Bouts Of Vigorous Physical Activity Research Articles

Adherence to the WHO recommendation of three weekly days of vigorous intensity activities in children: an accelerometry study of vigorous physical activity bouts.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that children and adolescents incorporate vigorous intensity activities (VIAs) at least three days a week. This recommendation has not been sufficiently studied using objective methods, such as accelerometry. Physical education classes and extracurricular sports activities are optimal opportunities for compliance with this recommendation. To identify VIAs through bouts of vigorous physical activity (VPA-Bouts) evaluated with accelerometry and, with this, to know the compliance with the recommendation on VIAs. A cross-sectional study of the habitual physical activity of 353 children (8-9 years old) was carried out using accelerometry and participation in organized extracurricular sports activities was asked through a questionnaire. School days with and without physical education class, weekends, and the average weekly day were identified, as well as school time and out-of-school time. A VPA-Bout was defined as an interval of at least 60 minutes with a proportion of VPA of at least 16.7% in boys and 12.5% in girls (10.0 and 7.5 minutes/hour of VPA, respectively). The average daily time in organized extracurricular sports activities declared by questionnaire and the average daily duration of the VPA-Bouts evaluated with accelerometers in the extracurricular period was 21.3 (SD 19.8) and 23.9 (SD 31.2) minutes, respectively, in boys, whereas, in girls it was 20.2 (SD 17.4) and 11.0 (SD 16.9) minutes, respectively. In school time including a physical education class, there was a higher proportion of VPA-Bouts than without these classes (with: 28.6%, without: 2.1%, p < 0.001). Children who reported at least three weekly hours of organized extracurricular sports activities accumulated a higher proportion of school afternoons with VPA-Bouts than those with fewer weekly hours of this type of activities (≥3 hours/week: 27.5%, <3 hours/week: 9.3%, p < 0.001). On the weekend, boys who reported at least three weekly hours of organized extracurricular sports activities performed more VPA-Bouts than those participating in less weekly hours, while in girls no significant differences were observed (weekend; boys, ≥3 hours/week: 26.0%, <3 hours/week: 9.0%, p < 0.001; girls: 8.3%, 8.0%, p = 0.917). Compliance with the recommendation to incorporate VIAs at least three days a week was 23.8%. Children who reported at least three weekly hours of extracurricular sports activities achieved higher compliance than those who reported fewer extracurricular activities (≥3 hours/week: 35.1%, <3 hours/week: 12.7%, p < 0.001). Additionally, boys showed higher compliance rates than girls (boys: 32.9%, girls: 15.3%, p < 0.001). One in every four children met the WHO recommendation to incorporate VIAs at least three days a week, as evaluated by accelerometry. Physical education classes and extracurricular organized sports activities contributed to compliance with this recommendation.

Activity Accumulation and Cardiometabolic Risk in Youth: A Latent Profile Approach

This cross-sectional study aimed to i) identify and characterize youth according to distinct physical activity (PA) and sedentary (SED) accumulation patterns, and ii) investigate associations of these derived patterns with cardiometabolic risk factors. ActiGraph accelerometer data from 7- to 13-yr-olds from two studies were pooled (n = 1219; 843 (69%) with valid accelerometry included in analysis). Time accumulated in ≥5- and ≥10-min SED bouts, ≥1- and ≥5-min bouts of light, and ≥1-min bouts of moderate and vigorous PA was calculated. Frequency of breaks in SED was also obtained. Latent profile analysis was used to identify groups of participants based on their distinct accumulation patterns. Linear and logistic regression models were used to test associations of group accumulation patterns with cardiometabolic risk factors, including adiposity indicators, blood pressure, and lipids. Total PA and SED time were also compared between groups. Three distinct groups were identified: "prolonged sitters" had the most time in sustained SED bouts and the least time in vigorous PA bouts; "breakers" had the highest frequency of SED breaks and lowest engagement in sustained bouts across most PA intensities; and "prolonged movers" had the least time accumulated in SED bouts and the most in PA bouts across most intensities. Although breakers engaged in less time in PA bouts compared with other groups, they had the healthiest adiposity indicators. No associations with the remaining cardiometabolic risk factors were found. Youth accumulate their daily activity in three distinct patterns (prolonged sitters, breakers, and prolonger movers), with those breaking up sitting and least time in prolonged PA bouts across the day having a lower adiposity risk. No relationships with other cardiometabolic risk factors were identified.

