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Despite the well-documented detrimental health effects of prolonged engagement in sedentary behaviors, children and adolescents spent a large amount of time with seated activities. The present study examined the association between participation in club sports and various sedentary behaviors during weekdays and the weekend in youth between 11 and 17 years of age. A total of 1225 (50.1% male) adolescents completed a validated questionnaire that examined sitting time in activities related to work as well as during leisure time such as screen use, reading, and listening to music in addition to sleep time. Participants spent an average of 12.7 ± 1.7 and 9.9 ± 2.0 h/day during weekdays and the weekend, respectively, in seated behaviors while they were awake. Club sports participants reported less time spent sitting (p < 0.01), which was mainly attributed to recreational activities (e.g., screen use, reading, listening to music). Sleep time during weekdays, on the other hand, was higher in club sports participants. Sex-specific results further showed that differences by club sports participation were more pronounced in girls compared to boys. Despite the potential beneficial effects of club sports participation, additional efforts are needed to reduce sitting time in adolescents as either group spent the majority of their time awake with sedentary behaviors.

Hand-grip strength was evaluated in 757 recreational downhill skiers and compared to 1021 community-dwellers. Findings are reported for age and sex categories consistent with community-dwelling norms. Effect size (Cohen's d) was calculated to estimate the clinical relevance of strength differences between populations. Most male and half of the female age categories of downhill skiers demonstrated higher grip strength of the dominant hand (moderate to large effect size) compared to the reference population. Hand-grip strength in skiers declined with age at a similar rate as in the reference population. Relative grip strength (per kg body mass) was significantly and positively correlated with physical activity (hours/week), and with the number of ski days per year, and negatively with body mass. Thus, hand-grip strength may be related to the type, volume and intensity of exercise regularly performed. These results can help to assess whether the individual hand-grip strength is above or below average with regard to the normal population and the skier population as well and will support advice for training and/or rehabilitation.

Introduction & Purpose Based on consensus on the tremendous health benefits through physical activity (PA) & exercise at all ages, it is a sound recommendation for health promotion, maintaining good health and the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) incl. risk factors. However, since health is a complex state that has to be earned over a lifetime, one single measure to promote sustainably good health seems insufficient, particularly in childhood, adolescence and emerging adulthood since inherited health-related behaviours, habits and lifestyles track over time resulting in (good or worse) the adult state of health. Both studies aimed to investigate health-related behaviours of Austrian secondary pupils and tertiary University/college students, with a focus on PA & exercise (days per week) linked to different diet types (mixed, vegetarian, vegan). Methods From science 2 school (Wirnitzer, n.d.b) and From science 2 highschool & university (Wirnitzer, n.d.a) were designed as interdisciplinary cross-sectional studies, with data collection Austria nation-wide (pupils: academic year 2019/2020; students: summer semester 2021). Participation in these standardized online questionnaires was anonymous and voluntary; based on self-report, data on sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle characteristics (PA & exercise, diet, alcohol and nicotine) were collected. Both studies were approved by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research and all 9 Austrian Federal Education Authorities. Results In total, 8,799 pupils (63% girls) and 6,148 students (65.3% females) provided complete data sets. Generally, 82.4% of pupils (15.0 ± 2.3 years; 2.9 ± 2.0 days/week) and 79.3% of students (24.8 ± 6.2; 3.6 ± 1.5 days/week) reported PA & exercise as leisure time activity. Compared to non-actives, they showed significantly higher daily intakes of fruit and fluids and less smoking (p < 0.05). A mixed diet was reported by the majority of pupils and students (84.3% at age 15.2 ± 2.2 years and 71.2% at age 25.3 ± 6.9 years) versus vegetarian (8.5% and 22.8%) and vegan diets (7.2% and 6.0%), respectively. In both populations, the vegan diet (3.2 for pupils; 3.9 for students; p < 0.01) was associated with more days/week of PA & exercise compared to vegetarian (2.9 for pupils; 3.4 for students) and mixed diets (2.8 for pupils; 2.9 for students), with a significant increase in leisure sports participation across diet types: up to 86.4% in pupils (p = 0.03) and 92.9% in students (p < 0.01) for the vegan diet. More vegan pupils (74.7%; p = 0.001) and students (32.5%; p < 0.01) reported not drinking alcohol compared to non-vegan pupils (range: 51.2-53.7%) and students (range: 26.7-30.7%), while there was no difference in smoking habits across dietary subgroups. Discussion Both studies were the first to examine the dual approach to sustainable health based on the prevalences of PA & exercise linked to different diet types. Key results are: (1) active vs. inactive pupils and students show lifestyle behaviours more beneficial to health, and (2) vegan vs. non-vegan youth are more active and report healthier behavioural choices. A strength of both studies is that the findings are based on large samples, especially the school study was conducted on a sample size nicely in line with the Austrian WHO HBSC study. Given the detrimental health effects of insufficient PA and poor dietary choices, attention should be focused on policies and educational curricula to improve healthy lifestyle choices, at best through a dual approach to health by permanently combining the personally modifiable and most natural lifestyle factors: (1) regular PA & exercise with (2) a healthy diet, in order to shape better public health by improved individual youth health. Although there is consensus on the tremendous health benefits through PA & exercise as a single measure, lifelong health seems impossible to be achieved by a 1-dimensional approach in the long-term. Conclusion The present research shows an interplay between PA patterns and dietary habits, not only influencing each other but also affecting other health-related behaviors. In this study, especially adopting a vegan diet is linked with healthier lifestyle behaviour, highlighting the importance of healthy dietary choices for overall health and well-being. Therefore, and since there is huge potential left untapped (Figure 1), the promising dual approach to sustainable health is recommended as a minimum and starting point in secondary and tertiary educational settings. References Wirnitzer, K. C. (n.d.a). From science 2 highscool & university. https://uni.science2.school/en/ Wirnitzer, K. C. (n.d.b). From science 2 school. https://www.science2.school/en/

Introduction & Purpose Health behavior offers a pivotal domain of health for managing current global crises, including physical inactivity and overweight/obesity (Schroeder, 2007). However, adults have limited capacity for adopting healthy behavior into their lifestyle (Prochaska & Velicer, 1997). Schools offer an ideal setting for implementing health interventions considering the breadth of children that can be reached and the amount of time children spend in school (Tanous et al., 2022). The present study hypothesized that appropriately planned physical activity (PA) intervention for pupils and during compulsory secondary school time results in healthier body weight management. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, a published protocol (Tanous et al., 2022), and a trial registration was completed on the International Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPEO: CRD4202347770). The databases searched (12/2021) included PubMed, Education Source, and EMBASE. Only school-based randomized controlled trial interventions on PA and/or diet published in English or German were included. The study population included pupils (10-19 years of age) enrolled in secondary schools and without major nutritional deficit or unstable health condition. The study sample was refined using exclusion criteria: (i) no outcome on body weight, body mass index (BMI), or self-reported, (ii) intervention groups only targeting overweight and/or obese pupils, (iii) interventions outside of regular school hours or implemented beyond the school setting, (iv) total intervention duration less than eight weeks, (v) branches of schools specializing on physical exercise/sports in general, and (vi) no control group. Title/abstract and full-text screening, data appraisal, and summary data extraction were completed by two reviewers. Results A total of 5,945 articles were identified by the search process, including 23 studies and 9,441 pupils (of which 4,787 males and 4,654 females) eligible for the analysis. PA interventions ranged from eight weeks to eight months and included jumping (n = 2), strength exercises (n = 3), cardiovascular endurance (n = 4), or a combination (n = 2). For PA intervention implemented in the secondary level school setting for at least eight weeks duration, a random effect size of -0.12 units (95% CI [-0.26. 0.02]) of BMI (kg/m2) was found with low statistical heterogeneity (I2 = 0%; p = 0.60). Discussion Due to the behavioral constraints of the school setting, children are denied from achieving the minimum level of health protection, which adversely contributes to the poor global health status with a major impact. Previous meta-analyses identified a small PA intervention effect for improving BMI in pupils (-0.02 kg/m2 and -0.05 kg/m2; Guerra et al., 2013; Harris et al., 2009) with considerable heterogeneity (I2 = 77% and 54%, respectively). The findings of the present investigation revealed a more precise effect measure than previous meta-analyses (Guerra et al., 2013; Harris et al., 2009) regarding the exclusive power of the secondary school setting over PA levels and the BMI health improvement possibility for pupils (-0.12 kg/m2). Conclusion PA intervention in secondary schools contributes to limited, yet beneficial body weight management for pupils in the ongoing global health crisis (Schroeder, 2007; Tanous et al., 2022). Considering the lack of formal organization at homes, schools are urged to achieve 60 minutes of PA daily. References Guerra, P. H., Nobre, M. R. C., Da Silveira, J. A. C., & Taddei, J. A. d. A. C. (2013). The effect of school-based physical activity interventions on body mass index: A meta-analysis of randomized trials. Clinics, 68(9), 1263–1273. https://doi.org/10.6061/clinics/2013(09)14 Harris, K. C., Kuramoto, L. K., Schulzer, M., & Retallack, J. E. (2009). Effect of school-based physical activity interventions on body mass index in children: A meta-analysis. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 180(7), 719–726. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.080966 Prochaska, J. O., & Velicer, W. F. (1997). The transtheoretical model of health behavior change. American Journal of Health Promotion, 12(1), 38–48. https://doi.org/10.4278/0890-1171-12.1.38 Schroeder, S. A. (2007). Shattuck lecture. We can do better – Improving the health of the American people. The New England Journal of Medicine, 357(12), 1221–1228. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMsa073350 Tanous, D. R., Ruedl, G., Kirschner, W., Drenowatz, C., Craddock, J., Rosemann, T., & Wirnitzer, K. (2022). School health programs of physical education and/or diet among pupils of primary and secondary school levels I and II linked to body mass index: A systematic review protocol within the project From Science 2 School. PLoS ONE, 17(10), Article e0275012. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275012

