Physical activity reduces the risk for disease, improves overall health, and quality of life. Group exercise classes are large contributors for meeting physical activity recommendations. Improving long-term adherence to group exercise classes is essential in order to receive health and fitness benefits. Many contributing factors affect adherence rates including the role of the instructor. The instructor has great influence over the decision to return to a group exercise class. It is important to find out what qualities and characteristics are preferred among those who take classes to increase long-term adherence. Another important factor relating to adherence is body type, appearance and attractiveness of the instructor. These factors have been influential in other areas including performance enhancement consulting, counseling, teacher ratings, and willingness to accept health advice. However, little research has been done to determine if body type, appearance and attractiveness influence adherence to group exercise classes. Identifying if there are stereotypes associated with group exercise instructors will provide the opportunity to educate participants and improve the professional development of instructors. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between participants' perceptions of group exercise leaders and adherence to group exercise classes. Business cards will be distributed to participants after their exercise class, which will contain the web address to the survey. Participants will also have the opportunity to fill out a paper and pencil version of the survey if that is more convenient. The survey will be posted on surveymonkey.com. Flyers with the web address will also be posted around the facilities to promote the survey. Results showed that participants did not prefer significant differences in fatness and muscularity of the instructor nor were they related to motivation, effort, attendance, willingness to accept health information from the instructor, or perceived attractiveness. However, perceived attractiveness was related to attendance. Results also showed that participants preferred to be less fat and more muscular, similar to that of the current instructor body type, indicating that participants desired to have a physique similar to that of the instructor. Although, fatness and muscularity of the instructor were not associated with motivation or adherence to group exercise class, instructional quality was associated with these outcomes. It was found that instructional quality is more important to participants of a group exercise class than body type. Instructional quality was associated with motivation, effort, attendance, and willingness to accept health information. This demonstrates the importance of professional development of instructors. Results from the current study support that body type of the instructor is associated less with different psychosocial outcomes than instructional quality.

A review of certification domains and study materials for four national group fitness or aerobics instructor certifying organizations found them to be deficient in preparation of candidates in exercise psychology skills, An exercise psychology workshop was developed to address these deficiencies and was specifically designed for certified group fitness or aerobics instructors. The workshop was an overview of exercise psychology as it related to basic motivation techniques, goal setting, use of imagery, exercise anxiety, concentration, injury recovery, barriers to exercise, exercise behavior, and recognizing negative issues associated with exercise. The six-hour workshop was designed to prepare group fitness or aerobics instructors to be able to recognize and utilize exercise psychology skills when interacting with beginners to experienced exercisers to help participants achieve their fitness goals. The aerobics instructors have direct contact with more individuals engaging in exercise than any other fitness professionals in the fitness centers. The group fitness or aerobics instructors were provided with an introduction in how to use exercise psychology skills training techniques. The workshop was presented at Temple University on three separate dates, February 8th, February 22nd, and March 9th, 2014. The workshop was not approved for continuing education credits but was able to be submitted by the attendee, on a case by case basis, through each unique organization's petition process to receive educational credits toward the renewal of the certification. The certified group fitness or aerobics instructors received a booklet containing the workshop slides and handouts. They were asked to take a short Psychological Skills Assessment for Group Fitness Instructors Questionnaire prior to and at the completion of the workshop. A randomized group was selected to participate in a phone interview one month post workshop to determine the extent to which the knowledge gained was utilized and beneficial in the execution of the group exercise instruction. A total of 91 certified group fitness instructors attended the workshop and 84 participated in the study. It was found that the participants significantly increased their knowledge of exercise psychology and group fitness instruction by 52.5% by the end of the workshop. There was no overall significant difference between the three workshop groups. The feedback obtained from the evaluation of the workshop question was generally positive and offered some suggestions for future use of the workshop material. The post workshop phone interview indicated that the certified aerobics instructors who participated in the workshop were able to utilize the exercise psychology techniques covered in the workshop in conjunction with their job as a group fitness or aerobics instructor. / Kinesiology

