Association between Gross Motor Competence and Physical Fitness in Chilean Children Aged 4 to 6 Years.

The preschool period is considered critical for the development of motor competence, but as far as we know, no studies have investigated the association between motor competence and physical fitness in Chilean children. The aim of this study was to analyse the association between gross motor competence and physical fitness, controlling for possible confounding factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 144 preschool children (56.25% girls) with an average age of 5.3 years (4 to 6 years) from the Araucanía region, Chile. Motor competence was measured using the Children's Movement Assessment Battery, 2nd Edition (MABC-2). Regarding physical fitness, the components of cardiorespiratory fitness, lower body muscle strength and speed/agility were evaluated using the Battery to Assess FITness in PREschool (PREFIT). Partial correlation models and analysis of variance (ANCOVA) were used to assess differences in physical fitness between motor competence categories, controlling for age and body mass index. The mean fitness scores for cardiorespiratory fitness, lower body muscle strength and speed/agility components were significantly higher in children with higher gross motor competence. In terms of effect size, large values were found for the lower body strength component in model 1 for boys and in model 2 for the total samples of girls and boys. The results of this study suggest that good levels of gross motor competence are associated with better physical fitness levels.

The Effects of a Physical Activity Intervention on Adiposity, Physical Fitness and Motor Competence: A School-Based, Non-Randomized Controlled Trial.

Evidence suggests that early physical activity interventions are a means of preventing childhood obesity and are more effective when delivered in a school setting and based on the ecological model. Therefore, the present study aims to determine the effect of a multicomponent intervention based on the ecological model on adiposity, physical fitness and motor competence in children aged 4 to 5 years. METHODS: This study is a non-randomized controlled trial involving 173 children from Chile. The intervention was based on an ecological model and consisted of a physical activity program with three simultaneous parts, affecting intra- and interpersonal dimensions. The adiposity index, body mass index and waist circumference were measured. For physical fitness, muscle strength in the lower part, speed/agility and cardiorespiratory fitness were measured. Motor competence was assessed using catching, aiming and dynamic and static balance tests. RESULTS: After the intervention, there was no reduction in adiposity indices; in the intervention group, body mass index increased significantly with a high effect size. The intervention group showed significant differences in physical fitness in the components of muscle strength in the lower part (p = 0.000) and speed/agility (p = 0.002). For motor competence, the intervention group showed significant improvements in most components. CONCLUSIONS: The multicomponent intervention did not reduce adiposity indices; however, it caused significant improvements in the physical fitness and motor competence components, so it seems prudent to continue implementing it, given the benefits that adequate levels of motor competence and physical fitness bring to children's health, both in the short and long term.

Effects of Different Protocols of Moderate-Intensity Intermittent Hypoxic Training on Mental Health and Quality of Life in Brazilian Adults Recovered from COVID-19: The AEROBICOVID Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different protocols of moderate-intensity intermittent hypoxic training in patients who had recovered from COVID-19 on quality of life (QoL) and mental health. The sample of this clinical trial-controlled double-blind study consisted of 67 participants aged 30-69 years, who were organized randomly according to Normoxia, Hypoxia, Hypoxia Recovery or Control Group. Eight weeks of cycle ergometer training were performed with a frequency of three training sessions per week in normoxic or hypoxic conditions (with or without hypoxic recovery). Health-related QoL and Mental Health Status were evaluated by 12-Item Short Form Survey and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale instruments, respectively. All training groups improved the QoL's physical dimensions (Baseline-Post: Normoxia Group 42.1 (11.0)-48.7 (7.0), Hypoxia Group 46.9 (11.8)-53.5 (6.6) and Hypoxia Recovery Group 45.8 (9.2)-51.1 (5.3)) and mental dimensions (Baseline-Post: Normoxia Group 48.8 (7.9)-54.6 (4.6), Hypoxia Group 45.2 (7.7)-53.2 (3.8) and Hypoxia Recovery Group 46.5 (9.7)-52.0 (9.9)). Regarding mental health outcomes, all training groups decreased depressive symptoms (66.7% Normoxia, 31.2% Hypoxia Recovery and 31% Hypoxia groups), anxiety symptoms (46.5% Normoxia, 45.9% Hypoxia Recovery and 39.5% in the Hypoxia groups) and stress symptoms (40.6% Normoxia, 36.3% Hypoxia Recovery and 22.1% Hypoxia groups). Significant statistical difference was not found between groups. Normoxic and hypoxic training showed a similar effect on QoL and the mental health of Brazilian adults who had recovered from COVID-19.

