Physical Activity Intensity Levels Research Articles

Physical activity levels, game performance and friendship goals using two different pedagogical models: Sport Education and Direct Instruction

ABSTRACTBackground: Advances in technology have changed children’s lifestyle so much that the majority of them do not meet the recommended 60 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. Compulsory Physical Education has been highlighted as an ideal context to achieve the suggested physical activity (PA) goals, since it could be the only place where some students become truly physically active. In those classes, the teacher selects a pedagogical approach and this selection could be vital to meet the advised PA levels.Purpose: The goal was to assess the effects of two instructional approaches, Sport Education Model (SEM) and Direct Instruction (DI) in Primary Education students’ physical activity intensity levels, game performance, and friendship goals.Method: A total of 88 students with an average age of 11.16 ± 0.63 years, enrolled in two year-5 (from 10 to11 years) and two year-6 (from 11 to 12 years) Physical Education classes of the same school agreed to participate. The number of participants in the SEM was 47 and in DI was 41. The schools’ administration distributed one class of each grade to the experimental group, which experienced SEM, and to the non-equivalent group, which experienced DI. The content selected for both study groups was the same: Handball. Both study groups experienced a 15-session learning unit (45 min per class, three sessions per week). The goal was to conduct the experiment in a non-manipulated (intact) educational context. It followed a pre-test, post-test, experimental, non-equivalent group design. Participants wore Actigraph GT3X accelerometers in order to monitor physical activity levels, answered questionnaires to assess friendship goals, and their game performance was assessed using the Game Performance Assessment instrument (GPAI).Results: Results showed that students who experienced the SEM had significantly higher light and moderate physical activity levels, friendship-approach and friendship-avoidance goals, while the ones who experienced DI had significantly higher sedentary physical activity levels. The GPAI scores showed significant gains in students’ game performance in both study groups, but these were larger in the SEM one.Conclusions: The SEM could be considered more effective than DI to improve Primary Education students’ PA levels, game performance and friendship goals.

The association between the level of physical activity with spinal posture and physical fitness parameters in early adolescence

Background/Aim. A low level of physical activity and sedentary lifestyle affects the body posture in adolescents. The aim of this study was to assess the core relation between the level of physical activity and spinal posture as well as physical fitness parameters in 11?14 years old teenagers. Methods. The cross-sectional study included 532 children, aged from 11 to 14 years. The study was carried out at three Lithuanian schools in 2011?2013. The Youth Physical Activity Questionnaire (YPAQ) was used to assess physical activity. Spinal posture was assessed according to the Hoeger visual posture assessment method. Physical capacity was evaluated using a 6-min walking test (6 MWT) and by calculating maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max). Other physical fitness such as the general balance, flexibility, explosive leg power and abdominal muscle endurance were evaluated by applying the European Fitness Test (Eurofit). According to time spent doing moderate to vigorous intensity physical activities (MVPA), the sample was divided into 2 groups ? a low activity level group and moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity level group. We compared the spinal posture evaluation results and physical fitness parameters between groups as well as correlations between the duration of MVPA, spinal posture evaluation results and physical fitness parameters. Results. The study showed that 22.2% of teenagers had a low physical activity level and 16% of teenagers had an incorrect posture. The teenagers of low physical activity group were less physically fit and had the poorer posture than teenagers in the MVPA group. During the 6MWT, the teenagers in the low physical activity group walked on average 63.2 m less (p = 0.002), and their VO2max was 0.8 mL/kg/min lower (p = 0.006) than that of teenagers in the MVPA group. The teenagers in the low physical activity group also did not perform as well in the explosive leg power and abdominal muscle endurance tests compared to teenagers in the MVPA group. Correlations between the duration of MVPA and spinal posture evaluation results as well as some physical fitness parameters were very weak. Conclusion. The teenagers of low physical activity were less physically capable and had poorer posture than the teenagers in the MVPA group.

