Exercise Opportunities Research Articles

Abstract 4137880: Access to exercise opportunities, physical inactivity and cardiovascular mortality: A nationwide study in the U.S.

Aims: Despite efforts to promote physical activity, the prevalence of physical inactivity continues to rise. Exercise access influences population activity levels, but county-level variation in physical activity and its link to cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality is unclear. We explored the associations between access to exercise opportunities, levels of physical inactivity, and CVD mortality across U.S. counties Methods: The County Health Rankings and Roadmaps data and CDC WONDER mortality data were integrated. We compared age-adjusted CVD mortality across county-level quartiles of access to exercise opportunities and physical inactivity. Stratification was performed based on age, sex, race, and urbanization. The rate ratio (RR) for CVD mortality was calculated using generalized linear models. Results: CVD mortality decreased from high to low values of the county-level of physical activity across all demographic subgroups (P<0.001) (Table 1&Figure 1). Access to exercise opportunities was significantly associated with a reduced risk of CVD mortality (RR, 0.93 [0.91–0.95]), which was most pronounced in relation to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) mortality (RR, 0.80 [0.76–0.85]). The county-level physical inactivity was associated with an increased risk of CVD mortality (RR, 1.16 [1.14–1.17]), especially for ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality (RR, 1.35 [1.31–1.38]) and AMI mortality (RR, 1.32 [1.25–1.38]) (Figure 2). All demographic subgroups demonstrated similar benefits by improving the county-level indicators of physical activity. Conclusion: Counties have the potential to make significant strides in preventing CVD and improving the cardiovascular health of their populations by enhancing access to exercise opportunities and reducing physical inactivity.

Gym and swim: a co-facilitated exercise program that improves community connection, confidence, and exercise habits in a community mental health service.

High rates of cardiometabolic disease and poor physical health outcomes contribute to significant premature mortality in people living with severe mental illness (PLWSMI). Lifestyle interventions such as exercise are known to improve both physical and mental health outcomes, however the best way to deliver exercise programs for PLWSMI remains a challenge. This paper uses a pragmatic program evaluation of a co-delivered low-cost community-based exercise program implemented over a 6-month period. Of 46 referrals in the first half of 2023 to the SLHD Gym and Swim program, 13 gave consent to participate in standardised measures and qualitative interviews. Findings revealed an increase in average hours of sport/exercise, improvements in confidence to exercise independently and within group settings, as well as achievement of individualised goals. The success of the program was in part due to the co-facilitation between peer support workers and exercise physiologists, community connection and the established partnership between the public health service and the local government council. Results offer evidence to adopt and implement accessible and low-cost exercise opportunities in the community external to health services to address barriers of attendance for PLWSMI.

Maternal exercise opportunity before, during, and after pregnancy alters maternal care behavior and offspring development and survival, but has few effects on offspring physical activity or body composition.

Early-life experiences, especially during critical periods of development and growth, can have long-lasting effects on adult phenotypes. Parents are a crucial part of the offspring early-life environment, particularly in mammals (e.g., via pregnancy), and parental behaviors (e.g., maternal exercise) can modify the early-life environment experienced by offspring. Such changes might be beneficial or detrimental, depending on how they affect offspring development and growth or interact with other key parental behaviors (e.g., nursing). We used mice from a long-term artificial selection experiment for high voluntary wheel-running behavior to determine whether maternal exercise opportunity affected (1) maternal physical activity, (2) maternal care behavior, or (3) offspring physical activity and body composition. Eighty prospective dams (40 from 4 selectively bred High Runner [HR] lines and 40 from 4 non-selected Control [CON] lines) were housed with continuous wheel access starting two weeks prior to breeding and ending 10 days postpartum, after which dams were housed without wheels until offspring weaning (21 days postpartum). An additional 100 dams (50 HR, 50 CON) were housed without wheels. Prospective dams from HR lines ran more revolutions/day (mainly by running faster) than those from CON lines when individually housed and in the days leading up to, but not after, birth. During postpartum days 1-5, HR and CON dams with wheels tended to exhibit less maternal behavior than those without (PWheel = 0.0672). During post-partum days 6-10, HR dams with wheels continued to exhibit less maternal behavior than those without, whereas CON dams with wheels exhibited more than those without (PLinetype*Wheel = 0.0218). The proportion of dams giving birth did not differ among groups. However, CON dams with wheels were less likely to have litter death between birth and weaning than those without wheels, whereas the opposite was true for HR dams (PLinetype*Wheel = 0.0447). Both HR and CON dams with wheels had litters with a higher proportion of females at weaning than those without wheels (PWheel = 0.0129). Maternal wheel access had few statistically significant effects on offspring, but may have resulted in developmental delays (e.g., delayed eye opening and decreased lean mass at weaning and sexual maturity). Additionally, maternal wheel access and sex may have interacted to affect wheel-running distance (PSex*Wheel = 0.0683) and duration (PSex*Wheel = 0.0926); female offspring from dams with wheels ran fewer revolutions per day, by running fewer minutes per day, than from dams without wheels, whereas males ran more. However, maternal exercise had no statistically significant effects on offspring food consumption (mass-adjusted), home-cage activity, open-field behavior, the reproductive characteristics of offspring, their adult body composition, nor relative organ masses; nor did maternal wheel access have statistically significant effects on grand-offspring food consumption, body composition or voluntary exercise behavior. Overall, our results provide some support for maternal exercise opportunity altering maternal care behavior. Altered maternal care could explain the observed trends in offspring survival, development, and voluntary exercise behavior. However, these effects did not have apparent long-lasting impacts on offspring or grand-offspring body composition or reproductive characteristics.

