Background: Physical activity (PA) is a health protective behaviour that is critical in the reduction of most major chronic diseases. It also provides the participant with psychological benefits. Despite its well-established health benefits, PA engagement is low in the adult population. Women over the age of 60 are the least physically active segment and thus an important target for behaviour change interventions. Objective: The purpose of this mixed methods feasibility study was to explore the feasibility of six-week Self-Determination Theory (SDT)-based dance and walking programs for older women. Design: This was a parallel, randomized controlled trial with three groups: dance, walking, and wait-list control. This study included the sequential collection of quantitative then qualitative data (sequential explanatory design). Setting: This study was conducted in Victoria, BC. Participants: Participants were community-dwelling, English-speaking women aged 55-70 years who were not meeting PA guidelines. Methods: Data were collected at baseline and two endpoints: post-intervention at six weeks and follow-up at 12 weeks. The primary outcomes were feasibility measures: recruitment, intervention adherence, retention, and satisfaction. Survey data included self-reported PA (Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire) and measures of behavioural regulations and psychological needs (SDT constructs) using validated tools (Behavioural Regulations in Exercise Questionnaire-2 and Psychological Need Satisfaction in Exercise Scale). Qualitative data were collected in the form of open- and close-ended program evaluation questions and during focus group interviews, both occurring at post-intervention (six weeks). Results: The feasibility measures suggest that it is feasible to recruit and retain participants and that they were generally satisfied with the programs. Thirty-five of 37 randomized participants completed the study (mean age ± SD = 62.8 ± 4.8), representing a 39% recruitment rate and 95% retention rate. Both programs were highly attended. Exploratory effect sizes for the quantitative measures were promising for conducting a larger-scale trial. Emergent themes highlighted the importance of the leadership component of the group-based PA programs. Conclusion: This study had high protocol adherence, promising effect sizes, program evaluation satisfaction, and a recreation centre took on the dance program; these factors provide a foundation for expanding this feasibility trial to a full-scale study. / Graduate / 2017-12-01

Research suggests that optimising affect during exercise may be key to exercise adherence (Van Landuyt, Ekkekakis, Hall & Petruzzello, 2000; Williams et al. 2008; 2012). Recent advances in this area have explored factors that contribute to affective responses in adult populations (Ekkekakis, 2003), but whilst it has been hypothesised that these factors are the same for children and adolescents they have not been explored systematically in the same way. As such, one aim of this thesis was to investigate the relationships between affect and physical activity in child and adolescent populations. Following on from this, a further aim was to explore the factors that contribute to affective responses. Given the research that suggests positive affect experienced during exercise may result in enhanced adherence to physical activity (Williams et al. 2012), the final aim of this study was to determine how to elicit the most positive affective responses during an acute exercise session. This thesis comprises a review of relevant literature, and six study chapters which were the result of three empirical studies; two acute exercise studies and one questionnaire based study. The findings of Study 1 demonstrated that, as with adults, affective responses declined after the onset of ventilatory threshold in both children and adolescents, indicating that to achieve optimum affective responses, particularly with younger children, exercise needs to be prescribed at an intensity below the ventilatory threshold. The findings from studies 2 - 4 highlighted specific factors that contribute to affective responses, reporting that preference for, and tolerance of, different exercise intensities may be an important factor to consider when prescribing exercise (studies 2 & 4). Results also showed that affective associations with physical activity played a significant role in determining overall physical activity behaviour (study 3). The findings from studies 4 and 5a and b revealed that encouraging adolescents to self-select their own exercise intensity may elicit a more positive affective response during the exercise session compared to the affective responses elicited during a prescribed exercise session. This thesis provides substantial evidence to support the link between affect and physical activity in children and adolescents. More specifically, it highlights several important factors that should be considered when attempting to enhance affective responses during an acute exercise session.

Background. Much research suggests that physical activity has important health benefits, yet many young people are disengaged with various forms of exercise. In light of this claim, various policies and interventions have been implemented to promote physical activity but, to date, have been largely unsuccessful and the target of some criticism. Reasons why many young people are relatively physically inactive are not well understood and current explanations rarely attend to sociological issues. Aims. The aims of this study were twofold; (1) to investigate the social processes which influence physical activity and health for young people, (2) to investigate ways to better promote physical activity and therefore reduce health inequalities. Methods. Twenty-nine participants aged 13-14 from 4 different schools in England took part in the study. Purposeful recruitment ensured sufficient diversity across gender, ethnicity, social class, ability, body shape, and self-reported physical activity. Over a seven-month period, various qualitative methods were used including focus groups, ethnomethodology and visual methods. Salient social theories were used to interpret the data. Findings. The interpretation of data resulted in four main findings; (1) health is a socially constructed concept that young people understand through particular structures of language, visual imagery and knowledge; (2) physical activity is sometimes seen as a purposeful practice aimed at increasing physical capital through burning calories and turning fat into muscle; (3) engagement in physical activity is often contingent on whether specific activities are directly endorsed/rejected by peers as socially acceptable/unacceptable activities; (4) physical activities and sedentary activities can be seen as social practices that young people take part in as part of a system of habitual dispositions. Implications. In order to reduce health inequalities, physical activity promoters might better account for these social processes. Suggestions for policy and practice include (1) using intervention strategies that move beyond individualistic conceptions of behaviour, (2) introducing a new vocabulary and imagery to the understanding of health, (3) reducing physical capital disparities in spaces where physical activity takes place, (4) encouraging and accommodating friendship groups in intervention designs, and (5) providing activities and spaces where young people s habituses can be enacted. Conclusions. Various social processes affect the extent and type of physical activity that young people engage in. Strategies to promote physical activity ought to account for these social processes. Sociologically informed qualitative research methods can contribute to knowledge in the field of physical activity and health.

