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This paper used a nationally representative sample of children from the United States to examine the extent to which physical activity and sports participation may promote growth in children's executive functions (EFs), attention, and social self‐control over time. Using data from the ECLS‐K:2011 (N = 18,174), findings indicated that regular physical activity predicted growth in EFs and attention from 3rd to 4th grade (βs = 0.03–0.05) but not from kindergarten to 1st grade. After controlling for the frequency of physical activity, participation in group sports predicted increases in EFs, attention, and social self‐control during both periods (βs = 0.02–0.04). Though modest in size, the findings suggest that encouraging children to engage in more frequent and more team‐based activity will benefit the development of their EFs and related skills, and especially so for children in middle childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD) are physically inactive leading to low physical function and poor health outcomes. Guidelines recommend that nephrologists encourage PD patients to increase their activity levels; however, PD patients are often discouraged from participating in exercise programs because of perceived barriers and a lack of precision about the appropriate exercise regimen. This review suggests ways forward to assist nephrology professionals to encourage PD patients to exercise, instead of creating barriers. The paper draws on the literature in addition to the experience of programs in France, the United States, and Australia to demonstrate the possibilities when considering increasing physical activity in this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To quantify physical activity (PA) levels in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) using objective measurement and to establish using a meta‐analytical approach if pwMS are less active than the general population. A systematic search of eight databases was conducted. Cohort and intervention studies which included an objective measure of PA were included. Objective PA outputs of steps per day and minutes of moderate‐vigorous activity (MVPA) per day were extracted from the MS studies and the published NHANES dataset. Meta‐analysis was used to compare the differences between the groups for these parametric outcomes. A general population sample from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) in the United States of America was used as a comparative group. The systematic search resulted in 32 papers (n = 2 randomized control trials, n = 30 cohort studies). A total of 3 762 pwMS were included. The sample was largely female (n = 3 118, 82.8%) and ambulatory with/without use of an aid (n = 31 studies). There were significant differences between the MS and the published NHANES comparative group with respect to 1) steps per day [mean difference: −3845 (−4120.17, −3569.83), P < .0001, n = 10 studies] and 2) minutes of MVPA per day [mean difference: 9.00 (−12.5, −5.4), P < .0001, n = 3 studies], indicating pwMS are less physically active than the NHANES sample. Results suggest that pwMS are less physically active than a general population across PA outputs of steps per day and minutes of MVPA per day. There is a need to increase PA levels among pwMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]