Thesis (MScPhysio (Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Physiotherapy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: Children who lack the motor coordination to perform the tasks that have usually been acquired at their age, given normal intellectual ability and the absence of other neurological disorders, are classified as having Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) according to DSMIV. Limited professional resources prohibit individual therapy and these children are being treated in “gross motor groups” regardless of the fact that this has limited proven efficacy. This study aims to investigate whether group exercise physiotherapy does improve the gross motor function of children with DCD aged six to ten years old. Methods: Thirty-nine children were assessed at pre and post intervention on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC) as well as the Perceived Efficacy and Goal Setting (PEGS) questionnaire by a blinded research assistant. They were randomly allocated to either a control (N=19) or an intervention group (N=20). The intervention group was then further subdivided into groups of four to six per group to attend group exercise sessions of 30 – 45 minutes three times per week. Group exercises were aimed at improving manual dexterity, ball skills and balance by incorporating aerobic exercises, strengthening exercises, coordination as well as task specific activities. Results: There was a significant increase (p=.028) in the total scores tested by the experimental group on the M-ABC after the eight week intervention. Manual dexterity skills had improved significantly (p=.035). There was a trend for ball skills to improve (p=.088) but no improvement was recorded for static or dynamic balance post intervention. PEGS results indicated that subjects considered themselves as very competent regardless of their abilities. Conclusions: The results of this study support the hypothesis that an eight week group exercise program can improve the gross motor skills of children with DCD. It would seem that implementing such an intervention is a viable option, especially where resources limit the availability of one to one therapy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: Kinders wat „n gebrek aan motoriese koördinasie het om ouderdoms verwante take te verrig, gegewe dat hulle normale intellektuele vermoëns het en die afwesigheid van ander neorologiese abnormaliteite, word geklassifiseer as “Developmental Coordination Disorder” (DCD) volgens die DSM IV. Beperkte professionele menslike hulpbronne voorkom individele terapie en hierdie kinders word gewoonlik behandel in grofmotoriese groepe, ongeag dat daar min bewyse is dat dit „n effektiewe behandelings metode is. Die doel van hierdie studie is om vas te stel of „n fisioterapie groepsoefenprogram „n effektiewe behandelingsvorm is om die grofmotoriese vaardighede in ses tot tienjarige primêre skool kinders, met „n diagnose van DCD, verbeter. Metodes: Nege-en-dertig kinders was geassesseer met die “Movement Assessment Battery for Children” (M-ABC) en die “Perceived Efficacy and Goal Setting” (PEGS) vraelys deur „n geblinde navorsingsassistent. Hulle is in twee groepe nl kontrole groep wat nie intervensie gekry het nie (N=19) en „n eksperimentele groep (N=20)verdeel deur eenvoudige ewekansige toewysing. Die eksperimentele groep was verder onderverdeel in groepe van vier tot ses om groepsoefeningsessies by te woon drie keer „n week vir 30 tot 45 minute. Die doel van die groepsoefeninge was om die volgende areas te verbeter: handvaardigheid, balvaardigheid en balans deur die inkorporasie van balansaktiwiteite, spierversterkingsoefeninge, koördinasie sowel as taak spesifieke aktiwiteite. Die deelnemers was weer geassesseer met die Movement-ABC en die PEGS na die agt weke lange intervensie program. Resultate: Daar was 'n beduidende toename (p=.028) in die algehele telling deur die eksperimentele groep op die M-ABC na die agt weke deelname. Handvaardigheid het beduidend verbeter (p=.035). Daar was „n tendens vir balvaardighede om te verbeter (p=0.88), maar geen verbetering was aangedui vir balans na die ingryping nie. Die PEGS resultate was moeilik om te interpreteer aangesien die deelnemers hulself as baie vaardig gesien het ten spyte van hulle vermoëns. Gevolgtrekking: Die resultate van hierdie studie ondersteun die hipotese dat 'n doelgerigte groepsoefeningsprogram wel die grofmotoriese vaardighede van kinders met „n diagnose van DCD verbeter. Fisioterapeute kan 'n groepsofeningsprogram met vertroue implementeer waar 'n tekort aan menslike hulpbronne een tot een terapie beperk.

