scholarly journals A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol for Using an Accelerometer-Smartphone Application Intervention to Increase Physical Activity and Improve Health among Employees in a Military Workplace

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Emilia Pietiläinen ◽  
Heikki Kyröläinen ◽  
Tommi Vasankari ◽  
Matti Santtila ◽  
Tiina Luukkaala ◽  
...  

Physical activity is beneficial for improving health and reducing sick leave absences. This article describes a protocol for an intervention using an interactive accelerometer smartphone application, telephone counselling, and physical activity recordings to increase the physical activity of workers in the military and improve their health. Under the protocol, employees from six military brigades in Finland will be randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention group’s participants will use accelerometers to measure their daily physical activities and their quality of sleep for six months. They will receive feedback based on these measurements via a smartphone application. The intervention group’s participants will be encouraged to exercise for two hours per week during working hours, and to participate in telephone counselling. The control group’s participants will continue with their normal exercise routines, without the accelerometer or feedback. The participants of both groups will be measured at the baseline, after the intervention period, and six months after the end of the intervention. The measurements will include accelerometer recordings, biochemical laboratory tests, body composition measurements, physical fitness tests, and questionnaires on sociodemographic factors, physical activities, and health. The primary outcomes will indicate changes in physical activity, physical fitness, and sick leave absences. The findings will help to develop a straightforward and cost-effective model for supporting the health and working capabilities of employees in the military and other workplaces.

Author(s):  
Luciana L.S. Barboza ◽  
Heike Schmitz ◽  
Julian Tejada ◽  
Ellen Caroline M. Silva ◽  
Advanusia S.S. Oliveira ◽  
...  

Background: To evaluate the effects of the introduction of physically active lessons on movement behaviors, cognitive, and academic performance in schoolchildren. Methods: This was a cluster-controlled trial. A total of 61 students from the second year of elementary school in a public school in Brazil made up 2 intervention classes (n = 34) with the introduction of physically active lessons and 2 control classes (n = 27). Sedentary behavior, physical activity, cognitive, and academic performance were evaluated in 3 moments, which were compared using models of generalized estimating equations. Results: The intervention was effective for reducing the standing time between the baseline and 3 months while increasing the walking time between baseline and 3 months and baseline and 9 months. There was a reduction in time in stationary activities and increased time in light physical activities between all moments. The intervention group increased their performance in the go/no go test, showing a smaller number of errors between the baseline and 3 months and baseline and 9 months, and a reduction in the test time between baseline and 3 months. No impact on students’ academic performance was observed. Conclusion: Physically active lessons improve movement behaviors and cognitive functions among elementary schoolchildren.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulina S. Melby ◽  
Peter Elsborg ◽  
Glen Nielsen ◽  
Rodrigo A. Lima ◽  
Peter Bentsen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Research indicates that childhood fundamental movement skills (FMS) can predict physical activity (PA) later in life and it has been argued that frequently engaging in a wide diversity of physical activities will eventually improve children’s FMS. However, no longitudinal or experimental studies have confirmed this hypothesis. The aims of this study are to investigate the longitudinal associations between diversified physical activities at age six and later FMS and PA (age nine and 13). Furthermore, we explore to what extent the longitudinal association between diversified physical activity and PA is mediated by FMS.Methods: Longitudinal data from the Copenhagen School Intervention Studywere used for this analysis, where 704 participated (69% response rate). Diversified physical activity (self-reported), FMS (The Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder battery of postural stability and locomotor skills) and PA (accelerometer) were assessed in the children at age six, age nine and age 13. A total of 991 participated in at least one of the measure years. Two structural equation models were constructed, with diversified physical activity at age six and FMS and PA at age nine as predictors of PA and FMS at age 13. Results: The data from both models demonstrated good model fit. Diversified physical activity at six years of age was significantly associated with physical activity and FMS at age 13, when adjusting for sex, age, intervention, weight, height, and previous levels of PA and FMS. Diversified physical activity at age six was also positively associated with PA and FMS at age nine, which were, in turn, positively related to PA at age 13 but to a lesser degree than diversified PA at age six. The association between diversified physical activity at age six and PA at age 13 was not mediated by FMS at age nine. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that diversified physical activity at age six is important for the development of FMS and PA in adolescence. Increasing the diversity of children’s daily physical activities, not only the amount and intensity, seems important for future PA behavior and thereby health promotion in a life course perspective.


Trials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabiano Francisco de Lima ◽  
Carlos Augusto Camillo ◽  
Isis Grigoletto ◽  
Juliana Souza Uzeloto ◽  
Franciele Marques Vanderlei ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Functional training has been shown to be a viable alternative for the elderly and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, whether the combination of this type of training with aerobic and resistance training, commonly performed in pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programs, induces more pronounced effects on daily physical activities and functionality remains unclear. The aims of the study will be to evaluate the short-term and sustained effects of the combination of a functional circuit program with a training program consisting of aerobic and resistance exercise. Methods In this randomized controlled trial, patients with COPD will be randomly assigned (1:1:1) to an 8-week training program to follow one of the three a priori defined groups: (I) resistance and aerobic and functional exercises, (II) a conventional program including only resistance and aerobic exercises, or (III) a usual care program. Patients will be evaluated before and upon completion of 8 weeks of training regarding physical activity in daily life (PADL) using an activity monitor (accelerometer), activities of daily living (London Chest Activity of Daily Living), functional exercise capacity (6-minute walk test), and muscle strength (dynamometry). Additionally, the sustained effects of the interventions will be evaluated 22 weeks after commencing the study. Discussion The inclusion of a protocol of functional physical training in the training conventionally performed by patients with COPD as an alternative to increase PADL and functionality may provide subsidies for the treatment of these patients, representing an advance and impacting on the physical training of patients with COPD. Trial registration Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (ReBEC) ID: RBR-3zmh3r. Registered: March 7, 2018.


