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Safe Start/Return to Training and Physical Activities Following Inactivity and Its Influence on Health and Performance

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Sport and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2022) | Viewed by 36655

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Dr. Shaher A.I. Shalfawi

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Department of Education and Sports Science, Faculty of Arts and Education, University of Stavanger, 4036 Stavanger, Norway
Interests: measurements in sport and exercise; health risk assessment; biomechanics; sport psychology; training load; public health; heartrate and mortality; scientific methods and the philosophy of science; training-load management and its impact on young athletes’ general health; strength and conditioning; exercise and sport science; exercise physiology; exercise and performance; physical activity assessment; physical education; data analysis; higher education
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Dear colleagues,

Since the 1980s, researchers have clearly indicated that the highest rates of sudden death and severe injuries requiring medical care occur during both organized sports and regular practice. The major populations affected by these phenomena are athletes returning to sport after periods of inactivity, people starting physical activities and training, people transitioning from lower-level activities to higher-level activities, and those undergoing puberty, with differences according to biological sex. Hence, quantitative and qualitative methodological studies that address “best practice” are justified due to the lack of such studies. This Special Issue in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is devoted to publishing recent findings on a “Safe Start/Return to Training and Physical Activities Following Inactivity and Its Influence on Health and Performance” and aims to make a substantial contribution to the knowledge about:

Women’s health;
Young athletes’ health and performance;
Psychological and physiological testing methods that contribute to monitoring population and specific groups’ health and performance;
Methods for the evaluation of different approaches to preventing sudden death and severe injuries requiring medical care;
Studies addressing the relational coordination among individuals, trainers, administrators, health studios, clubs, etc.;
The assessment of preparticipation medical evaluations, and their impact on preventing sudden cardiac death, exertional heat illnesses, and exertional rhabdomyolysis;
Studies regarding puberty and its influence on health and performance.

Hence, this issue aims to address a wide range of topics, related to, but not limited to, a safe start/return to training and physical activities following inactivity and its influence on health and performance. Therefore, the scope of this Special Issue is to explore all aspects that can markedly contribute to the development of scientists, teachers, coaches, athletes, women, the young and the elderly, and to the optimization of practice, including in health risk assessment and management, combined with effective prevention methods.

Dr. Shaher A.I. Shalfawi
Guest Editor

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Keywords

sudden cardiac death
exertional heat illnesses
exertional rhabdomyolysis
young athlete wellbeing
Women’s health
physical activity
preparticipation medical evaluations
physiological performance testing
psychological performance testing
relational coordination
biomechanics
heart rate variability

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Related Special Issue

Sport and Exercise for Health and Performance in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (40 articles)

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 3155 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Variability in Physical Inactivity Responses of University Students during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Monitoring of Daily Step Counts Using a Smartphone Application

by Shoji Konda, Issei Ogasawara, Kazuki Fujita, Chisa Aoyama, Teruki Yokoyama, Takuya Magome, Chen Yulong, Ken Hashizume, Tomoyuki Matsuo and Ken Nakata

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(4), 1958; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19041958 - 10 Feb 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3308

Abstract

This study investigated the changes in physical inactivity of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic, with reference to their academic calendar. We used the daily step counts recorded by a smartphone application (iPhone Health App) from April 2020 to January 2021 (287 days) for 603 participants. The data for 287 days were divided into five periods based on their academic calendar. The median value of daily step counts across each period was calculated. A k-means clustering analysis was performed to classify the 603 participants into subgroups to demonstrate the variability in the physical inactivity responses. The median daily step counts, with a 7-day moving average, dramatically decreased from 5000 to 2000 steps/day in early April. It remained at a lower level (less than 2000 steps/day) during the first semester, then increased to more than 5000 steps/day at the start of summer vacation. The clustering analysis demonstrated the variability in physical inactivity responses. The inactive students did not recover daily step counts throughout the year. Consequently, promoting physical activity is recommended for inactive university students over the course of the whole semester. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safe Start/Return to Training and Physical Activities Following Inactivity and Its Influence on Health and Performance)

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16 pages, 3257 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physical Activity, Stress, Depression, Emotional Intelligence, Logical Thinking, and Overall Health in a Large Lithuanian from October 2019 to June 2020: Age and Gender Differences Adult Sample

by Albertas Skurvydas, Ausra Lisinskiene, Marc Lochbaum, Daiva Majauskiene, Dovile Valanciene, Ruta Dadeliene, Natalja Fatkulina and Asta Sarkauskiene

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(23), 12809; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312809 - 4 Dec 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3796

