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Physical activity is associated with improvements in both health and longevity and is highly recommended for older adults. Public health and nonprofit organizations have invested considerable efforts to promote physical activity among this population. The present manuscript describes the specifics of the first university-based adult fitness program (Lifetime Fitness Program) and how this program promotes healthy aging through physical activity while serving as an important venue for experiential learning among students. Thus, the goal of this paper is to provide a "road map" to guide strategies and methods to promote physical activity and healthy aging in an academic setting and provide students with meaningful experiential learning opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The primary aim of this study was to present descriptive heart rate (HR), heart rate recovery (HRR) and RPE data for the DAFT and HIDT within one sample of contemporary dance students. The second aim was to explore if objective (HR) and subjective (RPE) data were correlated between tests. Method: 40 (11 males, 29 females) university dance students with a mean age of 18.8 ± 1.8 years performed the DAFT and HIDT on 2 separate occasions within 1 week. Measurements were HR after 4 minutes in all stages of the DAFT, the percentage of age-predicted maximal HR (%HRmax) of all stages of the DAFT and at the end of the HIDT, and peak HR (HRpeak) at the end of both tests. Subjective ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and HR recovery after 1 minute of rest (HRR) were determined after the tests. Results: HRpeak of the DAFT and HIDT were 188.1 ± 11.0 and 185.3 ± 7.3 beats·min-1, respectively. There were high positive correlations between HRpeak of the HIDT and stages 3 to 5 of the DAFT (r = 0.716-0.740, all P-values < .01). HRR (r = .678, P < .01) and %HRmax (r = .746, P < .01) showed moderate to high correlations between the DAFT and HIDT. The anaerobic training zone was reached in stages 4 and 5 of the DAFT and at the end of the HIDT. The subjective RPE scores did not significantly correlate between DAFT and HIDT, neither with objective HR data. Conclusion: Although the DAFT and HIDT differ in intensity and work-to-rest ratio, there were high correlations between HR and HRR data of both tests and both tests reached intensities above the anaerobic threshold (%HRmax > 85%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a shift in tertiary education, whereby large portions of theory are now taught online, and the practical skills underpinned by this knowledge taught in clinical environments. It is unclear if this flipped approach is appropriate for the learning styles Exercise Science (ES) and Clinical Exercise Physiology (CEP) students. First- and second-year ES and CEP students at a South Australian metropolitan university were invited to participate between March 2021 and October 2022. Eligible participants completed the Kolb's Learning Style Inventory (KLSI) (Version 3.1) to identify learning styles. Descriptive statistics were calculated for the four KLSI learning orientations. Group scores for the learning orientations were used to identify group preference for abstractness over concreteness and action over reflection. A total of 69 students completed the KLSI fully. As a single cohort, Accommodators were the most common learning style, and there was a preference for concreteness over abstractness when gaining experience and a preference for action over reflection when transferring experience into knowledge. These findings indicate that Australian ES and CEP students have a unique learning style that may be suited to flipped classroom approaches, but only if they include opportunity to experience skill learning in a hands-on manner, while also allowing time for reflection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Resistance training may offer several unique advantages within breast cancer (BC) survivorship care; however, safety concerns have limited the application of high‐intensity compound movements necessary to elicit optimal changes in body composition, strength, and quality of life in this population. The EXERT‐BC trial assesses the safety and feasibility of an evidence‐based, dose‐escalated resistance training regimen among BC survivors, with the goal of improving physical and metabolic function, mobility, muscle mass, and body composition. Methods: Participants included women with breast cancer underwent a 3‐month thrice weekly exercise regimen involving dose escalation of high‐intensity compound exercises. Coprimary outcomes included safety and adherence. Pre‐ and post‐regimen assessment included body composition testing, functional mobility and balance, total load (weight × repetitions × sets) across compound exercises, and patient reported quality of life. Pairwise comparison was performed via the paired t test. Results: Fourty participants completed a 3‐month exercise regimen, with a median age of 57 years (range, 27–74 years) and 73% having stage 0–2 BC. BC therapies concurrent with exercise included anti‐estrogen therapy (80%), radiotherapy (30%), and non‐hormonal systemic therapy (15%). No adverse events were observed aside from a single case of self‐limited knee pain. Session attendance exceeded a prespecified threshold of 75%, and 98% patients reported ongoing compliance to an exercise regimen following regimen completion. Significant reductions in percent body fat (p < 0.001) and increases in percent muscle mass (p = 0.011) were observed. Significant increases in resting metabolic rate (p = 0.023), bilateral grip strength (p < 0.001), functional movement screen (p < 0.001), bilateral Y‐Balance testing (p < 0.001), and Godin questionnaire scores (p < 0.001) were observed. Conclusion: A 3‐month dose‐escalated resistance training regimen comprising high‐intensity compound movements appears safe with a high degree of adherence among breast cancer survivors, resulting in demonstrable improvements in body composition, metabolic parameters, strength increases, and patient‐reported quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic required an emergency shift to remote teaching. Despite their limited previous experience with online or hybrid teaching, our cohort of kinesiology faculty (n = 112) had high confidence in their ability to deliver quality educational experiences for their students during the pandemic. With support from their institutions, technology departments, and teaching and learning centers, faculty developed new skills and organizational strategies. To achieve this, 81% of faculty reported needing extra course preparation time to deliver high-quality remote teaching, with 51% needing up to 5 extra hours per week per course. There is a fraction of faculty from this study excited about the prospect of teaching online in the future. These newfound online teaching skills should be leveraged to modernize course offerings in kinesiology departments, supporting student recruitment, retention, and success. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The COVID-19 pandemic caused temporary and permanent changes to higher education, specifically kinesiology programs. This article highlights the resiliency of faculty in kinesiology programs, how they adapted, where they felt supported, and what they hope to bring with them into their future pedagogy practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Purpose Resistance training may offer several unique advantages within breast cancer (BC) survivorship care; however, safety concerns have limited the application of high‐intensity compound movements necessary to elicit optimal changes in body composition, strength, and quality of life in this population. The EXERT‐BC trial assesses the safety and feasibility of an evidence‐based, dose‐escalated resistance training regimen among BC survivors, with the goal of improving physical and metabolic function, mobility, muscle mass, and body composition. Methods Participants included women with breast cancer underwent a 3‐month thrice weekly exercise regimen involving dose escalation of high‐intensity compound exercises. Coprimary outcomes included safety and adherence. Pre‐ and post‐regimen assessment included body composition testing, functional mobility and balance, total load (weight × repetitions × sets) across compound exercises, and patient reported quality of life. Pairwise comparison was performed via the paired t test. Results Fourty participants completed a 3‐month exercise regimen, with a median age of 57 years (range, 27–74 years) and 73% having stage 0–2 BC. BC therapies concurrent with exercise included anti‐estrogen therapy (80%), radiotherapy (30%), and non‐hormonal systemic therapy (15%). No adverse events were observed aside from a single case of self‐limited knee pain. Session attendance exceeded a prespecified threshold of 75%, and 98% patients reported ongoing compliance to an exercise regimen following regimen completion. Significant reductions in percent body fat (p

McGill Journal of Medicine (MJM) MedTalks is a Podcast series where members of the medical and health science communities from McGill and beyond are interviewed on topics related to career, research, advocacy and more. The aim of MedTalks is to open a space where experienced professionals and researchers can share information and advice for trainees in healthcare and medical sciences. In this episode, McGill MSc Candidate and MJM Podcast member, Khiran Arumugan, interviews guest-expert Dr. Leigh Gabel, assistant professor at the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary and a member of the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, on her research on musculoskeletal health in space. This conversation covers bone and musculoskeletal health, imaging tools and biomarkers used to evaluate bone health, the TBone study and some its results, Dr Gabel’s path to academia and some advice for trainees. The show notes include a glossary of terms, links to publications referenced in the episode, and a full transcript of Khiran Arumugam’s conversation with Dr. Gabel.

Background Methods Results Conclusion With increasing sports medicine content on social media, we sought to identify the top sports medicine influencers on X (formerly Twitter) and analyse their common characteristics.X influence scores for “Sports Medicine” were collected in November 2021 from Right Relevance. Accounts were then screened in a blind, duplicate manner for personal and X profile characteristics.Physical therapists/physiotherapists made up 48% of the top sports science and medicine influencers. Locations in the U.S. and U.K. were listed for half of the influencers. The mean h-index was 30.2 (95% CI = [24.8–35.6]) with a median of 22.0 (range = 1–101). Most individuals reported multiple practice settings (63%), with 60% associated with an academic setting. Professional (62%) and Olympic (49%) level athletics were most frequently mentioned, with soccer (48%) and rugby (30%) as the most common sports. Among 76 profiles with URLs, most were linked to personal websites (57.9%).The top influencers on X consisted of accredited sports science and medicine professionals across various locations and occupations, providing ample networking and collaboration opportunities. The relatively high h-index in this study suggests sports science and medicine influencers on X are notable contributors to academic literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we performed a non-systematic analysis of the strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) associated with the application of artificial intelligence to sports research, coaching and optimization of athletic performance. The strength of AI with regards to applied sports research, coaching and athletic performance involve the automation of time-consuming tasks, processing and analysis of large amounts of data, and recognition of complex patterns and relationships. However, it is also essential to be aware of the weaknesses associated with the integration of AI into this field. For instance, it is imperative that the data employed to train the AI system be both diverse and complete, in addition to as unbiased as possible with respect to factors such as the gender, level of performance, and experience of an athlete. Other challenges include e.g., limited adaptability to novel situations and the cost and other resources required. Opportunities include the possibility to monitor athletes both long-term and in real-time, the potential discovery of novel indicators of performance, and prediction of risk for future injury. Leveraging these opportunities can transform athletic development and the practice of sports science in general. Threats include over-dependence on technology, less involvement of human expertise, risks with respect to data privacy, breaching of the integrity and manipulation of data, and resistance to adopting such new technology. Understanding and addressing these SWOT factors is essential for maximizing the benefits of AI while mitigating its risks, thereby paving the way for its successful integration into sport science research, coaching, and optimization of athletic performance.