Intensity of a Physical Exercise Programme Executed through Immersive Virtual Reality.

Evidence suggests that moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is necessary for health benefits. Immersive virtual reality is a technology that uses images, sounds, and tactile sensations from a simulated world to encourage healthy behaviours and physical activity. The aims of this research are (1) to determine the duration and intensity of physical activity performed through immersive virtual reality; (2) to determine differences in physical activity intensity according to gender. METHODS: A nonprobabilistic convenience sample composed of 39 university students of physical education pedagogy, who performed, through immersive virtual reality, a physical activity programme composed of three levels that progressively increased in complexity. Physical activity intensity was measured using accelerometers. RESULTS: Of the three levels, the most complex was not the one that produced the most minutes of MVPA. The three levels added up to 08:53 min of MVPA. No significant differences were found when comparing them by sex. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that an exercise programme delivered through immersive virtual reality generates MVPA levels, with no major differences between sexes. Further research is needed to confirm the contribution of immersive virtual reality to physical activity.

The Association between Sedentary Behavior, Physical Activity, and Physical Fitness with Body Mass Index and Sleep Time in Chilean Girls and Boys: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: In recent decades, the school population has undergone behavioral changes that have affected their health and adult life. The current educational scenario presents high levels of sedentary behavior, physical inactivity, low physical fitness, high levels of obesity, and non-compliance with sleep recommendations. In Chile, the scientific evidence on associations between these behaviors is incipient. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between sedentary behavior, physical activity, and physical fitness with BMI and minutes of sleep in Chilean children aged 10 to 11 years. METHODS: A non-probabilistic convenience sample of 222 schoolchildren aged 10 to 11 years. The variables measured were body composition (BMI), cardiorespiratory fitness (20 m shuttle run test), lower and upper muscular strength (long jump test and handgrip dynamometry), speed (4 × 10 m running), and flexibility (sit and reach test). Physical activity and sleep were measured by accelerometers. RESULTS: Of the participants, 60.4% and 90.6% did not comply with sleep and physical activity recommendations, respectively. Physical fitness was higher in boys in all components. The results of the linear regression show that in girls, moderate-vigorous-intensity physical activity, lower- and upper-body muscular strength, and cardiorespiratory endurance were associated with BMI and sleep. In boys, light-intensity physical activity and upper-body muscular strength were associated with both variables. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity intensity, strength, and cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with BMI and sleep; however, physical activity intensity and associated physical fitness components differed by gender.

Effectiveness, implementation, and monitoring variables of intermittent hypoxic bicycle training in patients recovered from COVID-19: The AEROBICOVID study.

Hypoxic exposure is safely associated with exercise for many pathological conditions, providing additional effects on health outcomes. COVID-19 is a new disease, so the physiological repercussions caused by exercise in affected patients and the safety of exposure to hypoxia in these conditions are still unknown. Due to the effects of the disease on the respiratory system and following the sequence of AEROBICOVID research work, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness, tolerance and acute safety of 24 bicycle training sessions performed under intermittent hypoxic conditions through analysis of peripheral oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO2), heart rate (HR), rate of perceived exertion (RPE), blood lactate concentration ([La-]) and symptoms of acute mountain sickness in patients recovered from COVID-19. Participants were allocated to three training groups: the normoxia group (GN) remained in normoxia (inspired fraction of O2 (FiO2) of ∼20.9%, a city with 526 m altitude) for the entire session; the recovery hypoxia group (GHR) was exposed to hypoxia (FiO2 ∼13.5%, corresponding to 3,000 m altitude) all the time except during the effort; the hypoxia group (GH) trained in hypoxia (FiO2 ∼13.5%) throughout the session. The altitude simulation effectively reduced SpO2 mean with significant differences between groups GN, GHR, and GH, being 96.9(1.6), 95.1(3.1), and 87.7(6.5), respectively. Additionally, the proposed exercise and hypoxic stimulus was well-tolerated, since 93% of participants showed no or moderate acute mountain sickness symptoms; maintained nearly 80% of sets at target heart rate; and most frequently reporting session intensity as an RPE of "3" (moderate). The internal load calculation, analyzed through training impulse (TRIMP), calculated using HR [TRIMPHR = HR * training volume (min)] and RPE [TRIMPRPE = RPE * training volume (min)], showed no significant difference between groups. The current strategy effectively promoted the altitude simulation and monitoring variables, being well-tolerated and safely acute exposure, as the low Lake Louise scores and the stable HR, SpO2, and RPE values showed during the sessions.