Introduction & Purpose In Austria, 99% of fatally injured (Pocecco et al., 2022) and 81% of accidented mountain-bikers (Woyke et al., 2024) are males. However, these evident sex/gender differences in prevalence do not allow any conclusions to be drawn either about the risk of injury or about potential risk factors between the sex/genders. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate possible sex/gender-specific differences in injury risk, types of injuries, and related potential risk factors in adult recreational mountain-bikers in Tyrol, Austria. Methods This retrospective survey was conducted in the surroundings of Innsbruck (Austria) in 2017-2019, involving randomly selected adult recreational mountain-bikers. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect data on injuries ever experienced during mountain-biking (MTB), including circumstances (e.g., skill level and risk-taking behaviour according to Ruedl et al. (2010), riding alone or in a group) related to the most severe injury. Proportions were compared by χ2 tests. Results In total, 1,439 mountain-bikers (37.8 ± 14.3 years, 33.4% females) were interviewed, 486 (33.8%) of them suffering one or more injuries requiring medical attention. Men showed a higher injury risk compared to women (37.2% vs. 26.9%, p < 0.001) and injured males reported a higher number of injuries during MTB compared to their female counterpart (2.4 ± 2.4 vs. 1.7 ± 1.4, p < 0.001). In general, concerning the most severe injury ever suffered during MTB, the most frequent injury types were fractures (28.4%), followed by open wounds (15.9%), contusions (14.5%), abrasions (12.0%), and ligament/muscle injuries (10.4%), showing sex/gender differences (p = 0.010). In particular, fractures were the most frequent injury type among male (32.7%), open wounds among female (20.3%) mountain-bikers. Moreover, men reported higher MTB skills (p < 0.001) and higher risk-taking behaviour (72.8% vs. 50.5%, p < 0.001) at the time of the worst accident compared to women. Additionally, males were more likely to be biking alone on the day of the accident compared to females (30.1% vs. 15.0%, p = 0.007), who tended to ride in groups. Discussion Comparably to alpine skiing and snowboarding (Ruedl et al., 2010), men were found to exhibit a higher skill level and engage in riskier behaviour more frequently than women. In alpine skiing and snowboarding, these two factors are associated with higher speeds (Ruedl et al., 2010), which could be therefore also the reason for the higher injury risk and frequency of fractures among the surveyed male mountain-bikers. In the present study, fractures were the most common self-reported injury type with 28%, which seems comparable to 24% of fractures in the study by Woyke et al. (2024). Conversely, biking in a group, which was more common among women, apparently did not lead to a higher risk of injury due to possible peer pressure. Conclusion Results of this study found sex/gender differences in injury risk, types of injury, and related potential risk factors in recreational adult mountain-bikers which should be considered in future preventive measures. In particular, relevant information campaigns should address especially males. Moreover, future research comparing injured and non-injured recreational mountain-bikers should be conducted to confirm or reject the hypothesized risk factors. References Pocecco, E., Wafa, H., Burtscher, J., Paal, P., Plattner, P., Posch, M., & Ruedl, G. (2022). Mortality in recreational mountain-biking in the Austrian Alps: A retrospective study over 16 years. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), Article 11965. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191911965 Ruedl, G., Pocecco, E., Sommersacher, R., Gatterer, H., Kopp, M., Nachbauer, W., & Burtscher, M. (2010). Factors associated with self-reported risk-taking behaviour on ski slopes. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 44(3), 204-206. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2009.066779 Woyke, S., Hütter, A., Rugg, C., Tröger, W., Wallner, B., Ströhle, M., & Paal, P. (2024). Sex differences in mountain bike accidents in Austria from 2006 to 2018: A retrospective analysis. High Altitude Medicine & Biology, 25(1), 89-93. https://doi.org/10.1089/ham.2023.0086

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) states that quality physical education (QPE) is essential for promoting health in youth, and that teachers have a prominent role towards achieving it (UNESCO, 2015). Previous research linked PE teachers’ hard and soft skills with their students’ in-class motivation. Teachers can foster students’ willingness to learning (Johnson, 2017) by using professional competences – hard skills - (Simón-Chico et al., 2023), and by promoting positive relationships – soft skills - (Opdenakker, 2023). However, the mechanism by which these skills affect students’ motivation is unclear because other variables, such as, students’ enjoyment, may intervene. In fact, based on the most recognized international motivation-focused theories, enjoyment is considered as one of the most prominent determinants of motivation (Hagger & Chatzisarantis, 2015). The aim of the present work was to analyse the mediation role of enjoyment towards PE in the relationship between teachers’ skills and students’ intrinsic motivation for PE. A total of 1,319 adolescents (girls = 51.8%, 14.28 ± 2.18 years) filled in the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory for PE (4 dimensions: interest in PE, perceived competence, importance attributed to PE, and tension felt during PE), the Teachers Personal and Professional Skills Questionnaire (2 dimensions: soft skills, and hard skills), and the Questionnaire for the Measurement of Enjoyment in PE in Adolescents (3 dimensions: pleasure, flow, and recreation). Regarding hard skills, results of the path analysis showed signs of mediation for flow (p = .035) and pleasure (p = .023) towards interest in PE, whereas the paths to perceived competence and importance attributed to PE were both fully mediated by pleasure (p = .032). Hard skills also directly increased students’ perceived tension during PE (p = .017). Soft skills positively, directly, and indirectly (through all dimensions of enjoyment) affected students’ interest in PE, importance attributed to PE, and students’ tension during PE (p < .001), whereas their impact on perceived competence was fully mediated by all enjoyment dimensions (p < .05). Our outcomes confirm the key role of teachers’ hard and soft skills, additionally supporting the idea that triggering enjoyment in students may lead to higher motivation to actively adhere to PE. In conclusion, the mediating role of enjoyment is confirmed in most of the paths leading to students’ motivation for PE; hence, it is recommended that teachers focus on using both their sets of skills to propose fun and engaging activities, which may increase participation both on the short and long term. References Hagger, M. S., & Chatzisarantis, N. L. (2015). The trans-contextual model of autonomous motivation in education: Conceptual and empirical issues and meta-analysis. Review of Educational Research, 86(2), 360-407. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654315585005 Johnson, D. (2017). The role of teachers in motivating the students to learn. BU Journal of Graduate Studies in Education, 9(1), 46-49. Opdenakker, M. (2023). Teacher and teaching behaviour and student motivational outcomes: Critical reflections on the knowledge base and on future research. In R. Maluana, M. Helms-Lorenz, & R. M. Klassen (Eds.), Effective teaching around the world (pp. 29-83). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-31678-4_3 Simón-Chico, L., González-Peño, A., Hernández-Cuadrado, E., & Franco, E. (2023). The impact of a challenge-based learning experience in physical education on students’ motivation and engagement. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 13(4), 684-700. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe13040052 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. (2015). Quality physical education. UNESCO.