Det finns mycket forskning kring hur individer med Parkinson har möjlighet att förbättra sina fysiologiska funktioner genom träning. Det finns dock få studier som beskriver upplevelser av träningen. Syftet med denna studie var att beskriva upplevelser av sjukgymnastledd gruppträning hos individer med Parkinson och undersöka hur resultatet överensstämde med domänerna i Internationella klassifikationen av funktionstillstånd, funktionshinder och hälsa (ICF). En kvalitativ deskriptiv innehållsanalys tillämpades. Fem deltagare medverkade i studien. En intervjuguide sammanställdes, intervjuerna transkriberades och tolkades. Slutligen sammanställdes resultatet i en tabell med kategorier, subkategorier och koder. Ytterligare en tabell utformades för att redovisa resultatet enligt ICF:s domäner. Det framkom i studien att en sjukdomsspecifik grupp möjliggjorde en trygghet och en social samhörighet. Vidare placerades majoriteten av resultatet inom ICF:s domäner aktivitet/delaktighet samt omgivningsfaktorer, vilket belyste att de psykosociala faktorerna föreföll prägla deltagarnas uppfattningar i större omfattning än de fysiska.

Title: Effect of excercise on postural stability parameters in senior's age Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the effects of a regular group exercise on specific parameters of postural control in seniors. The intervention was composed based on a literary review and consisted of strength, flexibility and balance exercises. Methods: The sample consisted of nine women older than 65 years. To evaluate the differences in selected parameters of static postural control before and after intervention the pressure plates RS Footscan® Balance 7.6 second generation (RSscan International, Belgium) were used. Results: All og the measured parameters of static postural control improved, particularly when standing without visual control. The results can be helpful in planning of preventive exercise programs for seniors. Key words: Postural control, seniors, group exercise, balance exercise

v anglickém jazyce Management of physical activities in multiple sclerosis patients The thesis introduces how is possible to organise physical activities in groups of multiple sclerosis patients. First theoretical part of thesis describes the multiple sclerosis as one of the most frequent neurological disease with its typical symptoms and possible farmacologic treatment. There are also few comments about patients attittude to physical activity, their adherence to regular physical activity and how to motivate them for better compliance. Lastly this theoretical part contains international recommendation concerning type, intensity and duration of exercise in multiple sclerosis patients. The second part of thesis is about practical experiences with group exercise management in our organization (MS Center, 1st Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital in Prague). The experiences from group exercise are analysed from three diffrent points of view: objective measurement of gait parametres, exercise attendance and data gained from patient questionnaire. Final part summarises knowledge from theoretical and practical part. In this part I tried to make some recommendation for management of group exercise in multiple sclerosis patients. Key words: multiple sclerosis - exercise - physical activity -...

Functional body condition of senior is important for preserving his independence, mobility and overall for his better quality of living. This paper tries to investigate influence of "classical" fitness exercise and exercise with DNS components on the functional body condition of examined senior. This paper is also comparing, whether is one of the exercises more efficient. For this fitness program have attended 32 probands older 60 years (control group 17, DNS group 15). After physical examination of their functional body condition by The Senior Fitness Test Battery, they have attended 6 weeks training program (2 times a week, 60 minutes), followed by the control test. In this paper we found out statistically significant improvement in body condition in both groups and from the result implies, that both types of exercises are effective to improve body condition of seniors. However, between these groups, we were not able to prove any significant difference. Then we examined on the smaller group of probands (7 in each group) influence of these exercises programmes on improvement of static postural stability, measured by Balance Error Scoring System. In this test we did not prove any statistically significant difference between the control group and the DNS group neither. The main finding of this paper...

