Intention to be Physically Active is Influenced by Physical Activity and Fitness, Sedentary Behaviours, and Life Satisfaction in Adolescents.

The aim of this study was to determine the association of levels of physical activity (PA), physical fitness (PF), sedentary lifestyle and life satisfaction with the intention to be physically active after secondary school graduation, in teenagers of both genders. A total of 1986 Spanish adolescents (12-16 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. PA, sedentary lifestyle, life satisfaction and intention to be physically active were assessed through validated questionnaires, and PF was evaluated objectively with the ALPHA battery tests. In both genders, adolescents who had significantly higher odds ratios (OR) of showing low intention to be physically active had low level of PA, cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular fitness in the lower body, and they were more sedentary in front of the computer. The girls that spent a lot of time watching TV and the boys with low life satisfaction also showed higher OR of having low intention to be physically active.

Effects of Different Backpack Loads in Acceleration Transmission during Recreational Distance Walking.

It is well established nowadays the benefits that physical activity can have on the health of individuals. Walking is considered a fundamental method of movement and using a backpack is a common and economical manner of carrying load weight. Nevertheless, the shock wave produced by the impact forces when carrying a backpack can have detrimental effects on health status. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate differences in the accelerations placed on males and females whilst carrying different loads when walking. Twenty nine sports science students (16 males and 13 females) participated in the study under 3 different conditions: no weight, 10% and 20% body weight (BW) added in a backpack. Accelerometers were attached to the right shank and the centre of the forehead. Results showed that males have lower accelerations than females both in the head (2.62 ± 0.43G compared to 2.83 + 0.47G) and shank (1.37 ± 0.14G compared to 1.52 ± 0.15G; p<0.01). Accelerations for males and females were consistent throughout each backpack condition (p>0.05). The body acts as a natural shock absorber, reducing the amount of force that transmits through the body between the foot (impact point) and head. Anthropometric and body mass distribution differences between males and females may result in women receiving greater impact acceleration compared to men when the same load is carried.

Temporal activity in particular segments and transitions in the olympic triathlon.

The Olympic Triathlon is a combined endurance sport. It includes back-to-back swimming, cycling, running and the transition between events (T1 & T2). The aim of the current study was to analyse the possible relationship between the Lost Time T1 & T2 and overall performance. The results showed that the percentages of total time corresponding to each part of the race were: 16.2% for swimming, 0.74% for the swimming-cycling transition (T1), 53.07% for cycling, 0.47% for the cycling-running transition (T2) and 29.5% for running. The correlations between each part of the race and the final placing were: r=0.36 for swimming, r=0.25 for T1, r=0.62 for the cycling, r=0.33 for T2, and r=0.83 for the running. Also, values of r=0.34 & r=0.43 were obtained for Lost Time T1 and Lost Time T2, respectively. In conclusion, losing less time during T2 has been demonstrated to be related to obtaining a better final result.

Duration of membership at sports centers and reasons for quitting.

Reasons for quitting membership at a sports center and their relation with socio-demographic characteristics and duration of membership were investigated. 642 individuals (55.4% men, 44.6% women), who had recently quit membership at a Spanish sports center, completed a questionnaire. There were significant differences in reasons for quitting on age, occupation, type of activities, and time spent on membership activities. The main reason was financial, regardless of the duration of membership.

Analysis of movement patterns by elite male players of beach volleyball.

The aim of this study was to analyse and compare movement pattems and direction of locomotion in professional men's beach volleyball. A quantitative analysis of beach volleyball play was carried out for 10 players in the European Beach Volleyball Championship 2005. Video recordings were made of the 1,997 movements in 4 matches. Analysis showed that male players used more offensive than defensive movement patterns. Defensive movement patterns were more blocks and defense than receptions. Offensive movement patterns were more attack and placements than attack preparation moves. Advance was the direction of locomotion most used. Identifying and understanding such movement patterns are vital to defining specific, effective training strategies for men's beach volleyball players.

School-age involvement in sport and perceived quality of sport services.

Creating an active and healthy lifestyle starts in infancy and adolescence. A number of individual and collective factors affect whether or not sport is taken up and continued, which is an essential element in achieving a healthy lifestyle in adolescence and extending this into adult life. This study sets out to determine the perceived quality of the sport service provided by schools with organised physical activities, and whether the most positively assessed public organisations have a higher percentage of participation than those with a more negative assessment. The study population was 1109 adolescents from 28 towns comprising part of a sport provision system. A self-devised questionnaire with all the necessary properties, validity and reliability was conducted. The results showed that 42% of the adolescents take part in organised physical sport, and give the service provided a positive assessment. It was found that in organisations with a more positive assessment, the town has a higher rate of involvement in sporting activities.

Relationship between rowing ergometer performance and physiological responses to upper and lower body exercises in rowers.

The aim of this investigation was to compare the physiological responses of 2000 m rowing ergometer test with 7-min bench pull and leg press tests. We hypothesised that leg press exercise contributes to 2000 m rowing ergometer test results, rather than bench pull performed by arms. College level rowers (n=12) performed 2000 m rowing test and after one day 7-min bench pull and leg press (50% from the 1 RM). Stroke rate, heart rate (HR), blood lactate (LA) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured during all tests. The number of repetitions was highest during 2000 m rowing test (194.2+/-19.5) and lowest during bench pull (122.6+/-17.7) (during leg press 173.5+/-11.8). Differences between 2000 m rowing test, leg press and bench pull tests were significant in mean and maximal HR. In LA concentration, the highest values were at 3rd min of recovery after rowing test (14.8+/-1.7 mmol l(-1)). Between bench pull (8.8+/-1.9 and 8.5+/-2.7 mmol l(-1)) and leg press (11.8+/-2.5 and 11.2+/-2.3 mmol l(-1)) tests, the difference in LA concentration was not significant (p>0.05). Ratings of perceived exertion were highest in 2000 m rowing test (19.3+/-0.9), difference with leg press and bench pull tests was not significant. There were significant relationships in mean and maximal HR (r=0.713-0.767) and Borg scale (r=0.764) during rowing test and leg press. The number of repetitions during leg press exercise correlated significantly with rowing test time (r=-0.677). In conclusion, this study suggests that in rowers there are major differences in the physiological adaptation to upper body and leg exercise, performed at similar intensities. Leg press exercise could be used to measure sport-specific strength endurance in rowers.