The objective of this study was to develop count cut‐points for three different accelerometer models: ActiGraph GT3X, RT3 and Actical to accurately classify physical activity intensity levels in adolescents. Seventy‐nine adolescents (10–15 years) participated in this study. Accelerometers and oxygen consumption () data were collected at rest and during 11 physical activities of different intensities. Accelerometers were worn on the waist and was measured by a portable metabolic system: Cosmed K4b2. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine cut‐points. Cut‐points for sedentary (SED), moderate‐to‐vigorous (MVPA) and vigorous‐intensity physical activity (VPA) were 46, 607 and 818 counts·15s⁻¹ to the vertical axis of ActiGraph; 180, 757 and 1112 counts·15s⁻¹ to the vector magnitude of ActiGraph; 17, 441 and 873 counts·15s⁻¹ for Actical; and 5.6, 20.4 and 32.2 counts·s⁻¹ for RT3, respectively. For all three accelerometer models, there was an almost perfect discrimination of SED and MVPA (ROC >0.97) and an excellent discrimination of VPA (ROC>0.90) observed. Areas under the ROC curves indicated better discrimination of MVPA by ActiGraph (AUC=0.994) and Actical (AUC=0.993) when compared to RT3 (AUC=0.983). The cut‐points developed in this study for the ActiGraph (vector magnitude), RT3 and Actical accelerometer models can be used to monitor physical activity level of adolescents.

Physical activity is recommended as a part of a comprehensive lifestyle approach in the treatment of hypertension, but there is a lack of data about the relationship between different intensities of physical activity and cardiovascular parameters in hypertensive patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the time spent in physical activities of different intensities and blood pressure levels, arterial stiffness and autonomic modulation in hypertensive patients. In this cross-sectional study, 87 hypertensive patients (57.5 ± 9.9 years of age) had their physical activity assessed over a 7 day period using an accelerometer and the time spent in sedentary activities, light physical activities, moderate physical activities and moderate-to-vigorous physical activities was obtained. The primary outcomes were brachial and central blood pressure. Arterial stiffness parameters (augmentation index and pulse wave velocity) and cardiac autonomic modulation (sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation in the heart) were also obtained as secondary outcomes. Sedentary activities and light physical activities were positively and inversely associated, respectively, with brachial systolic (r = 0.56; P < 0.01), central systolic (r = 0.51; P < 0.05), brachial diastolic (r = 0.45; P < 0.01) and central diastolic (r = 0.42; P < 0.05) blood pressures, after adjustment for sex, age, trunk fat, number of antihypertensive drugs, accelerometer wear time and moderate-to-vigorous physical activities. Arterial stiffness parameters and cardiac autonomic modulation were not associated with the time spent in sedentary activities and in light physical activities (P > 0.05). Lower time spent in sedentary activities and higher time spent in light physical activities are associated with lower blood pressure, without affecting arterial stiffness and cardiac autonomic modulation in hypertensive patients.

This study compared variation in size, function and sport-specific technical skills of youth soccer players associated with differences in biological maturity status. 60 male soccer players of under-14 (U14) and under-17 (U17) categories were submitted to anthropometric and body composition measurements as well as motor and soccer-specific technical skill tests. Skeletal maturity was determined by skeletal age. Athletes of both categories were classified as early, on-time or late-maturing, according to the difference between chronological age and skeletal age. Body mass and height were lower in the late athletes, independent of category (P<0.01). Differences in adiposity were found only between athletes of the U14 (late<early, P<0.05). Statistically significant differences were identified on aerobic endurance in U14 (early<on time, P<0.01), upper limbs muscular strength (late<early, P<0.01) and flexibility in U17 (late<on time, P<0.05). Players in each age group of contrasting maturity status do not differ in soccer-specific skills. The results suggest that the maturational development influences body mass, height, body fat, flexibility, muscular strength of upper limbs and cardiorespiratory fitness, whereas the specific technical skills and other functional capabilities do not seem to be affected.

