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PubMed2006

Physical activity and physical self-concept: comparison between children with and without asthma.

AIM: This paper reports a study comparing levels of physical activity and physical self-concepts between children with and without asthma. BACKGROUND: Childhood asthma has become one of the world's most prevalent chronic illnesses. Its symptoms are thought to prevent children from participating in some forms of physical activity. However, asthma treatment guidelines are increasingly suggesting that children with asthma can participate in the same physical activities as healthy children for the same reasons-- to promote normal growth, physical development and psychological health. METHOD: Between October 2001 and May 2002, 120 children between the ages of 9 and 11 with mild and moderate asthma were recruited from three paediatric asthma clinics in Taiwan, and 309 non-asthmatic children in the same age group were selected from four elementary schools in Taiwan's three largest cities. Participants were asked to record physical activity levels for 3 days out of the past 7 days and to fill out a 29-item Physical Self-Concept Inventory. Physical activities were classified as moderate-to-vigorous physical activity or vigorous physical activity. Physical self-concept was measured in terms of perceived flexibility, endurance, appearance, agility, obesity and strength. RESULTS: Asthma was the primary factor determining vigorous physical activity levels, but gender was the primary factor determining physical self-concept, especially in terms of endurance, obesity and strength. No statistically significant relationships were noted between asthma and gender in terms of effects on physical activity and physical self-concept. CONCLUSIONS: Asthma interferes with children's ability to participate in vigorous physical activity but not in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Gender determines primary differences in physical self-concept. Appropriate exercise recommendations are necessary to encourage children with asthma to engage in vigorous physical activity for normal growth.

Asthma↗
PubMed1984

Predictors of falls among institutionalized women with Alzheimer's disease.

Falls among elderly residents are a major concern of facilities caring for the aged. A group of institutionalized women with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (N = 60; mean age 83) were studied longitudinally and evaluated annually on 21 variables of physical, social, emotional, self-care, and cognitive functioning. A substudy of falls they experienced used data from two such annual evaluations. Clinical ratings by the interdisciplinary team estimated 1) the women's changes in function during the preceding year and 2) the current levels of the women's functioning. Separate regressions for each of the two years returned identical significant patterns indicating that ratings of physical vigor were significantly related to number of falls. Those women who had been among the most vigorous in the group but who had shown significant declines in the preceding year were the most vulnerable to falls; women who had been rated as the least vigorous but whose levels of vigor had been stable during the year tended to have fewer falls. Falling therefore appears to be related to the process of decline in vigor among those in the group whose levels of vigor were higher initially. There were corresponding significant declines in emotional and cognitive scales.

Accidents↗
PubMed1990

Interactions between adherent mononuclear cells and lymphocytes from granulomas of mice with schistosomiasis mansoni.

T-lymphocyte-adherent mononuclear cell interaction was analyzed in the vigorous and immunomodulated liver granulomas of Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice. Collagenase-dispersed granulomas contained 15% lymphocytes, 30% macrophages, 50% eosinophilis, and some neutrophils. Dispersed granuloma cells stimulated with concanavalin A or soluble worm egg antigens (SEA) did not proliferate unless plate-adherent, esterase-positive mononuclear cells were removed before culture. To analyze the granuloma adherent cell-mediated suppression, vigorous granuloma cell cultures partially depleted of adherent mononuclear cells were supplemented with indomethacin, catalase, superoxide dismutase, levamisole, and anti-murine alpha/beta interferon antiserum. In concanavalin A and SEA-stimulated cultures, only the addition of indomethacin or anti-alpha/beta interferon antiserum alleviated the adherent cell-mediated suppression of vigorous granuloma lymphocyte response. In contrast, these agents only minimally alleviated the suppressed response of SEA-stimulated, immunomodulated granuloma lymphocytes. Moreover, coculture of equal numbers of vigorous and immunomodulated granuloma cells partially depleted of adherent suppressor cells abrogated the alleviated response of vigorous granuloma lymphocytes. These findings indicate that, within the schistosome egg-induced vigorous granulomas, the adherent mononuclear cells exert regulation over lymphocyte responsiveness by alpha/beta-interferon and an indomethacin-sensitive, probably prostaglandin-mediated pathway. Within the immunomodulated granulomas, the adherent suppressor cell-mediated regulation of lymphocyte proliferation appears to play a lesser role.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Exercise in leisure time: coronary attack and death rates.