Associations between family factors and physical activity clustering in preschool children: a cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to examine the association between family factors and physical activity (PA) clustering in preschool children. Preschoolers' PA and sedentary behavior (SB) were assessed consecutively for 7 days using ActiGraph accelerometers based on the cutoff counts developed by Pate et al. Information about children, their parents, and their families was collected using questionnaires. We developed a two-step approach to clustering PA both inside and outside of kindergarten. The Euclidean distance metric was utilized to distinguish between groups, while the Schwarz-Bayesian criterion was applied to identify the most optimal sub-group model. A one-way ANOVA was used to assess the clustering effect, and logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of different clustering. We collected data from 291 preschool children aged 3 to 6 years and divided them into three clusters-Inactive (50.2%), Active in kindergarten (26.8%), and Active outside kindergarten (23.0%)-with significant differences in PA and SB, revealing distinct temporal and spatial clustering patterns (silhouette coefficient = 0.3, p < 0.05). Furthermore, preschooler activity levels correlated significantly with factors including gender (OR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.19-0.66), age (OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.00-1.10), birth weight (OR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.16-2.76), paternal age (OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00-1.02), and maternal income (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.48-0.96). This study shows that the family environment or parents significantly influence the PA of preschool children. Older fathers may promote preschool children's PA through greater educational focus and financial stability, while higher maternal income can provide more opportunities and resources for preschool children to engage in active lifestyles. Thus, it is suggested that families providing more attention and exercise opportunities for preschool children's education can help improve their PA levels in the future.

A Study of Exergame System Using Hand Gestures for Wrist Flexibility Improvement for Tenosynovitis Prevention

Currently, as an increasing number of people have been addicted to using cellular phones, smartphone tenosynovitis has become common from long-term use of fingers for their operations. Hand exercise while playing video games, which is called exergame, can be a good solution to provide enjoyable daily exercise opportunities for its prevention, particularly, for young people. In this paper, we implemented a simple exergame system with a hand gesture recognition program made in Python using the Mediapipe library. We designed three sets of hand gestures to control the key operations to play the games as different exercises useful for tenosynovitis prevention. For evaluations, we prepared five video games running on a web browser and asked 10 students from Okayama and Hiroshima Universities, Japan, to play them and answer 10 questions in the questionnaire. Their playing results and System Usability Scale (SUS) scores confirmed the usability of the proposal, although we improved one gesture set to reduce its complexity. Moreover, by measuring the angles for maximum wrist movements, we found that the wrist flexibility was improved by playing the games, which verifies the effectiveness of the proposal.

