Frequency of the sit to stand task : an observational study of free-living adults

The sit to stand movement is a key determinant of functional independence. Knowledge of the frequency with which the sit to stand movement is performed throughout the day could inform workplace ergonomics, but has rarely been examined. Healthy adults (n = 140) were recruited from the general population. Free-living activity for each participant was reported using an activity monitor. On average, participants performed 60 (±22) sit to stand movements each day. Participants in indoor sedentary occupations performed significantly more sit to stand movements per day than participants in outdoor active occupations (66 vs. 54; n = 102; p = 0.003). Participants (n = 33) performed significantly more sit to stand movements on working days than on non-working days (65 vs. 55; p = 0.018). This analysis provides contemporary data for sit to stand frequency in a predominantly working population, and demonstrates that work and employment have a significant effect on that frequency

Cross-sectional associations between personality traits and device-based measures of step count and sedentary behaviour in older age: the Lothian birth cohort 1936

BACKGROUND: While the associations between personality traits and self-reported physical activity are well replicated, few studies have examined the associations between personality and device-based measures of both physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Low levels of physical activity and high levels of sedentary behaviour are known risk factors for poorer health outcomes in older age. METHODS: We used device-based measures of physical activity and sedentary behaviour recorded over 7 days in 271 79-year-old participants of the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936. Linear regression models were used to assess whether personality traits were cross-sectionally associated with step count, sedentary time, and the number of sit-to-stand transitions. Personality traits were entered one at a time, and all-together, controlling for age and sex in Model 1 and additionally for BMI and limiting long-term illness in Model 2. RESULTS: None of the associations between personality traits and measures of physical activity and sedentary behaviours remained significant after controlling for multiple-comparisons using the False Discovery Rate test (all ps > .07). CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence that personality traits are associated with device-based measures of physical activity or sedentary behaviour in older age. More studies are needed to replicate and examine the nature of these relationships

Compositional analysis of the association between mortality and 24-hour movement behaviour from NHANES

Aims:Previous prospective studies of the association between mortality and physical activity have generally not fully accounted for the interplay between movement behaviours. A compositional data modelling approach accounts for relative scale and co-dependency in time-use data across physical activity behaviours of the 24-hour day. Methods:A prospective analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2006 on N = 1468 adults (d = 135 deaths) in ages 50-79 years was undertaken using compositional Cox regression analysis. Daily time spent in sedentary behaviour, light intensity (LIPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was determined from waist-mounted accelerometer data (Actigraph 7164) and supplemented with self-reported sleep data to determine the daily time-use composition. Results:The composition of time spent in sedentary behaviour, LIPA, MVPA and sleep was associated with mortality rate after allowing for age and sex effects (p < 0.001), and remained significant when other lifestyle factors were added (p < 0.001). This was driven primarily by the preponderance of MVPA; however, significant changes are attributable to LIPA relative to sedentary behaviour and sleep, and sedentary behaviour relative to sleep. The final ratio ceased to be statistically significant after incorporating lifestyle factors. The preponderance of MVPA ceased to be statistically significant after incorporating health at outset and physical limitations on movement. Conclusions: An association is inferred between survival rate and the physical activity composition of the day. The MVPA time share is important, but time spent in LIPA relative to sedentary behaviour and sleep is also a significant factor. Increased preponderance of MVPA may have detrimental associations at higher levels of MVPA

A novel approach to reduce sedentary behaviour in care home residents: the GET READY study utilising service-learning and co-creation

The GET READY study aimed to integrate service-learning methodology into University degrees by offering students individual service opportunities with residential care homes, to co-create the best suited intervention to reduce the sedentary behaviour (SB) of residents throughout the day, with researchers, end-users, care staff, family members and policymakers. Eight workshops with care home residents and four workshops with care staff, relatives and policymakers, led by undergraduate students, were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim and analysed with inductive thematic analysis to understand views and preferences for sustainable strategies to reduce SB and increase movement of residents. Perspectives about SB and movement in care homes highlighted four subthemes. Assets for decreasing SB included three subthemes, and suggestions and strategies encapsulated four subthemes. There is a need to include end-users in decision making, and involve care staff and relatives in enhancing strategies to reduce SB among residents if we want sustainable changes in behaviour. A change in the culture at a policymaker and care staff's level could provide opportunities to open care homes to the community with regular activities outside the care home premises, and offer household chores and opportunities to give residents a role in maintaining their home environment