Introduction The 19th Congress of the Austrian Sport Science Society (“Österreichische Sportwissenschaftliche Gesellschaft, ÖSG”), held in Innsbruck, Austria, centered on the theme of” Embracing Interdisciplinarity in Sport Science.” The idea of interdisciplinarity in sport science has been discussed for over three decades and stems from its position as a cross-sectional discipline integrating various natural and social sciences such as training science, sports medicine, biomechanics, sport pedagogy, sport psychology, sport sociology, and sport history. More recently, sports economy and sports management have also emerged as significant areas within sport science. Sports science is characterized by its strong practical relevance. It often focuses on applied research, where interdisciplinarity plays a critical role. Interdisciplinary work is a particularly important factor when approaching sport science from a problem-based perspective (Güllich & Krüger, 2022). Specifically, we argue that interdisciplinarity becomes crucial when we are trying to develop solutions for complex challenges in sport, the health sector, and society in general. For example, an interdisciplinary approach in sport science might merge aspects of psychology, physiology, and sociology with expertise of medical professionals to study and realize health promotion strategies. For the purpose of this editorial, we understand interdisciplinarity as a collaboration between individuals from different scientific disciplines but also from different professions with the goal of combining knowledge and methods to create new solutions for complex societal problems. This can range from the simple communication of ideas and experiences to mutual integration of concepts, methodologies, procedures, or data sharing (Zaiț et al., 2021). We think that sport scientists can and should take a leading role in such collaborations given their unique cross-disciplinary education related to human health, performance, and well-being. Leadership in interdisciplinary collaborations may be an opportunity for us as sport scientists to strengthen our profile and image in the society and to take responsibility in addressing societal challenges (Hottenrott et al., 2017). In preparation of this year’s ÖSG Congress in Innsbruck 2024, we tried to embrace this idea of interdisciplinarity in sport science. Before the event, we conducted an online survey across the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) to identify current societal challenges that sport science should address and help with developing solutions. In parallel, we assessed the perceived importance of interdisciplinary work among sport scientists and related professions. Potential respondents to the survey were mainly contacted through the communication channels of the ÖSG and its equivalent associations in Germany (dvs) and Switzerland (SGS). Consequently, respondents included sport scientists as well as professionals from other fields who follow or are part of the activities of sport science associations. The findings of the survey were used in three different ways and will be described in this editorial: • to summarize the most frequently mentioned challenges and topics that sport science should address and help with developing solutions, • to develop an “Interdisciplinary Innovation Workshop” for the ÖSG Congress in Innsbruck 2024 where delegates transform the identified challenges into specific problems that can be solved, and • to compare the survey results with the content of the scientific abstracts submitted to the ÖSG Congress in Innsbruck 2024 and determine the alignment between the identified challenges and current research topics within the ÖSG community. The survey – Current challenges for sport science and beyond The survey responses were analyzed in MAXQDA 24 (VERBI software, 2021). The MAXQDA AI-Assist tool was used to suggest an initial coding scheme to group responses into categories. Two researchers refined the scheme into a final code set, independently coded the participants’ responses, and discussed mismatches to agree on the final code assignments. The survey yielded 176 responses, of which 85 were fully completed. Respondents (42% women) had a mean age of 40.2 years (± 13.8). Regarding their primary professional field, 34% identified as scientists working at a university, college, or research institution, 26% were healthcare professionals (e.g., physicians or therapists), 15% worked in the private sector including self-employment, 13% were students or educators, and 12% were either coaches, athletes, or employed within a sports federation. 91% reported that interdisciplinarity was a key component of their work. The most frequently mentioned challenges fell into the category of “prevention and rehabilitation” (34%), followed by “job profiles related to sport science and exercise therapy” (23%), “sport science mission for research and education” (11%), “broader societal issues” (5%), “structural development of organized and non-organized sports” (5%), “inclusion and integration through sports” (4%), “self-awareness and self-reflection” (3%), “technological progress” (2%), “financing” (2%), and “elite sports” (2%; orange bars in Figure 1). Coding was not possible for 5% of the answers. The workshop – Transforming challenges into specific problems Building on the findings of the survey, we collaborated with the ikivox collective (Nyon, France, https://ikivox.org/en/) to develop an “Interdisciplinary Innovation Workshop” held at the ÖSG Congress in Innsbruck 2024. With the help of ikivox who specialize in collective intelligence and collaborative design approaches, we designed a workshop with the following objectives: • to transform the identified challenges into specific problems that can be solved with innovative solutions • to experience interdisciplinary collaboration and new ways of working together • to position the Austrian Sport Science Society (ÖSG) as an enabler, bringing value to its members to improve exchange about sport science in Austria • to identify whether the teamwork could continue on some topics after the Congress with the support of the ÖSG Eventually, 42 Congress delegates signed up for the workshop and could choose to work on one of the following challenges: “physical inactivity at the work place”, “physical inactivity in children”, “image of sport science in society”, “role of exercise therapists in medical teams”, “influence of menstrual cycle on athletic performance”, “health awareness in society”, “inclusion of bodily disabled individuals as participants in public sport events”, and “integration of girls and women with migration background through sports”. This format of collaboration may provide a framework for future interdisciplinary initiatives within the ÖSG and beyond. The Congress abstracts – Comparing the identified challenges with actual research topics at the ÖSG Congress Having identified current challenges for sport science, it seemed of interest to compare those challenges with the content of the submitted scientific contributions to the ÖSG Congress in Innsbruck 2024. The Congress received 78 contributions including 60 regular abstracts, 12 Young Investigator Award submissions and 6 extended abstracts. Five section editors managed the peer-review process and drew on the expertise of 45 peer reviewers. Each contribution was evaluated and rated by two independent reviewers. Critical feedback of reviewers had to be addressed by the authors in revised abstract submissions. Following the revision round, 75 contributions were accepted for presentation at the Congress. The contributions spanned a wide range of research areas including “biomechanics, motor control & sports technology” (26% of abstracts), “sport psychology & pedagogy” (25%), “sports medicine, exercise therapy & public health” (20%), “sports physiology & exercise science” (16%), “sports sociology, economy & management” (14%). Of all contributions, 64 were presented orally and 11 as poster presentations while 65 abstracts were published in the Congress proceedings. When applying the same code set to the abstract submission, we found a remarkable similarity to the survey findings in that 34% of abstracts fell into the category of “prevention and rehabilitation” (blue bars in Figure 1). However, we also found clear mismatches: the content of the abstracts focused much more on “technological progress” (21% vs. 2% in survey), and “elite sports” (15% vs. 2% in survey). Further, while 23% of the survey respondents highlighted challenges in “job profiles related to sport science and exercise therapy”, none of the conference abstracts addressed this topic, indicating a gap between perceived challenges and ongoing research. Summary and outlook At this year’s ÖSG Congress in Innsbruck 2024, we tried to embrace interdisciplinarity in sport science by taking a problem-based approach to sport science. Based on a pre-Congress survey, we identified key challenges within sports and society in general that should be addressed by sport scientists. The most frequently mentioned challenges were related to the topic of “rehabilitation and prevention”, specifically physical inactivity in children and at the workplace. At the Congress, delegates participated in an “Interdisciplinary Innovation Workshop” to work on the identified challenges and transform them into more approachable and specific problems. Interestingly, the topic of “rehabilitation and prevention over the lifespan” was also dominant in a third of scientific contributions to the Congress, showing alignment between perceived challenges and research efforts in the ÖSG community. In contrast, the topics of “elite sports” and “technological progress” were highly represented in Congress abstracts but were not perceived as current challenges in the survey. In turn, more than 20% of survey respondents perceived challenges related to the job profile of sport science alumni and exercise therapists, which were not addressed by Congress abstracts. This potentially highlights the discrepancies between a discipline-based and problem-based applied approach to sport science: In many sub-disciplines of sport science, pushing the boundaries of human performance and health – often with the help of new technologies – remains an important and central basic science goal. However, there may be no apparent or immediate transfer to current challenges in society. From our perspective, both approaches to sport science are valuable as well as needed and we argue that interdisciplinary workshops and initiatives as organized at the ÖSG Congress in Innsbruck 2024 can help to facilitate the transfer of scientific findings from the sport science sub-disciplines to the solution of current challenges in society. The ÖSG plans to facilitate annual meetings of working groups formed at the innovation workshop to support ongoing work on the identified problems, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, supporting activity within the society, and widening the impact of sport scientists in complex societal challenges. Author contributions JB, GR, KS, LSM, and MM were the section editors for the Congress abstracts. LR and MM conducted the pre-Congress survey and analyzed the responses as well as the Congress abstract content. LR wrote the first editorial draft. All authors edited and approved the final editorial version. References Güllich, A., & Krüger, M. (2022). Sport: Das Lehrbuch für das Sportstudium [Sport: The textbook for sports studies]. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. Hottenrott, K., Baldus, A., Braumann, K.-M., Hartmann-Tews, I., Holzweg, M., Kuhlmann, D., Seyfarth, A., Strauß, B., Sygusch, R., & Vogt, L. (2017). Memorandum Sportwissenschaft [Memorandum sports science]. German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research, 47(4), 287–293. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12662-017-0476-x Zaiț, A., Bratianu, C., Vătămănescu, E.-M., Andrei, A. G., & Horodnic, I. A. (2021). Interdisciplinarity: A complexity approach towards academic research. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 38(3), 294–306. https://doi.org/10.1002/sres.2758

