Promoting health-enhancing physical activity in Europe: Current state of surveillance, policy development and implementation

Background and Purpose Despite recognized health benefits of physical activity, little is known about the habitual physical activity behavior of patients after total hip arthroplasty (THA). The purpose of this study was to analyze this behavior and the fulfillment of guidelines for health-enhancing physical activity of these patients compared with a normative population. Subjects and Methods The participants were 273 patients who had undergone a primary THA (minimum of 1 year postoperatively). Comparisons were made between this group and 273 age- and sex-matched individuals from a normative population. Comparisons also were made between participants with THA under 65 years of age and those 65 years of age and older and among participants with THA in different Charnley classes. Level of physical activity was assessed with the Short QUestionnaire to ASsess Health-enhancing physical activity (SQUASH). Results No significant differences in total amount of physical activity or time spent in different categories of physical activity were found between the THA group and the normative group. Participants with THA spent significantly more minutes in activities of moderate intensity compared with the normative group. Participants with THA who were under 65 years of age were significantly more active than older participants with THA. Charnley class had significant effects on time spent at work, time spent in moderate-intensity activities, and total amount of activity, with the least activity performed by participants in Charnley class C. The guidelines were met by 51.2% of the participants with THA and 48.8% of the normative population. Female participants met the guidelines less frequently than male participants in both the combined groups (odds ratio=0.50, 95% confidence interval=0.35–0.72, P<.001) and the THA group (odds ratio=0.48, 95% confidence interval=0.28–0.80, P=.001). Discussion and Conclusion The results suggest that patients after THA are at least as physically active as a normative population. Nevertheless, a large percentage of these patients do not meet the guidelines; therefore, they need to be stimulated to become more physically active.

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Health-enhancing physical activity and sedentary behaviour in children and adolescents

Journal of Sports Sciences ◽

10.1080/02640410410001712412 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 22 (8) ◽

pp. 679-701 ◽

Cited By ~ 411

Author(s):

Stuart JH Biddle ◽

Trish Gorely ◽

David J Stensel

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Sedentary Behaviour ◽

Health Enhancing Physical Activity

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Can Physical Activity Support the Endocannabinoid System in the Preventive and Therapeutic Approach to Neurological Disorders?

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms21124221 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (12) ◽

pp. 4221

Author(s):

Tomasz Charytoniuk ◽

Hubert Zywno ◽

Karolina Konstantynowicz-Nowicka ◽

Klaudia Berk ◽

Wiktor Bzdega ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽

Therapeutic Approach ◽

Cannabinoid Receptor ◽

Synthetic Cannabinoids ◽

Endocannabinoid System ◽

Antidepressant Effect ◽

Brain Physiology ◽

Current State ◽

Neurological Effects

The worldwide prevalence of neurological and neurodegenerative disorders, such as depression or Alzheimer’s disease, has spread extensively throughout the last decades, becoming an enormous health issue. Numerous data indicate a distinct correlation between the altered endocannabinoid signaling and different aspects of brain physiology, such as memory or neurogenesis. Moreover, the endocannabinoid system is widely regarded as a crucial factor in the development of neuropathologies. Thus, targeting those disorders via synthetic cannabinoids, as well as phytocannabinoids, becomes a widespread research issue. Over the last decade, the endocannabinoid system has been extensively studied for its correlation with physical activity. Recent data showed that physical activity correlates with elevated endocannabinoid serum concentrations and increased cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) expression in the brain, which results in positive neurological effects including antidepressant effect, ameliorated memory, neuroplasticity development, and reduced neuroinflammation. However, none of the prior reviews presented a comprehensive correlation between physical activity, the endocannabinoid system, and neuropathologies. Thus, our review provides a current state of knowledge of the endocannabinoid system, its action in physical activity, as well as neuropathologies and a possible correlation between all those fields. We believe that this might contribute to finding a new preventive and therapeutic approach to both neurological and neurodegenerative disorders.

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Oxidants and antioxidants in exercise

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/jappl.1995.79.3.675 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 79 (3) ◽

pp. 675-686 ◽

Cited By ~ 372

Author(s):

C. K. Sen

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Exercise Training ◽

Animal Studies ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Antioxidant Defenses ◽

Current State ◽

Strenuous Physical Exercise ◽

Long Duration ◽

Exercise Induced

There is consistent evidence from human and animal studies that strenuous physical exercise may induce a state wherein the antioxidant defenses of several tissues are overwhelmed by excess reactive oxygen. A wide variety of physiological and dietary antioxidants act in concert to evade such a stress. Submaximal long-duration exercise training may augment the physiological antioxidant defenses in several tissues; however, this enhanced protection may not be sufficient to completely protect highly fit individuals from exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress. Regular physical activity in association with dietary habits that ensure adequate supply of a combination of appropriate antioxidants may be expected to yield desirable results. The significance of this area of research, current state of information, and possibilities of further investigation are briefly reviewed.

