Novel insights into the physical activity continuum and cardiometabolic health in adults

The primary aims of this thesis were: 1) to examine the associations between physical activity behaviours and indices of cardiometabolic health in older adults; and 2) to explore the theoretical effect on cardiometabolic health markers by reallocating time between sedentary time, standing time, light intensity physical activity (LIPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in older adults. Due to strong evidence in support of the use of activPAL monitors for accurately measuring sedentary time, standing time and postural changes, the activPAL3 Micro was chosen for this body of research. To classify physical activity of different intensities, the ability of the activPAL3 Micro to predict energy expenditure was explored, and subsequently deemed not to be accurate. A count-to-activity threshold for the activPAL3 Micro was subsequently developed and validated to provide accurate measures of time spent in different intensity bands. Habitual physical activity data and cardiometabolic health markers were collected from 323 participants of the Mitchelstown Cohort Rescreen Study. Sedentary time had detrimental associations with body mass, percentage body fat, HDL-C, VLDL-C, triglycerides and diastolic blood pressure. Increased LIPA and MVPA were beneficially associated with body mass, BMI, percentage body fat, VLDL-C, triglycerides and blood pressure (to varying magnitudes). Only VLDL-C and triglycerides were beneficially associated with standing. Theoretically replacing sedentary time (by 10 minutes) with LIPA resulted in significant decreases in body composition measures and blood pressure. Replacement with MVPA resulted in significantly lower triglyceride levels. No beneficial changes were observed when replacing sedentary time with standing. The results suggest that LIPA has an important role for maintaining, and improving, cardiometabolic health, in conjunction with MVPA. The findings from this thesis can be used to inform future interventional studies, while also contributing to the development of future public health guidelines on how best to reduce sedentary time

The effect of exercise training intensity on VO2 max in healthy adults: an overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

This study aimed to evaluate systematic reviews and meta-analyses that have examined the effect of exercise training on VO2max in healthy individuals at different intensities. Five databases were searched: EBSCOhost, MEDLINE/PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Eligibility criteria for selecting reviews included systematic reviews and meta-analyses of healthy adults that examined the effect of lower intensity training (LIT) and/or high intensity training (HIT) on VO2max. Eleven reviews met the eligibility criteria. All reviews were of moderate-to-very strong methodological quality. 'e included reviews reported data from 179 primary studies with an average of 23 ± 10 studies per review. All reviews included in this overview showed that exercise training robustly increased VO2max at all intensities. 'ree meta-analyses that compared LIT versus HIT protocols on VO2max reported small/moderate beneficial effects for HIT over LIT; however, the beneficial effects of HIT on VO2max appear to be moderated by training variables other than intensity (e.g., training impulse, interval length, training volume, and duration) and participants’ baseline characteristics (e.g., age and fitness levels). Overall, evidence from this overview suggests that the apparent differences between LIT and HIT protocols on VO2max were either small, trivial, or inconclusive, with several methodological considerations required to standardise research designs and draw definitive conclusions

The relationship between training load and pain, injury and illness in competitive swimming: A systematic review

Background Research suggests that the frequency of training, combined with the repetitive motion involved in high volume swimming can predispose swimmers to symptoms of over-training. The prevention of pain, injury and illness is of paramount importance in competitive swimming in order to maximise a swimmer’s ability to train and perform consistently. A significant factor in the prevention of pain, injury or illness is the appropriate load monitoring and management practices within a training programme. Objective The purpose of this systematic review is to investigate the relationship between training load and pain, injury and illness in competitive swimmers. Methods The databases SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, Scopus, MEDLINE and Embase were searched in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Studies were included if they reported on competitive swimmers and analysed the link between training load and either pain, injury or illness. The methodological quality and study bias were assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist. Results The search retrieved 1,959 articles, 15 of which were included for review. The critical appraisal process indicated study quality was poor overall. Pain was the most explored condition (N = 12), with injury (N = 2) and illness (N = 1) making up the remaining articles. There was no evidence of an association between training load and pain, while there may be some evidence to suggest a relationship between training load and injury or illness. Conclusions The relationship between training load and pain, injury or illness is unclear owing to a host of methodological constraints. The review highlighted that youth, masters and competitive swimmers of a lower ability (e.g. club versus international) may need particular consideration when planning training loads. Winter periods, higher intensity sessions and speed elements may also need to be programmed with care. Monitoring practices need to be developed in conjunction with consensus guidelines, with the inclusion of internal training loads being a priority. Future research should focus on longitudinal prospective studies, utilising the session Rating of Perceived Exertion (sRPE) monitoring method and investigating the applicability of Acute/Chronic Workload Ratio (ACWR) and exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA). Improved methods and study design will provide further clarity on the relationship between load and pain, injury, and illness

Clusters of adolescent physical activity tracker patterns and their associations with physical activity behaviors in Finland and Ireland:cross-sectional study

