Short-Term Effects of Using Pedometers to Increase Daily Physical Activity in Smokers: A Randomized Trial

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Validity and reliability of using MVP 4 Function Walk4Life digital pedometers to assess physical activity levels among preschool-aged Head Start children

The Surgeon General recommends preschoolers 3-5 years old accumulate 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day. However, there is limited data measuring physical activity (PA) and MVPA amongst this population. The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to determine the validity, reliability, and feasibility of using MVP 4 Function Walk4Life digital pedometers (MVP-4) in measuring MVPA among preschoolers using the newly modified direct observational technique, System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time-Preschool Version (SOFIT-P) as the gold standard. An ethnically diverse population of 3-5 year old underserved children were recruited from two Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) Head Start centers. For 2 days at baseline and 2 days at post-test, 75 children enrolled wore MVP-4 pedometers for approximately 6-hours per observation day and were observed using SOFIT-P during predominantly active times. Statistical analyses used Pearson "r" correlation coefficients to determine mean minutes of PA and MVPA, convergent and criterion validity, and reliability. Significance was set at p = <0.05. Feasibility was determined through process evaluation information collected during this study via observations from data collectors and teacher input. Results show mean minutes of PA and MVPA ranged between 30-42 and 11-14 minutes, respectively. Convergent validity comparing BMI percentiles with MVP-4 PA outcomes show no significance at pre-test; however, each measurement at post-test showed significance for MVPA (p = 0.0247, p = 0.0056), respectively. Criterion validity comparing percent MVPA time between SOFIT-P and MVP-4 pedometers was determined; however, results deemed insufficient due to inconsistency in observation times while using the newly developed SOFIT-P. Reliability measures show no significance at pre-test, yet show significant results for all PA outcomes at post-test (p = 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.0010, p = 0.003), respectively. Finally, MVP-4 pedometers lacked feasibility due to logistical barriers in design. Researchers feel the significant results at post-test are secondary to increased familiarity and more accurate placement of pedometers across time. Researchers suggest manufacturers of MVP-4 pedometers further modify the instrument for ease of use with this population, following which future studies ought to determine validity using objective measures or all-day direct observation techniques.^

Step based physical activity guidelines for preschool-aged children

Objective Public health organizations recommend that preschool-aged children accumulate at least 3 h of physical activity (PA) daily. Objective monitoring using pedometers offers an opportunity to measure preschooler's PA and assess compliance with this recommendation. The purpose of this study was to derive step-based recommendations consistent with the 3 h PA recommendation for preschool-aged children. Method The study sample comprised 916 preschool-aged children, aged 3 to 6 years (mean age = 5.0 ± 0.8 years). Children were recruited from kindergartens located in Portugal, between 2009 and 2013. Children wore an ActiGraph GT1M accelerometer that measured PA intensity and steps per day simultaneously over a 7-day monitoring period. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to identify the daily step count threshold associated with meeting the daily 3 hour PA recommendation. Results A significant correlation was observed between minutes of total PA and steps per day (r = 0.76, p < 0.001). The optimal step count for ≥ 3 h of total PA was 9099 steps per day (sensitivity (90%) and specificity (66%)) with area under the ROC curve = 0.86 (95% CI: 0.84 to 0.88). Conclusion Preschool-aged children who accumulate less than 9000 steps per day may be considered Insufficiently Active.

Rôle de l'inactivité physique dans l'étiologie de l'obésité [The role of physical inactivity in the etiology of obesity].

The activity-related energy expenditure mainly depends upon body weight, the type, intensity and duration of the exercise as well as the mechanical efficiency with which the subjects perform the work. Controversy still exist about the role of hypoactivity in the aetiology of obesity both in adolescence and adulthood. A number of experimental studies based on indirect assessment of physical activity (such as pedometers, accelerometers, cinematography and heart rate) have demonstrated a significant reduction in spontaneous physical activity in certain obese groups as compared to lean matched controls. On the other hand, direct measurements of energy expenditure (by indirect calorimetry) have shown a linear relationship between body weight and 24-hour (or activity-related) energy expenditure. It therefore appears that despite the greater placidity characterising some grossly obese subjects, the absolute rate of energy expenditure - particularly in weight bearing activities - is not lower than in lean subjects, since the hypoactivity does not fully compensate for the greater gross energy cost of a given activity.

