The Effect of Family Attitudes and Preparation of High School Entrance Exam on Habitual Physical Activity in Children

AbstractPhysical activity level (PAL) is an important factor to promote and maintain a healthy lifestyle along the whole life cycle. The children and adolescent period is the critical time to acquire positive lifestyle habits. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of both high school entrance exam (HSEE) and parental behaviors on habitual PAL of students during the preparation of this exam. Totally 319 Elementary School students (154 girls, 165 boys) between ages of 11-13 were selected randomly for this study. PAL of students were evaluated by using the Beacke Physical Activity Questionnaires. There were a no significant differences between attendance and non attendance to extra courses for HSEE in terms of word activity (WA), sport activity (SA), and leisure activity (LA) scores (p<.05) among the students. It was shown that regular physical activity attendance of mothers plaid a significant role in LA scores (p≤.03) among the students. However, WA, and SA scores of students were not affected from their mother's habitual activities (p<.05). On the other hand, there were significant differences in WA, and SA according to father's regular physical activity attendance (p≤.01).As a conclusion, parental habitual physical activity level played an important role in high score of student's LA. It is recommended to monitor and promote parental physical activity

Choosing Exercise Cadence on the Outdoor Stepper for Various Exercise Intensity

Public parks and gardens are gaining numerous outdoor fitness equipment (OFE), easily accessed by the public. Most people use this equipment without any guidance and thus there is a need for basic guidelines on how to use the equipment. This study offers a practical guideline for exercising on one of the most widely used pieces of OFE, the outdoor stepping machine (OSM). Thirty-four healthy adults (nine females, 25 males) participated in workouts of three separate stepping exercises at different intensities, controlled by stepping cadence. At each 5-minute phase, rated perceived exertion (RPE), oxygen consumption (VO2), metabolic equivalent of task (MET) and heart rate (HR) were measured. Corresponding MET values of exercise cadences were calculated to be 5.3 at 80 steps.min−1, 6.0 at 96 steps.min−1 and 6.6 at 112 steps.min−1. Mean values for RPE at each stepping cadence were 9.1 (very light), 11.9 (moderate) and 14.8 (difficult), respectively. In conclusion, when the ACSM’s guidelines for indoor stepper machine (ISM) were taken as a reference, 80 steps.min−1 were suitable for warm-up, 96 and 112 steps.min−1 were appropriate for moderate exercise. People exercising on OSMs could easily use the cadence or the RPE scale as a guideline to exercise at the desired intensity

Jump Shot Performance and Strength Training in Young Team Handball Players

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to determine the effects of 12-week strength training on the jumping throw performance in young handball players. 18 handball players (age:13.66±0.5 year; height:160.0±6.25cm; weight: 49.0±8.97kg) participated to the study. The Training Group Program: A 12 week strength training and handball technical training program were supervised 3 times a week and each session was 60min. Control Group Program: A 12 week handball technical training program were supervised 3 times a week and each session was 60min. Push up, vertical jump (VJ), performances and some kinematic parameters (velocity (VCG) and height (hCG) of center of gravity) were evaluated before and after training program. For kinematics parameters, performances were recorded with a camera (50Hz) and evaluated with Videopoint 2.0. program. There were significant differences between before and after training program in push up and the height of center of gravity parameters(p<0.05). But there is no significant differences found that vertical jump (VJ) and velocity of center of gravity (VCG) (p>0.05)

Investigation of physical activity level and life quality of elementary school teachers under the Ministry of National Education

The aim of this study was to investigate the physical activity level and life quality of teachers who work in provincial elementary schools of the national education ministry, Antalya. Totally 160 teachers (78 female, 82 male) participated in this study. The average age of the teachers was 41,99+6,35 years for female, and 44,45+6,71 years for male. The waist and hip circumference, body height, and weight of subject were measured. Physical Activity Levels (PAL) of subjects was evaluated by using International Physical activity Questionnaires (IPAQ). SF-36 Quality Life Questionnaires was used for determining subjects' life quality. It was found that the average energy consumption of teachers was 1608,50 +/- 2026,11 MET-min. week(-1). On the other hand, male teachers were higher (p<0.01) and heavier (p<0,05) than their female colleagues in body height and weight, respectively. Thus, BMI's scores of male teachers were higher than their female colleagues (p<0,05). On the one hand, women had more MET scores than men in many activities; on the other hand men had more scores in physical role in this study. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of Academic World Education and Research Center