Background: Physical activity trackers (PATs) such as apps and wearable devices (eg, sports watches, heart rate monitors) are increasingly being used by young adolescents. Despite the potential of PATs to help monitor and improve moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) behaviors, there is a lack of research that confirms an association between PAT ownership or use and physical activity behaviors at the population level. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the ownership and use of PATs in youth and their associations with physical activity behaviors, including daily MVPA, sports club membership, and active travel, in 2 nationally representative samples of young adolescent males and females in Finland and Ireland. Methods: Comparable data were gathered in the 2018 Finnish School-aged Physical Activity (F-SPA 2018, n=3311) and the 2018 Irish Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity (CSPPA 2018, n=4797) studies. A cluster analysis was performed to obtain the patterns of PAT ownership and usage by adolescents (age, 11-15 years). Four similar clusters were identified across Finnish and Irish adolescents: (1) no PATs, (2) PAT owners, (3) app users, and (4) wearable device users. Adjusted binary logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate how PAT clusters were associated with physical activity behaviors, including daily MVPA, membership of sports clubs, and active travel, after stratification by gende

Datasheet1_Swimming coaches’ professional development and training practices: an international survey.pdf

This study investigated swim coaches' perceptions of professional development issues and current training practices according to their coaching experience, education level, and gender. An online survey (January—April 2022) was completed by 123 swim coaches (96 male/27 female) of competitive swimmers based in 41 countries. The survey consisted of 36 questions divided into six sections: (1) background information, (2) developing swim coaching through learning, (3) self-evaluation, (4) interpersonal-intrapersonal interactions, (5) life skills, and (6) analyzing swimming performance. Pearson chi-square assessed the relationship between the frequency of responses and professional background and gender. The survey results indicated that swim coaches' educational level is potentially one of the most influential parameters affecting the coaches' perceptions about their own professional development. The data presented may be used for the future design of coach education programmes as they advance current knowledge on understanding psycho-social issues related to professional development and training perceptions involved in the competitive swimming environment.</p

Socio-ecological correlates of physical activity in a nationally representative sample of adolescents across Ireland and Northern Ireland

Physical activity (PA) is associated with a range of health benefits for adolescents. Few adolescents meet one hour daily of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). The World Health Organisation (WHO) now recommends an ‘on average’ accumulation. In light of these updates, comparing correlates associated with meeting versus not meeting the PA guidelines provides limited understanding of adolescent behavioural choices. The aim of this study was to fractionate PA behaviour and investigate influential socio ecological correlates across a diverse range of PA categories. A nationally representative sample (N = 6,563; age = 13.5 ± 1.9 years; male = 46.2%) completed a researcher supervised self-report survey. Empirically established instruments assessing the socio-ecological correlates of PA were included. Levels of MPVA were categorised into daily active (60mins. MVPA.daily), active (60mins.MVPA.5–6 days), somewhat active (60mins.MVPA.3–4 days) or inactive (60mins. MVPA.0–2 days). Descriptive statistics, chi-square analyses and multivariate blockwise binary logistic regression models were run separately for each PA category. Few were daily active (12.7%), 33.6% active, 36.5% somewhat active and 17.2% were inactive. Results showed that correlates differed in terms of direction and strength, depending on individual activity status. Increasing age was positively associated with being somewhat active, but not with being active or daily active. Attending an ‘all-girls school’ was negatively associated with daily active. High interpersonal support from family, friends or teachers was negatively associated with inactive or somewhat active, reducing the likelihood of adolescents remaining in these unhealthy PA categories. This novel information is useful for exploring previously established inconsistent relationships with PA. More sensitive categorisation and intervention tailoring to diverse PA categories is required

Physical activity, sport and physical education in northern Ireland school children: A cross-sectional study

Internationally, insufficient physical activity (PA) is a major health concern. Children in Northern Ireland (NI) are recorded as having the lowest levels of PA in the United Kingdom (UK). To date, validated and representative data on the PA levels of NI school children are limited. The aim of this study was to provide surveillance data on self-reported PA, sport and physical education (PE) participation of school children in NI. Differences between genders and factors associated with PA were also examined. A representative sample of primary (n = 446) and post-primary (n = 1508) children was surveyed in school using validated self-report measures. Findings suggest that PA levels are low, with a minority of children (13%) meeting the PA guidelines (primary pupils 20%, post-primary pupils 11%). NI school children have lower levels of PA, PE and sports participation than UK and European peers. A trend of age-related decline across all the domains of PA was apparent. The data presented highlighted that females are less likely to achieve PA guidelines, children from lower socio-economic background participate in school and community sport less often, and that enjoyment and social support are important variables in PA adherence. Policy solutions that would support implementation e.g., mandatory minimum PE time, whole school approaches to PA promotion and targeted investment in schools, particularly in areas of deprivation and for females, are suggested

The influence of sitting, standing, and stepping bouts on cardiometabolic health markers in older adults

Aside from total time spent in physical activity behaviors, how time is accumulated is important for health. This study examined associations between sitting, standing, and stepping bouts, with cardiometabolic health markers in older adults. Participants from the Mitchelstown Cohort Rescreen Study (N = 221) provided cross-sectional data on activity behaviors (assessed via an activPAL3 Micro) and cardiometabolic health. Bouts of ≥10-, ≥30-, and ≥60-min sitting, standing, and stepping were calculated. Linear regression models were fitted to examine the associations between bouts and cardiometabolic health markers. Sitting (≥10, ≥30, and ≥60 min) and standing (≥10 and ≥30 min) bouts were detrimentally associated with body composition measures, lipid markers, and fasting glucose. The effect for time spent in ≥60-min sitting and ≥30-min standing bouts was larger than shorter bouts. Fragmenting sitting with bouts of stepping may be targeted to benefit cardiometabolic health. Further insights for the role of standing need to be elicited