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Danske og Internationale tendenser: Idræt og Sundhed

Forum for Idræt ◽

10.7146/ffi.v31i0.109044 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 31 ◽

pp. 99-110

Author(s):

Thomas Skovgaard

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Physical Inactivity ◽

Built Environments ◽

Environmental Determinants ◽

Major Health Problem ◽

Major Health ◽

Strong Focus ◽

Environmental Determinants Of Health ◽

The Social ◽

Health Enhancing Physical Activity

In the last decades there has been increasing recognition that physical inactivity represents a major health problem. Attention has been directed towards making the population more physical active in everyday life. Strategies have focused on individual, social and environmental determinants of health enhancing physical activity. This article argues that policies on physical activity, on top of addressing individual lifestyle factors, must include a strong focus on and plans for intervention in the social and built environments that influence the ability and interest in being physical active.

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Influence of sports-type physical activity on the formation of predictors of stress and its consequences in adolescents of school age

Hygiene and Sanitation ◽

10.47470/0016-9900-2021-100-6-623-628 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 100 (6) ◽

pp. 623-628

Author(s):

Ekaterina V. Bulycheva ◽

Ilya A. Setko

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Stress Resistance ◽

Cognitive Activity ◽

Educational Activity ◽

Mental Condition ◽

School Age ◽

Emotional Experiences ◽

Sports Activity ◽

Current State ◽

Resistance To Stress

Introduction. Physical activity in a sports mode can have a positive effect not only on physical health but also on mental condition. In this regard, sports motor activity can be considered a factor in increasing resistance to stress and protection from stressors in adolescents of school age. Materials and methods. 200 students aged 15-17 yrs, formed into two groups, a comparative assessment of the mental factors of the current state was carried out, which is determined by the action of stressors, including the level of anxiety, negative emotional experiences, cognitive activity, stress and stress resistance. The carried out correlation and factor analysis established the relationship between the studied mental factors of the mental state. Results. A significant decrease in the level of anxiety and negative emotional experiences in educational activity among athletes was determined in comparison with the data of adolescents who were not athletes, while in everyday activities these indicators practically did not differ among adolescents from the studied groups. The effective potential of adaptation to stressful situations in adolescents was evidenced by the data obtained on a decrease in the stress level by 1.4 times and an increase in the level of stress resistance by 1.5 times relative to these adolescents who are not athletes. Correlation analysis indicates the level of resistance to stress and stress to be associated with the level of anxiety and negative emotional experiences. At the same time, it was determined that athletes during the formation of stress, anxiety and negative emotional experiences were chosen to account for only 18% of the variance (F = 12.68, p≤0.0001), while in non-athletes - 44% (F = 42.59, p≤0.0001). Conclusion. Organized sports activity of adolescents plays an essential role in improving and maintaining mental factors of the current state, such as anxiety, negative emotional experiences, stress and stress resistance.

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A systematic overview of institutions and bodies active in physical activity promotion in Europe

Swiss Sports & Exercise Medicine ◽

10.34045/ssem/2014/8 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 62 (2) ◽

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Critical Mass ◽

Physical Activity Promotion ◽

Added Value ◽

Systematic Overview ◽

Use Of Resources ◽

Activity Promotion ◽

Grass Root ◽

Expert Input ◽

Health Enhancing Physical Activity

Objectives: Growing interest in physical activity has led to the development of a number of organizations, networks and associations, including grass-root, professional and academic institutions. To maximize relevance and effectiveness of work undertaken in this field, we aimed at developing a systematic overview of institutions active in health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA). Methods: Systematic, purposive weblink-search complemented by expert input; classification by institutional type, main activity and synergy with goals of HEPA Europe, the European network for the promotion of HEPA. Results: Of 127 identified institutions, 42 met the criteria of being European and active in physical activity promotion. 45.3% were NGO/associations, 33.3% were networks, 11.9% WHO units or platforms and 9.5% bodies of the European Commission. Sport was the main topic of 28.6% institutions. Health promotion was represented with 21.4%, physical activity promotion and transport/environment with 19.0% each, disease prevention with 7.2% and nutrition with 4.8%. Seven institutions had a high synergy to HEPA Europe’s goals. Conclusions: The search identified many institutions, networks and initiatives, which 1. reflects the growing interest in and importance of physical activity for a number of stakeholders, 2. provides increased capacity to address this important topic on a European scale and 3. creates a “critical mass” to push the agenda forward into clearer and synergetic directions. Systematically mapping key players is a useful tool for institutions active in an environment with a multitude of actors to ensure that activities provide added value, to avoid duplication and to promote partnership and efficient use of resources.

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