The purpose of this manuscript is to provide a summary of Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science (MPEES)-related activities in 2022. In 2022, original submissions (i.e., not counting revised manuscripts) decreased by ~21% as compared to 2021 when the number of original submissions was 464. However, the number of original submissions in 2022, 367, represented an increase of ~36% when compared to the average (~269) over the previous 5 years (2017–2021). Forty-nine countries were represented across the 367 original manuscripts submitted to MPEES in 2022. MPEES continues to welcome high-quality submissions from around the world in 2023. The seven sections of MPEES are (1) exercise science, (2) physical activity, (3) physical education pedagogy, (4) psychology, (5) research methodology and statistics, (6) sport management and administration, and (7) tutorial and teacher's toolbox. The vast majority of manuscripts submitted to MPEES in 2022 were submitted to one of the four sections: exercise science or physical activity or research methodology and statistics or psychology. MPEES continues to welcome high-quality submissions within each of the seven sections that comprise the journal in 2023. Almost all the original manuscripts submitted to MPEES in 2022 received an initial decision by February 15, 2023 (i.e., 364 of the 367 manuscripts received). When an immediate decision (e.g., desk-rejection) was rendered by the editor-in-chief, it always (i.e., for 303 of 303 manuscripts) occurred within 10 days of receiving the manuscript. When a manuscript was assigned to a section editor by the editor-in-chief, it typically (i.e., for 57 of 61 manuscripts) received an initial decision within 90 days of receiving the manuscript. Nineteen countries were represented across reviewers for the original manuscripts sent out for external review by MPEES in 2022. We gratefully acknowledge, and list in the Appendix, the many scholars (N = 114) from around the world who served as a reviewer for MPEES in 2022. Volume 26 (i.e., the volume published in 2022) of MPEES published a total of 33 manuscripts. More than three-fourths of the published manuscripts were submitted to one of the three sections: exercise science or physical activity or research methodology and statistics. MPEES continues to strive for publishing high-quality manuscripts within each of the seven sections that comprise the journal in 2023. Sixteen countries were represented across the manuscripts published in Volume 26 of MPEES. MPEES continues to strive for publishing high-quality manuscripts written by one or more authors from around the world in 2023. The 2021 impact factor for MPEES was 1.98 representing a decrease of ~14% compared to 2020 when the journal's impact factor was 2.30. However, the 2021 impact factor for MPEES represented an increase of ~16% when compared to 2019 impact factor for MPEES (i.e., the first year MPEES received an impact factor). The value of the 2021 impact factor placed MPEES in the third quartile (i.e., ranked #173 out of 270 journals) within the Education & Educational Research category of Clarivate Analytics. The 2022 impact factor for MPEES is expected to be released in ~June 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the speed, agility, and explosive strength performance of elite basketball players over an 8-week plyometric training program. Fifteen elite male college basketball players in Taiwan (average age 22.16 ± 0.85 years old) were publicly recruited. All participants received 24 plyometric training courses three times per week for 8 weeks, and the courses were implemented pre- and post-test. The speed and agility test items were divided into a 20 m sprint and a T-shaped run. In the explosive strength test, a force plate was used to measure countermovement jump to understand the pre- and post-test differences in all the test indicators, including the rate of force development, time of the rate of force development, ground reaction forces for the moment of jumping, duration of passage, and jump height. It was found that, after the participants underwent the plyometric training program, the body mass index and body fat percentage were significantly reduced, the skeletal muscle mass was significantly increased, and the post-test scores for speed and agility improved significantly. All the participants exhibited a steeper gradient for the rate of force development (r = −0.816~−0.963) and a shorter time for the rate of force development (0.107~0.232 s). The ground reaction forces reached 1509.61~2387.11 Newtons. The duration of passage reached 0.643 s, and the jump height reached 0.624 m. The conclusion was that the plyometric training program can increase muscle volume in the lower limbs and legs, increase the rate of force development, and shorten the jumping time, thereby enhancing explosive strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The debate on whether kinesiology students should undergo fitness testing is controversial. Some are strong proponents of fitness testing, while others are in strong opposition. As advocates for fitness testing among kinesiology majors, we aimed to assess the fitness levels of Exercise Science and Physical Education Teacher Education majors and evaluate current physical education teacher education (PETE) fitness criterion. One hundred and sixteen participants (males N = 49; females N = 67) underwent health-related fitness assessments. 37% of males and 51% of females met PETE's fitness criteria. Both groups performed significantly better in body fat percentage and upper body strength than PETE's acceptable (average) standards; however, most were significantly lower than target (above average) standards. Presented are fitness passing criteria for PETE majors and fitness reporting that aids in improved fitness tracking and accountability. We also highlight the need for NASPE and SHAPE America to clearly define fitness expectations for PETE majors and encourage other kinesiology faculty to consider implementing fitness testing in their programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the cardiovascular consequences of ultramarathons, which are running events longer than a marathon. The study examines the acute effects of extreme endurance exercise on peripheral micro- and macrovascular function and central hemodynamics before, during, and after a 50 km ultramarathon. The findings suggest that 50 km ultramarathon training does not impair macrovascular function and challenge the hypothesis of a "J-shaped" relationship between exercise volume and cardiovascular health. However, more studies are needed to gain further insight into this relationship and determine the potential threshold at which exercise training might start to confer cardiovascular harm. [Extracted from the article]

Exercise and Sport Science (EXSS) is a common degree offered at Australian universities, yet there is no systematic overview of this multidisciplinary field of study. This study aimed to determine the broad curriculum content of Australian EXSS degrees by summarizing the units offered, identify most commonly delivered content areas, and capture course information such as work-integrated learning (WIL) requirements and majors offered. Data were gathered through publicly available university course pages, with 30 EXSS courses included and only core units identified. The most common Australian EXSS units were “Exercise Physiology,” “Biomechanics,” “Research Methods and Data Analysis,” “Exercise Prescription and Delivery,” and “Exercise and Sport Psychology.” WIL requirements ranged from 140 to 300 h per course, and five courses offered majors. This study provides an overview of Australian EXSS courses, with the focus on exercise-related components reflecting accreditation requirements. Future research should examine how these courses equip students for the multidisciplinary EXSS industry.