Comparison of Indirect Calorimetry- and Accelerometry-Based Energy Expenditure during Object Project Skill Performance

ABSTRACTThis study compared the energy expenditure (EE) levels during object projection skill performance (OPSP) as assessed by indirect calorimetry and accelerometry. Thirty-four adults (female n = 18) aged 18–30 (23.5 ± 2.5 years) performed three, 9-min sessions of kicking, over-arm throwing, and striking performed at 6-, 12-, and 30-sec intervals. EE was estimated (METS) using indirect calorimetry (COSMED K4b2) and hip-worn accelerometry (ActiGraph GT3X+). EE using indirect calorimetry demonstrated moderate-intensity physical activity (3.4 ± 0.7 METS––30-sec interval, 5.8 ± 1.2 METS––12-sec interval) to vigorous intensity physical activity (8.3 ± 1.7 METS––6-sec interval). However, accelerometry predicted EE suggested only light-intensity physical activity (1.7 ± 0.2 METS––30-sec interval, 2.2 ± 0.4 METS––12-sec interval, 2.7 ± 0.6 METS––6-sec interval). Hip-worn, ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers do not adequately capture physical activity intensity levels during OPSP, regardless of differences in skill performance intervals.

Association of sedentary time and physical activity during pregnancy with maternal and neonatal birth outcomes. The GESTAFIT Project.

(a) To analyse the association of objectively measured sedentary time (ST) and physical activity (PA) during early second trimester of pregnancy with maternal and neonatal birth outcomes; (b) to explore if ST and PA differ between women with vaginal or caesarean section deliveries. Ninety-four Caucasian pregnant women (32.9±4.6years old) participated in this prospective longitudinal study. Triaxial accelerometers were used to assess ST and PA intensity levels for seven consecutive days during second trimester of pregnancy. Birth data were collected from the obstetric medical records. Umbilical cord arterial and venous blood gas (pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide and oxygen, and oxygen saturation) were analysed after birth. After adjusting for potential confounders, greater ST was associated with higher arterial and venous cord blood partial pressure of carbon dioxide and more acidic arterial and venous pH (all, P<0.01). Moderate PA, moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), total PA and steps per day were positively associated with arterial cord blood oxygen saturation (all P<0.05). Steps per day were inversely associated with gestational age at birth (P<0.01), and duration of first stage of labor (P<0.05). Total and light PA were associated with a more alkaline pH in umbilical vein (all, P<0.01). Vigorous PA was inversely associated with the Apgar score (P<0.01). No significant differences were observed in ST and PA levels between women with vaginal and women with caesarean section deliveries (all, P>0.10). Increasing PA and decreasing ST during pregnancy might promote better maternal and neonatal birth markers.

Reliability of Wearable-Sensor-Derived Measures of Physical Activity in Wheelchair-Dependent Spinal Cord Injured Patients.

Physical activity (PA) has been shown to have a positive influence on functional recovery in patients after a spinal cord injury (SCI). Hence, it can act as a confounder in clinical intervention studies. Wearable sensors are used to quantify PA in various neurological conditions. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the inter-day reliability of PA measures. The objective of this study was to investigate the single-day reliability of various PA measures in patients with a SCI and to propose recommendations on how many days of PA measurements are required to obtain reliable results. For this, PA of 63 wheelchair-dependent patients with a SCI were measured using wearable sensors. Patients of all age ranges (49.3 ± 16.6 years) and levels of injury (from C1 to L2, ASIA A-D) were included for this study and assessed at three to four different time periods during inpatient rehabilitation (2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and if applicable 6 months after injury) and after in-patient rehabilitation in their home-environment (at least 6 months after injury). The metrics of interest were total activity counts, PA intensity levels, metrics of wheeling quantity and metrics of movement quality. Activity counts showed consistently high single-day reliabilities, while measures of PA intensity levels considerably varied depending on the rehabilitation progress. Single-day reliabilities of metrics of movement quantity decreased with rehabilitation progress, while metrics of movement quality increased. To achieve a mean reliability of 0.8, we found that three continuous recording days are required for out-patients, and 2 days for in-patients. Furthermore, the results show similar weekday and weekend wheeling activity for in- and out-patients. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the reliability of an extended set of sensor-based measures of PA in both acute and chronic wheelchair-dependent SCI patients. The results provide recommendations for sensor-based assessments of PA in clinical SCI studies.

