Case study: Evaluating deep-water start techniques and training demands in seated slalom waterskiing for an athlete with paraplegia.

Purpose: Recreational and competitive slalom waterskiing is increasingly popular among individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI), particularly for those with paraplegia using sit-skis. A key component of slalom skiing is the deep-water start (DWS), yet little is known about the physiological and physical demands of this activity when the athlete is seated. This study aims to fill this gap by focusing on the training requirements for a seated slalom athlete. Materials and methods: Focusing on a young male athlete with paraplegia, this case study evaluates the effectiveness and efficiency of traditional (TDWS) and alternative (ADWS) DWS techniques during seated slalom waterskiing sessions. It assesses internal training load (TL) through heart rate (HR) zones and session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE), alongside pre- and post-session handgrip strength measurements to gauge peripheral muscle fatigue. Results and conclusions: Performing the ADWS, achieving a full success rate, proved more effective but slightly more time-consuming than TDWS, which had limited success. HR during DWS maneuvers ranged from 63.2 to 81.3% of maximal HR, with most sessions occurring below the ventilatory threshold, thus perceived as hard effort. A moderate yet non-significant correlation was found between HR and sRPE-based TL. A significant reduction in handgrip strength post-session underscores the activity's demands. These insights illuminate the technical, physiological, and physical challenges in mastering DWS for seated slalom athletes with SCI, providing valuable guidance for the development of tailored training programs and techniques in this sport.

Strength training as a non-pharmacological alternative to improve body composition, and quality of life in people with spinal cord injury: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Spinal cord injuries (SCI) have physiological, emotional, and economic consequences in the lives of affected people. Resistance training (RT) is efficient in improving several physiological factors, quality of life, and body composition. Due to the scarce literature on the analysis of isolated RT, the objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the effects of RT without the association of other techniques, in aspects related to the quality of life and body composition of people with SCI. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: The research was carried out in databases such as Pubmed, Cochrane, and Web of Science using the terms ("Spinal cord injury") AND (("Resistance Training") OR ("Strength training")). Given the lack of evidence on the subject, no deadline was set for the study to be eligible for analysis. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: The search for the articles was carried out in November of 2023 and returned 470 results, of which 315 remained after the elimination of duplicates, with 281 being excluded after title analysis. A total of 34 abstracts were analyzed and 29 studies were excluded, leaving 5 complete articles for thorough analysis. CONCLUSIONS: After analyzing the main results, we concluded that RT promotes significant improvements in body composition, pain, stress and depression symptoms, increased functionality, physical awareness, and quality of life.

Nordic Walking as a Non-Pharmacological Intervention for Chronic Pain and Fatigue: Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to analyze and summarize the available scientific evidence on the benefits of Nordic walking for people with chronic pain and fatigue. LITERATURE SURVEY: This systematic review adhered to PRISMA guidelines and conducted a comprehensive search across five databases using the PICO strategy. METHODOLOGY: Inclusion criteria encompassed randomized trials evaluating Nordic walking for pain and fatigue. Two authors independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality using the PEDro scale. SYNTHESIS: A total of 14 studies were included, with sample sizes ranging from 20 to 136 participants. The methodological quality of the included studies varied from fair (five studies) to good (nine studies). The interventions consisted of supervised Nordic walking sessions lasting 6 to 24 weeks, with a frequency of 2 to 4 days per week and duration of 25 to 75 min. The results of this review suggest that Nordic walking had beneficial effects in six of the eight studies that analyzed participant fatigue. However, Nordic walking did not show greater beneficial effects on fatigue than walking (two studies) or than not performing physical activity (one study). Additionally, six of the nine studies that examined the effects of Nordic walking on participants' perceptions of pain showed beneficial results. However, five studies that compared Nordic walking with control groups did not find any significant inter-group differences on pain. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our findings, Nordic walking exercise programs provide a potentially efficient method for alleviating pain and fatigue in people with chronic conditions. Its straightforwardness and ease of learning make it accessible to a broad spectrum of participants, which can result in higher adherence rates and lasting positive effects.

Do you even exercise, ref? Exploring habits of Spanish basketball referees during practice and matches.