Effectiveness of a physical activity intervention on the overweight and obesity of Chilean schoolchildren.

INTRODUCTION: Physical fitness is considered a measure that integrates most of the functions of the human organism that are involved in physical activity. Motor competence is important due to its observed implications in the physical, mental and social development of children and adolescents. These assessments require the existence of updated reference values that allow the categorization of individuals and groups according to levels of physical fitness and motor competence. This paper describes the study protocol to Effectiveness of a Physical Activity Intervention on the Overweight and Obesity of Chilean Schoolchildren, and in this way determine, through the calculation of a representative sample, reference values for physical fitness and motor competence in children aged 4 to 6 years in the region of La Araucanía, Chile. METHODS: children in pre-basic education in transition grades I and II (4 and 5 years old), and those in the first year of basic education (6 years old) will be invited to participate. The sample will be probabilistic. The measures of a randomized controlled trial (registered in ClinicalTrial.gov NCT04194580) will be used. CONCLUSION: the lack of reference values for physical condition and motor competence for children between 6 and 4 years of age in the Araucanía region highlights the need to establish values, which will contribute to improving the health of children of the age group to be worked on.

Association between Sleep Quality and Physical Activity in Physical Education Students in Chile in the Pandemic Context: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Due to the health restrictions put in place to face the pandemic, a decrease in the levels of physical activity and an alteration in the quality of sleep have been observed. One group susceptible to these changes is represented by students of physical education pedagogy, who, under normal conditions, present high levels of physical activity. However, the correlation between these variables has not been studied in the context of a pandemic lockdown. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the quality of sleep and physical activity level as a function of gender and evaluate the association between quality of sleep and physical activity level in physical education pedagogy students during the COVID-19 pandemic considering sociodemographic and health characteristics. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. An online questionnaire was applied to 280 Chilean university students of physical education pedagogy. The survey considered sociodemographic information, healthy habits, and self-reported health and included the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) for physical activity levels and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for sleep quality. Results: The prevalence of good sleep quality was 20.4%. Furthermore, 52.9% of students had a high level of physical activity. Regression analysis between PSQI global score and age-adjusted physical activity levels indicated that being male and presenting a high level of physical activity favored a better PSQI global score. Conclusions: The prevalence of good sleep quality was low in general and significantly lower in women. Being male and having a high level of physical activity during quarantine benefits good sleep quality, regardless of age.

Analysis of the Attitude of Spanish Physical Education Teachers towards Students with Disabilities in Extremadura.

Inclusive education aims to eliminate barriers in the participation and performance of students, considering their diversity. In this sense, there is a regulation that governs the educational response, being different for each region. Therefore, this study aims to know the attitude of Physical Education teachers of different educational stages in Spain toward students with disabilities. A questionnaire was administered to 272 Physical Education teachers from public schools in a region of Spain. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine the relationships between items and dimensions according to sex or center location, and Spearman's Rho was used to analyze the relationship between dimensions and years of experience. The main results showed that teachers do not feel prepared in terms of training, resources, and infrastructure, although they consider that the integration of students with disabilities in regular classes is beneficial for them.

Increased Odds for Depression and Antidepressant Use in the Inactive Spanish Population.

Introduction: Depression is a disabling mental illness and therefore also a serious public health problem. It affects 5% of the adult population in the world and is the leading cause of disability, with an annual cost of USD one trillion. In Spain, its prevalence is 13.4%, costing EUR 6000 million a year. Physical inactivity has been linked to an increase in depressive symptoms, with physical activity associated with an improvement in health-related quality of life. Objective: To calculate the odds ratio (OR) and relative risk (RR) of suffering from depression and taking antidepressants in the inactive Spanish population compared to groups with a higher level of physical activity. Method: 17,141 individuals aged 18−69 years residing in Spain and interviewed in the 2017 Spanish National Health Survey were included in this cross-sectional investigation. Results: Dependence relationships were found between the level of physical activity and the prevalence of depression and taking antidepressants (p < 0.001). We found elevated ORs and RRs for depression and antidepressant use in inactive people compared to those with a high/very high level of physical activity (Depression: OR: 4.32. CI95%: 3.35−5.57. RR: 1.59. 95% CI: 1.51−1.68; Antidepressants: OR: 4.95. CI95%: 3.59−6.82. RR: 1.61. CI95%: 1.52−1.71). Conclusions: Belonging to an inactive population group increases the risk of suffering from depression and of taking antidepressants.

