Search Results (2,818)

Background: Arterial hypertension (AH) remains a leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Although the inverse association between physical activity (PA) and AH is well established, practice-based evidence from consecutive primary care populations remains clinically relevant for evaluating how this association appears under routine healthcare conditions. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study evaluated the association between self-reported PA and clinically defined AH in 1284 adult patients from routine primary care practice. PA was categorized according to World Health Organization recommendations as low (<150 min/week), moderate (150–300 min/week), or high (>300 min/week). AH was defined as a documented clinical diagnosis and/or ongoing antihypertensive treatment. Logistic regression was used to assess associations between PA category and AH, with adjustment for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and LDL-C. Results: AH was present in 41.2% of the study population. AH prevalence differed significantly across PA categories, decreasing from 55.9% in the low PA group to 40.8% in the moderate PA group and 26.7% in the high PA group (p < 0.001). Compared with low PA, moderate and high PA were associated with lower odds of AH in crude analysis (OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.41–0.71; and OR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.21–0.39, respectively). These associations remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, and LDL-C. Conclusions: Higher self-reported PA was associated with lower prevalence of clinically defined AH in consecutive primary care patients. The main contribution of this study is the replication and quantification of this established association in a real-world primary care cohort using pragmatic PA categories and routinely documented AH. Because of the cross-sectional design, these findings should be interpreted as associations and do not establish causality or directionality. Broader physiological and self-regulatory capacity may represent a hypothesis-generating direction for future research, but these processes were not directly measured in this study. Full article

Background: University students often face significant psychological challenges and lifestyle disruptions that may compromise their mental resources and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Although associations between physical activity (PA) and mental health have been widely reported, few studies have integrated different PA intensities, sedentary behavior, and psychological resources jointly related in one analytical model. Objective: This study investigated the relationships among vigorous (VPA), moderate (MPA), and light (LPA) physical activity, sedentary behavior (SB), resilience (RES), self-esteem (SE), and HRQoL in a sample of Chinese university students. Methods: A cross-sectional survey included 1560 university students from six universities in China, with a mean age of 19.43 ± 1.15 years; the sample comprised 434 males (27.8%) and 1126 females (72.2%). Relationships among the variables were tested using path analysis within a structural equation modeling framework. Results: Greater PA engagement was related to higher RES, SE, and HRQoL, whereas SB was not significantly associated with RES. All three PA intensities were positively associated with RES, although the magnitude of these associations varied. In addition, RES was also related to higher SE and HRQoL, and SE was related to higher HRQoL. Conclusions: These findings suggest that PA is associated with psychological resources and HRQoL among university students. Longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to determine the directionality and mechanisms underlying these relationships. Full article

Evidence remains limited on the interconnections between developmental coordination disorder (DCD), health-related physical fitness—including body composition, flexibility, strength of lower body, and cardiorespiratory fitness—and objectively measured physical activity (PA) in school-aged children. This study aimed to (1) examine differences in physical fitness and PA between children with and without DCD and (2) investigate whether physical fitness functions as a mediator in the association between DCD and PA in school-aged children. Sixty-three children aged 6.5–8 years (12 DCD, 19.05%) who provided valid data were enrolled. Mediation analysis was conducted using the PROCESS macro for SPSS. Flexibility significantly mediates the relationship of DCD to vigorous PA (VPA) (effect = 3.202, bootstrap SE = 1.682, 95% bootstrap CI = 0.463, 7.078), as well as DCD to moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) (effect = 5.194, bootstrap SE = 2.903, 95% bootstrap CI = 0.434, 11.778). Additionally, there was a significant mediating effect of lower muscle strength on the relationship between DCD and VPA (effect = −1.943, bootstrap SE = 1.297, 95% bootstrap CI = −5.112, −0.021), and DCD and counts per minute (CPM) in axis 2 (effect = −34.388, bootstrap SE = 20.212, 95% bootstrap CI = −80.819, −1.353). The findings highlight flexibility and lower-body strength as potential mechanisms underlying the association between DCD and PA participation. These factors may represent candidate intervention targets; however, their roles require confirmation in larger samples and longitudinal designs. Full article