Introduction & Purpose Skiing, both on slopes and in backcountry terrain, is highly popular in Austria. However, this sport carries inherent risks of injuries considering numerous accidents occurring each year both on designated ski slopes and off-piste areas. During the 2021/22 winter season, the Austrian alpine police reported 4,613 ski-related injuries on slopes, including 27 fatalities, with Tyrol accounting for the highest percentage of these accidents at 41% (Österreichisches Kuratorium für Alpine Sicherheit [ÖKAS], 2022). Regarding off-piste skiing, Tyrol counted 163 individuals involved in avalanche accidents during that season, with 44% of individuals aged 11-30 years (ÖKAS, 2023). Research has shown that children and adolescents up to the age of 18 exhibit a lack of knowledge regarding safety regulations on ski slopes, such as those outlined by the International Ski Federation (FIS; Hildebrandt et al., 2016; Ruedl et al., 2018). Due to the hardly predictable nature of avalanches, various strategies are implemented to assess and mitigate risks. It is crucial to be well-informed, choose defensive routes, and engage in regular self-critical reflection (Deutscher Alpenverein [DAV], 2022). In the event of an avalanche burial, carrying complete avalanche emergency equipment (transceiver, shovel, and probe) is essential for immediate aid (Semmel, 2007). Nichols et al. (2018) found that experienced backcountry skiers and snowboarders, as well as those who had completed an avalanche course, were more likely to carry avalanche emergency equipment with them than beginners. Additionally, McCammon (2003) reported that 34% of individuals involved in avalanche accidents in the US had neither received avalanche training nor attended a pertinent course, with this group having the lowest mean age of about 24 years. In Tyrol, with a total of 9 districts, apart from the district of Lienz/East Tyrol, there is no regionwide youth prevention programme. The 3! Winter Life Camp project in Lienz district, initiated in 2006 by the Alpinkompetenzzentrum Osttirol, educates all 7th-graders of the district on winter sports safety. This one-day project includes age-adapted theoretical knowledge transfer in the classroom as well as practical exercises both on- and off-piste, covering risk assessment, emergency procedures, and FIS rules, aiming to raise awareness of winter sport risks and encourage further education. Previous research suggests preventive information campaigns contribute to reducing injury risk in alpine skiing (Jørgensen et al., 1998). Therefore, this study aimed to determine the knowledge change among participants of the 3! Winter Life Camp (Hypothesis 1) and its sustainability over time (Hypothesis 2). Methods The study was designed as a non-randomized controlled intervention conducted in the winter-season 2023/24, involving 7th-grade pupils from one Gymnasium and one middle school from Lienz/East Tyrol (IG) and Schwaz/North Tyrol (CG), the latter being comparable to Lienz in terms of size, population, and rural surroundings. A questionnaire assessing personal information (age, sex, skill level, etc.) as well as practical knowledge was developed. The questions on the knowledge of FIS rules were formulated according to literature (Hildebrandt et al., 2011; Ruedl et al., 2018). Questions related to expert knowledge on avalanches were reviewed by a professional mountain guide and the project leaders, to ensure only relevant questions to be included. The 7th-graders filled out the questionnaire twice, before and about 8 weeks after the intervention. To evaluate project sustainability, 8th-graders from the same schools in Lienz, who had participated in the project one year before, and Schwaz, completed the questionnaire once at the end of winter 2023/24 (Hypothesis 2). For statistical analyses, individual questions were clustered into 5 thematic groups: avalanche knowledge (in total 7 points), avalanche warning signs (3 points), avalanche safety equipment (3 points), emergency contacts (3 points), and FIS rules (12 points). Differential variables were calculated by subtracting pre-test scores from post-test scores to assess the differences in safety knowledge between the IG and CG (Hypothesis 1). To assess sustainability, knowledge of the post-test of the 8th-graders from Lienz was compared to the 8th-graders from Schwaz (Hypothesis 2). Data are presented as means and standard deviation as well as absolute and relative frequencies. Due to the ordinal nature of the data, group comparisons were conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. All p values were two tailed and statistical differences were considered significant at p < .05. Results Concerning the intervention study, 221 questionnaires were eligible for analysis (110 IG, 111 CG). A total of 94 questionnaires were excluded due to non-matching data (failure to participate in both sessions or incorrect recognition code) or incompleteness. 1.4% of IG and 13.1% of CG participants indicated they neither engage in skiing nor snowboarding. 35.7% of IG and 26.7% of CG participants reported riding also off-piste in unsecured terrain. Post-intervention, IG and CG participants scored 4.09 ± 1.88 and 2.79 ± 1.82 points concerning avalanche knowledge, compared to 2.05 ± 2.00 and 2.13 ± 1.53 pre-intervention, respectively. Group difference according to the differential variable was highly significant (p < .001). Group changes in knowledge of avalanche warning signs were also highly significant between pre- and posttest (IG pre = 1.89 ± 0.68, post 2.32 ± 0.83, CG pre 1.96 ± 0.69, post 2 ± 0.67, p < .001). Pre-intervention, 1.8% of IG and 4.1% of CG were aware of the three components of complete avalanche safety equipment, increasing to 24.4% in the IG and 6.3% in the CG post-intervention, with a highly significant group difference (p < .001). The awareness of an emergency number or app for accidents in alpine terrain increased in IG from 19% to 31.7% (CG from 37.6% to 34.4%), with a highly significant group difference (p < .001). After the intervention, IG and CG participants answered an average of 8.3 ± 2.28 and 6.97 ± 2.99 out of 12 questions on FIS rules correctly, compared to 7.09 ± 2.37 and 6.05 ± 2.75 respectively pre-intervention, with no significant difference between groups (p = .36). To assess the sustainability of the intervention, data from 220 8th-graders of the two districts (111 IG, 109 CG) were analysed. High significant differences (p < .001) were observed in avalanche knowledge, with IG scoring higher than CG (3.49 ± 1.68 vs. 2.47 ± 1.66). IG also scored higher in knowledge on how to react in an on-piste accident (IG 1.84 ± 0.4, CG 1.31 ± 0.7 out of 2 points), and on FIS rules (IG 8.04 ± 2.11 vs. CG 6.34 ± 2.99), p < .001. Differences were also significant in knowledge on avalanche warning signs (IG 2.2 ± 0.73 vs. CG 1.86 ± 0.74, p = .001). Regarding knowledge on emergency numbers or apps for alpine accidents, CG scored significantly higher (1.26 ± 1) than IG (0.8 ± 0.8), p < .001. Discussion The results of the present study suggest that participation in the 3! Winter Life Camp leads to increased knowledge concerning various aspects of avalanche safety, prevention measures, and safety equipment among pupils. This aligns with literature showing the positive effects of preventive measures on injury risk in alpine skiing (Jørgensen et al., 1998). Furthermore, Nichols et al. (2018) reported that experienced skiers and snowboarders, as well as those who had participated in avalanche training before, are more likely to carry avalanche safety equipment with them than newcomers. The current study revealed that a significant proportion of pupils lacked knowledge regarding the components of a comprehensive avalanche safety equipment in the pre-test phase, with 96-98% exhibiting this deficiency. Post-intervention, knowledge on avalanche emergency equipment improved significantly. However, only 24.4% of IG participants could name all three components (transceiver, shovel, and probe). This shows that there should be even more focus on this topic during the course, especially when keeping in mind the findings of Gross et al. (2021), who show that young freeriders without knowledge on avalanche danger are at higher risk to be involved in an avalanche accident. In 7th-graders, the intervention showed no significant change in pupils’ knowledge on FIS rules between IG and CG. This lack of impact may be attributed to the primarily theoretical approach used in the classroom instruction of FIS rules, without a specific practical approach. However, 8th-graders from Lienz showed significant higher scores in the knowledge of FIS rules compared to the 8th-graders from Schwaz, which does indicate a certain preventive effect of the intervention of the past year. Concerning the project’s sustainability, it could be observed that one year after the training, 8th-graders of the IG had significantly higher knowledge on avalanches, correct behaviour in case of on-piste accidents, as well as FIS rules (as mentioned above), compared to 8th-graders of the CG. These results might suggest a lasting impact of the project after one year. Surprisingly, 8th-graders of the IG showed lower knowledge on emergency numbers or apps than those of the CG. This may indicate that it is important to stay informed and to participate in further courses, in order to maintain and expand this knowledge. Conclusion Results of this study suggest that the region-wide one-day prevention project 3! Winter Life Camp enhances pupils’ knowledge concerning avalanche risk and safety, with some sustainable effects. In this respect, the project seems to have a positive impact as a prevention programme. It can therefore be considered a first step towards motivating young people to continue or regularly engage with the topic of safety in winter sports. However, in order to sustainably reduce the high number of winter sports accidents, especially in the federal state of Tyrol, the programme should be implemented state-wide to reach more young pupils. Acknowledgement This study was financially supported by the Austrian Kuratorium für Verkehrssicherheit (KfV) and by the faculty of psychology and sport science at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. References Deutscher Alpenverein. (2022). Studie: Notfallausrüstung bei Skitourengruppen [Study: Emergency equipment for ski touring groups]. DAV Panorama, 1/2022. https://magazin.alpenverein.de/artikel/studie-notfallausruestung-bei-skitourengruppen_e5a47b87-a34c-4cb3-a734-3f4ea1983a04 Gross, M., Jackowki, C., & Schön, C. A. (2021). Fatalities associated with ski touring and freeriding: A retrospective analysis from 2001 to 2019. Forensic Science International: Reports, 4, Article 100239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsir.2021.100239 Hildebrandt, C., Mildner, E., Hotter, B., Kirschner, W., Höbenreich, C., & Raschner, C. (2011). Accident prevention on ski slopes - Perceptions of safety and knowledge of existing rules. Accident; Analysis & Prevention, 43(4), 1421-1426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2011.02.018 Jørgensen, U., Fredensborg, T., Haraszuk, J. P., & Crone, K. L. (1998). Reduction of injuries in downhill skiing by use of an instructional ski-video: a prospective randomised intervention study. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, 6(3), 194-200. https://doi.org/10.1007/s001670050098 McCammon, I. D. (2003). Heuristic traps in recreational avalanche accidents: Evidence and implications, Part 1. Avalanche News, 22(2). https://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/s/TAR222r1-39gk.pdf Nichols, T. B., Hawley, A. C., Smith, W. R., Wheeler, A. R. 3rd, & McIntosh, S. E. (2018). Avalanche safety practices among backcountry skiers and snowboarders in Jackson Hole in 2016. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 29(4), 493-498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wem.2018.05.004 Österreichisches Kuratorium für Alpine Sicherheit. (2022). Presseaussendung April 2022 [Press release April 2022]. https://alpinesicherheit.at/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/PA-2022-Winter-2021_22_12042022.pdf Österreichisches Kuratorium für Alpine Sicherheit. (2023). Rohdaten Lawinenunfälle 01.11.2013 – 30.04.2023 [Raw data avalanche accidents 01.11.2013 - 30.04.2023]. Ruedl, G., Pocecco, E., Brunner, F., Greier, K., Hildebrandt, C., & Raschner, C. (2018). Einflussfaktoren auf das sicherheitsrelevante Wissen auf der Skipiste [Factors associated with safety knowledge on alpine ski slopes]. Sportverletzung Sportschaden, 32(4), 227-232. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0043-115189 Semmel, C. (2007). Gesucht, gefunden – gerettet? [Searched, found - rescued?]. DAV Panorama, 6/2007, 83-85.

