Self-report Measures Of Physical Activity Research Articles

Physical activity and hippocampal volume in young adults.

Evidence from previous studies suggests that physical activity (PA) may contribute to functional and structural changes in the hippocampus throughout the lifespan. However, there is limited evidence available regarding the young adult population. Additionally, the personality traits that may influence this association remain unclear. With a sample of 84 young adults (43 women; age 22.7 ± 2.8y; range 18-29), the main aim of the current study was to analyze the association between objective and self-reported measures of daily PA and hippocampus subfield gray matter volumes, and to examine the role of the personality trait of punishment sensitivity in this association. Our results showed that only moderate to vigorous levels of objectively measured PA were positively associated with the hippocampal CA2/CA3 volume. Moreover, punishment sensitivity correlated negatively with the objective measure of sedentarism and with self-reported measures of PA. However, regression analyses did not find any interaction between punishment sensitivity and PA in explaining individual differences in hippocampal volumes. Thus, our data suggest that intense PA may contribute to enhancing the hippocampal CA2/CA3 volume in young adults.

Activity levels across the intensity spectrum in athletes: a systematic review protocol

Physical activity (PA) promotes better cardiometabolic health, physical function, brain health and longevity. In contrast, prolonged sedentary behaviour (SB) is a risk factor for many chronic diseases and poor health....

Impact of a Nyakaza Move-for-Health Intervention Programme among Adolescents in a Resource-Constrained South African Community

Adolescents in resource-constrained environments face increasing sedentary lifestyles and obesity rates, necessitating effective interventions for promoting physical activity and combating non-communicable diseases. This study evaluates the impact of a 12 week Nyakaza Move-for-Health intervention on physical activity, anthropometry, cardiorespiratory fitness, and behaviour change among adolescents in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. One hundred twenty-eight adolescents participated, with assessments including self-reported physical activity, anthropometric indices, and cardiorespiratory fitness measures. The intervention significantly increased physical activity levels. The treatment group’s mean score was 2.2 (0.4) at baseline and 2.6 (0.4) (F (14, 79) = 4.884, p = <0.001, η2 = 0.156) at the endline. The body mass index decreased (mean = 22.4 (4.6) at baseline and 21.9 (4.2) at endline; p = 0.025, partial eta squared = 0.025, η2 = 0.004). The intervention programme significantly affected the WHR (mean = 0.80 (0.10) at baseline and 0.76 (0.9) at endline; p < 0.001, partial eta squared = 0.327, η2 = 0.100) and the predicted maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) for the treatment group (mean = 42.4 (8.7) at baseline and mean = 43.6 (8.7) at endline; p < 0.711, partial eta squared = 0.017, η2 = 0.033). Focus group discussions indicated shifts in knowledge, attitudes, and motivation towards physical activity. Power analysis revealed strong observed power (PA: 0.983, BMI: 0.098, WHR: 0.887), indicating the robustness of the intervention’s effects. These findings underscore the effectiveness of the intervention in improving physical health outcomes. It is recommended that longitudinal studies be conducted to assess the long-term sustainability and impact of such interventions on adolescents’ health outcomes, thereby informing the development of comprehensive public health policies and programmes to promote physical activity and combat non-communicable diseases in similar settings.

Physical activity and functional social support in community-dwelling older adults: a scoping review