Moving fast, thinking fast: The relations of physical activity levels and bouts to neuroelectric indices of inhibitory control in preadolescents

BackgroundStructured vigorous physical activity (VPA) can improve cognitive control in children, but studies relating daily physical activity (PA) to cognitive control have yielded conflicting findings. While objectively measured daily PA summarizes all occurrences of PA within a registered period, a minimum duration of continuous PA is required for registration of a PA bout. Because brief bouts of high-intensity PA can account for a large proportion of children's daily activity-related energy expenditure, this study assessed whether daily and bouted VPA were selectively related to cognitive control in preadolescents relative to other PA intensities. MethodsA total of 75 children between the ages of 8 and 10 years (49% girls) wore an ActiGraph wGT3X+ on the hip for 7 days. The acceleration signal from the vertical axis was summarized over 1 s, 5 s, and 15 s epochs. Daily and bouted moderate PA, moderate-to-vigorous PA, and VPA were measured. PA bouts were expressed as the frequency and time spent in 2 different continuous PA bouts, one lasting ≥10 s and the other lasting ≥30 s at a given intensity. Inhibitory control was assessed using behavioral responses to a modified flanker task (mean reaction time (RTmean) and accuracy). Attentional resource allocation and cognitive processing speed were measured using the amplitude and latency of the P3 component of event-related brain potentials, respectively. Associations between PA, behavioral indices of inhibitory control, P3 amplitude, and latency were assessed using hierarchical regression models. ResultsDaily VPA was not related to RTmean or accuracy on either congruent or incongruent trials. In contrast, more time spent in VPA bouts lasting ≥30 s predicted shorter P3 latency across epochs and flanker congruencies (all β ≤ –0.24, all p ≤ 0.04). The associations between shorter P3 latency and the time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA bouts lasting ≥30 s were less consistent and largely limited to congruent trials (congruent: β (–0.31, –0.34)). No significant associations were observed upon correction for false discovery rate. ConclusionThe pattern of uncorrected associations aligns with the dose–response literature and suggests that brief VPA bouts may yield the greatest benefits to cognitive processing speed in preadolescents. Future studies using measures of brain structure and function are needed to understand the mechanisms linking bouted VPA to neurocognitive function during childhood.

Frequency and duration of vigorous physical activity bouts are associated with adolescent boys' bone mineral status: A cross-sectional study.

Vigorous physical activity (VPA) has been proven to promote osteogenesis in adolescents; however the specifics of the optimal pattern of frequency and duration of VPA are unknown. The main goal of the present study was to analyze the associations of different length of VPA bouts with bone health. 180 healthy male adolescents (11-13 years) had their bone mineral content and density assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans at the whole body, femoral neck (FN) and lumbar spine and their physical activity measured by an accelerometer during one week. VPA was the intensity with the strongest associations with bone mineral parameters especially at the FN. Subjects whose longest VPA bout was 5 min or above had higher FN bone mineral density (BMD) than those who did not complete any 5-min bout and these differences were greater with participants who reached 15 consecutive minutes of VPA (>15': 0.977 ± 0.020 g/cm2; 5'-15': 0.907 ± 0.009 g/cm2; <5': 0.876 ± 0.009 g/cm2; all p < 0.05). When comparing the relevance of VPA bouts and volume of physical activity, the group with low volume and having a VPA bout had better FN BMD compared to the group with high volume but no VPA bout. Additionally, the group with both high volume and VPA bout showed better FN BMD than the rest of the groups. VPA may be the most effective activity intensity to improve bone mineral density and content of adolescent boys, with greater benefits if VPA periods either long or frequent.

Bouts of Vigorous Physical Activity and Bone Strength Accrual During Adolescence.

We examined the influence of vigorous physical activity (VPA) bout frequency on bone strength accrual across adolescence, independent of total volume of VPA. We measured VPA (6 metabolic equivalents; total volume and bout frequency <5min in duration) annually using waist-worn accelerometers (ActiGraph GT1M) in 309 adolescents (9-20y at baseline: 99, <13y; 126, 13-18y; 84, >18y) over a maximum of 4years. We applied finite element analysis to high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography scans of the distal tibia (8% site) to estimate bone strength (failure load; F.Load, Newtons). We fit a mixed effects model with maturity offset (years from age at peak height velocity) as a random effect and sex, ethnicity, tibia length, lean body mass, and VPA (volume and bout frequency) as fixed effects. VPA volume and bout frequency were positively associated with F.Load across adolescence; however, VPA volume did not predict F.Load once VPA bout frequency was included in the model. Participants in the upper quartile of VPA bout frequency (∼33bouts per day) had 10% (500N) greater F.Load across adolescence compared with participants in the lowest quartile (∼9bouts per day; P = .012). Each additional daily bout of VPA was associated with 21Ngreater F.Load, independent of total volume of VPA. Frequent VPA should be promoted for optimal bone strength accrual.

