Levels Of Regular Physical Activity Research Articles

Validation of the Chinese version of the exercise empowerment scale among college students (EES-C).

The escalating prevalence of physical inactivity among college students represents a significant public health challenge, particularly in light of its correlation with detrimental health outcomes. A growing body of evidence underscores the necessity of adhering to recommended levels of regular physical activity to thwart the onset of chronic diseases. One primary aim of school physical education initiatives is to elevate physical activity levels and bolster student motivation toward engaging in physical exercise. Engagement in sports activities has demonstrated efficacy in augmenting students' motor skills, elevating their self-efficacy, and enhancing cognitive competencies related to physical prowess, while also promoting sustained participation in physical activities. The Exercise Empowerment Scale (EES) has been formulated to quantitatively assess the degree of exercise empowerment. To date, no validated Chinese version of the EES has been reported in the literature. To address this, this present study developed and validated a Chinese version of the EES in a large sample of Chinese college students. A sample of Chinese college students (n = 885) was analyzed using Rasch analysis to examine the validity of the Exercise Empowerment Scale. In addition, physical activity and psychological resilience were used to investigate the potential associations with exercise empowerment. The EES-C was found to be a unidimensional scale, and the distribution of item difficulty was relatively even. The scale had good reliability (individual reliability of 0.87, and item reliability of 0.99). No differential item functioning (DIF) was observed across genders for any of the 13 EES-C items, suggesting equitable and unbiased applicability for both male and female respondents. The five-point scoring method of the EES scale was consistent with the overall distribution of the items and subjects. Exercise empowerment was positively correlated with autonomous physical activity and psychological resilience. The results of the study indicate that the EES-C possesses robust psychometric properties, rendering it suitable for application among Chinese college student populations. The adapted version of the EES-C provides a basis for further exploration of the predictive factors of physical activity in Chinese samples. The generalizability of our findings should be further verified in other populations in the future.

A Review: Exploring Nutrition Approaches to Improve Mental Health Among Athletes: Focus on Depression and Disordered Eating

Elite sports environments can increase psychiatric conditions like stress and depression due to social pressure for specific body shapes, encouraging disordered eating behaviors, especially in endurance, aesthetic, and weight-dependent sports. This review aims to investigate eating habits among athletes suffering from poor mental health and identify dietary strategies or nutritional advice to mitigate these conditions in physically active individuals. The review focused on studies conducted after 2010 involving adults in any level of regular physical activity, showcasing psychiatric symptoms related to a disordered relationship with food, including depression and various eating disorders. The search on the literature databases was conducted on 20th October 2023 through multiple electronic databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar) to capture as many relevant citations as possible. Exclusions were made for studies on children or psychiatric patients. The research was sourced from significant databases, emphasizing the correlation between dietary habits and mental health in athletes. Findings reveal that athletes, particularly in ultra-endurance and weight-dependent sports, are susceptible to psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, and exercise addiction. Competitive bodybuilders also showed higher levels of depression and orthorexia nervosa symptoms. Tailored nutrition therapy, guided by healthcare professionals and adjusted to each athlete's specific needs and preferences, is crucial for addressing psychiatric symptoms and eating disorders in athletes. A holistic approach to recovery and well-being can significantly enhance both performance and overall quality of life, underscoring the importance of high-quality, balanced diets in supporting mental health and athletes' achievement.

The Relationships among Exercise Behavior, Body Composition and Perceived Health Levels in University Students

Aim and Scope: Increasing physical activity level is important for public health. This study aims to investigate the relationship between regular physical activity level, body composition and perceived health levels of university students. Methods: Participants of this study were consisted of 331 university students including 158 females and 173 males. The mean ages were 21.85 years for females and 22.94 years for males, respectively. The Exercise Behavior Stages of Change Questionnaire was used to determine the physical activity level. Mann Whitney U test was used to compare two genders while Spearman rank order correlation was performed to test the relationship among variables. Findings: Results of our study showed that there are significant differences between males and females in all variables except age and exercise behavior stages. While the exercise behavior stages and perceived health level of those who exercise in females are significantly different from those of sedentary, height and exercise behavior level in males are more statistically significant in favor of those who exercise. While the health level in females is positively related to the age variable and negatively related to the BMI, there was no significant difference between the health and exercise level and other variables in males. Conclusion: As a result, it can be concluded that male and female university students do not engage in regular physical activity at a level that will affect their perceived health levels.