BackgroundGlobally, the population of older people is increasing and is estimated to reach nearly 2.1 billion by 2050. Physical activity (PA) is one of the key components for successful ageing. However, PA decreases with age and many older adults do not meet PA guidelines. Previous research has shown that social support (SOSU) is related to PA in older people. The aim of this scoping review is to identify and map all of the available evidence and to explore the association between functional SOSU and PA in older adults. Functional SOSU consists of emotional, informational, instrumental and companionship SOSU and social comparison.MethodsA scoping review was conducted using the Joanna-Briggs manual. Quantitative and qualitative studies investigating associations between functional SOSU and PA levels in older adults (mean age ≥ 60 years) were identified through a systematic search in seven electronic databases up to August 2023. After removing duplicates, 20,907 articles were screened for titles and abstracts. The results were analysed separately for different types of SOSU.Results116 articles met the inclusion criteria; 72% were quantitative studies and 28% were qualitative studies. Most studies used self-reported PA measures, only 23% of the studies used objective-reported PA measures. Most studies of SOSU for PA reported positive associations but the evidence is inconclusive when the source of support is considered. PA is positively associated with general, emotional, informational, and companionship SOSU, while instrumental support may occasionally be negatively associated. Companionship support is particularly influential on PA, especially in group settings, as it promotes social connectedness. Qualitative studies show that social comparison also supports PA. Different forms of SOSU generally show positive associations with PA.ConclusionsWhile the evidence on the association between functional SOSU and PA is mixed, most studies show that there is a positive association. PA may also be a strategy for improving social contact and social integration. This study offers a comprehensive overview of measures for SOSU and PA and thereby informs future research and policy-making.

The Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire for People with Disabilities: Validity and Reliability

There is an urgent need for valid and reliable measures of physical activity (PA) participation for use among people with physical and/or sensory disabilities. This study involved adapting the Leisure Time PA Questionnaire for People with Spinal Cord Injury for use in individuals with disabilities (i.e., the LTPAQ-D) and performing a preliminary evaluation of its content validity, construct validity, and same-day test–retest reliability in people with disabilities. User interviews assessed the content validity (n = 5). A cross-sectional study assessed the construct validity and same-day test–retest reliability (n = 27, 45 ± 21 years). Participants completed the LTPAQ-D, other self-report measures of aerobic and strength training PA, as well as tests of cardiorespiratory fitness (i.e., peak oxygen consumption (V˙O2peak)) and muscular strength. LTPAQ-D measures of min/week of aerobic LTPA, aerobic moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), and strength training shared medium-to-large correlations with other self-report measures of aerobic and strength training PA (r = 0.458–0.942, ps < 0.01). After controlling for age, aerobic LTPA and MVPA shared moderate partial correlations with V˙O2peak (r = 0.341 and 0.356, respectively). Min/week of strength training, measured by the LTPAQ-D, was associated with predicted maximal strength on the chest press (r = 0.621, p = 0.009). All LTPAQ-D measures demonstrated good-to-excellent test–retest reliability (intraclass correlations = 0.709–0.948, ps < 0.01). This study provides preliminary evidence of the validity and reliability of the LTPAQ-D as a measure of LTPA among people with disabilities.

Comparison of time-matched aerobic, resistance or combined exercise training in women living with obesity: The EXOFFIT study.

Improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) have been shown to largely attenuate the negative health risks associated with obesity. To date, literature on women with obesity has focused upon the evaluation of aerobic-based exercise interventions. Hence, there is a need to evaluate resistance and combined interventions with this cohort. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of three exercise modalities in women with obesity for improving CRF, strength, body composition and other health outcomes. Sixty-seven women with obesity were randomly assigned to the control (CON) or one of three exercise groups (aerobic [AE], resistance [RE], COM). Exercise groups were trained x3 times/week for 12weeks (up to 150-min/week). Feasibility outcomes included adherence, attendance, recruitment and retention rates and adverse events. Secondary outcomes were CRF (predicted VO2 max), body composition (body weight [BW], waist circumference [WC], body fat percentage [%BF], fat mass [FM] and lean mass) and strength (5RM bench press, leg dynamometry, grip strength) and self-reported measures of physical activity, mood, sleep, pain and quality of life. Findings support the feasibility of all three exercise modalities in terms of adherence, attendance, and retention. Interventions with a resistance component (COM and RE) were associated with the greatest improvements across the broad range of health outcomes measured. Combined was the most promising for body composition outcomes including body mass index (Effect size [ES]=0.79, p=0.04), BW (ES=0.75, p=0.05), %BF (ES=0.77, p=0.04), FM (ES=0.83, p=0.03) and WC (ES=0.90, p=0.02), physical activity (i.e., moderate physical activity [ES=0.69, p=0.07), mood (ES=0.83, p=0.03) and sleep (ES=0.78, p=0.04). Resistance was most promising for CRF (ES=1.47, p=0.002), strength (i.e., bench press [ES=2.88, p=<0.001]) and pain (i.e., pain severity [ES=0.40, p=0.31]). For health outcomes, these results indicate the importance of including a resistance component when prescribing exercise for women with obesity to achieve meaningful improvements. ISRCTN13517067.

