Leisure and Recreation bachelor´s degrees in the United States: a comparative analysis

El objetivo de esta investigación es analizar las titulaciones universitarias de Ocio y Recreación de Estados Unidos. La metodología empleada se basa en un estudio comparativo de 38 titulaciones acreditadas y el análisis de los requisitos que rigen el proceso de acreditación de dichas titulaciones. Los resultados más relevantes son relacionados con el currículo y las competencias profesionales asociadas al mismo. Se trata de una titulación que otorga mucha importancia a la profesión, la ética y a los conocimientos sobre el campo profesional del Ocio y la Recreación. Estos apartados confieren a este sector de un sello distintivo que lo diferencia de otras profesiones y otros profesionales. A su vez, se trata de una titulación con un elevado componente de gestión como demuestra el gran número de competencias profesionales dedicadas a aspectos relacionados con esta materia.This research aims to analyze Leisure and Recreation university programs in the United States. The methodology followed is based on a comparative study of 38 programs and the analysis of the requirements for accreditation of the programs. Most relevant results are mainly related to curriculum and the professional competences associated with it. This university degree pays especial attention to the importance of the profession, ethics, and knowledge of the professional field, providing the professional field with a distinctive sign that differences it from other fields and professionals. It is also a degree with a high component of management and administration, as demonstrated by the high number of professional competences related to this subject

Factors influencing the choice of a university degree: the case of recreation, parks and tourism administration studies

The aim of this research is to analyze students´ expectations that have an influence on choosing Leisure and Recreation as an academic major. According to the analysis of this research on the reasons for choosing Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration studies at a university in the United States, the conclusions reached show that among multiple factors, the expectations of having collaborative and situated learning experiences are one of the main reasons for choosing these studies, as well as the job opportunities that this degree offers. The results of this research evidence the high degree of emotionality affecting this decision. The conclusions of this study may be useful for designing Leisure and Recreation curriculums

Efectos de un programa de actividad física extracurricular en niños de primer ciclo de ESO con sobrepeso y obesidad

Obesity and its impact are increasingly obvious in Spanish society. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an extracurricular intervention of physical and sports activities in order to improve students' body composition and fitness level between two groups of adolescences with overweight or obesity for a six-month period. Moreover, a comparison based on gender was also targeted in this intervention. The sample consisted of 38 students, seventeen boys and twenty-one girls, with BMI above the 85th percentile. Several fitness tests and anthropometric measurements were performed. The results showed significant improvements in the experimental group regarding their physical condition and body fat percentage compared to the control group who did not show any significant achievements. According to the comparison based on gender, within the experimental group, girls achieved more significant results both in their physical fitness and in their body fat percentage

The Benefits of Physical Exercise on Mental Disorders and Quality of Life in Substance Use Disorders Patients. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Physical exercise seems to have a promising effect on numerous variables related to the recovery of drug-dependent patients. However, some contradictions are found in the literature. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis in order to identify the effect of physical exercise on mental disorders, quality of life, abstinence, and craving, and make a comparison of the effect of exercise depending on the type of program. A search for articles was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Studies were selected that measured the acute effects or long-term effect (≥2 weeks) of exercise in patients who met criteria for alcohol use disorders or substance use disorders. A total of 59 studies were included. An effect of exercise on mental disorders (standardized mean differences (SMD) = 0.66 (confidence interval (CI): 0.46, 0.86); z = 6.50; p < 0.00001) and quality of life (SMD = 0.69 (95% CI: 0.53, 0.84); z = 8.65; p < 0.00001) was identified. Subgroup analysis revealed an effect of exercise in craving (SMD = 0.80 (CI: 0.07, 1.53); z = 2.15, p = 0.03), stress (SMD = 1.11 (CI: 0.31, 1.91); = 2.73; p = 0.006), anxiety (SMD = 0.50 (CI: 0.16, 0.84); z = 2.88; p = 0.004) and depression (SMD = 0.63 (CI: 0.34, 0.92); z = 4.31; p < 0.0001). Body–mind activities and programs based on improving physical conditions produced similar results in mental disorders and quality of life. Available evidence indicates that physical exercise, both body–mind and physical fitness programs, can be effective in improving mental disorders, craving, and quality of life in drug-dependent patients

The Use of the Static Posturography to Assess Balance Performance in a Parkinson’s Disease Population

The literature has shown contradictory results so far about the use of posturography, especially static posturography, to evaluate balance performance in Parkinson’s disease (PD) populations. This study aimed to investigate the use of static posturography as a valid method to evaluate balance in a PD population. Fifty-two participants diagnosed with PD (Hoehn & Yahr stage: 1–3) were included in this cross-sectional study. All participants completed the following assessments: Hoehn and Yahr scale, Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, Tinetti Scale, Berg Balance Scale, Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale, Timed Up and Go test, and Functional Reach Test. Sway parameters were analyzed with a baropodometric platform, under eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC) conditions, in a bipodal stance. Small to large correlations were observed between clinical balance tests and static posturography parameters, although the majority of these parameters correlated moderately. Considering posturographic variables, the highest correlation values were detected for total excursion (TE), mean velocity (MV), mean (X-mean), and root-mean-square (X-RMS) displacements in the medio-lateral directions. It was observed that posturographic parameters worsened as the disease progresses, although differences were only significant between the stages 1 and 3 in the H&Y scale (p < 0.05). Regarding the test condition, the visual deprivation worsened significantly all the static posturography parameters (p < 0.05), except the antero-posterior mean displacement (Y-Mean). Comparing visual conditions, the EC presented slightly higher correlation values with the clinical balance tests. Static posturography could be used as an objective complementary tool to clinical balance tests in order to assess and control balance performance, mainly to detect postural instability problems.This research was funded by a pre-doctoral grant (ACIF/2018/209) from the Generalitat Valenciana, Spain