Background/Objectives: Physically active play (PA-play) offers natural, self-directed, and varied opportunities for physical activity and motor skill development in children. It is often viewed as a rich context for learning, yet how PA-play systematically supports the core concepts and elements of motor learning (ML) requires a closer examination in typically developing (TD) children and those with neurodevelopmental disorders such as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Methods: A two-part integrative conceptual synthesis was conducted to explore how core ML concepts are reflected in children’s PA-play. Part 1 involved a synthesis of the play literature, analyzed through an ML lens in TD children. Part 2 involved synthesizing the literature on ML elements and characteristics of PA-play in children with DCD. Results: In Part 1, the conceptual synthesis highlighted that PA-play in TD children enables conditions supportive of ML, including both implicit and explicit learning, high-volume practice, task variability, progressive challenge, and feedback through verbal and non-verbal cues. In Part 2, the synthesis highlighted ML difficulties in children with DCD, such as slow, effortful learning with reduced adaptability and greater performance variability. Additionally, the synthesis highlighted limited DCD evidence using PA-play as an ecological context for ML. Conclusions: Overall, PA-play could offer environments consistent with ML elements in TD children, yet evidence for its effectiveness in children with DCD remains limited. Future research should explore how PA-play can be leveraged to address the specific ML challenges faced by children with DCD. Full article

Background/Objectives: Wearable devices are increasingly used to support physical activity (PA), yet national patterns of use and their relationship with PA among cancer survivors remain unclear. Integration of wearable data into clinical care is also poorly understood. This study examined wearable use, its association with meeting PA guidelines, and health data-sharing with providers among U.S. adults with and without cancer. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS-7), a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults, was conducted. Survey weights and jackknife replication methods generated population-level estimates. Wearable use (yes/no), meeting PA guidelines (≥150 min/week moderate activity), and data-sharing behaviors were assessed. Weighted logistic regression evaluated associations between wearable use and meeting PA guidelines, including interaction by cancer history. Analyses also examined willingness to share and actual data-sharing. Results: The sample included 6084 U.S. adults. Wearable use was lower among cancer survivors (34.0%) than those without cancer (41.4%). Individuals using wearable devices were more likely to meet PA guidelines (ORs: 1.79–1.97), with the association being stronger among cancer survivors. Among cancer-surviving wearable users, willingness to share data with providers was high (77.5%), but actual sharing was substantially lower (35.4%). Few predictors of willingness were identified. Conclusions: Wearable use is associated with meeting PA guidelines at the population level, with potential relevance for cancer survivors. However, despite high willingness to share data, clinical integration remains limited, highlighting a gap between digital engagement and healthcare use. Strategies to improve integration of patient-generated data into care are needed. Full article

Background/Objectives: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a rare progressive neuromuscular disorder associated with increasing care demands. Despite the critical role of caregivers, their physical activity (PA) levels and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) have not been sufficiently investigated. This study aimed to compare PA levels and HRQoL between caregivers of children with DMD and caregivers of typically developing children. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 44 individuals: caregivers of children with DMD (n = 22) and caregivers of typically developing children (n = 22). The 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used for assessing HRQoL and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Short Form (IPAQ-SF) for determining PA levels. Results: IPAQ-SF-derived metabolic equivalent of task (MET) values and PA levels were similar between the groups (DMD caregivers: 1744.63 ± 1163.22, controls: 1945.09 ± 1042.12; p > 0.05). Caregivers of children with DMD demonstrated significantly poorer scores in several SF-36 domains, including vitality, social functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, bodily pain, and mental health (p < 0.05), with the largest difference observed in role limitations due to emotional problems (DMD caregivers: 45.27 ± 28.33, controls: 84.83 ± 24.63; p < 0.05). Physical functioning and general health perception scores were comparable (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Caregivers of children with DMD experience substantial impairments in multiple HRQoL domains, particularly those related to psychosocial well-being and pain, despite comparable PA levels and physical functioning. These findings suggest that reduced HRQoL is not directly explained by PA alone and highlight the need for multidisciplinary interventions targeting psychological health, pain management, and social well-being. Full article

