Search

Objective: With the development of the economy, people’s awareness of health care has been continuously improved. The concept of fitness has constantly been expanded by the population, propitiating the development of this industry. Methods: As an essential part of the development strategy of a modern and powerful country, the two national strategies of National Fitness and Healthy China provide guarantees to meet people’s needs for a better life in the new era. Results: Basketball is rich in diversity; its intensity and load are also suitable for people of different ages. Therefore, basketball plays an active and effective role in realizing the national physical fitness program, improving the overall level of Chinese basketball, and improving the physical and mental health of the masses. Appropriate and reasonable exercise is the basis for ensuring physical health; thus, national physical fitness has become an essential prerequisite for national health, closely related and feasible to be integrated. Conclusions: Starting from the significance of the integration of physical fitness and national health, this paper analyzes the effects of basketball on people’s health at different ages and presents corresponding guidance strategies. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment results. RESUMO Objetivo: Com o desenvolvimento da economia, a conscientização das pessoas sobre os cuidados com a saúde tem sido continuamente melhorada. O conceito de fitness tem sido continuamente expandido pela população, propiciando o desenvolvimento dessa indústria. Métodos: Como parte importante da estratégia de desenvolvimento de um país moderno e poderoso, as duas estratégias nacionais da National Fitness e da Healthy China oferecem garantias para atender às necessidades das pessoas para uma vida melhor na nova era. Resultados: O basquetebol é rico em diversidade, sua intensidade e carga também são adequadas para pessoas de diferentes idades. Portanto, o basquetebol desempenha um papel ativo e eficaz na realização do programa nacional de aptidão física, melhorando o nível geral do basquetebol chinês e melhorando a saúde física e mental das massas. Exercício apropriado e razoável é a base para assegurar a saúde física, assim a aptidão física nacional se tornou um importante pré-requisito para a saúde nacional, que está intimamente relacionada e é viável de ser integrada. Conclusões: Partindo do significado da integração da aptidão física e saúde nacional, este documento analisa os efeitos do basquetebol na saúde das pessoas em diferentes idades, e apresenta estratégias de orientação correspondentes. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos – investigação de resultados de tratamento. RESUMEN Objetivo: Con el desarrollo de la economía, la conciencia de la gente sobre los cuidados con la salud ha sido continuamente mejorada. El concepto de fitness ha sido ampliado continuamente por la población, propiciando el desarrollo de esta industria. Métodos: Como parte importante de la estrategia de desarrollo de un país moderno y poderoso, las dos estrategias nacionales de Acondicionamiento Físico Nacional y China Saludable ofrecen garantías para satisfacer las necesidades de la gente para una vida mejor en la nueva era. Resultados: El baloncesto es rico en diversidad, su intensidad y carga también son adecuadas para personas de diferentes edades. Por lo tanto, el baloncesto desempeña un papel activo y eficaz en la realización del programa nacional de acondicionamiento físico, en la mejora del nivel general del baloncesto chino y en la mejora de la salud física y mental de las masas. El ejercicio adecuado y razonable es la base para garantizar la salud física, por lo que la aptitud física nacional se ha convertido en un importante prerrequisito para la salud nacional, que está estrechamente relacionada y es factible de ser integrada. Conclusiones: Partiendo de la importancia de la integración de la aptitud física y la salud nacional, este documento analiza los efectos del baloncesto en la salud de las personas a diferentes edades y presenta las correspondientes estrategias de orientación.Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos – investigación de resultados de tratamiento.

Given the persistence of health inequities in the United States, scholars and health professionals alike have turned to the social determinants of health (SDH) framework to understand the overlapping factors that produce and shape these inequities. However, there is scant empirical literature on how frontline health and social service workers perceive and apply the SDH framework, or related movements such as the right to health, in their daily practice. Our study seeks to bridge this gap by applying constructs from the sociological imagination and structural competency (an emerging paradigm in health professions' education) to understand the perspectives and experiences of social work case managers, community health workers, legal advocates, and mental health counselors at a maternal and child health center in a large US city. This frontline workforce displayed strong sociological imagination, elements of structural competency, and engagement with the principles of the right to health. Workers shared reflections on the SDH framework in ways that signaled promising opportunities for frontline workers to link with the global movement for the right to health. We offer a novel approach to understanding the relationships between frontline worker perspectives on and experiences with the SDH, sociological imagination, structural competency, and the right to health.

Purpose Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is an eating behavior where patients obsessively try to reach health through “purity” of food. Narcissism is a personality trait characterized with the self-belief of grandiosity, importance and need of appreciation. Both of these conditions are connected through self-image in way of reaching perfection through health and body image, whereas one of the ways for reaching it is exercising. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate ON and its possible association with narcissism in fitness center users. Methods The study included 1017 fitness center users and three questionnaires were used for the assessment: general information, ORTO-R and Narcissistic personality inventory-13 (NPI-13). Results There was a significant negative correlation (r = − 0.467, p

INTRODUCTION: While it is well known that regular physical activity provides significant physical and psychosocial health benefits, people with disabilities have disproportionately lower rates of exercise compared to the able-bodied population. Reduced levels of physical activity can put this population at an increased risk of chronic health conditions, highlighting the importance of ensuring that our communities have accessible adaptive fitness opportunities. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the demographic and disability characteristics in individuals who regularly attend a specialized urban adaptive fitness center, to provide foundational understanding about the population that uses such resources. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study SETTING: Specialized urban adaptive fitness center PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-three (n = 63) participants who regularly attend an urban Adaptive Sports and Fitness Center INTERVENTION: Not applicable MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: World Health Organization (WHO) Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0, evaluating disability in six domains: cognition, mobility, self-care, getting along, life activities, and participation. Results were converted into scores ranging from 0 (no disability) to 100 (total disability) and compared to WHO published norms for the general population and a demographics intake form. RESULTS: Participants with mean age of 52.9 ±14.3 years were grouped into three diagnostic categories: spinal cord injury (30.2%), traumatic brain injury/stroke (36.5%), and other neurologic disease/chronic medical disease (33.3%). A total of 45.9% live alone, 96.8% exercise at least twice/week, and 43.5% participate in adaptive sports. Participants travel 8.0 miles on average for attendance. WHODAS disability summary score was 26.48 (86th percentile). CONCLUSIONS: Although adaptive fitness center participants had a higher level of disability than 80% to 90% of the general population, regular participation was realistic and feasible. Further understanding of the barriers in those who do not engage in such facilities is needed.

The recognition of sports clubs (SC) as health-promoting settings is increasing, as well as the number of health promotion (HP) interventions implemented in this setting. However, minimal understanding of their development process and the persistent gap between theoretical knowledge and real-life practice is a major limitation to their implementation. This article describes a participatory research approach, implicating 29 stakeholders in sports and HP (6 HP researchers, 9 HP professionals, 6 representatives from regional and national sports organizations and 8 representatives from SC), leading to the co-construction of a health-promoting SC intervention. Stakeholders were mobilized through four stages: (i) analysis of effective programs, (ii) co-construction workshops, (iii) evaluation of relevance and acceptability, and (iv) beta-testing of a massive open online course (MOOC). A qualitative analysis was carried out on data collected through notetaking, recordings, transcripts, email exchanges and produced documents. This work led to the development of an HP intervention, including an MOOC, as well as a seven-step SC-tailored program. The convergence of theoretical knowledge and contextual real-life practice made it possible to respond to the specific needs and implementation problems encountered by SC actors and to develop acceptable strategies and tools.Sports clubs (SC) can promote health beyond the offer of physical activity and sport by acting on health determinants (economic, social, environmental and organizational). To this end, interventions can be implemented. This study presents the way in which researchers and field actors can collaborate to develop adapted interventions. Involving 29 sport and health promotion (HP) actors (6 HP researchers, 9 HP professionals, 6 representatives from regional and national sports organizations, and 8 representatives from SC), four stages were set up to develop a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) and an SC-tailored program: (i) analysis of effective programs, (ii) co-construction workshops, (iii) evaluation of relevance and acceptability, and (4) beta-testing of the MOOC. The results of these stages were qualitatively analyzed and allowed for the development of content, tools and planning consistent with the realities faced by SC. This work presents ways in which field actors and researchers can collaborate to develop acceptable strategies and tools to promote health.

