Measurement of public health benefits of physical activity: validity and reliability study of the international physical activity questionnaire in Hungary

Association between physical activity and quality of life in haemodialysed and peritoneal dialyzed patients in Hungary

BACKGROUND

Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD) or haemodyalisis (PD) appear to be less physically active than healthy persons, a situation that could lead to reductions in quality of life. The aim of the present study was to assess and compare physical activity and health-related quality of life in renal patients on HD and PD programs.

METHODS

In May 2020, 130 patients (106 HD and 24 PD) were enrolled in a study of chronic dialysis programs. All participants received a questionnaire containing information on demographics, treatment, and co-morbidities. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form, and quality of life was measured using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-Short Form 12 (KDQOL-SF-12) questionnaire comprising mental (MCS) and physical components (PCS). Non-parametric statistical tests were executed with 0.05 as the level of significance.

RESULTS

The physical activity of patients treated in both HD and PD programs could be considered as low, without a statistically significant difference between the two modalities. For the quality of life measures, we found a significant (p = .004) difference regarding Physical Component Summary (PCS) scores, with higher PCS scores in patients treated in the PD programme compared to HD. Furthermore, higher physical activity levels were associated with better quality of life parameters in both groups.

CONCLUSION

This study confirms the importance of physical activity among dialysis patients with ESKD, suggesting that greater activity could be associated with a better quality of life.

Greater weekly physical activity linked to left resting frontal alpha asymmetry in women: A study on gender differences in highly active young adults

Physical activity, beneficial for physical and psychological health, may facilitate affective mechanisms of positive emotion and approach-motivation. Greater resting frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA), an index of greater relative left than right frontal cortical activity, is a neural correlate of affective mechanisms possibly associated with active lifestyles. This study sought to amplify limited literature on the relationship between physical (in)activity, FAA, and gender differences. College students (n = 70) self-reported physical activity (Total PA) and sedentary activity (Total Sitting) via the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), followed by a resting electroencephalography session to record FAA. A Total PA × gender interaction (β = 0.462, t = 3.163, p = 0.002) identified a positive relationship between Total PA and FAA in women (β = 0.434, t = 2.221, p = 0.030) and a negative relationship for men (β = -0.338, t = -2.300, p = 0.025). Total Sitting was positively linked to FAA (β = 0.288, t = 2.228, p = 0.029; no gender effect). Results suggest affective mechanisms reflected by FAA (e.g., positive emotion, approach-motivation) are associated with physical activity for women, indicating a possible mechanism of the psychological benefits linked with physically active lifestyles. A positive relationship between sedentary behavior and greater left FAA may also reflect motivated mechanisms of behavior that aid in minimizing energy expenditure, particularly within the context of our highly active sample.

Associations of physical activity and physical education enjoyment with self-concept domains among Hungarian adolescents

BACKGROUND

Sport enjoyment is one of the most important factors in physical activity (PA) and physical education (PE) domains. It is not only beneficial for regular participation but also has a positive effect on mental health. Due to these benefits, this study aims to understand the relationships between PA, two forms of enjoyment, and the dimension of self-concept.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 315 students (Mage=12.63). The Self-Description Questionnaire-I was used to measure the domains of self-concept. Enjoyment was measured with two scales. The Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale reflects extracurricular PA enjoyment, and the Factors Influencing Enjoyment of Physical Education Questionnaire reflects school PE enjoyment. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to assess vigorous, moderate, and walking types of extracurricular PA enjoyment.

RESULTS

Hierarchical multivariate regression analysis revealed that vigorous PA predicted physical ability (β = 0.19) and physical appearance (β = 0.15). PA enjoyment was a significant predictor of general self-concept (β = 0.29), physical ability (β = 0.28), physical appearance (β = 0.16), peer relation (β = 0.16), and parental relations (β = 0.14). PE enjoyment significantly predicted general school (β = 0.17), physical ability (β = 0.27), peer relations (β = 0.21) and parental relations (β = 0.22). Furthermore, boys scored at a higher level on most of self-concept domains.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study suggested that enjoyment plays a more important role in self-concept than PA. PE enjoyment mainly strengthens boys' self-concept, but PA enjoyment is an important predictor of general self-concept in both genders. It is concluded that extracurricular PA enjoyment is beneficial, but increasing enjoyment of physical education could increase girls' self-concepts as well.