There is increasing awareness of the importance of civic engagement in higher education. Service-learning activities in undergraduate programs, in particular, have been linked to positive academic outcomes and gains in various forms of self-efficacy. Exercise Science students at our university complete two service-learning courses as part of the curriculum, each of which involves implementing a structured 12-week individualized fitness training program with a community member client. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of these service-learning experiences on Exercise Science students' self-efficacy for fitness assessment and exercise prescription. Students completed a seven-item self-efficacy questionnaire administered at both the beginning and end of each servicelearning course and reflected on their experience using an end-of-course survey. Our results showed significant improvements in self-efficacy from pretest to posttest for each of the two service-learning experiences, with the second experience producing additional gains in self-efficacy over and above the first. Students also reported improved confidence in their fitness assessment and exercise prescription skills in the end-of-course survey. Community members involved in the fitness training program reported a positive experience with students' knowledge of fitness assessment and exercise prescription as well as their own progression to independence in a home exercise program. Our findings highlight the benefits of including a structured service-learning experience in the Exercise Science curriculum. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study was done to investigate the effect of a structured fitness training experience on Exercise Science students' self-efficacy for fitness assessment and exercise prescription. Our results indicate a significant improvement in self-efficacy from pretest to posttest. Students also reported improved confidence in their fitness assessment and exercise prescription skills. Community members reported a positive experience with students' knowledge of fitness assessment and exercise prescription and their progression to independence in a home exercise program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Use of dietary supplements (DS) and muscle enhancing dietary supplements (MEDS) is frequent among students despite the lack of evidence of effects and health risks related to consumption. We need to increase our understanding of students’ motivation, examine potential gender differences, and explore explanatory factors, to address preventive measures related to use. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the frequency of, and the reasons for, DS use among university students, as well as explanatory factors for use of MEDS. Method Male and female students from nine Norwegian universities participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants responded to questions about demographics, DS and MEDS use, internalization of body ideals, physical activity- and exercise level, motives for exercise, and exercise context. Independent t-test, Chi-square test, Pearson’s correlation, and logistic regression were used to investigate between group differences, associations, and explanatory factors for use, respectively. P-values ≤ 0.05 were defined as significant. Results A total of 1001 males (34%) and females, with a mean(sd) age of 24.21(4.76) years, participated. The frequency of DS use was 42% and 40% (p = .414) in males and females, respectively, in which more males than females used DS to improve physical or mental performance (p =

Pre-professional identity (PPI) aims to provide an understanding of, and connection to, the skills and knowledge contained in a degree and the intended profession of the student. Investigation into PPI is of importance to higher-education institutions as it provides a means of understanding a student’s orientation and motivation behind degree and career selection. Developing learning activities that capitalise on these motivations is proposed to increase student engagement, reduce attrition, and enhance employability. Using the growing, but relatively new profession of Exercise Science as an example, this study describes a workshop based on theoretical models relating to the concept of PPI, adult learning and self-reflective practices that can be integrated into programs to enhance students’ understanding of their professional identity. One hundred and seventy-three final year Exercise Science students participated in and evaluated the workshop. The workshop was evaluated using a theoretical framework specifically designed for the evaluation of training activities. The combination of the evaluation and feedback from students were synthesised to develop a model for the application of PPI activities across a three-year undergraduate degree.

Anxiety, depression, and stress are the most common psychological concerns among the population of society. The desirable changes in mental health are obtained through therapeutic diagnosis i.e., physical exercise practice and physical activity participation which are having a great potential as a prevention and treatment for these psychological issues. The purpose of the study was to systematically review the evidences for the effect of an exercise program on psychological variables i.e., anxiety, depression, and stress. For this purpose 198 research articles were reviewed from the available resources i.e. Research Gate, Pub Med, Google Scholar, Springer, Scopus, Web of Science and sample of 38 research articles were selected for the study as per the inclusion criteria. This study was given an idea that exercise interventions were beneficial in reducing the anxiety, depression, and stress. Further, research literature evidently reported that exercise in detention environments improves mental health. Findings of the study were concluded that low to high intensive exercise practices, physical activities and participation in recreational games brought the significant improvement in psychological variables i.e., anxiety, depression, and stress respectively in place of the alternative of drugs and other clinical treatment methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preparing kinesiology undergraduates with the foundational knowledge required by professional organizations is no longer enough when considering the skills students are required to demonstrate upon entering the job market. Work-integrated learning, embedded through curricular and cocurricular activities, has seen extensive growth in the posteducation landscape of Canadian institutions. With increasing expectations from future employers, graduates in the field of kinesiology require more experiential opportunities to meet these expectations. The aim of this paper is to provide commentary on how the Bachelor of Kinesiology program at Capilano University underwent the necessary changes to incorporate a required professional practice stream to align with industry expectations. The authors discuss the development of laddering course learning outcomes, course content, reflection, and student evaluation. Additionally, they provide rationale for its inclusion in the second year of the program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior to 1950, the field of exercise science was in its infancy. Exercise physiologists focused their research on understanding basic mechanisms of how the body responds to exercise and how to increase fitness. Most researchers and almost all research participants were male. Over the next two decades, and coinciding with the passage of Title IX, a few remarkable female exercise scientists emerged whose research and leadership had a profound effect on the field and directly influenced girls' and women's sports participation. This commentary presents an overview of the contributions and impact of several of these groundbreaking female exercise physiologists, Josephine Rathbone, Barbara Drinkwater, Priscilla Clarkson, Christine Wells, and Emily Haymes. We highlight their influence on the development of the field of exercise science and recognize their continued importance to women's sport at the 50th Anniversary of Title IX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstracts PURPOSE Machine learning (ML) refers to newly developed computer algorithms that are improved through iterative experiences. ML applications are expected to assist humans in analyzing large amounts of data. This review has outlined the application of ML in analyzing variable vital data such as walking steps, exercise intensity, heart rate, sleeping hours, sleep quality, resting heart rate, blood pressure, and calorie consumption in a day. Vital data consist of different variables that are closely related to genomic or exercise data. The prediction of healthy traits from a vital dataset has become a necessity in personalized medicine. METHODS Considerations and repeated tasks in supervised, semi-supervised, and unsupervised ML methods are presented. ML methods such as artificial neural networks, Bayesian networks, support vector machines, and decision trees have been widely used in biomedical studies to develop predictive models. Through vital data, these models can help in effective and accurate decision-making for a healthier life. PURPOSE Models based on genomic, exercise, and vital datasets provide a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise. We have provided guidelines to help in the selection of these ML methods and their practical application for variable vital data analysis. CONCLUSIONS Our guidelines could serve as a foundation for implementing both participatory medicine and data-driven exercise science.