Background Sports clubs have requested support from national governing authorities to invest in health promotion (HP), by developing policies, guidelines and dedicated funding. This article outlines the development of a national audit tool to review policies development and implementation to support HP in sports clubs. Methods A five-step process was undertaken by an international project team: (i) a rapid literature review to identify items assessing policies in physical activity, HP and sports, (ii) a thematic analysis to categorize items, (iii) a Delphi method to analyze item relevance, country specificity, reformulation, validation and organization, (iv) face validity through an online survey and in-depth interviews with expert representatives on physical activity and sports and (v) audit tool finalization though project team consensus. Results Eight sources were reviewed with 269 items identified. Items were coded into 25 categories with 3 broad themes: policies, actors and settings-based approach. The Delphi study extracted and refined 50 items and categorized them into 10 sections. After revisions from 22 surveys and 8 interviews, consensus was reached by the international project team on 41 items categorized into 11 sections: Role of ministry or department; Policies; Communication; Implementation and Dissemination; Evaluation and Measurement methods; Sub-national-level policies; Funding and Coordination; Participative approach; Actors and Stakeholders; National sporting events; Case studies and Implicated stakeholders. Conclusion To progress HP in the sports club context it is necessary to understand existing national-level policies. This national audit tool will aid in monitoring and assessing national policies for health promoting sports clubs.

Objectives: To describe the importance of Health clubs in Asthma management in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi state.Design; a cross-sectional qualitative study using focus group discussions (FGD) and Key informant interviews (KII)Setting; the study was conducted from June to July 2019 at the Pulmonology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, a tertiary health facility in Ebonyi State, NigeriaParticipants: 15 out of 25 caregivers of our pediatric asthma clients who attend the Asthma club and nine key informants drawn from club members and some care givers.Data Collection/Intervention: With informed consent, data were collected from participants using recorded interviewsStatistical analysis/Main outcome measure: This was done using the descriptive phenomenological psychological by sorting out each description's explanation and separating them into inferred meaning units for analyses and discussion for easier analysis.Results: Out of 25 caregivers invited, 15 participated in the FGD, all were females aged 32-57 years. For the KII, two out of nine participants were males, three were parents (adults), whereas six were children, 9 to 16 years. Generally, most respondents expressed that the Asthma club improved their sense of well-being y providing a better understanding of the illness, and skills for its management.Conclusion: The asthma club provides informational and affirmational supportive value to clients. We encourage as many centres as possible to raise an asthma club for more effective health communication and asthma care.

Background Taiwan is predicted to become a super-aged society by 2025, and primary health centers (PHCs) are set to play a crucial role in the care of older adults. The Taiwanese government has developed an age-friendly verification framework for PHC. The aims of this study were to explore the difficulties faced by PHC staff in the implementation of age-friendly policies and their solution strategies. Methods This study adopted a qualitative research method. The first stage involved conducting five focus groups with the responsible staff of PHCs (n = 41) that have been certified “age-friendly.” The focus groups covered the effectiveness, difficulties, and resources of PHCs in regards to the introduction of age-friendly policies. In the second stage, in-depth interviews were conducted with executives of PHCs (n = 5), both certified and not certified as age-friendly, to further compare the difficulties faced by these two types of PHCs, thereby gaining perspectives for solution strategies. The principles of grounded theory were used for data analysis. Results Four major PHC strategies are employed in the promotion of age-friendliness. First, organizational management, through which managers apply management methods and analyze the present PHC-related health concerns; second, resource utilization, which refers to the tallying, linking, and integrating of resources; third, business operation process, in which work efficiency is improved through the combination of business operations and staff training; finally, hardware improvement, which is achieved through comprehensive cataloging of facility environments. Conclusion The implementation of age-friendliness in PHCs requires the efforts of both the service units and government. With resources provided by the government, PHCs can integrate management methods, businesses operations, and essential resources. Moreover, PHC executives can lead their teams in promoting age-friendly policies, and closely monitor their effectiveness.

This study investigated the air quality improvement in terms of bacterial and fungal contamination in an exercise room of a fitness center under normal operating conditions. Environmental conditions including air conditioning, ventilation, moisture, CO2, particulate matters, and total number of users were also recorded. In addition, fungal and bacterial load were assessed and disinfection on sports equipment surface was also examined. Background bacteria and fungi densities in bioaerosols were in the range of 249 ± 65 to 812 ± 111 CFU/m3 and 226 ± 39 to 837 ± 838 CFU/m3 in the exercise room of the fitness center and 370 ± 86 to 953 ± 136 CFU/m3 and 465 ± 108 to 1734 ± 580 CFU/m3 in the outdoor air, respectively. Chlorine dioxide and weak acid hypochlorous water aerosols could remove both bacteria and fungi much better than water scrubbing. Contact time of 15 min was sufficient to control both bacteria and fungi to comply with the official air quality standards. User density and carbon dioxide deteriorated both bacteria and fungi disinfection performance whereas temperature was only statistically significant on fungi disinfection. Other factors including relative humidity, airflow velocity, and particulate matters did not have any statistically significant effect on microbial inactivation. Apart from bioaerosol disinfection, inactivation of microorganisms on surfaces of sports equipment was also conducted using chlorine dioxide, zinc oxide, weak acid hypochlorous water, and commercial disinfectant. The surfaces of bicycle handle, dumbbell, and sit-up bench were found to be contaminated with bacteria. Overall bacterial load was 390 to 3720 CFU/cm2 with Escherichia coli specifically 550 to 1080 CFU/cm2. Chlorine dioxide and zinc oxide were noticeably better than weak acid hypochlorous water and commercial disinfectant in terms of bacteria inactivation whereas all tested disinfectants had comparable effectiveness on E. coli disinfection. Targeted microorganisms on the sports equipment surface were sufficiently inactivated within 2 min after the application of disinfectant.

Risks shoot up when virus particles accumulate in buildings, but it’s not clear how best to improve ventilation. Risks shoot up when virus particles accumulate in buildings, but it’s not clear how best to improve ventilation.

Further information is needed on how community exercise facilities can be effectively utilised to engage people living with chronic health conditions in exercise. The aim of this study was to identify the exercise barriers, facilitators and needs of patients with chronic disease in the community; and to provide recommendations to support the transition from hospital-based to community-based exercise. Using a qualitative approach, four focus groups were conducted with patients who had completed hospital-based exercise programmes (n = 11) and fitness instructors (n = 10). Data were audio recorded, member checked and transcribed verbatim for thematic analysis using NVivo. The side effects of chronic health conditions, the gym environment and a need for support when joining/attending a gym were perceived as barriers to exercising in the community. In contrast, the presence of supportive staff was perceived by patients as a facilitator to engaging in exercise in the community. A total of three themes emerged from participants views on exercise needs in the community; the referral and induction process in community gyms, fitness instructor training and experience and creating a supportive exercise environment. Themes informed eight key recommendations to support patients to exercise in the community, including supportive gym referral and induction processes for patients with chronic conditions, increased professional training for fitness instructors in the area of chronic disease management and exercise prescription, and exercise support at regular intervals for those with chronic conditions attending community gyms. This study found that there is potential for community gyms to play a key role in promoting health among people with chronic conditions. However, more can be done to foster an inclusive atmosphere in this space. Patients living with chronic conditions need information and advice on exercising in their communities. Community gyms require further support to ensure that facilities meet the exercise needs of people with chronic conditions.

