Physical Fitness Research Articles

Peculiarities of determining the level of physical fitness of female servicemen

As a result of a theoretical study and an analysis of normative levels of physical fitness in the Armed Forces, initial data were formed regarding the specifics of determining the assessment of physical fitness of female servicemen. The physical training program was studied in terms of the number of exercises that are provided for female servicemen as a control and check in comparison with the programs that are used to assess the physical fitness of male servicemen. It has been established that there are qualifying exercises for female servicemen that have simplified performance conditions compared to similar exercises for men. The non-uniformity of the requirements for the physical fitness of female servicemen compared to the requirements for male servicemen has been confirmed. The experience of NATO countries in the organization of physical training and determining the assessment of the physical readiness of female servicemen is analyzed. Attention has been sharpened on possible prerequisites for improper performance of official duties and injuries during the performance of official duties.

Intensive, Real-Time Data Collection of Psychological and Physiological Stress During a 96-Hour Field Training Exercise at a Senior Military College: Feasibility and Acceptability Cohort Study.

Poor physical fitness, stress, and fatigue are factors impacting military readiness, national security, and economic burden for the United States Department of Defense. Improved accuracy of wearable biosensors and remote field biologic sample collection strategies could make critical contributions to understanding how physical readiness and occupational stressors result in on-the-job and environment-related injury, sleep impairments, diagnosis of mental health disorders, and reductions in performance in war-fighters. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of intensive biomarker and biometric data collection to understand physiological and psychological stress in Army Reserved Officer Training Corps cadets before, during, and after a 96-hour field training exercise (FTX). A prospective pilot study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of multimodal field data collection using passive drool saliva sampling, sweat sensors, accelerometry, actigraphy, and photoplethysmography. In addition, physical fitness (Army Combat Fitness Test), self-reported injury, and psychological resilience (Brief Resilience Scale) were measured. A total of 22 cadets were included. Two were lost to follow-up due to injury during FTX, for a retention rate of 91%. Assessments of performance and psychological resilience were completed for all remaining participants, resulting in 100% testing adherence. All participants provided saliva samples before the FTX, with 98% adherence at the second time point and 91% at the third. For sweat, data collection was not possible. Average daily wear time for photoplethysmography devices was good to excellent, meeting a 70% threshold with data collected for ≥80% of person-days at all time points. Of the participants who completed the FTX and 12 completed a post-FTX acceptability survey for a response rate of 60%. Overall, participant acceptance was high (≥80%) for all metrics and devices. This study demonstrates that wearable biosensors and remote field biologic sample collection strategies during a military FTX have the potential to be used in higher stakes tactical environments in the future for some, but not all, of the strategies. Overall, real-time biometric and biomarker sampling is feasible and acceptable during field-based training and provides insights and strategies for future interventions on military cadet and active-duty readiness, environmental stress, and recovery.

Methodology for improving the physical fitness of qualified goalkeepers in football through fitness means

The article substantiates a methodology for improving the physical fitness of qualified football goalkeepers using health- related fitness. The need for developing alternative training programs for goalkeepers in football has been clarified. The methodology for enhancing the physical fitness of qualified goalkeepers in football includes health-related fitness means and prioritizes an individual approach. The use of fitness tools allows for conducting individual sessions aimed at improving the functional and physical fitness of goalkeepers in football. Thus, the foundation of the methodology consists of exercises using Stick Mobility gymnastic sticks, which have replaced traditional exercises from the Pilates and yoga systems; exercises aimed at activating the myofascial lines of the body; exercises for developing explosive strength; and myofascial release exercises, which have replaced traditional stretching exercises. The author's methodology for the individual training of qualified goalkeepers in football was designed for 4 morphocycles during the preparatory period by the training camp schedule based on the competition calendar. The use of fitness means allowed for conducting individual sessions to improve goalkeepers' functional and physical fitness in football.

Physical fitness of schoolchildren in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago: comparative analysis between types of educational establishments

Introduction: State and private subsidized schools usually have limited resources that may restrict the frequency and quality of physical activities offered in educational establishments. Objective: to compare the physical condition of schoolchildren between 6-14 years of age attending state, private subsidized and private schools in the boroughs of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago. Methods: we worked with a random sample by sex and age of 1656 schoolchildren aged 6-14 years. Anthropometry was measured (weight, height, arm circumference, waist circumference and skin folds). In addition, horizontal jump without impulse, grip strength and the distance covered in the six-minute walk test were measured. Results: there was a significantly higher proportion of obesity and waist circumference above the 90th percentile observed in students from state schools, compared to their peers from private and subsidized private schools. At the same time, girls in state schools had significantly lower physical performance, particularly in tests of grip strength and horizontal jump (p < 0.01). Conclusion: State and subsidized schools tend to face resource limitations that may restrict the frequency and quality of physical activities offered. This may lead to lower results in physical fitness tests and, therefore, to a higher prevalence of risk indicators for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in these students. Therefore, it is urgent to increase the quantity and quality of daily exercise time and to stimulate participation in sports to prevent and promote cardiovascular health.