Nine thousand three hundred and seventy six male civil servants, aged 45-64 at entry, with no clinical history of coronary heart disease, were followed for a mean period of 9 years and 4 months during which 474 experienced a coronary attack. The 9% of men who reported that they often participated in vigorous sports or did considerable amounts of cycling or rated the pace of their regular walking as fast (over 4 mph, 6.4 km/h) experienced less than half the non-fatal and fatal coronary heart disease of the other men. In addition, entrants aged 55-64 who reported the next lower degree of this vigorous aerobic exercise had rates less than two thirds of the remainder; entrants of 45-54 did not show such an effect. When these forms of exercise were not vigorous they were no protection against the disease, nor were other forms of exercise or high totals of physical activity per se. A history of vigorous sports in the past was not protective. Indications in these men are of protection by specific exercise: vigorous, aerobic, with a threshold of intensity for benefit and "dose response" above this threshold, exercise that has to be habitual, and continuing, which suggests that protection is against the acute phases of the disease. Those men who took vigorous aerobic exercise were demonstrably a favourably "selected" group; they suffered less of the disease, however, whether at low risk or high by the several risk factors that were studied. Men with exercise-related reduction in coronary heart disease also had lower death rates from the total of other causes, and so lower total death rates than the rest of the men.

Coronary Disease↗
PubMed1991

Physical activity and ischaemic heart disease in middle-aged British men.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relation between reported physical activity and the risk of heart attacks in middle aged British men. DESIGN: Prospective study of middle-aged men followed for a period of eight years (The British Regional Heart Study). SETTING: One general practice in each of 24 British towns. PARTICIPANTS: 7735 men aged 40-59 years at initial examination. END POINT: Heart attacks (non-fatal and fatal). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: During the follow up period of eight years 488 men suffered at least one major heart attack. A physical activity score used was developed and validated against heart rate and lung function (FEV1) in men without evidence of ischaemic heart disease. Risk of heart attack decreased significantly with increasing physical activity; the groups reporting moderate and moderately vigorous activity experienced less than half the rate seen in inactive men. The benefits of physical activity were seen most consistently in men without preexisting ischaemic heart disease and up to levels of moderately vigorous activity. Vigorously active men had higher rates of heart attack than men with moderate or moderately vigorous activity. The relation between physical activity and the risk of heart attack seemed to be independent of other cardiovascular risk factors. Men with symptomatic ischaemic heart disease showed a reduction in the rate of heart attack at light or moderate levels of physical activity, beyond which the risk of heart attack increased. Men with asymptomatic ischaemic heart disease showed an increasing risk of heart attack with increasing levels of physical activity, but with a progressive decrease in case fatality. Overall, men who engaged in vigorous (sporting) activity of any frequency had significantly lower rates of heart attack than men who reported no sporting activity. However, when all men reporting regular sporting activity at least once a month were excluded from analysis, there remained a strong inverse relation between physical activity and the risk of heart attack in men without pre-existing ischaemic heart disease. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the overall level of physical activity is an important independent protective factor in ischaemic heart disease and that vigorous (sporting) exercise, although beneficial in its own right, is not essential in order to obtain such an effect.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Ambulatory activity and simple cardiorespiratory parameters at rest and submaximal exercise.

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between objectively determined ambulatory activity and simple cardiorespiratory parameters (heart rate and blood pressure at rest and during submaximal exercise) in individuals who were stratified for self-reported participation (yes/any vs. no/none) in vigorous physical activity (PA). Ninety-eight subjects (African Americans: 7 M, 16 F; Caucasians: 33 M, 42 F; mean age 46.4 +/- 15.4 yrs; mean BMI 26.7 +/- 4.8) wore a pedometer for 21 consecutive days and completed a 10-min submaximal treadmill graded exercise test with HR (beats/min) and BP (mmHg) measured while walking at 4.8 km/hr and a 10% grade. Subjects averaged 7,618 +/- 3.045 steps/day. There were no differences in steps/day by self-reported vigorous PA strata. There was an inverse relationship (r = -0.35, p = 0.03) between steps/day and resting HR in subjects who reported no vigorous PA. There was an inverse relationship (r = -0.22, p = 0.04) between steps/day and submaximal HR in all subjects. When stratified for self-reported vigorous PA, the inverse relationship between steps/day and submaximal HR was stronger for those reporting no vigorous PA (r = -0.39, p = 0.01) vs. those reporting any vigorous PA (r = -0.28, p = 0.05). There was no relationship between steps/day and BP at rest or during exercise in this normotensive sample.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Assessment of physical activity by telephone interview versus objective monitoring.