Effect of a 12-Week High-Calorie-Expenditure Multimodal Exercise Program on Health Indices in Women With Overweight: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

High-calorie-expenditure training is common among endurance athletes and is an effective strategy for weight loss. Although many training protocols include walking, running, cycling, and swimming according to a target heart rate, there is limited research on high-calorie-expenditure interventions with multimodal training programs using quantitative methods.

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this research protocol are to (1) develop a high-calorie-expenditure training program to cover target calorie expenditure according to the trainability of women classified as overweight (according to a BMI of 25-29.9 kg/m2); (2) determine the effect of high-calorie-expenditure workouts on conditioning, glycemic variables, and body composition; and (3) evaluate the implementation of the intervention and results in comparison with outcomes obtained under a standard-calorie-expenditure training program.

METHODS

This is a randomized controlled trial with a pretest-posttest design. Participants include 33 women with a BMI in the overweight range (25-29.9) allocated to three groups: two intervention groups and one control group. The intervention will be conducted for 12 weeks. Participants in the first group will be assigned an exercise program with high energy expenditure of approximately 3000-3500 kilocalories/week in the form of 5 sessions per week with an intensity of 50%-75% maximum oxygen rate (VO2 max) and 60%-80% target heart rate. The second group will be assigned an exercise program with a standard energy expenditure of approximately 1200-1500 kilocalories/week with 3 sessions per week at an intensity of 60%-75% VO2 max, according to The American College of Sports Medicine guideline. The effects of the multimodal training program with daily tasks will be compared to those of the standard-calorie-expenditure and control (no exercise) conditions with respect to changes in glycemic indices and body composition. Daily calories will be calculated through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and using Nutrition 4 software.

RESULTS

Preliminary results show significant weight loss in both the high- and standard-calorie-expenditure groups (P=.003). Significant improvements were also found in muscle percentage (P=.05) and BMI (P=.05) for the high-calorie-expenditure group. Analyses are ongoing for glycemic indices, inflammation factors, and blood parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

High-calorie-expenditure training can cause further weight loss than standard exercise, which can eventually lead to greater fat mass reduction and improvement in glycemic indices. These results demonstrate that, in some cases, it may be necessary to increase the activity of women and use multimodal exercise programs with increased volume and intensity to increase the expenditure of exercise and daily activity. We found a net effect of exercise and daily activity at the individual level, whereas the daily lifestyle and physical behaviors of the participants remained constant.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20220202053916N1; https://tinyurl.com/c8jxfw36.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/51599.

Assessment of the Physical Activity of Children with Asthma Bronchiale

Physical activity is an especially important part of everyday life for children with chronic diseases. The aim of the study was to show whether asthma is a barrier to physical activity in our society. The correlations between the severity of the disease, body mass index, and physical activity were analyzed, and parents' opinions on whether children should participate in active sports were assessed. Physical activity of children with asthma was analyzed by questionnaires; 93 parents and their 93 children were involved in the survey. The age of children was 12.6 ± 3.5 years (mean ± SD), 69.9% were boys, 30.1% were girls. A total of 93.4% of the respondents participated in a physical education program and 56.5% also attended sporting activities on a regular basis. In terms of disease severity, 61.2% of the children had mild asthma, 37.6% moderate, and 1.2% severe, and 6.5% of the respondents also stated that their children's illness had been consistently or frequently limiting their performance concerning their school or home duties over the past four weeks. Of the parents surveyed, 12% felt that physical activity was not appropriate in the context of this disease. We concluded that fear of the consequences of physical activity depends largely on education, which should involve parents, teachers, and coaches.

Athlete anxiety questionnaire: the development and validation of a new questionnaire for assessing the anxiety, concentration and self-confidence of athletes

Introduction

Anxiety is one of the most prevalent issues among athletes. Therefore, measuring the stress caused by high-stakes situations could be important for investigating the issue. In sports psychology literature, no valid and reliable questionnaire is available in Hungarian for assessing the anxiety experienced by athletes in high-stakes situations. This study aimed to create a new Hungarian questionnaire to measure anxiety, self-confidence, and concentration during high-stakes contests.

