scholarly journals The Relationship Between Firefighters’ Physical Activity Levels and Cardiorespiratory Fitness

2018 ◽  
Vol 50 (5S) ◽  
pp. 499-500
Author(s):  
Allison M. Barry ◽  
Nathan D. Dicks ◽  
Kassiann D. Landin ◽  
Tanis J. Walch ◽  
Kyle J. Hackney ◽  
...  
Author(s):  
Tom Martinsson Ngouali ◽  
Mats Börjesson ◽  
Åsa Cider ◽  
Stefan Lundqvist

Swedish physical activity on prescription (PAP) is an evidence-based method to promote physical activity. However, few studies have investigated the effect of Swedish PAP on physical fitness, in which better cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with lower risks of all-cause mortality and diagnose-specific mortality. Direct measures of cardiorespiratory fitness, usually expressed as maximal oxygen uptake, are difficult to obtain. Hence, exercise capacity can be assessed from a submaximal cycle ergometer test, taking the linear relationship between heart rate, work rate, and oxygen uptake into account. The aim of this study was to evaluate exercise capacity in the long term, following PAP treatment with enhanced physiotherapist support in a nonresponding patient cohort. In total, 98 patients (48 women) with insufficient physical activity levels, with at least one component of the metabolic syndrome and nonresponding to a previous six-month PAP treatment, were randomized to PAP treatment with enhanced support from a physiotherapist and additional exercise capacity tests during a two-year period. A significant increase in exercise capacity was observed for the whole cohort at two-year follow-up (7.6 W, p ≤ 0.001), with a medium effect size (r = 0.34). Females (7.3 W, p = 0.025), males (8.0 W, p = 0.018) and patients ≥58 years old (7.7 W, p = 0.002) improved significantly, whereas a nonsignificant increase was observed for patients <58 years old (7.6 W, p = 0.085). Patients with insufficient physical activity levels who did not respond to a previous six-month PAP treatment can improve their exercise capacity following PAP treatment with enhanced support from a physiotherapist during a two-year period. Future studies should include larger cohorts with a control group to ensure valid estimations of exercise capacity and PAP.


Retos ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 8-15
Author(s):  
Santiago Guijarro-Romero ◽  
Daniel Mayorga-Vega ◽  
Carolina Casado-Robles ◽  
Jesús Viciana

El objetivo del presente estudio fue comparar el efecto de una unidad didáctica intermitente de acondicionamiento físico en Educación Física sobre los niveles de actividad física y capacidad cardiorrespiratoria entre estudiantes con un perfil saludable/no saludable de capacidad cardiorrespiratoria. Ochenta estudiantes de 2º-3º curso de Educación Secundaria fueron asignados aleatoriamente al grupo control y grupo experimental. El grupo experimental, dividido en perfiles saludable/no saludable, realizó una unidad didáctica intermitente de acondicionamiento físico para mejorar la capacidad cardiorrespiratoria. El grupo control trabajó un contenido diferente durante el mismo tiempo y con la misma frecuencia, pero sin hacer hincapié en la mejora de la capacidad cardiorrespiratoria. Antes y después de la intervención, la capacidad cardiorrespiratoria se evaluó objetivamente mediante el test de ida y vuelta de 20 metros. Los niveles de actividad física fueron medidos objetivamente a través de un pulsómetro durante las clases de Educación Física. Ambos perfiles tuvieron mayores niveles de actividad física durante las clases de Educación Física que el grupo control (p < .001). Sin embargo, solo los estudiantes con un perfil no saludable mejoraron significativamente sus niveles de capacidad cardiorrespiratoria tras la unidad didáctica (p < .01). Aunque una unidad didáctica intermitente de acondicionamiento físico parece tener un efecto similar en los niveles de actividad física de todos los perfiles de capacidad cardiorrespiratoria de los estudiantes, solo mejora la capacidad cardiorrespiratoria de los estudiantes con un perfil no saludable. Abstract. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effect of a Physical Education-based physical fitness intermittent teaching unit on physical activity levels and cardiorespiratory fitness among students with healthy/unhealthy cardiorespiratory fitness profile. Eighty students from 2º-3º grades of Secondary Education were randomly assigned to the control group and experimental group. The experimental group, divided into healthy/unhealthy profiles, performed a physical fitness intermittent teaching unit to improve the cardiorespiratory fitness. The control group worked a different content during the same time and with the same frequency, but without emphasizing cardiorespiratory fitness improvement. Before and after the teaching unit, students’ cardiorespiratory fitness was objectively measured by the 20-meter shuttle run test. Participants’ physical activity levels were measured objectively using a heart rate monitor during Physical Education lessons. Students from both profiles had higher physical activity levels during Physical Education lessons than the control group (p < .001). However, only students with an unhealthy cardiorespiratory fitness profile statistically improved their cardiorespiratory fitness levels after the teaching unit (p < .01). Although an intermittent physical fitness teaching unit seems to have similar effect on physical activity levels of students from all cardiorespiratory fitness profiles, it only improves the cardiorespiratory fitness of those with an unhealthy one.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daisuke Uritani ◽  
Jessica Kasza ◽  
Penny K. Campbell ◽  
Ben Metcalf ◽  
Thorlene Egerton