Self-determined motivation and physical activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study

Objective To identify factors associated with two self-reported measures of physical activity (PA) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Method Hospital outpatients with RA from central Norway filled in questionnaires about symptoms, psychological factors, and PA. Outcomes were two alternative self-reported measures of PA: (i) fulfilling the aerobic PA recommendations of ≥ 150 min/week at moderate intensity or ≥ 75 min/week at vigorous intensity; or (ii) being in the PA maintenance stage of the Stages of Exercise Behaviour Change framework. Logistic regression was applied to identify factors associated with PA. Step 1 included the independent variables sex, age, and smoking habits. Step 2a added self-reported function, joint pain during the past 6 months, and fatigue to Step 1. Step 2b added Exercise Self-Efficacy and the Relative Autonomy Index (RAI), calculated from the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-2, to Step 1. Step 3 included all the mentioned independent variables. Steps 1–3 were analysed for each PA measure. Results In total, 227 patients participated. The RAI had a statistically significant positive association with being physically active according to both PA definitions. Joint pain had a significant negative association with meeting the aerobic PA recommendations but was not associated with being in the PA maintenance stage. Conclusion The degree of self-determined motivation was the most consistent variable associated with self-reported PA behaviour. Joint pain was associated with one of the two PA measures. Motivation and joint pain may be useful targets for intervention in clinical practice to improve PA engagement among patients with RA.

Multidimensionality of leisure-time physical activity behaviour in adults with spinal cord injury: implications for measurement.

The Physical Activity Recall Assessment for People with SCI (PARA-SCI) has demonstrated the best test-retest reliability and validity of self-report measures of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) for adults with SCI. However, the absence of internal consistency reliability data has been raised as a concern. Internal consistency is relevant only for unidimensional measures. In other populations, LTPA is known to be a multidimensional construct, evaluated with multidimensional measures. We tested for unidimensionality through secondary analysis of PARA-SCI data (n = 703). Cronbach's α was 0.227. Principal components analysis showed two components/dimensions ('Moderate and Heavy Intensity LTPA' and 'Mild Intensity LTPA') explained 73% of the variance. Binary logic crosstabulation produced no discernible patterns of behavioural interrelatedness across LTPA intensities. Together, these data demonstrate the multidimensionality of LTPA and the PARA-SCI is not unidimensional. Internal consistency should not be a criterion for evaluating LTPA questionnaires for use in studies of people with SCI.

Pilot Findings Indicate a Cognitive Behavioral Healthy Lifestyle Intervention for PTSD Improves Sleep and Physical Activity.

Research has indicated strong associations between post-traumatic stress and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) tend to show patterns of elevated CVD risk earlier in life than the general population. The need for developing effective interventions for CVD risk reduction in PTSD is increasingly evident. The purpose of the present pilot study was to examine the effects of a healthy lifestyle intervention that addresses CVD-related heath behaviors (physical activity, sleep, stress) among civilian adults with PTSD. Participants were randomized to the healthy lifestyle intervention condition or a wait-list control. A total of 22 women completed the protocol (11 per group). The mean age was 32 (SD ± 14). Evaluations were conducted before and after the 12-week intervention program in the experimental group, and 12 weeks apart for the control group, and included standardized self-report measures of sleep, physical activity, and general stress. The healthy lifestyle group showed an increase in the amount of sleep pre to post (mean of 1.2 h per night), which was significantly different to the control group, who had no change (p < 0.05; effect size = 1.41). Notable pre to post increases in physical activity were observed between the intervention group (mean increase = 115.8 min over 7 days) and control condition (mean = 4.5 min over 7 days); however, this effect was not significant in the small sample (effect size = 0.70). These preliminary findings suggest that a healthy lifestyle intervention is feasible and can produce desired changes in target behaviors/outcomes.

