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Vigorous Physical Activity (vigorous + physical_activity)
Selected AbstractsPhysical activity for prevention of osteoporosis in patients with severe haemophilia on long-term prophylaxisHAEMOPHILIA, Issue 3 2010M. KHAWAJI Summary., Physical activity has been considered as an important factor for bone density and as a factor facilitating prevention of osteoporosis. Bone density has been reported to be reduced in haemophilia. To examine the relation between different aspects of physical activity and bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with severe haemophilia on long-term prophylaxis. The study group consisted of 38 patients with severe haemophilia (mean age 30.5 years). All patients received long-term prophylaxis to prevent bleeding. The bone density (BMD g cm,2) of the total body, lumbar spine, total hip, femoral neck and trochanter was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Physical activity was assessed using the self-report Modifiable Activity Questionnaire, an instrument which collects information about leisure and occupational activities for the prior 12 months. There was only significant correlation between duration and intensity of vigorous physical activity and bone density at lumber spine L1-L4; for duration (r = 0.429 and P = 0.020) and for intensity (r = 0.430 and P = 0.019); whereas no significant correlation between all aspects of physical activity and bone density at any other measured sites. With adequate long-term prophylaxis, adult patients with haemophilia are maintaining bone mass, whereas the level of physical activity in terms of intensity and duration play a minor role. These results may support the proposition that the responsiveness to mechanical strain is probably more important for bone mass development in children and during adolescence than in adults and underscores the importance of early onset prophylaxis. [source] Physical activity and lung cancer risk in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition CohortINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 10 2006Karen Steindorf Abstract Research conducted predominantly in male populations on physical activity and lung cancer has yielded inconsistent results. We examined this relationship among 416,277 men and women from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). Detailed information on recent recreational, household and occupational physical activity, smoking habits and diet was assessed at baseline between 1992 and 2000. Relative risks (RR) were estimated using Cox regression. During 6.3 years of follow-up we identified 607 men and 476 women with incident lung cancer. We did not observe an inverse association between recent occupational, recreational or household physical activity and lung cancer risk in either males or females. However, we found some reduction in lung cancer risk associated with sports in males (adjusted RR = 0.71; 95% confidence interval 0.50,0.98; highest tertile vs. inactive group), cycling (RR = 0.73; 0.54,0.99) in females and non-occupational vigorous physical activity. For occupational physical activity, lung cancer risk was increased for unemployed men (adjusted RR = 1.57; 1.20,2.05) and men with standing occupations (RR = 1.35; 1.02,1.79) compared with sitting professions. There was no evidence of heterogeneity of physical activity associations across countries, or across any of the considered cofactors. For some histologic subtypes suggestive sex-specific reductions, limited by subgroup sizes, were observed, especially with vigorous physical activity. In total, our study shows no consistent protective associations of physical activity with lung cancer risk. It can be assumed that the elevated risks found for occupational physical activity are not produced mechanistically by physical activity itself but rather reflect exposure to occupation-related lung cancer risk factors. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Activating Seniors to Improve Chronic Disease Care: Results from a Pilot Intervention StudyJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 8 2010Dominick L. Frosch PhD OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of an activation intervention delivered in community senior centers to improve health outcomes for chronic diseases that disproportionately affect older adults. DESIGN: Two-group quasi-experimental study. SETTING: Two Los Angeles community senior centers. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred sixteen senior participants. INTERVENTION: Participants were invited to attend group screenings of video programs intended to inform about and motivate self-management of chronic conditions common in seniors. Moderated discussions reinforcing active patient participation in chronic disease management followed screenings. Screenings were scheduled over the course of 12 weeks. MEASUREMENTS: One center was assigned by coin toss to an encouragement condition in which participants received a $50 gift card if they attended at least three group screenings. Participants in the nonencouraged center received no incentive for attendance. Validated study measures for patient activation, physical activity, and health-related quality of life were completed at baseline and 12 weeks and 6 months after enrollment. RESULTS: Participants attending the encouraged senior center were more likely to attend three or more group screenings (77.8% vs 47.2%, P=.001). At 6-month follow-up, participants from either center who attended three or more group screenings (n=74, 64%) reported significantly greater activation (P<.001), more minutes walking (P<.001) and engaging in