PURPOSE: To compare different methods of quantifying time in physical activity (PA). METHODS: Twenty-five participants (12 male, 13 female) volunteered to be monitored for seven consecutive days, during which different PA patterns were measured by the simultaneous heart-rate motion sensor technique (HR+M). At the end of the 7th day, participants completed questions taken from the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) PA module telephone survey, in which they recalled the amount of time spent walking, and in moderate and vigorous activities. The results of the BRFSS PA module were then compared with those of the HR+M. RESULTS: No significant group differences were found in the amount of time spent in moderate and vigorous activities between methods. However, individual differences were greater for time spent in moderate activities (SE +/- 7.36 min x d(-1); range -70 to 77 min x d(-1)) than for time spent in vigorous activities (SE +/- 3.57 min x d(-1); range -39 to 33 min x d(-1). Spearman correlation coefficients between the HR+M and the BRFSS were significant for vigorous activities (r = 0.54, P < 0.01). There was 80% agreement between the two methods of classifying individuals who either: (a) met the recommendations (through moderate and/or vigorous PA) or (b) did not meet the recommendations. CONCLUSION: The BRFSS and HR+M methods yielded similar group estimates of PA, but individual assessments of moderate activity differed more than those of vigorous activity. BRFSS estimations of group compliance with national PA recommendations were similar to those of the HR+M.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Determinants of adolescent physical activity and inactivity patterns.

OBJECTIVES: Despite recognition of the important influence of environmental determinants on physical activity patterns, minimal empirical research has been done to assess the impact of environmental/contextual determinants of physical activity. This article aims to investigate environmental and sociodemographic determinants of physical activity and inactivity patterns among subpopulations of US adolescents. We define environmental determinants as modifiable factors in the physical environment that impose a direct influence on the opportunity to engage in physical activity. The present research examines environmental and sociodemographic determinants of physical activity and inactivity with the implication that these findings can point toward societal-level intervention strategies for increasing physical activity and decreasing inactivity among adolescents. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY: The study population consists of nationally representative data from the 1996 National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health on 17 766 US adolescents enrolled in US middle and high schools (including 3933 non-Hispanic blacks, 3148 Hispanics, and 1337 Asians). Hours/week of inactivity (TV/video viewing and video/computer games) and times/week of moderate to vigorous physical activity were collected by questionnaire. Outcome variables were moderate to vigorous physical activity and inactivity, which were broken into categories (physical activity: 0-2 times/week, 3-4 times/week, and >/=5 times/week; inactivity: 0-10 hours/week, 11-24 hours/week, and >/=25 hours/week). Sociodemographic and environmental correlates of physical activity and inactivity were used as exposure and control variables and included sex, age, urban residence, participation in school physical education program, use of community recreation center, total reported incidents of serious crime in neighborhood, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, generation of residence in the United States, presence of mother/father in household, pregnancy status, work status, in-school status, region, and month of interview. Logistic regression models of high versus low and medium physical activity and inactivity were used to investigate sex and ethnic interactions in relation to environmental and sociodemographic factors to examine evidence for the potential impact of physical education and recreation programs and sociodemographic factors on physical activity and inactivity patterns. RESULTS: Moderate to vigorous physical activity was lower and inactivity higher for non-Hispanic black and Hispanic adolescents. Participation in school physical education programs was considerably low for these adolescents and decreased with age. Participation in daily school physical education (PE) program classes (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.21; confidence interval [CI]: 1.82-2.68) and use of a community recreation center (AOR: 1.75; CI: 1.56-1.96) were associated with an increased likelihood of engaging in high level moderate to vigorous physical activity. Maternal education was inversely associated with high inactivity patterns; for example, having a mother with a graduate or professional degree was associated with an AOR of.61 (CI:.48-.76) for high inactivity. High family income was associated with increased moderate to vigorous physical activity (AOR: 1.43; CI: 1.22-1.67) and decreased inactivity (AOR:.70; CI:.59-.82). High neighborhood serious crime level was associated with a decreased likelihood of falling in the highest category of moderate to vigorous physical activity (AOR:.77; CI:.66-.91). CONCLUSIONS: These results show important associations between modifiable environmental factors, such as participation in school PE and community recreation programs, with activity patterns of adolescents. Despite the marked and significant impact of participation in school PE programs on physical activity patterns of US adolescents, few adolescents participated in such school PE programs; only 21.3% of all adolescents