Background: Workplace victimization is a form of repeated and systematic psychological violence that can severely affect both mental and physical health. From a psychological perspective, it impacts mood states, defense mechanisms, and personality functioning. Methods: This cross-sectional study investigated the psychological and behavioural correlates of workplace victimization in a sample of 33 workers from various professional sectors, using a multidimensional assessment including standardized measures of personality traits, mood states, and defense mechanisms. Results: The MMPI-2 profile revealed elevated scores in Hypochondriasis (Hs: 72.00), Depression (D: 70.21), Hysteria (Hy: 67.61), and Paranoia (Pa: 68.76), indicating somatic symptoms, depressive features, and suspiciousness. The POMS showed increased Tension–Anxiety (T: 65.06), Depression–Dejection (D: 68.21), Anger–Hostility (A: 68.15), and Fatigue–Inertia (F: 65.24), alongside reduced Vigor–Activity (V: 43.18). The DMI analysis highlighted a high Reversal score (REV: 65.91), suggesting a predominant use of defense mechanisms such as altruism and idealization to cope with distress. Conclusions: In this selected sample of adults referred for psychological evaluation for suspected or documented workplace victimization, participants showed a clinically relevant psychological burden, including depressive symptoms, somatic concerns, Anger–Hostility, fatigue, reduced vigor, and specific defensive patterns. Given the cross-sectional design, small sample size, and absence of a control group, these findings should be interpreted as preliminary and cannot establish causality or the specificity of this profile to workplace victimization. Full article

Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a leading cause of disability worldwide, with exercise endorsed as first-line treatment and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) among the most used pharmacologic options. These interventions are frequently combined in clinical practice, yet their synergistic effects remain unclear. To evaluate whether NSAID use modifies the association between physical activity (PA) and CLBP using nationally representative data from NHANES 2009–2010. Methods: We analyzed 988 adults aged ≥20 years with complete data on chronic low back pain, physical activity, medication use, and modeled covariates. Results: Among participants not using NSAIDs, moderate recreational physical activity was associated with lower odds of CLBP (adjusted OR = 0.47, 95% CI 0.25–0.91; p = 0.029). Active transport showed a similar direction but was not statistically significant (OR = 0.38, 95% CI 0.13–1.12; p = 0.074). In interaction models, active transport x aspirin was associated with higher odds of CLBP (OR = 2.24, 95% CI 1.02–4.90; p = 0.044), and moderate recreational PA x any NSAID use was also associated with higher odds of CLBP (OR = 2.26, 95% CI 1.01–5.06; p = 0.047). Subgroup analyses were exploratory and heterogeneous, including a significant potential protective interaction (OR ≈ 0.19, 95% CI 0.06–0.69; p = 0.015). Conclusions: In a nationally representative sample, NSAID use appeared to modify the association between physical activity and chronic low back pain. These findings are exploratory and hypothesis-generating. Therefore, longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the temporal and causal relationships and the potential influence of NSAIDs. Full article

Background: Wearable activity trackers are commonly used in mHealth weight loss interventions, but evidence linking adherence to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) goals with changes in body composition is limited. We examined associations between adherence to study-prescribed MVPA goals and changes in percent body fat and sex-specific waist circumference (WC) over 12 months in the SMARTER trial. Methods: Participants (N = 502, 79.5% female; mean age 45 years; mean BMI 33.7 kg/m²) were randomized to self-monitoring of diet, PA, and weight (SM) or SM plus daily tailored feedback messages (SM + FB). Weekly adherence to ≥300 min/week of MVPA was quantified using Fitbit-derived equivalents. Associations between MVPA adherence and changes in percent body fat and sex-specific WC over 12 months were examined using linear mixed models. Results: Among the full sample, greater MVPA adherence was associated with reductions in body fat (b = −0.01; 95% CI: −0.02, −0.005), but not in WC (women: b = −0.01; −0.03, 0.01; men: b = −0.03; −0.05, 0.0002). Among the completers, higher adherence was associated with decreases in body fat (b = −0.01; −0.02, −0.004) and WC (women: b = −0.02; −0.04, −0.004; men: b = −0.04; −0.08, −0.003). Conclusions: Higher MVPA adherence was associated with favorable changes in adiposity over 12 months, supporting the use of wearable-derived PA measures in long-term mHealth behavioral interventions. Full article