Very brief intervention for physical activity behaviour change in cardiac rehabilitation: protocol for the ‘Measure It!’ effectiveness–implementation hybrid trial

IntroductionPhysical inactivity is a risk factor for repeat cardiac events and all-cause mortality in coronary heart disease (CHD). Cardiac rehabilitation, a secondary prevention programme, aims to increase physical activity levels...

Exploring the feasibility of a 6-week electric-bike intervention with behavioural support in Australia.

BackgroundPhysical inactivity increases the risk of non-communicable disease development and healthcare-associated burden. Research suggests electric bikes (e-bikes) can support individuals in meeting recommended physical activity (PA) guidelines. This study assessed the feasibility of an e-bike plus a tailored behavioural support intervention for physically inactive overweight or obese adults. MethodsThis non-randomized single-group pre-post study saw participants provided with an e-bike free of charge for six weeks. Feasibility was assessed across five domains: 1) feasibility of recruitment, 2) participant retention, 3) intervention adherence, 4) acceptability of questionnaires and lab-based outcome measures and 5) intervention acceptability. Participants completed self-reported measures of PA and self-efficacy for exercise. Lab-based measurements were completed pre-and post-intervention, this included blood pressure, body composition [anthropometrics and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)], venous blood glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, and cardiorespiratory fitness. ResultsOur recruitment strategy saw a total of eight participants (three males and five females) complete the intervention (88.9% retention rate). Participants utilised the e-bike for the intervention duration and rode a mean distance of 299.8 km (SD ± 172.2) over the 6-week intervention period. Participants completed all outcomes with minimal data points missing. Participants’ moderate PA levels and self-efficacy for exercise increased post intervention. Lab-based measures showed a downward trend in body fat percentage, fasting blood glucose and brachial diastolic blood pressure. ConclusionThe recruitment strategy, retention, adherence and acceptability of this study support future research. E-bikes are an acceptable way to help people who are physically inactive increase their PA levels. Furthermore, sustained use may contribute to health benefits and improve overall self-efficacy for exercise.

Functional social support and physical activity in community-dwelling older adults: A scoping review

Abstract Background Globally, the population of older people is increasing and is estimated to reach nearly 2.1 billion by 2050. Physical activity (PA) is one of the key components for healthy ageing, as it can prevent noncommunicable diseases, improve mental health, cognitive functioning and quality of life. However, PA decreases with age. About two-thirds of those aged 65-74 years and three-quarters of those aged 75 or more do not meet PA guidelines. A systematic review from 2017 showed that social support (SOSU) and loneliness are associated with PA in older people. The aim of this scoping review was to update that systematic review by identifying and mapping all of the available knowledge, including results from mixed-methods and qualitative studies, and to explore associations between functional SOSU and PA in older people. Methods A scoping review was conducted using the Joanna-Briggs manual. Empirical studies investigating associations between functional SOSU and PA levels in older adults were identified through a systematic search of the electronic databases Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest, PsycInfo, PSYINDEX, SocINDEX and Scopus up to March 2022, without time or geographic restrictions. After removing duplicates, 17,196 articles were screened for titles and abstracts by two independent researchers. Strict inclusion and exclusion criteria were set in advance. Results 88 articles matched the inclusion criteria; 71% were quantitative studies and 29% qualitative studies. Most studies used self-reported PA measures, only 13% of the studies used objective-reported PA measures. Most studies showed a significant positive association between functional SOSU and PA. The results were analysed separately for the different SOSU types. Conclusions Functional SOSU is positively associated with PA while lack of SOSU is a major barrier to exercise. The study offers a comprehensive overview of measures for SOSU and PA and thereby informs future research and policy-making. Key messages • Older adults have lower levels of SOSU and PA. • One way of promoting PA in older age is facilitating high levels of SOSU.

Study protocol: Identification and validation of integrative biomarkers of physical activity level and health in children and adolescents (INTEGRActiv).

