Fact and Fiction in youth Cardiorespiratory Fitness

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) reflects the integrated ability to deliver oxygen from the atmosphere to the skeletal muscles and to utilize it to generate energy to support muscle activity during exercise. Peak oxygen uptake (VO2) is internationally recognized as the criterion measure of youth CRF. It is well-documented that in youth peak VO2 increases with sex-specific, concurrent changes in a range of age- and maturity status-driven morphological and physiological covariates with the timing and tempo of changes specific to individuals. However, a recent resurgence of interest in predicting peak VO2 from field test performances and the persistence of fallacious interpretations of peak VO2 in 1:1 ratio with body mass have obfuscated general understanding of the development of CRF. Moreover, as spurious relationships arise when ratio-scaled data are correlated with health-related variables the use of this scaling technique has confounded the relationship of youth CRF with indicators of current and future health. This paper reviews the extant evidence and concludes that the interpretation of youth CRF and the promotion of young people’s health and well-being should be founded on scientific facts and not on fictions based on flawed methodology and specious interpretation of data

A written self-help intervention for depressed adults comparing behavioural activation combined with physical activity promotion with a self-help intervention based upon behavioural activation alone: study protocol for a parallel group pilot randomised controlled trial (BAcPAc).

BACKGROUND: Challenges remain to find ways to support patients with depression who have low levels of physical activity (PA) to overcome perceived barriers and enhance the perceived value of PA for preventing future relapse. There is an evidence-base for behavioural activation (BA) for depression, which focuses on supporting patients to restore activities that have been avoided, but practitioners have no specific training in promoting PA. We aimed to design and evaluate an integrated BA and PA (BAcPAc) practitioner-led, written, self-help intervention to enhance both physical and mental health. METHODS/DESIGN: This study is informed by the Medical Research Council Complex Intervention Framework and describes a protocol for a pilot phase II randomised controlled trial (RCT) to test the feasibility and acceptability of the trial methods to inform a definitive phase III RCT. Following development of the augmented written self-help intervention (BAcPAc) incorporating behavioural activation with physical activity promotion, depressed adults are randomised to receive up to 12 sessions over a maximum of 4 months of either BAcPAc or behavioural activation alone within a written self-help format, which represents treatment as usual. The study is located within two \u27Improving Access to Psychological Therapies\u27 services in South West England, with both written self-help interventions supported by mental health paraprofessionals. Measures assessed at 4, 9, and 12 month follow-up include the following: CIS-R, PHQ-9, accelerometer recorded (4 months only) and self-reported PA, body mass index, blood pressure, Insomnia Severity Index, quality of life, and health and social care service use. Process evaluation will include analysis of recorded support sessions and patient and practitioner interviews. At the time of writing the study has recruited 60 patients. DISCUSSION: The feasibility outcomes will inform a definitive RCT to assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of the augmented BAcPAc written self-help intervention to reduce depression and depressive relapse, and bring about improvements across a range of physical health outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN74390532, 26.03.2013

Influence of training status and exercise modality on pulmonary O2 uptake kinetics in pre-pubertal girls

The limited available evidence suggests that endurance training does not influence the pulmonary oxygen uptake (V(O)(2)) kinetics of pre-pubertal children. We hypothesised that, in young trained swimmers, training status-related adaptations in the V(O)(2) and heart rate (HR) kinetics would be more evident during upper body (arm cranking) than during leg cycling exercise. Eight swim-trained (T; 11.4 +/- 0.7 years) and eight untrained (UT; 11.5 +/- 0.6 years) girls completed repeated bouts of constant work rate cycling and upper body exercise at 40% of the difference between the gas exchange threshold and peak V(O)(2). The phase II V(O)(2) time constant was significantly shorter in the trained girls during upper body exercise (T: 25 +/- 3 vs. UT: 37 +/- 6 s; P < 0.01), but no training status effect was evident in the cycle response (T: 25 +/- 5 vs. UT: 25 +/- 7 s). The V(O)(2) slow component amplitude was not affected by training status or exercise modality. The time constant of the HR response was significantly faster in trained girls during both cycle (T: 31 +/- 11 vs. UT: 47 +/- 9 s; P < 0.01) and upper body (T: 33 +/- 8 vs. UT: 43 +/- 4 s; P < 0.01) exercise. The time constants of the phase II V(O)(2)and HR response were not correlated regardless of training status or exercise modality. This study demonstrates for the first time that swim-training status influences upper body V(O)(2) kinetics in pre-pubertal children, but that cycle ergometry responses are insensitive to such differences

A written self-help intervention for depressed adults comparing behavioural activation combined with physical activity promotion with a self-help intervention based upon behavioural activation alone: study protocol for a parallel group pilot randomised controlled trial (BAcPAc)

notes: PMCID: PMC4061537types: Journal Article© 2014 Farrand et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.Challenges remain to find ways to support patients with depression who have low levels of physical activity (PA) to overcome perceived barriers and enhance the perceived value of PA for preventing future relapse. There is an evidence-base for behavioural activation (BA) for depression, which focuses on supporting patients to restore activities that have been avoided, but practitioners have no specific training in promoting PA. We aimed to design and evaluate an integrated BA and PA (BAcPAc) practitioner-led, written, self-help intervention to enhance both physical and mental health.NPRI-