Abstract Background Body image is considered a core issue for public health and associates with university students’ overall health. Due to positive associations between exercise and body image, it has been suggested that students within an exercise science program might be more body appreciative compared to other students. On the other hand, the strong societal idealization of the athletic body may expose them to a pressure of having a specific body appearance, which may result in unfavorable health consequences. Nevertheless, studies investigating these hypotheses are lacking. We therefore aimed to explore the level and associations of body appreciation, body appearance pressure, body image related mental health constructs, physical activity, and exercise, in Norwegian university exercise science and non-health reference students. Method Male and female exercise science students (n = 517) and reference students (n = 476), from nine large universities in Norway took part in this cross-sectional study. Participants responded to the Body appreciation scale-2, a self-developed questionnaire on body appearance pressure, Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised, Sociocultural attitudes towards appearance questionnaire-4R, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and questions about physical activity and exercise. Between group differences were analyzed using student independent t-test and ANCOVA for parametric data and Chi-square test for categorical data, and associations were evaluated by Person’s correlation. P-values ≤0.05 were defined as significant. Results Female exercise science students had higher scores on body appreciation compared to reference students. No group difference was found in males. A high percentage of students reported experiencing body appearance pressure, with 69 and 85% among male and female exercise science students, and 57 and 83% among male and female reference students. Fitness centers were the settings where most respondents experienced body appearance pressure. Body appreciation was strongly associated with favorable scores on body image related mental health constructs, while personally experienced body appearance pressure associated with destructive scores on the same constructs. Conclusion Body appearance pressure is an issue among university students regardless of study program. Actions to promote body appreciation and prevent body appearance pressure may include an implementation of media literacy, body functionality, and exercise as topics within the education program to safeguard students’ health and well-being. Clinical trial registry No. NCT04256967 .

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the speed, agility, and explosive strength performance of elite basketball players over an 8-week plyometric training program. Fifteen elite male college basketball players in Taiwan (average age 22.16 ± 0.85 years old) were publicly recruited. All participants received 24 plyometric training courses three times per week for 8 weeks, and the courses were implemented pre- and post-test. The speed and agility test items were divided into a 20 m sprint and a T-shaped run. In the explosive strength test, a force plate was used to measure countermovement jump to understand the pre- and post-test differences in all the test indicators, including the rate of force development, time of the rate of force development, ground reaction forces for the moment of jumping, duration of passage, and jump height. It was found that, after the participants underwent the plyometric training program, the body mass index and body fat percentage were significantly reduced, the skeletal muscle mass was significantly increased, and the post-test scores for speed and agility improved significantly. All the participants exhibited a steeper gradient for the rate of force development (r = −0.816~−0.963) and a shorter time for the rate of force development (0.107~0.232 s). The ground reaction forces reached 1509.61~2387.11 Newtons. The duration of passage reached 0.643 s, and the jump height reached 0.624 m. The conclusion was that the plyometric training program can increase muscle volume in the lower limbs and legs, increase the rate of force development, and shorten the jumping time, thereby enhancing explosive strength.

In this manifesto, we make the case that Exercise Science can and must do more to improve the health of the public and the planet. Post pandemic, our vision for Exercise Science is one of a maturing scientific discipline reaching outwards from a base of strong empirical evidence to have a profound and sustained positive global impact on health. In each of the three main areas of the discipline – research, teaching, and professional practice – a new and distinctive approach is needed. We propose 12 points of action, in no particular order, for a). quality, rigour, and professional standing, and b). reach, relevance, and public engagement and make numerous suggestions for action and change. We encourage the teachers, researchers and practitioners of Exercise Science to consider and act on these recommendations. We hope that this manifesto can help create a shared sense of purpose amongst the global Exercise Science community and further the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion. To act on these principles, we need to cultivate a discipline that encourages more women, people who experience racism and other forms of discrimination, and people with a disability to become involved in the discipline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of degrees conferred by postsecondary institutions in an academic field reflects institutional priorities, public interest in a domain of human knowledge, and overall societal and economic demand for certain skills and abilities. Public postsecondary institutions, which are obligated to serve the public interest, and professional organizations, which are meant to reflect the values and interests of their members, should monitor degrees conferred, in part, to understand the career pathways of their graduates or members. The current report describes secular trends in degrees conferred in exercise physiology in the United States since 2002-2003. Data were obtained from spreadsheets published by the National Center for Education Statistics. The number of bachelor's degrees conferred in exercise physiology plateaued starting in 2017-2018 before increasing again in 2020-2021. In 2021-2022, 31,066 bachelor's degrees were conferred in exercise physiology, representing the highest yearly total on record (1.5% of all U.S. bachelor's degrees). The increase has been driven by female graduates (2021-2022: 58.9% women). The number of male graduates started plateauing in 2016-2017. The number of master's degrees conferred has continued to increase (2021-2022: 51.6% women), and doctorate degrees have numbered between 245 and 300 per year since 2013-2014 (2021-2022: 52.2% women). Moving forward, exercise physiology organizations are encouraged to monitor secular trends in degrees conferred and include these data in large-scale graduate destination reports. The plateauing of male exercise physiology graduates over the past 6 years and the significantly lower proportion of male than female graduates averaged across all academic fields warrant continued discussion. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The field of exercise physiology has experienced substantial growth at postsecondary institutions in the United States over the past 20 years. Growth has slowed in recent years, but the number of bachelor's degrees conferred in the field reached a record high in 2021-2022. The increase in bachelor's degrees conferred has been driven largely by increased numbers of female graduates (58.9% female). The number of male graduates plateaued starting in 2016-2017.

