Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is considered a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental childhood disorder extending from ages 1–2 to 12–13, associated with impairment across multiple domains, including social, emotional, and cognitive functioning. Little is known about alternative treatments for this disorder. Interest has grown in physical activity as a potential intervention for rehabilitating children with ADHD. This study aimed to investigate the impact of adapted swimming activity on cognitive functions, academic performance, and related behavior of Tunisian children with ADHD. The study was conducted on school children aged 9 to 12 years (n = 40, 5 female and 35 male) diagnosed with ADHD. They were randomly assigned to an experimental group (exercise intervention) or the control group. The Hayling test was used to assess cognitive performance, the Children Behavior Check List (CBCL) was used to assess ADHD-related behavior, and the change in reading and numeracy proficiency was assessed pre- and post-intervention. After 12 weeks of the intervention, the results revealed that there were significant improvements in behavior (p < 0.001), inhibition process (p < 0.001), and academic performance (p < 0.001) in the experimental group compared with the control group. These findings suggest that adapted swimming activity may have positive implications for cognitive function, behavior, and academic performance. This research may provide preliminary support for alternative therapeutic interventions that could be used by practitioners. Moreover, the results support active practice of recreational physical activities as a strategy to support children in overcoming ADHD deficiencies.

Research with police officers (POs) suggests an association between body composition, physical performance and health. The aim of the study was to investigate the associations between body composition and measures of physical fitness, and their use to predict estimated physical fitness score (EPFS). The sample included 163 male POs (age = 31.61 ± 4.79 years, height = 172.97 ± 6.09 cm, body mass = 77.53 ± 11.66 kg). Eight body composition variables: body mass index (BMI), body fat mass index (BFMI), percent of body fat (PBF), percent skeletal muscle mass (PSMM), index of hypokinezia (IH), skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI), protein mass index (PMI), and fat-free mass index (FFMI); and four physical fitness measures: a 3.2 km run, a 2-minute push-up, 2-minute sit-up and estimated physical fitness score (EPFS) were correlated, followed by the regression analysis for causal relationship between body composition and EPFS. Running 3.2 km test correlated to BMI, PBF, PSMM, BFMI, and SMMI (r = 0.274, 0.250, -0.234, 0.311, p<0.01, respectively); 2-minute push-up correlated to PBF, PSMM, BFMI, SMMI, PMI, IH, and FFMI (r = -0.413, 0.436, -0.375, 0.221, 0.231, -0.411, 0.261, p<0.01, respectively); 2-minute sit-up correlated to PBF, PSMM, BFMI, and IH (r = -0.237, 0.250, -0.236, -0.218, p<0.01, respectively); and EPFS correlated to BMI, FFMI, PBF, PSMM, BFMI, and IH (r = -0.200, 0.168, p<0.05, and r = -0.369, 0.378, 0.376, -0.317, p <0.01, respectively). Two models of predictions were extracted: 1) PBF, BFMI, PMI and FFMI (R2 = 0.250, p<0.001); 2) PBF, BFMI and PMI (R2 = 0.244, p<0.001). Obtained prediction models may be a promising screening method of a POs’ fitness, when conducting the physical tests is not possible or safe (obese and injured POs or bad weather conditions).

Čvorović, A, Kukić, F, Orr, RM, Dawes, JJ, Jeknić, V, and Stojković, M. Impact of a 12-week postgraduate training course on the body composition and physical abilities of police trainees. J Strength Cond Res 35(3): 826–832, 2021—The main objective of this study was to determine the effects of a 12-week physical training program on police trainees at the Abu Dhabi Police College. Anthropometric and fitness testing data for 325 healthy trainees, enrolled in an academic course for qualification as a police officer, were analyzed. The trainees were tested 3 times, during the initial (week 1), midpoint (week 7), and final testing (week 13) phases of the training program. The tested variables included anthropometry (body mass [BM]), body composition (body mass index [BMI]; waist circumference [WC]; waist-to-height ratio [WHtR]), upper-body muscular endurance (1-minute push-up [PU]), trunk muscular endurance (1-minute sit-up [SU]), and aerobic endurance (2.4-km run [RUN]). A 1-way analysis of variance with post hoc Bonferroni adjustment was performed to investigate the changes in anthropometry and fitness across the 3 testing periods with percentages of change calculated at each testing stage. Alpha levels were set at 0.05 a priori. Statistically significant differences (range of p values from p < 0.001 to p < 0.05) were found in all tested variables (BM, BMI, WC, WHtR, PU, SU, and RUN) and between all testing stages (initial, midpoint, and final). A progressive physical training program that incorporates mesocycles and midpoint evaluations can have a positive impact on the fitness of trainees even when undergoing a busy academy program.