Objective To examine the prevalence, and the demographic, socio-economic, and health correlates to Outdoor Gyms (OGs) use for adults from a southern Brazilian city. Study design Population-based cross-sectional study. Methods A total of 431 adults (66.8% women) aged 18–87 years living in the surroundings of four OGs distributed in different regions of the city were randomly selected. Information about OG use for physical activity (PA) practice, and demographic, socio-economic, and health variables were collected by household interviews. Associations between independent variables and OG use were analyzed with results expressed as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results About one-third of participants (30.4%; 95% CI: 26.1–34.7) informed using OGs for PA practice, and 20.4% (95% CI 16.8–24.4) informed using it twice or more times a week (≥2x/week). Adjusted analysis indicated that the OG use ≥2x/week is higher for women (OR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.11–3.35) and for those with lower family income (OR: 2.13; 95% CI: 1.03–4.13) than men and those with higher family income, respectively. Conclusion About 30% of the population uses OGs for PA practice. Women and low-income people are those who more commonly use OGs for PA practice. The installation of these facilities in public spaces may reduce social inequities related to leisure-time PA.

Objetivo: Avaliar o nível de conhecimento, hábitos, e prevalência de consumo de energéticos e suplementos à base de cafeína por praticantes de exercícios físicos em academias. Métodos: Foi empregado um questionário autoaplicável de 27 perguntas no Google® Forms, divulgado em mídias sociais entre setembro e outubro de 2018. Resultados: Participaram 200 frequentadores de academias, 71% adultos jovens, 52% tendo mais de 2 anos de prática e frequência regular de 5 - 6 vezes por semana. A maioria da amostra era mulher (58,5%), praticante de musculação (61,6%) de MG (62,5%). O consumo sem orientação profissional foi de 81,6% nos energéticos e 53,9%para suplementos à base de cafeína. 73,3% dos consumidores de energéticos tinham objetivos relacionados com atividades sociais, preferindo a marca RedBul®(40,4%). Entre os consumidores de suplementos de cafeína houve preferência por termogênicos (32,7%) e cafeína pura (29,9%), com objetivo principal a melhora de performance (28,7%), apresentando respostas ergolíticas de taquicardia e palpitações como registrado nos energéticos. Não houve registro de efeitos adversos em 19,2% dos consumidores de cafeína e 40,8% de energéticos. As dosagens de consumo dos produtos estavam dentro da faixa de segurança (< 6 mg/kg).Conclusão: O consumo de ambos produtos foi feito sem orientação profissional, porém, com dosagens dentro da faixa de segurança. O consumo de bebidas energéticas esteve voltado para atividades sociais e melhora da performance esportiva. Foram registrados efeitos ergolíticos. Objective:Evaluate the level of knowledge, habits, and prevalence of consumption of energy drinks and supplements based on caffeine by practitioners of physical exercises in gyms. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire of 27 topics was used on Google® Forms, published on social media between September and October 2018. Results: 200 gym goers participated, 71% young adults, 52% having more than two years of practice, and attendance regular 5 - 6 times a week. Most were women (58.5%), bodybuilders (61.6%), and from Minas Gerais State (62.5%). Consumption without professional guidance was 81.6% for energy drinks and 53.9% for caffeine-based supplements. Most energy consumers (73.3%) had goals related to social activities, preferring the RedBul® brand (40.4%). Among consumers of caffeine supplements, there was a preference for thermogenic (32.7%) and pure caffeine (29.9%), with the primary objective of improving performance (28.7%), presenting ergolytic responses of tachycardia and palpitations as recorded in energy drinks. There was no record of adverse effects in 19.2% of caffeine consumers and 40.8% of energy drinkers. The consumption dosages of the products were within the safety range (< 6 mg/kg). Conclusion: The consumption of both products was made without professional guidance, however, with dosages within the safety range. The consumption of energy drinks aimed at social activities and improved sports performance. Ergolytic effects have been reported.

Under the restriction of ecological and environmental factors, our requirements have improved for the development path of gymnasium construction. According to the previous way to carry out the development path of gymnasium construction will make our construction work encounter a lot of unnecessary troubles, so we can improve the success rate of the development path of gymnasium construction under the constraints of the ecological environment by carrying out relevant evasive operations according to the constraints of ecological environment. The topological path and path algorithm used to improve the efficiency of stadium construction and development path under the constraints of ecological environment, TEG algorithm, Q-TEG model, Q-TEG algorithm, Dtra algorithm, TraD algorithm, ResR algorithm, and Q-TED algorithm used in resource reservation plus time slot plus hosting bring the following advantages: (1) we use topological path and path algorithm to explore topological representation methods suitable for development path. The overview provides a theoretical basis for guidance, for forwarding technology scheduling mechanisms and multi-path forwarding mechanisms to provide higher flexibility. (2) We use the TEG algorithm of resource reservation plus time slot plus trusteeship, Q-TEG model, and Q-TEG algorithm under multi-model model can deal with the capacity and link of queue in each stadium construction development path well. It is more convenient to set the packet loss threshold for the propagation experiment tested in the simulation. Better help gymnasium construction and development path transmission is successful. (3) The use of the Dtra algorithm, TraD algorithm, ResR algorithm, and Q-TED algorithm in our stadium construction development path of a good deal of the transmission link structure between each node, so that the transmission efficiency between nodes becomes higher, making our stadium construction development path operation more efficient and convenient.

International audience; Objectives: The potential of sports clubs to promote health beyond physical activity has been acknowledged by researchers and policy-makers. This study gathered stakeholder ideas on support sports clubs need to increase health promotion efforts and prioritize them based on importance and feasibility. Study design: The study design used in this study is a mixed-methods concept mapping approach. Methods: French sports and public health stakeholders (n ¼ 45) were invited to participate. Steps included are as follows: (1) formulating a focus prompt, (2) brainstorming statements in response to the focus prompt, (3) sorting statements into themed piles, and (4) rating statements based on indicators. Multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to produce visual cluster maps, and descriptive statistics generated Go-Zone graphs based on mean importance and feasible ratings. Results: Participants generated 62 statements from the focus prompt: 'What assistance would benefit sports clubs to become a health-promoting setting?'. Final sorting produced 9 clusters: Tools for health promotion, Communication tools, Stakeholder training courses, Diagnostic and Financing, Awareness and Mobilization, Advocacy, Policies and Methods, Sharing and Networking, as well as Communication and Dissemination. Participant ratings produced 34 statements within the Go-Zone graphs. Conclusion: Understanding stakeholders' needs to increase health promotion activities in sports clubs is crucial to planning and implementing sustainable health promotion policies and practice. Priority areas include increasing awareness of health promotion benefits, mobilizing actors, advocating for support, and educating sports club actors.

During 24 days in Cheonan, South Korea, 112 persons were infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 associated with fitness dance classes at 12 sports facilities. Intense physical exercise in densely populated sports facilities could increase risk for infection. Vigorous exercise in confined spaces should be minimized during outbreaks.