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Prevalence of physical activity in the United States: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2001.

INTRODUCTION: The health benefits of regular cardiovascular exercise are well-known. Such exercise, however, has traditionally been defined as vigorous physical activity, such as jogging, swimming, or aerobic dance. Exercise of moderate intensity also promotes health, and many U.S. adults may be experiencing the health benefits of exercise through lifestyle activities of moderate intensity, such as yard work, housework, or walking for transportation. Until recently, public health surveillance systems have not included assessments of this type of physical activity, focusing on exercise of vigorous intensity. We used an enhanced surveillance tool to describe the prevalence and amount of both moderate-intensity and vigorous-intensity physical activity among U.S. adults. METHODS: We analyzed data from the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a state-based, random-digit-dialed telephone survey administered to U.S. adults aged 18 years and older (n = 82,834 men and 120,286 women). Physical activity behavior was assessed using questions designed to quantify the frequency of participation in moderate- or vigorous-intensity physical activities performed during leisure time or for household chores and transportation. RESULTS: Overall, 45% of adults (48% of men and 43% of women) were active at recommended levels during nonworking hours (at least 30 minutes five or more days per week in moderate-intensity activities, equivalent to brisk walking, or at least 20 minutes three or more days per week in vigorous activities, equivalent to running, heavy yard work, or aerobic dance). Less than 16% of adults (15% of men and 17% of women) reported no moderate or vigorous activity in a usual week. CONCLUSION: Integrating surveillance of lifestyle activities into national systems is possible, and doing so may provide a more accurate representation of the prevalence of recommended levels of physical activity. These results, however, suggest that the majority of U.S. adults are not active at levels associated with the promotion and maintenance of health.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Characterization of granuloma T lymphocyte function from Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice.

