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A medical fitness professional designs and implements exercise programs for special populations and individuals with chronic disease. Few credible certifications are available to graduates with accredited online degrees or graduate programs that fulfill the learning outcomes necessary for medical fitness. This quantitative, descriptive study evaluated and compared the perception of the practical application of advanced fitness certifications to graduate-level online education in certified fitness professionals with an online graduate degree. The study also evaluated perceived need for graduate- or doctorate-level education in medical fitness. 86 fitness professionals completed the Fitness Professionals Perception of Education and Certification (FitPECs) survey. Practical experience was perceived to be important for professional practice (88.4%) and practical knowledge (70.9%), while as a fitness professional, education was perceived to be important (54.7%), and had helped most with careers (46.5%). Education and certification were both perceived as very valuable when working with special populations (72.1%, 52.3%, respectively), and the greatest anticipated need was for fitness professionals to work with special populations (62.8%). To establish credibility, certifying organizations should consider implementing educational requirements and accept accredited online degrees, and colleges and universities should fill the gap in training by developing graduate level education in medical fitness.

Background: An increased prevalence of overweight and obesity for adults on government-funded nutrition assistance, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), has been observed; however, this association among preschool-aged children is not well understood. Longitudinal research designs tracking changes in body mass index-for-age (BMI) in children of low-income households may provide a clearer picture of the association between SNAP participation and overweight and obesity among this age group. To determine if there is a relationship between SNAP participation and overweight and obesity prevalence in low-income, preschool children, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of children in a Head Start program, and a longitudinal analysis of those children who were enrolled for 2 years. Methods: Height and weight data and SNAP participation of 386 students (207 male, 179 female, 4.2 [plus or minus] 0.5 years) enrolled in a Head Start program were analyzed; data for 2 years were available for 167 of the students. Height and weight measures were used to determine BMI percentile per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. SNAP participation was obtained through a nutritional questionnaire given to parents at time of Head Start Program enrollment. Results: No significant differences were found between SNAP and non-SNAP participants for BMI percentile in either the cross-sectional or longitudinal analysis. BMI percentile increased for both groups over time, but failed to reach significance (p = 0.13). Conclusion: Future studies are warranted with an inclusion of a larger and more geographically diverse sample to further determine the association between SNAP participation and overweight and obesity in preschool-aged children. (Contains 2 tables and 2 figures.)

Explains the role of weight training in weight loss, noting how weight training contributes to the creation of a negative energy balance and explaining how resistance exercise can cause an increase in fat oxidation, both acutely and chronically. Resistance exercise has an indirect impact on weight and fat loss through increasing resting metabolic rate and enhancing fat oxidation. (SM)

Developed a cardiorespiratory endurance test that retained the inherent advantages of submaximal testing while eliminating reliance on heart rate measurement in predicting maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max). College students completed three exercise tests. The 1.5-mile endurance test predicted VO2max from submaximal exercise without requiring heart rate measurement or all-out running, also allowing participants to self-select the most appropriate exercise mode. (SM)

McKinney G, Alexander J, Bordenave E. Correlation between Sway Balance and the Modified Balance Error Scoring System. JEPonline 2022;25(5):27-38. Falls are the leading cause of injury and death among older Americans. Approximately 3 million older adults will visit the emergency department annually for fall-related injuries. Health care professionals depend on reliable assessment tools to rule out balance dysfunction caused by several associated and comorbid conditions. Methods: This quantitative descriptive study evaluated and compared postural balance results using the mBESS and Sway Balance. A convenience sample of 36 participants from A.T. Still University Still Standing Falls Prevention Outreach Program engaged in a series of five stances used to assess balance. Results: The demographic ratio of females to males was 80% and 20%, respectively, ages 55 and older (M = 79.5, SD = 8 years). The average score for Sway Balance was M= 59.66, and for the mBESS, M=15.26. The Spearman correlation coefficient was negative (rs = -.131), an indication of the tendency for mBESS scores to decrease as Total Sway increased. The Pvalue was not statistically significant (P = 0.454); the two assessments were not correlated. Conclusions: Our study examined and compared comprehensive balance measures using validated instruments, providing a unique opportunity to deliver alternative options for objective assessments of postural instability. While study results found no correlation between Sway Balance and the mBESS scores; research does support Sway Balance as a viable solution for objective assessments for primary care providers to diagnose and treat balance problems. Further research is recommended to determine the maximum achievable enhancement of accelerometer technology like Sway Balance in the clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the cardiovascular effects of anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) use, specifically the hemodynamic response, during maximal treadmill exercise testing by comparing the exercise response between users of AAS (U-AAS) and non-AAS users (N-AAS). Twenty-four men (n = 12; 29 [+ or -] 3.4 years and n = 12; 29.5 [+ or -] 8.2 years for the U-AAS and N-AAS groups, respectively) with regular participation in both resistance (mean = 6 d x [wk.sup.-1]) and aerobic exercise (mean = 2 d x [wk.sup.-1]) volunteered for the study. Both groups of subjects completed a ramp-protocol maximal treadmill exercise test to volitional fatigue. Several hemodynamic and metabolic measures were obtained before, during, and after testing. The results demonstrate for the first time that chronic administration of high doses of AAS (355.4 [+ or -] 59.47 mg x [wk.sup.-1]) lead to hemodynamic and metabolic response impairment. In conclusion, the chronotropic significant incompetence in the current study was reflected by an exaggerated hemodynamic response to exercise. Furthermore, the findings suggest that nonusers of AAS showed increases in V[O.sub.2]max when compared to the AAS group. Therefore, this study provides a contraindication to AAS use, especially in those at increased risk of cardiovascular events. KEY WORDS hemodynamic, cardiorespiratory testing, metabolism

Aims: Given the incidence of falls among individuals in senior living communities, this study examined the effectiveness of the Matter of Balance (MOB) program in reducing falls risk and improving walking speed and participant perceptions of effectiveness. Methods: A mixed methods study was conducted with 24 participants in a single 2-h MOB class each week for 8 weeks. Pre and post-measures were the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest) and the 10-Meter Walk Test. Focus group and individual interviews were completed after program completion. Results: Total scores on the Mini-BESTest improved pre-to-post intervention (p = 0.008) as did anticipatory balance scores (p = 0.004). Walking speed slightly increased. Conclusions: This study's results indicate the benefits the MOB program may have in senior living communities; however, additional research is warranted to determine the influence of the program on the reduction of falls risk and clinically meaningful improvements in walking speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]