The health status (HS) of children is influenced by a variety of factors, including physical fitness (PF) or social and environmental characteristics. We present a 4-year longitudinal study carried out with 263 primary school children. PF was assessed yearly using the German Motor Performance Test 6–18. Demographic data, leisure time behavior and socioeconomic factors were collected using questionnaires for children and parents. Based on parents' ratings in year 4, children were categorized as either “very good health status” (VGHS) or “good health status or below” (GHSB). Children with VGHS (73%) showed a larger improvement of global PF (p < 0.001), a significantly higher proportion of being/playing outside (p < 0.001), significantly lower proportions of overweight (p < 0.001), of media availability in the bedroom (p = 0.011) and of daily media consumption > 2 h (p = 0.033) compared to children with GHSB. Regarding socio-economic factors, children with VGHS revealed significantly fewer parents with lower education (p = 0.002), lower physical activity levels (p = 0.030) and lower migration background (p < 0.001). Physical fitness (p = 0.019) and outdoors exercising (p = 0.050) were the only variables to provide significantly higher chances of perceiving one's own health as very good when tested within a complex model including all the variables studied in this work. Considering the little focus on PF in the current Austrian physical education curriculum and the favorable environmental features of the Tyrolean region, more emphasis should be given to promoting didactical and pedagogical approaches that allow schoolers to be active in the nature.

Background: Hiking is one of the most popular leisure sport activities practiced in the Alps during the summer season, but bears the risk of mountain emergencies, accidents, and fatalities. This paper provides an updated analysis of hiking accidents for the years 2015 to 2021 in the Austrian Alps, thereby outlining fatal and non-fatal accident characteristics. Methods: For this retrospective analysis, mountain hiking accidents documented by the Austrian Alpine Police during a 7-year period were screened for potential exclusion criteria. The final sample size consisted of 7368 accidents and 7552 victims. The outcome measures were mainly specified by sex, age, injury degree, injury location, pathophysiological characteristics, and cause of injury. Results: The overall annual number of accidents showed a continuous increase from 428 in 2015 to 544 in 2021. In total, 7.1% of the total victims died during the 7-year period, with male hikers being significantly more affected than female hikers (m: 80.8%, f: 19.2%; p ≤ 0.001). The sex specific distribution for non-fatal hiking accidents was 55.9% in women and 44.1% in men. Male victims showed significantly more frequent cardiovascular events (m: 78.5%, f: 21.5%), multiple injuries (m: 60.2%, f: 39.8%), and wounds/blood loss (m: 57.4%, f: 42.6%) than female victims, whereas women showed more fractures (m: 31.5%, f: 68.5%) than men (p ≤ 0.001). Additionally, men were more likely to injure their abdomen/chest (3.7%), head (14.1%), and multiple body parts (26.5%), whereas women were more likely to injure their ankle or foot (42.3%). Finally, men were more likely to have an accident during the ascent (24.1%), whereas women during the descent (69.0%) (p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: This paper provides the latest data and a deeper insight into sex-specific characteristics of mountain hiking accidents in the Austrian Alps.