Objectively measured absolute and relative physical activity intensity levels in postmenopausal women

Objectives: To investigate how objectively measured physical activity (PA) levels differ according to absolute moderate intensity recommendation (3–6 METs) and relative to individual lactate thresholds (LT1 and LT2), and to verify if high-fit women record higher PA levels compared to women with lower aerobic fitness.Methods: Seventy-five postmenopausal women performed an incremental exercise test and several constant-velocity tests wearing an accelerometer to identify the activity counts (ct min−1) corresponding to LT1 and LT2. Individual linear regression determined activity counts cut-points for each intensity: (1) sedentary (<200 ct min−1), (2) light (from 200 ct min−1 to ct min−1 at LT1), (3) moderate (ct min−1 between LT1 and LT2) and (4) vigorous (ct min−1 > LT2). Participants then wore an accelerometer during a week to measure the time spent at each PA intensity level.Results: According to absolute intensity categorisation, high-fit postmenopausal women recorded twice as much time at moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) (P < 0.01) than low-fit women. However, when PA intensity was calculated relative to individual lactate thresholds, MVPA was significantly reduced by half (P < 0.01) and the data revealed no differences (P = 0.62) between groups (∼20 min day−1 at MVPA).Conclusions: Accelerometer cut-points derived from absolute moderate-intensity recommendations overestimated MVPA. Similar time at MVPA was recorded by high- and low-fit postmenopausal women when the cut-points were tailored to individual lactate thresholds. A more accurate estimation of PA behaviour could be provided with the use of individually tailored accelerometer cut-points.

Sedentary time, physical activity, and sleep quality in fibromyalgia: The al-Ándalus project.

To get insight into the potential significance of objectively measured sedentary time (ST), and physical activity (PA) intensity levels on sleep quality (SQ) in women with fibromyalgia; and to assess whether those who meet moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) recommendations have better SQ than their counterparts. Four-hundred and nine women with fibromyalgia (age range 30-65years old) from Andalusia (southern Spain) were included in this cross-sectional study. Sedentary time, PA intensity levels (light, moderate, and MVPA), and total PA were assessed with accelerometers during seven consecutive days. Sleep quality was measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index self-report questionnaire. Higher ST was associated with worse subjective SQ, sleep duration, sleep disturbances, daytime dysfunction, and SQ global score (all, P<0.05). All PA levels were associated with better subjective SQ and sleep latency and with less sleep medication and daytime dysfunction (all, P<0.05). In addition, light and total PA were associated with better sleep efficiency, SQ global score, and less sleep disturbances (all, P<0.05). Finally, women meeting bouted PA recommendations displayed better SQ than patients not meeting the recommendations (bouted or non-bouted). Lower ST and greater PA levels are associated with better SQ in women with fibromyalgia. This result demonstrates that those patients with fibromyalgia who reduce periods of inactivity and perform PA could be better sleepers, which might contribute to a lower severity of the disease. It is noteworthy that meeting bouted PA recommendations is associated with better SQ.

Borg CR-10 scale as a new approach to monitoring office exercise training.

There are many potential training exercises for office workers in an attempt to prevent musculoskeletal disorders. However, to date a suitable tool to monitor the perceived exertion of those exercises does not exist. The primary objective of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the Borg CR-10 scale to monitor the perceived exertion of office exercise training. The study involved 105 staff members employed in a government office with an age range from 25 to 50 years. The Borg CR-10 scale was self-administered two times, with an interval of two weeks in order to evaluate the accuracy of the original findings with a retest. Face validity and content validity were also examined. Reliability was found to be high for the Borg CR-10 scale (0.898). Additionally a high correlation between the Borg CR-10 scale and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was identified (rs = 0.754, P < 0.01). This study found the Borg CR-10 scale to be a reliable and valid tool for monitoring the perceived exertion of office exercise training and may potentially be useful for occupational therapists to measure physical activity intensity levels.

The Association Between Physical Activity, Including Physical Activity Intensity, and Fear of Falling Differs by Fear Severity in Older Adults Living in the Community.

Fear of falling (FoF) is common in older adults. Physical activity decreases as FoF increases. However, this association between physical activity and FoF may vary depending on activity intensity. The current study was performed to explore the associations between FoF and step count, light-intensity physical activity (LPA), and moderate/vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) in community-dwelling older adults. This cross-sectional observational study was held at a local community association center, with 242 older adults living independently in the community (mean age: 75.1 ± 5.4 years). FoF was defined using the Falls Efficacy Scale-International and categorized into three levels (low, moderate, and high). Physical activity was measured using a uniaxial accelerometer worn for 7 consecutive days, and by calculating daily step count, LPA, and MVPA, over this period. Step count and physical activity intensity showed significant linear trends across FoF severity (p < .01, respectively). High FoF decreased step count by approximately 2,000 steps/day. Further, high FoF was significantly associated with short durations of both LPA and MVPA. In addition, moderate FoF was associated with decreased LPA duration, even after adjustment for confounding variables. Physical activity decreased concomitantly with a rise in FoF severity. Moreover, the association between physical activity and FoF differed by physical activity intensity level in community-dwelling older adults. Further studies are needed to investigate the causal relationship between FoF and objective physical activity in this population.