Background: Use of dietary supplements (DS) and muscle enhancing dietary supplements (MEDS) is frequent among students despite the lack of evidence of effects and health risks related to consumption. We need to increase our understanding of students' motivation, examine potential gender differences, and explore explanatory factors, to address preventive measures related to use. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the frequency of, and the reasons for, DS use among university students, as well as explanatory factors for use of MEDS. Method: Male and female students from nine Norwegian universities participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants responded to questions about demographics, DS and MEDS use, internalization of body ideals, physical activity- and exercise level, motives for exercise, and exercise context. Independent t-test, Chi-square test, Pearson's correlation, and logistic regression were used to investigate between group differences, associations, and explanatory factors for use, respectively. P-values ≤ 0.05 were defined as significant. Results: A total of 1001 males (34%) and females, with a mean(sd) age of 24.21(4.76) years, participated. The frequency of DS use was 42% and 40% (p =.414) in males and females, respectively, in which more males than females used DS to improve physical or mental performance (p = <.001), increase muscle mass (p = <.001) and weight for health (p =.014), and improve appearance (p = <.001). In males and females, respectively, 25% and 10% used MEDS (p = <.001). In males, being a fitness center member (OR:3.80), exercising to improve muscle mass (OR:1.96), and a higher physical activity level (OR:1.09) positively explained MEDS use, while exercising to increase endurance (OR:0.49) and being an exercise science student (OR:0.47) negatively explained MEDS use. In females, internalizing the athletic body ideal (OR:1.78) and exercising to improve muscle mass (OR:1.74) positively explained MEDS use. Conclusions: Our main findings indicate that a surprisingly high percentage of male and female Norwegian students use DS and MEDS, and that reasons for use, and variables explaining the variability in frequency of use, differ between genders. Longitudinal studies to investigate direction of associations are needed in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two hundred twelve high school varsity head coaches who coached sanctioned sports in the Arkansas Activity Association (AAA) served as subjects for this study. Participants were asked to identify selected demographic and career information, the undergraduate degree course work they completed in their undergraduate preparation programs, and those courses they currently deemed essential in their job as head coaches. Upon completion of a Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, it was determined that a statistically meaningful difference existed between the two lists. When comparing the top 5 courses, two were found to be held in common between the lists (40%). When comparing the top 10 there were 6 commonalities between the rankings (60%), and when the top 15 courses were scrutinized there were 10 courses identified as being similar between the two inventories (66.66%). As it related to the grouping of courses within the study into curricular categories, those courses identified with Physical Education decreased -32 positions between the two rankings, while those courses associated with Athletic Coaching rose a total of +22 rank order positions between the two rankings. Those courses related to Exercise Science, although remaining relatively stable between the two lists, still rose a combined +7 rank positions between the two lists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the most influential sources of information that first introduced exercise science undergraduate students to their current major and sought to determine if any differences existed between demographic variables. An electronic questionnaire ranking the level of influence of 27 potential sources of information was completed by 131 exercise science students at a regional, midwestern university. Personal experience with the major, health care professionals in the major, and friend or family member in the major were among the highest non-college related sources, while college introductory courses and college instructors in the major were reported as the most influential collegerelated sources. The most influential sources of information remained consistent between the demographic variables of gender, age, academic rank, hometown population, and racial/ethnic background. These findings can be used to help institutions and kinesiology and exercise science programs to create or modify recruiting campaigns and marketing materials to be both more effective and more informative for prospective students. Ensuring that students have accurate information on which to base their major selection decisions on can allow them to make a more informed major selection earlier in their academic career, potentially increasing satisfaction and minimizing the need to extend the time to graduation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pre-professional identity (PPI) is an understanding of the skills, qualities, conduct, culture and ideology of a students' intended profession. Understanding PPI is valuable for students and higher-education providers to provide insight into motivation for- and to promote engagement in-learning. Describing PPI is challenging, particularly for evolving health professions. This paper describes a process undertaken to understand PPI, using exercise science (ES), a new and evolving health profession, as a case study. Mixed methods were used to describe three aspects of PPI: 1) student cohort characteristics; 2) personal factors influencing PPI; and 3) perceived career direction. Final year ES students participated in an online survey and a focus group (n=305; 59% male; 75% age range of 20-24 years). Factors contributing to the development of PPI included the desire to help others; interest and experience in sports/exercise. Students had the strongest understanding of the PI domains of affiliation, money and structure and limited understanding of the role of scientist and researcher. Two outcomes were derived from the study findings to advance the theoretical understanding of PPI: 1) a 3-item framework that describes factors specific to students' PPI; and 2) a worked case study demonstrating how this framework was applied to gain a nuanced understanding of PPI in ES. Our framework can be applied to increase student and higher education providers understanding of PPI and the motivations underpinning student decision-making in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interdisciplinary work is increasingly becoming a larger expectation in research and teaching. Moreover, prominent kinesiologists have proposed interdisciplinary research as a solution to perceived and/or real fragmentation issues that have developed within the field and across, and even within the various subdisciplines. For such an important topic, however, there is a lack of research surrounding interdisciplinary research in kinesiology. This may be due to the ambiguity surrounding interdisciplinary research, an often misunderstood and misapplied concept with deep philosophical roots. The purpose of this article is to help those in kinesiology understand and use interdisciplinary concepts in their work. Toward this end, the article provides an overview of the literature and suggests kinesiology-specific definitions for interdisciplinary and intradisciplinary research. Additionally, the article gives examples of interdisciplinary research projects. Finally, the article will expand beyond scholarship and explore the importance of interdisciplinary teaching and service as well. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Letters to the editor are often critiques of published research papers. Journal editors acknowledge the importance of letters in post-publication review, yet the themes of letters remain unclear. Incidentally, letters can also be used to examine "authorship inflation" in academic publishing, as confounders (e.g., research complexity) are naturally controlled by the letter model. Thus, the aim of Study 1 was to describe the contents of letters published in nine exercise science and physical therapy journals between 2000 and 2018 (n = 1047 letters). The aim of Study 2 was to determine if mean number of authors per letter increased between 1963 and 2018 in seven exercise science and physical therapy journals (n = 2247 letters). Letter writers most commonly commented on results interpretation (52.7% of letters), methods (52.5%), referencing (12.1%), statistics (11.7%), terminology or definitions (5.0%), data errors (4.1%), and ethical or safety issues (2.5%). Letter writers also frequently referenced their own work (51.8%) and provided compliments (31.5%). In Study 2, when data from all journals were combined and categorized in 5-year epochs, mean number of authors per letter generally increased over time: 1980–84 (1.30 ± 0.66; mean ± SD), 1985–89 (1.32 ± 0.64), 1990–94 (1.56 ± 1.42), 1995–99 (1.47 ± 0.87), 2000–04 (1.55 ± 0.95), 2005–09 (1.80 ± 1.11), 2010–14 (2.11 ± 1.27), and 2015–18 (2.73 ± 3.21). Percentage of single-author letters decreased from 77.9% in 1980–84 to 30.6% in 2015–18. Overall, the results clarify the role of letters in post-publication review. They also suggest "authorship inflation" in letters published in scientific journals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of exercise science training knowledge has been of growing interest to voice professionals. This tutorial, derived from the authors' invited presentations from the "Exercise and the Voice" Special Session at the 2018 Voice Foundation Symposium, proposes a foundational theoretical structure based in exercise science, clarifies the wide range of variables that may influence voice training, and summarizes our present understanding of voice physiology from the perspective of muscle training. The body of literature on voice exercise was then analyzed from the perspective of this framework, identifying what we currently know and what we still have yet to learn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited scholarship exists on the history of strength training research. The current review advances existing qualitative and biographical work by inventorying all experimental studies and case reports published before 1980 on the effects of $1 week of strength training on human health and function. Data on authors, journals, citations, study samples, training interventions, study outcomes, and study themes were extracted and summarized. Three hundred thirty-nine strength training studies were published between 1894 and 1979. Studies included 14,575 subjects, with 10,350 undergoing strength training. Subjects were usually healthy (81.1% of articles), university students (51.0%), or aged 18-65 years (86.7%). Men comprised 70.0% of subjects. Interventions typically involved isoinertial only (64.6%) or isometric only (35.4%) training. Upper-body interventionsweremore common (35.4%) than lower-body interventions (27.4%). Duration and frequency of trainingwere typically 4-8 weeks (55.3%) and 3 days per week (39.2%), respectively. Isometric maximal voluntary contractions (54.0%) and one repetition maximum (20.4%) were the most common muscle strength tests. Other common outcomes included limb girths (20.9%) andmuscle endurance (19.5%). Common research themes were physiology (54.3%), physical fitness (28.9%), and injury/rehabilitation (20.4%). The 339 studies have been cited 21,996 times. Moritani and deVries' 1979 article on time course of neuromuscular adaptations is the most highly cited (1,815 citations). DeLorme (5 articles and 772 citations), Hellebrandt (4 articles and 402 citations), Rasch (9 articles and 318 citations), and Berger (12 articles and 1,293 citations) made the largest contributions. Research Quarterly published the most articles (27.4%). The history of strength training research is discussed in the context of the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Body image is considered a core issue for public health and associates with university students' overall health. Due to positive associations between exercise and body image, it has been suggested that students within an exercise science program might be more body appreciative compared to other students. On the other hand, the strong societal idealization of the athletic body may expose them to a pressure of having a specific body appearance, which may result in unfavorable health consequences. Nevertheless, studies investigating these hypotheses are lacking. We therefore aimed to explore the level and associations of body appreciation, body appearance pressure, body image related mental health constructs, physical activity, and exercise, in Norwegian university exercise science and non-health reference students.Method: Male and female exercise science students (n = 517) and reference students (n = 476), from nine large universities in Norway took part in this cross-sectional study. Participants responded to the Body appreciation scale-2, a self-developed questionnaire on body appearance pressure, Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised, Sociocultural attitudes towards appearance questionnaire-4R, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and questions about physical activity and exercise. Between group differences were analyzed using student independent t-test and ANCOVA for parametric data and Chi-square test for categorical data, and associations were evaluated by Person's correlation. P-values ≤0.05 were defined as significant.Results: Female exercise science students had higher scores on body appreciation compared to reference students. No group difference was found in males. A high percentage of students reported experiencing body appearance pressure, with 69 and 85% among male and female exercise science students, and 57 and 83% among male and female reference students. Fitness centers were the settings where most respondents experienced body appearance pressure. Body appreciation was strongly associated with favorable scores on body image related mental health constructs, while personally experienced body appearance pressure associated with destructive scores on the same constructs.Conclusion: Body appearance pressure is an issue among university students regardless of study program. Actions to promote body appreciation and prevent body appearance pressure may include an implementation of media literacy, body functionality, and exercise as topics within the education program to safeguard students' health and well-being.Clinical Trial Registry: No. NCT04256967 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Yoga is an increasingly popular choice of exercise for the Western population, with people engaging in yoga for a range of physical and mental health and well-being reasons. The aim of this scoping review is to examine whether yoga is considered an exercise modality within relevant leading journals, as evidenced by its consideration in systematic reviews (SRs) of exercise interventions for health-related outcomes. Methods: Design: Scoping review.Data sources: Three leading sources (Sports Medicine, British Journal of Sports Medicine and Cochrane Collaboration) were searched.Eligibility criteria for selecting studies: The ten most recently published systematic reviews of exercise interventions for health-related outcomes from each journal were included (N = 30) that met these criteria: systematic review studying humans participating in general exercise and measuring a health-related outcome. Exercise interventions with any specific qualifying terms (e.g. aquatic, strength, aerobic) were excluded. Results: The articles retrieved were published between 2007 and 2019, and collectively included 991 interventions. Seven reviews explicitly stated that yoga was to be included/excluded while twenty-three studies made no mention of how yoga was being considered in the methodology. Five studies included yoga in the search strategy, implying its inclusion. Post-hoc analyses found that the definitions of exercise in general were also variable. Exercise definition specificity was not associated with whether or not yoga was assessed for inclusion. Conclusions: Systematic reviews of exercise and physical activity interventions for health-related outcomes do not consistently make clear whether or not they include or exclude yoga as a form of exercise.