vigorous physical activity (P=.006), and better health-related quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study 12-item Short-Form Survey (SF-12) mental component summary, P<.001; SF-12 physical component summary, P=.002). CONCLUSION: Delivering this pilot intervention in community senior centers is a potentially promising approach to activating seniors that warrants further investigation for improving chronic disease outcomes. [source] Habitual Levels of Physical Activity Influence Bone Mass in 11-Year-Old Children From the United Kingdom: Findings From a Large Population-Based Cohort,JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 1 2007Jon H Tobias MD Abstract We examined the influence of habitual levels of physical activity on bone mass in childhood by studying the relationship between accelerometer recordings and DXA parameters in 4457 11-year-old children. Physical activity was positively related to both BMD and bone size in fully adjusted models. However, further exploration revealed that this effect on bone size was modified by fat mass. Introduction: Exercise interventions have been reported to increase bone mass in children, but it is unclear whether levels of habitual physical activity also influence skeletal development. Materials and Methods: We used multivariable linear regression to analyze associations between amount of moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA), derived from accelerometer recordings for a minimum of 3 days, and parameters obtained from total body DXA scans in 4457 11-year-old boys and girls from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. The influence of different activity intensities was also studied by stratification based on lower and higher accelerometer cut-points for moderate (3600 counts/minute) and vigorous (6200 counts/minute) activity, respectively. Results: MVPA was positively associated with lower limb BMD and BMC adjusted for bone area (aBMC; p < 0.001, adjusted for age, sex, socio-economic factors, and height, with or without additional adjustment for lean and fat mass). MVPA was inversely related to lower limb bone area after adjusting for height and lean mass (p = 0.01), whereas a positive association was observed when fat mass was also adjusted for (p < 0.001). Lower limb BMC was positively related to MVPA after adjusting for height and lean and fat mass (p < 0.001), whereas little relationship was observed after adjusting for height and lean mass alone (p = 0.1). On multivariable regression analysis using the fully adjusted model, moderate activity exerted a stronger influence on lower limb BMC compared with light activity (light activity: 2.9 [1.2,4.7, p = 0.001]; moderate activity: 13.1 [10.6,15.5, p < 0.001]; regression coefficients with 95% confidence intervals and p values). Conclusions: Habitual levels of physical activity in 11-year-old children are related to bone size and BMD, with moderate activity exerting the strongest influence. The effect on bone size (as reflected by DXA-based measures of bone area) was modified by adjustment for fat mass, such that decreased fat mass, which is associated with higher levels of physical activity, acts to reduce bone size and thereby counteract the tendency for physical activity to increase bone mass. [source] School Disconnectedness: Identifying Adolescents at Risk in Ontario, CanadaJOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, Issue 7 2009Guy E. J. Faulkner PhD ABSTRACT Background:, There is strong theoretical and empirical support for school connectedness as an important element of healthy youth development. The primary objective of this study was to replicate previous research identifying factors differentiating youth who do not feel connected to their schools in a sample of adolescents in Ontario, Canada. A secondary objective was to extend this work by assessing whether physical activity was an additional health behavior that differentiated youth who feel connected to their schools from those who do not. Methods:, Data for this study were based on questionnaires from 2243 grade 7 to grade 12 students derived from the 2001 cycle of the Ontario Student Drug Use Survey. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations between physical activity, other health risk factors, and school disconnectedness. Results:, The odds of feeling disconnected from their schools were substantially greater for female students who perceived their health or academic performance to be poor, engaged in no vigorous physical activity, reported 3 or more physician visits during the past year, and had low extracurricular involvement. None of the sociodemographic factors or substance use measures was significantly associated with school disconnectedness for any students. Conclusions:, Our results highlight sex differences in how school disconnectedness is related to health-compromising behaviors such as physical inactivity. Further research is required to examine how boys and girls perceive, interpret, and internalize the school climate. Increasing school connectedness should be a consideration for academic administrators and health-promotion advocates. [source] Physical Activity and Healthy Eating in the After-School EnvironmentJOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, Issue 12 2008Karen J. Coleman PhD ABSTRACT BACKGROUND:, No research to date has extensively described moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and healthful eating (HE) opportunities in the after-school environment. The current study described the quality of the after-school environment for its impact on children's MVPA and HE. METHODS:, An alliance of 7 elementary schools and Boys