Daily Physical Activity Recommendations Research Articles

Associações entre actividade física, habilidades e coordenação motora em crianças portuguesas.

Nowadays, there is growing evidence in literature that Health benefits from regular physical activity (PA). The variance in PA among children is caused by a number of factors including their motor abilities and coordination. The aim of the study was to analyse the relation between usual PA and gross motor abilities and motor coordination in children aged 6 to 7 years. The sample comprised 21 children, aged in average 6,38±0,50 years. Physical activity was accessed by accelerometry, gross motor abilities by using the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD-2) and motor coordination by using the Körperkoordination Test für Kinder (KTK). Subjects met the international recommendations for daily PA; in motor coordination 47,6% of children met normal coordination, nobody reach good or very good coordination, the majority (52,4%) revelled disturbances or insufficiencies of coordination; in locomotion TGMD-2 76,2% of the children met percentile 50 or superior (P50), in object control TGMD-2 28,6% of the children reach P50 or superior, in total TGMD-2 38,1% of the children met P50 or superior. PA was positively correlated with TGMD-2 object control. Low performance attributed to the children in TGMD-2 and KTK tests could be an indicative of insufficient in the development of coordination and gross motor abilities; therefore we believe that this kind of intervention should be targeted at school children mainly in Physical Education classes.

Self-selected Walking Intensity Of Healthy Older Women (65-74yr) During Treadmill And Over-ground Walking

BACKGROUND: Current exercise guidelines for older adults recommend at least 30 min of physical activity (PA) on most days of the week (≥4/wk) performed at 55-90% of maximum heart rate (HRmax). While the recommended frequency and duration of PA can be easily self-selected, it is unclear if older adults are able to select the recommended exercise intensity. PURPOSE: To determine if healthy women (65 - 74 yr) are able to self-select a walking intensity that is within the current recommendations for daily PA during treadmill (TM) and over-ground (OG) walking. METHODS: Nine healthy older women (age = 68.5 ± 3.2 yr, BMI = 26.2 ± 5.7 kg/m2, peak O2 uptake (VO2peak) = 22.7 ± 4.7 mL/kg/min) performed four, 30-min walking trials (two TM and two OG) in a counterbalanced, randomized order. For the initial TM and OG trials, subjects self-selected their walking speed. Walking speed, heart rate (HR) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded during these trials. For the second TM and OG trials, walking speed was controlled to match the speeds selected during the initial TM and OG trials. During the second TM and OG trials, pulmonary gas exchange was measured using a COSMED K4b2, in addition to HR and RPE. RESULTS: Exercise intensity during self-selected TM and OG walking were within the current guidelines for daily PA (TM = 70% HRmax, 95%CI = 66 - 75%; OG = 73% HRmax, 95%CI = 67 - 79%). Differences in the HR and VO2 responses for TM and OG walking were not significant (%HRmax, p =.06; %VO2peak, p =.08), while walking speed during OG was significantly greater than TM walking (p =.01). CONCLUSION: Healthy older women are able to self-select a walking intensity that is suitable for meeting the current recommendations for daily PA during both TM and OG walking. This project is Supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.

Active Video/Arcade Games (Exergaming) and Energy Expenditure in College Students.

Video games have become increasingly popular among young adults. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if interactive video/arcade games, requiring physical activity to play, increase the energy expenditure (EE) and heart rate (HR) of young adults enough to elicit a training response. Thirteen male and female participants 26.6 ± 5.7 years of age were in the study. Participants were familiarized with equipment and allowed to practice with three games: (1) moving and striking lighted pads, (2) riding a bike to increase the pace of a race car, and (3) boxing against a video simulated opponent. A portable metabolic cart and HR monitor were attached to participants to measure baseline and exercise values. Participants could play any of the three games for 30 minutes while metabolic and HR data were collected. Exercise data were compared to baseline measures, and the 3 games were compared for EE. Paired sample t-tests showed baseline and exercise values differed for HR (t(12) = -18.91, p < 0.01), and EE (t(12) = -15.62, p < 0.01). The boxing game provided the highest VO2 (17.47 ± 4.79 ml·kg·-1min-1). Participants achieved 60% or better of their HR reserve (162.82 ± 10.78 beats·min-1), well within the ACSM guidelines for a training HR. Caloric expenditure during the 30-minute exercise session (226. 07 ± 48.68) is also within the ACSM recommendations for daily physical activity. Thus, interactive video/arcade games that require physical activity to play can be utilized as part of an overall aerobic exercise program.

The Contribution of Golf to Daily Physical Activity Recommendations: How Many Steps Does It Take to Complete a Round of Golf?

To quantify the number of steps adults take during an 18-hole round of golf, we recruited 42 healthy volunteers (12 men and 30 women aged 30-80 years) with established United States Golf Association handicaps to complete an 18-hole round of golf on each of 3 municipal golf courses. Subjects walked each course while wearing a pedometer to record step data. Analysis revealed that each golfer took a mean +/- SD 11,948 +/- 1781 steps per 18-hole round of golf. Regardless of handicap level, sex, or course played, most subjects exceeded 10,000 steps during a typical round of golf. Consequently, in most cases, walking 18 holes of golf will meet the recommendation to accumulate 10,000 steps per day as part of a general physical activity plan.

EXERCISE ADHERENCE IN OLDER ADULTS

Older adults are not meeting the Surgeon General's recommendations for daily physical activity. Some success has been reported in interventions that utilize the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) for behavior change by tailoring health education according to the various TTM stages. This intervention has not been thoroughly examined in older adults. PURPOSE To increase physical activity adherence (PAA), and improve the physical performance and perceived physical and emotional health (PPEH) of sedentary, older adults utilizing a TTM stage-based physical activity education program. METHODS Twenty-three sedentary, older adults in a Pre-Action stage of the TTM were assigned to either a behavior modification (BM) (76 years ± 7) group or an education awareness (EA) (62 years ± 7) group. Both groups were given the same progressive, home-based, 12-week physical activity program. All received at least 3 classes before the study to learn how to perform the exercises correctly and safely. The BM group participated in a 12-week structured, TTM-based education program. The EA group received general information about exercise at the start of the program. To measure PAA, participants were given exercise logs to complete and return weekly. TTM, physical performance (strength, balance, cardiovascular, and flexibility), and the PPEH (using the SF 36) were measured pre-and post-intervention. RESULTS Movement through the TTM was the same for both groups (pre-intervention, 100% of both groups were in Pre-Action; at Week 12, 30% remained in Pre-Action while 70% moved to Action). The BM group had greater PAA over the 12 weeks than the EA group. Both groups had significant improvements in upper body strength measured in timed arm curl repetitions (p < .05), cardiovascular endurance measured via the 2 Minute Step Test (p < .05), and in PPEH (p < .05). CONCLUSION Older adults can adhere to a structured, home-based physical activity program. Behavior modification, organized by the TTM, was an effective strategy to increase PAA in older adults. Supported by the University of CT Gerontology Fellowship.