Application and Validation of Activity Monitors' Epoch Lengths and Placement Sites for Physical Activity Assessment in Exergaming.

We assessed the agreement of two ActiGraph activity monitors (wGT3X vs. GT9X) placed at the hip and the wrist and determined an appropriate epoch length for physical activity levels in an exergaming setting. Forty-seven young adults played a 30-min exergame while wearing wGT3X and GT9X on both hip and wrist placement sites and a heart rate sensor below the chest. Intraclass correlation coefficient indicated that intermonitor agreement in steps and activity counts was excellent on the hip and good on the wrist. Bland-Altman plots indicated good intermonitor agreement in the steps and activity counts on both placement sites but a significant intermonitor difference was detected in steps on the wrist. Time spent in sedentary and physical activity intensity levels varied across six epoch lengths and depended on the placement sites, whereas time spent from a 1-s epoch of the hip-worn monitors most accurately matched the relative exercise intensity by heart rate. Hip placement site was associated with better step-counting accuracy for both activity monitors and more valid estimation of physical activity levels. A 1-s epoch was the most appropriate epoch length to detect short bursts of intense physical activity and may be the best choice for data processing and analysis in exergaming studies examining intermittent physical activities.

Former athletes’ lifestyle and self-definition changes after retirement from sports

BackgroundEvery high-level athlete will eventually see his or her sport career come to an end. Most former athletes will experience changes in their self-definition and everyday behaviors as they accept a nonathletic way of life. The present study aimed to identify discrepancies between actual and former athletes regarding athletic identity, physical activity (PA), and nutrition habits. MethodsActual athletes (AA; n = 122), former athletes (FA; n = 230), and nonathletes (NA; n = 74) were asked to complete an online questionnaire on athletic identity, duration and intensity levels of occupational and leisure time PA, and nutritional habits. ResultsFA healthy nutrition score was the lowest of the 3 groups and significantly different from that of AA. Athletic identity and intense and moderate PA during leisure time consistently decreased (p < 0.01) across the 3 groups (AA > FA > NA). No significant difference between FA and NA was found regarding either nutritional habits or type of PA. ConclusionSport retirement may affect FA quality of nutritional habits that tends to decline below the NA level, as well as the amount of time spent practicing physical activities during leisure time. Athletic status does not ensure PA practice during sport postcareer.

Association of objectively measured physical activity with brown adipose tissue volume and activity in young adults

Human brown adipose tissue (BAT) has gained considerable attention as a potential therapeutic target for obesity and type 2 diabetes; however, whether physical activity (PA) might be an efficient stimulus to activate and recruit BAT remains to be ascertained. We aimed to examine whether objectively measured PA levels were associated with BAT volume and activity in young sedentary adults. We additionally examined the association of PA levels with the skeletal muscles activity. A total of 130 young healthy and sedentary adults (67% women; age, 21.9 ± 2.1 years old; body mass index, 25 ± 4.8 kg/m2) participated in this cross-sectional study. PA was objectively measured with a wrist-worn accelerometer for 7 consecutive days. Age-specific cut points were applied to classify wrist accelerations into sedentary time and different PA intensities (i.e., light, moderate, vigorous, moderate-vigorous). The participants underwent 2 hours of a personalized cold exposure to determine the cold-induced BAT volume and activity and the skeletal muscles activity by means of an 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with a CT scan. Objectively measured PA intensity levels were neither associated with BAT volume and activity nor with the skeletal muscles activity (all P > 0.05). The results remained after adjusting for sex, waking time, and environmental temperature. Although PA plays an important role in the prevention of obesity and related comorbidities, it seems that other physiological mechanisms rather than brown adipocyte activation or recruitment might moderate its beneficial metabolic effects in young sedentary adults.