Methods

263 athletes of various sports participated in the cross-sectional study (age: 16.18 ± 3.46 years). The structure of the Anxiety Athletes Questionnaire (AAQ) was examined through factor analysis, where exploratory factor analysis (EFA) as well as confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were carried out. The internal consistency of the subscales of AAQ was measured by Cronbach's alpha. Through a convergent validity test, the AAQ questionnaire was compared to the subscales of the CSAI-2 and ACSI-28 questionnaire subscales by Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. Through a discriminant validity analysis, the differences by age group, sex, and sport variables were examined by AAQ scores. The Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests were utilized in the analysis. The SPSS 28.0 software was used for the statistical analysis, and the level of significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results

Four factors have been identified through the EFA. The CFA analysis showed the four-factor model an acceptable model fit (SRMR, RMSEA CFI, TLI). Cronbach's alpha of the four subscales showed acceptable internal consistency (cognitive anxiety: α = 0.871; somatic anxiety: α = 0.700; self-confidence: α = 0.832; concentration: α = 0.747). The convergent validity showed a weak or moderate, significant relationship between AAQ subscales and subscales of CSAI and ACSI (R = -0.398-0.412).

Conclusion

The Athlete Anxiety Questionnaire can be considered a reliable and valid measurement tool for measuring athletes' anxiety, self-confidence and concentration in high-stakes situations.

Association of Outdoor Physical Activity and Sports with Life Satisfaction among Women of Reproductive Age According to a European Representative Sample-A Longitudinal Analysis

(1) Background: Low life satisfaction (LS) is associated with impaired mental and physical health. Outdoor physical activity (PA) has diverse somatic and psychological benefits. This study aimed to analyse the associations between sports settings and LS in women of reproductive age. (2) Methods: Special Eurobarometer on Sport and Physical Activity (2022, 2018, 2013) data on regularity and settings of sports/PA, LS and sociodemographic variables were analysed. The representative sample consisted of 18,489 women (34.60 ± 9.36 years). Pearson χ2 test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted, using IBM SPSS version 28.0 according to the STROBE guidelines. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. (3) There was a significant difference in LS based on sports settings (χ2 = 409.696, p < 0.001). In the outdoor group, a 21.4% higher probability of being "very satisfied" compared to the non-outdoor, 30.0% higher compared to the inactive group, was found (R2N = 0.151). Dividing the sample by age, a significant effect remained in middle adulthood (35-44 years p = 0.002 and 45-49 years p = 0.033). (4) Conclusions: Our results underline the importance of the promotion of outdoor, green exercise and the development of special interventions to maintain or improve the psychological well-being of women in reproductive age.

Examination of Physical Activity Patterns of Children, Reliability and Structural Validity Testing of the Hungarian Version of the PAQ-C Questionnaire

INTRODUCTION

Several studies report on the importance of physical activity (PA) in childhood, which influences attitudes towards health in adulthood. For monitoring PA, trustworthy measurement tools are needed. The study aimed to adapt the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C) to the Hungarian language and assess its validity, reliability, and factor structure.

METHODS

A total of 620 children (the average age was 10.62 (SD 2.36)) participated in the cross-sectional study. To assess physical activity, the PAQ-C questionnaire was used. The collected data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 28.0 and IBM SPSS AMOS 29.0 software.

RESULTS

The internal consistency was acceptable (alpha = 0.729) and the test-retest reliability showed acceptable agreement (ICC = 0.772). The confirmatory factor favoured a one-factor structure of the questionnaire. The average PAQ-C score for girls was 2.87 (SD 1.07), and for boys it was 3.00 (SD 1.05), which showed a significant difference (p = 0.005).

DISCUSSION

Based on our findings, our study tested the validity and reliability of the one-factor PAQ-C questionnaire, a valid and reliable measurement tool to test the physical activity patterns of primary school children in a Hungarian sample. Further research is needed to develop physical activity monitoring of Hungarian children.

