scholarly journals The Effect of Pandemic Movement Restriction Policies on Children's Physical Fitness, Activity, Screen Time, and Sleep

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawnda A. Morrison ◽  
Kaja Meh ◽  
Vedrana Sember ◽  
Gregor Starc ◽  
Gregor Jurak
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Interaction Effect ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Total Duration ◽  
Movement Behavior ◽  
Movement Restriction ◽  
The Impact

Background: The negative impact of isolation, confinement, and physical (in)activity due to pandemic movement restriction has been well-documented over the past year, but less is known on the impact of these policies on children's physical fitness. This study was designed to determine the effects of pandemic movement restriction policies on the 24-hour movement behavior (24-HMB) of children, and whether any alterations are reflected in worsening physical fitness outcomes determined via direct testing.Methods: A two-phase, repeated-measures study with matched controls was conducted. Phase One: N = 62 schoolchildren (N = 31 female) completed self-assessment questionnaires on 24-HMB in October 2018 (pre-pandemic) and again in April 2020, at the height of movement restrictions enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic first wave. Phase Two: physical fitness of the original N = 62 children were determined directly pre- and post-isolation using an eight-component standardized fitness test battery and compared to N = 62 control children who were matched for age, sex, school region, and fitness centile scores.Results: During lockdown (total duration: 63 days), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) decreased by ~46 min per day, screen time demonstrated a significant interaction effect, such that kids reported spending less recreational screen time on weekends during lockdown compared to no restriction, and sleep duration was consistently lower (95% CI: −104.1 to −45.5 min, p < 0.001). No interaction effect was present for direct fitness indicators, including: hand tapping (reaction time), standing broad jump, polygon backward obstacle course (coordination), sit-ups, stand-and-reach, bent-arm hang, 60-m, and 600-m run (p ≥ 0.05) although significant main effects are noted for both sexes.Conclusion: Initial changes in 24-HMB did not translate to reductions in physical fitness per se, likely due to the high initial fitness levels of the children. Further work is needed to confirm whether longer or repeated movement restrictions exacerbate initial negative 24-HMB trends, especially for children who are less fit when restrictions are initiated, prolonged, or repeated.

scholarly journals Cross-sectional study on prevalence and consequences of screen time on physical and mental health in children in the era of COVID-19

2022 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-24
Author(s):  
Neha Thakur (Rai) ◽  
Arvind Kumar Singh ◽  
Narendra Rai ◽  
Devesh Kumar Shukla
Keyword(s):  
Digital Media ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Age Of Onset ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Developing Nations ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

Background: With the ongoing growth and expansion of digital media and COVID-19 pandemic, children are inclining more and more toward spending time on digital media as compared to outdoor sports, leading to poor physical and mental growth. Developed nations have already set up a screen time guideline which is yet to be established in developing nations. This study was conducted with the objectives of identifying the needs of screen time guidelines and to study the impact of screen time on mental and physical health in children. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to check the screen time in children aged 2–18 and find the health consequences both physical and psychological in those children. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study on children aged 2–18 years was conducted between 2019 and 2020. Parents were asked to fill a pre-structured questionnaire. Impact on health physical and mental were assessed by pediatrician and psychologist. Results: A total of 155 children were enrolled in the study. Mean child hours in children aged 2–5 years, 5–10 years, and 10–18 years were 4 h, 5.83 h, and 6.29 h on week days and 5.64 h, 5.76 h, and 7.69 h on weekends, respectively. More than one-third of children had age of onset of screen time below 2 years of age. About 70% of children had malnutrition. Only 18% of parents were aware of concept of screen free days. Screen time had negative impact on health (P=0.0001) and on behavior of child (P=0.001). Average increase in screen time during COVID-19 was nearly 3 times the pre-COVID era. Conclusion: This study has paved the way for the need of larger study and development of guidelines on impact of screen time on children in developing nations where screen time guidelines is yet to be set more so in era of COVID 19 pandemic.