Prevalence of 24-hour movement behavior guidelines among youth with prescribed eyeglasses/contact lenses and anxiety

BackgroundThis study examined the prevalence of meeting 24-h movement behavior (24-HMB: physical activity [PA], screen time [ST], and sleep duration [SL]) guidelines in U.S. children and adolescents (youth) with prescribed eyeglasses/contact lenses and anxiety, followed by an investigation on its associated prevalence across specific demographic variables (e.g., ethnicity, highest level of education of household members). MethodsYouth (N = 1729) who were prescribed eyeglasses/contact lenses and had anxiety were included in this cross-sectional study. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to examine the odds ratio of meeting 24-HMB guidelines when considering specific sociodemographic factors. ResultsMost participants met some proportion of 24-HMB guidelines, with 407 participants (23.54%) meeting two guidelines (PA + ST, PA + SL, and ST + SL), while 103 participants (5.96%) met three guidelines (PA + ST + SL). Furthermore, youth with prescribed eyeglasses/contact lenses and anxiety demonstrated a significantly lower prevalence of meeting the combined guidelines (PA + SL, ST + SL, and PA + ST + SL) in relative to the age-matched group without prescribed eyeglasses/contact lenses and anxiety (ps < 0.001). ConclusionsOnly a small percentage of the U.S. youth with prescribed eyeglasses/contact lenses and anxiety met the combined components of 24-HMB guidelines (especially compared with participants without prescribed eyeglasses/contact lenses and anxiety). Thus, there is a strong need for public health initiatives to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors in this vulnerable population including higher levels of regular physical activity, lower time spent sedentary and appropriate sleep duration.

Changes in physical activity and the risk of heart failure in newly diagnosed patients with depression: A nationwide cohort study

BackgroundDepression is known to increase the risk of heart failure (HF), and physical activity could be a potential mediator of their linkage. In this study, we examined the risk of incident HF according to changes in the level of physical activity before and after the diagnosis of depression. MethodsA South Korean National Health Insurance Sharing Service database was used. A total of 1,405,655 patients with newly diagnosed depression were included in the analyses. According to the changes in physical activity based on the recommended level of regular physical activity, participants were divided into four groups: never, beginning, maintenance, and discontinuation. The main outcome was the occurrence of HF. ResultsDuring the average follow-up period of 5.28 years (SD, 2.00 years), 69,338 participants were diagnosed with HF, with an incidence rate of 9.34 per 1000 person-years. Compared to the never group, the beginning group showed a decreased risk of HF (aHR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.86–0.90). Compared to the maintenance group, the discontinuation group showed an increased risk of HF (aHR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.11–1.20). ConclusionsIn the patients with depression, beginning regular physical activity was associated with a decreased risk of HF, and discontinuing regular physical activity was associated with an increased risk.

Echocardiographic Parameters Associated With Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Physical Activity in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Survivors.

Children's exposure to chemotherapeutic agents causes several long-term adverse effects but physical activity has been evidenced to be an effective strategy to improve cardiac function. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the association between physical activity levels, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cardiac parameters measured by echocardiography. Participants were 216n childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors who underwent a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test and self-reported their daily minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity. They underwent a complete transthoracic echocardiographic assessment. Systolic and diastolic function analysis and strain images analysis were performed. The associations were studied through the preventive fraction (examined with univariate crude and adjusted logistic regression models) of regular physical activity (≥150min·wk-1) and adequate cardiorespiratory fitness levels (above the median ≥ 32.0mL·kg-1·min-1) on cardiac parameters. Crude analysis shows that regular physical activity was associated with a significant preventive fraction in mitral E/A ratio (56%; P = .013), while adjusted analyses highlighted a nonsignificant reduction of 74% to 37% in the prevalence of cardiac parameters associated with physical activity. Similar associations of adequate cardiorespiratory fitness on cardiac parameters were observed. Adjusted analyses revealed a nonsignificant reduction of 7% to 86% in the prevalence of cardiac parameters associated with cardiorespiratory fitness. This study reports that regular physical activity and adequate cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with a higher preventive fraction. Thus, engaging in physical activity prevents childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors' cardiac dysfunctions. These findings are novel and clinically relevant in pediatric cardiooncology and provide additional evidence to strengthen the benefits of exercise as long-term care in childhood cancer survivors.