Purpose: Leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) has always been very important for the maintenance and improvement of body composition. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine if the frequency and volume of LTPA (F-LTPA and V-LTPA) were related to indices of body composition in police officers. Method: A physical activity questionnaire was used to collect data from 346 male police officers regarding their F-LTPA and V-LTPA. They were divided into four groups relative to the frequency, and four groups relative to the volume of LTPA, labeled as inactive, seldom active, moderately active and very active for each LTPA indicator. Percent body fat (PBF), skeletal muscle mass (PSMM), skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI) and body fat mass index (BFMI) were assessed. Correlation analyses investigated associations and multivariate analysis of variance analysed the differences between body composition and LTPA, with significance set at p < .05. Results: The F-LTPA correlated (p < .001) to PBF (r = −0.306), BFMI (r = −0.289), PSMM (r = 0.309) and SMMI (r = −0.138, p = .010). The V-LTPA correlated (p < .001) to PBF (r = −0.370), BFMI (r = −0.348), PSMM (r = 0.311), and SMMI (r = −0.106, p = .049). The differences that occurred between more and less active police officers, whereby those who were very active had lower values of PBF and BFMI and higher values of PSMM and SMMI regardless of the frequency and volume of LTPA. PBF and PSMM were more affected by LTPA than SMMI and BFMI. Conclusions: F-LTPA and V-LTPA were considered important for police officers, whereby F-LTPA was related to muscle and V-LTPA to fat parameters of body composition.

Female police officers may be required to pursue offenders on foot while wearing occupational loads. The aim of this study was to determine relationships between fitness measures and change of direction speed (CODS) in female police officers and the influence of their occupational loads. Retrospective data were provided for 27 female police officers (age = 32.19 ± 5.09 y, height = 162.78 ± 5.01 cm, and mass = 71.31 ± 13.42 kg) and included fitness measures of: lower-body power (standing long jump (SLJ)), upper-body and trunk muscle endurance (push-up (PU) and sit-up (SU)), aerobic power (estimated VO_2max), and CODS (Illinois agility test). The CODS test was performed without and with occupational load (10 kg). Paired sample t-tests (between-load conditions) and Pearson’s correlations (relationships between measures) were performed with linear regression analysis used to account for the contribution of measures to unloaded and loaded CODS performance. CODS was significantly slower when loaded (unloaded = ~23.17 s, loaded = ~24.14 s, p < 0.001) with a strong, significant relationship between load conditions (r = 0.956, p < 0.001). Moderate to strong, significant relationships were found between all fitness measures ranging from estimated VO_2max (r = −0.448) to SU (r = −0.673) in the unloaded condition, with the strength of these relationships increasing in the loaded condition accounting for 61% to 67% of the variance, respectively. While unloaded agility test performance was strongly associated with loaded performance, female police officer CODS was significantly reduced when carrying occupational loads. A variety of fitness measures that influence officer CODS performances become increasingly important when occupational loads are carried.

Body height is among the most important attributes of basketball players. Whether it differs among the basketball players who compete at the world basketball championship (FIBA-WC) is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences between the basketball players from the teams ranked 1–16 and those ranked below 16th place. The body heights of all players from the last three FIBA-WCs were collected and allocated according to the ranking at the FIBA-WC and analyzed by position in team. An independent sample t-test was conducted to analyze the difference in body height of players ranked 1–16 and players who ranked below 16th place. The players from the first 16 teams were significantly taller at three positions: point guards (Difference = 2.92 cm, p < 0.05), shooting guards (Difference = 2.16 cm, p < 0.05), and small forwards (Difference = 2.49 cm, p < 0.01). Body height seems to be an important factor for the performance of the basketball team at the FIBA-WC. Considering that all players at the FIBA-WC went through rigorous selection process to be in their national teams, body height of the higher-ranked players could be used as a reference value.