Background: Women attending mammography screening units (msus) and well women’s clinics (wwcs) represent a motivated cohort likely to engage in interventions aimed at primary breast cancer (bca) prevention. Methods: We used a feasibility questionnaire distributed to women (40–49 or 50–74 years of age) attending msus and wwcs in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to examine (1) women’s views about bca primary prevention and sources of health care information, (2) prevalence of lifestyle-related bca risk factors, and, (3) predictors of prior mammography encounters within provincial screening guidelines. Variables examined included personal profiling, comorbidities, prior mammography uptake, lifestyle behaviours, socioeconomic status, health information sources, and willingness to discuss or implement lifestyle modifications, or endocrine therapy, or both. A logistic regression analysis examined associations with prior mammography encounters. Results: Of the 244 responses obtained during 1.5 months from women aged 40–49 years (n = 75) and 50–74 years (n = 169), 56% and 75% respectively sought or would prefer to receive health information from within, as opposed to outside, health care. Lifestyle-related bca risk factors were prevalent, and most women were willing to discuss or implement lifestyle modifications (93%) or endocrine therapy (67%). Of the two age groups, 49% and 93% respectively had previously undergone mammography within guidelines. Increasing age and marital status (single, separated, or divorced vs. married or partnered) were independent predictors of prior mammography encounters within guidelines for women 40–49 years of age; no independent predictors were observed in the older age group. Conclusions: Women attending msus and wwcs seem to largely adhere to mammography guidelines and appear motivated to engage in bca primary prevention strategies, including lifestyle modifications and endocrine therapy. Women’s views as observed in this study provide a rationale for the potential incorporation of bca risk assessment within the “mammogram point of care” to engage motivated women in bca primary prevention strategies.

Background Indoor tanning (IT) in fitness facilities encourages a misleading positive relationship between tanning and health. While IT in Canadian fitness facilities has been studied, American literature regarding this topic is lacking. Objectives The objective of this study is to evaluate availability, cost, reported risks, and adherence to legislation of IT in American fitness clubs. Methods This was a cross-sectional study utilizing a telephone questionnaire to survey gyms across all 50 states. The key term “fitness club” was searched in the Yellow Pages and 20 facilities from each state were randomly included into the study. Data were described descriptively and Pearson χ2 tests were used to compare IT prevalence and rates of noncompliance between population groups. Regression analysis examined potential relationship between cost and prevalence of IT. Results Of the 1000 fitness clubs surveyed, 44.4% (444/1000) offered IT. The overall noncompliance rates for age, rest time, and eye protection were 13.8% (54/390), 26.0% (20/77), and 27.8% (85/225), respectively. The most common risk reported was skin cancer (61.6%), but many facilities were unsure of risks (27.0%) and some described no risk associated with IT (3.2%). The average cost for monthly unlimited tanning was 33 ± 13.96 USD. A state-to-state comparison showed a statistically significant inverse relationship between mean cost and prevalence of IT ( P = .013, [ r]= −0.35). Conclusion The prevalence and noncompliance rates of IT in fitness clubs contradict the healthy lifestyles they are working to promote. To limit harms, legislations should be standardized and more strictly enforced. Additionally, public education on IT risks and the use of higher costs may help minimize IT use.

To review the status of community-based disordered eating and obesity prevention programs from 2014 to 2019. In the last 5 years, prevention programs have found success in intervening with children and parental figures in wellness centers, physical activity centers, childcare centers, workplaces, online, and over-the-phone through directly reducing disordered eating and obesity or by targeting risk factors of disordered eating and obesity. Community-based prevention programs for disordered eating and programs targeting both disordered eating and obesity were scarce, highlighting the critical need for the development of these programs. Qualities of the most effective programs were those in which parents and children were educated on physical activity and nutrition via multiple group-based sessions. Limitations of current prevention programs include few programs targeting high-risk populations, a dearth of trained community members serving as facilitators, inconsistent reporting of adherence rates, and few direct measurements of disordered eating and obesity, as well as few long-term follow-ups, precluding the evaluation of sustained effectiveness.

Summary Fitness instructors are at risk for phonotraumatic injury caused by a combination of occupation-driven environmental and physiologic factors. Objectives This study analyzes phonotraumatic injury in a cohort of fitness instructors to define the spectrum of disease, inform treatment, and make educational recommendations. Study design Retrospective chart review. Methods Fitness instructors seen over a 2-year period comprised the study population. Stroboscopic findings, recommended treatment modalities, and treatment outcomes, including postoperative recurrence (when applicable) were analyzed. Demographic information (gender, age), past medical history, VHI-10 scores, and concurrent relevant vocal demands (performer vs. non-performer) were reviewed. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses with Fisher's exact test and Wilcoxon rank sum test were used to determine statistical significance of various factors in relation to phonotraumatic injury and response to treatment. Cochran-Armitage trend tests were performed to analyze trends in injuries across fitness types in relation to increased vocal demand. Occupational concerns reported by subjects were analyzed descriptively. Results The subject cohort consisted of 24 fitness instructors (20F; 4M) who taught a variety of fitness methods. Thirteen subjects (54.2%) were diagnosed with pseudocysts (five unilateral, eight bilateral), five (20.8%) with bilateral midfold masses, five (20.8%) with polyps (four unilateral, one bilateral), and one (4.2%) with cyst. Fourteen subjects (58.3%) were prescribed medication (oral steroids, reflux medication, and/or allergy medication). All were referred for behavioral management. Ten (41.7%) chose surgical intervention after failure to return to satisfactory function with behavioral management; Four (40%) experienced postoperative lesion recurrence. There were no statistically significant findings in relation to demographic information, past medical history, concurrent relevant vocal demands, or occupational vocal demands with choice for surgery. Trend test analysis found that lesions that are typically more likely to require surgical intervention (eg, polyps) tended to be found more frequently as vocal demand increased. The primary occupational concerns reported by subjects were related to amplification (lack of amplification, inadequate amplification/amplification problems) and scheduling (too many consecutive classes without adequate breaks). Conclusion Fitness instructors are subject to a variety of phonotraumatic vocal fold injuries, nearly half which require surgical treatment. One in four recurs after such intervention. Instructors could benefit greatly from education on vocal health, strategies to improve and/or reduce voice use while in the fitness environment, and to help aid in recognizing early “red flags” for phonotraumatic injury. Occupational factors that place fitness instructors at risk for phonotraumatic injury (scheduling, environment, amplification) may be improved with education directed to studio owners and managers.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) become one of serious health issues globally including Thailand. The Wellness Center was introduced by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) in public hospitals since 2018 for both healthy people and people who at risk for NCDs. It incorporates risk evaluation, health assessment, health behaviors changing, health promotion and prevention, and health record system to follow participant's health status. This study aimed to evaluate the Wellness Centers in three public hospitals in Thailand using RE-AIM framework. Findings indicated that the Wellness Centers successful reached its target groups. Although sample size was small, the findings provided a positive outcome. Besides, the average weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) had reduced significantly after participants attending both services of Wellness Centers. However, there were some challenges from this program such as financial sustainability, performance indicator, and data system.

RESUMO Objetivou-se analisar os aspectos que influenciam na contratação e na manutenção do personal trainer, no ponto de vista dos clientes. Para a composição da pesquisa, usuários do serviço responderam questionários e entrevistas. Detectou-se que vários capitais estão em jogo, mas os clientes enfatizaram aspectos simbólicos relativos ao conhecimento, segurança e confiança no seu trabalho como diferenciais. Ao invés de valorizar o capital corporal, como apontado em outros estudos, a investigação observou a emergência do capital perfil como elemento de distinção. ABSTRACT The objective was to analyze the aspects that influence the hiring and maintenance of the personal trainer, from the clients' point of view. For the composition of the survey, service users answered questionnaires and interviews. It was detected that several capitals are at stake, but clients emphasized symbolic aspects related to knowledge, security and confidence in their work as differentials. Instead of valuing body capital, as pointed out in other studies, the investigation observed the emergence of profile capital as an element of distinction. RESUMEN El objetivo fue analizar los aspectos que influyen en la contratación y mantenimiento del entrenador personal, desde el punto de vista de los clientes. Para la composición de la encuesta, los usuarios del servicio respondieron cuestionarios y entrevistas. Se detectó que varios capitales están en juego, pero los clientes enfatizaron aspectos simbólicos relacionados con el conocimiento, la seguridad y la confianza en su trabajo como diferenciales. En lugar de valorar el capital corporal, como se señaló en otros estudios, la investigación observó el surgimiento del capital de perfil como elemento de distinción.

