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(1) Background: This study explores the potential energy expenditure associated with participation in after-school sports activities among primary school children. (2) Methods: The study involved 129 children age (11.35 ± 0.55 years) recruited from eight different public after-school sport programs. (3) Results: Data analyses revealed significant differences between the eight sports in total calories per session, calories per minute, and METs (p < 0.05). All sports showed higher energy expenditure compared to chess (p < 0.05), with soccer and rugby exhibiting the highest energy expenditure per session. Team sports showed elevated energy consumption per session (p < 0.01, r > 0.30), calories per minute (p = 0.01, r > 0.40), and METs (p < 0.01, r > 0.40) in comparison with individual sports. (4) Conclusions: These findings enhance our understanding of the energy expenditure observed in primary school children following various after-school sports activities. The results indicate that team sports, in particular, are pivotal in elevating physical activity levels, thereby playing an essential role in fostering healthier lifestyles among children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

• In more than 30,000 adults with type 2 diabetes from the UK and China, leisure-time physical activity (PA) at levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) was not convincingly associated with lower mortality. • Very high levels of leisure-time PA were needed to lower the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. • No universal minimal effective dose or maximal achievable risk reduction could be identified because of cohort and outcome heterogeneity. • Adults with type 2 diabetes may need leisure-time PA above current WHO recommended levels to lower their risk of mortality and cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to quantify the dose–response association and the minimal effective dose of leisure-time physical activity (PA) to prevent mortality and cardiovascular disease in adults with type 2 diabetes. Cross-country comparison of 2 prospective cohort studies including 14,913 and 17,457 population-based adults with type 2 diabetes from the UK and China. Baseline leisure-time PA was self-reported and categorized by metabolic equivalent hours per week (MET-h/week) according to World Health Organization recommendations: none, below recommendation (>0–7.49 MET-h/week); at recommended level (7.5–14.9 MET-h/week); above recommendation (≥15 MET-h/week). Mortality and cardiovascular disease data were obtained from national registries. During a median follow-up of 12.4 and 9.7 years, in the UK and China cohorts, repectively, higher levels of leisure-time PA were inversely associated with all-cause (1571 and 2351 events) and cardiovascular mortality (392 and 1060 events), mostly consistent with a linear dose–response relationship. PA below, at, and above recommendations, compared with no activity, yielded all-cause mortality hazard ratios of 0.94 (95% confidence interval (95%CI): 0.79–1.12), 0.90 (95%CI: 0.74–1.10), and 0.85 (95%CI: 0.70–1.02) in British adults and 0.87 (95%CI: 0.68–1.10), 0.88 (95%CI: 0.74–1.03), and 0.77 (95%CI: 0.70–0.85) in Chinese adults. Associations with cardiovascular mortality were more pronounced in British adults (0.80 (95%CI: 0.58–1.11), 0.75 (95%CI: 0.52–1.09), and 0.69 (95%CI: 0.48–0.97)) but less pronounced in Chinese adults (1.06 (95%CI: 0.76–1.47), 1.01 (95%CI: 0.80–1.28), and 0.79 (95%CI: 0.69–0.92)). PA at recommended levels was not associated with lower rates of major adverse cardiovascular events (2345 and 4458 events). Leisure-time PA at the recommended levels was not convincingly associated with lower mortality and had no association with risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in British or Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes. Leisure-time PA above current recommendations may be needed to prevent cardiovascular disease and premature mortality in adults with type 2 diabetes. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Physical activity is beneficially associated with longevity, non-communicable diseases, and mental health. • Causal links are supported by randomized controlled trials (RCTs), but RCTs are limited by low exposure contrasts, healthy volunteer biases, and struggle to capture real-world complexity. • Studies with device-measured physical activity suggest health benefits from light, moderate, and vigorous intensities. • More pronounced health benefits are observed for vigorous-intensity physical activity at lower volumes, although the specific contributions to achieving equivalent health benefits across intensities remain to be established. • Future guidelines may emphasize the importance of vigorous-intensity activity and incorporate other metrics like steps per day to ease communication and assessment. Physical activity is consistently associated with reduced mortality, decreased risk for non-communicable diseases, and improved mental health in observational studies. Randomized controlled trials and observational Mendelian randomization studies support causal links between physical activity and health outcomes. However, the scarcity of evidence from randomized controlled trials, along with their inherent challenges like exposure contrasts, healthy volunteer biases, loss to follow-up, and limited real-world dose–response data, warrants a comprehensive approach. This review advocates synthesizing insights from diverse study designs to better understand the causal relationship between physical activity, mortality risk, and other health outcomes. Additionally, it summarizes recent research since the publication of current physical activity recommendations. Novel observational studies utilizing device-measured physical activity underscore the importance of every minute of activity and suggest that all intensity levels confer health benefits, with vigorous-intensity potentially requiring lower volumes for substantial benefits. Future guidelines, informed by device-measured physical activity studies, may offer refined age-specific recommendations, emphasize vigorous-intensity physical activity, and include daily step counts as a simple, easily assessable metric using commercial wearables. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine dose-response associations, including the minimal effective level, between leisure-time physical activity and risk of incident neuropathy, nephropathy, and retinopathy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This cohort study included 18,092 individuals with type 2 diabetes from the UK Biobank. Self-reported leisure-time physical activity was converted into MET-hours per week. Participants were categorized into no physical activity (0 MET-h/week), below recommendations (0–7.49 MET-h/week), at recommendations (7.5–14.9 MET-h/week), and above recommendations (≥15 MET-h/week). Microvascular complications were identified from hospital inpatient records using diagnosis codes. We used Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to calculate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and restricted cubic splines to identify the minimal effective level of physical activity. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 12.1 years, 672 individuals (3.7%) were diagnosed with neuropathy, 1,839 (10.2%) with nephropathy, and 2,099 (11.7%) with retinopathy. Any level of physical activity was associated with a lower risk of neuropathy and nephropathy but not retinopathy. Compared with those reporting no physical activity, the aHR of neuropathy was 0.71 (95% CI 0.53, 0.90) below recommendations, 0.73 (0.56, 0.96) at recommendations, and 0.67 (0.52, 0.87) above recommendations. Corresponding aHRs for nephropathy were 0.79 (0.68, 0.92), 0.80 (0.67, 0.95), and 0.80 (0.68, 0.95). The association with retinopathy was weaker, with aHRs of 0.91 (0.78, 1.06), 0.91 (0.77, 1.08), and 0.98 (0.84, 1.15), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Any level of leisure-time physical activity was associated with a lower risk of neuropathy and nephropathy but not retinopathy in individuals with type 2 diabetes. For both neuropathy and nephropathy, the minimal effective physical activity level may correspond to <1.5 h of walking per week. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The promotion of physical activity among imprisoned people is a public health strategy that could help to improve the health status of this collective. This systematic review is aimed at reviewing the scientific evidence regarding the effects of exercise training programs performed by inmates. Methods: A systematic search for randomized controlled trials aimed at identifying the characteristics and effects of prison-based exercise training programs on imprisoned people was carried through MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, and Scopus. Results: A total of 11 randomized controlled studies were selected, and the methodological quality of these was acceptable according to the Downs and Black scale. The proposed interventions were mainly based on the performance of aerobic or combined exercise training programs. Generally, the participants were healthy men who were imprisoned for at least 2 months and up to 15 years. Ten out of the 11 studies reported significant changes on physical and mental health-related variables, after the intervention took place. Conclusion: These findings suggest that prison-based exercise programs constitute a feasible and useful strategy for improving the physical and mental health status of prisoners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to analyse the available scientific evidence on the effects of exercise programs on sleep quality in autism spectrum condition. Studies were searched in five electronic databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCOhost Environment Complete, Dialnet Plus and Scopus) until February 2024 (updated in August 2024). A total of ten randomized clinical trials were included. The pooled mean difference for subjective sleep duration (Child's Sleep Habits Questionnaire [CSHQ] sub-scale), total CSHQ score, objective sleep duration and objective efficiency were − 1.62 points (95 % confidence interval [CI] − 2.34 to − 0.91; p < 0.001), −9.43 points (95 % CI: −16.89 to −1.97, p < 0.001), 0.42 h (95 % CI: 0.05–0.80, p = 0.03) and 9.91 % (95 % CI: 5.04–14.78, p < 0.001), respectively. In conclusion, exercise can serve as an adjunct therapy for managing sleep-related problems among children on the autism spectrum. • The findings demonstrated a notable improvement in the participants' subjective sleep status resulting from the practice of exercise. • Physical activity serves as an effective non-pharmacological method for enhancing sleep efficiency. • Exercise enhances both the duration and objective efficiency of sleep in autism spectrum condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

Background: Regular stair climbing has the potential to lower the risk of premature death, but current evidence is scarce. We aimed to examine whether daily stair climbing is associated with lower risk of all‐cause, cancer, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Methods: Using the UK Biobank cohort, we extracted information of self‐reported daily flights of stairs climbed at home, categorized as none, 1 to 5, 6 to 10, 11 to 15, and ≥16 flights per day. Associations between flights of stair climbed per day and mortality were examined as hazard ratios (HRs) from Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for demographic, clinical, and behavioural covariates including time spent in other physical activities. We calculated the restricted mean survival time as an absolute measure of association. The risk of residual confounding was examined using propensity score matching and by using lung cancer as negative control outcome. Participants were followed from baseline (2006–2010) through 31 March 2020. Results: A total of 280 423 participants (median follow‐up 11.1 years, during which 9445 deaths occurred) were included. Compared with not climbing any stairs, climbing more than five flights of stairs at home per day was associated with lower risk of premature mortality. The lowest risk was found for those climbing 6–10 flights per day: 0.91; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.85, 0.98, translated to approximately 44 to 55 days of additional survival. A similar pattern was found after applying propensity score matching and for cancer mortality (6–10 flights per day HR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.80, 0.97), but not for CVD mortality (6–10 flights per day HR: 1.08; 95% CI: 0.91, 1.29). The association between stair climbing and lung cancer was similar to that of all‐cause mortality. Conclusions: Climbing more than five flights of stairs at home per day was associated with a lower risk of all‐cause and cancer mortality, but not CVD mortality, compared with those who did not take the stairs. The magnitude of the association was small and appeared susceptible to residual confounding. It is unlikely that at‐home stair climbing is sufficient physical activity stimuli to lower the risk of premature mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]