Physical activity (PA) provides health benefits across the lifespan and improves many established cardiovascular risk factors that have a significant impact on overall mortality. However, discrepancies between self-reported and device-based measures of PA make it difficult to obtain consistent results regarding PA and its health effects. Moreover, PA may produce different health effects depending on the type, intensity, duration, and frequency of activities and individual factors such as age, sex, body weight, early life conditions/exposures, etc. Appropriate biomarkers relating the degree of PA level with its effects on health, especially in children and adolescents, are required and missing. The main objective of the INTEGRActiv study is to identify novel useful integrative biomarkers of PA and its effects on the body health in children and adolescents, who represent an important target population to address personalized interventions to improve future metabolic health. The study is structured in two phases. First, biomarkers of PA and health will be identified at baseline in a core cohort of 180 volunteers, distributed into two age groups: prepubertal (n = 90), and postpubertal adolescents (n = 90). Each group will include three subgroups (n = 30) with subjects of normal weight, overweight, and obesity, respectively. Identification of new biomarkers will be achieved by combining physical measures (PA and cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, anthropometry) and molecular measures (cardiovascular risk factors, endocrine markers, cytokines and circulating miRNA in plasma, gene expression profile in blood cells, and metabolomics profiling in plasma). In the second phase, an educational intervention and its follow-up will be carried out in a subgroup of these subjects (60 volunteers), as a first validation step of the identified biomarkers. The INTEGRActiv study is expected to provide the definition of PA and health-related biomarkers (PA-health biomarkers) in childhood and adolescence. It will allow us to relate biomarkers to factors such as age, sex, body weight, sleep behavior, dietary factors, and pubertal status and to identify how these factors quantitatively affect the biomarkers' responses. Taken together, the INTEGRActiv study approach is expected to help monitor the efficacy of interventions aimed to improve the quality of life of children/adolescents through physical activity. ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier NCT05907785.

O.4.5-7 Inactive by force? Barriers and motivation to exercise in older adults during a pandemic

Abstract Purpose The lockdown restrictions over the Covid-19 pandemic have accelerated the ongoing ‘physical inactivity pandemic’ and significantly affected physical and mental well-being in older adults (Eime et al., 2022; Pérez et al., 2021; Sjöberg et al., 2022, Peterson et al., 2021). This study aimed to elucidate the factors that limit or facilitate physical activity in inactive older adults. The main objectives were to identify: (1) the perceived barriers that influence motivation to exercise or physical activity; (2) physical activity patterns when living under lockdown restrictions; (3) how the restriction impacted the motivation and exercise behaviour in older adults. Methods Participants were 24 older adults (M = 74 years, SD = 5.0) either physically active or inactive before the pandemic. Semi-structured interviews and self-reported physical activity measures were taken during lockdown and followed up at eight weeks. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Results The three main themes were: sense of purpose for being physically active, routes for engagement, and inactive by force. The sense of purpose was found to be a key source of motivation to exercise influenced by both the belief in the importance of exercise and the affective valence participants assigned to it. Active participants valued exercise due to its health benefits and enjoyment. With the closing of exercise settings, they missed the social context that gave their exercising a purpose. However, both active and inactive participants found purpose in walking outdoors for exercise, as a response to lockdown. Conclusions Overall, we suggest that enjoyment and the maintenance of physical function should be targeted in all recommendations and interventions because these are the benefits of exercise most highly valued by older adults. Exercise recommendations and interventions at each socio-ecological level should be tailored specifically to older adults. Supporting older adults to find a valued activity that suits their needs and preferences should be the focus of these strategies. Inactive older adults should be intensively supported by their social and physical context to implement more physical activity in their lives. Our main recommendations include emphasising the importance and benefits of physical activity, supporting and enabling exercise for all ages and levels of mobility.

O.6.3-4 Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity in the Island of Ireland: a cross-sectional study comparing differences in participation between 2018 and 2022