Background: Basketball referees are a vital part of the organised competition system, although they remain an "outgroup" in sport. While physical development and fitness programming are deemed necessary for basketball officiating excellence, there is a paucity of literature exploring strategies for physical fitness management in this population. Methods: This research was a nationwide cross-sectional, self-administered online survey conducted in 2021. A sample of 628 (531 males, 97 females) referees from 18 regional referee organisations in Spain provided individual responses to gather information on demographic details, level of participation in refereeing, physical fitness practices, and match-day exercise-based regimens. The data were described using summary statistics, and the associations of the assessed variables were subsequently calculated using contingency tables. Results: Our findings reveal that a large fraction of the Spanish basketball referee population focuses on aerobic (83%) and strength (73.6%) activities, while less attention is paid to speed (36.9%) and flexibility (23.2%), and agility, coordination, and balance tasks are somewhat overlooked. No significant differences were observed among the referee categories regarding weekly training days or session duration, with most training for 15-60 min per session. Elite referees were more likely to hire personal trainers and engage in strength and flexibility exercises. Sub-elite referees showed a higher tendency to perform stretching and joint mobility activities post-match, while regional referees did so less frequently. Approximately 30.7% of referees across all competitive levels engaged in re-warm-up (RW-U) activities, with stretching and joint mobility being the most prevalent. Conclusions: Spanish basketball referees participate in routine physical exercise and fitness practices, irrespective of their competition level. While warm-up activities are prevalent, some sub-elite and regional referees do not consistently perform them, and re-warm-up routines are not extensively embraced.

Mortality of Spanish soccer referees and coaches: a retrospective cohort study.

There is evidence that elite soccer players live longer than general population, but there is no information on soccer coaches and referees. We aimed to analyze the longevity of both professionals, comparing them with soccer players and with general population. In this retrospective cohort study, a total of 328 male Spanish soccer coaches, 287 referees, and 1230 soccer players, all born before 1950, were divided in two cohorts, matched 2:1 with coaches and referees. We compared the survival of the cohorts with the Kaplan-Meier estimator and significance with the log-rank test. We calculated hazard ratios of death for coaches and referees compared with male Spanish general population of the same period. Differences in survival among cohorts were found, but they did not reach statistical significance. The estimated median survival time was 80.1 years (95% CI 77.7-82.4) for referees, 78 years (95% CI 76.6-79.3) for coaches, 78.8 years (95% CI 77.6-80) for referees matched with players, and 76.6 years (95% CI 75.3-77.9) for coaches matched with players. Both coaches and referees had lower mortality than general population, but this advantage disappeared after 80 years of age. We found no differences in longevity among Spanish elite soccer referees, coaches and players born before 1950. Both coaches and referees had lower mortality than general population, but this advantage disappeared after 80 years of age.

Efficacy of physical exercise on sleep quality in patients with chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To revise and critically summarize the available scientific evidence regarding the effect of exercise on sleep quality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and comparative studies was conducted, searching MEDLINE/PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Scopus using keywords "Exercise", "Physical Activity", "Chronic Kidney Disease," and "Sleep". The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the PEDRo and MINORS scales. RESULTS: A total of 8 RCTs and 3 comparative studies were included, showing a low (n = 1), fair (n = 7), and good (n = 3) methodological quality. Most of the studies included patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) (n = 8). Self-reported sleep quality (n = 9), sleepiness (n = 2), and objective sleep status (n = 2) were the main outcomes analyzed. The most frequent exercise interventions included aerobic training (n = 7), resistance training (n = 2), or a combination of both (n = 4). Generally, exercise induced positive effects on the reported outcomes. Data synthesis indicated that participants who exercised obtained significant improvements on their self-reported sleep quality in comparison with those included in the control groups, with a mean difference in the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index of - 5.27 points (95% CI - 7.76, - 2.77; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Preliminary scientific evidence indicates that patients with CKD, especially those undergoing HD, report improvements in self-reported sleep quality after taking part in aerobic exercise programs, while combined training interventions yielded diverse findings. The effects of exercise on sleepiness and objective sleep status were backed by few studies with mixed results.