Improved functional oral intake and exercise training attenuate decline in aerobic capacity following chemoradiotherapy in patients with esophageal cancer.

To investigate the impact of chemoradiotherapy on the physical fitness of patients with oesophageal cancer, and the clinical factors influencing it. A total of 67 participants successfully completed the study, with 18 of them engaging in supervised, in-hospital aerobic training at moderate intensity for a minimum of 20 sessions. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing, hand grip strength, body composition assessed via bioelectrical impedance analysis, patient-generated subjective global assessment, albumin, and the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) were evaluated before chemoradiotherapy and 6-8 weeks after its completion. Among the participants, cardiopulmonary fitness, hand grip strength, and phase angle of BC-BIA declined during chemoradiotherapy. Before and after chemoradiotherapy, V̇O2peak was 19.6 ± 4.4 and 17.4 ± 3.9 mL/min/kg respectively. The improvement in FOIS during chemoradiotherapy showed a positive correlation with changes in aerobic capacity. Additionally, exercise training was associated with attenuating the decline in aerobic capacity. Physical fitness deteriorated in patients with oesophageal cancer following chemoradiotherapy. Improvement in dysphagia helps maintain aerobic capacity. Additionally, exercise training has the potential to mitigate the decline. This discovery can serve as a reference for enhancing holistic care for patients with oesophageal cancer.

Technologies for ensuring the unity of physical and military-patriotic education of high school students

The article examines the content and technologies of the unity of physical and military-patriotic education of high school students. It is highlighted that the relevance of the research is determined by society's need for a self-sufficient, goal-oriented, decisive, self-confident individual who is able to realize his role in the life of the state, to take an active part in applied physical training, physical culture and health activities and social life, to be ready to protect the Motherland , devoted to her interests. The article mentions the study of modern psychological and pedagogical literature on the studied category. The results of the analysis of the practice of educational work of general secondary education institutions confirm that the levels of physical and military-patriotic education of high school students do not meet modern requirements in the conditions of martial law. It is highlighted that the content of applied physical training consists in the fact that high school students (future soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine) during the lessons of physical culture and "Defense of Ukraine" acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities about physical and tactical-technical training, physical, the need to overcome significant physical exertion and adverse factors of combat activity. In our opinion, using the unity of physical and military-patriotic education in the process of applied physical training helps high school students to gain the necessary knowledge and ideas, new interesting practical experience; try yourself in various physical and mass activities and military-patriotic roles; to acquire the necessary skills and abilities to work in a team. Also, the benefit of this research lies in the actualization of important functions of education, namely: increasing the levels of physical fitness, physical and military-patriotic upbringing of schoolchildren in conditions of armed and informational aggression; increasing the level of readiness of students to serve in the Armed Forces, other military formations and the defense of Ukraine; protection of high school students from hostile information and propaganda influence.

Sports and activity games as a means of increasing the motive activity of educators

At the current stage, the problem of insufficient movement mode of the participants of the educational process, which negatively affects their physical development and the state of mental processes, in particular: feeling, perception, thinking, memorization, attention, needs special attention. This fact reduces the success of studies to some extent. Therefore, it is necessary to look for ways to use such means of motor activity that would contribute to the improvement of the physical and psychological condition of students. The goal is to reveal the peculiarities of the use of mobile and sports games in the educational process of physical education in higher education institutions as a means of improving the motor activity of students. Research results. The expediency of using the sports and game method in the process of physical education of students, which provides sufficient physical activity and contributes to strengthening health, forms moral and willpower qualities of the individual, is revealed. A rich arsenal of sports games, including basketball, volleyball, mini-football, their nature, structure and intensity are highlighted. It is noted that with the help of sports games, students develop important physical qualities: strength, speed, dexterity, endurance, consolidate and improve various skills and abilities in walking, running, jumping. Attention is paid to the careful selection of mobile games, taking into account the physical fitness and interests of students, their capabilities, which will make it possible to diversify classes and form the necessary motor skills. Conclusions. The use of the sports and game method in physical education classes contributes to the comprehensive development of the student's personality, as it causes positive emotions, a sense of satisfaction, cheerfulness, activity, and has a positive effect on physical and mental development.