Active Moms: a feasibility study of a community-based and home-based physical activity intervention for low-income, ethnic-minority mothers

BackgroundDespite the health benefits of physical activity, increasing regular physical activity levels among low-income, ethnic-minority mothers has remained a significant challenge. Yet, few studies have examined the feasibility of implementing interventions to address physical activity barriers often experienced by this population.MethodsThe current mixed-methods pilot study assessed the feasibility, impact, and acceptability of a 3-month community-based (CBI) and a home-based intervention (HBI) designed to improve physical activity and fitness levels, as well as psychosocial outcomes (self-efficacy and social support), among low-income, ethnic minority mothers. Mothers were randomized to either a 3-month CBI or HBI and completed pre- and post-intervention assessments of physical activity, fitness, self-efficacy, and social support. Intervention feasibility was assessed by tracking recruitment, retention, and adverse event rates, whereas intervention acceptability was assessed through post-intervention focus groups.ResultsAlthough participant recruitment was lower than expected (30 vs. target of 52 mothers), retention and adverse event feasibility goals were met (> 60% retention rate, 0% adverse events). Mothers in both groups (CBI and HBI) showed significant improvements in their physical activity and fitness levels and short-term improvements in receiving social support for physical activity. However, only mothers in the CBI group showed improvements in their self-efficacy for physical activity. Mothers also reported both types of interventions (CBI and HBI) to be acceptable with minor modifications highlighted, including the potential for graduates of these programs to serve as group facilitators.ConclusionsOverall, the study protocol was feasible, impactful, and acceptable to low-income, ethnic minority mothers with modifications required before large-scale evaluation. (TRN: NCT05540509; 9/12/22; retrospectively registered; ClinicalTrials.org).

Levels of physical activity in childhood. Analysis of Family influence, gender, type of school and place of residence

The practice of physical activity is linked to an improvement in the state of health and integral development in childhood. The aim of this research was to determine the levels of regular physical activity carried out by children in the school, out-of-school, family and socio-community environments. A descriptive and correlational study was carried out with a total sample of 320 subjects aged 3 to 6 years. The levels of physical activity were collected through an ad hoc questionnaire completed by the parents. The results show that only 30.3% of the children participate in some extracurricular sporting activity, while 6.9% attend federated competitions. There is a higher participation in schoolchildren in the last year of Infant Education and, especially, boys are those who do more physical activity than girls. The use of daily active transport is characterised by 30.6%. Most of the subjects do not comply with the recommendations provided by the World Health Organisation regarding the practice of 180 minutes of physical activity per day. The competent authorities in education, social and sports policy are invited to promote the practice of physical activity from early childhood.

Association of physical activity and fitness with executive function among preschoolers

It is well-documented in the literature that high levels of regular physical activity (PA), low levels of sedentary behavior (SB), and high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are associated with superior cognitive functioning, especially with regard to older populations. However, concerning other age groups (e.g., preschoolers) the available evidence documenting such a positive relationship is relatively scarce. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the association of time spent in different PA intensity zones and CRF with executive functions (EFs) in preschool-age children. To this end, preschoolers (n = 127) aged 3 to 6 years were recruited from 9 kindergarten classes in 2 districts of Shenzhen, China. The amount and the intensity of PA were assessed via accelerometry, and the CRF level was quantified by the 20-meter shuttle run test. EFs including inhibitory control and working memory were assessed using the one-on-one iPad-based Early Year Toolbox. Results suggested that children who had a higher CRF level (“impulse control” scores: β = 0.34, p < .001; “Go” accuracy: β = 0.31, p < .001; “No-Go” accuracy: β =0.28, < .001) and spentmore time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (“impulse control” scores: β = 0.50, p < .001; No-Go” accuracy: β = 0.52, p < .001) had higher scores on inhibitory control tasks, and those who had a higher CRF level had higher scores on a working memory task (β = 0.24, p < .05). The findings are discussed in light of the positive roles of MVPA and CRF for promoting EFs, but also consider the disproportionate association of PA and CRF with working memory relative to inhibition.