Assessment of Anxiety among People with Various Physical Activity Levels during Lockdown in Karachi, Pakistan

Background  The purpose of this study is to make it easier to counsel the general public on how to promote their psychological health and better lifestyle by boosting their physical activity in the event of more devastating future waves of coronavirus disease 2019. Coronavirus disease is a viral infection first reported in Wuhan, China, which led to a worldwide pandemic and lockdown. In addition to physical health, the uncertainty of situation and fear of infection have further affected the mental health of the individuals. Lockdown has also halted the physical activity of people further adding into the stress and anxiety. Methods  A sample size of 376 was required, but a convenient sampling technique collected 400 responses due to overwhelming Participation. A well-structured questionnaire was used for data collection, which contained sections such as a demographics section. We used the International Physical Activity Questionnaire scale to measure various physical activity levels and the generalized anxiety disorder scale to measure anxiety levels, because of their considerate validity and feasibility. Later both of our variables were compared to find out the correlation of anxiety levels with different physical activity levels. Results  Mean Anxiety and its prevalence rates in the sample were 7.32 ± 5.767 and 33%. On performing Pearson correlation, increasing age was found to be a risk factor for Anxiety. One-way analysis of variance showed a significant difference between Physical Activity and Anxiety. In the post-hoc Tukey test, a considerable difference in anxiety level was found between people with no physical activity and vigorous physical activity. Conclusion  During the lockdown period, the mean anxiety was found to be 7.0 ± 5.56 with prevalence rate of 33% among the people with no, low, moderate or vigorous physically active levels was found to be associated with better perceived mental health status which suggests the need to promote physically active style to cope with anxiety and awareness sessions to be conducted especially among those who could not maintain a physically active lifestyle. Also, among the general population e-Health programs could provide an appropriate way to promote a physically active lifestyle.

Do it for the cause: Feasibility of a theory-based virtual 5 K walk/run program to increase physical activity behavior

Physical activity (PA) levels among the general population remain low despite well-known benefits. Previous research has demonstrated PA-based charity fundraising events may act as a catalyst for increased motivation for PA by fulfilling basic psychological needs while providing an emotional connection to a greater good. Therefore, the current study used a behavior-change based theoretical paradigm to develop and assess the feasibility of a 12-week charity-based virtual PA program intended to increase motivation and PA adherence. Forty-three participants were enrolled in a virtual 5 K run/walk charity event that included a structured training protocol, web-based motivation resources, and charity education. Eleven participants completed the program and results indicated no differences pre- and post-participation in motivation (t(10) = 1.16, p = .14) and self-efficacy (t(10) = 0.66, p = .26), but increased scores on charity knowledge (t(9) = -2.50, p = .02). Attrition was attributed to timing, weather, and isolated nature of a solo virtual program. Participants enjoyed the structure of the program and felt the training and educational information was beneficial, but could have been more robust. Thus, in its current format, the program design lacks efficacy. Integral changes to increase program feasibility should include group programming, participant-chosen charity, and more accountability.

Comparison of Metabolic Characteristics of Physically Active Individuals with Different Training Habits during Incremental Treadmill Test

The number of people engaging in self-conducted regular physical activity is increasing, but the effects of home fitness and individually planned workouts on health and metabolism are unknown. We aimed to examine the effects of regular training conducted without the supervision of professionals on exercise metabolism in our cross-sectional observational study. Forty-five physically active volunteers, classified into three groups, based on the type and frequency of their training (group 1 frequent long-term endurance, group 2 three times per week aerobic training, and group 3 two times per week short aerobic and resistance training), fulfilled a vita maxima incremental treadmill test. Aerobic capacity (VO2max), MET (metabolic equivalent of task), and metabolic responses were examined. The results were evaluated by ANOVA and Bonferroni and Scheffe multiple comparison analysis using Microsoft Excel and SPSS 23 programs. (p < 0.05). Significant differences were found between group 1 and 3 in VO2max (p = 0.46) and MET (p = 0.46) between group 1 and 2, in FatmaxHR (heart rate on maximum fat oxidation) (p= 0.04). We concluded self-conducted regular physical activity has positive effects on metabolism and health. Aerobic training performed four times per week showed the most beneficial effects on metabolism and health maintenance. In addition, based on our findings, strength training performed two times per week is recommended.

