Decreased Balance Function in School-Aged Children with Behavioral Problems

Children with behavioral problems have a high risk of impaired motor performance. However, the characteristics of balance functions and their associations with behavioral traits are unclear in this population. This study aimed to evaluate balance functions and their relationships with the degree of behavioral problems in school-aged children. A total of 209 children, aged 6–10 years, were divided into two groups, those with and those without behavioral problems, using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Physical assessments included the one-leg standing test (OLST), the two-step test, and the five-times-sit-to-stand test. We compared the data between groups and assessed for correlations in terms of total difficulties and the SDQ subscale scores. Children with behavioral problems showed significantly reduced the OLST results (p < 0.001) and the two-step test results (p = 0.008). The five-times-sit-to-stand test results did not show significant differences between groups. The OLST results were significantly correlated with emotional symptoms (r = −0.22, p < 0.001), hyperactivity/inattention (r = −0.29, p < 0.001), peer relationship problems (r = −0.22, p < 0.001), and total difficulties (r = −0.32, p < 0.001). Meanwhile, the two-step test results showed no significant correlation with the SDQ scores. Children with behavioral problems have poor balance function, thereby increasing the risk for instability. This suggests that the balance function of children with behavioral problems needs to be considered.

Assessment of Physical Fitness in Medical Students

Introduction: Physical activity promotes cerebral blood flow during cognitive tasks and possibly enhances performance. It is relevant to find relationship between post exercise recovery heart rate (RHR) and resting pulse rate in medical students. Aims: To assess physical fitness in medical students. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 57 consenting healthy medical students, age 1730 years, underwent 3-Minutes Step Test to assess their physical fitness. Students were divided into four fitness groups based on RHR; good (n=9, RHR=50-84 bpm), satisfactory (n=17, RHR=88-100 bpm), poor (n=12, RHR=102-107 bpm), and very poor (n= 19, RHR=111-157 bpm) groups. The groups were compared using one-way ANOVA. A p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Results showed that there were few numbers of students who fall in good fitness group (n= 9, Resting pulse rate mean 72.00 ± 9.29) in comparison to satisfactory fitness group (n= 17, Resting pulse rate mean (68.35 ± 5.95), poor fitness group (n= 12, Resting pulse rate mean 75.67 ± 6.88) and very poor fitness group (n=19, Resting pulse rate mean 78.89 ± 7.67). The level of significance between satisfactory fitness group and very poor fitness group, p <0.05 was statistically significant. Conclusion: Most of the medical students fall under very poor fitness group. Satisfactory fitness group have less resting pulse rate in compare to very poor fitness group of medical students.

The Relationship between VO2 and Muscle Deoxygenation Kinetics and Upper Body Repeated Sprint Performance in Trained Judokas and Healthy Individuals

The present study sought to investigate if faster upper body oxygen uptake (VO2) and hemoglobin/myoglobin deoxygenation ([HHb]) kinetics during heavy intensity exercise were associated with a greater upper body repeated-sprint ability (RSA) performance in a group of judokas and in a group of individuals of heterogenous fitness level. Eight judokas (JT) and seven untrained healthy participants (UT) completed an incremental step test, two heavy intensity square-wave transitions and an upper body RSA test consisting of four 15 s sprints, with 45 s rest, from which the experimental data were obtained. In the JT group, VO2 kinetics, [HHb] kinetics and the parameters determined in the incremental test were not associated with RSA. However, when the two groups were combined, the amplitude of the primary phase VO2 and [HHb] was positively associated with the accumulated work in the four sprints (ΣWork). Additionally, maximal aerobic power (MAP), peak VO2 and the first ventilatory threshold (VT1) showed a positive correlation with ΣWork and an inverse correlation with the decrease in peak power output (Dec-PPO) between the first and fourth sprints. Faster VO2 and [HHb] kinetics do not seem to be associated with an increased upper body RSA in JT. However, other variables of aerobic fitness seem to be associated with an increased upper body RSA performance in a group of individuals with heterogeneous fitness level.

Adaptation of the Patient Benefit Assessment Scale for Hospitalised Older Patients: development, reliability and validity of the P-BAS picture version

Background The Patient Benefit Assessment Scale for Hospitalised Older Patients (P-BAS HOP) is a tool developed to both identify the priorities of the individual patient and to measure the outcomes relevant to him/her, resulting in a Patient Benefit Index (PBI), indicating how much benefit the patient had experienced from the hospitalisation. The reliability and the validity of the P-BAS HOP appeared to be not yet satisfactory and therefore the aims of this study were to adapt the P-BAS HOP and transform it into a picture version, resulting in the P-BAS-P, and to evaluate its feasibility, reliability, validity, responsiveness and interpretability. Methods Process of instrument development and evaluation performed among hospitalised older patients including pilot tests using Three-Step Test-Interviews (TSTI), test-retest reliability on baseline and follow-up, comparing the PBI with Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), and hypothesis testing to evaluate the construct validity. Responsiveness of individual P-BAS-P scores and the PBI with two different weighing schemes were evaluated using anchor questions. Interpretability of the PBI was evaluated with the visual anchor-based minimal important change (MIC) distribution method and computation of smallest detectable change (SDC) based on ICC. Results Fourteen hospitalised older patients participated in TSTIs at baseline and 13 at follow-up after discharge. After several adaptations, the P-BAS-P appeared feasible with good interviewer’s instructions. The pictures were considered relevant and helpful by the participants. Reliability was tested with 41 participants at baseline and 50 at follow-up. ICC between PBI1 and PBI2 of baseline test and retest was 0.76, respectively 0.73. At follow-up 0.86, respectively 0.85. For the construct validity, tested in 169 participants, hypotheses regarding importance of goals were confirmed. Regarding status of goals, only the follow-up status was confirmed, baseline and change were not. The responsiveness of the individual scores and PBI were weak, resulting in poor interpretability with many misclassifications. The SDC was larger than the MIC. Conclusions The P-BAS-P appeared to be a feasible instrument, but there were methodological barriers for the evaluation of the reliability, validity, and responsiveness. We therefore recommend further research into the P-BAS-P.