Descriptive analysis of objectively assessed physical activity among talented soccer players: a study of three Norwegian professional football clubs

BackgroundTalented football players are expected to overcome large training and match loads, indicating a high weekly level of physical activity (PA).AimsWith the use of accelerometers, the aim of this study...

Physical activity growth curves relate to adiposity in adolescents

PurposeFindings from prospective studies on associations between physical activity and adiposity among youth are inconsistent. Our aim was to describe physical activity trajectories during secondary school and examine the association with change in adiposity in youth. MethodsPhysical activity was measured in 20 survey cycles from 1999 to 2005; anthropometrics were measured in survey cycles 1, 12, and 19. Individual growth curves modeling moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and vigorous physical activity (VPA) were estimated. Estimates of initial level and rate of decline in MVPA and VPA bouts per week were included as potential predictors of body fat% and body mass index using age- and sex-specific linear regression. ResultsComplete data were available for 840 and 760 adolescents aged 12–13 years at baseline, followed from survey cycles 1–12 and 12–19, respectively. Among girls, yearly declines of one MVPA and one VPA bout per week during earlier adolescence were associated with increases of 0.19 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.02–0.36) and 0.47 (95% CI, 0.015–0.92) units of body fat%, respectively. In boys, a yearly decline of one MVPA bout per week was associated with an increase of 0.38 (95% CI, 0.05–0.70) units of body fat% during later adolescence. ConclusionsObesity prevention programs should include strategies to prevent declines in physical activity.

Firefighters' Physical Activity

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for 44% of on-duty deaths among US firefighters with a markedly higher event risk during strenuous duties compared with nonemergencies. Sedentary persons are most susceptible to such CVD "event-triggering" due to irregular bouts of vigorous physical activity (PA). Conversely, regular PA and increased levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) protect against CVD triggering. Therefore, the present study evaluates PA measures in structural firefighters and their relationship to CRF and CVD risk factors. Cross-sectional cohort study of 527 Midwestern career firefighters. PA frequency, duration, and intensity measures from a questionnaire along with total weekly aerobic exercise were analyzed. CRF was measured by maximal exercise tolerance testing. CVD risk parameters included body composition, blood pressure, and metabolic profiles. Group differences were compared using general linear models. Measures of increasing frequency, duration, intensity of PA, and total weekly exercise (min) were significantly associated with higher CRF (P < 0.001) after adjustment for age, body mass index (BMI), and smoking status. After multivariate adjustment, increasing PA frequency was significantly associated with reduced total cholesterol-HDL ratio, triglycerides, and glucose, as well as HDL increments. Increasing BMI category was associated with significant decrements in CRF and unfavorable dose-response trends in CVD risk factors (P < 0.001), even for those reporting very frequent, sustained, and intense PA. Increasing PA has beneficial independent effects on CRF, and PA frequency has similar favorable effects on CVD risk profiles. Whereas PA was beneficial regardless of BMI category, increasing BMI category had strong independent unfavorable effects. PA should be strongly encouraged for all firefighters with the highest priority given to PA frequency, followed by PA duration and intensity.

Patterns of moderate and vigorous physical activity in obese and overweight compared with non-overweight children

We determined whether overweight and obese children performed less combined moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA), less vigorous physical activity (VPA) alone, and had distinct patterns of sustained MVPA or VPA compared with non-overweight children. We monitored 106 children (aged 8 to 10 years) for 7 consecutive days using accelerometers. Differences in mean daily MVPA and VPA were assessed by comparing non-overweight (NOW) with overweight and obese (OW/OB) participants using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. We used an algorithm to identify periods of consecutive minutes where MVPA or VPA was continuous, called bouts. We then compared the bouts performed by NOW versus OW and OB participants with respect to the mean of the counts·minute(-1) for the minutes included in the bout, their mean length in minutes, and the number of MVPA bouts performed in sequence. The non-overweight group averaged 143 minutes of MVPA per day versus 120 minutes among the OW/OB (p=0.004). The OW/OB group had fewer MVPA bouts per day compared with the NOW (11.6 versus17.6, p=0.012). Fewer VPA bouts were associated with greater body mass index z-score (p<0.001). The NOW children had more intense body motion during MVPA bouts and performed a greater proportion of MVPA bouts in sequences of five or more consecutive bouts, compared with the OW/OB (p=0.05 and p=0.002, respectively). In addition to performing less physical activity, we found that obese and overweight children had distinct patterns of MVPA and VPA bouts compared with non-overweight peers.