Objective: People with chronic and severe mental health issues die 15–25 years earlier than people in the general population – the main reason for this is poor physical health. An innovative treatment model for the management of primary care within a mental health service setting for ‘hard to engage’ patients is presented. Conclusion: The Wellness Clinic model provides the final level of care, where individuals who are at risk will receive a thorough physical health check and be referred for any additional tests and scans that are needed ensuring that any health issues are addressed. Ongoing monitoring and treatment occurs with the overall aim of reintegrating individuals back into the community through linking them in with community GPs.

Introduction We present the case of a patient with penetrating penile injury caused by splintering floorboards in a gymnasium. Case presentation A 24‐year‐old man was brought to the emergency department of our hospital because of an unintentional penetrating penile injury sustained while playing volleyball at a gymnasium. He dove into the wooden floor to fly‐receive the ball. When sliding with his abdomen on the floor, a wooden splinter from the floorboard stuck from the base of his penis to near the glans penis. The splinter was gently removed without bleeding under local anesthesia. Conclusions Splintering floorboards in gymnasiums can cause serious trauma, including penile injuries. Health‐care workers and users of public facilities, such as gymnasiums, should be aware of the accident risk associated with wooden floors.

Background The Affordable Care Act (ACA) increased funding for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). We defined FQHC service areas based on patient use and examined the characteristics of areas that gained FQHC access post-ACA. Methods We defined FQHC service areas using total patient counts by ZIP code from the Uniform Data System (UDS) and compared this approach with existing methods. We then compared the characteristics of ZIP codes included in Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/Ps) that gained access vs. MUA/P ZIP codes that did not gain access to FQHCs between 2011–15. Results FQHC service areas based on UDS data vs. Primary Care Service Areas or counties included a higher percentage of each FQHC’s patients (86% vs. 49% and 71%) and ZIP codes with greater use of FQHCs among low-income residents (29% vs. 22% and 22%), on average. MUA/Ps that gained FQHC access 2011–2015 included more poor, uninsured, publicly insured, and foreign-born residents than underserved areas that did not gain access, but were less likely to be rural (p Conclusions Measures of actual patient use provide a promising method of assessing FQHC service areas and access. Post-ACA funding, the FQHC program expanded access into areas that were more likely to have higher rates of poverty and uninsurance, which could help address disparities in access to care. Rural areas were less likely to gain access to FQHCs, underscoring the persistent challenges of providing care in these areas.

Introdução: Williams (1992) afirma que a nutrição é uma importante ferramenta dentro da prática do exercício físico. Quando orientada corretamente, pode reduzir a fadiga, prolongando o tempo de treino do atleta ou ainda melhorar o processo de recuperação pós-treino. Objetivo: tem por objetivo analisar em artigos, teses e livros, encontrados em sites acadêmicos, a caracterização do perfil e a rotina relacionados à utilização de suplementos alimentares em indivíduos do sexo masculino. Metodologia: Este trabalho trata-se de uma pesquisa bibliográfica. Resultados> Como resultados, identificou-se uma utilização significativa de suplementos alimentares, visando o principalmente o ganho estético (massa muscular), sendo o suplemento mais consumido correspondente ao que tem maior facilidade de ser adquirido e consumido, pela rápida absorção e efeitos. Resultados e discussões: No atual mundo globalizado, marcado pela influência da mídia na sociedade, o número de pessoas que buscam pesquisas relacionadas à estética vem crescendo exponencialmente. Portanto, de um modo geral, indivíduos com alto nível de escolaridade e recursos financeiros podem custear a prática de exercícios físicos e relacionados à alimentação saudável, na maioria das vezes possuem informações sobre nutrição e exercícios físicos. Conclusão: Através das considerações expostas, é possível afirmar que para a realização de uma pesquisa bibliográfica é imprescindível seguir por caminhos não aleatórios, uma vez que esse tipo de pesquisa requer alto grau de vigilância epistemológica, de observação e de cuidado na escolha e no encaminhamento dos procedimentos metodológicos Introduction: Williams (1992) states that nutrition is an important tool within the practice of physical exercise. When oriented correctly, it can reduce fatigue, prolong the athlete's training time or even improve the post-workout recovery process. Objective: It aims to analyze in articles, theses and books, found in academic websites, the characterization of the profile and the routine related to the use of dietary supplements in male individuals. Methodology: This work is a bibliographical research. Results> As a result, a significant use of dietary supplements was identified, mainly aimed at aesthetic gain (muscle mass), with the most consumed supplement corresponding to the one that is most easily acquired and consumed, due to its rapid absorption and effects. Results and discussions: In today's globalized world, marked by the influence of the media in society, the number of people seeking research related to aesthetics has been growing exponentially. Therefore, in general, individuals with a high level of education and financial resources can pay for the practice of physical exercises and exercises related to healthy eating, most of the time they have information about nutrition and physical exercises. Conclusion: Through the above considerations, it is possible to state that to carry out a bibliographical research it is to follow non-random paths, since this type of research requires a high degree of epistemological vigilance, observation and care in choosing and forwarding the methodological procedures Introducción: Williams (1992) afirma que la nutrición es una herramienta importante dentro de la práctica del ejercicio físico. Orientado correctamente, puede reducir la fatiga, prolongar el tiempo de entrenamiento del atleta o incluso mejorar el proceso de recuperación post-entrenamiento. Objetivo: Tiene como objetivo analizar en artículos, tesis y libros, encontrados en sitios web académicos, la caracterización del perfil y la rutina relacionada con el uso de suplementos dietéticos en individuos del sexo masculino. Metodología: Este trabajo es una investigación bibliográfica. Resultados> Como resultado se identificó un uso significativo de suplementos dietéticos, principalmente dirigidos a la ganancia estética (masa muscular), correspondiendo el suplemento más consumido al de más fácil adquisición y consumo, por su rápida absorción y efectos. Resultados y discusiones: En el mundo globalizado de hoy, marcado por la influencia de los medios de comunicación en la sociedad, el número de personas que buscan investigaciones relacionadas con la estética ha ido creciendo exponencialmente. Por lo tanto, en general, las personas con un alto nivel de educación y recursos económicos pueden pagar la práctica de ejercicios físicos y ejercicios relacionados con la alimentación saludable, la mayoría de las veces tienen información sobre nutrición y ejercicios físicos. Conclusión: A través de las consideraciones anteriores, es posible afirmar que realizar una investigación bibliográfica es seguir caminos no aleatorios, ya que este tipo de investigación requiere un alto grado de vigilancia epistemológica, observación y cuidado en la elección y encaminamiento de los métodos metodológicos. Procedimientos

IntroductionAlthough evidence-based guidelines recommend non-pharmacologic treatments as first-line care for chronic low back pain (LBP), uptake has been limited, particularly in rural, low-income and ethnically diverse communities. The BeatPain study will evaluate the implementation and compare the effectiveness of two strategies to provide non-pharmacologic treatment for chronic LBP. The study will use telehealth to overcome access barriers for persons receiving care in federally qualified health centres (FQHCs) in the state of Utah.Methods and analysisBeatPain Utah is a pragmatic randomised clinical trial with a hybrid type I design investigating different strategies to provide non-pharmacologic care for adults with chronic LBP seen in Utah FQHCs. The intervention strategies include a brief pain consult (BPC) and telehealth physical therapy (PT) component provided using either an adaptive or sequenced delivery strategy across two 12-week treatment phases. Interventions are provided via telehealth by centrally located physical therapists. The sequenced delivery strategy provides the BPC, followed by telehealth PT in the first 12 weeks for all patients. The adaptive strategy uses a stepped care approach and provides the BPC in the first 12 weeks and telehealth PT to patients who are non-responders to the BPC component. We will recruit 500 English-speaking or Spanish-speaking participants who will be individually randomised with 1:1 allocation. The primary outcome is the Pain, Enjoyment and General Activity measure of pain impact with secondary outcomes including the additional pain assessment domains specified by the National Institutes (NIH) of Health Helping to End Addiction Long Initiative and implementation measures. Analyses of primary and secondary measures of effectiveness will be performed under longitudinal mixed effect models across assessments at baseline, and at 12, 26 and 52 weeks follow-ups.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval for the study was obtained from the University of Utah Institutional Review Board. On completion, study data will be made available in compliance with NIH data sharing policies.Trial registration numberNCT04923334.