Disease-Specific Knowledge, Physical Activity, and Physical Functioning Examination among Patients with Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain

Physical activity, physical functioning, and pain are some of the most critical factors of low back pain (LBP) treatment and prevention, but it was unknown that the back school program (BSP) influences the physical activity level of the patients with LBP. Data from 306 healthy patients and patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (cnsLBP) were used. We used the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), the Low Back Pain Knowledge Questionnaire (LKQ), the visual analog scale, and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). The significance level was set at p < 0.05. The amount of sedentary time in cnsLBP patients enrolled in the BSP was significantly lower compared to the other two groups (p < 0.001). Significantly higher moderate-intensity activities, leisure time activities, and active transportation were observed in the cnsLBP patients enrolled in the BSP than in the other two groups (p < 0.001). RMDQ scores and the pain intensity of the cnsLBP patients enrolled in the BSP were significantly lower than in patients with LBP receiving only exercise therapy (p < 0.001). The physical activity level and low-back-pain-specific knowledge was significantly higher, while back-related disability and pain intensity were significantly lower among patients with low back pain syndrome who participated in a back school program.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the rapid assessment of physical activity questionnaire (RAPA) in Hungarian elderly over 50 years

Background

Reliable and valid instruments are needed to estimate physical activity levels. The aim was to culturally adapt the “Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity” (RAPA) into Hungarian and to investigate the validity and reliability of this adapted version in the elderly over 50 years.

Methods

In our cross-sectional study 222 subjects were recruited in Hungary between December 2020 and January 2021(age 61.1 ± 7.9 years, 28% male). Criterion validity of RAPA and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)—Hungarian long version was tested by Spearman’s rank correlation. The examination of repeatability was based on a group of 32 people, and on the one-week test–retest reliability approach, and in addition to this during the statistical analysis intra-class correlation coefficient was calculated. To examine the sensitivity and specificity of the RAPA, negative and positive physical activity values were calculated from the results of the long version of the IPAQ and the RAPA. We tested 4 hypotheses (3 validity, 1 reliability). We considered acceptable validity and reliability if > 75% of hypotheses were confirmed. Results: All of the hypotheses (100%) were confirmed. Based on results of the validity testing of the newly adapted questionnaire was showed a moderate correlation between the examined measurement tools (R = 0.542, p < 0.001). The test–retest results of the questionnaire (N = 32, R = 0.988, p < 0.001) showed strong association.

Conclusion

RAPA showed fair to moderate validity and strong test–retest reliability similar to other studies. Based on our study’s results the RAPA is a valid and reliable questionnaire to measure the elderly Hungarian population’s physical activity.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13102-022-00512-3.

Multivariate Training Programs during Physical Education Classes in School Context: Theoretical Considerations and Future Perspectives

Physical Education plays a fundamental role in promoting healthy habits and lifestyles, as well as in the development of individual and cognitive skills. To date, several investigations have reported positive effects on indicators of physical fitness, motor proficiency, and creativity as a result of specific training programs during Physical Education classes. However, the effects of multivariate training programs on the improvement of the aforementioned skills remain unclear in the literature. Through this brief review, the benefit of applying multivariate training programs during Physical Education classes on indicators of physical fitness, motor proficiency and creativity was critically analyzed. A narrative approach was applied to summarize the availed research as following: (i) theoretical background; (ii) research gaps/issues; (iii) subject explanation about multivariate training programs in Physical Education; and (iv) practical application and further research. The evidence reported in this regard may be useful for the development of multivariate training programs that simultaneously enable the improvement of indicators of physical fitness, motor proficiency and creativity. However, there is still no consensus in the literature on the best strategies (i.e., type of program, duration, intensity) to enhance motor proficiency and creativity in the context of Physical Education classes using multivariate training programs.

Physical activity and sperm quality: influence in sperm donors

PURPOSE

To ascertain whether physical activity (PA) is associated with better sperm quality in sperm donors.