Abstract Purpose Given the many policies and interventions aimed at increasing physical activity (PA), it is important to understand how levels of PA, sport participation and active travel change over time. The purpose of this study is to assess the participation levels of children and adolescents in sport, PA and active travel in Northern Ireland (NI) and the Republic of Ireland (RoI) and compare differences in participation between 2018 and 2022. Methods A cross-sectional survey was completed by a sample of schoolchildren in 2018 and in 2022 through the Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity (CSPPA) study. A representative sample of primary (n = 1549 in 2018, n = 1758 in 2022) and post-primary (n = 5102 in 2018, n = 7123 in 2022) pupils were surveyed in school using standardised self-report PA and sport participation measures. Descriptive statistics, chi-square analyses, linear regression and logistic regression were run for outcome variables. Results Reported participation in daily PA increased at both school levels in NI and RoI between 2018 and 2022 with an increased proportion of pupils meeting the recommended levels of PA (NI: 13% in 2018 and 17% in 2022, RoI: 13% in 2018 and 15% in 2022). The proportion of children taking part in sport at least once a week increased over the last four years at both school levels in NI and RoI. Active travel to or from primary school increased from 36% in 2018 to 40% in 2022 in NI and from 42% in 2018 to 43% in 2022 in RoI. There was no change in the level of self-reported active travel for post-primary pupils in NI. However, reported engagement in active travel decreased from 40% to 35% in RoI. Conclusions The findings from this study suggest small increases in participation in self-reported daily PA, school sport, and community sport between 2018 and 2022. Despite this, participation rates and engagement with active travel remain low. These findings are important for policymakers seeking to address inactivity in children and adolescents in Ireland. Support/Funding Source This study is funded by Sport Ireland, Healthy Ireland and Sport NI, with support from the Departments of Health and Education in ROI.

Rural African American Women With Severe Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Lifestyle Behaviors and Psychosocial Characteristics.

To examine differences in lifestyle behavioral and psychosocial factors between rural African American women with Class 3 obesity and those with overweight, and Class 1-2 obesity. Cross-sectional study. Rural Southeastern United States. Participants included 289 African American women with a mean age of 56years, 66% with a high school education or less, and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 38.6kg/m2; 35% (n = 102) were classified with Class 3 obesity. We objectively measured height, weight, and physical activity steps/day. Self-reported dietary and physical activity behaviors, general health-related quality of life, mental health, and social support were measured with validated surveys. Chi-Square analysis for categorical variables and analysis of variance (ANOVA) - via multiple linear regression - for continuous variables. There were no significant demographic differences between BMI groups, except for age, where women with Class 3 obesity were on average younger (51 vs 58y, P < .001). Although dietary behaviors did not differ significantly between groups, we observed significant group differences in self-reported and objective measures of physical activity. The age-adjusted difference in means for self-reported total physical activity minutes/wk. was 91 minutes, with women categorized with Class 3 obesity reporting significantly fewer weekly minutes than those with overweight/Class 1-2 obesity (64.3 vs 156.4min/wk. respectively, P < .01). Among psychosocial variables, only in the physical component scores of health-related quality of life did we find significant group differences - lower physical well-being among women with Class 3 obesity compared to those with overweight/Class 1-2 obesity (P = .02). For African American women with Class 3 obesity living in rural setting, these findings suggest behavioral weight loss interventions may need to target physical activity strategies that address physical, psychosocial, and environmental barriers.

Body-related emotions and subsequent physical activity behaviour: An ecological momentary assessment

Body-related shame and guilt are theorized to be time-varying affective determinants of physical activity, yet research has predominantly relied on self-report measures of physical activity and between-person associations. To address these limitations, the present study used ecological momentary assessment to examine within- and between-person associations between body-related shame and guilt, and subsequent time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) measured by continuously worn accelerometers. University students (n = 98; 79.6% female; mage = 19.45) were prompted 49 times over seven days to report body-related shame and guilt, and wore activPAL accelerometers to monitor movement behaviours. Higher levels of within-person body-related guilt, but not shame, were associated with increased subsequent time spent in MVPA. Contrary to existing literature, neither body-related shame nor guilt demonstrated a significant association with average levels of MVPA between individuals. These findings support theoretical propositions that body-related guilt may impact engagement in physical activity in daily life.