Association of objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time with health-related quality of life in women with fibromyalgia: The al-Ándalus project

PurposeTo examine the association of physical activity (PA) intensity levels and sedentary time with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in women with fibromyalgia and whether patients meeting the current PA guidelines present better HRQoL. MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 407 women with fibromyalgia aged 51.4 ± 7.6 years. The time spent (min/day) in different PA intensity levels (light, moderate, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time were measured with triaxial accelerometry. The proportion of women meeting the American PA recommendations (≥150 min/week of MVPA in bouts ≥10 min) was also calculated. HRQoL domains (physical function, physical role, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, emotional role, and mental health), as well as physical and mental components, were assessed using the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey. ResultsAll PA intensity levels were positively correlated with different HRQoL dimensions (rpartial between 0.10 and 0.23, all p < 0.05). MVPA was independently associated with social functioning (p < 0.05). Sedentary time was independently associated with physical function, physical role, bodily pain, vitality, social functioning, and both the physical and mental component summary score (all p < 0.05). Patients meeting the PA recommendations presented better scores for bodily pain (mean = 24.2 (95%CI: 21.3–27.2) vs. mean = 20.4 (95%CI: 18.9–21.9), p = 0.023) and better scores for social functioning (mean = 48.7 (95%CI: 43.9–44.8) vs. mean = 42.3 (95%CI: 39.8–44.8), p = 0.024). ConclusionMVPA (positively) and sedentary time (negatively) are independently associated with HRQoL in women with fibromyalgia. Meeting the current PA recommendations is significantly associated with better scores for bodily pain and social functioning. These results highlight the importance of being physically active and avoiding sedentary behaviors in this population.

Meta-analysis of physical activity and effects of social function and quality of life on the physical activity in patients with schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia patients have increased mortality and morbidity, mainly due to premature cardiovascular disease resulting from decreased physical activity (PA). However, which PA intensity is impaired in the patients and how factors such as social function and quality of life (QoL) are related to decreased PA is unknown. To assess PA, social function and QoL, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Social Functioning Scale (SFS) and Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale (SQLS), respectively, were used in 109 schizophrenia patients and 69 healthy subjects. A meta-analysis comparing PA intensities (vigorous, moderate and light) assessed by the single PA measurement between schizophrenia patients and healthy subjects after including our case-control sample was performed. Furthermore, the effects of social function and QoL on each level of PA intensity were investigated in patients and controls. The meta-analysis in 212 schizophrenia patients and 132 healthy subjects revealed that patients showed lower total PA, particularly vigorous PA, than controls (I2 = 0, Hedges' g = - 0.41, P = 2.80 × 10-4). The decreased total PA was correlated with impaired total SFS scores (β = 0.24, P = 2.86 × 10-3), withdrawal (β = 0.23, P = 3.74 × 10-3) and recreation (β = 0.23, P = 3.49 × 10-3) without significant heterogeneity between patients and controls. In contrast, the decreased total PA was affected by low independence-performance (β = 0.22, P = 0.034), employment/occupation (β = 0.27, P = 8.74 × 10-3), psychosocial (β = - 0.24, P = 0.021) and motivation/energy (β = - 0.26, P = 0.013), but only in patients. Similar findings were obtained for vigorous PA but not moderate or light PA. Our findings suggest that the impaired vigorous PA in schizophrenia patients may be mediated by schizophrenia-specific factors of social functioning and QoL. Understanding these factors has important implications for increasing PA participation in schizophrenia patients.

Association of objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time with arterial stiffness in women with systemic lupus erythematosus with mild disease activity.

ObjectivesTo examine the association of objectively measured physical activity (PA) intensity levels and sedentary time with arterial stiffness in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with mild disease activity and to analyze whether participants meeting the international PA guidelines have lower arterial stiffness than those not meeting the PA guidelines.MethodsThe study comprised 47 women with SLE (average age 41.2 [standard deviation 13.9]) years, with clinical and treatment stability during the 6 months prior to the study. PA intensity levels and sedentary time were objectively measured with triaxial accelerometry. Arterial stiffness was assessed through pulse wave velocity, evaluated by Mobil-O-Graph® 24h pulse wave analysis monitor.ResultsThe average time in moderate to vigorous PA in bouts of ≥10 consecutive minutes was 135.1±151.8 minutes per week. There was no association of PA intensity levels and sedentary time with arterial stiffness, either in crude analyses or after adjusting for potential confounders. Participants who met the international PA guidelines did not show lower pulse wave velocity than those not meeting them (b = -0.169; 95% CI: -0.480 to 0.143; P = 0.280).ConclusionsOur results suggest that PA intensity levels and sedentary time are not associated with arterial stiffness in patients with SLE. Further analyses revealed that patients with SLE meeting international PA guidelines did not present lower arterial stiffness than those not meeting the PA guidelines. Future prospective research is needed to better understand the association of PA and sedentary time with arterial stiffness in patients with SLE.