Joint associations of device-measured physical activity and abdominal obesity with incident cardiovascular disease: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the joint associations between physical activity and abdominal obesity with the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. METHODS: We included 70 830 UK Biobank participants (mean age±SD=61.6 ± 7.9 years; 56.4% women) with physical activity measured by wrist-worn accelerometers and without major chronic diseases. Participants were jointly categorised into six groups based on their physical activity level (tertiles of total volume and specific intensity levels) and presence or absence of abdominal obesity based on measured waist circumference. Associations with incident CVD (fatal and non-fatal events) were determined using proportional subdistribution hazard models with multivariable adjustment. RESULTS: After excluding events during the first 2 years of follow-up, participants were followed for a median of 6.8 years, during which 2795 CVD events were recorded. Compared with the low abdominal adiposity and highest tertile of physical activity, abdominal obesity was associated with higher risk of incident CVD, especially in those with low levels of vigorous-intensity physical activity (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.64). Approximately 500 min per week of moderate-to-vigorous intensity and approximately 30-35 min of vigorous-intensity physical activity offset the association of abdominal obesity and the risk of having a CVD event. CONCLUSION: Physical activity equivalent to approximately 30-35 min of vigorous intensity per week appears to offset the association between abdominal obesity and incident CVD. About 15 times more physical activity of at least moderate intensity is needed to achieve similar results.

The effect of Brain Gym on cognitive function in older people: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This review aimed to systematically evaluate and meta-analyze the available data on the effects of Brain Gym (BG) on cognitive function in older people. Six electronic databases were searched systematically using: "Brain Gym" AND "elderly, "Brain Gym" AND "older people". The PEDro and MINORS scales were used to evaluate methodological quality. For the meta-analysis, inverse variance or generic inverse variance was used and heterogeneity was assessed with the Chi2 test and I2 test. Ten research studies with a high to low quality. Significant changes intra- and inter-group were observed for neurocognitive outcomes in the BG groups. Findings from the metaanalysis indicated changes in the BG groups, on cognitive function by means of the Mini-Mental State Examination, were not greater than those reported in the control/comparison groups. BG will not lead to improvements in cognitive function in people with and without cognitive impairment, supported by low to high evidence.

Effect of Baduanjin on physical functioning and balance in adults with mild-to-moderate intellectual disabilities: A comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Adults with intellectual disabilities often experience mobility limitations. Baduanjin, a mindfulness-based exercise intervention, can exert positive effects on functional mobility and balance. This study examined the impact of Baduanjin on physical functioning and balance of adults with intellectual disabilities. METHOD: Twenty-nine adults with intellectual disabilities participated in the study. Eighteen received a Baduanjin intervention for 9-months; 11 participants did not receive any intervention (comparison group). Physical functioning and balance were assessed using the short physical performance battery (SPPB) and stabilometry. RESULTS: Participants in the Baduanjin group experienced significant changes in the SPPB walking test (p = .042), chair stand test (p = .015), and SPPB summary score (p = .010). No significant changes between groups were observed in any of the variables assessed at the end of the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Baduanjin practice may cause significant, albeit small, improvements in physical functioning of adults with intellectual disabilities.

The Omni Scale Is Not Suitable for Assessing Self-Perceived Exertion during Physical Activity in Preschoolers.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to identify the utility, reliability, and validity of an adapted version of the OMNI self-perceived exertion (PE) rating scale in preschoolers. POPULATION AND METHODS: Firstly, 50 (mean age ± standard deviation [SD] = 5.3 ± 0.5 years, 40% girls) performed a cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) test twice, with a one-week interval between assessments, and rated their PE either individually or in groups. Secondly, 69 children (mean age ± SD = 4.5 ± 0.5 years, 49% girls) performed two CRF tests, separated by a one-week interval, twice and rated their self-PE. Thirdly, the heart rate (HR) of 147 children (mean age ± SD = 5.0 ± 0.6 years, 47% girls) were compared against self-rated PE after finishing the CRF test. RESULTS: Self-assessed PE differed when the scale was administered individually (e.g., 82% rated PE with 10) or in groups (42% rated PE with 10). The scale showed poor test-retest reliability (ICC:0.314-0.031). No significant associations were found between the HR and PE ratings. CONCLUSIONS: An adapted version of the OMNI scale was found not suitable for assessing self-PE in preschoolers.