All’s well that ends well: an early-phase study testing lower end-session exercise intensity to promote physical activity in patients with Parkinson’s disease

Decreasing the intensity of exercise at the end of a session has been associated with greater post-exercise pleasure and enjoyment. Here, we investigated whether this manipulation can enhance affective attitudes toward physical activity (PA) and promote PA in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Seven patients (72.9 ± 5.6 years, 3 women) were included in an eight-week within-subject study consisting of weekly exercise sessions. The first four weeks were used as a control condition. In the last four weeks, 9 minutes of lower-intensity exercise were added at the end of each session (experimental condition). Results of the linear mixed-effects models showed that the addition of lower-intensity exercise improved the explicit affective attitudes toward PA (b = 1.00, 95%CI = 0.36 to 1.64, P = 0.022). We found no evidence of an effect on implicit affective attitudes (P = 0.564), accelerometer-based PA (P = 0.417) and self-reported measures of PA (P = 0.122). Although not significant, self-reported PA per day was 36 minutes longer in the experimental than in the control condition. The findings of this early-phase study may suggest that reducing the intensity of an exercise at the end of the exercise sessions enhanced explicit affective attitudes toward PA in patients with PD. Yet, future well-powered and randomized studies are needed to provide more robust evidence.

Agreement between questions about physical activity and sitting time, and device-based measures, used in Swedish targeted health dialogues in the context of primary health care

BackgroundIt is important that easy-to-use measures like subjective questions about physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour are valid and reliable providing accurate measures, when they are used in health promotion work aiming to support people to improve their lifestyle habits such as PA. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concurrent validity of a structured interview form estimating self-reported PA and a question about sitting time used in Swedish targeted health dialogues in the context of primary health care.MethodThe study was conducted in the southern part of Sweden. To evaluate concurrent validity of the interview form, time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activities (MVPA) and energy expenditure related to MVPA estimated by an interview form was compared with the same measures assessed by an ActiGraph GT3X-BT accelerometer. To evaluate a question about sitting time, the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences’ single-item question about sitting time (SED-GIH) was compared with measures from an activPAL inclinometer. Statistical analyses included deriving Bland‒Altman plots and calculating Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients.ResultBland‒Altman plots indicated lower absolute variation in the difference between self-reported and device-based PA measures for lower PA levels, both for energy expenditure and time spent in MVPA. No systematic over- or underestimation was observed. The Spearman’s correlation coefficient between self-reported and device-based PA measures was 0.27 (p = 0.014) for time spent in MVPA and 0.26 (p = 0.022) for energy expenditure. The correlation coefficient between the single item question and device-based sitting time measures was 0.31 (p = 0.002). Sitting time was underestimated by 74% of the participants.ConclusionThe PA interview form and the SED-GIH question on sitting time may be of value in targeted health dialogues in primary health care with the intention to support sedentary and insufficiently physically active persons in increasing their physical activity and limiting their sitting time. The questionnaires are easy to use and are more cost effective than device-based measures, especially regarding population-based interventions conducted in primary health care for thousands of participants such as targeted health dialogues.Clinical trial registrationNot applicable.

The relationship between physical activity, structural deformity, and spinal mobility in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients experience structural spinal deformity, but the impact of AIS on physical activity is not widely studied. Reports of physical activity levels between children with AIS and their peers are mixed. This study sought to characterize the relationship between spinal deformity, spinal range of motion, and self-reported physical activity in AIS patients. Patients aged 11-21 completed self-reported measures of physical activity using the HSS Pedi-FABS and PROMIS Physical Activity questionnaires. Radiographic measures were obtained from standing biplanar radiographic imaging. Surface topographic (ST) imaging data was obtained using a whole-body ST scanning system. Hierarchical linear regression models analyzed the relationship between physical activity, ST, and radiographic deformity while controlling for age and BMI. 149 patients with AIS (mean age 14.5 ± 2.0years, mean Cobb angle 39.7° ± 18.9°) were included. In the hierarchical regression predicting physical activity from Cobb angle, no factors were significant predictors of physical activity. When predicting physical activity from ST ROM measurements, age and BMI served as covariates. No covariates or ST ROM measurements were significant predictors of physical activity levels for either activity measure. Physical activity levels of patients with AIS were not predicted by levels of radiographic deformity or surface topographic range of motion. Although patients may experience severe structural deformity and range of motion limitations, these factors do not appear to be associated with decreased physical activity level utilizing validated patient activity questionnaires. Level II.