METHODS

A prospective case-control study was designed in an IVF center setting. A total of 207 sperm donation candidates from a relatively small geographical area were included in the study with no intervention. Donor candidates were subjected to conventional sperm analysis according to WHO criteria. Moreover, they answered a standardized questionnaire regarding their last week PA (IPAQ), with PA expressed in metabolic equivalents (METs)-min/week. Donors were classified into 4 groups: low, moderate, high and very high PA. Specific sports were included in the questionnaire. Semen samples from 43 accepted donors were used in artificial insemination by donor (AID) and IVF. The fertilization rates (FR) and pregnancy rates (PR) were studied.

RESULTS

Semen volume, sperm concentration, progressive spermatozoa, non-progressive spermatozoa, total motile progressive spermatozoa and sperm morphology were similar in the four PA groups. No correlation between various semen parameters studied and METs was found. Running or cycling > 1 h/week did not influence sperm parameters. The AID PR was similar in the different PA groups. However, in IVF the mean donor FR was significantly higher in the high PA group and in the very high PA group.

CONCLUSIONS

No detrimental effect was associated with PA, or even very high PA, regarding conventional sperm parameters. Moreover, a better FR was associated with high and very high PA in IVF cycles, which merits more studies.

The Impact of COVID-19-Related Mitigation Measures on the Health and Fitness Status of Primary School Children in Austria: A Longitudinal Study with Data from 708 Children Measured before and during the Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19-related closing of schools and sport facilities resulted in major changes to daily routines worldwide. It was the aim of this study to investigate the impact of COVID-19-related mitigation measures on the health and fitness status of primary school children in Austria. Seven hundred and eight primary school children (7–10 years old) participated in the longitudinal study. Data on height, weight, waist circumference, and fitness were collected before (September 2019) and during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic (June 20, September 20, March 21, June 21). A significant increase in EQUI BMI_AUT (η_p² = 0.087) and significant changes (η_p² = 0.355) in waist circumference were found. Cardiorespiratory endurance (η_p² = 0.440) and action speed (η_p² = 0.221) decreased dramatically following lockdowns/school closures. In contrast, muscle strength showed no significant changes. The COVID-19-related mitigation measures intended to contain a communicable disease resulted in an acceleration of the pre-existing pandemic of overweight and obesity. The adverse combination of increasing BMI and the loss of physical fitness is likely to result in long-term negative effects on the health status of growing and developing individuals. Health professionals should therefore not only support further longitudinal observations of this “non-communicable disease” but also support intervention programs to reverse this worrying side-effect of COVID-19-associated containment policies.

The Greek version of shoulder rating questionnaire (SRQ): Translation, cultural adaptation, a reliability and validity study in patients with rotator cuff related shoulder pain

BACKGROUND

The Shoulder Rating Questionnaire (SRQ) was created in the English language to assess shoulder disorders in six areas: global function, pain, daily activities, recreational and athletic activities, and work.

PURPOSE

The study aimed to translate and culturally adapt Shoulder Rating Questionnaire (SRQ) into Greek.

METHODS

The SRQ English version was translated and adapted into the Greek language using forward translation, expert panel synthesis, and backward translation procedures. A pilot testing has been made in the target population, and the final version was created. A cross-sectional study was conducted in clinical settings with the SRQ and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index. A total of 168 Greek adult patients with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain were recruited from physical therapy clinics. Τhe reliability of the SRQ Greek version was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients. Internal consistency was assessed using the Cronbach alpha coefficient. Concurrent validity was measured by correlating the Shoulder Rating Questionnaire with the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index using Pearson's correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

The results showed that the SRQ Greek version has excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.99), test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.976), and concurrent validity (r > 0.9). No ground or ceiling effects were found. The standard error of measurement and the minimum detectable change of the total score were 5.55 and 15.38.

CONCLUSIONS

The Greek Language Version of the SRQ is a reliable and valid instrument that can be used to evaluate adult patients with shoulder rotator cuff-related disorders in the acute or chronic phases and in clinical trials.

