Identifying socioeconomic determinants that are associated with access to and availability of exercise facilities is fundamental to supporting physical activity engagement in urban populations, which in turn, may reduce health inequities. This study analysed the relationship between area-level socioeconomic status (SES) and access to, and availability of, exercise facilities in Madrid, Spain. Area-level SES was measured using a composite index based on seven sociodemographic indicators. Exercise facilities were geocoded using Google Maps and classified into four types: public, private, low-cost and sessional. Accessibility was operationalized as the street network distance to the nearest exercise facility from each of the 125,427 residential building entrances (i.e. portals) in Madrid. Availability was defined as the count of exercise facilities in a 1000 m street network buffer around each portal. We used a multilevel linear regression and a zero inflated Poisson regression analyses to assess the association between area-level SES and exercise facility accessibility and availability. Lower SES areas had a lower average distance to the closest facility, especially for public and low-cost facilities. Higher SES areas had higher availability of exercise facilities, especially for private and seasonal facilities. Public and low-cost exercise facilities were more proximate in low SES areas, but the overall number of facilities was lower in these areas compared with higher SES areas. Increasing the number of exercise facilities in lower SES areas may be an intervention to improve health equity.

Restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to decrease physical activity (PA) levels. The purpose of the study was to explore the associations between age, gender, and exercise facilities-type membership and physical activity levels during COVID-19 lockdown among users of exercise facilities from Spain. Participants were recruited among the members of 84 exercise facilities across Spain. Data was collected through an online questionnaire between 5th and 20th of April 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown. A total of 7062 participants met inclusion criteria and responded correctly to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Lower levels of total PA were found in women compared with men (β = -26, 95%CI: -40 to -13), and among older adults (β = -48, 95%CI: -10 to -85) compared with younger ones. Moreover, users of private facilities showed higher levels of PA (β = 40, 95%CI: 13 to 66) than those from low-cost and public facilities (reference). Lastly, women from private facilities showed greater levels of PA (β = 63, 95%CI: 29 to 96) than low cost and public's users, an increase higher than what was found in men (β = 7, 95%CI: -38 to 52). Therefore, gender, age and the type of exercise facility's subscription had a relevant influence on PA levels during COVID-19 lockdown in an active population. These findings are useful for public health recommendations, in order to identify subpopulations of previously active people at risk of being physically inactive during and after this pandemic.

RÉSUMÉ: Cette étude a examiné la relation entre l’avis médicale pour s’engager dans ld’activité physique avec, le type de demande d’activité physique et les variables démographiques. Une étude transversale a été élaborécréé. Un questionnaire avec des items sur l’avis médicale, le niveau de demande pour l’activité physique, et les variables démographiques a été complété par une échantillon national de personnes âgées en Espagne (N = 933, M = 74,1, range de 65 à 93), sélectionnées de manière aléatoire à plusieurs étapes. Les personnes âgées actifs actives physiquement ont plus souvent reçu des avis médicale médicaux à la pratiquepour s’engager dans ld’activité physique que les personnes non activefs. Il existe une relation significative entre l’avis médicale et le type de demande (p <.01) et l’âge (p <.05). Cependant, aucune relation n’a été trouvée déterminée entre l’avis médicale d’activité physique et le sexe, la classe sociale, ou le revenu. Les médécins peuvent effectivement favoriserencourager l’activité physique chez les adultes âgés sédentaires par des conseils d’activité physiqueavec un résultat efficace. Donc, les autorités sanitaires devraient promouvoir encourager aux médécins de conseiller à leurs patients plus âgés de s’engager dans l’activité physiqueles conseils médicaux de l’activité physique à leurs patients âgés.

La población europea practica insuficiente actividad físico-deportiva. Un posible factor influyente es la actividad laboral. El presente trabajo pretende conocer la asociación entre el cumplimento de las recomendaciones de la OMS y determinadas variables laborales utilizando los datos de la Encuesta Social Europea con una muestra de 18.240 trabajadores en activo de 20 países. Los resultados muestran que aquellas personas que trabajaban menos horas eran físicamente más activas. De igual forma, las largas jornadas de trabajo afectaban de forma más negativa a las mujeres y personas con ingresos bajos. La zona geográfica, los ingresos y la edad eran más condicionantes para la práctica de la actividad físico-deportiva que las propias horas de trabajo. Finalmente, la autonomía para organizar el trabajo diario podría contribuir a una mayor práctica de las mujeres.