Development and implementation of a physiotherapy exercise intervention with tailored support for exercise adherence for people with vertebral fragility fractures (OPTIN trial)

ObjectivesThe OsteoPorosis Tailored exercise adherence INtervention (OPTIN) trial is a two-arm, multi-centre randomised controlled trial. It compares the effectiveness of physiotherapy exercise rehabilitation with integrated support for exercise adherence, to physiotherapy exercise rehabilitation alone, for people with vertebral fragility fracture (VFF) and back pain. This paper describes the development of the physiotherapist-led adherence enhanced intervention. MethodsWe used an intervention mapping approach and followed Medical Research Council guidelines for developing complex interventions. We co-created the intervention involving expert clinicians, service managers, researchers, and adults with long-term musculoskeletal conditions, including osteoporosis. We identified a theoretical framework, reviewed the evidence, used a feasibility study, and considered clinical practice and deliverability within UK National Health Service (NHS) outpatient physiotherapy secondary care. Through a collaborative workshop, we refined the intervention, involved patients again and re-tested the intervention. Finally, we manualised the intervention, produced patient and physiotherapist materials and trained physiotherapists for delivery. ResultsThe OPTIN intervention uses a motivational interviewing approach and captures information about patient goals, barriers, and facilitators to exercise. Physiotherapists assess exercise capability, opportunities and motivation and utilise at least three behaviour change approaches, selecting from an intervention toolkit of nine approaches to support exercise behaviour. Ninety minutes of additional physiotherapy are provided to deliver the intervention, integrated within the assessment and six follow-up visits. ConclusionsA theory-informed intervention to support exercise adherence was developed and delivered by physiotherapists trained in the intervention to older adults with VFF and back pain in the intervention arm (n = 63) of the OPTIN trial. Trial Registration numberISRCTN 14465704. Contribution of Paper•Describes the development of an intervention to support adherence to physiotherapy exercise for people with vertebral fragility fracture.•Reports in detail the intervention for replication.

Loneliness and Social Isolation Factors Under the Prolonged COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan: 2-Year Longitudinal Study.

Worsening loneliness and social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic have become serious public health concerns worldwide. Despite previous research reporting persistent loneliness and social isolation under repeated emergency declarations and prolonged pandemics, long-term studies are needed to identify the actual conditions of loneliness and social isolation, and the factors that explain them. In this study, 3 web-based surveys were conducted at 1-year intervals during the 2 years after the first state of emergency to examine changes in loneliness and social isolation and the psychosocial factors associated with them in the Japanese population. The first survey (phase 1, May 11-12, 2020) was conducted at the end of the first emergency declaration period, the second survey (phase 2, June 14-20, 2021) was conducted at the end of the third emergency declaration period, and the third survey (phase 3, May 13-30, 2022) was conducted when the state of emergency had not been declared but many COVID-19-positive cases occurred during this period. We collected data on 3892 inhabitants (n=1813, 46.58% women; age: mean 50.3, SD 13.4 y) living in the 4 prefectures where emergency declaration measures were applied in phases 1 and 2. A linear mixed model analysis was performed to examine the association between psychosocial variables as explanatory variables and loneliness scores as the dependent variable in each phase. While many psychosocial and physical variables showed improvement for the 2 years, loneliness, social isolation, and the relationship with familiar people deteriorated, and the opportunities for exercise, favorite activities, and web-based interaction with familiar people decreased. Approximately half of those experiencing social isolation in phase 1 remained isolated throughout the 2-year period, and a greater number of people developed social isolation than those who were able to resolve it. The results of the linear mixed model analysis showed that most psychosocial and physical variables were related to loneliness regardless of the phase. Regarding the variables that showed a significant interaction with the phase, increased altruistic preventive behavior and a negative outlook for the future were more strongly associated with severe loneliness in phase 3 (P=.01 to <.001), while the association between fewer social networks and stronger loneliness tended to be more pronounced in phase 2. Although the interaction was not significant, the association between reduced face-to-face interaction, poorer relationships with familiar people, and increased loneliness tended to be stronger in phase 3. This study found that loneliness and social isolation remained unresolved throughout the long-term COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, in the final survey phase, these issues were influenced by a broader and more complex set of factors compared to earlier phases.

More than social isolation and lack of Public Policies: impacts of COVID-19 on the income, health, eating and physical activity of Brazilian women who underwent a bariatric surgery

We qualitatively evaluated the perceptions and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic regarding overall health, lifestyle and well-being of Brazilian women who underwent a bariatric surgery. We conducted individual, semi-structured interviews with thirty women, and data were analyzed identifying significance units collected through the interviews. The COVID-19 pandemic affected participants’ income and mental health, and both of these in turn affected their diet. The adult participants experienced an increase in domestic work due to increased family time at home and as a result had decreased opportunities for exercise and leisure activities. The majority of the participants were unable to maintain their physical activities routine during the social isolation, because of the difficulty to exercise indoor or being afraid to exercise outdoors in unsafe neighborhoods. Finally, the confinement impaired their possibility to continue their medical care, that for some, it aggravated their preoccupation. Public health policies should consider, build, and have the possibility of applying contingency plans in times of crisis that aim to alleviate the pressure caused by a threat to the population's health. Our study highlights aspects that could be addressed in public policies to this population.