Purpose To assess eating behavior and associated factors in male fitness-center attendees. Methods An anonymous questionnaire was administered to male fitness center members of Innsbruck (Austria), aged 18–80 years to assess socio-demographic features, weight history, sports activity, eating behavior including disordered eating based on the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and DSM-5 key symptoms for eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, binge eating, bulimia nervosa, purging disorder) and body image. Three age groups (younger—middle-aged—older men) were compared regarding the variables described above. Results A total of 307 men included displayed high rates of disordered eating as described by EDE-Q cutoff scores (5–11%) as well as by DSM-5 eating disorder symptoms (10%). While EDE-Q cutoff scores did not differentiate between the groups, the prevalences of DSM-5 eating disorder symptoms yielded significant differences indicating a clear decrease with increasing age. Binge eating and bulimic symptoms with excessive exercising as the purging method were the most often reported symptoms. Conclusion Although described as typically female, disordered eating does occur in male fitness-gym attendees across all ages. The older the men, the less prevalent are the symptoms. Awareness of disordered eating and possible negative effects need to be addressed for attendees and trainers of the gym. Level of evidence V—descriptive survey study.

Coronavirus 2019 (COVID‐19) disease has been a public health emergency of international concern with millions of confirmed cases globally. Closed environments with reduced ventilation contribute to the spread of COVID‐19, including superspreading events. Exercising in closed places further increases the risk for transmission. Therefore, many fitness facilities were closed as part of mandated shutdowns early in the pandemic. Evidence‐based safety protocols have now emerged and substantially reduce the risk of transmission. We report three positive cases of SARS‐CoV‐2 identified at a Dojo exercise facility in Manlius, NY, at three distinct time points. All cases were present in the Dojo 2 days prior to symptoms, a time period considered to be highly infectious. The safety protocols included universal mask wearing (no valves), multiple high‐efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, and reduced capacity which resulted in no known spread of COVID‐19., Over a time period between October 2020 and December 2020, three different cases (one teen, one adult, and one child) were identified in a Dojo in Manlius, NY with safety protocols in place. The positive cases occurred without overlap and there was no indication of virus transmission in the exercise facility. More importantly, all three individuals with positive results were in the Dojo practicing 2 days before the occurrence of symptoms, a time period of peak viral load of SARS‐CoV‐2, suggesting the masks, increased ventilation, and social distancing implemented were successful.

The Minnesota Department of Health investigated a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak at a fitness center in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Twenty-three severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections (5 employees and 18 members) were identified. An epidemiological investigation supported by whole genome sequencing demonstrated that transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurred at the fitness center despite following recommended prevention strategies.

Few anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) users disclose their performance enhancing drug (PED) use with their healthcare providers. AAS users practice polypharmacy with prescription medications to counter adverse effects of AAS, to further their muscular gains, or to lose weight.To compare and contrast AAS using and non-AAS using gym clients regarding PED use, in particular prescription drugs.The CASTRO (Castro Anabolic Steroid Research Observation) study was a 108-item cross-sectional survey that took place at four gyms in San Francisco, California between August 2015 and January 2016. 40 AAS users and 179 non-AAS users completed the survey.The prevalence of AAS use in the study cohort was 18.3%. AAS users reported using a greater number of total PEDs (8.7 ± 4.2 vs. 3.7 ± 2.1, p 0.001) than non-AAS users. AAS users were more likely to misuse the following prescription drugs: antiestrogens (tamoxifen, anastrazole), fertility agents (clomiphene, human chorionic gonadotropin), erectile dysfunction drugs (tadalafil, sildenafil), anabolic drugs (clenbuterol, recombinant human growth hormone), and weight loss drugs (liothyronine).AAS users practice polypharmacy and misuse multiple prescription drugs. These findings allow researchers and clinicians to be more knowledgeable and to anticipate potential misuse of prescription medications that traditionally are not thought to be abused.

The current study investigated whether a single bout of concurrent exercise (Ex Rx) at Third Age Academies (TAAs) in Rio de Janeiro City meets the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines for energy cost and metabolic intensity in older adults. Nine subjects (5 males and 4 females, 63–80 years of age) visited the laboratory for clinical screening and for anthropometrical, resting, and maximal oxygen uptake assessments. Thereafter, subjects performed an Ex Rx circuit consisting of a single circuit alternating aerobic and resistance exercises with outdoor exercise equipment using body mass as the load (total of 9 exercises, 1–2 sets of 15 repetitions). Expired gases were collected via a metabolic cart during exercise bouts. The mean observed energy cost value of 169.1 kcal was slightly greater than the minimum value of 150 kcal reported in the ACSM guidelines (p = 0.018). Like energy cost, all the intensity markers adopted to analyze the physiological strain induced by the Ex Rx circuit significantly exceeded their reference values for moderate intensity (reference values: 3.2 METs (mean observed value = 4.6 METs, p = 0.002); 40% of oxygen uptake reserve (mean observed value = 51.5%, p = 0.040); 40% of heart rate reserve (mean observed value = 64.1%, p < 0.001)), according to the ACSM guidelines. In conclusion, a single bout of Ex Rx circuit performed at TAAs in Rio de Janeiro City was able to induce a physiological strain (i.e., energy cost and intensity) compatible with ACSM recommendations for eliciting health benefits among older adults.

Parents play an essential role in the transition from separate physical activity programs to inclusive settings for their children. The purpose of this study was to explore experiences of parents as they anticipate and prepare for their children experiencing disability to transition, understand strategies used to address transition, and gain insights into the supports important to families during transition. Using an interpretative phenomenological analysis research approach, semistructured one-on-one interviews were conducted with 8 parents whose children were undergoing the transition from separate to inclusive community fitness contexts. Four themes described the experiences of parents as they anticipated, prepared for, and supported their child to transition: My child may be ready, but I am not; fear of outside judgment; playing by their rules; and reframing our thinking. Using Schlossberg's model, the tensions parents faced as they negotiated new roles, relationships, routines, and assumptions as they moved through the transition process were uncovered. The parents experienced transition alongside their children, providing insights for fitness and health-promotion professionals. Without preparation for transition, apprehensions and hesitancy may postpone or prevent their children's transition to community programs.