The Impact of Virtual Physical Activity Interventions on Depression and Anxiety among College Students: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy Murray ◽  
Michele Marenus ◽  
Ana Cahuas ◽  
Kathryn Friedman ◽  
Haley Ottensoser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Resistance Exercise ◽  
Interaction Effect ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Exercise Intervention ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Depression and anxiety are growing issues for college students, with both aerobic-resistance training and mindfulness-yoga exercises known to be effective in reducing symptoms and severity. However, no known research is available comparing these two depression and anxiety interventions simultaneously and in a virtual environment. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine the effects of a virtual aerobic-resistance exercise intervention (WeActive) and a virtual yoga-mindfulness mindfulness exercise intervention (WeMindful) on depression and anxiety symptoms in college students METHODS The participants were 78 college students who anonymously completed a Qualtrics survey including the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) and the Major Depression Inventory (MDI) at baseline and the post-test. Participants were randomly assigned to either the WeActive or WeMindful group and underwent two 30-minute virtual aerobic-resistance exercise lessons or yoga-mindfulness lessons per week for eight weeks. RESULTS The results of ANCOVA with repeated measures indicated that, while not statistically significant, both groups showed a notable decrease in anxiety with a marginal significant main effect of time (F = 3.485, p = 0.066, η2 = 0.047) but no significant main effect of group and no significant interaction effect of time with group. The two intervention groups experienced a significant decrease in depression with the main effect of time (F = 3.892, p = 0.052, η2 = 0.052). There was no significant main effect of group or interaction effect of time with group for depression. CONCLUSIONS College students in both WeActive and WeMindful groups experienced a significant decrease in depression symptoms and a decrease, though not significant, in anxiety as well. The study suggests that virtual WeActive and WeMindful interventions are effective approaches to managing US college student depression and anxiety during a pandemic.

scholarly journals Changes in Physical Activity, Sitting and Sleep across the COVID-19 National Lockdown Period in Scotland

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (24) ◽  
pp. 9362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xanne Janssen ◽  
Leanne Fleming ◽  
Alison Kirk ◽  
Lesley Rollins ◽  
David Young ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Intervention Development ◽  
Positive Change ◽  
Movement Behavior ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Purposive Sample

We examine the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and concomitant restrictions (i.e., lockdown) on 24-hour movement behaviors (i.e., physical activity, sitting, sleep) in a purposive sample of people (n = 3230) reporting change recruited online. Participants’ self-reported time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), walking, sitting and sleep prior to lockdown (T1), during the first national lockdown (T2) and as restrictions initially started to ease (T3). For each 24-hour movement behavior, category-shifts are reported (positive, negative or did not change), as well as the percentage of participants recording positive/negative changes across clusters of behaviors and the percentage of participants recording improvement or maintenance of change across time. From T1 to T2 walking decreased, whereas MVPA, sitting and sleep increased, from T2 to T3 levels returned to pre-lockdown for all but MVPA. Participants who changed one behavior positively were more likely to report a positive change in another and 50% of those who reported positive changes from T1 to T2 maintained or improved further when restrictions started to ease. The current study showed that a large proportion of the sample reported positive changes, most notably those displaying initially poor levels of each behavior. These findings will inform salutogenic intervention development.

Ergogenic Effects of Bihemispheric Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Fitness: a Randomized Cross-over Trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (01) ◽  
pp. 66-73
Author(s):  
Roberto Codella ◽  
Rosario Alongi ◽  
Luca Filipas ◽  
Livio Luzi
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Athletic Training ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Perceived Exertion ◽  
Crossover Fashion ◽  
Endurance Running ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
The Impact

AbstractSeveral types of routines and methods have been experimented to gain neuromuscular advantages, in terms of exercise performance, in athletes and fitness enthusiasts. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of biemispheric transcranial direct current stimulation on physical fitness indicators of healthy, physically active, men. In a randomized, single-blinded, crossover fashion, seventeen subjects (age: 30.9 ± 6.5 years, BMI: 24.8±3.1 kg/m2) underwent either stimulation or sham, prior to: vertical jump, sit & reach, and endurance running tests. Mixed repeated measures anova revealed a large main effect of stimulation for any of the three physical fitness measures. Stimulation determined increases of lower limb power (+ 5%), sit & reach amplitude (+ 9%) and endurance running capacity (+ 12%) with respect to sham condition (0.16<ηp2 < 0.41; p<0.05). Ratings-of-perceived-exertion, recorded at the end of each test session, did not change across all performances. However, in the stimulated-endurance protocol, an average lower rate-of-perceived-exertion at iso-time was inferred. A portable transcranial direct current stimulation headset could be a valuable ergogenic resource for individuals seeking to improve physical fitness in daily life or in athletic training.