Variability and reliability study of overall physical activity and activity intensity levels using 24\xa0h-accelerometry-assessed data

Background24 h-accelerometry is now used to objectively assess physical activity (PA) in many observational studies like the German National Cohort; however, PA variability, observational time needed to estimate habitual PA, and reliability are unclear.MethodsWe assessed 24 h-PA of 50 participants using triaxial accelerometers (ActiGraph GT3X+) over 2 weeks. Variability of overall PA and different PA intensities (time in inactivity and in low intensity, moderate, vigorous, and very vigorous PA) between days of assessment or days of the week was quantified using linear mixed-effects and random effects models. We calculated the required number of days to estimate PA, and calculated PA reliability using intraclass correlation coefficients.ResultsBetween- and within-person variance accounted for 34.4–45.5% and 54.5–65.6%, respectively, of total variance in overall PA and PA intensities over the 2 weeks. Overall PA and times in low intensity, moderate, and vigorous PA decreased slightly over the first 3 days of assessment. Overall PA (p = 0.03), time in inactivity (p = 0.003), in low intensity PA (p = 0.001), in moderate PA (p = 0.02), and in vigorous PA (p = 0.04) slightly differed between days of the week, being highest on Wednesday and Friday and lowest on Sunday and Monday, with apparent differences between Saturday and Sunday. In nested random models, the day of the week accounted for < 19% of total variance in the PA parameters. On average, the required number of days to estimate habitual PA was around 1 week, being 7 for overall PA and ranging from 6 to 9 for the PA intensities. Week-to-week reliability was good (intraclass correlation coefficients, range, 0.68–0.82).ConclusionsIndividual PA, as assessed using 24 h-accelerometry, is highly variable between days, but the day of assessment or the day of the week explain only small parts of this variance. Our data indicate that 1 week of assessment is necessary for reliable estimation of habitual PA.

Physical activity, sedentary time and sleep duration: associations with body composition in 10\u201312-year-old Estonian schoolchildren

BackgroundPhysical activity, sedentary time, and sleep duration have been associated with body composition among children. The purpose of the present study was to assess the associations of objectively determined daily physical activity, sedentary time, sleep duration and body composition indices in 10–12-year-old children.MethodsTwo hundred and eleven schoolchildren (96 boys and 115 girls) aged 10.9 ± 0.7 years participated in this study. Objective physical activity intensity and sedentary levels were measured for seven days by accelerometry. Sleep duration was self-reported. Percentage of body fat, waist-to-height ratio and fat free mass were calculated from measured anthropometric parameters. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine the associations between sleep duration, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), vigorous physical activity (VPA) level and body composition indices.ResultsBoys exceeded girls (p < 0.05) in time spent in MVPA and VPA levels. Only 4.3% of the children met the current daily recommendation of at least 60 min MVPA per day. Sleep duration, MVPA and VPA had a negative association with percentage of body fat and waist-to-height ratio. Vigorous physical activity had a positive association with fat-free mass. Sedentary time had a positive association with percentage of body fat and negative association with fat-free mass.ConclusionsThe present study suggests that both sleep duration and MVPA are associated with body composition parameters. Higher levels of MVPA are associated with lower percentage of body fat and waist-to-height ratio regardless of sleep duration. Sedentary time is associated with higher values of percentage of body fat and lower fat-free mass independently of sleep duration.

