a scoping review we conducted revealed that current research in this area is, at best, rudimentary. Key gaps include the absence of an empirically-derived dose specification (e.g., minimum duration of lifestyle physical activity required to achieve absolute or relative vigorous intensity), lack of acceptable measurement standards, limited understanding of acute and chronic (adaptive) effects of intermittent vigorous bouts on health, and paucity of essential information necessary to develop feasible and scalable interventions (e.g., acceptability of this kind of physical activity by the public). To encourage collaboration and research agenda alignment among groups interested in this field, we propose a research framework to further understanding of vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA). This framework comprises four pillars aimed at the development of: (a) an empirical definition of VILPA, (b) methods to reliably and accurately measure VILPA, (c) approaches to examine the short and long-term dose–response effects of VILPA, and (d) scalable and acceptable behavioural VILPA-promoting interventions.Graphic

Short Bouts of Physical Activity Are Associated with Reduced Smoking Withdrawal Symptoms, but Perceptions of Intensity May Be the Key.

The primary aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a short bout (10 min) of moderate-intensity exercise to reduce withdrawal symptomatology, craving and negative affect; while the secondary aim was to assess how the effectiveness of a short bout of moderate exercise can be modulated by the perception of intensity in physically active and low-activity smokers. Fifty low-activity and physically active smokers were recruited (24 male and 26 female) and randomized in three different conditions. Prescribed (objective) moderate intensity (OBJ) and perceived moderate intensity (PER), and passive waiting (PW). After the intervention (T3), smokers reported less desire to smoke in the PER (p < 0.001) and OBJ (p < 0.001) conditions, relative to the PW condition. At T3 smokers in the PER condition reported less negative affect than smokers in the PW condition relative to the baseline (T1) (p < 0.007). Further, smokers in the PER condition reported less negative affect than smokers in the PW condition (p < 0.048). Physically active (PA) smokers perceived less exertion than low-activity (LA) smokers, and the effects were stronger in the PER condition relative to OBJ. Generally, our results suggest that a short bout of moderate exercise helps both LA and PA smokers. These findings provided a novel insight into the psychological mechanisms that affect the efficacy of the exercise in smoking cessation and suggest that exercise should be tailored according to individual perception of intensity.

Associations of older adults’ excursions from home with health-related physical activity and sedentary behavior

BackgroundAs people age, they spend more time in and around their domestic environments, within which opportunities for health-enhancing physical activity (PA) may be limited. We examined the associations of frequency of excursions from home with accelerometer-determined PA and the total and prolonged sedentary behavior (SB, sitting for ≥30 min) among community-dwelling older adults. MethodsOverall, 434 older adults (men, 57.1 %; age, 70–79 years) wore an accelerometer (HJA-350IT, Omron Healthcare) for 7 days. Time spent in SB, light-intensity PA (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), and prolonged SB bout (≥30 min) were calculated. Frequencies of excursions from home were categorized as 0−3, 4−5, and 6−7 days/week. Associations of excursions with PA and SB were tested by analysis of covariance adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics. ResultsFrequencies were 14.3 %, 31.1 %, and 54.6 % for excursions 0−3, 4−5, and 6−7 days/week, respectively. For men, less frequent excursions from home were significantly associated with less MVPA and more total and prolonged SB times (estimated means [minutes/day]: MVPA, 32, 42, and 48; total SB, 589, 549, and 539; prolonged SB, 344, 288, and 265; respectively; p < 0.05). LPA was not statistically significant (p = 0.09). For women, less frequent excursions were significantly associated with all PA outcomes (SB: 536, 497, and 467; prolonged SB: 260, 213, and 204; LPA: 328, 363, and 379; MVPA: 36, 39, and 54, respectively). ConclusionsAmong community-dwelling Japanese older adults, more frequent excursions from home were associated with more PA, less SB, and more-favorable SB patterns, suggesting a potential strategy for preventive-health initiatives.