Behavioral Determinants of Physical Activity Among Secondary School Students Aged 14-15 Years in Cambodia.

BACKGROUND: There is little known about physical activity (PA) behaviors and its determinants in Cambodian adolescents, particularly with regard to the home and school settings. Therefore, we aimed to investigate these behaviors and determinants on their PA. METHODS: The samples collected were from 168 high school students, aged 14-15 years. They were requested to complete the self-report PA questionnaire. Time spent in PA during weekday and weekend by school location and gender, and determinants on PA were analyzed. Differences in the mean values of the PA levels (in minutes) during weekday and the weekend between genders, and between school locations were analyzed using independent sample t tests. The percentage of students' perceptions on the determinants were calculated. Chi-squared test was used to compare the differences in prevalence of students' activities during their free time with respect to school location and gender. RESULTS: The majority of the parents (86.9%-98.2%) demonstrated strong support for their children for academic work. Rural students spent an average time of moderate-to-vigorous PA greater than their counterparts from the urban areas during their weekend days (329.1 vs 239.2 min, respectively). Moderate to vigorous PA was likely to be higher during the weekends compared with weekdays among the boys (387.9 vs 361.4 min, respectively). Girls were more likely to spend their time on moderate to vigorous PA during the weekdays compared with the weekends (205.4 vs 180.5 min, respectively). CONCLUSION: Consideration should be given to gender, school location, free time, and the environmental setting for the contextualization of more effective PA interventions with Cambodian youths.

Energy expenditure and movement activity analysis of sepaktakraw players in the Thailand league.

BACKGROUND: The analysis of energy expenditure (EE) and movement activity in specific positions among sepaktakraw players during competition is important for planning training and appropriate nutrition programs. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to compare the EE and movement activity of different positions among sepaktakraw players during competition. METHODS: Forty-two sepaktakraw players in the Thailand League, assigned to 1 of 3 positions - servers (n = 14), feeders (n = 14), and strikers (n = 14) - aged 20-40 years, were asked to wear a GT9X ActiGraph on the upper Achilles tendon of their dominant leg during a simulated competitive match. RESULTS: Servers and strikers showed a higher activity kcal and MET than feeders (p < 0.01). Servers (4914.32 ± 509.041 CPM) and strikers (4655.38 ± 557.64 CPM) performed in vertical axis movement more than feeders (3428.11 ± 453.86CPM) (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study will aid in designing specific training programs based on playing positions, so as to provide the athletes with the appropriate and consistent energy intake required and the direction of movement with specific positions.

Immediate Effects and Acceptability of an Application-Based Stretching Exercise Incorporating Deep Slow Breathing for Neck Pain Self-management.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the immediate effects and acceptability of a smartphone application named NeckProtector to promote neck pain self-management through stretching incorporating deep slow breathing, among smartphone users with neck pain. METHODS: One-hundred participants were recruited in the study. Participants were divided into two groups by block randomized allocation. The researchers gave the NeckProtector application to all participants for acceptability testing by navigation of the application for 20-30 minutes. Next, the treatment group (n = 50) conducted the exercise program via smartphone application for 15-20 minutes, while the control group (n = 50) rested for 20 minutes. Evaluations were performed at baseline and after intervention for pain intensity, muscle tension, pressure pain threshold (PPT), and cervical range of motion (CROM). Quantitative and qualitative feedback was then obtained by an acceptability survey and open-ended questionnaires. RESULTS: The immediate effects showed statistically significant improvements in pain intensity, muscle tension, PPT, and CROM in the treatment group in comparison to the control group. Participants reported a high level of acceptability through ratings on a Likert scale. The qualitative questionnaires received positive responses that the application was easy to use and the exercise program was useful to cope with neck pain. CONCLUSIONS: NeckProtector can be an alternative treatment for neck pain self-management via smartphone application among smartphone users with neck pain. Further studies should examine the long-term effectiveness (Clinical trials registry: TCTR20160523001).

Exercise Intensity and Substrate Utilization in Healthy Sedentary Females Using the Life-Build-Line Device.

Background: Life-Build-Line (LBL) is a new exercise device that is convenient, and not so expensive. Together with the style of movement, it may boost one to adhere to the exercise regimen and thereby promote better health. However, no study has proved its exercise intensity and effect on substrate utilization. Objective: To investigate exercise intensity in healthy sedentary women using LBL and measure their substrate utilization during exercise. The former session was determined by measuring absolute [i.e., energy expenditure (EE)] and relative [i.e., percentage of rate of peak oxygen consumption (V̇O2 peak), maximal heart rate (HRmax ), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and rating of perceived dyspnea (RPD)] indicators, whereas the latter was determined by measuring oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production (V̇CO2). Material and Method: Ten female subjects randomly performed two visits of exercise at least seven days apart. The first was a peak exercise test, and the second consisted of three 30-minute sessions of rest, exercise with LBL, and recovery. The V̇O2, V̇CO2, and EE were determined based on the expired air at the last five minutes of resting and exercise, whereas electrocardiograms were recorded to measure HR throughout the three sessions. Subjects were asked to provide RPE and RPD at the end of the exercise session. Results: During exercise with LBL, average %V̇O2 peak and %HRmax were 43.5%±2.32% and 52.8%±1.81%, respectively, while EE, RPE, and RPD were 3.01±0.53 metabolic equivalents, 12.2±1.8, and 3.0±1.41, respectively. In addition, fat and especially CHO utilization were increased by the exercise. Conclusion: These findings indicate that LBL offers a means of low-intensity exercise in healthy females while still providing physiological and metabolic benefits

