Physical Activity

Detection and Analysis of Transitional Activity in Manifold Space.

by Louis Atallah

Energy Expenditure Prediction Using a Miniaturized Ear-Worn Sensor

by Louis Atallah

Perceived Built environment and Physical Activity in U.S. Women by Sprawl and Region

by Heather A. Starnes (Whitcomb)

Trails and Physical Activity: a Review

by Heather A. Starnes (Whitcomb)

Physical activity and physical function in older adults: The 45 and Up Study

by Ric Rosenkranz

Yorston, L.C, Kolt, G.S., & Rosenkranz, R.R. (2012). Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 60:719-725.

Objectives
To determine the strength of the relationship between physical activity and physical function in older... more Objectives
To determine the strength of the relationship between physical activity and physical function in older adults.

Design
Cross-sectional.

Setting
The 45 and Up Study baseline questionnaire, New South Wales, Australia.

Participants
Ninety-one thousand three hundred seventy-five Australian men and women aged 65 and older from the 45 and Up Study.

Measurements
Physical activity engagement (Active Australia Survey), physical function (Medical Outcomes Study Physical Functioning), psychological distress (Kessler-10), and self-reported age, smoking history, education, height, and weight were all measured.

Results
Higher levels of physical activity were associated with better physical function in older adults (correlation coefficient = 0.166, P < .001). Participants engaging in higher levels of physical activity had progressively lower likelihoods of functional limitation (middle tertile: odds ratio (OR) = 0.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.38–0.41; highest tertile: OR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.27–0.29). This relationship remained significant, but weakened slightly, when adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, smoking history, psychological distress, and educational attainment (middle tertile: adjusted OR (AOR) = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.46–0.50; highest tertile: AOR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.34–0.37).

Conclusion
There is a significant, positive relationship between physical activity and physical function in older adults, with older adults who are more physically active being less likely to experience functional limitation than their more-sedentary counterparts. Level of engagement in physical activity is an important predictor of physical function in older adults.

Filingeri, D., Proia, P., Bianco, A., Schiera, G., Saladino, P., Pomara, F., Petrucci, M., Traina, M., Palma, A. (2011). Monitoring biomarkers during preseason preparation period in professional soccer players. Italian Journal Of Anatomy and Embryology. 116(2), 73.

by Davide Filingeri

Filingeri, D., Bianco, A., Jemni, M., Mammina, C., Paoli, A., Palma, A., Tabacchi, G., (2011) A web-based surveillance system for nutritional and physical activity in adolescence - The ASSO Project. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. 51 (Suppl.1 to No. 3): 57.

by Davide Filingeri

Network social capital, social participation, and physical inactivity in an urban adult population

by Spencer Moore

Hannah Legh-Jones, MSc
Spencer Moore, PhD
Social Science & Medicine, 2012, 74: 1362-1367

Research on individual social capital and physical activity has tended to focus on the association among physical... more Research on individual social capital and physical activity has tended to focus on the association among physical activity, generalized trust, and social participation. Less is known about the association between network social capital, i.e., the resources accessed through one's social connections, and physical inactivity. Using formal network measures of social capital, this study examined which specific dimension of network capital (i.e. diversity, reach and range) was associated with physical inactivity, and whether network social capital mediated the association between physical inactivity and social participation. Data came from the 2008 Montreal Neighbourhood Networks and Healthy Aging survey, in which 2707 adults 25 years and older in 300 Montreal neighbourhoods were surveyed. Physical activity was self-reported using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). IPAQ guidelines provided the basis for the physical inactivity cutoff. Network social capital was measured with a position generator instrument. Multilevel logistic methods were used to examine the association between physical inactivity and individual social capital dimensions, while adjusting for socio-demographic and –economic factors. Higher network diversity was associated with a decreased likelihood of physical inactivity. Consistent with previous findings, individuals who did not participate in any formal associations were more likely to be physically inactive compared to those with high levels of participation. Network diversity mediated the association between physical inactivity and participation. Generalized trust and the network components of reach and range were not shown associated with physical inactivity. Findings raise attention to the importance of social participation and network social capital and the added value of network measures in the study of social capital and physical inactivity. Population-based programs targeting physical inactivity among adults might consider ecological-level interventions that leverage associational involvement and interpersonal relationships to improve population-level physical activity.

