Search results

1

Habitual physical activity patterns of inner-city children

100%

Harmon J., Brusseau T. A., Collier D., Lenz E.

Human Movement

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2013

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vol. 14

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issue 4

305-309

EN

Purpose. Understanding the physical activity patterns of youth is an essential step in addressing the obesity epidemic and, ultimately, developing programs that reverse this trend. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the habitual physical activity patterns of Hispanic and African-American children living in a northeastern USA urban environment. Methods. Participants included 39 inner-city children (10.5 ± 0.61 years old; 78% African American, 14% Hispanic; 85% free/reduced lunch; 20.3 ± 4.3 BMI with 45% overweight/obese). Children wore a pedometer for seven consecutive days. Means and standard deviations were calculated and Student’s t test was utilized to examine difference across gender and day of the week. Results. Children averaged 9535 ± 2594 steps/day. The weekday step count mean was 10090 ± 2939 and the weekend step count was 7557 ± 4337, = 2533. Students were significantly more active during the week; t(16) = 2.38, p = 0.03. Children averaged 10610 ± 2842 steps on physical education weekdays and 8338 ± 2802 steps on non-physical education weekdays. Children were significantly more active on days with physical education classes; t(30) = 4.7, p = 0.00,Δ = 2272. Conclusions. Very few children in the current sample met daily step recommendations. Our results support previous research that suggests that the ‘suburban built’ environment is more conducive to promoting physical activity than the inner city. Our sample was less active than those in the majority of other studies exploring physical activity in primary school-aged children. Our findings (compared with previous research) found reduced physical activity among African-American children, especially girls.

2

Comparison of physical activity of children in a state kindergarten and a forest kindergarten in the Czech Republic

100%

Culková D., Francová L., Růžička I., Urbanová D., Suk J.

Physical Activity Review

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2021

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vol. 2

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issue 9

120-129

EN

Introduction: This study compares physical activity of children in a state kindergarten and a forest kindergarten, particularly the number of steps taken, which can indicate the quantity of physical activity. The objective is to monitor the number of steps taken by children in selected institutions and to conduct an analysis in relation to the structure of the daily programme and movement regimen of these institutions contributing thus to the discussion concerning physical literacy formation among preschool children. Methods: The study is of a descriptive non-intervention character using mechanical pedometers. The sample consists of 73 children (36 in the state kindergarten, 37 in the forest kindergarten). The data are processed using a nonparametric Mann-Whitney test and Cohen's d. Results: At the significance level of 0.05 it was discovered that children from the forest kindergarten take significantly more steps in the observed period than children from the state kindergarten. The Zscore is -4.357 and p < 0.001. Substantive significance for the level of physical activity measured by the number of steps is high. Cohen's d = (532057-354714)/133355.005729 = 1.33. Conclusion: Physical literacy is influenced by both the quality of physical activity and the quantity, which was larger in the forest kindergarten. This may be related to the amount of spontaneous physical activity and the frequency and length of trips. However, controlled physical activities in the state kindergarten, especially morning exercise, can improve the quality and increase physical literacy as well. There is a need for a competent approach of teachers, sensitive inclusion of physical activities in the daily programme with emphasis on internal motivation, and awareness of benefits and drawback of both spontaneous physical activity and controlled activities represented by regular morning exercise.

3

The Influence of Increased Intensity Levels on the Attitude of High School Females toward Aerobic Dance Lessons

88%

Skalik K., Frömel K., Stelze J., Pelclová J., Groffik D.

Journal of Human Kinetics

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2009

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vol. 22

99-105

EN

Available evidence suggests that interest and participation, especially in vigorous physical activity, declines with age during adolescence. This negative attitude toward vigorous physical activity is especially prevalent among female adolescents. This study investigates how increasing intensity levels of aerobic dance, a popular physical education choice of female students, influence the attitude of female high school students toward the activity.A total of 313 female high school students from eight schools (age 16.32±1.74; weight-kg 53.73±7.58; height-cm 164.37±5.61; BMI-kg/m2 19.87±2.55) participated in the study. Student intensity levels during the aerobic dance lesson were monitored using heart rate monitors, accelerometers and pedometers, and the influence of intensity level on attitude toward aerobic dance was measured by use of a standardized questionnaire. The results clearly show that increasing intensity levels did not diminish the positive attitude of female students toward aerobic dance.