Resumo Os sentidos e os significados atribuídos ao corpo podem variar de acordo com o meio socioeconômico e cultural. Assim, objetiva-se investigar e comparar como o profissional de Educação Física lida com a pluralidade de concepções de corpo que atravessam as academias de ginástica de diferentes portes e localidades do Rio de Janeiro. Por meio de entrevistas etnográficas feitas com 29 profissionais, foram identificadas peculiaridades acerca dos usos do corpo em distintas academias de ginástica, conforme o contexto social. Tais aspectos são potencialmente importantes para se pensar a intervenção do profissional de Educação Física. Abstract Representations and senses attributed to the body could vary due to social and cultural conditions. The aim of this paper is to investigate and to compare how Physical Education professional deals with different body conceptions. Ethnographic interviews were applied to 29 professionals who worked in fitness centers of different sizes and in a variety of locals in Rio de Janeiro. Results indicated singularities according to the different social contexts that must be considered by Physical Education professionals according to the public. Resumen Las representaciones y los significados atribuidos al cuerpo pueden variar de acuerdo con el entorno social, económico y cultural. El objetivo del trabajo fue analizar y comparar cómo el profesional de educación física lidia con la amplia variedad de concepciones del cuerpo que se encuentran los gimnasios de diferentes tamaños y localidades de Rio de Janeiro. A través de entrevistas etnográficas feits a 29 profesionales, se identificaron peculiaridades acerca de los usos del cuerpo en diferentes gimnasios, de acuerdo con el contexto social. El profesional de educación física debe tener en cuenta estos aspectos potencialmente importantes en su intervención.

Background Despite reforming health policies to create more enabling environments, insufficient physical activity in Sri Lanka remains a major public health issue. Socio-culture specific determinants underlying the physical activity of adults living in such environments need to be identified. The aim of this study was to explore the barriers and facilitators for physical activity, as perceived by adult urban dwellers in activity-friendly environments in Colombo District, Sri Lanka. Methods A qualitative study using in-depth interviews was conducted among adults aged 20–60 years living in an urban area which has been recently re-designed for recreational and rejuvenating purposes in Sri Lanka. Recruitment targeted varying socio-economic status and risk of non-communicable diseases; and was continued until the data saturation point was reached. Interviews were conducted in homes, primary healthcare units and fitness centres, and were transcribed verbatim and analysed using framework analysis. Results A total of 31 eligible and consenting adults were interviewed. Of the reported barriers to physical activity, lack of time was very common. Other frequently reported barriers included unpleasant experiences following exercise and misconceptions about exercise, whereas physical environmental factors, weather and road safety were reported less frequently. All participants reported at least one facilitator for engaging in exercise. Expectations of preventing diseases, improving health, physical fitness, psycho-social wellbeing, optimising body functions and increasing lifespan were frequently cited as reasons to be active, while social factors such as positive attitudes of family members and the influence of peers were found to be motivating. Conclusions The study showed that while participants valued the health benefits of physical activity and refurbished activity-friendly urban environments, these were not sufficient to support them to overcome key perceived barriers to being physically active.

The increase in the average age of our society represents a growing medical and social problem, which requires concentration on the issue concerning balance disorders. The aquatic environment has a number of complex properties that have miscellaneous effects on the human body. In the light of the above, water is becoming an ideal environment to learn correct neuromuscular communication, and a properly prepared training session in water helps to practice balance and movement coordination. The objective of the study was to assess the impact of rehabilitation in the aquatic environment on patients’ balance and compare the results obtained with patients who received rehabilitation at a gym. The study was carried out among patients hospitalised in the “Krzeszowice” Rehabilitation Centre. It encompassed 137 patients, randomly assigned to either the study group (the aquatic environment) or the control group (the gym). The preliminary examination included general medical history and a test on the stabilometric platform. The patients attended training sessions for 4 weeks, 5 times a week for 30 minutes. It was a single-blinded study wherein the authors did not know which group a given patient had been assigned to. Upon completion of a monthly therapy, the stabilometric test was carried out again. The study revealed that the patients from both groups experienced a significant improvement in balance. However, the improvement was slightly greater in those exercising in the pool. Physiotherapy in the aquatic environment makes a greater contribution to the improvement of body balance compared to physical exercises performed at a gym.

Objectives Approximately 40% of new fitness club (FC) members drop out within the first six months; however, the factors associated with FC membership resignation are largely unknown. This study aimed to identify the association between psychological attitudes toward exercise and FC membership resignation.Methods We conducted a cohort study enrolling participants from 17 FCs. All individuals who became members at FCs between April 1st, 2015 and March 31st, 2016 (n=5,421) were invited to participate in the study, and those who agreed to participate completed a self-administered baseline questionnaire (n=2,934). We excluded participants aged20 years (n=167) and those with missing values (n=702). Psychological factors were evaluated using the short version of the perceived benefit and barriers to exercise scale. Participants were followed until September 30th, 2016, at which time we assessed the FC membership drop-out rate. Cox proportional-hazards models were used to evaluate the association between perceived benefits/barriers of exercise and FC membership resignation. Sub-analyses were then conducted, stratifying by gender and age group.Results A total of 2,065 participants were included in the analyses. The mean (standard deviation) age was 39.0 (15.0) years and 28.8% were male. Over 10.1 (4.4) months of newly-joined member follow-up, the FC membership drop-out rate was 24.6 instances per 1000 person-months. Multivariable analyses revealed no significant factors associated with FC membership drop-out. However, men aged 40-59 years who had a high physical benefit score and who perceived improving physical fitness as a benefit, were less likely to resign their memberships (hazard ratio [HR], 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72 [0.52-1.00]). However, women aged40 years with a high discomfort score and who saw discomfort as a barrier were more likely to resign membership (HR, 1.10 [1.01-1.19]). Women aged 40-59 years with high social benefit scores and who perceived social interaction as a benefit were less likely to resign their memberships, as were women with higher lack of motivation to exercise scores and who perceived lack of motivation as a barrier to exercise (HR for social benefit, 0.84 [0.74-0.97]; HR for lack of motivation, 0.85 [0.73-0.99]). Among both male and female participants aged ≥60 years, higher self-improvement scores, indicating that peer recognition was perceived as a benefit of exercise, was associated with higher HR for drop-out (men, 2.52 [1.10-5.81]; women, 1.31 [1.00-1.72]).Conclusions The results revealed gender and age differences in the association between the perceived benefits/barriers of exercise and FC membership dropout. Implementing programs based on enrollees' characteristics and psychological factors may contribute to preventing FC dropout in the future.

This study reported that on 2 July, 2020, the Department of Health in Hawaii notified the public that a fitness instructor had signs and symptoms of COVID-19, which is a coronavirus infection caused by SARS-CoV-2. The instructor was one of the individuals who became infected with COVID-19 before the onset of symptoms. The average attack rate in classes taught by the instructors was 95% or less of 21 students. Among the 21 primary cases, 20% had symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 illness. It was not required for fitness facilities to require masks. The Hawaii Department of Health placed individuals with exposure to instructors in different facilities under quarantine. Those with exposure to the most recent symptom were not quarantined. Facility Y placed barriers between stationary bikes and the room. It also instituted a single-direction foot traffic flow. During this investigation, participants were exposed to fitness instructors who had taught before their symptoms onset. Although they were most likely infected, the transmission rate was highest among the instructors on the day of their symptoms. Not wearing face masks and prolonged close contact were identified as factors that led to the transmission. During this SARS-CoV-2 community transmission, fitness facilities should implement effective ventilation and other administrative controls to reduce transmission. Physical distancing and wearing a mask are also important to prevent hand-washing. The CDC's guidance for fitness centers states that the use of exercise equipment or activities that are entirely outdoors could reduce the risk of respiratory illness transmission among users. An additional set of administrative controls includes modifying fitness areas to provide a distance between patrons and staff members. Also, implementing visual cues to make foot traffic flow through the facility easier.