Physical Activity and Functional Limitations in Older Adults: The Influence of Self-Efficacy and Functional Performance

by Sean Mullen

Fundamental movement skills and physical activity among children with and without cerebral palsy

by Catherine M. Capio

co-authored with C.H.P. Sit, B. Abernethy, R.S.W. Masters

Fundamental movement skills (FMS) proficiency is believed to influence children's physical activity (PA), with those... more Fundamental movement skills (FMS) proficiency is believed to influence children's physical activity (PA), with those more proficient tending to be more active. Children with cerebral palsy (CP), who represent the largest diagnostic group treated in pediatric rehabilitation, have been found to be less active than typically developing children. This study examined the association of FMS proficiency with PA in a group of children with CP, and compared the data with a group of typically developing children. Five FMS (run, jump, kick, throw, catch) were tested using process- and product-oriented measures, and accelerometers were used to monitor PA over a 7-day period. The results showed that children with CP spent less time in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), but more time in sedentary behavior than typically developing children. FMS proficiency was negatively associated with sedentary time and positively associated with time spent in MVPA in both groups of children. Process-oriented FMS measures (movement patterns) were found to have a stronger influence on PA in children with CP than in typically developing children. The findings provide evidence that FMS proficiency facilitates activity accrual among children with CP, suggesting that rehabilitation and physical education programs that support FMS development may contribute to PA-related health benefits.

The Accuracy of Pedometers in Lower-Limb Amputees

by Gary Guerra

Pedometer Accuracy in Lower Limb Amputees: A Pilot Study

by Gary Guerra

Physical activity and adolescents: An exploratory randomized controlled trial investigating the influence of affective and instrumental text messages

by Reema Sirriyeh

UbiBall: a ubiquitous computing game for children

by Angela Blachnitzky

by Douglas Easterly and Angela Blachnitzky. Published in MindTrek '09 Proceedings of the 13th International MindTrek Conference: Everyday Life in the Ubiquitous Era, ACM New York, NY, USA ©2009, ISBN: 978-1-60558-633-5 

UbiBall is a ubiquitous computer game developed by researchers from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.... more UbiBall is a ubiquitous computer game developed by researchers from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Our aim was to create a computer game that countered many of the sedentary trends found in traditional computer games. UbiBall features a ubiquitous computing ball outfitted with a microcontroller. The microcontroller emits sound and light in accordance with the various ways it is interacted with. It also data-logs the play activity to a CSV (Certified Server Validation) file, which then acts as a bridge between two modes of game play, one that is physical and active, and another that is a screen-based game. Ultimately, the game provides a unique form of computer game play due to the fact that better performance in the screen game is dependent on better performance in the physical aspect of the game.

Designing and evaluating UbiBall: a ubiquitous computing game for children

by Angela Blachnitzky

by Douglas Easterly and Angela Blachnitzky. Published in International Journal of Arts and Technology (IJART), Vol. 4, No. 3, 2011

This paper provides an overview of a recent project called UbiBall – a ubiquitous exergame game developed by... more This paper provides an overview of a recent project called UbiBall – a ubiquitous exergame game developed by researchers at the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. We survey the emerging field of exergaming, cover the design goals and processes and summarise the results obtained from our initial user testing. UbiBall features a ubiquitous computing ball outfitted with a microcontroller. The microcontroller emits sound and light in accordance with the various ways it is interacted with. It also data logs the play activity to a file, which then acts as a bridge between two modes of gameplay, one that is physical and active, and another that is a screen-based game. Ultimately, the game provided a fun and particularly active example of mobile exergaming for the children participants who tested the system.

Active Living in the Trucking Sector - Environmental Barriers and Health Promotion Strategies

by Mona Shattell

Apostolopoulos, Y., Shattell, M., Sönmez, S., Strack, R., Haldeman, L., & Jones, V. (2012, February). Active living in the trucking sector: Environmental barriers and health promotion strategies. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 9(2), 259-269.