Association between Lower-Body Strength, Health-Related Quality of Life, Depression Status and BMI in the Elderly Women with Depression.

INTRODUCTION: Depression is currently the most prevalent mental illness in the world. It is a very frequent geriatric syndrome that causes a high degree of disability and increases mortality in the elderly population. This mental disorder is a social and public health problem that alters the quality of life (Qol) of the patient. Physical strength work has been reported to improve the clinical picture of people with depression. OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between lower body strength, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), depression status and body mass index (BMI) in older women with depression. DESIGN: A cross-sectional descriptive study with 685 elder women with depression. RESULTS: A mild direct correlation (Rho = -0.29; p ≤ 0.001) between stand-ip test and EQ-5D-3L test was shown. There is a mild inverse correlation between stand-up test and six of fifteen items of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) (Rho item 1 = -0.24; p ≤ 0.001; item 4 = 0.11; p ≤ 0.001; item 5 = -0.20; p ≤ 0.001; item 7 = -0.15; p ≤ 0.001; item 11 = -0.19; p ≤ 0.001; item 13 = -0.21; p ≤ 0.001). Between Stand-Up test and BMI, the correlation is weak inverse (Rho = -0.20; p ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant association of lower body strength with HRQoL, and BMI, as well as some variables of depression status in elder women with depression. Better scores in the stand-up test lead to an improvement in HRQoL and BMI. Therefore, stand-up test could be a complementary tool in public health for improve HRQoL in the elderly women with depression.

Professional Esports Players: Motivation and Physical Activity Levels.

The professionalisation of esports has increased in recent years, generating the need for further study. Its evolution and continuous development have led the consideration of esports as a profession, increasing the number of players, practice modalities, and hours of play dedicated to this field. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between physical activity levels and motivational orientations in an international sample of professional esports players. A cross-sectional and observational study was conducted in European and Latin American countries. The sample was non-probabilistic by convenience, and 260 male professional esports players were recruited. A survey was used that included demographic data, body composition, physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire), and motivation (Sport Motivation Scale). The results show that 92.7% of professional esports players have moderate and high levels of physical activity and that players with low levels of physical activity have positive values in all dimensions of motivation. It is concluded that extrinsic and intrinsic motivation correlates inversely with energy expenditure.

Depression and Exercise in Older Adults: Exercise Looks after You Program, User Profile.

INTRODUCTION: Depression is a challenge for public health policies, as it is the number one leading cause of disability in the world. In order to combat and prevent it, different social and health interventions are being developed to promote health through physical activity. OBJECTIVE: Analyze and describe the user profile of the patients with depression from the Exercise Looks After You program, which is a physical activity program that works on improving public health and has an essential role preventing chronic diseases and improving the quality of life of the elderly in Extremadura. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: total sample of 1972 users (96.4% women, 3.6% men), of whom 724 (94.6% women, 5.4% men) suffer from depression. RESULTS: It was observed that the dominant user profile of the patients with depression within the program is female, 71 years old, physically active, overweight, married, with low educational level, non-smoker, no alcohol consumption and below average physical fitness and health-related quality of life, which translates into a high incidence of primary care, nursing and prescription visits. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents the user profile of depressive versus non-depressive participants of the Exercise Looks After You physical activity program. This data could be meaningful in order to improve and optimize public health programs and resources.

Increased Risks of Mental Disorders: Youth with Inactive Physical Activity.

Before COVID-19, one of the most dangerous pandemics of the 21st century was physical inactivity (PI). Sedentary habits had increased in the last decades, reducing physical condition and increasing non-communicable diseases and mental disorders in the population. This study aimed to analyse the relationships between physical activity level (PAL) and the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders in Spanish young aged 15-35 years and to calculate the odd ratio (OR) of developing from these mental disorders in inactive young people, based on PAL. METHODS: A cross-sectional study based on data from the Spanish National Health Survey 2017 with 4195 participants was conducted. A descriptive analysis was performed. Possible differences between groups were analysed using the non-parametric statistical tests. OR and relative risks for mental disorders in inactive versus others PAL were calculated. RESULTS: Dependence relationships were found between PAL and the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders (p < 0.001). In addition, the risk of developing: anxiety (OR: 6.14. 95% CI: 3.28-11.50), depression (OR: 5.35. 95% CI: 2.40-11.96), and other mental disorders (OR: 8.52. 95% CI: 2.90-25.06) was higher in inactive young people. CONCLUSIONS: PI is associated to high risk of mental disorders in Spanish young people.