This study was undertaken to characterize and compare T lymphocyte function from the vigorous and modulated liver granulomas of Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice. Although both types of lesion contained equal percentages of T lymphocytes, the T cell subset distribution was different. For vigorous lesions, the ratio of helper/effector to suppressor/cytotoxic T cells was 2 to 3:1. For modulated lesions the ratio was lower (1:1). Differences in the phenotypic profiles of vigorous and modulated granuloma (Gr) T cells were reflected in their functional activity. Vigorous Gr T cells were more active in lymphoproliferation, IL-2 production, and granuloma formation than those from modulated lesions. Moreover, modulated Gr T cells suppressed the functional activity of vigorous Gr T cells in a dose-dependent manner. The selective depletion of T cell subsets showed that phenotypically, the Gr delayed-hypersensitivity T cell is L3T4+, Lyt-1+ whereas the Gr Ts cell is an Lyt-2+ lymphocyte. Both of these T cell subsets are present in vigorous and modulated lesions. During acute infection, delayed-hypersensitivity T cell lymphocyte functions predominate, whereas Ts lymphocyte functions appear to prevail during chronic infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Exercise intensity and longevity in men. The Harvard Alumni Health Study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the independent associations of vigorous (> or = 6 resting metabolic rate [MET] score) and nonvigorous (< 6 MET score) physical activity with longevity. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study, following up men from 1962 or 1966 through 1988. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Subjects were Harvard University alumni, without self-reported, physician-diagnosed cardiovascular disease, cancer, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (n = 17,321). Men with a mean age of 46 years reported their physical activities on questionnaires at baseline. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: All-cause mortality (3728 deaths). RESULTS: Total energy expenditure and energy expenditure from vigorous activities, but not energy expenditure from nonvigorous activities, related inversely to mortality. After adjustment for potential confounders, the relative risks of dying associated with increasing quintiles of total energy expenditure were 1.00 (referent), 0.94, 0.95, 0.91 and 0.91, respectively (P [trend] < .05). The relative risks of dying associated with less than 630, 630 to less than 1680, 1680 to less than 3150, 3150 to less than 6300, and 6300 or more kJ/wk expended on vigorous activities were 1.00 (referent), 0.88, 0.92, 0.87, and 0.87, respectively (P [trend] = .007). Corresponding relative risks for energy expended on nonvigorous activities were 1.00 (referent), 0.89, 1.00, 0.98, and 0.92, respectively (P [trend] = .36). Analyses of vigorous and nonvigorous activities were mutually adjusted. Among men who reported only vigorous activities (259 deaths), we observed decreasing age-standardized mortality rates with increasing activity (P = .05); among men who reported only nonvigorous activities (380 deaths), no trend was apparent (P = .99). CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate a graded inverse relationship between total physical activity and mortality. Furthermore, vigorous activities but not nonvigorous activities were associated with longevity. These findings pertain only to all-cause mortality; nonvigorous exercise has been shown to benefit other aspects of health.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Physical activity, hypertension and risk of heart attack in men without evidence of ischaemic heart disease.

The role of hypertension in the increased rate of heart attack reported in vigorously active subjects was examined in a large prospective study of 7735 middle-aged men drawn from general practices in 24 British towns (The British Regional Heart Study). Analyses were restricted to 5694 men with no evidence of pre-existing ischaemic heart disease or stroke at screening, in whom there were 311 major ischaemic heart disease events after 9.5 years follow-up. Risk of major ischaemic heart disease events decreased significantly with increasing physical activity to levels of moderate/moderately vigorous activity, with a 50% reduction in risk compared with inactive men after adjustment for age, body mass index, smoking, heavy drinking, social class and blood cholesterol. However, at the highest level of physical activity (vigorous group) risk of major ischaemic heart disease events was increased above that seen in the moderate/moderately vigorous group (rr = 1.68, P = 0.05). When separated into normotensives (n = 3888) and hypertensives (n = 1806; SBP > or = 160 mmHg or DBP > or = 90 mmHg or on regular antihypertensive treatment), the increased risk of major ischaemic heart disease events in the vigorous group was only evident in hypertensive men. They showed more than a twofold increase in risk compared with the moderate and moderately vigorous group (rr = 2.7, P < 0.05). In normotensive men, risk was significantly lowered in those engaged in moderate activity with no further decline in rate of heart attack at increasing levels of physical activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Analysis of chemically-induced alterations of the motor activity in rats.

A computerized method for the evaluation of behavioral responses induced by neurotoxicants in rats is described. A dynamic image analysis system was adapted for the measurement of the duration, vigor and averaged velocity of motor activity (locomotor or not) of behavioral responses induced chemically in rats. Three known animal models of epilepsy: systemic administration of kainic acid, pentylenetetrazole and 4-aminopyridine were used for reference. The method, based on the concurrent measurement of the quantity and quality of the movements, allowed the systematic evaluation of the behavior patterns induced. Three different levels of analysis were used. Firstly, we measured the time spent by the animal performing physical movements during long successive intervals (30 min) of the test, a motor activity analysis similar to that obtained with other motor activity recording devices. Secondly, the system was designed to distinguish movements energetically or forcefully performed by the animal according to a previously defined vigor level and then we determined the presence of vigorous and non-vigorous activity throughout the test at 2 min interval. Finally, we applied the method to perform a more detailed analysis of the motor characteristic of behavioral components exhibited by the animals determining the velocity and vigor of movements over short intervals of time (5 sec). Thus, motor activity profiles, the vigor of the motor responses and the description of behavioral components were used for the comparative analysis of behavior induced by the aforementioned convulsant agents.