Background: Social isolation and social interaction have been suggested to be associated with Alzheimer’s disease. However, the causality cannot be unambiguously assessed as traditional epidemiological methods are easily subject to unmeasured confounders and potential bias. Objective: To examine bidirectional relationships between social isolation, social interaction, and Alzheimer’s disease using Mendelian randomization method for assessing potential causal inference. Methods: This bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study used independent genetic variants associated with social isolation and social interaction (n = 302,567–487,647), and Alzheimer’s disease (n = 455,258). MR analyses were performed using the inverse-variance-weighted (IVW) as the main MR analytical method to estimate the causal effect. For sensitivity analyses, we applied weighted median, MR Egger to further assess the credibility of the causal effect. Results: Of the five types of social engagement examined in our study, only one showed evidence of an association with the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Attendance at a gym or sports club (IVW OR per SD change: 0.670; 95% CI: 0.463–0.970; p = 0.034) was inversely associated with the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. We also found that AD may reduce the attendance at religious group (IVW OR per SD change: 1.017; 95% CI: 1.005–1.030; p = 0.004). Conclusion: This study suggests that regular attendance at a gym or sports club is causally associated with reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Further studies are warranted to elucidate potential mechanisms.

Substantial cross-sectional evidence and limited longitudinal research indicates that the availability of recreational facilities (e.g., parks, fitness centres) is associated with physical activity participation. However, few intervention trials have investigated how recreational infrastructure can be used to reduce inactivity levels in communities. The MOVE Frankston study aimed to assess the impact of low intensity strategies to promote use of a multi-purpose leisure and aquatic centre in a socioeconomically diverse, metropolitan community. This randomised controlled trial of two years’ duration compared public awareness raising (control condition) with two interventions: mailed information about the centre and a free entry pass (I-O); and this minimal intervention supplemented by customer relations management support through telephone contact, mailed promotional materials and additional incentives (I+S). Participants (n = 1320) were inactive adults living in the City of Frankston, Melbourne Australia. There were 928 people (70.3%) followed up at 12 months (61.2% female, 52% ≥55 yrs). Compared with controls, attendance at the Centre once or more was higher in both the I-O (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.28–2.50) and I+S groups (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.03–2.07). The proportion of people using the centre weekly did not differ by group. The odds of being in contemplation or preparation to use the Centre were higher in both the I-O (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.28–2.42) and I+S groups (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.07–2.06). Total physical activity and related social and cognitive factors did not differ between the groups. The findings show that the low intensity promotional strategies prompted occasional attendance and increased readiness to use this recreational facility, a level of behaviour change unlikely to reduce non-communicable disease risk. It is recommended that more frequent customer relations contact, and involvement of healthcare providers, be tested as strategies to encourage inactive adults to take up physical activity opportunities at recreational facilities of this type.

The aim of this longitudinal study was to examine the effect of COVID-19 quarantines on morbid exercise, eating, and body image behaviours pre vs post COVID-19 lockdown. Participants (n=319; mean age 36.77 SD=11.75; 84% female) were recruited to complete a battery of questions with 14 month follow-up. Exercise addiction scores were significantly lower post-lockdown; eating disorder symptomology scores were significantly higher post-COVID-19 lockdown; and leisure-time exercise significantly increased post-COVID-19 lockdown. No differences in body dysmorphic disorder were found. If future lockdowns are enforced, practitioners working with people with suspected morbid eating habits should monitor this closely.

The understanding of occupancy patterns has been identified as a key contributor to achieve improvements in energy efficiency in buildings since occupancy information can benefit different systems, such as HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioners), lighting, security, and emergency. This has meant that in the past decade, researchers have focused on improving the precision of occupancy estimation in enclosed spaces. Although several works have been done, one of the less addressed issues, regarding occupancy research, has been the availability of data for contrasting experimental results. Therefore, the main contributions of this work are: (1) the generation of two robust datasets gathered in enclosed spaces (a fitness gym and a living room) labeled with occupancy levels, and (2) the evaluation of three Machine Learning algorithms using different temporal resolutions. The results show that the prediction of 3&ndash, 4 occupancy levels using the temperature, humidity, and pressure values provides an accuracy of at least 97%.

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) has been consistently linked with eating disorders, however studies that stratify associations between BDD in subjects with and without eating disorder symptomology are sparse. It was, therefore, the aim of this study to assess correlates of BDD (including social media use, motivations for exercise, exercise addiction, and sexuality) stratified by eating disorder symptomology.Cross-sectional study of 1665 health club users recruited online completed a battery of surveys. BDD prevalence rates were calculated and logistic regression models were created in two sub-samples: indicated or no-indicated eating disorder symptomology.The key findings showed the prevalence of BDD in participants with indicated-eating disorder symptomology was significantly higher than in participants without indicated-eating disorder symptomology, yielding an odds ratio of 12.23. Furthermore, several correlates were associated with BDD only participants with an absence of eating disorder symptomology (gender, BMI, exercise addiction, exercising for mood improvement, attractiveness and tone), with others being significantly associated with BDD in participants in the presence of indicated eating disorders symptomology (exercising for health and enjoyment, relationship status, and ethnicity).This study provides more evidence of the complex relationship that exists between BDD and eating disorders. Furthermore, it is recommended that practitioners working with BDD subjects should screen for eating disorders due to the high morbidity associated with eating disorders.Level III: case-control analytic study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated several controversies in the health area, particularly regarding social isolation measures, widely perceived as being one of the most effective strategies to reduce the spread of the virus. The Physical Education (PE) area became involved in these discussions, through contradictory positions of professionals, scientific societies and class entities regarding the reopening of fitness centers during the pandemic. We understand that some of these discussions revealed important weaknesses in relation to the approach to basic health knowledge, such as those related to epidemiology and public health measures. We seek in this essay, without the intention of exhausting the subject or performing an academic prescription, to support our position regarding the urgency of the approach of PE training within the field of Public Health, as well as presenting some proposals for this approach to effectively occur. We advocate training that favors a broader view of health, that enables professionals in the field to understand the potential relationship between PE and health, but at the same time recognize that physical activity is not a panacea and that human health has many others determinants and conditions.

Objectives Comprehensive community sports clubs (CCSCs), of which more than 3,500 exist in Japan, have the potential to contribute to healthy aging in older adults, but their effect on this population has not, thus far, been well explored. This study aimed to investigate the current environment affecting seniors at Japanese CCSCs and to examine issues identified by the analysis.Methods Data were collected from the FY 2016 Survey Results on Comprehensive Community Sports Clubs, conducted by the Japan Sports Agency. A total of 2,444 clubs were divided equally into four groups after calculating the proportion of senior members (ages 60 and over) per total number of members in each club. The groups were then ranked from lowest to highest according to proportion of senior members: Groups A, B, C and D. Additionally, the 2,444 clubs were classified into six regions according to location. Group designation (A to D) and regional classification were used as independent variables. The dependent variables were categorized as follows: basic information (e.g. total number of members), crisis management and accident prevention measures (13 specific items in total), and each club's compliance with legal obligations.Results Study results revealed that Group D, containing the highest proportion of senior members, had fewer total members, lower monthly membership fees, lower annual club income, less annual club budget apportioned to each member, and fewer instructors than other groups. Regarding crisis management and accident prevention measures, Group D had lower completion rates on 6 items (health certificate submissions, liability insurance enrollment, safety workshop implementation, heatstroke prevention, liaison with healthcare professionals, and AED availability). Group D also showed a lower rate of compliance with legal obligations than other groups. In comparisons between the six regions, the median proportion of senior members was found to be highest in Chugoku-Shikoku and lowest in Chubu, although each median ranged from only 20% to 30%. Regarding crisis management and accident prevention measures, clubs in Kanto region had the highest completion rates for 10 items, whereas clubs in Kinki region had the lowest completion rates for 8 items.Conclusion The CCSCs with higher proportions of senior members had smaller budgets, fewer members and staff, and delayed implementation of crisis management and accident prevention measures. Regional disparities were also observed both in club scale and management of medical and safety issues. Although our study identified several shortcomings in this area, medical and safety management implementation is an important consideration for CCSCs with high proportions of senior members, as these members are at higher risk for disease and frailty. Affected CCSCs and relevant authorities should therefore acknowledge and address this issue cooperatively.