Various socio-demographic, environmental, and lifestyle-related factors have been reported to be associated with physical activity (PA) habits. However, there exist insufficient data comparing different forms of engagement in PA, sports, and exercise. This study aimed to investigate potential factors associated with the engagement in leisure-time PA (LPA) and club sports (CSs) in a large sample of college/university students. This Austria-wide study followed a cross-sectional design with a final sample of 4508 participants (mean age: 24.9 years; 65.9% female) from 52 Austrian colleges/universities. A standardized survey was used to collect data on demographics, anthropometric characteristics, and a wide range of health-related lifestyle factors, including patterns of PA and underlying motivations for PA engagement as well as details of dietary habits, sleep routines, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Descriptive statistics, chi-squared, logistic regression, and MANCOVA were used for data analysis. Across the entire sample, 85.7% of participants reported regular participation in LPA, including 22.5% who were active members of sports clubs. Of the 36 potential motives listed in the questionnaire, “maintaining physical health”, “feeling good”, and “refreshing the mind” were the most commonly reported factors motivating students to engage in either LPA or CSs. Ten socio-demographic, dietary, or lifestyle factors were identified as predictors of CSs participation (p < 0.01), whereas only two variables (specifically sleep-related factors) were identified as predictors of LPA participation (p < 0.001). These findings emphasize the importance of considering the type of PA and sport participation and the associated determinants when designing tailored strategies to promote an active lifestyle.

ObjectiveSince there is no scientifically validated German version of the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-3), the aim of this study was to assess its psychometric parameters and invariance across sex in a sample of German-speaking young adults. The BREQ-3 is an instrument measuring the social and internal influences of motivation toward exercising. This tool is widespread within the scientific community and has been validated in several languages.MethodsA total of 271 participants (45% women; mean age = 20.67 ± 2.17 years; effect size ≥ 0.5) filled in the BREQ-3 at one time point, with a small sub-sample (n = 37) responding it a second time after 15 days. Confirmatory Factorial Analysis, Structural Modeling, and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient were used to examine the German version of the questionnaire.ResultsResults highlighted a good fit of the six-dimensional model after the removal of two items (CFI = 0.912; SRMR = 0.0594; RMSEA = 0.064), as well as full invariance across sex (pχ2 = 0.218; ΔCFI < 0.01). Internal consistency and reliability were moderate to good.ConclusionsThe 22-item German BREQ-3 is a scientifically valid instrument that can be used in cross-national studies dealing with social aspects of exercise behaviors.

Background: In recreational alpine skiing ACL injury risk depends on the interaction of individual characteristics and behaviours as well as on equipment-related factors. Aim: to evaluate if and to what extent personal characteristics and equipment-related parameters are associated with ACL injury risk in cautious and risk-taking recreational alpine skiers. Methods: A retrospective questionnaire-based, case-control study of ACL-injured and uninjured in a cohort of cautious as well as risk-taking recreational skiers was conducted. Participants self-reported their demographics, skiing skill level, and risk-taking behaviour. Ski length, side-cut radius, widths of the tip, waist, and tail were recorded from each participant's skis. Standing heights at the front and rear components of the ski binding were measured with a digital sliding caliper, and a standing height ratio between the front and rear components was calculated. Ski boot sole abrasion at the toe and heel pieces was also measured with the digital sliding caliper. Results: In total, 1068 recreational skiers (50.8% females) with a mean age of 37.8 ± 12.3 years participated, of whom 193 (22.0%) sustained an ACL injury, and 330 (30.9%) participants reported a risk-taking behaviour. Results of the multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that a higher age, a lower skill level, a higher standing height ratio, and greater ski boot sole abrasion at the toe as well as heel pieces were independently associated with an increased ACL injury risk in both the cautious and the risk-taking group. Among cautious skiers, a longer ski length was an additional significant risk factor for sustaining an ACL injury. In conclusion, the same personal and equipment related characteristics contribute to an increase in the ACL injury risk regardless of risk-taking behaviour, with the only difference that longer skis represent an additional risk factor in cautious skiers.

BackgroundThe association between lifestyle and health status highlights the importance of assessing health-related behavior in different populations. This multidisciplinary study aimed to examine the health behavior of academic staff of Austrian colleges and universities, with a specific focus on diet types (vegan, vegetarian, omnivorous) and physical activity (PA) reports.MethodsFollowing a cross-sectional study design incorporating an online survey, a sample of 1,041 academics from 52 institutes (mean age: 46.4 years) provided data on sociodemographic characteristics, dietary patterns, PA behavior, and other lifestyle behaviors (smoking, alcohol intake, etc.).ResultsThe prevalence of vegetarian and vegan diets was 13.2 and 2.0%, respectively, and 33.2% of participants had excess body weight (BMI ≥ 25). The majority of participants (88.5%) reported regularly engaging in leisure-time PA, but 18.6% were active members of sports clubs. No difference between females and males was observed in diet type and the type of sport participation (p > 0.05). Participants with a mixed diet had a higher BMI than vegetarians and vegans (p 0.05).ConclusionThe present study provides an overview of the social trends in vegan and vegetarian diets linked to health behaviors in tertiary educational settings. Findings can be used by health scientists, decision-makers, and multipliers in health and education to improve public health.

BackgroundThere is a strong association between lifestyle behavior and health status. While young adulthood is a critical period for adopting and stabilizing lifelong healthy behavior, university life is independently associated with psychological stressors that may further affect health and well-being.ObjectiveThe present multidisciplinary study aimed to examine the health behavior of Austrian college and university students, differentiated based on diet types (vegan, vegetarian, and omnivorous) and physical activity (PA) habits.MethodsFollowing a cross-sectional study design, a total number of 6,148 students (65.3% females; 66.1% bachelor students, 67.0% from urban areas; mean age: 24.8 years) from 52 Austrian college/universities participated in an online survey and provided data on sociodemographic characteristics, dietary patterns, PA habits, and other lifestyle behavior characteristics, including alcohol intake and smoking.ResultsAcross the total sample, 74.0% had a normal weight (BMI = 18.5–25.0 kg/m2), while the prevalence of overweight/obesity (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2) was lower in females than males and more in rural than urban students (p 0.05) compared to omnivores. Students engaging in sport/exercise had a lower smoking rate and higher intake of fruits, vegetables, and fluids compared to inactive students (p

Objectives: To determine typical speeds of skiers and snowboarders on-piste groomed trails across the United States (US). Design and methods: On-slope speeds of skiers and snowboarders were measured on trails of varying difficulty at 8 ski areas across the US. The trail difficulty designation and slope were documented for each location where speed measurements were taken. The equipment used (skis or snowboard), whether a helmet was worn, and the estimated ability (determined by the researchers) of snowsports participants were recorded. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the influence of these individual and environmental factors on the speeds of snowsports participants. Results: 4164 speed observations were made between 2004 and 2020 on groomed trails at 8 ski areas representing 5 geographic regions in the United States. Across all observations, the average speed was 34.9 ​± ​13.6 ​km/h. The ability of the snowsports participant had the largest effect on speed. Advanced snowsports participants traveled faster (44.5 ​± ​11.7 ​km/h) than intermediates (32.4 ​± ​9.9) and beginners (19.9 ​± ​7.2). Skiers on average were faster (35.8 ​± ​13.8 ​km/h) than snowboarders (33.0 ​± ​13.2 ​km/h) and beginner and intermediate snowboarders were slower on average than their skiing counterparts. While the average speeds increased with increasing trail difficulty and slope, the correlation was weak (R2 ​= ​0.15). Conclusions: The ability of the snowsports participant was found to be the most influential factor affecting speed.