Impacts of low or vigorous levels of physical activity on body composition, hemodynamics and autonomic modulation in Down syndrome subjects

Abstract Aim We aimed to evaluate the effect of low and vigorous levels of physical activity in body composition, hemodynamics and autonomic modulation in subjects with Down syndrome (DS). METHODS We evaluated 13 healthy subjects without DS (control group), 15 sedentary subjects with DS, (SED DS group), nine with DS with low intensity levels of physical activity (LIDS) and 12 with DS with vigorous levels of physical activity (VIDS). The physical activity level was measured using the IPAQ questionnaire. Body composition, hemodynamics and autonomic modulation were also evaluated. RESULTS The VIDS showed lower BMI than the control and SED DS group. Body fat (%) was lower in LIDS and VIDS than in the control and SED DS group. The systolic and diastolic arterial pressure values were similar among the groups. When normalized, the frequency domain showed higher LF/HF, higher LF (nu) and lower HF (nu) component of heart rate variability in sedentary DS than in the control group. However, LIDS and VIDS groups showed similar values in LF (nu), HF (nu) and LF/HF than the control group. The symbolic analysis showed greater 0V and lower values in 2LV in sedentary DS group when compared to the control group. However, the LIDS and VIDS did not show difference in 0V when compared to the control group. The 2LV was lower in LIDS and VIDS than in the control group, but 2UV was higher in VIDS than in the control group. CONCLUSION We conclude that, regardless of the intensity, exercise can promote positive adaptations in the autonomic modulation of DS patients.

Individualized Estimation of Physical Activity in Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes.

Compare physical activity intensity in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using individualized, relative cutpoints with standard, absolute cutpoints. One hundred older adults with T2DM (68.9 ± 5.1 yr, 65% male, 32.7 ± 6.3 kg·m, 7.2% ± 1.1% glycosylated hemoglobin) completed a two-speed walking protocol (varying, walking between 1 and 2.5 mph), followed by a modified Bruce peak exercise test. Participants wore an accelerometer-based physical activity monitor at their waist, and oxygen consumption was measured. Afterward, participants wore the activity monitor for seven consecutive days. Linear equations for each individual were derived from the activity counts and energy expenditure measured during the walking protocol. Relative intensity cutpoints were calculated by using standard classifications of 44% oxygen consumption (V˙O2)peak to determine moderate and 59% V˙O2peak to determine vigorous intensity. Average time spent in intensity categories per day were calculated using relative and absolute (moderate, 2020 counts per minute; vigorous, 5999 counts per minute) cutpoints. t-Tests were run to compare estimated time spent in intensity category by cutpoint. Mean V˙O2peak was 17.9 ± 4.5 mL·kg·min and relative cutpoints were, on average, 1033.5 counts per minute (SD, 741.2 counts per minute) for moderate and 2211.7 counts per minute (SD, 1512.4) for vigorous activity. Using the relative cutpoints, participants accumulated an average of 157.2 min (SD, 73.7 min) of light, 33.3 min (SD, 35.6 min) of moderate, and 15.6 min (SD, 26.7 min) of vigorous activity per day. Use of the absolute cutpoint resulted in significantly different estimations based on intensity category: light, 200.7 min (SD, 74.7 min; P < 0.05); moderate, 7.1 min (SD, 9.2 min; P < 0.05); and vigorous, 0.006 min (SD, 0.04 min; P < 0.05) of activity per day. These results suggest utilization of absolute cutpoints may underestimate daily relative intensity levels of physical activity in older adults with T2DM. This misclassification may improperly inform dose-response relationships and population-based prevalence of physical activity in these and may extend to other clinically important populations.

Impact on Area-Level Physical Activity Following the Implementation of a Fitness Zone in Montevideo, Uruguay.

The aim of the study was to measure the level of physical activity (PA) of the users of an urban park before and after the installation of 2 fitness zones (FZs) and to assess the impact of that intervention on the users' level of PA. The System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities method was applied in the urban plaza Liber Seregni in Montevideo (Uruguay): 14 different areas were mapped and then recategorized as fitness (for PAs, including sports), green, and paved zones. Observations were made in the spring (Sep-Oct) of 2011 and 2014, before and after placing 2 FZs. Participation was analyzed by gender, year, mapped areas, and zones, and significant differences were assessed using the χ2 test. In total, 7342 individuals (4091 men and 3251 women) were observed. A greater number of people with intense PA could be seen in the FZ, with significant differences between 2011 (45%) and 2014 (70%; P < .05). This is the first longitudinal study on the impact of an intervention to increase the level of PA in public spaces in Uruguay. Higher intensity levels of PA and fewer sedentary people were observed after the installation of the FZ.