There is growing awareness of the role of physical activity (PA) in the prevention and treatment of health disorders. Mental health practitioners are well positioned to provide PA counseling and may have ethical obligations to address PA. Researchers have cited insufficient training as a barrier to PA counseling, yet little is known about training in mental health. This exploratory study examines the need for training students in PA counseling. A national sample of 361 current graduate students in psychology, social work, rehabilitation counseling, and psychiatric nursing completed a Web-based survey on their training, knowledge, attitude towards PA, personal PA, and use of PA with clients. Knowledge, training, and attitude significantly predicted use of PA in counseling. Psychiatric nursing students reported significantly higher knowledge and use of PA, 75% of students reported no training in PA counseling, and 86% of students reported need for training. Implications for training are discussed.

Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka den fysiska aktivitetens betydelse för att motverka sarkopeni hos äldre individer, samt om protein- och D-vitamin-intag kunde ha betydelse tillsammans med fysisk aktivitet för att motverka sarkopeni utvecklingen hos äldre individer (>65år). Metod: Deskriptiv litteraturstudie med litteratursökning i databaserna Pubmed och Discovery. Tio kvalitetsgranskade artiklar valdes ut som var publicerade från år 2004 och framåt. Resultat: Fysisk aktivitet i kombination med aerob träning och styrketräning, 150 min per vecka har en betydelse för att motverka sarkopeni utvecklingen hos äldre personer men även i ett förebyggande syfte för ungdomar och vuxna individer. Kosten: Proteinintaget för de äldre personerna verkar inte ha någon större betydelse för motverkan av redan konstaterad sarkopeni i de industrialiserade länderna. Däremot ser man en positiv effekt på motverkan av sarkopeni vid intag av D-vitamin hos äldre. Slutsats: Denna studie ger stöd åt uppfattningen att regelbunden riktad fysisk aktivitet för äldre har en motverkande effekt (som är mätbar och därför faktabaserad) på utvecklingen av sarkopeni. Äldre personer med redan konstaterad sarkopeni kan genom riktad fysisk aktivitet återhämta sin fysiska kapacitet som de hade innan sarkopeni utvecklingen. Det visade sig också att D-vitamin nivåerna hos de äldre deltagarna har betydelse för bentäthet och muskelstyrka som motverkar sarkopeni utveckling.

Class of 2007 Abstract / Objectives: To identify the characteristics shared by Arizona Health Sciences students who exercise regularly and the effects of exercise on their lives. Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Three focus groups were held to collect data on the participants’ history and pattern of regular exercise, reasons for engaging in physical activity, educational background on the importance of physical activity, views on role models, and level of productivity. Demographic data were collected on age, gender, marital status, weight, and height. Results: The AHS students who participated in the focus groups had a history of regular exercise, often since childhood, an ability to adapt their schedules to make time for exercise, and the use of exercise as a recreational or social activity. Stress reduction and health benefits were major motivators for participating in regular physical activity. However, only about 50 percent of the participants saw themselves as potential role models for their patients. Conclusions: The training of pharmacy and public health students may need to be revisited to include the promotion of physical activity and the importance of serving as role models. Focusing on how regular physical activity reduces stress and improves health may be more successful marketing techniques, as all of the participants listed these benefits as important. Because the other reasons varied between men and women, the marketing strategies may need to focus on different approaches for each gender; for example, the appearance benefits for men and the sleep and socializing benefits for women.

In this days the osteoporosis is getting to the centre of interest because of its increasing. It is the worldwide problem. Physical activity is one of the main factors affecting the course of disease. Suitable physical activity is possible to reduce a risk of falls, fractures with following, frequently fatal complications. Finding the ma in problems lowering balance ability of endangered population groups and subsequently targeted physical program it possible to include in preventive program of safety locomotion and give support to enhance quality of life for endangered persons. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

This work is focused on studying the outside-school physical activities of children visiting the 4th and 5th grades of primary school in Prague 9. It examines the children's relationship to physical activities. Through the survey I presented to ground school children, the work discovers if they do some sport activities, how they spend their free time, how their family influences their physical activities and if they take part in one-time physical activities events. Last but not least the work studies the children's view on the benefits of physical excercises.

The master thesis focuses on dysplasia of the hip joint in relation to the physical activities of an infant under one year. The thesis contains three sections. The theoretical part informs about dysplasia of the hip and physical activities jointed to this infliction. The special part defines suitable and unsuitable physical activities of an infant under one year with dysplasia of the hip. The research deals with hypothesis, problem's questions and goals. The methods used are anamnesis, experiment, interviews and casuistry. On the basis of experiment was difined short-term and a long-term exercise's plan for infant under one year with dysplasia of the hip. The research was conducted at the patient K. V. from birth to one year of age. Were applied the selected physical activities that demonstrate their significant impact on the reporting of disability. Medical reports suggest that the degree of disability investigated patients improved more than one level. It was also found that there are differences of opinion between medical approaches and treatment by specialists. Even parents have a different attitude to medical recommendations and some seek the views of other experts. Conclusion contains a summary of the facts and submitted to the positive impact of alternative approaches to influence child...

The thesis deals with the attitude of high school students towards sport activities and the relationship between their attitude and the interests of their parents. The theoretical part of the thesis includes the characteristics and the definition of adolescence - general definition, pedagogically - psychologic and physio-motoric characteristics. It also focuses on the definition of a physical activity, it's link to human health and the aspects which may affect it. Furthermore, the theoretical chapters of the paper characterize sport and it's function, leisure time and healthy lifestyle as linked concepts. This part of the thesis also mentions previous research conducted on adolescent physical activity. The research part of the paper firstly introduces the sample group and the research design. Secondly, it presents and analyses the survey and the questions used, compared with previous research. The final part of the paper focuses on the outcomes of the research.