The Influence of Physical Activity on Quality of Life in Celiac Disease Patients

Celiac Disease is a multi-symptom disorder that is thought to affect 3 million Americans. Many neurological and psychological disturbances are thought to be associated with Celiac Disease. In particular, quality of life has been reported to be hampered by the experience of Celiac Disease (Hallert et al., 1998, 2002). Given that higher physical activity levels are associated with improved quality of life in the general population, it is plausible that physical activity is also positively associated with quality of life in Celiac Disease patients. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the degree to which physical activity status is related to quality of life in Celiac Disease patients. METHODS: Celiac Disease patients (N=42), ages 17 to 74 (M=46 yrs), completed the survey packet. Thirty-seven of the participants were biopsy-diagnosed. Physical activity status was assessed with the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study Physical Activity Questionnaire. Quality of life was assessed with the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Correlations were conducted between physical activity (number of MET hours per week, number of bouts of vigorous activity per week) and the SF-36 subscales. RESULTS: The number of bouts of vigorous physical activity was significantly (p<.05) correlated with physical functioning (r =.47), role-physical (r =.48), vitality (r =.38), role-emotional (r =.40), and reported health transitions (r = −.44). Further, the relationship approached statistical significance (p<. 10) for bodily pain (r =.26), general health (r =.28), and social functioning (r =.28). The relationship was not significant for the mental health subscale. No significant relationships were found for MET hours per week. CONCLUSIONS: These findings advance our understanding of the relationship between physical activity and quality of life in Celiac Disease patients and provide a foundation for research that elucidates mechanisms that underlie these relationships. Self-reported number of bouts of vigorous activity per week was generally predictive of quality of health, while self-reported MET hours per week were not predictive. Given the impact of Celiac Disease on quality of life, future research is needed to test the causal relationship between physical activity and quality of life in Celiac Disease patients.

Trends in physical activity behaviours and attitudes among South Australian youth between 1985 and 2004

Rising youth obesity is a serious public health concern. There is a widespread view that declining physical activity is contributing to this trend. A total of 929 young South Australians (age=9-15 years) were surveyed in 1985 and 2004 on usual physical activity in several contexts, including attitudes to physical activity. Eight of 10 South Australian schools participating in the 1985 Schools Health and Fitness Survey were revisited in 2004. Comparisons were made on: organised sport, active transport, physical education (PE), playground activity, vigorous physical activity (VPA), total leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), and attitudes to PE and school sport. The questionnaire and method of administration were identical in both surveys. There were no differences between surveys in club and school sport participation, walking to school, and reported enjoyment of PE and school sport. In 2004 fewer children rode to school, but PE classes were more frequent. The percentage of children who 'sit and talk' during school breaks had increased, with a decreased percentage of older girls who 'run around' during school breaks. There was a significantly higher LTPA in MET.min in 2004 for boys, which was particularly evident at higher percentiles. There were no changes in mean or distribution of LTPA for the whole sample or girls. The percentage of respondents reporting >/=3 bouts of VPA in the previous week rose from 51% (1985) to 76% (2004). There is no consistent evidence of declining physical activity among South Australian youth. It is apparent that physical activity in some contexts has declined, while in other contexts levels are the same or higher than in 1985. This underscores the complex nature of physical activity and the influences on this behaviour.

Contributions of acute bouts of vigorous physical activity to explaining diurnal variations in feeling states in active, middle-aged women.