Continuous intraocular pressure (IOP) monitoring is crucial for glaucoma management. Currently, traditional static IOP measurements often fail to detect circadian fluctuations, leading to a clinical dilemma where “normal IOP” is observed despite persistent visual field deterioration. This study presents a wireless, passive localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensing platform integrated into flexible silicone hydrogel contact lenses. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), synthesized via the sodium citrate reduction method, were incorporated into the lens periphery using a “swelling-induced nano-doping” technique to transduce IOP-induced corneal strain into detectable spectral shifts. Ex vivo porcine eye investigations established a physical mapping model, confirming significant LSPR peak wavelength response trends in correlation with IOP variations (10–50 mmHg) and corneal curvature changes. Subsequent 21-day in vivo rabbit studies demonstrated excellent ocular surface biocompatibility; quantitative histopathological analysis (HE, PAS, and Ki67 staining) revealed no significant adverse alterations in corneal endothelial cell density or conjunctival goblet cell function compared to control groups (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the platform maintained high structural integrity and anterior segment tolerance under transient high-IOP conditions. While currently a proof-of-concept, these results indicate that the LSPR-active hybrid system effectively captures dynamic IOP fluctuation patterns as an optical response to acute interventions, providing a foundational engineering path for next-generation, battery-free wearable diagnostics in personalized glaucoma care without the need for built-in electronics. Full article

Background: Physical inactivity among Saudi Arabian adolescents is a critical public health concern due to its contribution to the rising prevalence of overweight, obesity, and non-communicable diseases. Despite this, the motivational profiles and perceived barriers that differentiate athletic from non-athletic adolescents remain understudied in the Saudi literature, particularly within the school Physical Education (PE) context. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the present study examined the factors preventing and motivating Saudi adolescents to engage in physical activity (PA) and discusses findings in terms of their implications for PE teachers and school-based intervention. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 124 male high school students in Riyadh (mean age: 16.79 ± 0.66 years). Participants were categorized as either athletes (n = 70) or non-athletes (n = 54) based on pre-defined engagement criteria: athletes were required to report vigorous-intensity sport participation on three or more days per week for a minimum of 60 min per session. Anthropometric measurements, lifestyle behaviors (diet, screen time, sleep), motivations, and barriers were assessed using the validated Arab Teens Lifestyle Study (ATLS) questionnaire. Independent samples t-tests and chi-square tests were used to compare between-group differences; effect sizes are reported. Result: Non-athletes had a significantly higher mean BMI (29.40 ± 6.77 kg/m²) and waist circumference (98.65 ± 21.63 cm) compared to athletes (BMI: 22.19 ± 4.44 kg/m²; waist: 78.84 ± 9.51 cm; both p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in screen time, sleep duration, or dietary habits. The primary motivations for PA among athletes were health benefits (27.1%), recreation (25.7%), and competition (20.0%), reflecting an autonomous motivational profile consistent with SDT. Among non-athletes, the predominant barriers were the lack of suitable facilities (25.9%) and the absence of an exercise partner (22.2%); reflecting unmet SDT needs for competence and relatedness respectively, while only 9.3% cited having a lack of time. Conclusions: Non-athletic participants face a significant health disadvantage characterized by higher rates of overweight and central obesity. In contrast to global trends, where academic commitments dominate barriers to PA, the principal barriers in this population are environmental and social, reflecting unmet psychological needs that PE teachers are uniquely positioned to address. Rather than focusing solely on infrastructure, PE promoters should implement need-supportive teaching practices, including competence-building tasks and cooperative peer structures, to foster the intrinsic motivational profile observed in the athletes and promote long-term PA adherence among non-athletic students, in alignment with the health objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. Full article