Background: It is estimated that, worldwide, 9% of deaths occur as a result of insufficient physical activity (PA) practice. Practicing PA can prevent and/or reduce the deleterious effects of different types of diseases and can improve general health aspects related to health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Purpose: To analyze the relationship of different PA domains with different HRQoL domains over a two-year period. Methods: This is an observational study with a two-year longitudinal design. The sample, composed of adults, was selected from a randomization of the streets of the different regions (north, south, east, west and center) covering individuals from all areas of the city. To assess the practice of PA, the Baecke questionnaire was used. The instrument Medical Outcomes Study SF-36-Item Short Form Health Survey was used to assess the HRQoL domains. Linear regression models were used to analyzed the association of different PA domains with changes in HRQoL. Multivariate statistical models were adjusted for gender, age, socioeconomic status, marital status, the respective PA score at baseline, smoking, body mass index, and morbidity. Results: 331 adults were evaluated. There was a decrease in the practice of PA in the occupational domain and an increase in the leisure/locomotion domain. Regarding HRQoL, there was an increase in the scores of body pain and mental health, and a decrease in scores of general health, vitality, social aspects and emotional aspects. The PA practice in the occupational domain was inversely related to functional capacity (β = − 7.2 [CI 95% − 13.0; − 1.4]). The practice of PA through sports in leisure time was positively associated with vitality (β = 5.5 [CI 95% 0.2; 10.7]) and mental health (β = 15.2 [CI 95% 6.8; 23.7]). PA practice during leisure and locomotion was inversely associated with functional capacity (β = − 5.68 [CI 95% − 10.7; − 0.6]) and positively associated with vitality β = 4.8 [CI 95% 0.8; 8.7]) and mental health (β = 8.4 [CI 95% 2.0; 14.9]). The total PA practice was inversely associated with functional capacity (β = − 3.8 [CI 95% − 6.5; − 1.2]) and positively associated with pain in the body (β = 4.9 [CI 95% 0.3; 9.4]), vitality (β = 2.9 [CI 95% 0.7; 5.0]) and mental health (β = 5.7 [CI 95% 2.2; 9.2]). Conclusions: It is suggested that practicing PA continuously within a period of two years can positively affect some physical aspects and some mental aspects related to HRQoL, but not all of them. A strategy for public policy actions is to explore these variables by domain and thus detect the real needs and improvements that can be made for the population.

This study compared maturation, body composition and physical fitness between youth soccer athletes with different technical skills levels. Sixty-two young athletes (11–17 years) were categorized dichotomously in more skilled (n=31) and less skilled (n=31) groups based on 3 specific technical tests (Dribbling Speed Test [DST], Shuttle Dribble Test [SDT] and Slalom Dribble Test [SLDT]). Chronological and skeletal age, time of practice, body composition and 4 physical fitness tests were performed for comparisons. As expected, the 3 technical tests were correlated (r=0.47–0.54, P<0.05). More skilled subjects in DST and SDT showed (respectively) higher time of practice (effect size [ES]=0.72 and 0.90), and greater performance sit-ups (ES=1.23 and 0.81), squat jump (ES=1.10 and 1.08), countermovement jump (ES=1.11 and 1.10), and Yo-Yo test (ES=1.17 and 1.40) compared to the less skilled subjects (P<0.05). However, more skilled subjects in SLDT showed greater performance (P<0.05) only in the squat jump (ES=0.67) and Yo-Yo tests (ES=0.83). The results suggest that technical performance is associated with greater time of practice and some physical capabilities. Moreover, the DST and SDT tests seem to be good options to discriminate technical performance in youth soccer athletes.

Batista, MB, Cyrino, ES, Arruda, M, Dourado, AC, Coelho-E-Silva, MJ, Ohara, D, Romanzini, M, and Ronque, ERV. Validity of equations for estimating V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak from the 20-m shuttle run test in adolescents aged 11–13 years. J Strength Cond Res 27(10): 2774–2781, 2013—The aim