Physical Activity Levels and Self-perception of Fitness in COVID-19-Recovered Individuals

Background: The preventative measures to reduce the incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have reduced the physical activity level (PAL) that might also affect physical and mental health. Objectives: The present study investigated the relationship between self-perception of fitness (SPF) and PAL in COVID-19-recovered individuals (CRI). Methods: The population of this descriptive-analytical study included all CRI (men and women, in the age range of 20 to 70 years) in Kermanshah. In the present study, 890 volunteers (438 men and 452 women) were sampled using a multistage cluster sampling method. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF) was used to assess the PAL and the Delignières et al. questionnaire to assess the SPF. The Pearson correlation coefficient test and independent t-test were used to analyze the data using SPSS version 24 software. Results: The results showed low PAL (men: 876.11 ± 40.23; women: 739.27 ± 8.02) and poor SPF (men: 6.64 ± 1.62; women: 5.27 ± 1.39) in CRI. Also, there was a significant positive relationship between high and moderate PAL and SPF in men (r = 0.67, P = 0.032; r = 0.77, P = 0.018, respectively) and women (R = 0.56, P = 0.041; r = 0.66, P = 0.035, respectively), while there was a significant inverse relationship between low PAL and SPF among men (r = -0.85, P = 0.001) and women (r = -0.89, P = 0.001). Conclusions: Based on the results, wrong SPF in individuals with low PAL might be one reason for being insufficiently active. Thus, a proper understanding of PAL could be the first step of a regular physical activity schedule to enhance the immune system.

Lockdowns and Physical Activities: Sports in the Time of COVID

As aging causes challenges in several countries globally, more and more people are suffering from bad health conditions. Nowadays, COVID-19 causes many problems—and one of the root causes of these problems is the isolation of people from each other. The aim of our article is to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on people’s physical activity. Physical activity is strongly correlated with health status and health preservation is very important to minimize the negative effects of the pandemic. In order to investigate this topic, we prepared an extended literature review, citing the most important sources of COVID-related health-preservation issues. Our results showed that the negative economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic have caused a decrease in physical activities in several cases. A reduction in possible physical activities has a potential negative effect on the life expectancies of elderly people. In order to underline the importance of physical activities, we prepared an extended literature review, aiming to summarize the available knowledge related to COVID-19. As a conclusion we recommend to strengthen, maintain, and develop available sporting possibilities for people. The most important of these recommendations is the development of physical activities that are available for free.

Physical Activity in the Southern Great Plain Region of Hungary: The Role of Sociodemographics and Body Mass Index

This study explores the level of physical activity and its associations with sociodemographics and body mass index (BMI) in the Southern Great Plain region of Hungary. A total of 1648 adults (Men = 572; Women = 1076) were involved in this study. Their mean age was 43.0 (SD = 15.3), and they were recruited at different face-to-face events from July 2018 to January 2019. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to assess physical activity, and the participants were asked different questions related to their sociodemographics (e.g., education, income) and physical attributes (e.g., height, weight). Additionally, a descriptive statistical, chi-square test was used the see the gender differences, and multinominal regression analysis was used to see the associations between gender, age, place of residence, education, income, BMI, and physical activity levels. Our analysis showed that 19.2% of the sample had a low-, 41.1% had a moderate-, and 39.7% had a high level of physical activity. Furthermore, a high and a moderate level of physical activity were associated with gender, age, residence, education, and BMI. We believe this present study helps understand the role of physical activity in health through the example of the Southern Great Plain region of Hungary, which can provide useful information for experts to increase participation in regular physical activity.

Criterion validity and reliability of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Hungarian short form against the RM42 accelerometer

BACKGROUND

Physical inactivity is a global phenomenon in European welfare countries. Proper monitoring is essential to measure the physical activity level of the population.

METHODS

In the Hungarian cohort of the European Physical Activity and Sport Monitoring System (EUPASMOS) project, our participants (N = 598) completed sociodemographic questions and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - short form (IPAQ-SF) survey. The validity and reliability of the subjective measurement tool were examined, IPAQ-SF outcomes were contrasted against triaxial RM42 accelerometer wore for 7 consecutive days.

RESULTS

The IPAQ-SF showed moderate internal consistency (Cronbach Alpha = 0.647). The concurrent validity of the IPAQ-SF to triaxial accelerometer indicated a significant weak-to-moderate correlation (R = 0.111-0.338, p = 0.042; p < 0.001). The test-retest reliability showed a significant correlation between two measurements (R = 0.788-0.981, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The Hungarian version of the IPAQ-SF had excellent test-retest reliability, but low-to-fair concurrent validity for moderate and vigorous physical activity, walking and sitting time, as compared to the objective criterion measure among Hungarian adults.