Influence of physical activity on endothelial function in people living with HIV.

Decreased physical activity is a major cardiovascular risk factor that is particularly pronounced in people living with HIV (PLHIV), who are more susceptible to endothelial dysfunction and accelerated atherosclerosis than the general population due to multiple mechanisms. The aim of the present study was to analyse whether regular physical activity is capable of improving endothelial function measured by flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) in PLHIV. We performed FMD measurement in 38 PLHIV, along with the assessment of their regular physical activity level using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Flow-mediated dilatation results in PLHIV were 0.31 ± 0.06 mm and 7.34% ± 1.41% for absolute and relative FMD, respectively. IPAQ results showed that the average weekly level of physical activity was 3631.1 ± 1526.7 MET-min/week, whereas the average daily sitting time was 287.3 ± 102.7 min/day. Predictors jointly accounted for 48% (adjusted value 42%) of FMD variance. Bootstrapped confidence levels revealed that physical activity had a statistically significant effect on the outcome [beta = 0.517, 2.5% confidence interval (CI) = 0.205, 97.5% CI = 0.752]. Physical activity represents a widely available and uncostly tool that is capable of improving endothelial function and overall cardiovascular health in PLHIV.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Survivors.

Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors' anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity could be prevented with good cardiorespiratory fitness levels and regular physical activity. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity with cardiac magnetic resonance parameters. A total of 96 childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors underwent a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test and answered physical activity questionnaires. We calculated the odds ratio of the preventive fraction of regular physical activity (≥150min/wk) and adequate cardiorespiratory fitness levels (above the median ≥31.4mL·kg-1·min-1) on cardiac magnetic resonance parameters (left ventricular [LV] and right ventricular [RV] morphological and functional parameters). An adequate cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with a significant preventive fraction for LV (up to 84% for LV end-diastolic volume) and RV volumes (up to 88% for RV end-systolic volume). The adjusted analyses highlighted a preventive fraction of 36% to 91% between an adequate cardiorespiratory fitness and LV and RV parameters, late gadolinium enhancement fibrosis, and cardiac magnetic resonance relaxation times. No associations were reported with regular physical activity. This study provides additional evidence regarding the benefits of an adequate cardiorespiratory fitness level for childhood cancer survivors' cardiac health.

Proteome profiles of intramuscular connective tissue: influence of aging and physical training.

Both aging and physical activity can influence the amount of intramuscular connective tissue in skeletal muscle, but the impact of these upon specific extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in skeletal muscle is unknown. We investigated the proteome profile of intramuscular connective tissue by label-free proteomic analysis of cellular protein-depleted extracts from lateral gastrocnemius muscle of old (22-23 mo old) and middle-aged (11 mo old) male mice subjected to three different levels of regular physical activity for 10 wk (high-resistance wheel running, low-resistance wheel running, or sedentary controls). We hypothesized that aging is correlated with an increased amount of connective tissue proteins in skeletal muscle and that regular physical activity can counteract these age-related changes. We found that dominating cellular proteins were diminished in the urea/thiourea extract, which was therefore used for proteomics. Proteomic analysis identified 482 proteins and showed enrichment for ECM proteins. Statistical analysis revealed that the abundances of 86 proteins changed with age. Twenty-three of these differentially abundant proteins were identified as structural ECM proteins (e.g., collagens and laminins) and all of these were significantly more abundant with aging. No significant effect of training or interaction between training and advance in age was found for any proteins. Finally, we found a lower protein concentration in the urea/thiourea extracts from the old mice compared with the middle-aged mice. Our findings indicate that the intramuscular ECM solubility is affected by increased age but is not altered by physical training.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We investigated the impact of aging and exercise on extracellular matrix components of intramuscular connective tissue using proteomics. Middle-aged and old mice were subjected to three different levels of regular physical activity for 10 wk (high-resistance wheel running, low-resistance wheel running, or sedentary controls). We prepared extracts of extracellular matrix proteins depleted of cellular proteins. Our findings indicate that intramuscular connective tissue alters its soluble protein content with age but is unaffected by training.