Physical Activity and Prevalence of Depression and Antidepressants in the Spanish Population.

INTRODUCTION: Depression is a mental disorder that affects more than 250 million people in the world, limiting their functional capacities. The work of public health policies is aimed at reducing its prevalence as well as its pharmaceutical cost. Physical activity (PA) programs are interventions with a high potential for effectiveness. OBJECTIVES: To establish the relationships between physical activity and the prevalence of depression and antidepressant intake in the Spanish population. DESIGN: We performed a correlational study that was based on data from the European Health Survey Spain 2020 with 20,287 participants, aged 18-84 years, living in Spain. RESULTS: Dependency relationships were found between the prevalence of depression, and: the frequency of PA, the number of days of PA per week, and the number of days of muscle strengthening in the population, in both sexes, and in all age groups (p < 0.001). Dependency relationships were found between the three PA variables and the prevalence of taking antidepressants (p < 0.001). An elevated prevalence of depression and antidepressant taking were found in the inactive groups compared to those who performed PA (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is an inverse relationship between physical activity and the probability of suffering from depression and the intake of antidepressants. Performing PA 3-4 days/week, including 1-2 days of strength work, could be the best proposal to reduce the prevalence of depression in the Spanish population.

Effectiveness of a 12-Week Multi-Component Training Program with and without Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation (tDCS) on Balance to Prevent Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Study Protocol.

Approximately one-third of elderly people aged over 65 who live in the community experience falls every year, with the proportion increasing with age. Moreover, of those who fall, about half will fall again in the following year. The falls' consequences include disability, morbidity, and mortality. Although many external and internal factors lead to falls, balance issues play a major role. Multi-component training programs (McTP) usually combine balance, strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, and flexibility, with studies reporting multiple benefits on the health-related quality of life. Halo Sport is a transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) device with promising results for gait performance. This study aims to test the effectiveness of the introduction of a tCDS device to an McTP to prevent falls in older adults. The sample will consist of 46 people aged 65 years or older, randomly assigned to experimental (n = 23) and control (n = 23) groups. The experimental group will perform the McTP while wearing tDCS, and the control group will perform McTP without the device, for three sessions per week over 12 weeks. The main measures will provide information about (1) safety, (2) applicability, (3) balance, (4) number of falls, (5) physical fitness, (6) risk of falling, (7) fear of falling, (8) health-related quality of life, and (9) cognitive function. Among the practical implications of this program, it is intended to provide data on its safety and effectiveness to be implemented in different resources as a tool for the prevention of falls.

Analysis of the Motivation of Students of the Last Cycle of Primary School in the Subject of Physical Education.

Motivation is the impulse that leads people to perform certain actions and persist in them to achieve certain objectives. Motivation is important in all areas of life and has a very important role in academics, where it can be considered essential for learning motor skills and performance. In this study, we intended to evaluate motivation in the Physical Education classroom among students in the last grade of elementary school. For this purpose, a total of 545 students aged between 9 and 13 years were selected to take the CMEF-EP questionnaire through a tablet and by means of the Google Forms application. The different relationships between items and dimensions were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. A Spearman's test was used to explore the relationship between dimensions and age. The results showed that the predominant motivation in the classroom is intrinsic motivation and that demotivation is practically nonexistent. In addition, it was found that there are differences between the genders in some of the categories and that there are no differences in the location of the study center. Therefore, it can be said that it is essential to generate a motivational climate based on the subject and his or her interests in order to favor intrinsic motivation.

Association between Agility, Health-Related Quality of Life, Depression, and Anthropometric Variables in Physically Active Older Adult Women with Depression.

INTRODUCTION: Depressive disorders are mental disorders that last over time, and seriously affect the lives of the people who suffer from them, diminishing their quality of life, reducing their motor capacity, and incapacitating them in their daily lives. It is a major problem worldwide. OBJECTIVE: To study the association between agility, health-related quality of life (hrqol), anthropometric status, and depression status in older adult women with depression. DESIGN: Data collected from 685 physically active older women with depression were analyzed. RESULT: A moderate inverse correlation (r = -0.34) is shown between Time Up & Go (TUG) and EuroQol Five-Dimensional Three-Level Version (EQ-5D-3L). Between TUG and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), there is a small direct correlation (r = 0.14) between them. Between TUG and anthropometric data, all observed correlations are significant. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant association between agility, health-related quality of life, depression, and anthropometric data in physically active older women with depression.