Beyond “#endpjparalysis”, tackling sedentary behaviour in health care

Reducing sedentary behaviour after hospitalization starts with reducing sedentary behaviour whilst in hospital. Although we have eradicated immobilisation as a therapeutic tool due to its potent detrimental effects, it is still in systemic use within health care systems and hospitals. Evidence shows that when in hospital, patients spend most of their time sedentary. In this editorial, we explore the determinants of, and a system-based approach to, reducing sedentary behaviour in health care

Ethnic differences in and childhood influences on early adult pulse wave velocity: the determinants of adolescent, now young adult, social wellbeing, and health longitudinal study

Early determinants of aortic stiffness as pulse wave velocity are poorly understood. We tested how factors measured twice previously in childhood in a multiethnic cohort study, particularly body mass, blood pressure, and objectively assessed physical activity affected aortic stiffness in young adults. Of 6643 London children, aged 11 to 13 years, from 51 schools in samples stratified by 6 ethnic groups with different cardiovascular risk, 4785 (72%) were seen again at aged 14 to 16 years. In 2013, 666 (97% of invited) took part in a young adult (21–23 years) pilot follow-up. With psychosocial and anthropometric measures, aortic stiffness and blood pressure were recorded via an upper arm calibrated Arteriograph device. In a subsample (n=334), physical activity was measured &gt;5 days via the ActivPal. Unadjusted pulse wave velocities in black Caribbean and white UK young men were similar (mean±SD 7.9±0.3 versus 7.6±0.4 m/s) and lower in other groups at similar systolic pressures (120 mm Hg) and body mass (24.6 kg/m2). In fully adjusted regression models, independent of pressure effects, black Caribbean (higher body mass/waists), black African, and Indian young women had lower stiffness (by 0.5–0.8; 95% confidence interval, 0.1–1.1 m/s) than did white British women (6.9±0.2 m/s). Values were separately increased by age, pressure, powerful impacts from waist/height, time spent sedentary, and a reported racism effect (+0.3 m/s). Time walking at &gt;100 steps/min was associated with reduced stiffness (P&lt;0.01). Effects of childhood waist/hip were detected. By young adulthood, increased waist/height ratios, lower physical activity, blood pressure, and psychosocial variables (eg, perceived racism) independently increase arterial stiffness, effects likely to increase with age

A pilot randomised clinical trial of a novel approach to reduce sedentary behaviour in care home residents: feasibility and preliminary effects of the GET READY study

Care-home residents are among the most sedentary and least active of the population. We aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, safety, and preliminary effects of an intervention to reduce sedentary behaviour (SB) co-created with care home residents, staff, family members, and policymakers within a pilot two-armed pragmatic cluster randomized clinical trial (RCT). Four care homes from two European countries participated, and were randomly assigned to control (usual care, CG) or the Get Ready intervention (GR), delivered by a staff champion one-to-one with the care home resident and a family member. A total of thirty-one residents participated (51.6% female, 82.9 (13.6) years old). GR involves six face to face sessions over a 12-week period with goal-oriented prompts for movement throughout. The feasibility and acceptability of the intervention were assessed and adverse events (AEs) were collected. The preliminary effects of the GR on SB, quality of life, fear of falling, and physical function were assessed. Means and standard deviations are presented, with the mean change from baseline to post-intervention calculated along with 95% confidence intervals. The CG smoked more, sat more, and had more functional movement difficulties than the GR at baseline. The GR intervention was feasible and acceptable to residents and staff. No AEs occurred during the intervention. GR participants showed a decrease in daily hours spent sitting/lying (Cohen's d = 0.36) and an increase in daily hours stepping, and improvements in health-related quality of life, fear of falling, and habitual gait speed compared to usual care, but these effects need confirmation in a definitive RCT. The co-created GR was shown to be feasible and acceptable, with no AEs