The increasing prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle choices contribute to almost all chronic conditions negatively affecting individual and public health. As the most beneficial preventative solution, a healthy lifestyle focusing on the dual approach of physical activity (PA) and a healthful diet is highly recommended. Considering the growing number of people interested in sustainable, plant-based diets, it seems crucial to analyze lifestyle behaviors with a special focus on diet type to delve deeper into the unenthusiastic health status among young populations. Therefore, this multidisciplinary study aims to survey and scale health behaviors with a special focus on the prevalence of traditional and vegetarian diets in connection with PA levels among Austrian pupils (10–19 years), teachers and principals in secondary education levels I and II. Following a cross-sectional design, sociodemographic and school-related data along with a complete profile of lifestyle behaviors, including detailed information regarding diet, PA, sports & exercise, and other health-related behaviors, were collected using online-based questionnaires. A total number of 8,845 children/adolescents (~1.2% of the eligible 771,525 Austrian secondary school pupils) and 1,350 adults (~1.5% of total eligible 89,243 Austrian teachers/principals) participated in the study. As this is the first investigation to explore the prevalence of veganism/vegetarianism amongst a large group of pupils, the present study will add an important contribution to overcome the lack of knowledge on PA, sports & exercise linked to healthy alternative diets. With a sustainable healthy lifestyle, a healthy transition from childhood to adulthood occurs, which can result in growing healthier functioning generations at all social levels. As a study protocol, the present article is intended to present comprehensive details of the study design, objectives, and the associated analytical procedures of the “From Science 2 School” study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led in many countries to the implementation of policies that mandate social distancing and movement restrictions. While these measures are warranted in order to minimize the spread of the virus they may have detrimental effects on various behaviors, including physical activity (PA). The present study examined PA and sitting time in 14 to18-year-old Austrian high school students prior to and during the second COVID-19 lockdown in Austria. Data was collected via an online questionnaire during fall/winter 2020/21. Questions were based on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, which examined frequency and duration of PA and sitting time. A total of 221 high school students provided valid data. Participants reported significantly lower moderate and vigorous PA during the lockdown while sitting time increased (p < 0.01). The frequency of walking (days/week) also decreased during COVID-19 lockdown, which also contributed to a significant decline in total walking time (p < 0.01). Further, the decline in PA was more pronounced in boys, while girls reported a greater decline in walking. These differences were due to higher PA and walking in boys and girls, respectively, prior to the lockdown. During the lockdown sex differences in PA and sitting time were limited. Taken together, these results highlight the impact of COVID-19 policies on PA in adolescents and emphasize the importance to promote an active lifestyle even in times of home confinement.

The most common causes of death in Western countries today are preventable diseases mainly attributed to daily behavior. It has been well documented that genetics are influential but not the deciding factor for developing non-communicable diseases. Ideally, the public should be educated to perform methods of optimal health and wellbeing independently, meaning that individuals should be in control of their health without relying on others. As behavior is known to be consistent over time, good or poor health behavior will track from childhood into adulthood. Physical activity and diet are permanently linked to the individual’s state of health, and when properly balanced, the effects on personal health summate, resulting in greater benefits from this dual-approach for public health. The objective is to highlight the different approaches (physical intervention, nutritional intervention, and dual-approach of diet and exercise) and identify effective interventions for sustainable body weight and healthy body mass index in school children. A systematic review will be conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The review will assess school-based diet and exercise interventions on children in primary and secondary school levels I and II. Overweight and obesity develop as a result of a prolonged imbalance in the energy balance model, with both physical activity and diet being influential in the fluctuation of body weight. A dual-approach including physical activity and diet could therefore be a very promising method to promote sustainable healthy body weight in school children.

Physical Education (PE) teachers’ professional and personal skills may not only affect the quality of the teaching-learning processes in PE, but also individuals’ future active/inactive behaviors. The aim of this study is to examine the structure of a pool of items developed for measuring individuals’ perception of such skills in PE teachers. Exploratory Factorial Analysis and a following structural modeling test on data collected from 660 participants suggest a two-factor structural model for the 10 items considered (χ2 = 191.155; df = 34; CFI = 0.953, and SRMR = 0.0529), with good internal consistency for both factors (factor 1: alpha = 0.879; omega = 0.878; factor 2: alpha = 0.850, and omega = 0.858) and the overall instrument (alpha = 0.892; omega = 0.895). The final “Teachers’ Personal and Professional Skills Questionnaire” is a valid instrument that may be used alone or in combination with other instruments for the analysis of the quality of teaching-learning processes in PE environments and its impact on individuals’ behaviors regarding physical activity in their adult life.

In 2013, mortality reductions with improving cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) have been suggested to persist until 13 METs. More recently, accumulating evidence from large-scale studies suggests that mortality from all causes decreases with increasing CRF levels, apparently without upper limit of CRF. However, when baseline CRF is assessed in later life, upper limits of CRF decrease depending on the individual fitness level at baseline and the volume and intensity of physical activity performed during follow up. Consequently, both a CRF level as high as possible during early adulthood, achieved by appropriate exercise interventions, and a small CRF decline during later life, by continuation of regular physical activity, will help to optimize longevity.

Despite the well documented benefits of physical fitness (PF) on general health, its role in back pain (BP) is still unclear. The objective of this study was to assess the association between different PF profiles and BP in a sample of adolescents. The study assessed PF and BP in a sample of 919 youth (age = 15.5 ± 1.3 years) from North and South Tyrol. A total of 531 participants (57.8%) reported no BP, whereas 4.7% (n = 43) reported severe BP. A two-step cluster analysis detected three main groups: the “less fit”, with significantly lower scores in all PF tests (p < 0.001); the “strong sprinters”, with higher speed and muscular strength than the others (p < 0.001); and the “flexible marathoners”, with higher flexibility and cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.001). The “flexible marathoners” showed significantly better BP scores than the “less fit” (p = 0.029). Cardiorespiratory fitness and trunk flexibility are potential preventive components of BP in adolescents. Since the decline in flexibility starts very early in life, it is recommended to put a particular emphasis on this component of PF. The role of other components of PF should be further investigated in the future.

Abstract Background Flight-related neck, shoulder and low back pain are the most common musculoskeletal disorders among helicopter pilots and their crewmembers, thus becoming a growing concern. Information on the combined prevalence of these types of pain and related risks are scarce. The aim of this study was therefore to estimate pain prevalence and to evaluate potential risk factors for neck pain among helicopter pilots and crewmembers within the armed forces, the airborne police and airborne rescue organizations in Austria. Methods Among a cohort of 104 helicopter pilots and 117 crewmembers (69.8% compliance), demographics, flying experience, use of Night Vision Goggles (NVG), helicopter type flown, prevalence and intensity of musculoskeletal symptoms (pain was defined as any reported pain experience, ache or discomfort) were collected by an online-based questionnaire. Results For helicopter pilots the 12-month prevalence of neck pain was 67.3%, followed by low back (48.1%) and shoulder pain (43.3%). Among crewmembers, the 12-month pain prevalence were 45.3, 36.8 and 30.8% among the neck, lower back and shoulder, respectively. During this period, 41.8% of these helicopter pilots had experienced 8–30 pain days in the areas of neck (45.7%), shoulder (37.8%) and lower back (42.0%) whereas 47.8% of crewmembers self-reported 1–7 days of neck (54.7%), low back (44.2%) and shoulder (44.4%) pain in the previous year. The 3-month prevalence of neck pain was 64.4% followed by low back (42.3%) and shoulder pain (38.5%) for helicopter pilots. Among crewmembers, 41.9% suffered from neck, 29.9% from low back and 29.1% from shoulder pain the previous 3 months. Multivariate regression analysis revealed NVG use (OR 1.9, 95% CI, 1.06–3.50, p = 0.032), shoulder pain (OR 4.9, 95% CI, 2.48–9.55, p

Background: The development of motor competence during childhood has important implications for future health and well-being due to the association with physical activity. While associations between sports participation or TV time and motor competence have been examined previously, there remains limited research on the interaction of TV time and sports participation regarding motor competence. The present study; therefore, examines differences in motor competence by club sports participation and TV time in elementary-school children. Methods: 15 elementary schools in the federal state of Tyrol, Austria, were randomly selected for participation. Motor competence was assessed between October and December 2017 using the German Motor Test in 455 (49.5% boys) children starting elementary school. Body weight and height were measured with children in sports clothes and being barefoot following standardized procedures. In addition, parents reported participation and time spent in club sports (hours/week), as well as time spent watching TV (hours/day) via standardized questionnaires. Further, parents reported whether there was a TV in the child’s bedroom. Differences in motor competence by sports participation and TV time were analyzed via multivariate analysis of variance. Results: In total, 24% of the participants exceeded the current recommendations for TV time (> 2 hours/day) and 46% participated in club sports. There was no difference in TV time and club sports participation between boys and girls. Nevertheless, boys displayed better standardized scores for flexibility (2.8 ± 0.8; P = 0.001), sprint (2.6 ± 0.9; P = 0.005), and sideways jumping (1.3 ± 0.6; P = 0.030) than girls. Significant interaction effects between TV time and club sports were observed for balance (P = 0.020), sit-ups (P = 0.039), endurance (P < 0.001), and overall motor competence (P = 0.035). In addition, club sports participation was associated with better performance on all motor competence tests (P-values ranging from 0.047 to < 0.001) while lower TV time was associated with better performance in sprint, sideways jumping, push-ups, 6-minute run, and total motor competence only (P-values ranging from 0.006 to < 0.001). Conclusions: Club sports participation appears to be an important contributor to the development of motor competence while high TV time may impair motor development, particularly in children not participating in club sports. Parents and educators; therefore, should facilitate participation in the organized physical activity even in pre-school children while limiting TV time.