Background: The use of wrist worn wearable fitness trackers has been growing rapidly over the last decade. The growing popularity can be partly attributed to the improvements in technology, making activity trackers more affordable, comfortable and convenient for use in different fitness and environmental applications. Fitness trackers typically monitor activity level, track steps, distance, heart rate (HR), sleep, peripheral capillary oxygen saturation and more, as the technology continuously is advancing. In terms of measuring HR, photoplethysmography (PPG) is a relatively new technology utilised in wearables. PPG estimates HR through an optical technique that monitors changes in blood volume beneath the skin. With these new products becoming available it is important that the validity of these devices be evaluated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the validity of the Polar Vantage M (PVM) watch to measure HR compared to medical grade ECG on a healthy population during a range of treadmill exercise intensities. Methods: A total of 30 healthy participants (n = 17 males, n = 13 females) were recruited for this study. The validity of the PVM watch to measure HR was compared against the gold standard 5-lead ECG. The study was conducted on 2 separate testing days with 24-48 h between sessions. Participants completed the Bruce Treadmill Protocol, and HR was measured every 30 s. Validation of the PVM watch in comparison to the ECG was measured with an Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CI) and levels of agreement were identified with Bland-Altman plots with 90% limits of agreement. Linear regression analysis was performed to calculate the value of r2 computing the variation of HR obtained by the PVM watch and ECG. Results: In total, 30 participants completed the protocol, with data from 28 participants utilised for statistical analysis (16 males, 14 females, 26.10 ± 3.39 years, height 52.36 m ± 7.40 cm, mass 73.59 ± 11.90 kg). A strong and significant correlation was found between the PVM watch and ECG, demonstrating good criterion validity (p < 0.05, r2 = 0.87). Good validity was seen for day 1 and day 2 for stage 0 (ICC = 0.83; 95% CI [0.63-0.92], ICC = 0.74; 95% CI [0.37-0.88]), stage 1 (ICC = 0.78; 95% CI [0.52-0.90], ICC = 0.88; 95% CI [0.74-0.95]), and stage 2 (ICC = 0.88; 95% CI [0.73-0.94], ICC = 0.80; 95% CI [0.40-0.92]). Poor validity was demonstrated on day 1 and day 2 for stages 3-5 (ICC < 0.50). Conclusion: This study revealed that the PVM watch had a strong correlation with the ECG throughout the entire Bruce Protocol, however the level of agreement (LoA) becomes widely dispersed as exercise intensities increased. Due to the large LoA between the ECG and PVM watch, it is not advisable to use this device in clinical populations in which accurate HR measures are essential for patient safety; however, the watch maybe used in settings where less accurate HR is not critical to an individual's safety while exercising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent discussions in the sport and exercise science community have focused on the appropriate use and reporting of effect sizes. Sport and exercise scientists often analyze repeated-measures data, from which mean differences are reported. To aid the interpretation of these data, standardized mean differences (SMD) are commonly reported as a description of effect size. In this manuscript, we hope to alleviate some confusion. First, we provide a philosophical framework for conceptualizing SMDs; that is, by dichotomizing them into two groups: magnitude-based and signal-to-noise SMDs. Second, we describe the statistical properties of SMDs and their implications. Finally, we provide high-level recommendations for how sport and exercise scientists can thoughtfully report raw effect sizes, SMDs, or other effect sizes for their own studies. This conceptual framework provides sport and exercise scientists with the background necessary to make and justify their choice of an SMD.

Recent discussions in the sport and exercise science community have focused on the appropriate use and reporting of effect sizes. Sport and exercise scientists often analyze repeated-measures data, from which mean differences are reported. To aid the interpretation of these data, standardized mean differences (SMD) are commonly reported as a description of effect size. In this manuscript, we hope to alleviate some confusion. First, we provide a philosophical framework for conceptualizing SMDs; that is, by dichotomizing them into two groups: magnitude-based and signal-to-noise SMDs. Second, we describe the statistical properties of SMDs and their implications. Finally, we provide high-level recommendations for how sport and exercise scientists can thoughtfully report raw effect sizes, SMDs, or other effect sizes for their own studies. This conceptual framework provides sport and exercise scientists with the background necessary to make and justify their choice of an SMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to identify factors important to quality in exercise performance studies, specifically in the domains of aerobic, anaerobic and strength exercise. Factors related to diet and body composition were also targeted as these often influence or change with exercise.Design: Cross-sectional study employing focus groups and a modified Delphi method.Methods: Academic staff and research students within the discipline of exercise science in a research-intensive university participated in focus groups to generate discipline-specific factors important to study quality. These factors were subsequently presented in a modified Delphi survey to a panel of international researchers with expertise in at least one of the domains. Item consensus was defined as >70% agreement on importance. The initial round contained all items generated from the focus groups. Subsequent rounds only presented items where consensus was not achieved, and additional items suggested by participants.Results: The academic staff (n = 10) and research students (n = 9) generated 22 items generic to all exercise performance studies and 71 domain-specific items. Over two Delphi survey rounds involving 18 international researchers, consensus on importance was achieved for 19 generic items. Identified factors addressed exercise testing and prescription protocols, equipment and compliance to interventions. Consensus on 66 specific items was achieved but was limited by small domain-specific participant numbers (4-8).Conclusions: Numerous discipline-specific factors were identified as important to study quality. These factors can subsequently be used to inform the development of a tool to evaluate study quality in exercise performance research or inform best clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]