and Girls Clubs who worked with the Cooperative Extension Service in Lawrence, KS, was selected to participate in a larger intervention study. After-school settings were observed for information regarding session type, session context, leader behavior, physical activity, and snack quality using validated instruments such as the System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time. Data presented are baseline measures for all sites. RESULTS:, Participating children (n = 144) were primarily non-Hispanic white (60%) and in fourth grade (69%). After-school sites offered 4 different sessions per day (active recreation, academic time, nonactive recreation, and enrichment activities). Children were provided with a daily snack. On 36% of the days observed, this snack included fruit, fruit juice, or vegetables. There was significantly more time spent in MVPA during free play sessions (69%) compared to organized adult-led sessions (51%). There was also significantly more discouragement of physical activity during organized adult-led sessions (29%) as compared to the free play sessions (6%). CONCLUSIONS:, The quality of after-school programs can be improved by providing fruits and vegetables as snacks; offering more free play activities; training the after-school staff in simple, structured games for use in a variety of indoor and outdoor settings; and training after-school staff to promote and model MVPA and HE in and out of the after-school setting. [source] Promoting Physical Activity in GirlsJOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, Issue 2 2005A Case Study of One School's Success ABSTRACT: This case study profiles one of 24 high schools that participated in a school-based, NIH-funded study to increase physical activity among high school girls. The case study school was one of 12 randomly assigned to the intervention group. The study intervention was based on the premise that a successful intervention is developed and tailored by teachers and staff to fit the context of their school. Intervention guidelines (Essential Elements) and the Coordinated School Health Program (CSHP) model were used to direct intervention activities for physical education, health education, school environment, school health services, faculty/staff health promotion, and family/community involvement. All girls at the case study school received the intervention. A team of school employees provided leadership to develop and implement the intervention in collaboration with a university project staff. Data collected over a two-year period were used to describe changes that occurred in each CSHP area. Key changes were made in the school environment, curricula, policies, and practices. Qualitative measures showed girls more involved in physical activity. Quantitative measures taken in eighth grade, and repeated with the same set of girls in ninth grade, showed increases in both moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (p = < .01) and vigorous physical activity (p = .04). Other schools can use this case to modify components of the CSHP model to increase physical activity among high school girls. [source] Improving health through youth sports: Is participation enough?NEW DIRECTIONS FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, Issue 115 2007Michael F. Bergeron The health benefits of engaging in regular physical activity are widely known: enhanced cardiorespiratory fitness, increased muscular strength and endurance, and favorable cholesterol and other profiles. Nevertheless, particularly in youth sports programs run by volunteer, and perhaps inadequately trained, coaches, many youth may not realize the health benefits of sports participation due to a number of factors, among them, inappropriate coach-child ratios, limited space, or mismatched expectations between coaches and those of children and their parents. There are specific strategies that can be implemented to ensure that youth receive the maximize benefits from participation in sports. These strategies are presented in the following areas: frequency, intensity, and duration; cross-training or complementary exercise; access points; utilization of space and time; nutrition; and rest. For instance, with regard to the frequency of physical activity, some sports, including soccer, basketball, and singles tennis, require extensive physical effort over an extended period of time, while others, such as baseball and football, have a lot of downtime. Thus, in order for children and youth to meet the recommendation of participating in moderate or vigorous physical activity at least four times per week, sports programs need to have opportunities for all athletes to practice hard. Finally, the author discusses the point at which participation in sports might be too much, leading to significant injuries, frustration, and resentment. [source] Physical activity, sport, and pediatric diabetesPEDIATRIC DIABETES, Issue 1 2006MC Riddell Abstract:, The benefits derived from regular physical activity include improved cardiovascular fitness, increased lean mass, improved blood lipid profile, enhanced psychosocial well-being, and decreased body adiposity. The benefits for children with diabetes may also include blood glucose control and enhanced insulin sensitivity. However, for these children, engagement in vigorous physical activity and sport must be properly controlled through modifications in insulin therapy and nutritional intake so that the benefits of exercise outweigh the risks. The following review describes the various physiological and metabolic factors which occur both during exercise and during sport while describing specific recommendations to control