Results From Thailand's 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) is recognized as one of the core modifiable risk factors of noncommunicable diseases. However, little is known about PA in the Thai population, particularly in children. The report card (RC) project provided Thailand with an opportunity to assess PA behaviors in children. This paper summarizes the methodology, grading process, and the final grades of the Thai RC. METHODS: A school-based survey was conducted to collect data from a nationally representative sample of children aged 6 to 17 years. Survey results provided the primary source for the RC. Nine indicators were graded using the Global Matrix 2.0 framework. Grading was undertaken by a national committee comprising experts from key stakeholders. RESULTS: Grades ranged from F to B. Overall PA and Sedentary Behaviors both received the grade D-. Organized Sport Participation scored a C. Active Play scored the grade F. Active Transport and support from Family and Peers were both graded B. School, Community, and Government indicators were scored C. CONCLUSIONS: In Thai children, participation in PA and active play is very low; conversely, sedentary behaviors are high. These first data on patterns of activity for the Thailand RC will serve to guide national actions and advocacy aimed at increasing PA in children.

Validity and Reliability of Smartphone Applications for the Assessment of Walking and Running in Normal-weight and Overweight/Obese Young Adults.

BACKGROUND: The suitability of smartphone applications (apps) currently used to track walking/running may differ depending on a person's weight condition. This study aimed to examine the validity and reliability of apps for both normal-weight and overweight/obese young adults. METHODS: Thirty normal-weight (aged 21.7 ± 1.0 years, BMI 21.3 ± 1.9 kg/m2) and 30 overweight/ obese young adults (aged 21.0 ± 1.4 years, BMI 28.6 ± 3.7 kg/m2) wore a smartphone and pedometer on their right hip while walking/running at 3 different intensities on treadmills. Apps was randomly assigned to each individual for measuring average velocity, step count, distance, and energy expenditure (EE), and these measurements were then analyzed. RESULTS: The apps were not accurate in counting most of the measured variables and data fell significantly lower in the parameters than those measured with standard-reference instruments in both light and moderate intensity activity among the normal-weight group. Among the overweight and obese group, the apps were not accurate in detecting velocity, distance, or EE during either light or vigorous intensities. The percentages of mean difference were 30.1% to 48.9%. CONCLUSION: Apps may not have sufficient accuracy to monitor important physical parameters of human body movement. Apps need to be developed that can, in particular, respond differently based on a person's weight status.

Differences between weekday and weekend levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in Thai adolescents.

Attempts to reduce the decline in physical activity (PA) in adolescence have been the focus of many public health interventions. This study aimed to (1) determine differences in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) levels between weekdays and weekends and (2) identify adolescents meeting current PA guidelines (PAG). To meet these objectives, 186 Thai adolescents aged 13 to 18 years were asked to wear an ActiGraph accelerometer for 7 consecutive days. The results showed that MVPA levels were significantly higher in boys than girls on both weekdays (P < .01) and weekends (P < .05). MVPA was higher during weekdays compared with weekend days. Additionally, MVPA levels tend to decline with increasing age during adolescence. The results also showed statistically significant differences between genders in the proportion of adherence to PAG for youth. This study highlights the need to take weekend-weekday differences into account when developing PA interventions for adolescents.

Socioeconomic status and objectively measured physical activity in Thai adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on objective measures of physical activity (PA) in adolescence is poorly understood. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the association between SES and objectively measured PA in Thai adolescents. METHODS: PA was objectively measured every 30 seconds for 7 consecutive days using ActiGraph GT1M uniaxial accelerometers in 177 secondary-school adolescents aged 13 to 18 years that were classified into 3 SES groups (low, middle, and high). The associations between SES and adolescents' PA were examined using 1-way ANOVA with multiple comparisons and Chi-square test. RESULTS: Adolescents of low-SES accumulated more minutes of PA and less of sedentary behavior than those of high-SES, Additionally, low-SES adolescents tended to meet the daily PA guidelines more than other groups, particularly in girls (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: This study evidences an inverse relationship between SES and PA levels, and shows the importance of targeting high SES adolescents in intervention programs to enhance health behaviors. Based on these findings, we also suggest that SES must be considered as an important determinant in promoting regular PA and in increasing proportions of adolescents meeting current health-related PA guidelines.