Physical activity and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia: A twin study

Background and aimsLow levels of physical activity (PA) have been associated with depression. However, shared familial (genetic and environmental) factors might confound this association, given PA and depression tend to cluster in families. We investigated the association between levels of PA and depression symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, and then controlled for shared familial factors by design, and assessed if being in lockdown modified this association. MethodsWe applied within-individual and within-pair regression models to questionnaire data from adult same-sex twin pair members of Twins Research Australia collected between August and November 2020. Depression score was measured using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and PA levels and changes since the onset of the pandemic were self-reported. Adjusted models included body-mass-index, sleep adequacy, smoking, and alcohol consumption. ResultsThe sample of 1148 twins was predominantly female (80%) and had a mean age of 52.5 (Standard Deviation = 15.7). Reduced PA was associated with higher depression scores (β = 1.22, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.70–1.73, P < 0.001) in the adjusted within-individual model, but evidence of a within-pair association was weak. Lockdown status was an effect modifier (P = 0.006); relative to the co-twin, increased PA was associated with lower depression scores for those not in lockdown but higher scores for those in lockdown. ConclusionShared familial factors play a role in the association between PA and depression. Health interventions and educational campaigns for families rather than just individuals might be better suited to improve mental health outcomes, especially when opportunities for PA and exercise are limited.

The Value of an Informal Before-School Exercise Opportunity for Adolescent Girls Living in a Low-Socioeconomic Community.

Physical activity is beneficial to physical, social, and emotional well-being, and schools are required to provide opportunities to engage in physical activity. While physical education and school sport have been extensively researched, little is known about the value of informal, unstructured, exercise opportunities. This study involved interviews with 19 adolescent girls who attended "extra" exercise opportunities provided by their school. The 3 opportunities were: (1) informal before-school exercise sessions at school, (2) before-school sport training, and (3) externally provided exercise sessions in a community setting during school hours. Students perceived all opportunities as valuable with benefits to confidence, social well-being, and emotional well-being. The informal exercise sessions held greater benefits to confidence as confidence transferred from the physical activity context into the academic classroom more so than for those participating in sport. Social benefits were greater for those exercising before school as this opportunity created new relationships with teachers and with students from other classes and year groups. The opportunity to engage in informal exercise with peers before school widened social networks, increased confidence, changed the overall school climate, and increased attendance.

Nonzero-Sum Optimal Stopping Game with Continuous vs. Periodic Exercise Opportunities

Nonzero-Sum Optimal Stopping Game with Continuous vs. Periodic Exercise Opportunities

Disparities in Obesogenic Environments by Income, Race/Ethnicity, and Rurality Across All US Counties.

Background: Research is needed to explore inequities in physical activity (PA) and access to healthy eating resources for children on a national scale. This study examined disparities in childhood obesogenic environments across all United States (US) counties by income and race/ethnicity and their interaction with county rurality. Methods: Data for four PA variables (exercise opportunities, school proximity, walkability, crime) and six nutrition variables (grocery stores, farmers markets, fast-food restaurants, full-service restaurants, convenience stores, and births at baby-friendly hospitals) were collected for all US counties (n = 3142) to comprise the Childhood Obesogenic Environment Index (COEI). Variables were ranked and allocated a percentile for each county, and a total obesogenic environment score was created by averaging variable percentiles. Analysis of variance was used to assess differences by tertiles of county-level median household income (low/intermediate/high) and percentage of non-Hispanic (NH) White residents (low/intermediate/high). Interaction tests were used to assess effect modification by rurality, and stratified results were presented for all significant interactions. Results: There were significant differences in COEI values according to tertiles of median household income (F = 260.9, p < 0.0001). Low-income counties (M = 54.3, SD = 8.3) had worse obesogenic environments than intermediate (M = 49.9, SD = 7.9) or high (M = 45.9, SD = 8.8) income counties. There was also a significant interaction between rurality and median household income (F = 13.9, p < 0.0001). Similarly, there were significant differences in COEI values according to tertiles of race/ethnicity (F = 34.5, p < 0.0001), with low percentage NH White counties (M = 51.8, SD = 9.8) having worse obesogenic environment scores than intermediate (M = 48.7, SD = 8.4) or high (M = 49.5, SD = 8.5) NH White counties. There was also a significant interaction between rurality and race/ethnicity (F = 13.9, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Low-income counties and those with more racial/ethnic minority residents, especially in rural areas, had less supportive PA and healthy eating environments for youth. Targeted policy and environmental approaches that aimed to address concerns specific to underserved communities are needed.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Older Adults Who Participate in Group Physical Exercise Program.

