The dramatic increase in the prevalence of obesity in developed and developing countries has become a major health care concern. Accordingly, there is growing recognition of the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and obesity in the pediatric population. This study aimed to explore the relationship between HRQOL and different indicators of obesity in children aged 7–8 years. In total, 182 children participated in this study (mean age 7.71 (0.29) years, 48.91% girls). To assess obesity, an InBody 230 analyzer was used to calculate body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BFP). The proxy version of the KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire was used to assess HRQOL. Among boys, 17.2% were overweight and 4.3% were obese according to BMI, while in terms of body fat percentage (BFP), the corresponding percentages were 12.9 and 9.7%, respectively. Among girls, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 11.2 and 9.0% by BMI and 10.1 and 7.9% in terms of BFP, respectively. The analysis of BFP showed a significantly higher score in normal weight boys than in obese boys in the Social Support & Peers domains (KW H-test = 10.472, p = 0.03), while in girls, there were no significant differences between weight categories and any HRQOL dimensions. Obesity at 7–8 years of age could negatively affect some HRQOL domains; in particular, obese boys may have low social support and peer functioning.

The aim of this research was to determine the effects of developmental gymnastics on motor fitness in preschool girls. This study was performed on a sample of 56 healthy preschool girls that were divided into two groups, a developmental training group and a control group. Motor fitness tests were used from several test batteries: the 20m dash, Obstacle course backwards, Standing broad jump, Arm plate tapping, Seated straddle stretch, Bent arm hang, Sit ups. The basic characteristics of developmental gymnastic training process consisted of station and circuit work and obstacle courses two times a week lasting for 60 min with intensity around 160-180bpm. After the training intervention, the training group showed significant (p < 0.05) improvements in almost all the parameters analyzed (e.g., Obstacle course backwards; Standing broad jump; Arm plate tapping; Bent arm hang and Sit ups) compared with pretest values, with percentages of change and ES ranging from 13.3% to 48.2% and 0.64 (moderate) to 1.20 (large), respectively. No significant changes were observed in the control group after the training intervention except for the standing broad jump and arm plate tapping (p < 0.05). This study provides evidence on the effectiveness of developmental gymnastics programs for the optimal development of young children’s motor fitness.

Background: Postural stability (PS) has an important role in many athletic activities. However, modern dance demands a heightened PS because of the required aesthetic quality and speed of movement. The aim of the present study was to compare the static and dynamic PS of young dancers and participants of other sporting activities.Method: A total of 101 girls (age: 7.91 ± 0.7 year) were divided into a Dance group (N = 53) and a physically active Control group (N = 48). Static PS was assessed with a two‐leg standing test on a Force plate, and dynamic PS was assessed with a Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK) – a walking backwards test on a balance beam.Results: Multivariate analysis of variance showed a general difference between the groups (F = 21.95; p ≤ 0.0001). In static PS, the Dance group was better in Total distance of center of pressure (COP) (p ≤ 0.0001; ES = −1.70), Anterior‐posterior oscillation (p ≤ 0.0001; ES = −1.40), Medial‐lateral oscillation (p ≤ 0.0001; ES = 1.75) and Length in function of surface (p ≤ 0.0001; ES = −0.98). Both parameters of dynamic stability, the KTK test (p ≤ 0.0001; ES = 1.28) and Motor quotients KTK test (p ≤ 0.0001; ES = 1.45), were significantly better in the Dance group.Conclusion: The results from the present study indicate that children girls who participate mostly in dance develop better static and dynamic PS than children girls who participate in other sport activities. These findings underline the importance of training modification toward the improvement of PS in dance.

BACKGROUND: Soccer as a sport has a very high injury rate and low back pain (LBP) is considered to be the most common overuse injury typically occurring in the back and spine in elite soccer players. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate differe

This study aimed to determine the effects of dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS), whole-body vibration (WBV), and a combination of DNS and WBV (MIX) training modalities on postural stability (PS) in healthy recreation participants. The 179 participants (age 24.02 ± 2.07 years) were divided into the gender-balanced groups: MIX (n = 47), DNS (n = 45), WBV (n = 44), and control group (CONTROL, n = 43) and underwent two months treatment. The single and double-leg Center of Force (COF) parameters were collected. A 2 × 4 mixed-design analysis of covariances captured no changes from initial to final testing in all PS measures of WBV and CONTROL (p ≥ 0.30) and indicated trivial improvements (mean Hedge’s g) within the groups of the most PS measures (g≥-0.42, p ≤ 0.001). However, we noticed medium to large MIX and DNS improvements in left-leg COF (MIX: g ≤ 2.11; DNS: g ≤ 1.74) and double-leg COF (MIX: g ≤ 2.49; DNS: g ≤ 1.23). Contrast analysis further confirmed that MIX and DNS improved PS measures more than WBV and CONTROLS while showing higher improvements of MIX than DNS (mean difference in changes [95% Confidence Intervals]) in left-leg for 1.16 mm [0.37 mm, 1.95 mm] and double-leg COF for 0.67 mm [0.85 mm, 0.49 mm]. Combined DNS and WBV modalities expressed higher improvements in PS measures than single modalities and controls. However, further research is warranted to clarify the differences in DNS, WBV, and combined intervention effects on PS measures.

Study in the period of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown and the effect of different exercise training programs on the quality of life (QoL) dimension are limited. This randomized control study as a part of which the impact of an 8-week neuromuscular training program on the 90 healthy young individuals’ QoL after COVID-19 lockdown was assessed using a short form of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire comprising of four domains (physical health, psychological health, social relations, and the environment). The intervention group (NT) (n = 47) took part in a neuromuscular training program consisting of dynamic neuromuscular stabilization and whole-body vibration training. In contrast, the control group (CG) (n = 43) did not participate in any programmed physical activity. From pre- to post-intervention test, the NT group significantly and substantially improved [mean change (95% CI)] all the QoL domains, physical for 12.78 scores (8.89, 16.64), psychological for 13.12 scores (9.51, 16.74), social relationships for 20.57 scores (16.12, 25.02), and environmental for 24.40 scores (21.45, 27.35). These results suggest that the NT program could enhance QoL in young and healthy participants following COVID-19 lockdown.