Prevalence of urinary incontinence in female CrossFit athletes: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Studies on the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) among CrossFit practitioners are on the rise. This systematic review with meta-analysis was aimed at determining the prevalence of UI among CrossFit practitioners. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed by searching MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus through January 2021. The search strategy included the keywords CrossFit, urine incontinence, exercise, high impact and pelvic floor dysfunction. The inclusion criterion was any study with a sample of CrossFit practitioners and results separated from the other fitness modalities analysed. The subjects were women with no restriction of age, parity, experience or frequency of training. Quality assessment of the studies included was conducted using the Oxford Centre of Evidence-Based Medicine scale and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) adapted for cross-sectional studies. RESULTS: Thirteen studies (6 comparative and 7 non-comparative) were included for the systematic review, all using a cross-sectional design. The level of evidence was 4, with their quality ranging from poor (n = 10) to fair (n = 3). A total of 4,823 women aged 18 to 71 were included, 91.0% participated in CrossFit, and 1,637 presented UI, which indicates a prevalence of 44.5%. Also, 55.3% and 40.7% presented mild or moderate UI respectively. Stress UI was the most common type reported (81.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The factors that increased the likelihood of UI were age, body mass index and parity. Exercises based on jumps were commonly associated with urine leakage. CrossFit practitioners presented higher UI than control groups.

A Scoping Review on Para Judo.

ABSTRACT: This scoping review aimed to summarize the literature on Para judo comprehensively. A systematic search on WOS, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Scopus was carried out up to July 2022, combining the key words "judo" and "visual impairment," "visual disability," "visual deficiency," "visually handicapped," "low vision," "sight loss," "blind," "disability," "deficiency," and "Paralympic." The research question was focused on athletes with visual impairment who practiced judo at a competitive level. The following five methodological phases were followed: (1) identifying the research question, (2) identifying relevant studies, (3) study selection, (4) charting the data, and (5) collating, summarizing, and reporting the results. A total of 44 studies were analyzed. Three lines of research emerged: physical fitness ( n = 18), performance and/or sport class ( n = 15), and physical and mental health ( n = 11). Findings indicated that judokas with visual impairment showed a similar fitness level to able-sighted judokas. In addition, it was observed that Para judo shows a considerable injury incidence, which is not influenced by the degree of visual impairment. The temporal structure of the combats, together with the studies focused on the optimal cutoff points between sports classes, confirmed the appropriateness of the recent changes in the regulations by which partially sighted judokas and functional blind judokas compete separately.

Effects of physical exercise in people with epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Studies suggest that physical exercise lead to improvements in the psychosocial dimension, associated comorbidities as well as to a higher quality of life (QoL) in people with epilepsy. However, there is a need to provide evidence-based guidelines for its prescription. Therefore, this review aimed to systematically evaluate and meta-analyze the available data on the potential effects of physical exercise training programs in people with epilepsy. METHODS: Four electronic databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, PEDro, SPORTDiscuss and Scopus) were searched systematically from their inception until April 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), comparative studies and non-controlled studies that provided information regarding the effects of physical exercise training programs on people with epilepsy. The studies' methodological quality assessment was performed using the PEDro, the MINORS and the Quality Assessment Tool for Before-After Studies with No Control Group scales. For the meta-analysis, inverse variance or generic inverse variance was use to report mean difference or standardized mean difference for continuous data and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Heterogeneity was assessed with the Chi-squared test and I2 test. RESULTS: After removing duplicated studies, 82 results were retrieved by the literature search and 14 were eligible for full text search. Finally, 14 studies with a methodological quality ranging from good to low quality met the inclusion criteria. Totally, 331 people with epilepsy were evaluated. Significant changes between preand post-intervention results in the exercise intervention groups were observed for QoL, fitness level, psycho-affective and neurocognitive outcomes. Findings from the meta-analysis indicated that moderate exercise led to a non-significant decrease (p = 0.08, Chi-squared test) in seizure frequency (SMD 0.33 95% CI 0.04; 0.70), while a significant effect of exercise was observed on QoL with a mean improvement of 4.72 percentage points (95% CI 0.58; 8.86, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Improvements on QoL, fitness level, psycho-affective and neurocognitive outcomes can be achieved through exercise training in people with epilepsy. Altogether, the findings suggest that people with epilepsy can benefit from exercising.