A comparison of physical activity, physical fitness levels, BMI and blood pressure of adults with intellectual disability, who do and do not take part in Special Olympics Ireland programmes: Results from the SOPHIE study

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 154-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise Walsh ◽  
Sarahjane Belton ◽  
Sarah Meegan ◽  
Kirsty Bowers ◽  
Deidre Corby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Special Olympics ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Fitness Levels

People with an intellectual disability are less physically active, live more sedentary lives, have lower fitness levels and are more likely to be overweight or obese than the general population. No evidence exists on the impact of participation in Special Olympics Ireland (SOI) on physical activity and physical fitness levels. Adults with intellectual disabilities (16–64 years) were recruited from services and SOI clubs. Physical measures included waist circumference, height, weight, blood pressure, heart rate and 6-min walking test. Self-report questionnaires gathered data on physical activity levels. Actigraph (GT3X) accelerometers were used to gain an objective measure of physical activity. SOI participants accumulated more moderate to vigorous physical activity per day, had higher fitness levels and more positive health profile scores than those not taking part in SOI. SOI has the potential to make a positive difference to people’s physical health and subsequently their overall health and well-being.

scholarly journals Physical Fitness and Psychological Wellness of Saudi Engineering Students as Related to Academic Achievement

2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-183
Author(s):  
Abdullah O. Bafail Abdullah O. Bafail
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
English Language ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
Psychological Status ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Psychological Wellness ◽  
The Impact

The present study was conducted on a stratified random sample of 100 students of the College of Engineering of King Abdulaziz University (KAU), representing the Saudi university students, with the objectives of: (a) studying the impact of students' physical fitness and psychological wellness on their academic achievement, (b) identifying effective related factors improving or limiting students' achievement and, (c) presenting a practical model of optimal physical fitness and psychological wellness for Saudi students. Data of the study are needed by the planners in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to harmonize and optimize the presented services related to the educational process, and to have utmost output of them. Each of the selected students was interviewed for his health and psychological status, performed intelligence test and subjected to fit-test measurements, followed by testing his academic records and recording his Grade Points Average (GPA). Analysis of variance for the effect of the tested students' 57 variables on their GPAs revealed highlighting 20 of them as the most influential variables, and further testing the significance of their effects indicated that the main academic effective factors on students’ academic achievement include: students' levels of intelligence and the student's background education of the holy Quran, English language and computer practices; meanwhile, the "relatively exceeding" numbers of courses attended by students through the academic semester have a negative impact on their GPAs. The need of the students for the university stipend represents the main studied economic factor which has impact on their academic achievement. The main effective cultural, social and health factors include: the students' involvements in community scientific,

ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR PHYSICAL PREPARATION AND SPORTS PERFORMANCE IN POWER LIFTERS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS OF HIGH QUALIFICATION

sportlogia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-56
Author(s):  
Mariia Roztorhui ◽  
◽  
Alina Perederiy ◽  
Khrystyna Khimenes ◽  
Olexandr Tovstonoh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Sports Performance ◽  
Scientific Substantiation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Physical Preparation

Systematic overload, which is a training characteristic of powerlifters with visual impairments of high qualification has a negative impact on the functioning of body systems and the course of the underlying and comorbidities. This determines the relevance of the scientific substantiation of training programs for athletes with visual impairments as the most important component of ensuring the achievement of sports results in powerlifting. This study aimed to experimentally substantiate the effectiveness of the impact of various training programs on physical fitness and athletic performance of powerlifters with visual impairments of high qualification. To solve the goal we used methods of analysis of scientific and methodological literature, pedagogical observation, pedagogical experiment and methods of mathematical statistics. The study involved 16 visually impaired athletes who were members of the national powerlifting team. The pedagogical experiment was based on testing the effectiveness of two training programs, which differed in the parameters of the load components in the annual training and macrocycle periods. After the pedagogical experiment, the experimental group showed reliable indicators of growth on all tests and improvement of sports results, and athletes of the control group increased physical fitness in three tests out of five and sports results are available only in squat and bench press. In both groups, the highest growth rates in the level of development of physical qualities were found in tests aimed at determining the level of development of strength and flexibility. Comparing the results of the introduction of various training programs in the training process of powerlifters with visual impairments, we can conclude that the performance of the experimental group is much higher than among the powerlifters of the control group.

scholarly journals Association between Compliance with Movement Behavior Guidelines and Obesity among Malaysian Preschoolers

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4611
Author(s):  
Shoo Thien Lee ◽  
Jyh Eiin Wong ◽  
Geraldine K. L. Chan ◽  
Bee Koon Poh
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Physical Activities ◽  
Movement Behavior ◽  
Sedentary Behaviors ◽  
Kuala Lumpur ◽  
Overweight Or Obesity