Correspondence of self-assessment of physical development according to indicators of physical fitness of higher education acquires

The purpose of the work is to study the correspondence of self-assessment of physical development according to indicators of physical fitness of students of higher education to determine the effectiveness of pedagogical control in the process of motor activity. To achieve the goal, the following research methods were used: data analysis of scientific and methodological literature, regulatory and legal documents, programs on physical culture, pedagogical testing of physical fitness, methods of mathematical statistics, test-questionnaire E.V. Bochenkova "Self-description of physical development". To study the individual profile of the physical "I" of the individual, we used the test-questionnaire of E. V. Bochenkova "Self-description of physical development". The questionnaire included 70 statements related to the field of physical development of a person and an indicator of general self-esteem. The purpose of this technique is to study the peculiarities of self-esteem of boys and girls and to compare the obtained data. Research was conducted on the basis of the Lutsk National Technical University, at the Faculty of Digital, Educational and Social Technologies with students of higher education. The conducted studies revealed the inadequacy of the self-assessment of physical fitness of higher education students, which indicates the importance of theoretical coverage and practical implementation in physical education classes of the section of pedagogical control and self-control of physical fitness, which should be an incentive for self-improvement of boys and girls in the process of physical activity.

Innovative methods of teaching the discipline "Gymnastics with teaching methods"

Gymnastics as a discipline in a modern higher education institution plays an important role in the physical and comprehensive development of students. It covers not only physical exercises, but also has pedagogical, social and educational value. Gymnastics contributes to the education of students in a conscious attitude to their health, physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. It also forms habits of regular physical exercises, which is an important factor in the prevention of various diseases. Innovative technologies can be introduced into the process of teaching gymnastics to improve the quality of teaching. This includes the use of video analysis, digital tools for monitoring physical fitness, and special programs for correcting exercise technique. Different forms of gymnastics can be taught at universities: sports, artistic, recreational, acrobatic. This gives students the opportunity to choose a direction according to their interests and level of training. Thus, gymnastics in a modern higher education institution is an integral part of the physical, professional and personal development of students, helping them not only to strengthen their health, but also to acquire important skills for later life.

Gender stereotypes in the physical education textbook

Gender stereotypes in media, including books, can play an important role in the process of gender identity construction. The purpose of this study is to analyze gender representation in Elementary School Physical Education, Sports and Health textbooks. The analysis was conducted by tabulating images and looking at the appearance of gender characters in the text in the elementary physical education books from grade one to grade six. Visibility and Firstness refer to the number of times a male or female character appears first in an exercise. Gender stereotypes (such as female characters doing rope games, male characters playing big ball games) were counted. Based on this data, it can be seen that in classes 1,2,4,5 and 6 there are more male images than female, only in class 3 there are more female images than male. Furthermore, the results of Gender Stereotyping data show that males are more dominant in Floor Gymnastics, Water Sports, Physical Fitness Activities, Invasion Games, Net Games, Maintenance of Reproductive Hygiene, Pencak Silat Martial Arts, and Athletics. In contrast gymnastics materials and Rhythmic Gymnastics Activities are dominated by women. Such stereotypes are considered as one of the ways in which gender identity is influenced and constructed. They can limit individuals' choices in relation to their roles, interests and aspirations, as individuals tend to conform to what is perceived as the gender norm in society.

Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Its Impact on Pediatric Lung Function, Aerobic Fitness, and Body Mass: Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Study.

Several studies have documented the detrimental impacts of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure to a range of pediatric respiratory conditions, including asthma, bronchitis, and reduced lung function. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of SHS exposure on lung function, physical fitness, and body mass index (BMI) in children aged 10 to 14 years. This cross-sectional study included children aged 10 to 14 years at the Elementary School "Trilj" in Trilj, Croatia. Data on SHS exposure were collected using a questionnaire. Antropometric and spirometry measurements were performed. Physical fitness was assessed using the shuttle run (BEEP) test. This study included 157 children, 89 (56.69%) boys and 68 (43.31%) girls. Children exposed to every day SHS in households had significantly lower values of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, peak expiratory flow (PEF) (p < 0.001) and higher z-score BMI levels (p = 0.018) in comparison to unexposed children. Logistic regression showed that children unexposed to SHS had higher odds for better results in the BEEP test (OR 62.45, 95% CI 21.26-179.24, p < 0.001). Children with poorer physical fitness, expressed by lower BEEP score levels, had significantly lower FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and PEF (p < 0.001). Every day SHS exposure in children was associated with poorer lung function, higher BMI, and poorer physical fitness.

Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex to ipsilateral primary motor cortex intercortical interactions during inhibitory control enhance response inhibition in open-skill athletes

Numerous studies have reported that long-term sports training can affect inhibitory control and induce brain functional alterations. However, the influence of environmental dynamics in sports training on inter-cortical connectivity has not been well studied. In the current study, we used twin-coil transcranial magnetic stimulation to investigate the functional connectivity between dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and ipsilateral primary motor cortex (M1) during proactive and reactive inhibition in participants with sports skills in dynamic environment (open-skill experts), stable environment (closed-skill experts), and no sports skills (controls). Using a modified stop signal task, proactive inhibition was measured by the response delay effect (RDE), and reactive inhibition was measured by the stop-signal reaction time (SSRT). Intra-hemispheric DLPFC-M1 interactions and single pulse motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) were measured during the task. A stronger inhibitory effect of the DLPFC over M1 was observed during early reactive control stages compared to baseline levels. In addition, this inhibitory effect was pronounced when comparing open-skill experts to non-athlete controls, a relationship that was significantly correlated with superior reactive control performance. Furthermore, DLPFC to M1 influencing direction shifted from late proactive control to reactive control. Behavioral results also demonstrated enhanced proactive control abilities in open-skill experts relative to controls. Such enhancement may be due to the combination of environmental complexity and physical fitness in long-term skill training.

Role of Overload and Psychoemotional Variables on Health-Related Quality of Life in Informal Caregivers of People with Alzheimer’s Disease

Background: Carers of people with Alzheimer’s disease often have a high degree of commitment and dedication which may also compromise physical and emotional, leisure, and occupational self-care. This study aimed to explore health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and psychoemotional variables in caregivers with and without caregiver overload and its relationship. Methods: A single-measure cross-sectional correlational study was carried out involving 59 informal caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease with a mean age of 59.30 (±10.58). The participants completed the adult HRQoL questionnaires (EQ-5D-3L), Zarit Burden Inventory test, General Happiness Questionnaire, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Rosenberg self-esteem scale, Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ-E), International Fitness Scale (IFIS), Family Apgar scale, and Duke-UNC-11 Functional Social Support Questionnaire. Results: A significantly higher level of HRQoL (p = 0.029) in subjective happiness (p = 0.018), perceived social support (p = 0.046), avoidance (p = 0.034), occupational balance (p = 0.002), life satisfaction (p = 0.037), and self-perceived physical fitness (p = 0.021) was found in caregivers without perceived overload. Also, HRQoL was directly associated with self-perceived physical fitness (β = 0.534; p &lt; 0.001) and occupational balance (β = 0.375; p &lt; 0.001) and self-esteem (β = 0.249; p &lt; 0.016). Conclusions: Caregivers who do not perceive overload have better levels of HRQoL and psychoemotional variables, establishing a relationship between HRQoL with self-perceived physical fitness, occupational balance, and self-esteem.

A comparative study on the physical fitness of college students from different grades and majors in Jiangxi province.

Research to date has not provided a clear understanding of how different grades and majors affect the physical fitness of college students. It is postulated that there are significant disparities in physical health among college students of different grades and majors. The purpose of this study was to evidence these health disparities and to engage in an extensive analysis and discussion thereof. A sample of 8,772 (2,404 boys and 6,368 girls) Chinese college students from freshman to junior years, aged 17-22, including 12 different majors in four colleges, were recruited in Jiangxi Province. All seven physical fitness indicators (body mass index (BMI), forced vital capacity, 50-m dash, standing long jump, sit and reach, upper body muscle strength, and endurance runs) were conducted for all participants. One-way ANOVA and LSD tests were conducted to compare the physical fitness scores of different grades in the same major. Independent sample t-tests were utilized to compare the differences in every physical fitness indicator for different majors. Pearson's correlations among 12 majors for every grade were conducted to study the significant corrections between the two physical fitness indicators. The body mass index (BMI) and physical fitness indicator (PFI) for college students of different grade were investigated using a nonlinear regression model. The current state of physical fitness among college students is concerning, as the majority of students were barely passing (with a passing rate of 75.3%). Specifically, junior students exhibited lower scores than freshman and sophomore students across all 12 majors. From freshman to junior year, majors of music (78.01±4.58), English (79.29±5.03), and education (76.26±4.81) had the highest scores, respectively, but major art consistently scored the lowest, which were 73.85±6.02, 74.97±5.53, and 72.59±4.84, respectively. Pairwise comparisons revealed more significant differences in individual physical fitness indicators among the three grades in humanities than in sciences. Pearson's correlations showed significant correlations among seven physical fitness indicators in all three grades. PFI had a parabolic trend with BMI both for boy and girl college students in Jiangxi province. The physical fitness indicators of college students in Jiangxi province significantly differed in grades and majors, showing undesirable phenomena. The physical fitness of senior and humanities major college students was much weaker and needs sufficient attention. The relationship between BMI and PFI presented an inverted "U"-shaped change characteristic. Continued nationwide interventions are needed to promote physical activity and other healthy lifestyle behaviors in China.