Involving patients and the public in healthcare operational research

Letter to the BM

YKSINHUOLTAJAPERHEIDEN SOSIAALISEN VERKOSTOITUMISEN TUKEMINEN : vertaisryhmät Matinkylässä ja Facebookissa

Ahola, Taina & Hedman, Ramona. Yksinhuoltajaperheiden sosiaalisen verkostoitumisen tukeminen. Diak Etelä, Helsinki, kevät 2013, 70 s., 7 liitettä. Diakonia-ammattikorkeakoulu, Sosiaalialan koulutusohjelma, Diakonisen sosiaalityön suuntautumisvaihtoehto, sosionomi (AMK) + lastentarhanopettajan kelpoisuus. Opinnäytetyömme oli osa Pienperheyhdistys ry:n Lapsilisä-projektia. Opinnäytetyömme tavoitteena oli kehittää yksinhuoltajien vertaistukitoimintaa ja arvioida eri menetelmien toimivuutta ja vertaistuen muotoja. Vertaistuen merkitys yksinhuoltajille on huomattava, jonka vuoksi tukimuotojen kehittäminen ja osallistujien mukaan saaminen on tärkeää. Lapsilisä-projektin vertaistukiryhmät pyrkivät yhteiskunnalliseen vaikuttamiseen. Huomioimme tämän suunnitellessamme omaa ja ryhmien toimintaa. Yhteiskunnallinen vaikuttaminen on myös tärkeä osa sosionomin ammattia. Käytimme opinnäytetyössämme monipuolista kirjallisuutta. Työn teoreettinen viitekehys painottuu yksinhuoltajuuteen, sekä sosiaaliseen verkostoitumiseen muun muassa vertaistukiryhmien ja sosiaalisen median avulla. Käsittelimme yksinhuoltajuuteen liittyvää köyhyyttä myös lasten ja kirkon näkökulmasta. Opinnäytetyö käynnistyi keväällä 2012 ja sen toiminnallinen osuus aloitettiin syksyllä 2012 Espoossa. Järjestimme alueen yksinhuoltajaperheille vertaisryhmätoimintaa alueen asukastalolla. Markkinoimme tapahtumia aktiivisesti koko toiminnan ajan. Ryhmään oli haasteellista saada useita aktiivisia osallistujia, jonka vuoksi aloitimme vertaisryhmätoiminnan myös sosiaalisessa mediassa. Perustimme Facebookiin avoimen vertaistukiryhmän nimellä YH Yksinkin Hoituu. Yksinhuoltajuus voi olla haastava elämäntilanne koko perheelle, jonka vuoksi erilaisten tukimuotojen kehittäminen perheiden kokonaisvaltaiseksi tukemiseksi on aina ajankohtaista. Koska yksinhuoltajaperheissä on käytettävissä vain yhden aikuisen aika, voi perinteisiin vertaisryhmiin irrottautuminen olla haastavaa. Tämän vuoksi vaihtoehtoisiin toimintoihin tulisi kiinnittää enemmän huomiota. Näemme sosiaalisen median hyvänä mahdollisuutena kehittää vertaistukiryhmätoimintaa. Sosiaalinen media on monen perheen käytettävissä ja siellä on mahdollista toimia mihin vuorokauden aikaan hyvänsä. Tulevaisuudessa on todennäköistä, että Internetin suosio yhä kasvaa ja yhä useampi palvelu on jossain muodossa saatavilla sieltä. Ammattitaitomme ylläpitämiseksi on tärkeää päivittää osaamistamme tähänkin suuntaan. Avainsanat: vertaistuki, yksinhuoltajat, osallisuus, sosiaalinen mediaABSTRACT Ahola, Taina and Hedman, Ramona Organizing peer support for single parents. Comparing traditional and online support groups for single parent families. 70 p., 7 appendices. Language: Finnish. Helsinki, Spring 2013. Diaconia University of Applied Sciences. Degree Programme in Social Services, Option in Diaconal Social Work / Option in Social Services and education. Degree: Bachelor of Social Services. The thesis was made as a part of the Lapsilisä-project organized by the Single Parent Association. The goal of this thesis was to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of different methods and forms of peer support. Societal influencing is a main part of the group activities in Lapsilisä-project. This was also one of the main factors influencing our thesis and the form of the support groups. The theoretical part of the thesis focused on single parents and their social networking in peer groups and social media. We analyzed poverty in one-parent families from the perspective of diaconal workers and children. The practical part of the thesis began in the autumn of 2012 in Espoo, Finland. We organized peer groups and activities for single parent families. We marketed the events actively throughout the process. We found it challenging to get active participants for the group events, so we decided to set up a peer support group in social media as well. Single parenting can be a challenging phase of life so it is necessary to develop various forms of support for it. Because the days of a single-parent family can be hectic, it can be difficult to find time for participating in a peer group. Social media enables participation during times most suitable for the parent. Social media is an important form of assistance in the future. More and more services are available on the internet. Professionals should be able to take advantage of the opportunities social media offers. Key words: peer support, single parent, inclusion, social medi

Action-control beliefs and school experience in Tanzanian Primary School Students

Interview topic guide for PWPs. (PDF 312 kb