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Background: In an online survey of Lithuanian adults (n = 1140) aged 18 to 64 years, we sought to better understand the factors influencing the structure of physical activity (PA). We hypothesised that the PA paradox (i.e. the benefits of PA will be much greater during leisure-time than work-related or household moderate to vigorous PA) occurs more subjectively for psychological well-being indicators, than physiological well-being indicators, and should not depend on age or gender. Methods: An online questionnaire was distributed as to potential participants through the Facebook social networking website within the period May 2021 to December 2021. PA was assessed using the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Mood responses were assessed using the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS-LTU). Emotional intelligence was assessed using the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSREIT). Perceived stress was assessed using the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Descriptive analysis, a two-way analysis of variance, and linear regression analysis were used to interpret the data. Results: The results revealed that a PA paradox occurred in women and men in terms of health, happiness, vigour and perceived stress, and only in women according to morbidity and overeating. According to the regression analysis, women's and men's subjective health (β = 0.135; p < 0.001), happiness (β = 0.084; p = 0.018) and vigour (β = 0.169; p < 0.001) were significantly positively, and perceived stress (β = -0.088; p = 0.009) negatively correlated (regardless of age) only with leisure-time moderate to vigorous PA. 'Healthy', i.e. the amount of leisure-time PA in men decreases with age, while it does not change in women. Conclusions: We believe that this study has expanded a clearer understanding of the PA paradox and its possible application to improving the health of individuals of different age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of globally recommended levels of physical activity on cognition andmotor behavior is not completely understood. Therefore, themain aim of this study was to assess the effect of 300 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on cognitive and motor performance among overweight and obese working-age women. Methods: Overweight and obese participants aged 38-56 years were randomized to either a control or an experimental group performing aerobic exercise at 50% to 60% of the peak oxygen consumption for a 2-month period. Changes in aerobic fitness, cardiac autonomic function, brain-derived neurotropic factor levels, and cognitive and motor performance were assessed. Results: Although aerobic exercise reduced body weight (P < .05) and improved peak oxygen consumption (P < .05), the brain-derived neurotropic factor levels and cognitive and motor performance remained unchanged. Heart rate and blood pressure decreased (P < .05), whereas heart rate variability indices were not affected. No significant correlations between changes in heart rate variability indices and cognition were observed. Conclusions: Two months of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise decreased sympathetic activity and improved cardiovascular fitness but had no impact on cognition ormotor control among thesemiddle-aged, overweight, and obese women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The benefits of weight loss programs on mood, cognitive, and motor behavior are largely limited to those of calorie restriction or exercise alone. Our aim was to investigate the effect of combined calorie restriction and aerobic exercise intervention on mood, brain activity, and cognitive and motor behavior in overweight and obese women. Methods: Participants aged 36–56 years were randomized to either a control or an experimental group (aerobic exercise + 12.5% energy intake reduction) for a 6-month period. Changes in brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels, mood, prefrontal cortex activity, cognitive and motor performance were assessed. Results: Confusion and depression increased in the control group (P <.05), whereas tension decreased in the experimental group (P <.05). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor level and learning of a speed–accuracy task remained unchanged. Although prefrontal cortex activity and executive functions were not affected, the reaction time of visual scanning and associative learning were improved in the experimental group (P <.05). An improvement in reaction time during the speed–accuracy task was observed (P <.05). Conclusion: Combined calorie restriction and aerobic exercise intervention improved the psychosocial state, had little impact on cognition, and no effect on brain activity and learning of the speed–accuracy task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our purpose was to compare the effect of a periodized preparation consisting of power endurance training and high-intensity power training on the contractile properties of the quadriceps muscle and functional performances in well trained male sprinters (n = 7). After 4 weeks of high-intensity power training, 60-m sprint running time improved by an average of 1.83% (SD = 0.96; p less than 0.05). This improvement was inversely related to an increase in maximal voluntary contraction torque (r = -0.89, p less than 0.05) and poorly correlated with changes in the contractile kinetics of the quadriceps muscle (r range from 0.36 to -0.46). These findings suggest that sprint performance is poorly predicted by muscle intrinsic properties and that a neural adaptation appears to explain most of the observed functional adaptations. (Contains 2 tables and 1 figure.)

The aim of the study was to establish whether there were differences in speed-accuracy movement learning strategies between children, young adults, and older adults. A total of 30 boys, 30 young adult men, and 30 older men were seated in a special chair at a table with a Dynamic Parameter Analyzer 1. Participants had to perform a speed-accuracy task with the right-dominant hand. It may be assumed that the motor variables of children are more prone to change during the fast learning process than those of young adults and older adults and that the development of internal models is more changeable in children than in young adults and the older adults during the fast adaptation-based learning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]