Assessment of health-related quality of life and patient's knowledge in chronic non-specific low back pain

BACKGROUND

Chronic non-specific low back pain syndrome (cnsLBP) is a severe health problem in developed countries, which has an important effect on patients' quality of life and is highly determined by socio-demographic factors and low back pain specific knowledge. We examined patients' health-related quality of life according to the results of the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), low back pain knowledge (LBPKQ) and the social determinants of the participants.

METHODS

We carried out our research in the first half of 2015 in Southern Transdanubia, Hungary. The examination included 1155 respondents living with chronic non-specific low back pain. The confidence interval of 95% was used, and the level of. significance was p < 0.05 using SPSS 22.0 software.

RESULTS

The SF-36 questionnaire is suitable for the examination of patients' health-related quality of life (Cronbach's Alpha> 0.76), as the LBPKQ's Cronbach's Alpha was 0.726 also, which showed good validity. Longer-term disease meant a lower health-related quality of life (p < 0.05). A greater decrease of function (Roland Morris scores (RM)) accounts for a lower HRQoL and higher knowledge level. We found significant differences in LBPKQ scores according to sociodemographic parameters. The general health status was positively correlated with LBPKQ (p = 0.024) adjusted for demographic and pain and functional status.

CONCLUSION

The negative effect of the symptoms on patients' quality of life is proved, which is determined by different socio-demographic parameters furthermore by knowledge. Above all could be useful information for professionals to adopt the right interventions.

Sports activities of 60 above Hungarian elderly-explaining and predicting impact of exercise on health

Background

The proportion of elderly is on the rise both in Europe and in Hungary. The challenge is to increase the number of years spent in good health as well as to improve quality of life of those 60 years and above. This study focuses on the impact of physical activity on this age group.

Methods

A nationally representative sample of 2000 respondents were surveyed in an age range of 15–74. Our data concerns those being 60–74 years of age. The focus of our investigation was level and impact of physical activity in the group above. First, we used Chi-squared tests and correspondence analysis to identify the deviation in the answers of different groups in our sample. After we built a hierarchical linear regression model to get a deeper understanding of the impact of physical activity for elderly.

Results

Those reporting no physical/sports activity at all have to do with the negative culture of exercising. Only 9.3% reported being engaged with any sports; 72% reported no regular exercising throughout their lives. The relationship between sport activity and self-reported health was significant (p = 0.009, Cramer’s V = 0.2). Elderly were characterized by walking, hiking and less intense sports.

Conclusions

Those who actively exercised in this research reported better health outcomes than those who stopped or had never been engaged in any sports. We conclude that of all variables tested, physical activity was most effective to improve personal health of the elderly in this sample. Compared to European data on physical activity of elderly populations, Hungary seems to fall behind and needs to consider concentrated efforts to improve the future health of its senior populace.

Association between Self-Reported and Accelerometer-Based Estimates of Physical Activity in Portuguese Older Adults

Accurate assessment of physical activity (PA) is crucial in interventions promoting it and in studies exploring its association with health status. Currently, there is a wide range of assessment tools available, including subjective and objective measures. This study compared accelerometer-based estimates of PA with self-report PA data in older adults. Additionally, the associations between PA and health outcomes and PA profiles were analyzed. Participants (n = 110) wore a Xiaomi Mi Band 2^® for fifteen consecutive days. Self-reported PA was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the Yale Physical Activity Survey (YPAS). The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to compare self-reported and accelerometer-measured PA and associations between PA and health. Bland–Altman plots were performed to assess the agreement between methods. Results highlight a large variation between self-reported and Xiaomi Mi Band 2^® estimates, with poor general agreement. The highest difference was found for sedentary time. Low positive correlations were observed for IPAQ estimates (sedentary, vigorous, and total PA) and moderate for YPAS vigorous estimates. Finally, self-reported and objectively measured PA associated differently with health outcomes. Summarily, although accelerometry has the advantage of being an accurate method, self-report questionnaires could provide valuable information about the context of the activity.