TURKU TAKING STEPS TOWARDS FUTURE - technology supports physical activity

Physical activity (PA) is an important field of healthcare research internationally and within Finland. As technology devices and services penetrate deeper levels within society, the need for studying the usefulness for PA turns vital. We started this research work by reviewing literature consisting of two hundred research journals, all of which have found technology to significantly improve an individual’s ability to get motivation and achieve officially recommended levels of physical activity, like the 10000 steps a day, being tracked with the help of pedometers. Physical activity recommendations require sustained encouragement, consistent performance in order to achieve the long term benefits. We surveyed within the city of Turku, how the motivation levels and thirty three other criterions encompassing technology awareness, adoption and usage attitudes are impacted. Our aim was to know the factors responsible for achieving consistent growth in activity levels within the individuals and focus groups, as well as to determine the causes of failures and for collecting user experience feedback. The survey results were quite interesting and contain impeccable information for this field. While the focus groups confirmed the theory established by past studies within our literature review, it also establishes our research propositions that ict tools and services have provided and can further add higher benefits and value to individuals in tracking and maintain their activity levels consistently for longer time durations. This thesis includes two new models which dictate technology and physical activity adoption patterns based on four easy to evaluate criterions, thereby helping the healthcare providers to recommend improvements and address issues with an easy rule based approach. This research work provides vital clues on technology based healthcare objectives and achievement of standard PA recommendations by people within Turku and nearby regions.

A physical activity intervention in a workplace setting

Physical inactivity poses a huge burden on Canada's health care system and is detrimental to the health of Canadians (Katzmarzyk & Janssen, 2004). Walking is a viable option for individuals to become physically active on a daily basis and is in fact the most commonly reported leisure time physical activity. It has been associated with many health benefits including weight loss/weight control, reduced risk of coronary artery disease and diabetes, lowered blood pressure, and improved psychological wellbeing (Brisson & Tudor-Locke, 2004). Specifically, individuals' stage of change, selfefficacy and health related quality of life (HRQL) are three psychological constructs that can be greatly improved with increased physical activity (Dishman, 1991; Penedo & Dahn, 2005; Poag & McAuley, 1992). Public health physical activity recommendations exist but many individuals find these difficult to meet due to overly busy lifestyles (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2003). Pedometers are inexpensive devices that can monitor individual bouts of walking so that the incorporation of physical activity into one's daily life is more plausible. They are also excellent tools for motivation, goalsetting, and immediate feedback (Brisson & Tudor-Locke, 2004). Since many people spend a large proportion of their time at their places of employment, workplaces have begun to be a common site for the development of physical activity interventions. These programs have been growing in popUlarity and have shown numerous benefits for both employees and employers (Voit, 2001). The purpose of the current study was to implement and evaluate the use of a pedometer-based physical activity intervention incorporating goal-setting and physical activity logs in a workplace setting, and to examine the relationship between different types of self-efficacy (task, barrier, and scheduling) and different phases of the intervention. Twenty male participants from a local steel manufacturing plant who exhibited health risk factors (e.g. hypertension, diabetes, etc.) were assigned to one of two groups (group A or group B). All participants were asked to wear pedometers on their waists, record their daily steps, set goals that were outlined on a step-tracking sheet (detennined by their baseline number of steps), and keep track of their work days, wakelbed time, sedentary time, and time spent doing other physical activity. Group A began the intervention immediately following the baseline measures, whereas group B continued with their regular routine for 4 weeks before beginning. Physiological measures (height, weight, blood pressure, relative body fat, waist and hip circumference, and body mass index) were taken and a battery of questionnaires that assessed barrier, task and scheduling self-efficacy, HRQL, and stage of change administered at baseline, week 5 (end of intervention for group A), week 9 (end of intervention for group B; follow-up for group A) and week 13 (follow-up for both groups). Results showed that this workplace physical activity intervention was successful at increasing the participants' daily steps, that task self-efficacy is a significant predictor of participants' exercise adherence during the initial stages of participation (intervention phase), and that the participants felt that this intervention was effective. Finally, further exploratory analyses showed that this intervention was effective for all participants, but most valuable for participants most in need of improvement - that is, those who were most sedentary prior to the intervention. This intervention is an inexpensive use of simple and effective tools (e.g. pedometers), has the potential to attract a wide variety of participants and become a pennanent part of any health promotion initiative.