Locomotive Syndrome Associated With Daily Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity in Community‐dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-sectional Analysis

Background: Locomotive syndrome (LS) is associated with weakness and loss of function in the musculoskeletal organs. To evaluate the association between LS and daily physical activities (PA) in community-dwelling older adults using a three-axis accelerometer. Methods: This cross-sectional study included healthy 80 older adults (40 men and 40 women; age: 60-79 years). Three functional tests, the two-step test, the stand-up test, and the 25-question geriatric locomotive function scale (GLFS) were used to assess the risk of LS. Maximal isometric muscle strengths of the knee extensors were examined, and the weight bearing index (knee extension strength/body weight) was calculated. Habitual daily PA was evaluated using a three-axis wrist accelerometer. Results: Of the 80 participants, 41 (51.3%) fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for LS (including a two-step test score < 1.3, difficulty with one-leg standing from 40 cm in the stand-up test, and a 25-question GLFS score ≥ 7) We found that step count and time spent performing moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) were significantly higher in women participants without LS compared to those with LS (p = 0.01); no significant difference was found in men. Logistic regression analyses indicated a longer time spent performing MVPA (> 47.26 min/day) was associated with a lower risk of LS compared to only performing for 21.11 min/day. Conclusions: Our data showed that daily MVPA using a three-axis accelerometer was associated with LS in community-dwelling older adult women, but not in men.

Physical Fitness and Performance in Talented & Untalented Young Chinese Soccer Players

Sports performance is a complex process that involves many factors, including ethnic and racial differences. China’s youth soccer is in a process of constant development, although information about the characteristics of its players and their methodological systems is scarce. The aim of this retrospective study was to characterize the physical fitness and the competitive performance of 722 Chinese players of three sports categories (8.0–9.9, 10.0–11.9 and 12.0–13.9 years), who were classified by their coaches as talented (n = 204) or untalented (n = 518). Players were assessed for anthropometry (body height, body mass, body mass index), lung capacity (Forced Vital Capacity), jumping performance (Squat Jump, Countermovement Jump and Abalakov tests), sprinting performance (10 m and 30 m Sprint tests), agility performance (Repeated Side-Step test) and flexibility (Sit & Reach test). A descriptive, comparative, correlational and multivariate analysis was performed. Competitive ranking was created in order to act as dependent variable in multiple linear regression analysis. Results indicate that Chinese players classified as talented have better motor performance than untalented ones. However, these differences are neither related nor determine the competitive performance of one group or the other.

The Impact of Pain on Functionality, Postural Control and Fall Risk in Woman Aged 45 to 64 Years Old

Background: Ageing in women is associated with chronic degenerative pain leading to a functional decrease and therefore increase fall risk. It is therefore essential to detect early functional decreases in the presence of pain related to osteoarthritis. Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the impact of pain on functionality, postural control and fall risk in women aged between 45 to 64 years old. Methods: Twenty-one (21) women aged 45 to 64 were evaluated by clinical and functional measures such as a pain questionnaire (Lequesne Index), functional tests (Stair Step Test, 5 times sit-to-stand, 6MWD, Timed-up and Go) and postural performance (under force platform). Women were classified into 2 groups from the Lequesne Pain Index (PI): low pain (score ≤ 9) and strong pain (score ≥ 10) for subsequent comparisons on functionality (physical and postural control performance). Results: A significant impact was observed between the pain index (strong PI) and 3 of the 4 functional tests carried out including Stair Step Test (p = 0.001; g = 1.44), walking distance (p = 0.003; g = 1.31) and Timed-up and Go (p = 0.04; g = −0.93). The group with a strong PI score reported further poor postural control under force platform compared to the weak pain group. Conclusion: Pain and severity based on the PI index negatively modulate physical and postural control performance in women aged 45 to 64 years old.

MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND FUNCTIONAL ABILITIES IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

The main aim of the study is to establish whether there are any differences in growth and development of functional abilities between boys and girls. For the evaluation of functional abilities, growth and development in students the following parameters have been used: height, body mass, body mass index, vital lung capacity, resting heart rate, active heart rate and modified Harvard step test index. The results of multivariate analysis (MANOVA) have shown that there is no statistically significant difference between male and female students. A statistically significant difference has been found by means of univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) in active hearth rate variables (F=8.36; p=.004) and modified Harvard step test index (F=6.67; p=.011) in favor of male students. Comparing the results obtained in the earlier and recent studies it can be concluded that the current physical exercise program does not produce desired results, furthermore it does not contribute nor does it improve functional abilities of male and female younger elementary school students.