[Reliability and Validity of the Perceived Physical Fitness Scale questionnaire in Spanish students.] / Fiabilidad y validez del cuestionario Perceived Physical Fitness Scale en población escolar española.

OBJECTIVE: Self-perception questionnaires are considered a useful alternative to assess the level of physical fitness (PF) of a specific population. However, very few questionnaires of this type have been validated in the Spanish population. The aim of this study was to identify the reliability and validity of the Perceived Physical Fitness Scale (PPFS) in Spanish students. METHODS: After a back-translation process, the PPFS questionnaire was administered twice to 722 students (primary school, n=207; secondary school, n=515) to determine its reliability. To identify its convergent validity, the International Fitness Scale (IFIS) was administered, as well as a set of PF field-based tests from the Eurofit battery. The questionnaire internal consistency, reliability and convergent validity of the questionnaire were assessed by means of the Cronbach's alpha, intraclass correlation coefficient and Pearson corelation coefficient. RESULTS: The internal consistency of the PPFS was accurate among Primary (α=0.702) and good among Secondary (α=0.888) students., Reliability was poor among Primary (ICC=0.490; 95% CI [0.298-0.665]) and good among Secondary (ICC=0.797; 95% CI [0.760-0.829]) students. The PPFS showed significant associations with PF levels assessed by means of the Eurofit (Primary; r=0.421; p<0.001 / Secondary; r=0.533; p<0.001) and with the IFIS scale (Primary; r=0.356; p<0.001 / Secondary r=0.792; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish adapted version of the PPFS questionnaire shows good reliability and acceptable convergent validity when used as a tool to assess PF among secondary school students. Its poor reliability, together with the weak association demonstrated against the IFIS scale among primary school students discourages the PPFS use at this educational level.

OBJETIVO: Los cuestionarios de autopercepción se consideran una alternativa útil para valorar el nivel de condición física (CF) de una población. Sin embargo, existen muy pocos cuestionarios de este tipo que hayan sido validados en población española. En este estudio se planteó identificar la fiabilidad y validez del cuestionario Perceived Physical Fitness Scale (PPFS) en escolares españoles. METODOS: Tras un proceso de retrotraducción, se administró el cuestionario PPFS en dos momentos a 722 estudiantes (Primaria, n=207; Secundaria, n=515) para determinar su fiabilidad. Para identificar su validez convergente, se administró la Escala Internacional de Aptitud Física (IFIS) y pruebas de campo de valoración de la CF extraídas de la batería Eurofit. La consistencia interna, la fiabilidad y la validez convergente del cuestionario fueron testadas mediante el alpha de Cronbach, el coeficiente de correlación intraclase y el coeficiente de Pearson. RESULTADOS: La consistencia interna del PPFS fue aceptable en Primaria (α=0,702) y buena en Secundaria (α=0,888), mientras que la fiabilidad fue pobre en Primaria (CCI=0,490; IC 95% [0,298-0,665]) y buena en Secundaria (CCI=0,797; IC 95% [0,760-0,829]). El PPFS mostró asociaciones estadísticamente significativas con la CF valorada a través de la Eurofit (Primaria; r=0,421; p<0,001 / Secundaria; r=0,533; p<0,001) y con la escala IFIS (Primaria; r=0,356; p<0,001 / Secundaria r=0,792; p<0,001). CONCLUSIONES: La versión adaptada al castellano del cuestionario PPFS muestra una buena fiabilidad y una adecuada validez convergente a la hora de ser empleada como herramienta de valoración de la propia condición física entre el alumnado de Secundaria. La pobre fiabilidad y débil asociación demostrada con la escala IFIS entre el alumnado de Primaria desaconseja su uso en este nivel educativo.