本研究的主要目的在於針對主管本研究的主要目的在於針對主管，發展一套「同儕同儕提名」評鑑工具，並進一步探討其信度與效度，以及內部機制與影響因素。 研究者首先針對某證券公司之初階與中階主管進行工作分析，並根據重要管理能力設計活動與評鑑工具。此外，研究者亦根據工作分析結果編製「考核表」，並參考該公司現有的「主管考核」資料與「部屬滿意度」調查結果等來代表主管人員的 工作表現，並據以探討「同儕提名」評鑑工具與主管人員工作績效之間的關係。 本研究工作分析調查樣本人數為86人次，晤談樣本人數為16人次，正試團體活動（ 同儕提名）有效樣本為75人次，活動後的深入追蹤訪談為26人次。結果顯示：「同儕提名法」評鑑工具的評分者間信度甚高，肯德爾和諧係數為 .28 -- .62，均達 .01以上顯著水準，評分者內信度的中位數亦達.81；至於效度方面，以考核表總 分、優於部門同仁、晉升潛力、領導能 力、忠誠度、過去三年考績、部屬滿意度等 為效標變項，針對初階與中階主管進行迴歸分析，效度係數中位數分別為 .67與 .56。為進一步瞭解「同儕提名法」之內部機制與影響因素，研究者綜合調查結果 與追蹤晤談資料，嘗試提出一個模式來加以說明。最後，研究者提出本研究之限制、後續研究方向、及企業實務應用等之建議。

Diploma thesis deals with a suspension system of cords and slings called Redcord. Redcord helps physiotherapists as their auxiliary third hand. Redcord has a wide range of application. The main goal of the thesis is to develop and test training units in Redcord for spinal patients on a wheelchair in the Rehabilitation Institute Kladruby. This goal was successfully realized and the group exercise in Redcord were implemented between the procedures of the rehabilitation program. The study also discusses the effectiveness of exercise in Redcord, the evaluation of different dosage of load and monitoring the progression of a group training. The group exercise in Redcord for spinal patients on a wheelchair is effective, because it allows the same exercise training for patients with different level of spinal cord lesion and different stability of the trunk. This is possible thanks to the various dosage of load in Redcord. The feedback from spinal patients has been verified by subjective evaluation in the form of a questionnaire supplemented with a interview.

I Sverige når många invånare inte rekommendationerna för fysisk aktivitet trots de positiva effekterna. En beteendeförändring kan vara svårt - många faktorer kan underlätta eller försvåra förändringen. Studiens syfte var att undersöka deltagare i en Börja träna-kurs upplevelser av motivationsfaktorer och strategier för fortsatt träning. Studien är deskriptiv kvalitativ. Semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med fyra deltagare. Intervjusvaren analyserades med en kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultatet omfattar sju motivationsfaktorer: träningsupplägg, gemenskap (med gruppen), stöd från familj, investera i sig själv, effekter av träning, träningsglädje samt överkomma rädslor. Fyra strategier för fortsatt träning framkom: Göra träningen roligare, Anpassa träning till nuvarande funktionsnivå, Planera för träning samt Motstånd att hantera. Kategorierna matchades med Transteoretiska modellens handlingssätt, vilket visar att träningsupplägget motsvarade följande handlingssätt: Consciousness-raising, Self re-evaluation, samt Helping relationship. Resultatanalysen visar att deltagarnas upplevelser stimulerat till bättre tillit till sin förmåga, samt att upplevelsen att de ”kommit igång” med träning underlättar för fortsatt fysisk aktivitet. Brist på liknande studier ger möjlighet till fortsatta studier inom ämnet. / In Sweden, a big part of the population is unable to fulfill the recommendations for physical activity despite the positive effects. Behavioral change can be hard and several factors can facilitate or complicate the change. This study aims to examine participant’s, of a start exercising-class, experience of motivational factors and strategies for continued exercise. It’s a descriptive qualitative study. Semistructured interviews were conducted with four participants. A qualitative content analysis was made based on the answers. The results include seven motivational factors: Training schedule, Communion (with the group), Support from family, Invest in itself, Effect of exercise, Joy of training and Overcome fears. Four strategies for continued exercise were identified: Make exercising fun, Customize training to the current level of functioning, Plan for exercise and Barriers to manage. The categories were matched with the transtheoretical model’s processes of change which showed that the class’s approach corresponded to: Consciousness-raising, Self re-evaluation and Helping relationship. The result analysis shows that the experiences of the participants stimulated to a better self-efficacy for physical activity. Also, the feeling of being “under way” with exercise facilitates continued physical activity. A lack of similar studies allows for further studies of the subject.