Módulo Activo Recreo Activo -MARA: una estrategia para incrementar la actividad física en niños y niñas de 5º grado en Bogotá.

Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad de MARA (Modulo Activo Recreo Activo), sobre el tiempo de actividad física moderada vigorosa (AFMV) y de comportamiento sedentario de niños y niñas de 5º grado en 2 instituciones educativas oficiales de la ciudad de Bogotá. Materiales y métodos: Los participantes fueron 128 niños entre 10 y 12 años de edad, de 5to grado que asisten a dos colegios públicos en la localidad de San Cristóbal en Bogotá. La actividad física de los niños fue medida con acelerómetro GT3X+, durante 7 días entre julio y octubre de 2013. Uno de los colegios fue seleccionado aleatoriamente para ser intervenido por Muévete Escolar y su Módulo Activo Recreo Activo (MARA), (CIM) y otro colegio fue el grupo control (CC). El tiempo gastado en actividad física durante el día y en el momento de recreo fue medido antes y en la semana 10 después de la intervención: sedentario ( SED), actividad física leve ( AFL), actividad física moderada(AFM), actividad física vigorosa(AFV) y actividad física moderada a vigorosa (AFMV). Resultados: Posterior al análisis estadístico a través de modelos mixtos multinivel para ajustar por el efecto de conglomerado, se observó diferencia significativa entre CIM y CC (p < 0.0049) representado por incremento en los minutos de AFMV en CIM. Después de la intervención, los CMI disminuyeron los minutos de comportamiento sedentario (p= 0.0029), comparativamente con los CC. Conclusiones: El presente estudio contribuye a investigar sobre los efectos a corto plazo de modificar el momento del recreo, mediante la implementación de actividades guiadas, supervisadas y con el uso de materiales y equipos de juego. Los resultados del estudio sugieren que los efectos de la intervención con MARA fueron significativos especialmente en promover la práctica de AF diaria logrando incrementar los minutos de AFMV diaria, y así mismo disminuyendo comportamiento sedentario en el día. .

Farmers' attitudes towards techniques for improving oestrus detection in dairy herds in South West England

Unidentified heats contribute to declining fertility rates in English dairy herds. Several techniques have been advocated to improve heat detection rates. Despite demonstrable technical efficacy and cost-effectiveness, uptake is low. A study in South West England used the Theory of Reasoned Action (TORA) to explore dairy farmers' attitudes and beliefs towards heat detection techniques. Few farmers were convinced that following prescribed observation times, milk progesterone testing and using pedometers would fit their system or improve on their current heat detection practices. Perceived difficulty of using a technique was not a constraint on adoption. Without promotion that addresses identified barriers and drivers to adoption, little change in current practice can be expected. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Methods for assessing physical activity: a systematic review focused on older adults

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Modelo da velocidade crítica em testes de caminhada: validade, reprodutibilidade e aplicabilidade em pacientes de Unidades de Saúde

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Efeitos endócrinos, anti-inflamatórios e na atividade pedométrica após as administrações de flunixin meglumine e de meloxicam no pós-operatório de laparotomias em bezerros

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Diagnóstico do nível de atividade física de adultos cadastrados na estratégia de saúde da família de Rubião Junior, Botucatu, SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)