Determinants of Hypertension in Adolescents and Adults (18-44 years) at the Karang Panjang Health Center, Ambon City

The prevalence of hypertension in Indonesia in the young age group based on the 2018 Basic Health Research has increased significantly to 13.2% in the 18-24 year age group, 20.1% in the 25-34 year age group and 31.6% in the 25-44 year age group compared to 2013. The purpose of this study was to determine the risk factors for family genetic history, obesity, physical activity and psychological stress with the incidence of hypertension. The research method used is Case Control. The number of samples in this study were 146 respondents with details of 73 cases and 73 controls. The data analysis performed was univariate and bivariate with the chi-square test. The results of the analysis showed that family genetic history was a determinant of hypertension with an Odds Ratio (OR) = 72,696 confidence level 95% CI value LL and UL = 22,692 – 232,890; Obesity is a determinant of hypertension with Odds Ratio (OR) = 5.056 confidence level 95% CI value LL and UL = 2.112 – 12.101; Physical activity is not a determinant of hypertension with Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.059 confidence level 95% CI value LL and UL = 0.545 – 2.060; The psychological condition of stress is a determinant of the incidence of hypertension with an Odds Ratio (OR) value = 10,815, 95% CI confidence level, LL and UL values = 4,377 – 26,726. In conclusion, family genetic history, obesity and psychological stress conditions are determinants of the incidence of hypertension. It is recommended for adolescents and adults aged 18-44 years to be able to control eating patterns, carry out regular physical activity and control stress levels and carry out routine blood pressure control every month at health services closest.

Validity and Reliability of the Preference for and Tolerance of the Intensity of Exercise Questionnaire among Chinese College Students

The rising prevalence of physical inactivity is in all age groups (e.g., in college students) a major public health issue as not meeting the recommended minimum amount of regular physical activity is linked to adverse health events. Vice versa, there is mounting evidence that achieving the recommended amount of regular physical activity is a vital element to prevent chronic diseases, but there is often an insufficient adherence to planned and structured forms of physical activity (i.e., physical exercises). In this context, there is a large body of evidence indicating that exercise adherence is, among other factors, influenced by exercise-related affective responses. The Preference for and Tolerance of the Intensity of Exercise Questionnaire (PRETIE-Q) has been developed to measure these affective responses (e.g., to specific exercise intensities). So far, no validated Chinese version of the PRETIE-Q has been available in the literature. To address this gap in literature, the present study developed and validated a Chinese version of the PRETIE-Q in a large sample of Chinese college students. Data from a total of 1117 college students were collected for analyses concerning factorial validity and construct validity. The re-test reliability was established using a sample of 150 randomly selected participants. In addition, the level of regular physical activity (PA), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and resilience were used to examine possible links with two domains (preference and tolerance) of the PRETIE-Q. Our results showed that a Chinese version of the PRETIE-Q has a good fit and reliability (Cronbach’s α of 0.72 to 0.85 for preference and tolerance, respectively; ICC: r = 0.72 of preference and r = 0.67 of tolerance; fit indices: χ2 = 21.612, df = 19, p > 0.05, TLI = 0.997, CFI = 0.998, RMSEA = 0.016, SRMR = 0.024). Secondly, positive associations of intensity-tolerance with PA, CRF, and resilience were observed. In summary, this study indicates that the Chinese version of the PRETIE-Q has sound psychometric properties and can be used in Chinese college students. The adapted version of the PRETIE-Q paves the way for further research on exercise-related affective responses in Chinese-speaking samples, although the generalizability of our findings needs to be established for other cohorts such as adolescents and older people with and without chronic diseases.

Are eSports players comparable to traditional athletes? A cross-sectional study

There is some debate as to whether professional eSports players should be regarded as athletes in the traditional sense. With an eye toward addressing this controversy, this study was undertaken with the aim of analyzing elite eSports players' characteristics and their training and competition routines, and of comparing them with data on their counterparts in traditional sports. Fifty-one elite eSports players answered an ad hoc online questionnaire that gathered data on their basic traits, general training and competition habits, level of regular physical activity, and injuries sustained during the 2018-2019 season. The results indicated that elite eSports players have a considerable training load (38.37±20.33 h/week) and use strategies to improve their performance (i.e., warm-ups, 73.91%; resistance training, 74.19%; psychological training 31.25%). However, some of these activities are not generally designed or supervised by qualified professionals. Meanwhile, some of the players reported injuries (13.04%) that had led to losses in competition time ranging from one day to more than a month. In terms of the comparison with traditional athletes, our findings show that eliteeSports players seem to experience a similar training load and apply comparable strategies to boost their sports results. As such, they can be properly considered professional athletes, but players, the eSports industry, and the teams' staffs should be more aware of the most appropriate strategies to preserve long-term health and avoid burn-out.