An Adapted Physical Activity Program for Adolescents with an Intellectual Disability: An International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health Perspective.

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) offers a comprehensive bio-psycho-social model for evaluating the multifaceted needs of individuals with disabilities. While its adoption in healthcare settings is widespread, its utilization within the domain of physical activity interventions, particularly for adolescents with intellectual disabilities (IDs), remains insufficiently explored. This study rigorously examines the efficacy of a 6-month ICF-based Adaptive Physical Activity (APA) intervention on the development of fundamental motor skills (FMSs), improvements in physical fitness (PF), and enhancements in quality of life (QoL) among adolescents with ID. A total of thirty-eight adolescents were randomly allocated into either an intervention group (IG), which participated in the tailored APA program, or a control group (CG), which received standard physical education. The findings demonstrated statistically significant improvements in the IG's test of gross motor development (TGMD) total, locomotor, object control, and QOL scores relative to the CG (p < 0.001, η² = 0.330, 0.249, 0.224, and 0.439, respectively). Furthermore, substantial gains were observed in PF measures, including upper and lower limb strength as well as cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.001, η² = 0.254, 0.351, 0.176). Strong positive correlations were noted between FMS, PF, and QoL (r = 0.34-0.71, p < 0.05). This study underscores the importance of tailoring physical activity programs for adolescents with ID, offering insights into the relationships between FMS, PF, and QoL, and guidance for future interventions aimed at improving health outcomes in this population.

Executive functions in older adults with generalised anxiety disorder and healthy controls: Associations with heart rate variability, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and physical fitness

Executive functions (EF) decline with age and this decline in older adults with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) may be influenced by heart rate variability (HRV), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and physical fitness. Understanding these relationships is important for tailored treatments in this population. In this study, 51 adults with GAD (M age = 66.46, SD = 4.08) and 51 healthy controls (M age = 67.67, SD = 4.04) were assessed on cognitive inhibition (Stroop task), shifting (Trails part 4), flexibility (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test – Perseverative errors), working memory (Digit Span Backwards), IQ (Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence), high frequency HRV, serum mature BDNF levels, and VO2 max. Results indicated that participants with GAD exhibited better cognitive inhibition compared to controls, with no general reduction in EF. Cognitive inhibition was predicted by gender, HRV, and BDNF levels, while cognitive shifting was predicted by gender and IQ, and cognitive flexibility and working memory by IQ. The enhanced cognitive inhibition in GAD participants might stem from maladaptive use of this function, characteristic of GAD, or protection from EF decline due to normal HRV. Increased BDNF levels, possibly due to good fitness, or compensatory mechanisms related to the disorder, might also play a role. These findings highlight the complexity of EF and related mechanisms in GAD, highlighting the need for interventions that consider both cognitive and physiological factors for optimal outcomes.

Structured-unstructured activity behaviours on preschoolers’ mental and physical health: a compositional and isotemporal reallocation analysis

