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Introduction: Latino children are the fastest growing population of obese children in the United States, the most obese group of children by race and a significant disparity in childhood obesity. Extended family, often grandparents, are traditionally involved in childcare in Latino family structure, yet their influence on family health behaviors is unclear. This study explored grandparent involvement in the care of Latino children in South Texas and their possible influence on child body mass index (BMI) and family health behaviors to determine if they present an opportunity to improve child obesity treatment plans. Methods: Partnering with the local school district, we surveyed parents (N = 174) and grandparents (TV = 108) of 188 Latino, primary school-age children regarding grandparent care and family health behaviors. We weighed, measured, and interviewed children regarding grandparent care and their own health behaviors. Results: All groups exceeded state and national obesity rates, with almost half the children in overweight or obese categories. Grandparents were routinely present in 30%-67% of the children sampled, dependent on respondent group. We found no significant relationship between grandparent involvement and child BMI, however grandparent cohabitation with the family was associated with less fast-food consumption by children (p = .001) and parents (p = .006) and healthier diet scores for children (p = .008) and grandparents (p = .004). More frequent exercise by parents (r = .33, p = .001) and grandparents (r = .25, p = .012) was associated with more frequent exercise by children. Discussion: This study enhances understanding of grandparent involvement in the care of Latino children and illuminates opportunities to involve grandparents in family-focused, community-supported interventions, incorporating cultural understanding in decreasing Latino childhood obesity. Keywords: family health behaviors, childhood obesity, Latino children, Hispanic grandparents, Latino children face the highest childhood obesity disparity in the nation with 46% of children aged 2-19 years reported as overweight or obese compared with 35% of African American children [...]

This study used both time and frequency domain analyses to investigate walking patterns with ankle load in children and adults. Twenty-two children aged 7-10 years and 20 young adults participated in this study. Three levels of ankle load were manipulated: no load, low load (2% of body mass on each side), and high load (4% of body mass on each side). An instrumented treadmill was used to register vertical ground reaction force (GRF) and spatiotemporal parameters, and peak vertical GRFs were determined. A frequency domain analysis was conducted on the vertical GRF data. Results demonstrate that, in the time domain, children showed adult-like spatiotemporal parameters and adult-like timing and magnitude of the 2 peak vertical GRFs under each load. In the frequency domain, children produced a lower power from the second harmonic than young adults, although both groups showed the highest power from this harmonic and increased this power with ankle load. It was concluded that children aged 7-10 years may start showing adult-like neuromuscular adaptations to increasing ankle load and display similar spatiotemporal control of foot falls and foot-floor kinetic interaction; however, a frequency domain analysis is effective in revealing different kinetic and neuromuscular characteristics between children and adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite being associated with health outcomes like abdominal adiposity, depression, anxiety, and cardiovascular disease risk among youth, largely, clinicians still do not adopt physical fitness testing. A clarion call for increased surveillance was previously issued, in order to address the US population-level lack of knowledge regarding pervasive inactivity among children. Because schools often do not send home annual physical fitness testing results, many lay parents are unaware of their child's physical fitness or the risk of associated adverse health outcomes. This study investigated associations between musculoskeletal fitness measures (including 90o push-up), cardiorespiratory fitness, and weight status.Methods: Two hundred and ten students (9.7 ± 1.08 years, 138.6 ± 9.4 cm; 42.3 ± 14.4 kg) across third through fifth grades were tested for cardiorespiratory (i.e., Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER)) and musculoskeletal (90o push-up, trunk lift, sit-and-reach and curl-up) fitness. The relationships between measures of musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory fitness were modeled using a series of linear regression analyses. Models were adjusted for age, sex, and weight status. Significant two-tailed tests were set at p < .05.Results: Of the four musculoskeletal fitness measures, only 90o push-up was significantly associated (β = .353; p < .001) with PACER test scores (i.e., cardiorespiratory fitness). The related model (R2 = .324; F (4,205) = 26.061; p < .001) accounted for 32% of the variance in cardiorespiratory fitness. 90o push-up was associated with sit-and reach (β = .298; p < .001) and curl up (β = .413; p < = .001) test scores. When individually modeled, 90o push-up (β = -.461; p < .001) and PACER (β = -.436; p < .001) were inversely associated with weight status.Conclusions: The 90o push-up test (a measure of upper body muscle strength and endurance) was associated with cardiorespiratory fitness, anterior trunk muscle strength and endurance, and lower back and posterior thigh muscle flexibility in youth aged 8-12 years old. Although the current findings do not establish a causal relationship, it is concluded that the 90o push-up test is a tractable tool for physical fitness surveillance by clinicians, parents, and possibly youth themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. A force-driven harmonic oscillator (FDHO) model reveals the elastic property of general muscular activity during walking. Objective. This study aimed to investigate whether children with Down syndrome (DS) have a lower K/G ratio, a primary variable derived from the FDHO model, compared with children with typical development during overground and treadmill walking and whether children with DS can adapt the K/G ratio to walking speeds, external ankle load, and a treadmill setting. Design. A cross-sectional study design was used that included 26 children with and without DS, aged 7 to 10 years, for overground walking and 20 of them for treadmill walking in a laboratory setting. Methods. During overground walking, participants walked at 2 speeds: normal and fastest speed. During treadmill walking, participants walked at 75% and 100% of their preferred overground speed. Two load conditions were manipulated for both overground and treadmill walking: no load and an ankle load that was equal to 2% of body mass on each side. Results. Children with DS showed a K/G ratio similar to that of their healthy peers and increased this ratio with walking speed regardless of ankle load during overground walking. Children with DS produced a lower K/G ratio at the fast speed of treadmill walking without ankle load, but ankle load helped them produce a K/G ratio similar to that of their healthy peers. Limitations. The FDHO model cannot specify what muscles are used or how muscles are coordinated for a given motor task. Conclusions. Children with DS show elastic property of general muscular activity similar to their healthy peers during overground walking. External ankle load helps children with DS increase general muscular activity and match their healthy peers while walking fast on a treadmill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]