Healthy fitness zone prevalence and age-specific fitness profile of young people in seven European countries in 2022: The EUFITMOS project.

BACKGROUND: Physical fitness is a health marker in youth and is associated with current and future health. OBJECTIVE: Present the healthy fitness zone (HFZ) prevalence and age-specific fitness profile of young people from seven European countries. METHODS: This study used data from the European Fitness Monitoring System project. The sample comprised 4965 (51.4% boys) youths aged 9 to 18 years. Fitness data were collected by physical education teachers using field-based tests. Raw data from the fitness tests were used to calculate the prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of participants in the HFZ. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of boys and girls in the HFZ for all tests was 16.6% (95% CI = 14.7, 18.1) and 14.9% (95% CI = 13.2, 16.6), respectively. Boys have a mainly positive HFZ profiles, except for the 9-year-olds in the sit and reach (z-score difference = -1.20) and the 20 m run for boys 13-18-year-olds (z-score difference range: -0.09 to -0.01). Girls have worse HFZ profiles than boys, being out of the HFZ in several tests. Furthermore, a decreasing trend in z-score difference from the HFZ with age was observed in VO2 peak for boys and girls and sit and reach for girls. Notwithstanding, several country-related, sex and age differences were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Boys presented mostly healthy age-specific fitness profiles in several fitness tests and ages. These differences should be considered when promoting youth's health through physical activity and fitness, as different fitness levels may require different approaches to implementing health-enhancing physical activity policies.

Adaption and validity of the “Physical Activity Class Satisfaction Questionnaire» (PACSQ) in Greek educational dancing context / Adaptación y validez del "Cuestionario de Satisfacción de La Clase de Actividad Física" (PACSQ) en el contexto de baile educativo griego / Adaptação e validade do "Questionário de Satisfação da Classe de Atividade Física" (PACSQ) no contexto de dança educacional grega

Satisfaction is a contributing factor to increasing participation in sports activities, especially since it is linkedto behavioural procedures responsible for causing positive feelings to people involved. The aim of this study was to confirm the “Physical Activity Class Satisfaction Questionnaire”in a Greek educational dancing context. The internal consistency of the questionnaire has also been examined. The sample of the study consisted of 482 participants, 184 male and 298 females. All participants have attended Greek traditional dance courses in dancing associations among Greece. The scale consists of 45 questions which constitute nine factors. The following statistical analyses were carried out: Questionnaire’s validity and reliability were examined via an exploratory factor analysis and a confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability analysis was conducted to examine the internal cohesion of the factors. Descriptive statistics have been calculated to broadly examine the degree of satisfaction. Results’ analysis arrived at the following conclusion:a. The Greek version of the questionnaire has shown stablestationary psychometric properties, which partially support its use in the Greek dancing context. b. Correlations among subscales indicated a related factor model supporting the construct validityof the scale. (AU)

La satisfacción es un factor que contribuye a aumentar la participación en las actividades deportivas, principalmente porque está vinculada a procedimientos conductuales responsables de generar sentimientos positivos en las personas involucradas. El objetivo de este estudio fue confirmar el "Cuestionario de Satisfacción de La Clase de Educación Física" en un contexto educativo de danza griega. También se examinó la coherencia interna del cuestionario. La muestra del estudio consistió en 482 participantes, 184 de los cuales eran hombres y 298 eran mujeres. Todos los participantes asistieron a cursos de danza tradicional griega en diferentes asociaciones de danza en Grecia. La escala consta de 45 preguntas que constituyen nueve factores. Se realizaron los siguientes análisis estadísticos: La validez y fiabilidad del cuestionario se examinaron mediante un análisis de factores exploratorios y un análisis de factores confirmatorios. Se llevó a cabo un análisis de fiabilidad para examinar la cohesión interna de los factores. Se calcularon estadísticas descriptivas para examinar ampliamente el grado de satisfacción. El análisis de los resultados llegó a la siguiente conclusión: a) La versión griega del cuestionario mostró propiedades psicométricas estacionarias estables, que apoyan parcialmente su uso en el contexto de la danza griega. b) Las correlaciones entre las subescalas indicaban un modelo de factor relacionado que soporta la validez de la construcción de escalas. (AU)

A satisfação é um fator que contribui para aumentar a participação nas atividades desportivas, principalmentepor estar ligada a procedimentos comportamentais responsáveis por gerarem sentimentos positivos nas pessoas envolvidas. O objetivo deste estudo foi confirmar o “Questionário de Satisfação da Aula de Educação Física” num contexto educacional grego de dança. A consistência interna do questionário também foi examinada. A amostra do estudo foi composta por 482 participantes, sendo que 184 eram homens e 298 eram mulheres. Todos os participantes frequentaram cursos de dança tradicional grega em diferentes associações de dança na Grécia. A escala é composta por 45 questões que constituem nove fatores. Foram realizadas as seguintes análises estatísticas: A validade e confiabilidade do questionário foram examinadas através de uma análise de fatores exploratória e uma análise de fatoresconfirmatória. A análise de confiabilidade foi conduzida para examinar a coesão interna dos fatores. Foram calculadas estatísticas descritivas para examinaramplamente o grau de satisfação. A análise dos resultados chegou à seguinte conclusão: a) A versão grega do questionário mostrou propriedades psicométricas estacionárias estáveis, que suportam parcialmente o seu uso no contexto da dança grega. b) As correlações entre as subescalas indicaram um modelo de fator relacionado que suporta a validade de construção da escala. (AU)