This study analysed the relationship between the structured and unstructured activities of preschoolers and their mental and physical health, and also investigated the predicted changes in mental and physical health by reallocating activity time. This cross-sectional study was carried out with 324 preschoolers. Video recording and SOPARC activity observation system was used for the division of structured and unstructured activities. An accelerometer sensor was used to measure activity intensity. The SDQ psychological questionnaire was adopted to collect data on internalizing difficulties, externalizing difficulties, total difficulties and pro-social behaviours. Physical indices including body shape (height, weight, BMI), and physical fitness (upper and lower limb strength, flexibility, agility, and balance) were collected using Chinese toddler physical fitness measurement tools. Component data and isotemporal reallocation analyses were conducted using R Studio (Version 4.2). A total of 308 preschoolers (160 boys; aged 4.50 ± 0.93 years) were included in the data analysis. The activities composition, adjusted for sex, area, mental level (for mental indicators), or age (for physical indicators), was significantly correlated with various measurement indicators (p < 0.05). Specifically, structured (β=-0.87, p < 0.05) and unstructured (β=-1.24, p < 0.05) moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were significantly positive correlated with internalizing difficulties, while structured MVPA was significantly positively correlated with body shape (β = 2.17, p < 0.05). Replacing structured light physical activity (LPA) with 10 min of structured MVPA has a positive effect on internalizing difficulties (SMD=-1.28, 95%CI: -2.30 to -0.27) and body shape (SMD = 1.76, 95%CI: 0.37 to 3.15). When the total replacement time reaches 25 min, the benefits become even more pronounced. Structured and unstructured MVPA are both beneficial to preschoolers’ mental and physical health, with the incorporation of MVPA for over 25 min in structured activities and supplementary unstructured MVPA yielding even greater benefits.

The relationship between BMI and physical fitness among 7451 college freshmen: a cross-sectional study in Beijing, China.

To identify trends in physical fitness test scores of college freshmen and their physical fitness from 2018 to 2021, and to analyze the relationship between college students' Body Mass Index (BMI) and Physical Fitness Index (PFI). This study obtained physical fitness test data from 7,541 freshmen at a university in Beijing, China, from 2018 to 2021. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the physical fitness indicators among different BMI levels by gender. A nonlinear quadratic regression model was used to evaluate the relationship between BMI and each indicator within gender groups. The BMI of freshmen in China was generally increased over the study period, and BMI levels influenced students' physical fitness indexes to varying degrees. BMI was significantly correlated with the physical fitness indexes and PFI. The increase in BMI had a greater influence on the PFI of males than females. Students with a normal BMI show better physical fitness. A BMI below or above the normal range may result in poor physical fitness. The relationship between BMI and PFI has an inverted u-shaped curve. Physical education programs should be tailored to students with different fitness levels and fundamentals, including but not limited to the development of strength, speed, and other qualities.

Importance of physical fitness in physical literacy and life satisfaction of Physical Education students

In recent years, research on physical literacy has experienced remarkable growth, identifying the factors in this multidimensional concept that may play a role in the acquisition of healthy habits. In addition, multiple studies have identified significant correlations between physical literacy and quality of life, although they did not find a reason for this relationship. One of the factors that could explain this behavior is physical fitness. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the role of physical fitness and its components in the relationship between physical literacy and life satisfaction. For this purpose, the Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze the differences in the scores of the questionnaires applied, Spearman's rho, to determine the correlations between physical literacy and life satisfaction, using Hedges' g for the interpretation of the effect size. In addition, a mediation analysis was conducted to understand how physical fitness affects the relationship between literacy and life satisfaction. A moderation analysis was then applied to explore whether variables related to physical fitness modified the correlation and added to the prediction model. Finally, the reliability and validity of the questionnaires were tested using Cronbach's Alpha and McDonald's omega coefficient. The results showed that physical fitness, especially cardiorespiratory fitness, was a moderator and mediator in this relationship, demonstrating that increasing cardiorespiratory fitness enhances the effect of physical literacy on improving life satisfaction among high school students.

The Methodological Quality of Studies on Physical Exercise in Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy: A Scoping Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses point to the benefits of physical exercise for adolescents with cerebral palsy, improving physical conditioning, muscle strength, balance, and walking speed. However, given the high number of reviews that include randomized and non-randomized studies, it is increasingly necessary to assess the methodological quality of these reviews. This scoping review investigated the methodological quality of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the effects of physical exercise in adolescents with cerebral palsy to elucidate the methodological limitations of the research and the priorities to be observed in future research. The electronic search used PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane. Studies published between 2016 and 2023 were selected. The terms used were "cerebral palsy" combined with "physical fitness", "exercise", and "physical activity". A total of 219 original reviews were selected. Of these, 19 reviews were included for data analysis. AMSTAR2 was used to assess the methodological quality of the reviews. Three reviews presented high methodological quality (15.78%) and three had moderate methodological quality (15.78%). The remaining reviews had low or critically low methodological quality, according to AMSTAR2. This study evidenced that systematic reviews have variable methodological quality and that new studies are still needed.