glucose excursions by proper insulin management and diet. [source] Moderate,vigorous physical activity and body fatness in Chinese urban school childrenPEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2007LIUBAI LI Abstract Background: The exact relation between moderate,vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and body fatness in children has yet to be fully defined. This study examined the relationship between MVPA and body fatness in Chinese urban school children aged 9,11 years, in an 8 month longitudinal study. Methods: Two hundred and ten children (aged 9,11 years; 97 boys and 113 girls) were recruited from two public primary schools in the Beijing urban area. The baseline and the 8 month follow-up percent body fat (fat%), fat mass (FM), body mass index (BMI), waist size, hip size and the waist : hip ratio were investigated as measures of body fatness. Habitual MVPA level (activity-related energy expenditure, AEE) was measured using a validated self-report questionnaire recall. Results: Nine-year-old girls who were in the top quartile for MVPA had significantly lower fat% than other girls at the same age (P < 0.05); 10,11-years girls who were in the top quartile for MVPA had significantly less increase in all of the indices of body fatness (P < 0.05). There was no difference in fat% between the highly physically active (top quartile for MVPA) and less active 9,11 year boys in both cross-sectional and longitudinal statistical analyses. Conclusions: Highly physically active girls had lower fat% and less increase in body fatness. In light of world trends showing increasing childhood obesity, this study supports the hypothesis that MVPA might be effective in fighting excess body fat gain in Chinese school-age girls. [source] Anthropometric variables, physical activity, and incidence of ovarian cancerCANCER, Issue 7 2004The Iowa Women's Health Study Abstract BACKGROUND Reports on the relation between anthropometric variables (height, weight) and physical activity with ovarian cancer have been inconclusive. The objective of the current study was to extend investigation of potential associations in the Iowa Women's Health Study cohort. METHODS The relation between self-reported anthropometric variables and incident ovarian cancer was studied in a prospective cohort of women ages 55,69 years who were followed for 15 years. Two hundred twenty-three incident cases of epithelial ovarian cancer were identified by linkage to a cancer registry. RESULTS No association was found overall between ovarian cancer and height, but a positive association was observed for serous ovarian cancers (relative risk [RR], 1.86 for highest quartile vs. lowest quartile; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.06,3.29). Although current body mass index (BMI) was not associated with ovarian cancer, a BMI , 30 kg/m2 at age 18 years appeared to be associated positively with ovarian cancer (multivariate-adjusted RR, 1.83 for BMI , 30 kg/m2 vs. BMI < 25 kg/m2; 95% CI, 0.90,3.72), and this association was stronger after exclusion of the first 2 years of follow-up (RR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.05,4.40). In a multivariate analysis, waist-to-hip ratio was associated with ovarian cancer (RR, 1.59 for highest quartile vs. lowest quartile; 95% CI, 1.05,2.40), but a linear dose response was not found. An index that combined the frequency and intensity of leisure-time physical activity was associated positively with ovarian cancer incidence (multivariate-adjusted RR, 1.42 for high activity vs. low activity; 95% CI, 1.03,1.97). This association was particularly strong for frequency of vigorous physical activity (multivariate-adjusted RR, 2.38 for > 4 times per week vs. rarely/never; 95% CI, 1.29,4.38). CONCLUSIONS Anthropometric variables were not major risk factors for ovarian cancer in the cohort studied; however, high BMI in early adulthood and frequent and vigorous physical activity may increase the risk of ovarian cancer among postmenopausal women. Cancer 2004;100:1515,21. © 2004 American Cancer Society. [source] Physical activity, sports participation and aerobic fitness in children who have undergone surgery for congenital heart defectsACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 9 2009D Arvidsson Abstract Aim:, To investigate physical activity, sports participation and aerobic fitness in children who have undergone surgery for congenital heart defects. Subjects and methods:, Children who had undergone surgery for congenital heart defects and healthy controls in the Gothenburg area were invited to participate in the study. All participants were aged 9,11 or 14,16 years. The activity monitor ActiReg was used to assess physical activity. Participants were interviewed about their participation in sports and performed a maximal exercise test on a bicycle with measured oxygen uptake. Results:, A total of 32 and 25 patients, and 61 and 45 controls, in the two age-groups were included, respectively. The patients had a wide range of severity of congenital heart defects. The physical activity level was similar in the patients and the controls. The rate of sports participation was high for both patients and controls; 80,94% of all participants took part in sports at least once a week. The majority of the patients were considered to have at least a moderate level of aerobic fitness. Conclusions:, Although children who have undergone surgery for congenital heart defects have a similar level of physical activity compared with that of healthy children, some of them may require support to participate in exercise and vigorous physical activity. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||