Abstract

This study aimed to examine relationships and group differences among adult people’s (aged 18–74) physical activity (PA), expression of stress, depression, emotional intelligence (EI), logical thinking (LT), and overall health assessment. Two hypotheses were formulated before the study. The first hypothesis is that overweight and obesity in young adults (18 to 34 years) females and males, in particular, should increase sharply and this should be associated with decreased PA, abruptly deteriorating subject health, increased stress, depression, and poorer emotion management and EI. Second hypothesis: We further thought that the better people’s reflective thinking, the more they should live a healthier life (e.g., exercise more and eat healthier), their overweight and obesity should be small or none. We aimed to confirm or reject these two hypotheses. We applied a quantitative cross-sectional study design. The study results revealed that during the lifespan of 18–24 and 25–34 years (young adults) there was a sharp increase in overweight and obesity, a decrease in PA (and especially vigorous physical activity (VPA)) (and this was particularly evident in the male), while research participants felt less stress and depression, subjective assessment of health did not change, and EI increased steadily with age (18–24 to 65–74 years). The higher the EI of the research participants from 18–24 to 65–74 years of age the higher their moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), the less stress and depression they felt. Based on the results, it can be said that both females and males prefer PA “with a hot heart rather than a cold mind.” We base this conclusion on the fact that females and males who have the highest EI also have the highest MVPA while LT is not associated with MVPA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safe Start/Return to Training and Physical Activities Following Inactivity and Its Influence on Health and Performance)

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15 pages, 679 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dietary Changes, Motivators, and Barriers Affecting Diet and Physical Activity among Overweight and Obese: A Mixed Methods Approach

by Merete Hagen Helland and Gerd Lise Nordbotten

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(20), 10582; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010582 - 9 Oct 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 6790

Abstract

The aims of this study were to examine (1) effects of nutritional guidance and physical activity on dietary habits among overweight and obese after an intervention and one year after follow-up (quantitative study) and (2) barriers and motivators for changes in diet and physical activity (qualitative study). A total of 98 participants with a mean age of 46.8 ± 10.2 years were included and divided into a Training Group (TG) (n = 51) or a Nutritional Guidance and Training Group (NTG) (n = 47). At baseline, after 33 weeks, and one year after the intervention, participants answered a questionnaire. Interviews gave data to elicit motivations and challenges related to diet and exercise. A GLM repeated measures analysis was used to investigate differences and interactions between factors. Participants ate healthier after starting to exercise. After 33 weeks, the NTG ate significantly more vegetables (p = 0.026) and legumes (p < 0.01) than the TG. No significant differences were found one year after follow-up. General health was the most important motivator for changing diet and exercise. Barriers to changing diet were related to work, family, meal size, and participants’ internal decisions to change habits. Barriers to exercise were holidays and time constraints. Planning purchases and regular exercise were important factors to achieve and maintain weight loss. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safe Start/Return to Training and Physical Activities Following Inactivity and Its Influence on Health and Performance)

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13 pages, 682 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome According to Absolute and Relative Values of Muscle Strength in Middle-Aged and Elderly Women

by Wangyang Zhang, Zijian Zhao, Xuebin Sun and Xiaoxia Tian

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(17), 9073; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18179073 - 27 Aug 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2443

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) increases with age, obesity, low physical activity, and decreased muscle strength. Although many studies have reported on grip strength and MetS, few studies have been conducted on leg strength. The purpose of this study was to analyze the prevalence of MetS according to absolute and relative leg strength values in middle-aged and older women. The participants were 1053 women who visited the healthcare center: middle-aged (n = 453) and older (n = 601). MetS was diagnosed using the criteria established by the third report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III and the World Health Organization’s Asia Pacific guidelines for waist circumference. For leg strength, knee flexion and extension were performed using isokinetic equipment. Grip strength was measured using a grip dynamometer and classified into quartiles. Analysis of prevalence using logistic regression showed that MetS was present in 21.2% of middle-aged and 39.4% of older women. The lowest relative leg extension increased 2.5 times in the middle-aged and 1.5 times in older women (p < 0.05). However, leg flexion did not have a significant prevalence in either age group. The prevalence of MetS in middle-aged and older women with the lowest relative grip strength increased 1.5 and 1.2 times, respectively. Conversely, the lower the absolute leg extension strength, the lower the MetS prevalence was at 0.520 in middle-aged and 0.566 in older women (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the prevalence of MetS increased in women with low relative grip and leg strengths. Specifically, the lower the relative leg extension muscle strength, the higher the prevalence of MetS. In addition, the prevalence of MetS increased in the high-frequency alcohol consumption and non-physical activity group. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safe Start/Return to Training and Physical Activities Following Inactivity and Its Influence on Health and Performance)

