Suspected Motor Problems and Low Preference for Active Play in Childhood Are Associated with Physical Inactivity and Low Fitness in Adolescence

Background - This prospective longitudinal study investigates whether suspected motor problems and low preference for active play in childhood are associated with physical inactivity and low cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescence. Methodology/Principal Findings - The study sample consisted of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 (NFBC 1986) composed of 5,767 children whose parents responded to a postal inquiry concerning their children's motor skills at age 8 years and who themselves reported their physical activity at age 16 years. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured with a cycle ergometer test at age 16 years. Odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the level of physical activity and fitness were obtained from multinomial logistic regression and adjusted for socio-economic position and body mass index. Low preference for active play in childhood was associated with physical inactivity (boys: OR 3.31, 95% CI 2.42–4.53; girls: OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.36–2.36) and low cardiorespiratory fitness (boys: OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.27–2.74; girls: OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.09–2.11) in adolescence. Suspected gross (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.33–3.49) and fine (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.35–2.60) motor problems were associated with physical inactivity among boys. Children with suspected motor problems and low preference for active play tended to have an even higher risk of physical inactivity in adolescence. Conclusions/Significance - Low preference for active play in childhood was associated with physical inactivity and low cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescence. Furthermore, children with suspected motor problems and low preference for active play tended to have an even higher risk of physical inactivity in adolescence. Identification of children who do not prefer active play and who have motor problems may allow targeted interventions to support their motor learning and participation in active play and thereby promote their physical activity and fitness in later life.peerReviewe

Testing the activitystat hypothesis: a randomised controlled trial protocol

Background: The activitystat hypothesis proposes that when physical activity or energy expenditure is increased or decreased in one domain, there will be a compensatory change in another domain to maintain an overall, stable level of physical activity or energy expenditure. To date, there has been no experimental study primarily designed to test the activitystat hypothesis in adults. The aim of this trial is to determine the effect of two different imposed exercise loads on total daily energy expenditure and physical activity levels. Methods. This study will be a randomised, multi-arm, parallel controlled trial. Insufficiently active adults (as determined by the Active Australia survey) aged 18-60 years old will be recruited for this study (n=146). Participants must also satisfy the Sports Medicine Australia Pre-Exercise Screening System and must weigh less than 150 kg. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups using a computer-generated allocation sequence. Participants in the Moderate exercise group will receive an additional 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week for six weeks, and those in the Extensive exercise group will receive an additional 300 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week for six weeks. Exercise targets will be accumulated through both group and individual exercise sessions monitored by heart rate telemetry. Control participants will not be given any instructions regarding lifestyle. The primary outcome measures are activity energy expenditure (doubly labeled water) and physical activity (accelerometry). Secondary measures will include resting metabolic rate via indirect calorimetry, use of time, maximal oxygen consumption and several anthropometric and physiological measures. Outcome measures will be conducted at baseline (zero weeks), mid- and end-intervention (three and six weeks) with three (12 weeks) and six month (24 week) follow-up. All assessors will be blinded to group allocation. Discussion. This protocol has been specifically designed to test the activitystat hypothesis while taking into account the key conceptual and methodological considerations of testing a biologically regulated homeostatic feedback loop. Results of this study will be an important addition to the growing literature and debate concerning the possible existence of an activitystat. Trial registration. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12610000248066

Avaliação da cavidade nasal e nasofaringe através da rinometria acústica antes e após adenoidectomia Acoustic rhinometry evaluation of nasal cavity and nasopharynx before and after adenoidectomy