Esta investigación examina el impacto de dos programas de ejercicio físico supervisado en el lugar de trabajo sobre el bienestar y los síntomas de depresión en personas con ocupaciones sedentarias. Las intervenciones se llevaron a cabo en tres empresas diferentes: una empresa de ingeniería de energías renovables, una compañía de seguros y una empresa de infraestructuras y servicios. Los programas tuvieron una frecuencia de tres y dos sesiones semanales respectivamente, orientadas a la mejora de la condición física general. La muestra de estudio fue de 54 trabajadores de las tres empresas. Se realizaron evaluaciones antes y después de las intervenciones para evaluar el impacto de los programas de ejercicio en el bienestar y en los síntomas depresivos. El bienestar se midió empleando el cuestionario SF-36 v2 (Alonso et al., 1995), y los síntomas depresivos con el cuestionario Escala de Depresión del Centro de Estudios Epidemiológicos (CES-D) (Radloff, 1977). El primer programa propició una reducción significativa del dolor corporal (p=0.024; η2=0.18) y mejoras en la salud física global, mientras que el segundo mostró mejoras significativas en la vitalidad. Ambos programas redujeron significativamente los síntomas de depresión. Estos hallazgos sugieren que la implementación de programas de ejercicio físico en entornos laborales podría ser efectiva para mejorar el bienestar y reducir los síntomas depresivos en personas con trabajos sedentarios. Esto podría impulsar la creación de servicios específicos de ejercicio físico en el ámbito laboral ofrecidos por empresas que promueven la actividad deportiva. Palabras clave: organización deportiva, calidad de vida, salud mental, entorno laboral, actividad física. This research examines the impact of two supervised exercise programs on the well-being and depression symptoms of employees with sedentary jobs. The actions took place in three corporations: a renewal power engineering company, an insurance company and an infrastructure and services company. These programs had a two-three days per week periodicity focused on the general physical condition. The sample included 54 participants from the three corporations. Pre- and post-evaluations took place to assess the impact of physical activity on the well-being of the employees and their depression symptoms. Well-being was measured with the SF-36 questionnaire v2 (Alonso et al., 1995), and the depressive symptoms with the Center of Epidemiological Studies of Depression Scale (CES D) (Radloff, 1977). The first program results showed significant improvement regarding corporal pain (p=0.024; η2=0.18) and improvements in global health; the second program produces significant improvements on vitality. Both programs significantly reduced depression symptoms. Present findings suggest that the implementation of exercise programs in labour environments could be effective in improving well-being and decreasing depressive symptoms in employees with sedentary jobs. The creation of specific physical activity services in labour environments offered by companies promoting physical exercise could be boosted taking into consideration these findings. Keywords: sports management, quality of life, mental health, workplace, physical activity.

Esta investigación pretende conocer las barreras percibidas, así como posibles variables predictoras, en personas que practican actividad física en centros fitness que se encontraban confinadas en el hogar por la pandemia de COVID-19. La muestra estuvo conformada por 8.087 practicantes de actividad física. Se administró un cuestionario en línea por correo electrónico. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo de las barreras percibidas y un análisis de regresión logística para determinar posibles variables predictoras. Las barreras percibidas más importantes fueron el precio y la suerte de la seguridad. La edad, el sexo, la frecuencia de práctica física vigorosa y la observación de las recomendaciones de la OMS serían las variables predictoras en mayor medida de las barreras percibidas. Los resultados son relevantes para que las organizaciones deportivas planifiquen su oferta de servicios después del confinamiento. This research intends to know the perceived barriers, as well as their predictor variables, in people who practice Physical Activity in fitness centers and were home confined due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample was conformed of 8,087 physical activity practitioners. An online questionnaire was administered by email. A descriptive analysis of the perceived barriers was done, and logistic regression analysis to determine possible predictor variables. The most important perceived barriers were price and a luck of security. Age, gender, the vigorous physical practice frequency and the observation of the WHO recommendations would be the predictor variables to a larger extend for the perceived barriers. The results are relevant for sport organizations to plan their services offer post lockdown. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo conhecer as barreiras percebidas, bem como possíveis variáveis ​​preditivas, em pessoas que praticam atividade física em academias de ginástica que ficaram confinadas em casa pela pandemia do COVID-19. A amostra foi composta por 8.087 praticantes de atividade física. Um questionário online foi administrado por e-mail. Uma análise descritiva das barreiras percebidas e uma análise de regressão logística foram realizadas para determinar possíveis variáveis ​​preditoras. As barreiras percebidas mais importantes foram o preço e a sorte na segurança. Idade, sexo, frequência de prática física vigorosa e observância das recomendações da OMS seriam as variáveis ​​preditoras em maior extensão das barreiras percebidas. Os resultados são relevantes para que as organizações esportivas planejem sua oferta de serviços após o confinamento.