A daily balance of physical activities, sedentary behaviors and sleep are important for maintaining the health of young children. The aim of this study is to explore the association between 24-h movement behavior of Malaysian children aged 4 to 6 years with weight status. A total of 230 preschoolers were recruited from 22 kindergartens in Kuala Lumpur. Physical activity was assessed by Actical accelerometer while screen time and sleep duration were proxy-reported by parents. Children spent on average 5.5 ± 1.3 h on total physical activity (including 1.0 ± 0.4 h of moderate- vigorous physical activity), 3.0 ± 1.6 h on screen activities and 9.5 ± 1.3 h sleeping daily. The proportion of children who complied with physical activity and sleep guidelines were 48.7% and 55.2%, respectively. About 25.2% of children met screen time recommendation. Only 6.5% of children met all three age-specific physical activity, screen time and sleep guidelines. Children who met any two guidelines were less likely to be overweight or obesity compared to those who did not meet any of the guidelines (OR: 0.276; 95% CI: 0.080–0.950). In conclusion, Malaysian preschoolers have low compliance to movement behavior guidelines, especially in meeting screen time recommendations. Compliance to movement behavior guidelines was associated with lower odds of overweight and obesity.

scholarly journals Effect of Online Training during the COVID-19 Quarantine on the Aerobic Capacity of Youth Soccer Players

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6195
Author(s):  
Paweł Kalinowski ◽  
Jakub Myszkowski ◽  
Jakub Marynowicz
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Optimal Level ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Motor Abilities ◽  
One Year ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Endurance

Motor abilities, such as endurance and the optimal level of physical activity, play a fundamental role in football as they are necessary to maintain the high effectiveness of the training process. The aim of this study was the observation of the trend of changes in the level of cardiorespiratory endurance of young football players in a one-year cycle overlapping with the COVID-19 lockdown and an assessment of the impact of the training intervention during home confinement. The participants of the study were 24 young football players. We analysed the results of the study in a one-year training cycle (lockdown from 11 March 2020 to 6 May 2020). The cardiorespiratory endurance was measured using the Multistage 20 m Shuttle Run test—Beep Test. A repeated measures analysis of variance was used in the study. Detailed comparisons were made using Tukey’s HSD test. Statistically significant differences were noted in endurance in a one year cycle: F(5.115) = 22.65; p < 0.001; partial Eta-squared = 0.50. An increase in the level of endurance by mean = 179.17 m, SD ± 189.87 m was noted between T1 and T6. After the break caused by the COVID-19 restrictions, a decrease in the level of cardiorespiratory endurance was noted. Only after two training mesocycles was a significant increase in the mean value noted compared to the period before the pandemic (p < 0.05). With the negative impact of restrictions in mind, coaches and physiotherapists should exercise caution when planning training, taking into consideration the level of physical activity during the pandemic.

Impact and cost of the peer-led Students As LifeStyle Activists programme in high schools

2019 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa A Shrewsbury ◽  
Rebecca L Venchiarutti ◽  
Louise L Hardy ◽  
Bridget C Foley ◽  
Amy Bonnefin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
High Schools ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Cost Evaluation ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Intentions To Change ◽  
Grade 8

Objective: To determine the impact of a peer-led, school-based programme (Students As LifeStyle Activists; SALSA) on energy balance–related behaviours (EBRBs) in Grade 8 students, and the cost of implementing the programme. Design: Pre–post test Setting: High schools in New South Wales, Australia. Methods: Grade 10 students (15- to 16-year-olds) were trained by university students to deliver four lessons on healthy eating and physical activity to Grade 8 students (13- to 14-year-olds). Students completed an online questionnaire pre–post lessons on EBRBs and intentions to change EBRBs over the next month. Items included fruit, vegetable and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake, frequency of eating breakfast, participation in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and school-day recreational screen-time. Pre–post changes were analysed using generalised estimating equations, adjusted for clustering. Standard methods were used to estimate implementation costs. Results: In total, 2,056 Grade 8 students from 23 high schools participated. Significant changes included 5.2% increase in eating >2 fruit serves/day ( p < .001), 2.5% increase in eating >4 vegetable serves/day ( p < .05), a 4.3% increase in drinking <1 cup/day of SSB ( p < .001) but limiting screen-time <2 hours/day decreased by 4.4% ( p < .001). There were significant improvements in students’ intentions to change EBRBs over the next month, with the exception of MVPA. The average actual cost of implementing the SALSA programme in 2014–2015 was AU$1,388 (US$958) per school and AU$9.97 (US$6.88) per student. Conclusion: The SALSA peer education programme had a positive impact on most of the dietary EBRBs examined. The cost evaluation showed that it is a relatively low-cost programme to implement.

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