This study describes diurnal variations in feeling states in 84 women as a function of involvement in physical activity. Women completed feeling state checklists before and after bouts of vigorous physical activity that lasted a minimum of 20 min and on a stratified random-sampling protocol in response to a stimulus from an electronic pager. Participants self-reported the date, the time of day, the stimulus for responding, their current feeling states, and their ongoing activity. A total of 7,295 complete mood and activity reports were recorded in response to pager calls that were further coded into experience samplings that occurred on a nonexercise day, prior to exercise on an exercise day, and following exercise on an exercise day. Multilevel modeling analyses showed that in samplings recorded following exercise on exercise days, positive engagement, revitalization, and tranquility were elevated in comparison with predicted diurnal patterns.

Contributions of acute bouts of vigorous physical activity to explaining diurnal variations in feeling states in active, middle-aged women.

This study describes diurnal variations in feeling states in 84 women as a function of involvement in physical activity. Women completed feeling state checklists before and after bouts of vigorous physical activity that lasted a minimum of 20 min and on a stratified random-sampling protocol in response to a stimulus from an electronic pager. Participants self-reported the date, the time of day, the stimulus for responding, their current feeling states, and their ongoing activity. A total of 7,295 complete mood and activity reports were recorded in response to pager calls that were further coded into experience samplings that occurred on a nonexercise day, prior to exercise on an exercise day, and following exercise on an exercise day. Multilevel modeling analyses showed that in samplings recorded following exercise on exercise days, positive engagement, revitalization, and tranquility were elevated in comparison with predicted diurnal patterns.

ACUTE EXERCISE AND DIURNAL VARIATIONS IN FEELING STATES: APPLICATION OF HIERARCHICAL LINEAR MODELING

672 This study describes diurnal variations in feeling states for a community sample of middle-aged women (n=84) as a function of their involvement in acute bouts of physical activity. Participants were recruited from local YMCAs (mean age=33.1 years) and participated in an experience sampling protocol that lasted between 7 and 42 days. This protocol required that the women complete checklists that assessed their feeling states in response to two events: 1) they were instructed to complete the measures prior to and following bouts of vigorous physical activity that lasted a minimum of 20 minutes (see Gauvin et al., 1996); 2) the measures were completed on a stratified random sampling protocol in response to a stimulus from an electronic pager. Participants self-reported the following: 1) the date; 2) the time of day; 3) the stimulus for responding; 4) their current levels of positive engagement, revitalization, physical exhaustion, and tranquility; 5) their current activity. The 84 women provided a total of 7891 mood and activity reports in response to pager calls that were futher coded into experience samplings that occurred on a non-exercise day, prior to exercise on an exercise day, and following exercise on an exercise day. Hierarchical linear modeling analyses showed that in samplings recorded following exercise on exercise days, positive engagement, revitalization, and tranquility were elevated in comparison to predicted diurnal patterns (p<.05). We conclude that mood benefits of acute exercise extend throughout the day and that naturalistic methodologies and alternative statistical analyses are required to capture this elusive phenomenon.

A naturalistic study of the impact of acute physical activity on feeling states and affect in women.

This field study used experience sampling procedures to examine the relationship of feeling states and affect to acute bouts of physical activity in women. Participants (N = 86) completed brief affect and feeling state measures (a) in response to random stratified pager tones and (b) before and after acute bouts of vigorous physical activity for 6 weeks. Analysis of averaged difference scores revealed that acute vigorous physical activity was associated with significant improvements in affect and feeling states, particularly in feelings of revitalization. Moreover, within-subject analyses indicated that the effects were moderated by preactivity scores, with the greatest improvements seen when women felt worst before activity.

Psychometric Confounds of Assessing State Anxiety in Conjunction with Acute Bouts of Vigorous Exercise

This investigation examined the possible psychometric confounds of interpreting exercise-induced symptom reporting as changes in stete anxiety. Thirty male subjects exercised on a motor-driven treadmill for 15 min at 75% of maximum heart rate reserve. Prior to» during, and following the exercise, subjects responded to short forms of Spielberger's State Anxiety Inventory (SAI), Thayer's Aetivation-Deactivation Adjective Check List (AD-ACL), Borg's Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale» and a measure of affect. Preliminary results indicated that following 10 min of recovery from exercise» SAI scores were lower than baseline responses. Upon former analysis of individual SAI items, however, it was evident mat changes occurring in total SAI scores as a result of exercise were strongly influenced by changes in energetic arousal and general deactivation. This conclusion was supported by data from the AD-ACL as well as responses to postexperimental interviews. These findings cal into question the construct validity of the SAI and related state measures (e.g., the Profile of Mood States» or POMS) when used in conjunction with acute bouts of vigorous physical activity.