Background: Studying the relationship between subjectively and objectively measured physical activity (PA) can provide viable information on youths’ behaviors. However, the restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic, which reduced children’s possibilities to be active, may negatively affect it. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between subjectively and objectively measured PA levels (light, moderate, vigorous, and moderate-to-vigorous) during COVID-19-based restrictions and after they were lifted, and to determine whether such relationships changed in these two periods. Methods: A total of 26 adolescents (58% girls; mean age = 12.4 ± 0.5) wore accelerometers during public restrictions and after they were removed. Participants also completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire during the same periods. Results: High significant correlations were found at all levels of PA (r = 0.767–0.968) in both time periods, except for moderate PA during restrictions. Comparing the two periods, significantly higher correlations were found for moderate PA (p < 0.001) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (p = 0.003) after restrictions were lifted. Conclusions: In this highly active cohort of adolescents, results emphasize the potential threat of lockdown conditions for youths’ ability to accurately perceive their behaviors, with possible detrimental consequences on the short- and long-term health.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of individual, equipment-related and environmental factors associated with falls among adult recreational skiers. Individual, equipment-related (ski geometry data) and environmental data were collected by questionnaire among uninjured skiers with and without reported falls during the skiing day. Ski length, side cut radius, and width of the waist were directly recorded from the ski and standing height was measured using a digital sliding caliper. Absolute ski length was relativized to body height. A total of 1174 recreational skiers participated in this study, of whom 13.5% (n = 158) reported at least one fall during the skiing day. Results of the multiple logistic regression analysis found that a lower age, a very good/good fitness level, a moderate skiing speed, a lower relativized ski length, and fresh and grippy snow conditions decreased, while a lower skill level, a larger sidecut radius and an easy slope difficulty increased risk of falling on ski slopes. Besides individual and environmental factors, a lower relativized ski length and a lower sidecut radius decreased the risk of falling. Considering these ski geometry parameters when buying new skis could potentially decrease the risk of falling and thus prevent injuries in recreational skiers.

Background: Data on secular trends in motor competence in children and adolescents has been equivocal. While several studies have shown a decline in motor competence over the last several decades there is also research that showed no change or even an increase in motor competence in youth. Methods: Motor competence was assessed via 6 test items in 10- to 14-year-old Austrian boys in the years 1972, 1987 and 2015. At each measurement time participants performed 20m sprint, 800m run, sit ups, jump and reach, one-leg stand and stand and reach tests in the school gymnasium during regular school time. Data across measurement times was compared using weighted means across 5 age groups with pooled standard deviations. Results: Average performance on the 20m sprint, jump and reach test and one leg stand improved significantly (p

Structured (sports club, SC) and unstructured (leisure-time exercise, LTE) physical activities (PAs) are key for the enhancement of health in adolescents, motivation being a potential factor of adolescents’ active habits. The aim of this study was to analyse the motivational characteristics of different PA profiles based on adolescents’ engagement in SC-PA and LTE-PA. Cluster analyses on a sample of 1332 participants (14.27 ± 2.18 years old) highlighted low-PA (SC + LTE >10 hours/week) and high-PA profiles (n = 536, mean of 5.41 hours/week SC PA and 5.42 hours/week LTE) for the overall sample and those who identified themselves as female. The male-gender sub-sample clustered in six PA profiles. Motivational characteristics were similar across profiles, with high autonomous and low controlled motivation regardless of the total weekly PA. SC-based PA was the strongest contributor to overall PA and should be promoted to increase adherence to exercise.

Female recreational skiers have twice the knee injury incidence of male skiers and the reported proportion of failure of binding release is considerably higher among females. It remains unclear whether this sex difference belongs only to an injury of the knee joint or also to other body parts. Therefore, a total of 1369 injured skiers (43.1% females) were interviewed on sex, age, date of last binding adjustment, skill level, risk taking behaviour and injured body part and binding release at the moment of accident. Failure of binding release was reported within 39.9% of all cases at the moment of the accident. An actual binding adjustment was significantly associated with a decreasing proportion of failure of binding release. Failure of binding release was significantly higher for females compared to males (51 vs. 32%) and for cautious compared to risky skiers (42 vs. 33%) while sexes did not differ regarding the date of the last binding adjustment. Regarding knee injuries, female skiers showed a higher proportion of failure of binding release compared to male skiers (61 vs. 46%) with an OR of 1.8 (95% CI, 1.2-2.8). In conclusion, failure of binding release was significantly more frequent in females compared to males, irrespective of the injured body part although sexes did not differ with regard to the date of the last binding adjustment.

Research has shown that acute exercise reduces urges for chocolate in normal weight people. This study aimed to examine the effects of an acute exercise bout on urges to consume sugary snacks, affect as well as 'psychological and physiological responses' to stress and a 'sugary snack cue', in overweight individuals. Following 3 days of chocolate-abstinence, 47 overweight, sugary snack consumers were assessed, in 2 randomly ordered conditions, in a within-subject design: 15-min brisk walk or passive control. Following each, participants completed 2 tasks: Stroop color-word interference task, and handling sugary snacks. Urges for sugary snacks, affective activation and valence were assessed. ANOVAs revealed significant condition x time interaction effects for: urges to consume sugary snacks, affective valence and activation. Obtained data show that exercise reduces urges for sugary snacks and attenuates urges in response to the stress situation and the cue in overweight people.

Skiers have to differ between slow to moderate and fast skiing speed to determine their skiing style according to the ISO 11088 standard for setting binding release values. Despite existing evidence that males ski significantly faster than females, no sex-specific factor was inserted into the ISO 11088 standard.To evaluate factors potentially associated with the perception of individual skiing speed among recreational skiers.Skiing speeds of 416 adult skiers (62% males,) were measured with a radar speed gun. Skiers were interviewed about their age, sex, skill level, risk taking behaviour and helmet use. Finally, skiers had to rate their perceived speed on one out of three speed categories (fast, moderate, slow).The measured mean speed of this cohort was 48.2±14.3 km/h (30.0±8.9 mph). A total of 32%, 52%, and 16% of skiers perceived their actual speed as fast, moderate and slow, respectively. Mean speed differed significantly between the 3 speed categories with a mean of about 53.5±13.7 km/h (33.2±8.5 mph) for fast, 47.6±14.0 km/h (29.6±8.7 mph) for moderate, and 39.4±12.2 km/h (24.5±7.6 mph) for slow skiing, respectively. Sex (η2 = .074), skill level (η2 = .035) and risk taking behavior (η2 = .033) showed significant differences of skiing speeds with regard to the 3 categories of speed perception (all p < .001) while age groups and ski helmet use did not. Males, more skilled skiers and risky skiers perceived their actual speed as fast, moderate and slow, when skiing up to 10 km/h (6 mph) faster compared to females, less skilled and cautious skiers.The perception of skiing speed as fast, moderate or slow depends on sex, skill level, and risk taking behaviour. These findings should be considered when discussing the introduction of a sex factor into the ISO 11088 standard for setting binding release values.