INTRODUÇÃO: A hipertrofia adenoideana é vista com freqüência na prática otorrinolaringológica e é importante avaliar a patência nasal antes do início do tratamento. Neste trabalho, os autores buscam avaliar as mudanças na geometria nasal e nasofaringe antes e após adenoidectomia através de um método objetivo de mensuração da patência nasal, a rinometria acústica. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Clínico prospectivo. OBJETIVO: Os autores avaliam a área de secção transversal mínima (ASTM) e o volume das cavidades nasais e nasofaringe através da rinometria acústica (RA) antes e após a cirurgia de adenoidectomia. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Vinte e três crianças que tinham indicação cirúrgica para adenoidectomia com ou sem tonsilectomia foram submetidas ao exame de RA antes e 15 dias após a cirurgia. RESULTADOS: A ASTM das fossas nasais variou, antes do uso de vasoconstritor (VC), de 0,73 cm² antes da cirurgia para 0,79 cm² após a cirurgia; após o uso de VC variou de 0,87 cm² para 0,93 cm². O volume das fossas nasais variou, antes do uso de VC, de 6,18 cm³ antes da cirurgia para 6,47 cm³ após a cirurgia; após o uso de VC variou de 8,31 cm³ para 8,65 cm³. Na nasofaringe a ASTM variou, antes do uso de VC, de 2,43 cm² antes da cirurgia para 2,69 cm² após a cirurgia; após o uso de VC variou de 2,76 cm² para 3,79 cm². Na nasofaringe o volume variou, antes do uso de VC, de 5,57 cm³ antes da cirurgia para 6,14 cm³ após a cirurgia; após o uso de VC variou de 6,51 cm³ para 8,78 cm³. CCINCLUSÃO: O aumento de ASTM e volume da nasofaringe, indicando melhora da permeabilidade nasal, concorda com a melhora dos sintomas obstrutivos referidos pelo paciente e familiares após a cirurgia de adenoidectomia.<br>INTRODUCTION: The authors evaluate the minimum cross-sectional area (MCA) and nasal volume (NV) of the nasal cavity and nasopharynx before and after adenoidectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical prospective. AIM: Evaluate changes of nasal cavity and nasopharynx before and after adenoidectomy using objective technique for assessment the nasal patency, acoustic rhinometry. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Twenty-three children (52 nasal cavities) with surgical indication for adenoidectomy were evaluated with acoustic rhinometry before and 15 days after surgery. RESULTS: The MCA of nasal cavity changed, before decongestion, from 0,73 cm² preoperatively into 0,79 cm² postoperatively and after decongestion, from 0,87 cm² preoperatively into 0,93 cm² postoperatively. The volume of nasal cavity changed, before decongestion, from 6,18 cm³ preoperatively into 6,47 cm³ postoperatively and after decongestion, from 8,31 cm³ preoperatively into 8,65 cm³ postoperatively. The MCA of nasopharynx changed, before decongestion, from 2,43 cm² preoperatively into 2,69 cm² postoperatively and after decongestion, from 2,76 cm² preoperatively into 3,79 cm² postoperatively. The volume of nasopharynx changed, before decongestion, from 5,57 cm³ preoperatively into 6,14 cm³ postoperatively and after decongestion, from 6,51 cm³ preoperatively into 8,78 cm³ postoperatively. CONCLUSION: The increase of MCA and volume of the nasopharynx agree with the improvement of the symptoms that patients or parents reported after adenoidectomy

Influence of a lifestyle intervention in preschool children on physiological and psychological parameters (Ballabeina): study design of a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Childhood obesity and physical inactivity are increasing dramatically worldwide. Children of low socioeconomic status and/or children of migrant background are especially at risk. In general, the overall effectiveness of school-based programs on health-related outcomes has been disappointing. A special gap exists for younger children and in high risk groups. This paper describes the rationale, design, curriculum, and evaluation of a multicenter preschool randomized intervention study conducted in areas with a high migrant population in two out of 26 Swiss cantons. Twenty preschool classes in the German (canton St. Gallen) and another 20 in the French (canton Vaud) part of Switzerland were separately selected and randomized to an intervention and a control arm by the use of opaque envelopes. The multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention aimed to increase physical activity and sleep duration, to reinforce healthy nutrition and eating behaviour, and to reduce media use. According to the ecological model, it included children, their parents and the teachers. The regular teachers performed the majority of the intervention and were supported by a local health promoter. The intervention included physical activity lessons, adaptation of the built infrastructure; promotion of regional extracurricular physical activity; playful lessons about nutrition, media use and sleep, funny homework cards and information materials for teachers and parents. It lasted one school year. Baseline and post-intervention evaluations were performed in both arms. Primary outcome measures included BMI and aerobic fitness (20 m shuttle run test). Secondary outcomes included total (skinfolds, bioelectrical impedance) and central (waist circumference) body fat, motor abilities (obstacle course, static and dynamic balance), physical activity and sleep duration (accelerometry and questionnaires), nutritional behaviour and food intake, media use, quality of life and signs of hyperactivity (questionnaires), attention and spatial working memory ability (two validated tests). Researchers were blinded to group allocation. The purpose of this paper is to outline the design of a school-based multicenter cluster randomized, controlled trial aiming to reduce body mass index and to increase aerobic fitness in preschool children in culturally different parts of Switzerland with a high migrant population. Trial Registration: (clinicaltrials.gov) NCT00674544