Abstract Background:The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between psychological characteristics and physical activity levels, measured as the average number of steps per day, in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA).Methods: This study analysed baseline data from a randomized controlled trial (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry reference: ACTRN12612000308897). A total of 167 adults aged over 50 years, with knee pain rated as four or more on an 11-point numeric rating scale, and knee OA diagnosed using American College of Rheumatology clinical criteria, were recruited from the community (62 men and 105 women; mean age, 62.2 ± 7.5 years). The average number of steps per day over seven consecutive days was measured using an accelerometer-based device. Psychological characteristics evaluated were: depressive symptoms (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale), self-efficacy (Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale for pain and other symptoms), fear of movement (Brief Fear of Movement Scale for Osteoarthritis), and pain catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale). The association between the average number of steps per day and psychological characteristics was analyzed using a multiple linear regression analysis, with the average number of steps per day as the dependent variable, adjusting for each psychological characteristic separately, and age, sex, body mass index, and pain entered as covariates.Results: There was evidence that the amount of physical activity was associated with fear of movement (coefficient [B]: -117, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: -227 to -8) and with pain catastrophizing (B: -44, 95%CI: -86 to -1). The association with self-efficacy was similar (B:117, 95%CI: -12 to 246). However, the direction of the association with depressive symptoms was less clear (B: -59, 95%CI: -138 to 19).Conclusions: The results of this study revealed that the relationship was such that lower fear of movement and lower pain catastrophizing may be associated with more steps per day. It may be hypothesized that fear of moving and pain catastrophizing lead to activity avoidance and that strategies to improve these disease-related psychological aspects may be useful in enhancing physical activity participation, although this hypothesis is highly speculative and needs further testing given the cross-sectional design of this study.


2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (8) ◽  
pp. 1845-1857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander C. Engel ◽  
Carolyn R. Broderick ◽  
Nancy van Doorn ◽  
Louise L. Hardy ◽  
Belinda J. Parmenter

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 1784-1790
Author(s):  
Steven Fleming ◽  
Tamara Jones ◽  
Monika Janda ◽  
Dimitrios Vagenas ◽  
Leigh Ward ◽  
...  

BackgroundParticipating in physical activity after a diagnosis of cancer is associated with reduced morbidity and improved outcomes. However, declines in, and low levels of, physical activity are well documented in the broader cancer population, but with limited evidence following gynecological cancer.ObjectiveTo describe physical activity levels from before and up to 2 years after gynecological cancer surgery; to explore the relationship between physical activity patterns and quality of life; and to describe characteristics associated with physical activity trajectories post-gynecological cancer.MethodsWomen with gynecological cancer (n=408) participated in a prospective study that assessed physical activity and quality of life pre-surgery (baseline), at 6 weeks, and 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 24 months post-surgery. Validated questionnaires were used to assess physical activity (Active Australia Survey) and quality of life outcomes (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General). Generalized estimating equation modeling, group-based trajectory analysis, and analysis of variance were used to identify physical activity levels over time, to categorize women into physical activity trajectory groups, and to assess the relationship between physical activity levels and quality of life, respectively.ResultsWomen had a mean±SD age of 60±11.4 years at diagnosis, with the majority diagnosed with endometrial cancer (n=235, 58%) or stage I disease (n=241, 59%). Most women (80%) started with and maintained low levels of physical activity (1–10 metabolic equivalent task hours per week), reported no physical activity throughout the follow-up period, or reduced physical activity levels over time. Only 19% of women maintained or doubled physical activity levels, so that by 24 months post-diagnosis they were engaging in sufficient levels of physical activity. Women with endometrial cancer (58% of the sample) were more likely to be overweight or obese and to report low levels of physical activity or none at all. Higher physical activity levels were associated with higher quality of life (p<0.05).ConclusionThe low baseline and surveillance levels of physical activity show that the vast majority of gynecological cancer survivors have the ability to improve their physical activity levels. Integration of physical activity advice and support into standard care could lead to gains in quality of life during gynecological cancer survivorship.


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