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9 pages, 469 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Recovery of Abdominal Muscle Thickness and Contractile Function in Women after Childbirth

by Mako Fukano, Yuka Tsukahara, Seira Takei, Sayaka Nose-Ogura, Tomoyuki Fujii and Suguru Torii

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(4), 2130; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18042130 - 22 Feb 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 5003

Abstract

Abdominal muscles may be both morphologically and functionally affected by pregnancy. Dysfunction of the muscles can lead to persistent postpartum low back pain. The recovery process of the abdominal muscles following childbirth is not well understood. This study aimed to demonstrate the changes in the thickness and contractile function of abdominal muscles during the first six months postpartum. Nine perinatal and 15 nulliparous females participated. The thicknesses and contraction/relaxation thickness ratios of the rectus abdominis (RA), external abdominal oblique (EO), internal abdominal oblique (IO), and transverse abdominis (TrA) were measured using ultrasound images from 36–39 weeks’ gestation until six months postpartum. The RA, IO, and TrA muscles were thinner in perinatal females than controls at 36–39 weeks of gestation (4.8 vs. 9.47 mm (RA), 5.45 vs. 7.73 mm (IO), 2.56 vs. 3.38 mm (TrA), respectively). The thinner IO muscle persisted for six months after delivery. The decreased TrA thickness ratio persisted until four months post-delivery. Abdominal muscle thickness and contractile function decreased in the postpartum period. Therefore, abdominal muscle exercises might help prevent postpartum symptoms; however, because deterioration of muscle function is significant in the first four months, careful attention should be paid to exercise intensity. The study limitation was a relatively small sample size, thus future studies should involve more participants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safe Start/Return to Training and Physical Activities Following Inactivity and Its Influence on Health and Performance)

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Review

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22 pages, 35609 KiB

Open AccessReview

Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Overweight and Obesity Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

by Meng Cao, Yucheng Tang, Shu Li and Yu Zou

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(22), 11905; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182211905 - 12 Nov 2021

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 8449

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this review was to compare the effectiveness of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on cardiometabolic risk factors of obese children and adolescents. Methods: Relevant studies published in PubMed, MEDLINE and Web of Science databases were searched. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the effect of HIIT and MICT on children and adolescents with obesity were included. Meta-analyses were conducted to determine the effect of HIIT on cardiometabolic risk factors using STATA software and potential moderators were explored (i.e., study duration, training modalities, work/rest ratio and work duration time). Results: Twelve RCTs involving 325 participants were included in the meta-analysis. HIIT showed more positive effects on maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max; SMD = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.39 to 1.35, p = 0.000) and systolic blood pressure (SBP; SMD = −0.64, 95% CI: −1.05 to −0.22, p = 0.003) than MICT. However, when compared with MICT, HIIT caused no significant differences in body weight, body mass index, body fat percentage, diastolic blood pressure and glycolipid metabolism markers. Furthermore, subgroup analysis showed that the effects of HIIT on VO_2max and SBP were significantly different regarding protocol factors, such as modality, duration, training time, training settings, work/rest ratio and work duration. Conclusions: HIIT has a positive role in promoting cardiometabolic risk factors in obese children and adolescents. Moreover, when compared with MICT, HIIT had a more significant effect on improving cardiorespiratory fitness and systolic blood pressure. The factors of HIIT protocol had an important influence on the intervention effects of childhood obesity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safe Start/Return to Training and Physical Activities Following Inactivity and Its Influence on Health and Performance)

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Other

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20 pages, 1831 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Effects of Taekwondo Training on Body Composition: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

by Seunghui Baek, Jong-Beom Park, Sang-Hwan Choi, Jae-Don Lee and Sang-Seok Nam

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(21), 11550; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111550 - 3 Nov 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5942

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Taekwondo training on body composition and to evaluate the magnitude of the effect. Methods: Databases were used to select studies related to the effectiveness of Taekwondo training, and the inclusion criteria were as follows. Results: Thirty-seven studies were selected. We found statistically significant differences from the control group in weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist–hip ratio (WHR), body fat mass, body fat percentage, lean mass, and muscle mass. Also, the age group was statistically significant in control variables on weight, BMI, and body fat percentage. Conclusions: Taekwondo training had a positive effect on body composition, and these results suggest that Taekwondo training is an effective exercise method to lower obesity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safe Start/Return to Training and Physical Activities Following Inactivity and Its Influence on Health and Performance)

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