The COVID pandemic exposed the vulnerability of older adults in myriad ways and social service organizations faced unprecedented challenges in safely providing support for older adults. Since 2007, Hawai'i Healthy Aging Partnership (HHAP) has offered Enhance®Fitness, an evidence-based program to reduce the risk of falls and promote health among older adults. Due to the pandemic, all the Enhance®Fitness sites had to close and stop offering the program. The HHAP started to provide alternative activities remotely in May 2020. To explore the pandemic's impact, the feasibility of online exercise programs, and the support needed among older adults to stay physically active, HHAP surveyed existing Enhance®Fitness participants and received 291 responses (59% response rate). The study used frequency distributions, comparison of means, and chi-square to analyze the survey data. Findings showed that the shutdown of the group exercise program during the pandemic led to a health status decline, a reduction in physical activities, and a shift from group to individual physical activities among older adult participants. Most respondents tried the remote exercise opportunities during the pandemic and would consider joining the remote programs in the future. However, about one-fourth of the respondents did not participate in remote exercise activities due to the lack of electronic devices, internet access, or interest in remote activity formats. To ensure equitable access to physical exercise programs for older adults in the post-pandemic era, it is critical to address the access challenges and resources needed for providing multiple programming options.

Investigating the Impact of Exercise Intensity on Cardiovascular Health Parameters in Kenya

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigating the impact of exercise intensity on cardiovascular health parameters. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: This study found that higher-intensity exercise generally leads to greater improvements in cardiovascular fitness compared to moderate-intensity exercise. Studies consistently showed that high-intensity exercise results in more significant reductions in blood pressure, improvements in lipid profiles, and enhanced endothelial function, indicating better cardiovascular health. Furthermore, higher-intensity exercise was associated with greater improvements in maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max), a key indicator of aerobic capacity and cardiovascular fitness. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Health-related physical fitness theory, dual-mode theory of exercise &amp; metabolic equivalent theory may be used to anchor future studies on exercise intensity on cardiovascular health parameters. Based on empirical evidence, healthcare professionals should tailor exercise prescriptions to individual needs, preferences, and health status. Policymakers play a crucial role in promoting equitable access to exercise opportunities and resources, particularly in underserved communities.

Group-based exercise for Parkinson’s: a qualitative study of participants and partners’ perceptions of an exercise class delivered through a community-university collaboration

BackgroundCommunity-based exercise programmes (CBEPs) offer a practical and viable approach to providing people with Parkinson’s disease (PwP) the opportunity to exercise as an ancillary therapeutic benefit to pharmacological management. This study explores the perceptions of exercising participants (PwP) and non-participating partners involved in an exercise class delivered through a community-university partnership.MethodsTwo separate focus group discussions were conducted: one with class participants (PwP: n = 7, H&Y scale I to III), and the other with non-participating partners of PwP (n = 4).ResultsThematic analysis of the data identified that a range of physical, psychological and social factors were perceived to influence engagement: (1) actively taking control, (2) exercise is medicine for the mind and body, and (3) a community working together to promote exercise for parkinson’s. Participants and partners felt that the support from the group, including the instructors and student volunteers, empowered and supported PwP to proactively self-manage their health, enjoy exercise in an inclusive group setting, and develop strong social connections with others in the local Parkinson’s community. Support to exercise from healthcare professionals was identified as both an enabler and barrier to participation.ConclusionsThis study underscores the significance of a community-university partnership as a complementary therapeutic approach for PwP. It also provides critical reflections on its sustainability, including implications for how exercise is considered as medicine for PwP. Additionally, it offers practical recommendations to galvanise community participation and provide inclusive and viable exercise opportunities for PwP.

