Energizers Classroom-based Physical Activities 3-5 : The way teachers integrate physical activity with academic concepts

Energizers are classroom-based physical activities that were designed to help teachers integrate physical activity with academic concepts. The energizers were developed by a team from the Activity Promotion Laboratory at East Carolina University. Teachers can download these activities free of charge and are encouraged to incorporate these activities into their classroom. Our research, published in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise (2006, volume 38, number 12), demonstrated that: (a) Energizers are easy to implement; (b) both teachers and students enjoy the Energizers activities; (c) use of Energizers activities improves on-task behavior of students; and (d) use of Energizers increases the amount of physical activity accumulated over the course of the school day.Activity Promotion Laboratory: Projects Fulfilling a Nee

Healthful Living Middle-School Energizers Classroom-based Physical Activities The way teachers integrate physical activity with academic concepts

Middle School Energizers Middle School Energizers are classroom-based physical activities that integrate physical activity with academic concepts. The Middle School Energizers were developed by a team from the Activity Promotion Laboratory at East Carolina University. We hope these 10-minute activities make it easier for teachers to implement physical activity into the classroom to improve classroom instruction and increase physical activity levels over the school day. Teachers can download these activities free of charge and are encouraged to incorporate these activities into their classroom.Activity Promotion Laboratory: Projects Fulfilling a Nee

Music Middle-School Energizers Classroom-based Physical Activities The way teachers integrate physical activity with academic concepts

Middle School Energizers are classroom-based physical activities that integrate physical activity with academic concepts. The Middle School Energizers were developed by a team from the Activity Promotion Laboratory at East Carolina University. We hope these 10-minute activities make it easier for teachers to implement physical activity into the classroom to improve classroom instruction and increase physical activity levels over the school day. Teachers can download these activities free of charge and are encouraged to incorporate these activities into their classroomActivity Promotion Laboratory: Projects Fulfilling a Nee

Social Studies Middle-School Energizers Classroom-based Physical Activities The way teachers integrate physical activity with academic concepts

Activity Promotion Laboratory: Projects Fulfilling a NeedMiddle School Energizers Middle School Energizers are classroom-based physical activities that integrate physical activity with academic concepts. The Middle School Energizers were developed by a team from the Activity Promotion Laboratory at East Carolina University. We hope these 10-minute activities make it easier for teachers to implement physical activity into the classroom to improve classroom instruction and increase physical activity levels over the school day. Teachers can download these activities free of charge and are encouraged to incorporate these activities into their classroom.Activity Promotion Laboratory: Projects Fulfilling a Nee

Energizers : Classroom-based Physical Activities K-2

Energizers Energizers are classroom-based physical activities that were designed to help teachers integrate physical activity with academic concepts. The energizers were developed by a team from the Activity Promotion Laboratory at East Carolina University. Teachers can download these activities free of charge and are encouraged to incorporate these activities into their classroom. Our research, published in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise (2006, volume 38, number 12), demonstrated that: (a) Energizers are easy to implement; (b) both teachers and students enjoy the Energizers activities; (c) use of Energizers activities improves on-task behavior of students; and (d) use of Energizers increases the amount of physical activity accumulated over the course of the school day.Activity Promotion Laboratory: Project

Effect of standing posture during whole body vibration training on muscle morphology and function in older adults: A randomised controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Whole body vibration (WBV) is a novel modality of exercise shown to improve musculoskeletal function. This study aims to examine the effects of standing posture during low magnitude WBV training on muscle function and muscle morphology in older adults.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Nineteen men and women (50-80 years) were recruited to a three month randomised controlled trial and allocated to one of three groups: WBV with flexed knees (FK), WBV with locked knees (LK), or sham WBV with flexed knees (CON). Exposure was intermittent (1 min WBV:1 min rest) for 20 min, three times per week for 13 weeks. Measurements were taken at baseline and at three months. Primary outcomes included upper and lower body muscle function (strength, power and velocity). Secondary outcomes were muscle morphology, balance, habitual and maximal gait velocity, stair climb power, and chair stand performance.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sixteen subjects completed the study. Relative (%) upper body contraction velocity improved significantly after WBV with FK compared to LK (FK 16.0%, LK -7.6%, CON 4.7, p = 0.01). Relative upper body strength (LK 15.1%, p = 0.02; FK 12.1%, p = 0.04; CON 4.7%) increased significantly following WBV compared to control. Absolute (p = 0.05) and relative (p = 0.03) lower leg strength significantly improved with both standing postures (LK 14.4%; FK 10.7%; CON 1.3%). Only the LK group differed significantly from CON in relative leg strength gains (p = 0.02). Potentially clinically meaningful but statistically non-significant improvements in lower leg muscle cross-sectional area (LK 3.7 cm², FK 2.4 cm², CON 2.2 cm²p = 0.13) were observed after WBV with LK compared to the other groups. No significant effects of WBV on any functional performance tests were observed.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results suggest that WBV may improve muscle strength and contraction velocity in some muscle groups in older adults. However, hypothesised differential adaptation to standing posture (FK > LK) was observed only for upper body contraction velocity, making recommendations regarding this prescriptive element inconclusive. The efficacy, mechanism of action and long term feasibility of WBV for musculoskeletal health in older adults warrants continued investigation in robustly designed, sufficiently powered future studies.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ACTRN12609000353291.</p

Gene Expression Networks in the Murine Pulmonary Myocardium Provide Insight into the Pathobiology of Atrial Fibrillation

The pulmonary myocardium is a muscular coat surrounding the pulmonary and caval veins. Although its definitive physiological function is unknown, it may have a pathological role as the source of ectopic beats initiating atrial fibrillation. How the pulmonary myocardium gains pacemaker function is not clearly defined, although recent evidence indicates that changed transcriptional gene expression networks are at fault. The gene expression profile of this distinct cell type in situ was examined to investigate underlying molecular events that might contribute to atrial fibrillation. Via systems genetics, a whole-lung transcriptome data set from the BXD recombinant inbred mouse resource was analyzed, uncovering a pulmonary cardiomyocyte gene network of 24 transcripts, coordinately regulated by chromosome 1 and 2 loci. Promoter enrichment analysis and interrogation of publicly available ChIP-seq data suggested that transcription of this gene network may be regulated by the concerted activity of NKX2-5, serum response factor, myocyte enhancer factor 2, and also, at a post-transcriptional level, by RNA binding protein motif 20. Gene ontology terms indicate that this gene network overlaps with molecular markers of the stressed heart. Therefore, we propose that perturbed regulation of this gene network might lead to altered calcium handling, myocyte growth, and contractile force contributing to the aberrant electrophysiological properties observed in atrial fibrillation. We reveal novel molecular interactions and pathways representing possible therapeutic targets for atrial fibrillation. In addition, we highlight the utility of recombinant inbred mouse resources in detecting and characterizing gene expression networks of relatively small populations of cells that have a pathological significance