Calibrating a Comprehensive Immune Age Metric to Analyze the Cross Sectional Age-Related Decline in Cardiorespiratory Fitness.

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is essential for sustained work ability in good health, but declines with aging, as does the functionality of the immune system, the latter process commonly referred to as immunosenescence. This study aimed to compare the capacity of immunosenescence biomarkers with chronological age for predicting low CRF in a cross-sectional sample recruited from the regional working population. CRF was determined by submaximal bicycle ergometer testing in a cross-sectional sample of 597 volunteers aged 20-70 years from the 'Dortmund Vital Study' (DVS, ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05155397). Low CRF was scored if the ergometer test was not completed due to medical reasons or if the power output projected to a heart rate of 130 bpm divided by body mass was below sex-specific reference values of 1.25 W/kg for females and 1.5 W/kg for males, respectively. In addition to established biomarkers of immunosenescence, we calibrated a comprehensive metric of immune age to our data and compared its predictive capacity for low CRF to chronological age, while adjusting our analysis for the influence of sex, obesity, and the level of regular physical activity, by applying univariate and multiple logistic regression. While obesity, low physical activity, chronological and immune age were all associated with increased probability for low CRF in univariate analyses, multiple logistic regression revealed that obesity and physical activity together with immune age, but not chronological age, were statistically significant predictors of low CRF outcome. Sex was non-significant due to the applied sex-specific reference values. These results demonstrate that biological age assessed by our immunological metric can outperform chronological age as a predictor for CRF and indicate a potential role for immunosenescence in explaining the inter-individual variability of the age-related decline in cardiorespiratory fitness.

Osteoarticular and musculoskeletal disorders, chronic pain, quality of life and physical activity level distributed by age and gender in elderly people participating in a water aerobics program

The study aims to describe osteoarticular and musculoskeletal disorders, chronic pain, quality of life (QOL) and physical activity level (PAL) distributed by age group and gender in the elderly. The design was quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional. The non-probabilistic sample, for convenience, comprised 101 elderly people, over 60 years old, who regularly participate in water aerobics activities in the municipality of Dois Irmãos, RS. The instruments used were: Multidimensional Pain Assessment Scale, Survey of Pain Attitudes, IPAQ and EUROHIS-QOL. Descriptive frequency analyzes were performed, which showed the predominance of women in water aerobics activities, most frequently in the age group of 70 years. Similarly, the presence of osteoarticular and musculoskeletal disorders and chronic pain intensity (moderate and severe) were more expressive in females and in the age group of 70 years. The distribution of QOL and pain intensity in relation to age, gender and PAL shows in the age group of 60 years, the male, irregularly active with higher average, with higher occurrence of pain (moderate) in the active elderly. Active females, on the other hand, show better QOL scores and higher pain intensity in irregularly active aspect. In conclusion, the actions promoted by the municipality have a positive impact on QOL. However, there is a need for greater involvement of participants to achieve more adequate levels of regular physical activity, taking into account the significant presence of pain complaints in females and in the age group of 70 years.

Prevalence and biopsychosocial factors associated with chronic low back pain in urban and rural communities in Western Africa: a population-based door-to-door survey in Benin.

