Background: Over recent decades, there has been a dramatic transformation in mechanization reaching all aspects of people's lives in Saudi Arabia. In the light of this, there was a significant change in physical behavior in the community. The aim of the current study was to investigate the national and regional distribution of physical activity practice among adults aged ≥15 y across Saudi Arabia.Methods: Data from the Bulletin of Household Sports Practice National Survey were used to determine the physical activity practice distribution. A total of 26 000 families from 13 administrative regions across Saudi Arabia were surveyed.Results: The proportion of the total Saudi population who were practitioners of physical activity (i.e. ≥150 min per week) among Saudi adults aged ≥15 y was 17.40%, while the proportion of non-practitioners was 82.60%.Conclusion: This study found a low level of physical activity among Saudi adults who meet physical activity guidelines. These findings suggest that interventions and promotional programs should be developed to increase physical activity among the Saudi population.

This study aimed at exploring the gender-specific changes in physical activity level (PAL) and associated factors amid the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing, among adolescents. Sixty-three healthy adolescents (14-18 years) were assessed at the baseline (before social distancing imposition) for PAL (BL-PAL) and fitness variables; and next at the follow-up (2 months following social distancing commencement) for PAL (FU-PAL). A significant PAL decline was evidenced for the entire sample (P < .001) that was notably affected by PAL shifts among boys (P < .001) rather than girls (P = .07). Consistently, fitness variables (explosive strength, flexibility, and aerobic endurance) were positively correlated with BL-PAL and FU-PAL for boys and girls, where clearest associations were observed between baseline strength and aerobic endurance with PAL. With remarkable PAL declines among adolescents in challenging situations, like the COVID-19 pandemic, physical literacy is essential to preserve PAL.

The objective of this study was to verify the effects of combined resistive underwater exercises and interferential current on the peak torque of the quadriceps and hamstrings and pain levels in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. This is a randomized controlled study; 30 children with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis were randomly distributed into two groups: the control group (n = 15) received the traditional physical therapy program and the study group (n = 15) received resistive underwater exercises and interferential current therapy. Peak torque of the quadriceps and hamstrings and pain levels were evaluated before treatment, 1 mo later, and after 3 mos using the HUMAC NORM, CSMI Testing and Rehabilitation Isokinetic System and visual analog scale, respectively. In the control group, all measures showed significant differences (P < 0.05) after 1 mo except peak torque of left quadriceps and pain levels, and significant differences were found after 3 mos (P < 0.05) in all. In the study group, all measures showed significant differences after 1 and 3 mos (P < 0.05) and there were significant differences between groups after 1 and 3 mos in favor of the study group (P < 0.05). The combination of resistive underwater exercises and interferential current therapy is a potentially valuable treatment for patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on respiratory functions, respiratory muscle strength, and asthma symptoms in asthmatic children. Methods: In a randomized placebo-controlled assessor-blinded study, 34 children with asthma were randomized to receive either the IMT at 40% of the maximal inspiratory pressure (IP_max) for 20 minutes/session, thrice/week, over 12 consecutive weeks (IMT group; n = 17) or placebo IMT at 5% of IP_max (placebo group; n = 17). Additionally, both groups received the conventional respiratory rehabilitation (CRR) program. Outcome measurements performed pre- and post-treatment, included respiratory functions [forced expiratory volume at the first second (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FEV), and FEV₁/FVC], respiratory muscle strength [represented by IP_max and maximal expiratory pressure (EP_max), and asthma control test (ACT). Results: At a significance level adjusted to P<.008, there were significant post-treatment differences between the IMT and placebo groups in FEV₁ (P=.003), FVC (P=.001), FEV₁/FVC (P=.004), IP_max (P=.002), EP_max (P=.004), and ACT (P=.001) adjusted to the pre-treatment values, in favor of the IMT group. Conclusion: Incorporation of IMT in the CRR program for children with asthma can improve respiratory function, enhance respiratory muscle strength, and improve children’s perception of asthma symptoms.

Children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (hCP) experience a disorganized muscle activation pattern that adversely affect their ability to respond to balance perturbations. This study examined the ef...