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Purpose: To examine the associations between muscular fitness (MF) and body composition. Method: MF was assessed with three tests of FitnessGram test battery. Total body fat percentage (BF%), abdominal fat percentage (AF%) and fat-free mass (FFM) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The IOTF body mass index (BMI) cut-offs were used to define healthy weight, overweight, and obesity. Results: MF was inversely associated with BF% and AF%. The children in the moderate and high MF groups had significantly lower BF% and AF% compared with the children in the low MF group within the same BMI category. After adjusting for cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), BMI and sex, the differences between the MF groups were significant for BF% but not for AF%. Conclusion: There were significant inverse associations between MF and DXA--measured adiposity. Within the same BMI category, total and abdominal adiposity were lower in children with moderate or high MF than in children with low MF.

Objective: The main aim was to examine the association between fundamental movement skills (FMS) and objectively measured body composition using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Methods: A study of 304 eight-year-old children in Finland. FMS were assessed with the "Test of gross motor development," 2nd ed. Total body fat percentage (BF%), abdominal region fat percentage (AF%) and fat-free mass (FFM) were assessed by DXA. Waist circumference, height and weight were measured, and International Obesity Task Force cut-off values for body mass index were used for the definition of healthy weight and overweight/obesity. Results: Better FMS proficiency (object control, locomotor and total FMS) was significantly and strongly associated with lower BF% and lower AF% measured with DXA. Conclusions: The inverse association between FMS and body composition measured with DXA (BF% and AF%) is an important finding, as body fatness and specifically abdominal fatness are associated with less favourable cardiovascular risk factor status in children.

While physical activity is beneficial for youth with developmental disabilities, little is known about those individuals' fitness profile and levels of activity. Therefore the purpose of this study was to investigate the physical fitness profile and physical activity level of 30 adolescents with and without Asperger syndrome (AS). Evaluations were done using the Eurofit physical fitness test and the Baecke Habitual Physical Activity questionnaire. A 2 x 2 MANOVA indicated that adolescents with AS scored significantly lower than the comparison group on all physical fitness subtests, including balance, coordination, flexibility, muscular strength, running speed, and cardio-respiratory endurance (p less than 0.001). Adolescents with AS were also less physically active (p less than 0.001). Engagement in physical activities is therefore recommended. (Contains 3 tables.)

Although the benefits of exercise are well documented, an international problem of physical inactivity exists. More research, especially theory based, has been recommended. One promising approach for studying exercise behavior is that proposed in the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of behavior change. This model, however; has received minimal cross-cultural attention and, relative to the current study, measurement instruments have only recently been translated into the Finnish language. The purpose of this study was to assess American and Finnish college students' exercise behaviors on the basis of TTM. Participants were American (n = 169) and Finnish (n = 168) college students who completed language-specific measures of exercise behavior; stage of change, processes of change, decisional balance self-efficacy, and temptation. The only cultural difference observed was that the American participants rated themselves higher on barrier self-efficacy relative to the Finnish participants. Regardless of nationality or gender, participants classified by their stage of change differed on all the core constructs assessed. These results generally support the utility of TTM for understanding American and Finnish college students' exercise behavior.

Presents a series of contemporary theoretical models to facilitate the identification of strategies to increase opportunities for and motivation toward physical activity among people with disabilities. They include achievement goal and competence motivation theories, socialization model, movement confidence, social cognitive theory, and the transtheoretical model. (Contains references.) (SM)

Physical activity (PA) is an important health-promoting behavior from which adolescents with long-term illnesses or disabilities (LTID) can benefit. It is important to monitor differences across countries in adherence with PA recommendations for health. The aim of this study was to compare PA levels among 15 European countries after disaggregating data by disability. Data from pupils (mean age= 13.6 years, SD = 1.64) participating in the 2013/2014 Health Behavior in School-aged Children study were analyzed to compare adolescents without LTID, with LTID, and with LTID that affects their participation (affected LTID). Logistic regression models adjusted for age and family affluence, stratified by gender and country group with PA recommendations for health as the outcome variable. With the data pooled, 15% (n = 9,372) of adolescents reported having LTID and 4% (n = 2,566) having affected LTID. Overall, fewer boys with LTID met PA recommendations for health than boys without LTID, although it was not statistically significant either at the national levels or for girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this preliminary investigation was to assess the gross motor skill and trainability of children with dysphasia using the Test of Gross Motor Development. 27 children from 7 to 12 years (M = 9.6 yr., SD = 1.3) from four different classes in one special school participated. The gross motor skill scores of a sample of children with dysphasia, their trainability of the gross motor skills, and the intrarater reliability of the test were examined. Based on the videotaped performances the intrarater reliability was .93 to .97 for total scores, but lower for individual test items. Mean motor skill scores of these children with dysphasia were interpreted as 'poor' relative to those of the standardization and the reference group. The 8-wk. intervention showed statistically significant improvement from pre- to posttest values. Mean locomotor skills improved from 2.7 (SD = .4) to 2.8 (SD = .4), and the object control skills from 2.4 (SD = .7) to 2.8 (SD = .7). It appears these children with language disorders do not possess a similar basic gross motor level as their peers without language problems.

Background: Adolescents' physical activity level is a major source of concern. For adolescents with long-term illnesses or disabilities (LTID), being physically active can prevent secondary conditions. This is one of the first studies reporting trends in physical activity of adolescents with LTID in relation to gender, age, and sports club membership. Methods: Data were collected from the Health Behavior in School-aged Children study in Finland during 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014. In 13- and 15-year-olds (N = 2206), 17.1% reported having LTID. Daily physical activity recall was the dependent variable. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted separately for sports club members (n = 936) and nonmembers (n = 1270). Results: The proportion of physically active adolescents with LTID in 2014 was higher than in 2002 for girls (15.6% vs 8.7%) and boys (26.6% vs 13.0%). Girl sports club members were 2 limes more likely to be physically active in 2014 than in 2002. The largest trend between 2014 and 2002 was among boy nonmembers (odds ratio: 4.62,95% confidence interval, 2.02-10.58). Conclusions: More adolescents with LTID took part in daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in 2014 than in 2002; however, physical activity levels still remain low. Sports club membership was similar to that of the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]