PurposeThis study aimed to assess the prevalence of chronic low back pain (CLBP) and related biopsychosocial factors in urban and rural communities in Benin. MethodsThis is a population-based observational cross-sectional survey. An interviewer-administered electronic questionnaire was used to collect information on demographic, socio-economic, behavioral, and psychological factors relating to CLBP risk factors and medical history of participants. The numeric pain rating scale and the Beck Depression Inventory were used to assess pain intensity and the level of depression, respectively. Bivariate analyses were performed to investigate the association between sociodemographic, behavioral, and psychological factors and CLBP. Sequential multiple regression analyses were subsequently performed to predict the occurrence of CLBP.ResultsA total of 4320 participants, with a mean age ± SD of 32.9 ± 13.1 years, of which 40.7% were females and 50.1% from an urban area, were enrolled in the study. We found a global prevalence rate of CLBP of 35.5% [95% CI 34.1–36.9%]. The prevalence in urban areas was 30.68% [95% CI 28.9–32.8%]) while 40.2% was found in rural areas [95% CI 38.1–42.2%]). Age (p < 0.001), level of education (p = 0.046), marital status (p < 0.001), working status (p < 0.003), tobacco use (p < 0.016) and regular physical activity (p < 0.011) were associated with CLBP. In urban areas, only the level of education was able to predict the prevalence of CLBP (R2 = 61%). In rural areas, CLBP was predicted by age, marital and working status (R2 = 89%).ConclusionsThis study showed a high prevalence of CLBP among urban and rural communities in Benin. Age, level of education, marital status, and working status were significantly associated with CLBP in Benin.

Effect of two-weeks of school-based sprint training on physical fitness, risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases and cognitive function in adolescent girls: A randomized controlled pilot trial

BackgroundSchool-based physical activity interventions are accessible to most adolescents and could enhance adolescent cardiometabolic health and cognition; yet the feasibility and success of school-based physical activity interventions is understudied.MethodsSixteen adolescent girls (age: 11.7 ± 0.3 y; height: 1.58 ± 0.07 m; body mass: 45.5 ± 9.2 kg) were randomized to either an intervention (2-weeks sprint training; n = 8) or control group (continuation of regular physical activity levels; n = 8). Following familiarization, all participants completed baseline measurements including fasted and postprandial capillary blood samples, a battery of cognitive function tests (Stroop Test, Sternberg Paradigm and Flanker Task), and an assessment of physical fitness (20 m sprint and multi-stage fitness test). The intervention group completed 2-weeks progressive sprint training (3 sessions per week: week one 6 × 10 s sprints, week two 8 × 10 s sprints). Follow-up measurements were completed 48 h after the final sprint training session. Data were analyzed via ANCOVA to examine between group differences at follow-up whilst controlling for baseline score.ResultsAccuracy in the intervention group during the three-item Sternberg paradigm was greater when compared with the control group (Intervention: 99.6 ± 1.1%; Control: 97.7 ± 2.2%, p = 0.046). BDNF concentration was also higher in the intervention group at follow-up than control group (Intervention: 39.12 ± 9.88 ng.ml−1; Control: 22.95 ± 9.13 ng.ml−1, p < 0.001). There were no differences at follow-up between the intervention and control group for measures of cardiometabolic health (fasted cytokine concentrations or postprandial glycaemic and insulinaemic responses) or on the Stroop Test or Flanker Task (all p > 0.05). However, the intervention group reported enjoying the sprint training and that they found the sessions valuable.ConclusionTwo-weeks sprint interval training in a school-setting enhanced working memory and increased concentrations of BDNF in adolescent girls. The intervention was deemed enjoyable and worthwhile by the adolescent girls and thus the longer-term implementation of such an intervention should be examined.

Sosialisasi konsep penyakit Diabetes Mellitus untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan Lansia tentang Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is one of the degenerative diseases known as a lifelong disease because it is a disease that cannot be cured during the life span of the sufferer and is commonly found in the elderly. In the management of DM, six things must be considered, including education, dietary regulation, regular physical activity, medicaments, insulin use, and monitoring daily blood sugar levels. The purpose of this community service activity is to increase the knowledge of the elderly about the basic concepts of DM. The method of community service activities was carried out by providing health education about the basic concepts of DM and its handling through lectures and questions and answers. The stages of the activity start from measuring residents' knowledge about DM as pre-test data, then giving material on the basic concepts of DM and its handling through lectures and subsequent sessions of question and answer about material that is not yet clear. The last stage is to re-measure citizens' knowledge about the concept of DM as post-test data. This activity results in an increase in knowledge after being given Health Education. This community service activity concludes that the socialization of the concept of DM disease has a positive impact on the knowledge of the elderly about DM. Similar activities must continue to be carried out to improve the quality of life of people with DM