La medición de la intensidad del entrenamiento en personas mayores con deterioro cognitivo leve y Alzheimer leve

Introducción: Cada vez existe mayor evidencia sobre los beneficios de la actividad física para personas con deterioro cognitivo. Sin embargo, existe una importante carencia de pautas metodológicas específicas para trabajar con estas poblaciones. El objetivo de este trabajo fue comprobar la eficacia del uso de una escala de esfuerzo percibido para el control de la intensidad en personas con deterioro cognitivo. Método: Para este estudio cuantitativo-cualitativo, se reclutaron siete personas mayores (76±6 años) diagnosticadas con deterioro cognitivo leve (DCL) y principio de Alzheimer en el Hospital de San Vicente del Raspeig. Los sujetos participaban en un programa de actividad física en la Universidad de Alicante tres días a la semana, una hora por sesión. Durante 67 sesiones, se midió la percepción subjetiva del esfuerzo a través de la escala OMNI-GSE y se comparó con la respuesta fisiológica ante el ejercicio, medida con pulsómetros Polar. A su vez, se llevó a cabo un diario de campo durante las sesiones para anotar cualquier observación o comentario relevante. Los resultados cuantitativos se analizaron con el programa SPSS 18.0 y los cualitativos mediante un análisis convencional de contenido. Resultados: El análisis de correlación parcial controlando por la edad mostró que la frecuencia cardíaca y la percepción del esfuerzo se correlacionaban positivamente de manera moderada-alta (0,719; p=0,000). Sin embargo, a mayor intensidad del ejercicio más difusas se volvían las correlaciones. A su vez, en ejercicios con un componente cognitivo elevado, la sensación era de mayor dureza, pese a que fisiológicamente no se mostraba esta aparente intensidad. Conclusiones: A pesar de algunas limitaciones, parece que la escala OMNI-GSE puede servir como herramienta de control de intensidad y del esfuerzo, para aquellas personas diagnosticadas con DCL y Alzheimer leve, sobre todo a intensidades bajas y moderadas. Es necesario un mayor número de investigaciones para corroborar estos datos y para establecer estrategias alternativas en intensidades altas o ejercicios con alto componente cognitivo

Effect of Core Training on Male Handball Players’ Throwing Velocity

In handball, throwing velocity is considered to be one of the essential factors in achieving the ultimate aim of scoring a goal. The objective of the present study was to analyze the effect of a core training program on throwing velocity in 30 handball players (age 18.7 ± 3.4 years, body height 179.3 ± 7.0 cm, body mass 78.9 ± 7.7 kg), 16 of whom were in the junior category and 14 of whom were in the senior category. The 30 players were randomly divided into two groups, the control group (n = 15) and the experimental group (n = 15). For a period of ten weeks, both groups attended their regular handball training sessions (four per week), but in addition, the experimental group participated in a program specifically aimed at progressively strengthening the lumbo-pelvic region and consisting of seven exercises performed after the general warm-up in each regular session. Pre- and post-tests were carried out to analyze each player’s throwing velocity from different throwing positions and thus assess the effects of this specific training program. Statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in throwing velocity were observed between the experimental group, which presented a percentage improvement of 4.5%, and the control group, which did not show any improvement. The results seem to indicate that an increase in the strength and stability of the lumbo-pelvic region can contribute to an improvement in the kinetic chain of the specific movement of throwing in handball, thus, increasing throwing velocity

Impact of cooperative learning on physical education in basic psychological needs

El Aprendizaje Cooperativo (AC) se perfila como una herramienta que centra a los estudiantes en el foco principal del proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje en el área de Educación Física (EF). El objetivo de la presente investigación fue analizar el impacto del AC en la satisfacción de las Necesidades Psicológicas Básicas (BPNES) frente a un modelo de enseñanza tradicional en estudiantes de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria (ESO). Para el análisis, se tomó una muestra total formada por 185 participantes, en el que se empleó un método cuantitativo con un diseño cuasi-experimental. Se desarrollaron seis sesiones a través retos cooperativos. Se utilizó como instrumento la Escala de Medición de las BPNES adaptada a la EF. Los resultados mostraron una mejora estadísticamente significativa en la autonomía, competencia y relaciones sociales en el grupo experimental. Una metodología activa basada en el aprendizaje cooperativo en las clases de EF mejora la satisfacción de las BPNES.Cooperative Learning (AC) is emerging as a tool that places students at the centre of the teaching and learning process in the area of Physical Education (PE). The objective of the present investigation was to analyse the impact of AC on the satisfaction of Basic Psychological Needs (BPNES) against a traditional teaching model in students of Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO). For the analysis, a total sample consisting of 185 participants was taken, and a quantitative method with a quasi-experimental design was used. Participants experienced six sessions through cooperative challenges. The BPNES Measurement Scale adapted to PE was used as an instrument. The results showed a statistically significant improvement in autonomy, competence and social relations in the experimental group. An active methodology based on cooperative learning in PE classes improves the satisfaction of BPNES