A co-designed mixed methods study on community-based gym exercise for non-ambulant adults with childhood onset disability

Purpose Explore community-based gym exercise for non-ambulant adults with childhood-onset disability. Materials and methods Non-ambulant adults with childhood-onset disability participated in four, weekly gym sessions co-facilitated by physiotherapists and exercise professionals. Practicalities of participating in the sessions were recorded via uptake and attrition, weekly surveys, and focus groups. Perspectives of those who designed/delivered the study were gathered via weekly debrief meetings. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively, qualitative data were analysed thematically. Results Ten non-ambulant adults with childhood-onset disability participated; 70% completed all exercise sessions. Focus groups identified three themes. “I wouldn’t be able to exercise…there’s no option for a community-based setting” described the lack of opportunities for exercise in gyms. “You don’t realise the benefit of coming here” highlighted benefits of exercise. “We can do better” had two sub-themes: problem solving and ingredients for community-based gym exercise. Weekly feedback and debrief meetings identified practicalities related to equipment, exercises, and collaborative working between facilitators. Conclusions Whilst there is an interest in community-based gym exercise for non-ambulant adults with childhood-onset disability, there remains a lack of inclusive gyms. Co-design of inclusive gym guidelines and condition-specific physical activity referral scheme may enhance opportunities for participation in gym exercise for adults with childhood-onset disability.

THRIVING IN MOTION – YOUTH MOVES: MOVEMENT FOR TRANS AND GENDER DIVERSE YOUNG FOLK

CASE SETTING Gender diverse young people have lower rates of exercise, and higher rates of mental and physical health challenges, perpetuated by a lack of trans-friendly physical activity providers and environments. Our collaborative project aimed to create and support community-based exercise opportunities for trans and gender diverse young people (15-25yrs) to increase participation and improve their physical and mental health outcomes. Alongside feasibility data from 18 months delivery, two case studies will be presented (23 yrs non-binary individual, presenting with disordered eating and exercise, neurodivergence and mental illness; 18yrs transfeminine presenting with neurodivergence and participation barriers). APPROACH AND TREATMENT Through targeted community collaboration with young people and multidisciplinary support services, a supportive and inclusive structured exercise program was created. Specifically, we delivered and evaluated the feasibility of the exercise program for gender diverse young people; and educated the wider exercise and health community on inclusive exercise practices. RESULTS Forty-six gender diverse young people participated across the delivery of 11 x 8-10 week programs in 5 Perth metro locations, totalling 4518 exercise therapy hours. On average 100% of participants reported a score higher than 3/5 for program enjoyment, 79% of participants reported a score higher than 3/5 for motivation to return. Participants on average increased weekly physical activity participation by 50% since commencing the program, and 100% of participants would recommend the program to other trans peers. REFLECTIONS/LEARNINGS In WA, the absence of exercise opportunities for gender diverse young people prompted our tailored program. We prioritized inclusivity, safety, and participant-specific needs. Our proactive approach included health screenings, upskilling staff, and encouraging a supportive environment. Listening to participant expectations, involving a Youth Advisory Group, and engaging a Youth Engagement Officer proved vital for program success. Our reflections incorporate the significance of tailored, inclusive programs and community involvement in fostering active, safe spaces.

THRIVING IN MOTION – YOUTH MOVES: MOVEMENT FOR YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM

CASE SETTING A Western Australia community exercise initiative supporting vulnerable youth experiencing poor mental health. Led by professionals and peers, our program offers a non-judgmental space for exercise and education, addressing discrimination, isolation, and service access barriers. Addressing a lack of physical activity options for at-risk groups, the program targets individuals affected or at risk of mental health disorders, recognizing that a quarter of youth face such challenges. TREATMENT An 8-week evidence-based program integrating mixed movement and education in alternative or education support settings. Tailored for at risk youth, the goal is to directly improve mental and physical health literacy, and social outcomes of participants through diverse exercise opportunities to manage and maintain thriving mental health. Specifically, we delivered and evaluated the feasibility of the program for at risk youth. RESULTS Since 2022, Thriving has delivered 43 8-week programs directly impacting 855 vulnerable youth in various metro (13) and regional (2) Western Australian locations, totalling 20, 860 exercise therapy hours. Forty-two collaborative partnerships and 15 staff have been involved in delivery. On average 85% of participants reported a score higher than 3/5 for program enjoyment, 80% of participants reported a score higher than 3/5 for motivation to return. REFLECTIONS/LEARNINGS Despite the abundance of community-based exercise and sporting organizations, a significant gap exists in their ability to address the needs of vulnerable youth, stemming from insufficient specialized skills and training. Informed by the achievements and insights of prior collaborations and projects, our program focuses on establishing inclusive activity environments for youth in low participation groups. Building on successful community relationships, we strive to encourage disengaged youth, allies, friends and families by offering tailored opportunities and pathways for meaningful exercise participation.