Reliability and validity of field-based tests for assessing physical fitness in gymnasts

Objective: This systematic review aimed at analysing the reliability and validity of field-based tests for assessing physical fitness in gymnasts.MethodThree electronic databases (PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Scopus) were searched up to March 2022, in order to identify studies that assessed the psychometric properties of field-based physical fitness test among gymnastics.ResultsA total of 16 studies on several gymnastics modalities (artistics n = 11; rhythmic n = 3, artistics and rhythmic n = 1; aerobic n =  1), were analyzed. All studies reported on reliability measured through test-retest design. Validity was reported in only four studies. Regarding specific tests, the split test (ICC = 0.998), and the handstand (ICC= 1) showed the highest test-retest reliability. The greater validity values were achieved by the split test (r2 = 0.52), hanging pikes test (r2 = 0.86), and handstand test (r2 = 0.65).ConclusionA great variety of both specific and non-specific physical fitness tests have been analyzed in the field of gymnastics. The side split test, the handstand test, the vertical jump test, the 20-m run test, the agility test, and the aerobic gymnast anaerobic test could be useful tools to assess flexibility, strength, balance, muscular power, speed, agility, and cardiorespiratory fitness in gymnasts. Further investigations analyzing absolute reliability and criterion validity are needed. (AU)

The Most Common Handball Injuries: A Systematic Review.

Handball is a team sport involving a great physical demand from its practitioners in which a high number of injuries occur, affecting individual and collective performance. Knowledge of the injuries is of great importance for their prevention. The objective of the present study was to identify, locate and compare the most frequent injuries and injury mechanisms in handball practice. It was carried out following the Preferred Informed Item for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The source of data collection was direct consultation of the PubMed and Medline databases. Several keywords were used for the documentary retrieval, and the quality of the studies that were selected was evaluated. Of the 707 studies retrieved, only 27 were considered appropriate for the review, and quality scores were obtained that ranged from 10 to 26 points, out of a maximum of 28. The most frequent injuries in handball players are located in the lower limbs (thigh, knee and ankle), and in the shoulder in the upper limbs. Regarding the playing position, the players who play over the 6-m line are the most affected by injuries, while the women players have a higher probability of injury. Most injuries occur during competition.

Associations between Self-Perceived and Desired Health-Related Physical Fitness in Spanish Children.

Health-related physical fitness (HRPF) has emerged as an important marker of health among children. It is usually defined as a multidimensional construct consisting of cardiorespiratory endurance; muscular strength and endurance; and flexibility. Currently, health policies are aimed at getting children to increase their HRPF levels. Understanding the relationship between the perceived and the desired levels of fitness can be important to avoid the abandoning of physical activity practice. We analyzed the associations between the self-perceived and the desired health-related physical fitness. A modified version of the self-perceived HRPF questionnaire was completed by 330 children (148 girls, mean age: 10.78 ± 0.67 years, and 182 boys, mean age: 10.82 ± 0.61 years). Fitness was measured through tests selected from the Eurofit battery. The questions regarding desired HRPF showed moderate internal consistency (Cronbach's α: 0.671) and good test-retest reliability (ICC: 0.761). In general, children shared a desire to improve their self-perceived HRPF. Those who perceived themselves as already being fit were the ones who showed the strongest desire for achieving higher HRPF levels.

Fiabilidad y validez del cuestionarioPerceived Physical Fitness Scaleen población escolar española / Reliability and Validity of the Perceived Physical Fitness Scale questionnaire in Spanish students

