Can participation in sports during childhood influence physical activity in adulthood?

Abstract Aims: The promotion of sports participation during the early years of life is important not only because it promotes health during childhood and adolescence, but also because it has benefits in adulthood. This study was developed to identify the association between sports participation during the early years of life and adulthood, to analyze the non-participation in sports throughout life and to identify the correlates of non-participation in sports. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The sample was composed of 743 adults randomly selected in a medium-size Brazilian city. Non-participation in sports during childhood and adolescence was assessed through specific questions, and non-participation in sports in adulthood was assessed using the second section of Baecke questionnaire. Answering "no" in the three periods assessed (childhood, adolescence and adulthood) was characterized as non-participation in sports throughout life. Chronological age, sex, formal education, BMI, current job and ethnicity were considered covariates. Categorical data were expressed as rates and compared using chi-square test and binary logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of adults not engaged in sports throughout life was 58.5% (95% CI= 55.1 - 62.1). Females (OR = 2.41 [1.71 - 3.38]), those more advanced in age (OR = 3.29 [1.82-5.94]) and/or possessing a lower level of education (OR = 4.47 [2.45 - 8.17]) were associated with the non-engagement in sports. Conclusion: Non-participation in sports during childhood can influence non-participation in sports during adulthood, which is significantly affected by sex, age and education level.

Occurrence of physical therapy consultations in the last 12 months among adults from a medium sized brazilian city / Ocorrência de consultas fisioterápicas nos últimos 12 meses entre adultos de uma cidade de porte médio brasileira

Cross-sectional design. Introduction: Physical Therapy is a profession with a diversity of methods and s, and although it extends to all age groups with a huge number of clinics, the occurrence of searches for physiotherapists is still low. Aim: To analyze the occurrence of physical therapy consultations in the past 12 months among adults in Presidente Prudente, as well as to identify some variables associated with the outcome. Methods: The population (n=743) had a mean age of 49.9±17.3 years. The procedures set out the dependent variable: physical therapy consultation and independent variables: low back pain and physical activity during leisure time and at work, respecting the confounding factors. Results: The occurrence of physiotherapy consultations in the last 12 months was 21%, which was more frequent among adults of 30-44.9 years (OR=2.02 [1.02-3.99]) and for those with low back pain (OR=2.18 [1.18-4.06]). Conclusion: Physical therapy utilization is an outcome with a low rate, which is associated with low back pain among adults at a productive age.