Changes In Sports Participation Research Articles

Secular trends of sports participation, sedentary activity and physical self‐perceptions in Hong Kong adolescents, 1995–2000

To assess the 5-year secular changes in sports participation, sedentary activity, and physical self-perceptions among Hong Kong adolescents. A total of 2932 and 5692 secondary students, aged 13-18 participated in the Health Related Behavior General (HRBG) Survey in 1995-1996 and 2000-2001, respectively. Extracurricular sports participation at least weekly or as a team member (none, 1-2 events, 3 or more events), sedentary activities (0-1 h/day, 2 h/day or more) including television/video watching and homework were assessed. Additionally, physical self-perceptions, physical fitness (fit/very fit, moderately fit, unfit/very unfit) and body weight (intention to lose weight, satisfied, intention to gain weight) were reported. Secular trends of sports participation, and sedentary activities and physical self-perceptions were assessed. During the 5 years, the prevalence of sports participation (at least weekly or membership) decreased significantly in boys. The prevalence of both TV/video watching and homework for at least 2 h/day increased significantly in both sexes. The prevalence of being unfit/very unfit increased significantly in girls. No significant secular difference in weight perception was observed for both sexes. Sports participation decreased and sedentary activities increased during the 5-year period. Physical self-perceptions did not change significantly, except an increase in being physically unfit was observed in girls.

The Evolution of Urban Society and Social Changes in Sports Participation At the Grassroots in China

Since the 1980s the `economic reformation'1has played a crucial role in leading China to a fundamental change in every aspect of its society. This change accelerated a new process of urbanization. In conjunction with the vigorous economic, political and social transformations caused by urbanization, sport in China has undergone a comprehensive process of industrialization, commercialization, decentralization and privatization (Wu, 1999). Urbanization has changed the infrastructure of sport, sports values and forms of participation. Against this background, sports participation in China has emerged with new spaces, forms, contents and concepts. Although elite sport has still been tightly controlled by the state as a political instrument, sport and exercise at the grassroots has become an individual and social activity as a new feature in Chinese urban life. The Chinese people have benefited from increased opportunities and have made great progress in sports participation.

A Rationale for Assessing Sports Activity Levels and Limitations in Knee Disorders

Existing published knee rating systems that assess sports participation, knee function, and subjective symptomatology following ligamentous surgical procedures were analyzed. Major errors in questionnaire design and data reduction have led to invalid conclusions. A questionnaire containing a minimum set of rating criteria was formulated to validly assess athletic participation before and after treatment or surgery. Select questions and a data reduction format were established to assess the intensity of sports participation, changes in sports participation, the variables that produced the changes, self-assessed functional limitations, and the ability to participate in different types of sports. A clinical trial of the questionnaire was performed on 59 patients. An interview conducted upon completion of the questionnaire enabled the authors to detect difficulties or inconsistencies in the responses to the questions. The design format described in this report forms the basis for a subjective evaluation of ligamentous surgery. A standard format for analysis of sports participation and knee function is proposed to aid investigators in comparing variations in clinical results.