The Association Between Leisure-time Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Low Back Pain: A Cross-sectional Analysis in Primary Care Settings.

STUDY DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and low back pain (LBP) in adults from primary care settings, and to explore how sedentary behavior influences this association. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: LTPA is inversely associated with LBP. However, there is no study investigating this association in primary care settings from a middle-income country. Moreover, the influence of sedentary behavior in this association is unknown. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of an ongoing longitudinal study with adults from Bauru, Brazil (n = 557). Data on physical activity, sedentary behavior (sitting time), LBP, body mass index (BMI), and chronic diseases were assessed by face-to-face interviews, physical evaluation, and medical records. Binary logistic regression was used to test the association of LTPA with the presence of LBP. Sociodemographic, behavioral, and health variables were used as covariables in the multivariable models. RESULTS: The fully adjusted model showed that active participants were 33% less likely to have LBP when compared with those insufficiently active (odds ratios [OR]: 0.67 [95% CI: 0.46-0.98]). A significant association was found for active participants who spent less than 3 h/day sitting (OR: 0.45 [95% CI: 0.23-0.89]) but not for those who spent 3 h/day or more in sedentary activities (OR: 0.78 [95% CI: 0.48-1.27]). An inverse association of LTPA with LBP was observed in obese participants (OR = 0.49 [95% CI: 0.25-0.94]), but not in those with normal BMI and overweight. CONCLUSION: LTPA was inversely associated with the prevalence of LBP in adults from primary care. This association was influenced by sedentary behavior and BMI.Level of Evidence: 4.

The Impact of Training Load on Bone Mineral Density of Adolescent Swimmers: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach.

PURPOSE: To investigate the mediating effect of muscle mass on the relationship between training load and bone density in adolescent swimmers. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 87 control and 22 swimmers aged 10-19 years (overall sample: n = 109). Swimmers had a minimum of 1 year of competition in regional and national championships, and control adolescents reported 1 year without any organized sport. Bone density was the main outcome (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), which was measured in upper limbs, lower limbs, spine, and whole body. Monthly training load was the independent variable, while the mediation effect of lean soft tissue was assessed. Maturity offset, age, inflammation, and vitamin D intake were treated as covariates. RESULTS: Swimmers had lower bone density than controls; there was a significant and positive relationship between training load and muscle mass. In boys, training load presented a negative correlation with bone density in lower limbs [r = -.293; 95% confidence interval (CI), -.553 to -.034]. In girls, training load was negatively related to bone mineral density in lower limbs (r = .563; 95% CI, -.770 to -.356) and whole body (r = -.409; 95% CI, -.609 to -.209). CONCLUSION: Training load had a negative relationship on bone density of swimmers of both sexes, independently of the positive effect of lean soft tissue on bone density.

Avaliação da pressão arterial nas escolas: uma medida de promoção da saúde / Recording arterial pressure in schools: a health promotion measure

Esta comunicação breve teve como objetivo apresentar a importância da medida da pressão arterial desde as primeiras idades. Essa população demanda grande parte do seu tempo no ambiente escolar

AvaliaþÒo da pressÒo arterial nas escolas: uma medida de promoþÒo da saúde / Recording arterial pressure in schools: a health promotion measure

Esta comunicaþÒo breve teve como objetivo apresentar a importÔncia da medida da pressÒo arterial desde as primeiras idades. Essa populaþÒo demanda grande parte do seu tempo no ambiente escolar (AU)