Differences in physical activity levels in 8-10 year-old girls who attend physical education classes only and those who also regularly perform extracurricular sports activities

The aim of this study is to determine the differences in physical activity levels (PAL) of 8-10 year-old girls, who attend physical education (PE) classes only and those who also regularly perform extracurricular sports activities, and to study the relationship between PAL and body composition. 35 primary school girls of 8-10 years of age have participated this study. Control group (n=17) consisted of girls who attended physical education classes 2 hours per week, experimental group (n=18) consisted of girls who, in addition to physical education classes, participated in volleyball training. Extracurricular Sports activities must be supplement PE classes

Nutrition knowledge and behaviours of children aged 8-12 who attend sport schools

The purpose of this study was to increase the nutrition knowledge and to create perdurable changes in children's behaviour with nutrition education-educational material. A quasi-experimental design was utilized with 78 volunteer female participants aged 8-12 who were attending a volleyball school. Education materials were given to education group to study at homes with their families during 1.5 months in order to support the education. The increase in nutrition knowledge was significant comparing to control group (p<0.005). As a result, the nutrition education and the educational material induced positive changes in nutrition knowledge and behaviours

Impact of exercise on quality of life and body-self perception of patients with acromegaly

In acromegaly the impact of therapy on well-being and self-perception of patients is not clearly defined. The data existing on the effect of treatment on health-related quality of life in patients with acromegaly is inconclusive. In this study we addressed the effect of exercise on health-related quality of life, symptoms of depression and perception of body image in patients with acromegaly. Patients with acromegaly were stratified into two groups according to their participation in a prescheduled program of exercise. Participants in the study group performed exercise for 75 min a day for 3 days a week during cosecutive 3 months. Warming, cardio, strength, balance and stretching moves applied in every course. Both the exercise group and control group were asked to complete a questionnaire on quality of life, symptoms of depression and self-perception of body image. Each questionnaire was answered by both groups before the beginning of the exercise program (at month-0) and after the completion of the program (at month-3). In exercise group after the completion of exercise period there was a tendency towards decreament in body mass index and IGF-I, although not statistically significant (p = 0.08 and p = 0.09). Self-assessment of body image improved significantly after participation in the exercise program (p = 0.01). Present findings support that exercise may be an adjunctive method for patients with acromegaly to improve self esteem and perception

Physical and cardiovascular performance in cases with acromegaly after regular short-term exercise

ObjectiveImpaired physical performance is a disturbing complication of acromegaly. We aimed to evaluate the role of regular exercise in amelioration of the impaired physical performance in acromegaly. MethodsPatients with acromegaly were divided into two groups according to their participation in a prescheduled programme of exercise. Participants in the study group were exercised 3days a week for 3 consecutive months. Exercise tolerance was evaluated by maximal oxygen consumption (VO(2)max) and time (T) taken to complete the Bruce protocol, muscle flexibility by the sit and reach test (SRT) and muscle strength by the hand grip strength test (HGST). Concomitantly, anthropometric assessment was performed using body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), skinfold measurements from 8 points, percentage body fat (PBF), fat mass (FM) and lean body mass (LBM). ResultsAfter 3months of exercise, VO(2)max and T were higher in cases that exercised than in cases that did not (P=0004 and P=0001). Over 3months, within the exercise group, VO(2)max and T of the Bruce protocol increased (P=0003 and P=0004) and heart rate during warming decreased (P=004). SRT increased within the exercise group after 3months (P=0004). HGSRT did not change significantly (right P=006 and left P=02). The sum of skinfolds, BMI, WHR and LBM remained stable over the study period (P=01, P=008, P=03 and P=009). PBF decreased slightly and FM decreased significantly over 3months (P=005 and P=003). ConclusionEven short-term exercise may improve impaired physical performance, muscle activity and disturbed body fat composition in acromegaly

The comparison of public and private primary schools children physical fitness

To study the effect of differences between public and private primary schools sharing a common curriculum. Between the ages of 7 and 11, educated in public and private primary schools were included in this study. Girls and boys participating in physical education classes were evaluated on right-left hand grip and leg strength using a dynamometer; on flexibility, using sit-and-reach flexibility test; on balance, using flamingo balance test and on coordination, hand-eye coordination test. The results of the effect of physical education on physical fitness of children displayed statistically significant differences only in leg strength

Static and dynamic balances of patients with acromegaly and impact of exercise on balance

Purpose Patients with acromegaly may have balance abnormalities due to changes in body composition. We aim to compare static and dynamic balances in patients with acromegaly and healthy volunteers, and to evaluate the effects of exercise on balance in patients with acromegaly. Methods This prospective study included 25 patients with acromegaly followed at endocrinology clinic of Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty and 13 healthy volunteers. The acromegalic patients were divided into 2 groups. Group A (n = 11) attended an exercise program 3 days/week for 3 months, whereas group B (n = 14) and healthy volunteers (Group C) were exercise-free. Bipedal and unipedal stance static and dynamic balance tests were performed using a Prokin 252N device. Results The ages, demographic characteristics, and body compositions were similar. In acromegalic patients, the static balance parameters of displacement of center-of-pressure in anterior-posterior direction (C.o.P.Y) while eyes open (p = 0.002) and on left leg (p = 0.001), in left-right direction (C.o.P.X) on right leg (p = 0.03), eyes-closed average medio-lateral velocity (AMLV) (p = 0.001) and the dynamic parameter of forward/backward front/right standard deviation (FBFRSD) (p = 0.02) were significantly different from healthy controls. When the exercise effect on balance was evaluated between group A and B, there were significant improvements in most parameters of dynamic balance measurements of both forward-backward and medial-lateral sway (FBFRSD, FBDME, and RLBLSD) (p = 0.02, p = 0.02, and p = 0.004, respectively) after exercise in group A. Conclusions Patients with acromegaly had impairments at various static and dynamic balance parameters, especially in posterior direction. After a 3-month exercise program, the dynamic balance profoundly improved, but static balance was relatively preserved in patients with acromegaly

Impact of exercise on quality of life and body-self perception of patients with acromegaly

In acromegaly the impact of therapy on well-being and self-perception of patients is not clearly defined. The data existing on the effect of treatment on health-related quality of life in patients with acromegaly is inconclusive. In this study we addressed the effect of exercise on health-related quality of life, symptoms of depression and perception of body image in patients with acromegaly. Patients with acromegaly were stratified into two groups according to their participation in a prescheduled program of exercise. Participants in the study group performed exercise for 75 min a day for 3 days a week during cosecutive 3 months. Warming, cardio, strength, balance and stretching moves applied in every course. Both the exercise group and control group were asked to complete a questionnaire on quality of life, symptoms of depression and self-perception of body image. Each questionnaire was answered by both groups before the beginning of the exercise program (at month-0) and after the completion of the program (at month-3). In exercise group after the completion of exercise period there was a tendency towards decreament in body mass index and IGF-I, although not statistically significant (p = 0.08 and p = 0.09). Self-assessment of body image improved significantly after participation in the exercise program (p = 0.01). Present findings support that exercise may be an adjunctive method for patients with acromegaly to improve self esteem and perception