The construction of an information network platform for traditional sports of Chinese minorities

There has been a discernable increase in interest throughout the world in traditional sports and games in recent times. This trend can be seen across the globe. These activities not only provide a source of entertainment and an opportunity for physical exercise, but they also serve the purpose of reflecting the cultural past of the many groups of people who take part in them. Traditional Chinese sports, such as dragon boat racing, wrestling, and martial arts, have been handed down through the générations by numerous Chinese ethnic minorities, who also take pleasure in their significant athletic legacy. Other examples of traditional Chinese sports include taichi and kung fu. Nevertheless, despite the cultural significance of these sports, their popularity has been on the decline in recent years due to a variety of causes such as the expansion of urbanization and the growing importance of contemporary sports. Despite the cultural significance of these sports, their popularity has been on the decline in recent years. The effect of this is that younger people's declining interest in traditional sports presents a danger to the continuance of our cultural heritage. Establishing an information network platform that is entirely dedicated to the traditional sports of China's ethnic minorities is very required in order to find a solution to this issue. The sharing of information, communication, and collaborative efforts will all be facilitated via the use of this platform. People and communities will have access to a multitude of materials and opportunities to engage, learn, and share their knowledge and experiences as a result of this initiative. The accessibility and user-friendliness of the platform will be given high importance in its design, which will involve the inclusion of components such as online lessons, virtual contests, and interaction with social networking platforms. This will be done in order to make the platform as user-friendly and accessible as possible. Individuals and communities, regardless of their location or their level of competence, will have simple access to traditional sports and will be able to participate in them because of these attributes. In addition to this, the platform will foster connections and collaborations, both of which will contribute to the development of a sense of community and shared identity among its users. Chinese minorities will have the chance to exhibit their cultural past to a more broad audience if they make use of this innovative platform. As a result, new générations will be encouraged to cherish and actively engage in traditional sports. By placing an emphasis on the cultural significance of these sports, the platform will play an important part in the maintenance and dissémination of the cultural inheritance of China's ethnic minorities. This will make certain that the cultural legacy is handed down from one generation to the next. In addition to this, the platform will provide people and communities who have an interest in traditional sports with opportunities to broaden their economic horizons. This will be possible in a number of different ways. Through the facilitation of virtual tournaments and other events, the platform has the ability to foster the growth of new markets and outlets for traditionally practiced sports. Because of this, traditional sports will have a better chance of being financially successful and sustainable in the long run

Patient perspective on exercise practices, preferences, and barriers in pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A multicenter survey.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is prevalent among children, and lifestyle modification is the primary treatment approach. However, the optimal exercise duration, frequency, and intensity for managing NAFLD remain undefined. This study aimed to gain insights from the patient perspective by examining exercise behaviors, preferences, and barriers in children with NAFLD. A multicenter survey was conducted among children 8-18 years with NAFLD in pediatric gastroenterology clinics. Participants completed a questionnaire on exercise practices, preferences, and barriers, while parents completed a questionnaire on their willingness and ability to support their child's exercise. Data were analyzed using χ 2 test with Yates' correction and two-sample t test. The study included 408 children with NAFLD, with a mean age of 13.8 years. Approximately 52.5% of participants had physical education classes at school, while 59.5% engaged in extracurricular exercise, averaging 3.7 days per week. However, 11.5% reported no physical activity. A significant majority (81.1%) expressed interest in increasing their exercise levels, primarily driven by health-related factors. Time-related constraints were the most cited barriers to exercise (53.7%). Approximately 80% of parents demonstrated willingness and ability to support their child's exercise regimen. This study provides insights into exercise behaviors, preferences, and barriers among children with NAFLD. Half of the children lacked exercise opportunities at school but expressed interest in increasing their physical activity. Time limitation was the major obstacle cited. Parents are motivated to support increased physical activity. Exercise intervention programs for NAFLD should consider the perspective of the children and their families.