International Ballroom Dancing Against Neurodegeneration: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Greek Community-Dwelling Elders With Mild Cognitive impairment.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have highlighted the positive effects of dance in people with neurodegenerative diseases. OBJECTIVES: To explore the effects of International Ballroom Dancing on cognitive function in elders with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). METHODS: One-hundred twenty-nine elderly patients with aMCI diagnosis (mean age 66.8 ± 10.1 years) were randomly assigned into 2 groups: intervention group (IG, n = 66) and control group (CG, n = 63). The IG exercised systematically for 10 months, and both groups were submitted to extensive neuropsychological assessment prior and after the 10-month period. RESULTS: According to the independent sample t test at the follow-up, significant differences between groups were found in benefit of the IG while the CG showed worse performance in the majority of neuropsychological tests. According to the Student t test, better performance is detected in IG in contrast with CG, which had worse performance almost in all scales. CONCLUSION: Dance may be an important nonpharmacological approach that can benefit cognitive functions.

Functional and psychosocial effects of either a traditional dancing or a formal exercising training program in patients with chronic heart failure: a comparative randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of traditional dancing with formal exercise training in terms of functional and cardiovascular benefits and motivation in patients with chronic heart failure. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Sports Medicine Laboratory. SUBJECTS: Fifty-one Greek male patients aged 67.1±5.5 years with chronic heart failure of New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II-III, participated in an eight-month study. INTERVENTIONS: They were randomly assigned to either training with Greek traditional dances (group A, n=18), formal exercise training (group B, n=16) or a sedentary control group (group C, n=17). MAIN MEASURES: At entry and the end of the study all patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing, functional ability assessment and quality of life evaluations. The Intrinsic Motivation Inventory was also used to assess participants' subjective experience. RESULTS: After training group A showed increased peak oxygen consumption by 33.8% (19.5 vs. 26.1 ml/kg/min, p<0.05) and B by 32.3% (19.5 vs. 25.8 ml/kg/min, p<0.05), maximal treadmill tolerance by 48.5% (p<0.05) and by 46.4% (p<0.05), and a decreased Slope of expired minute ventilation for carbon dioxide output (VE/VCO2) slope by 18% (p<0.05) and 19.5% (p<0.05), respectively. Trained patients revealed significant improvement in the quality of life indices. Intrinsic Motivation Inventory was increased only in group A by 26.2% (3.08 vs. 3.87, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Exercise training in chronic heart failure patients with Greek traditional dances led to functional and cardiovascular benefits similar to formal exercise training and to a higher level of motivation.

Physical and psychological benefits of a 24-week traditional dance program in breast cancer survivors.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the influence of a mixed exercise program, including Greek traditional dances and upper body training, in physical function, strength and psychological condition of breast cancer survivors. Twenty-seven women (N = 27), who had been diagnosed and surgically treated for breast cancer, volunteered to participate in this study. The experimental group consisted of 14 women with mean age 56.6 (4.2) years. They attended supervised Greek traditional dance courses and upper body training (1 h, 3 sessions/week) for 24 weeks. The control group consisted of 13 sedentary women with mean age 57.1 (4.1) years. Blood pressure, heart rate, physical function (6-min walking test), handgrip strength, arm volume and psychological condition (Life Satisfaction Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory) were evaluated before and after the exercise program. The results showed significant increases of 19.9% for physical function, 24.3% for right handgrip strength, 26.1% for left handgrip strength, 36.3% for life satisfaction and also a decrease of 35% for depressive symptoms in the experimental group after the training program. Significant reductions of 9% for left hand and 13.7% for right hand arm volume were also found in the experimental group. Consequently, aerobic exercise with Greek traditional dances and upper body training could be an alternative choice of physical activity for breast cancer survivors, thus promoting benefits in physical function, strength and psychological condition.

Effect of a 10-week traditional dance program on static and dynamic balance control in elderly adults.

This preliminary study examined the effect of a 10-wk traditional Greek dance program on static and dynamic balance indices in healthy elderly adults. Twenty-six community-dwelling older adults were randomly assigned to either an intervention group who took supervised Greek traditional dance classes for 10 wk (1 hr, 2 sessions/week, n = 14), or a control group (n = 12). Balance was assessed pre- and postintervention by recording the center-of-pressure (COP) variations and trunk kinematics during performance of the Sharpened-Romberg test, 1-leg (OL) stance, and dynamic weight shifting (WS). After practice, the dance group significantly decreased COP displacement and trunk sway in OL stance. A significant increase in the range of trunk rotation was noted during performance of dynamic WS in the sagittal and frontal planes. These findings support the use of traditional dance as an effective means of physical activity for improving static and dynamic balance control in the elderly.