Background: As one of the most underserved segments of the U.S. labor force, truck drivers have been associated with a... more Background: As one of the most underserved segments of the U.S. labor force, truck drivers have been associated with a series of morbid conditions intimately linked to their occupational milieux, their mostly unhealthful nutritional intake and sedentary lifestyles, and their resulting excess weight-gain. Methods: This paper reports data from a baseline assessment of 25 trucking work settings located around interstate highways I-40 and I-85 in North Carolina. It examines how the environmental attributes of these work settings influence the physical and recreational activity behaviors of truckers, compares findings with those from other occupational environments, and brings to the fore a new health promotion paradigm for trucking worksites. Results: Findings support growing empirical and anecdotal evidence that trucking work settings remain not only active-living deserts, but overall unhealthful places. A scan of physical, social, and information environments within trucking worksites as well as physical environments of surrounding communities reveal only meager opportunities for physical and recreational activity for truckers. Conclusion: This paper places the highly underserved population of truckers firmly within the discourse of worksite health promotion, and calls for comprehensive multistakeholder wellness strategies that address a multitude of risk factors linked to the occupational context.

Physical Activity and Black and Minority Ethnic Groups: a Qualitative Study of South Asian People Living In Scotland

by Fiona Harris

The Effectiveness of Interventions to Change Six Health Behaviours: a Review of Reviews

by Fiona Harris

Obesity, diabetes, and exercise associated with sleep-related complaints in the American population

by Michael Grandner

Aim Previous studies have demonstrated relationships between sleep and both obesity and diabetes. Additionally,... more Aim Previous studies have demonstrated relationships between sleep and both obesity and diabetes. Additionally, exercise may improve sleep and daytime function, in addition to weight and metabolic function. The present study extends these findings by examining how general sleep-related complaints are associated with body mass index (BMI), diabetes diagnosis, and exercise in a large, nationally representative sample. Subject and methods Participants were respondents to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Sleep complaint (SC) was measured with “Over the last 2 weeks, how many days have you had trouble falling asleep or staying asleep or sleeping too much?” Daytime complaint (DC) was measured with “Over the last 2 weeks, how many days have you felt tired or had little energy?” Responses were dichotomized, with ≥6 days indicating complaint. Covariates included age, race/ethnicity, income, and education. Results Being overweight was associated with DC in women only. Obesity was significantly associated with SC and DC in women, and DC in men. Diabetes was associated with SC and DC in both genders. Any exercise in the past 30 days did not attenuate any BMI or diabetes relationships, but was independently associated with a decrease in SC and DC in both men and women. Conclusion These results suggest that for both men and women diabetes is a significant predictor of sleep and daytime complaints, and there is a relationship between obesity and sleep and complaints for women to a greater extent than men. Finally, exercise was associated with much fewer sleep and daytime complaints in both genders.

Importance of characteristics and modalities of physical activity and exercise in the management of cardiovascular health in individuals with cardiovascular disease (Part III)

by Frank Doyle

Vanhees et al, European Journal of Preventive Cardiology (formerly European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation)

Recommendations from the European Association of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation

The beneficial effect of exercise training and exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation on symptom-free exercise... more The beneficial effect of exercise training and exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation on symptom-free exercise capacity, cardiovascular and skeletal muscle function, quality of life, general healthy lifestyle, and reduction of depressive symptoms and psychosocial stress is nowadays well recognized. However, it remains largely obscure, which characteristics of physical activity (PA) and exercise training − frequency, intensity, time (duration), type (mode), and volume (dose: intensity × duration) of exercise – are the most effective. The present paper, therefore, will deal with these exercise characteristics in the management of individuals with cardiovascular disease, i.e. coronary artery disease and chronic heart failure patients, but also in patients with congenital or valvular heart disease. Based on the current literature, and if sufficient evidence is available, recommendations from the European Association on Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation are formulated regarding frequency, intensity, time and type of PA, and safety aspects during exercise in patients with cardiovascular disease. This paper is the third in a series of three papers, all devoted to the same theme: the importance of the exercise characteristics in the management of cardiovascular health. Part I is directed to the general population and Part II to individuals with cardiovascular risk factors. In general, PA recommendations and exercise training programmes for patients with coronary artery disease or chronic heart failure need to be tailored to the individual’s exercise capacity and risk profile, with the aim to reach and maintain the individually highest fitness level possible and to perform endurance exercise training 30–60 min daily (3–5 days per week) in combination with resistance training 2–3 times a week. Because of the frequently reported dose–response relationship between training effect and exercise intensity, one should seek sufficiently high training intensities, although more scientific evidence on effect sizes and safety is warranted. At present, there is insufficient data to give more specific recommendations on type, dosage, and intensity of exercise in some other cardiovascular diseases, such as congenital heart disease, valve disease, cardiomyopathies, channelopathies, and patients with implanted devices.