4

The Influence of Built Environment on Walkability Using Geographic Information System

88%

Dygryn J., Mitas J., Stelzer J.

Journal of Human Kinetics

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2010

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vol. 24

93-99

EN

The main goal of this study was to analyze the residential environment (built environment), by exploring the relationship between neighborhood walkability characteristics using Geographic Information System (GIS) and level of physical activity (PA). A randomly selected sample of 135 adults from Olomouc, Czech Republic was divided into low and high walkability neighborhoods based on the walkability index (calculated using GIS). The average daily number of steps (using Yamax SW-700 pedometer) between the groups also was measured. Result showed that participants living in the high walkable areas took more steps a day than participant in the low walkable areas. Furthermore, the mean body mass index (BMI) level was inversely correlated with the number of steps on weekdays and during the whole week. On weekend days it was still inversed throughout with the number of steps; taken but the but the relationship was not statistically significant.

5

The Impact of a School-Based Active Video Game Play Intervention on Children's Physical Activity During Recess

88%

Duncan M., Staples V.

Human Movement

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2010

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vol. 11

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issue 1

95-99

EN

Purpose. To assess physical activity levels during active video game play over time and compare this to ‘free play’ associated with recess activity in a sample of British primary school children over a 6-week period. Basic procedures. Thirty children (ages 10-11, 12 boys, 18 girls) from central England were randomly selected to participate in a 6 week, recess based, active video gaming intervention (n = 15) or act as controls (n = 15). Repeated measures analysis of covariance (controlling for body fatness) was used to examine any differences in physical activity, determined by pedometry and heart rate monitoring over time and between intervention and control groups. Main Findings. Children in the intervention accumulated significantly greater steps/day than the control group during the first week of the intervention. This pattern was reversed at the mid and end points of the intervention (p = .03). Irrespective of time point, children engaging in active video game play spent a lesser percentage of time engaged in MVPA than the controls undertaking ‘traditional’ recess activity (p = .0001). Conclusions. Active video game play does not appear to be a sustainable means to enhance children's physical activity. Although physical activity (steps/min) was greater on initial presentation of active video games compared to ‘traditional’ recess activity, this appears to be an acute effect.

6

Determining Differences among Genders and Days of the Week in Adolescent Physical Activity Levels Using Pedometers in Northwestern Bohemia

75%

Blaha L., Cihlar D.

Physical Activity Review

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2019

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issue 7

80-88

EN

Tracking motion activities through pedometer applications is one of the methods often mentioned for getting information about motion programs and for promoting a healthy lifestyle among adolescents. Similar problems are also addressed in the region of Northwestern Bohemia which is affected by certain structural characteristics. Aim of Study: This study strives to establish indicators of participation in physical activities among students in the second level of primary school (junior high school) and to evaluate them based on recommended criteria as well as from the point of view of the conclusions reached by other studies. Material and Methods: Physical activity was monitored concurrently and objectively by the Yamax SW-700 pedometer for seven consecutive days. Pedometers have proven themselves in a number of studies and are particularly suitable for assessing locomotive movement activities. Identification and recording sheets were used for the registration of the 358 boys and 330 girls from the second level of primary school (junior high school) in the Ústí nad Labem region who went through our survey. Pedometers were used during a period of favorable weather conditions and in the course of normal school attendance. Results: Groups of boys report different values throughout the second level of primary school (junior high school), where the average values of steps during weekdays is higher than 10,000 steps (Mmin=10,111; Mmax=10,961), which is the recommended number of steps, while the weekends record a decrease of values of steps to a number which is less than average (Mmin=8,547; Mmax=9,761). In regard to the results of the girls, the number of daily steps is lower than in the boys' groups (Mmin=9,247; Mmax=10,598). Girls results show the lowest values of steps during the weekend. Conclusion: Boys achieve higher daily values than girls in all tracked pointers. The values of steps that are typical for weekdays are significantly higher than those typical for weekend days. The lowest levels are the median values characterizing the steps taken during the weekend days for boys and girls.