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among adolescents is an important public health concern. This study examined the associations among physical activity (PA), psychological resilience (PR), and NSSI among 2257 junior high school students aged 12–17 years in central China. Using both variable-centered and person-centered approaches, the study found that higher PA and higher PR were related to lower NSSI. PR also partly accounted for the association between PA and NSSI, suggesting that resilience may be one pathway linking physical activity to reduced self-injury risk. Latent profile analysis identified three PA–PR profiles: low, moderate, and high. Adolescents in the low PA–PR profile reported the highest NSSI risk, whereas those in the high PA–PR profile reported the lowest risk. These findings suggest that interventions promoting PA and resilience may help reduce adolescent NSSI risk. Full article

Adherence to the 24-h movement guidelines (24-HMG), which integrate physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour, and sleep, may be relevant to university students’ mental health, yet evidence in this population remains limited. This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate adherence to the 24-HMG, identify associated correlates, and examine whether meeting a greater number of guidelines was associated with more favourable mental health profiles in Spanish university students. A total of 1469 students (mean age = 21.6 ± 3.14 years; 71% women) completed validated self-report measures of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep duration, psychological distress, self-esteem, and resilience. Adherence was defined according to the Canadian adult 24-HMG, and a global adherence index (0–3) was calculated. Concurrent adherence to all three guidelines was low and varied markedly across academic fields, ranging from 22% in Sport Sciences to 1.6% in Engineering and Architecture. Women showed lower odds of meeting the physical activity recommendation and of meeting all three guidelines. Greater adherence was associated with a lower likelihood of unfavourable mental health profiles, particularly low self-esteem and low resilience. These findings suggest that adherence to the 24-HMG was low in this sample of university students and support the development of integrated, context-tailored interventions targeting movement behaviours and mental health in university settings. Full article

Objectives: Although many governments and scientific organisations have developed strategies to combat the epidemic of childhood obesity, the unsatisfactory results thus far warrant further studies. The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the effects of active video games (AVGs) on physical activity (PA) levels and BMI (body mass index)/body composition in overweight and obese children 6–12 years of age. Methods: Articles were retrieved from the databases of Scopus, PubMed (MEDLINE), SPORTDiscus, and CINAHL. Thirteen articles met the inclusion criteria and were categorised according to the AVG intervention length. Results: AVG intervention periods of 4–12 weeks seem to moderately improve PA levels and refine BMI/body composition levels. In contrast, interventions lasting 13–24 weeks revealed encouraging results for improving PA, but had little effect on BMI/body composition levels. Conclusions: AVGs can generally help overweight and obese children 6–12 years of age to improve their PA levels and reduce BMI and/or improve body composition. Full article

Integrating semi-transparent photovoltaics (STPVs) into greenhouses offers a dual-use solution for land efficiency, although matching electricity generation with crop spectral needs remains a challenge. To address this, this study assesses the optical and microclimatic impact of Cadmium Telluride (CdTe, 50% transparency) and amorphous Silicon (a-Si, 20%) technologies compared to a conventional control in a semi-arid Mediterranean climate. Spectral analysis revealed that CdTe aligned with chlorophyll absorption peaks, preserving a transparency window that yielded a 66% relative gain in biologically useful radiation over the blue-blocking a-Si. Furthermore, while both technologies significantly reduced Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR), this shading served as a protective filter against supra-optimal irradiance, stabilizing the internal microclimate. In the control prototype, extreme vapour pressure deficits (VPDs approaching 9.0 kPa) drove maximum reference evapotranspiration (ET₀) above 4.6 mm/day. In contrast, the STPV systems effectively capped ET₀ at approximately 3.09 mm/day (CdTe) and 1.64 mm/day (a-Si) through their radiative attenuation, despite internal VPDs still reaching 6.5–7.0 kPa during peak summer. This decoupling resulted in drastic average ET₀ reductions of 31.4% and 61.3%, respectively, while mitigating soil overheating by up to 17.8%. These findings demonstrate that specific STPV technologies transcend mere shading to function as passive climate resilience tools, naturally enforcing water conservation and physically disarming atmospheric aridity in high-radiation environments. Full article