FUNDAMENTOS: Los cuestionarios de autopercepción se consideran una alternativa útil para valorar el nivel de condición física (CF) de una población. Sin embargo, existen muy pocos cuestionarios de este tipo que hayan sido validados en población española. En este estudio se planteó identificar la fiabilidad y validez del cuestionarioPerceived Physical Fitness Scale (PPFS) en escolares españoles. MÉTODOS: Tras un proceso de retrotraducción, se administró el cuestionario PPFS en dos momentos a 722 estudiantes (Primaria, n=207; Secundaria, n=515) para determinar su fiabilidad. Para identificar su validez convergente, se administró la Escala Internacional de Aptitud Física (IFIS) y pruebas de campo de valoración de la CF extraídas de la batería Eurofit. La consistencia interna, la fiabilidad y la validez convergente del cuestionario fueron testadas mediante el alpha de Cronbach, el coeficiente de correlación intraclase y el coeficiente de Pearson. RESULTADOS: La consistencia interna del PPFS fue aceptable en Primaria (α=0,702) y buena en Secundaria (α=0,888), mientras que la fiabilidad fue pobre en Primaria (CCI=0,490; IC 95% [0,298-0,665]) y buena en Secundaria (CCI=0,797; IC 95% [0,760-0,829]). El PPFS mostró asociaciones estadísticamente significativas con la CF valorada a través de la Eurofit (Primaria; r=0,421; p<0,001 / Secundaria; r=0,533; p<0,001) y con la escala IFIS (Primaria; r=0,356; p<0,001 / Secundaria r=0,792; p<0,001).CONCLUSIONES: La versión adaptada al castellano del cuestionario PPFS muestra una buena fiabilidad y una adecuada validez convergente a la hora de ser empleada como herramienta de valoración de la propia condición física entre el alumnado de Secundaria. La pobre fiabilidad y débil asociación demostrada con la escala IFIS entre el alumnado de Primaria desaconseja su uso en este nivel educativo.(AU)

BACKGROUND: Self-perception questionnaires are considered a useful alternative to assess the level of physical fitness (PF) of a specific population. However, very few questionnaires of this type have been validated in the Spanish population. The aim of this study was to identify the reliability and validity of the Perceived Physical Fitness Scale (PPFS) in Spanish students. METHODS: After a back-translation process, the PPFS questionnaire was administered twice to 722 students (primary school, n=207; secondary school, n=515) to determine its reliability. To identify its convergent validity, the International Fitness Scale (IFIS) was administered, as well as a set of PF field-based tests from the Eurofit battery. The questionnaire internal consistency, reliability and convergent validity of the questionnaire were assessed by means of the Cronbach’s alpha, intraclass correlation coefficient and Pearson corelation coefficient. RESULTS: The internal consistency of the PPFS was accurate among Primary (α=0.702) and good among Secondary (α=0.888) students., Reliability was poor among Primary (ICC=0.490; 95% CI [0.298-0.665]) and good among Secondary (ICC=0.797; 95% CI [0.760-0.829]) students. The PPFS showed significant associations with PF levels assessed by means of the Eurofit (Primary; r=0.421; p<0.001 / Secondary; r=0.533; p<0.001) and with the IFIS scale (Primary; r=0.356; p<0.001 / Secondary r=0.792; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish adapted version of the PPFS questionnaire shows good reliability and acceptable convergent validity when used as a tool to assess PF among secondary school students. Its poor reliability, together with the weak association demonstrated against the IFIS scale among primary school students discourages the PPFS use at this educational level.(AU)

The accuracy and reliability of three instruments used to assign school furniture.

BACKGROUND: Students spend a high number of hours being seated while at school. In order to find the correct adjustment between school furniture and the anthropometric characteristics, specific knowledge and tools are necessary. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of the measurers with different instruments, as well as contrast the differences between the values that were obtained by the different examiners. METHODS: Measurements were taken independently by one expert examiner and two inexperienced teachers from the school. They used a measuring tape, a segmometer and an anthropometer for the anthropometric measurements. The statistical tests conducted: Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, Bland and Altman method, Standard Error of Measurement, Technical Error of Measurement and relative TEM with a level of significance of ρ ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 108 students (8.87±1.67 years; 40.7% girls) participated in the study. The non-expert measurers had good accuracy and reliability, but they far exceeded the error percentages of the expert, obtaining the worst results in the shoulder measurement. The instrument with the lowest affinity between the inexperienced measurers was the anthropometer. CONCLUSIONS: In order to assign furniture in the schools, the experts should continue using the anthropometer. The inexperienced measurers can use more accessible instruments in the school environment such as a measuring tape and segmometer.