7

Daily and school physical activity of 16 year-old girls and boys

63%

Groffik D., Frömel K., Witek-Chabińska M., Szyja R., Žatka R., Urbański B.

Health Promotion & Physical Activity

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2018

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vol. 4

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issue 3

12-19

PL

Celem pracy było określenie zależności pomiędzy szkolną a całodniową aktywnością fizyczną 16-letnich dziewcząt i chłopców na podstawie tygodniowego monitoringu z wykorzystaniem krokomierzy. W badaniu uwzględniono również poziom całodziennej i szkolnej aktywności fizycznej uczniów mniej i bardziej aktywnych w czasie przed zajęciami w szkole. Przebadano 169 osób, w tym 93 dziewczęta i 76 chłopców ze szkół ponadgimnazjalnych regionu śląskiego. Badani nosili krokomierz przez 5 dni szkolnych zapisując liczbę wykonanych kroków w poszczególnych segmentach dnia (czas przed zajęciami w szkole, zajęcia w szkole i czas po zakończeniu zajęć w szkole) w specjalnie przygotowanych tabelach. Wyniki badań wskazały, że dziewczęta są bardziej aktywne pod względem liczby wykonywanych kroków w dni szkolne od chłopców. Dziewczęta i chłopcy spełniają rekomendację szkolnej liczby kroków w wymiarze 3 000. Zaobserwowano natomiast różnicę w aktywności fizycznej uwzględniając podział badanych na mniej i bardziej aktywnych w czasie przed zajęciami szkolnymi. Uczniowie mniej aktywni pod względem liczby kroków wykonanych przed rozpoczęciem zajęć w szkole nie spełniają zalecanej szkolnej rekomendacji aktywności fizycznej. Poszukiwanie rezerw aktywności fizycznej w całym dniu jest konieczne. Oprócz lekcji wychowania fizycznego szkoła powinna popularyzować aktywność podczas przerw międzylekcyjnych, ćwiczeń śródlekcyjnych, czy też zachęcać do aktywnej lokomocji przed i po zajęciach w szkole. Zachęcanie do zwiększonej liczby spacerów, aktywnego transportu do/ze szkoły, jazdy na rowerze, łyżworolkach wśród dzieci i młodzież jest ważnym elementem w przygotowaniu do całożyciowej aktywności i zdrowego stylu życia.

EN

The aim of the work was to determine the relationship between school and all-day physical activity of 16-year-old girls and boys based on weekly monitoring using pedometers. The research also took into account the level of all-day physical activity of less and more active pupils before school classes. 169 people were examined, including 93 girls and 76 boys from secondary schools of the Silesian region. The subjects wore a pedometer for 5 school days, recording the number of steps performed in individual segments of the day (time before classes at school, during classes at school and time after completing classes at school) in specially prepared tables. The research results indicated that girls are more active in terms of the number of steps taken on school days from boys. Girls and boys meet the recommendation of the school number of steps in the dimension of 3 000. However, the difference in physical activity was observed, considering the division of respondents into less and more active in time before school classes. Students who are less active in terms of the number of steps taken before the start of classes at school do not meet the recommended school recommendation of physical activity. It is necessary to look for reserves of physical activity throughout the day. In addition to physical education lessons, the school should promote activity during breaks, mid-term exercises or encourage active locomotion before and after school classes. Encouraging an increased number of walks, active transport to/from school, cycling, roller skating among children and adolescents is an important element in the preparation for lifelong activity and a healthy lifestyle.