4-Aminopyridine↗
PubMed2004

Diet, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors as risk factors for overweight in adolescence.

BACKGROUND: The proportion of overweight adolescents has increased, but the behavioral risk factors for overweight youth are not well understood. OBJECTIVE: To examine how diet, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors relate to overweight status in adolescents. DESIGN AND SETTING: Baseline data from the Patient-Centered Assessment and Counseling for Exercise Plus Nutrition Project, a randomized controlled trial of adolescents to determine the effects of a clinic-based intervention on physical activity and dietary behaviors. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 878 adolescents aged 11 to 15 years, 42% of whom were from minority backgrounds. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention body mass index-for-age percentiles divided into 2 categories: normal weight (<85th percentile) and at risk for overweight plus overweight (AR + O) (>or=85th percentile). RESULTS: Overall, 45.7% of the sample was classified as AR + O with a body mass index for age at the 85th percentile or higher. More girls from minority backgrounds (54.8%) were AR + O compared with non-Hispanic white girls (42%) (chi(2)(1) = 7.6; P =.006). Bivariate analyses indicated that girls and boys in the AR + O group did fewer minutes per day of vigorous physical activity, consumed fewer total kilojoules per day, and had fewer total grams of fiber per day than those in the normal-weight group. Boys in the AR + O group also did fewer minutes per day of moderate physical activity and watched more minutes per day of television on nonschool days than normal-weight boys. Final multivariate models indicated that independent of socioeconomic status (as assessed by household education level), girls had a greater risk of being AR + O if they were Hispanic or from another minority background (odds ratio [OR] = 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-2.49) and a reduced risk of being AR + O as minutes per day of vigorous physical activity increased (OR = 0.93; 95% CI, 0.89-0.97). A low level of vigorous physical activity was the only significant risk factor for boys being AR + O (OR = 0.92; 95% CI, 0.89-0.95). Analyses based on meeting behavioral guidelines supported these findings and showed that failing to meet the 60 min/d moderate to vigorous physical activity guideline was associated with overweight status for both girls and boys. In addition, boys who failed to meet sedentary behavior and dietary fiber guidelines were more likely to be overweight. CONCLUSIONS: Of the 7 dietary and physical activity variables examined in this cross-sectional study, insufficient vigorous physical activity was the only risk factor for higher body mass index for adolescent boys and girls. Prospective studies are needed to clarify the relative importance of dietary and physical activity behaviors on overweight in adolescence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Physical activity patterns in American high school students. Results from the 1990 Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

OBJECTIVE: To assess by self-reported participation in vigorous physical activity, the quantity and quality of school physical education, team sports, and television watching among 11,631 American high school students. RESULTS: Of all students in grades 9 through 12, 37% reported engaging in 20 minutes of vigorous physical activity three or more times per week. Participation in vigorous physical activity was higher among boys than girls (P < .01) and higher among white students than among those of other races and ethnic groups (P < .01). Overall, 43.7% of boys and 52% of girls reported that they were not enrolled in physical education classes. Of the students who reported attending physical education class during the past 2 weeks, 33.2% reported exercising 20 minutes or more in physical education class three to five times per week. In contrast, rates of participation in varsity and junior varsity sports remained constant across grade levels, but participation in recreational physical activity programs showed a lesser magnitude and also decreased with advancing grade. More than 70% of students reported spending at least 1 hour watching television each school day, and more than 35% reported watching television 3 hours or more each school day. CONCLUSIONS: Participation in vigorous physical activity and physical education class time devoted to physical activity are substantially below the goals set in Healthy People 2000. As students move toward graduation, we observed disturbing declines in participation in community recreation programs and overall vigorous activity. Students appear to spend considerably more time watching television than participating in physical activity. Public health efforts should focus on increasing the physical activity levels of our youth to enhance their current well-being and to reduce the risks of future chronic disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Intensity and amount of physical activity in relation to insulin sensitivity: the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study.