1996 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lennart Raudsepp ◽  
Toivo Jürimäe

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between physical activity and physical fitness and adiposity in a sample of 77 girls, aged 10–11 years. Physical activity was assessed by 7-day physical activity recall by which children reported how much time they spent on low and moderate-to-vigorous physical activities. Physical fitness was measured by EUROFIT test battery. Adiposity was estimated by sum of five skinfolds. The main finding of the study was that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and adiposity were significant predictors (with 16–34% accounted variance) of physical fitness tests where the body mass affects performance. Indicators of physical activity and adiposity were not significantly related with fitness items requiring muscular strength, balance, flexibility, and speed of limb movement. Furthermore, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and aerobic fitness predicted 22% of variance in adiposity in girls.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sri Parama Metta Dhyana

Normally every person in this world will experience puberty. Puberty is a phase in life when a child experience physical and hormonal changes that turns them into adult who capable to reproduce. In women, one sign of puberty is menstruation. Menstruation can be dramatic for some women because of it’s pain called dysmenorrhea. Despite having a mentruation pain, a women still need to continue their daily physical activities such as walking, driving, working, studying, eating, etc. The objective of this study was to analyze the types of daily physical activity that would affect the intensity of menstruaion pain.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulina S. Melby ◽  
Peter Elsborg ◽  
Glen Nielsen ◽  
Rodrigo A. Lima ◽  
Peter Bentsen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Research indicates that childhood motor competence (MC) can predict physical activity (PA) levels later in life and it has been argued that frequently engaging in a wide diversity of physical activities will eventually improve children’s MC. However, no longitudinal or experimental studies have confirmed this theoretical rationale. The aims of this study are to explore the longitudinal associations between diversified physical activities at age six and later MC and PA (time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA) (age nine and 13). Furthermore, we explore to what extent the longitudinal association between diversified physical activity and PA is mediated by MC. Methods Longitudinal data from the Copenhagen School Intervention Study were used for this analysis, where 704 participated (69% response rate). Diversified physical activity (self-reported), MC (The Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder battery of postural stability and locomotor skills) and PA (accelerometer) were assessed in the children at age six, age nine and age 13. A total of 654 participated in at least two of the measures and, therefore, were included in the analysis. Two structural equation models were constructed, with diversified physical activity at age six and MC and PA at age nine as predictors of PA and MC at age 13. Results The data from both models demonstrated good model fit. Diversified physical activity at 6 years of age was significantly associated with physical activity and MC at age 13, when adjusting for sex, age, intervention, weight, height, and previous levels of PA and MC. Diversified physical activity at age six was also positively associated with PA and MC at age nine, which were, in turn, positively related to PA at age 13 but to a lesser degree than diversified PA at age six. The association between diversified physical activity at age six and PA at age 13 was not mediated by MC at age nine. Conclusions The results of this study indicate that diversified physical activity at age six is important for the development of MC and PA in adolescence. Increasing the diversity of children’s daily physical activities, not only the amount and intensity, seems important for future PA behavior and thereby health promotion in a life course perspective.


Author(s):  
Adang Suherman ◽  
◽  
Kuston Sultoni ◽  
Jajat Jajat ◽  
◽  
...  

Online distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic can impact decreasing physical activity and increasing sedentary behaviour, leading to the reduced physical fitness of students. The research aims to develop an android application (app) to assist students in developing physical fitness independently. Four stages of development have been carried out to create the Mahasiswa Bugar application. The advantages of the Mahasiswa Bugar app are as a guide to measuring physical fitness that can be done by students themselves and based on existing literature. Physical fitness test items guided through this application are health-related fitness, body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength and endurance, and flexibility, including features for feedback, history or recording of test results and training program. The results of the quasi-experiment show that the percentage of student involvement in vigorous physical activity has increased. Although the fit student android application's socialization did not significantly impact increasing the intensity of physical activity and motivation to train, this application could be a solution for students in fostering physical fitness independently during the COVID-19 pandemic.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Melero-Cañas ◽  
Vicente Morales-Baños ◽  
David Manzano-Sánchez ◽  
Dani Navarro-Ardoy ◽  
Alfonso Valero-Valenzuela

Physical activity (PA), body composition and sedentary behavior may affect the health of children. Therefore, this study examined the effect of an educational hybrid physical education (PE) program on physical fitness (PF), body composition and sedentary and PA times in adolescents. A 9-month group-randomized controlled trial was conducted in 150 participants (age: 14.63 ± 1.38 years) allocated into the control group (CG, n = 37) and experimental group (EG, n = 113). Cardiorespiratory fitness, speed, strength, agility, flexibility and body mass index (BMI) were assessed through previously validated field tests. Sedentary time, PA at school and afterschool were evaluated with the Youth Activity Profile-Spain questionnaire. Significant differences were observed concerning to the CG in APA-weekend (p = 0.044), speed-agility (p = 0.005) and agility (p = 0.008). Regarding the intervention, cardiorespiratory fitness (p = 0.000), speed-agility (p = 0.000), strength (p = 0.000), flexibility (p = 0.000), agility (p = 0.000), PA in school (p = 0.011), APA-weekday (p = 0.001), APA-weekend (p = 0.000), APA-week (p = 0.000), and sedentary time (p = 0.000) increased significantly in the EG. The use of a hybrid program based on teaching personal and social responsibility and gamification strategies produced enhancements in cardiorespiratory fitness, agility, speed, APA-weekdays and APA-weekends, reducing the sedentary time.


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