CONTEXT: Exercise training is associated with improved insulin sensitivity (SI), but the potential impact of habitual, nonvigorous activity is uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether habitual, nonvigorous physical activity, as well as vigorous and overall activity, is associated with better SI. DESIGN: A multicultural epidemiologic study. SETTING: The Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study, conducted in Oakland, Calif; Los Angeles, Calif; the San Luis Valley, Colo; and San Antonio, Tex. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1467 men and women of African American, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic white ethnicity, aged 40 to 69 years, with glucose tolerance ranging from normal to mild non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Insulin sensitivity as measured by an intravenous glucose tolerance test. RESULTS: The mean SI for individuals who participated in vigorous activity 5 or more times per week was 1.59 min(-1) x microU(-1) x mL(-1) x 10(-4) (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39-1.79) compared with 0.90 (95% CI, 0.83-0.97) for those who rarely or never participated in vigorous activity, after adjusting for potential confounders (P<.001). When habitual physical activity (estimated energy expenditure [EEE]) was assessed by 1-year recall of activities, the correlation coefficient between SI and total EEE was 0.14 (P<.001). After adjustment for confounders, vigorous and nonvigorous levels of EEE (metabolic equivalent levels > or = 6.0 and <6.0, respectively) were each positively and independently associated with SI (P< or =.01 for each). The association was attenuated after adjustment for the potential mediators, body mass index (a measure of weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters), and waist-to-hip ratio. Results were similar for subgroups of sex, ethnicity, and diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Increased participation in nonvigorous as well as overall and vigorous physical activity was associated with significantly higher SI. These findings lend further support to current public health recommendations for increased moderate-intensity physical activity on most days.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Frequency and velocity of rotational head perturbations during locomotion.

We used the magnetic search coil technique to record horizontal (yaw) and vertical (pitch) head rotations of 20 normal subjects during (1) walking in place, (2) running in place, (3) vigorous, voluntary, horizontal head rotation and (4) vigorous, voluntary, vertical head rotation. During walking or running, the predominant frequency of pitch rotations was at least twice that of yaw rotations. During running, the median, predominant pitch frequency from all subjects was 3.2 Hz, but significant harmonics were present up to 15-20 Hz in several subjects. Group median maximal head velocity during walking or running did not exceed 90 degrees/second. During vigorous, voluntary head rotations median frequency for yaw and pitch was similar and did not exceed 2.6 Hz. However, group median maximal head velocity during vigorous voluntary yaw rotation was 780 degrees/second. Thus, (1) during locomotion, the head is stabilized in space incompletely but adequately so that the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) is not saturated, (2) during vigorous, voluntary head rotations, the maximum head velocity exceeds the range where the VOR can stabilize gaze, (3) the frequencies of head rotations that occur during locomotion greatly exceed frequencies conventionally used in the laboratory for testing the VOR.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Physical activity of adults aged 50 years and older in Switzerland.

OBJECTIVE: This study explores the prevalence of guideline-compliant physical activity (PA) behavior based on socio-demographic, health-related and environmental variables. METHODS: Cross-sectional data of the Swiss Health Survey 2002 were used in a Swiss population segment aged 50+. Four categories of PA were created with respect to Swiss and US guidelines: "moderate sports/exercise", "vigorous sports/exercise", "habitual PA", and "optimal PA" (i.e. combined variable used when both "vigorous sports/exercise" and "habitual PA" apply). Sedentary lifestyle was a fifth category. RESULTS: In the total sample considered for analysis (N = 8405) the prevalence of guideline-compliant PA was: 9.1% moderate sports/exercise; 18.2% vigorous sports/exercise; 45% habitual PA; 8.7% optimal PA. Almost 50% of the age groups 65-79 and 80+ were involved in habitual PA. Higher socio-economic status was associated with involvement in moderate sports/exercise, vigorous sports/exercise, or optimal PA. In contrast, lower socioeconomic status was associated with habitual PA. While living in an urban or rural environment had no differentiating effect on sports/exercise, living in rural areas was associated with a sedentary lifestyle and little involvement in habitual PA and/or optimal PA. Self-reported good health and/or health orientation were associated with vigorous sports/exercise, habitual PA and optimal PA, regardless of whether the person had chronic health problems or not. CONCLUSION: Habitual PA seems to have the greatest potential for increasing overall guideline-compliant activity levels. A behavioral/cognitive and political/environmental approach to improving PA is suggested.

Adult↗