Dean Cooley

VALIDATION OF SEVERAL METHODS OF ESTIMATING MAXIMAL OXYGEN UPTAKE IN YOUNG MEN

The purpose of this study was to identify the most accurate predictor of VO2max from a variety of running tests. 32 young adult male undergraduates of (mean ± SE) age 20.14 ± 0.34 yr., height 179.4 ± 1.8 cm, weight 73.7±2.8 kg, and VO2max 57.89 ± 1.1 ml · kg−1 · min.−1 were randomly tested on four different predictive VO2max running tests to assess their actual VO2max, based on a continuous, progressive treadmill protocol and obtained via gas analysis. The four tests consisted of a treadmill jogging test, 1.5 mile run, Coopers 12-min. run, and the 20-m progressive shuttle-run test. An analysis of variance applied to means indicated significance. Post hoc analysis between the means with correction by Scheffé showed significant difference between the predictive submaximal treadmill jogging test and the 12-min. run but no other difieren .es. The strength of the relationship between predictive tests and VO2max varied, wit1 the 12-min run having the highest correlation of .87, followed by the 1.5 mile rur .87, 20-m progressive shuttle run .82, and the treadmill jogging test .50. The 12-min. run had the highest correlation of all tests with VO2max in young men, with active to trained levels of fitness. The 1.5 mile and 20-m shuttle run also provided accurate predictions of VO2max and so should be used for an accurate prediction of young mens VO2max.

A Pilot Study of Increasing Nonpurposeful Movement Breaks at Work as a Means of Reducing Prolonged Sitting

There is a plethora of workplace physical activity interventions designed to increase purposeful movement, yet few are designed to alleviate prolonged occupational sitting time. A pilot study was conducted to test the feasibility of a workplace e-health intervention based on a passive approach to increase nonpurposeful movement as a means of reducing sitting time. The study was trialled in a professional workplace with forty-six participants (33 females and 13 males) for a period of twenty-six weeks. Participants in the first thirteen weeks received a passive prompt every 45 minutes on their computer screen reminding them to stand and engage in nonpurposeful activity throughout their workday. After thirteen weeks, the prompt was disabled, and participants were then free to voluntary engage the software. Results demonstrated that when employees were exposed to a passive prompt, as opposed to an active prompt, they were five times more likely to fully adhere to completing a movement break every hour of the workday. Based on this pilot study, we suggest that the notion that people are willing to participate in a coercive workplace e-health intervention is promising, and there is a need for further investigation.

Alteration of mood state after a single bout of noncompetitive and competitive exercise programs.

This study evaluated the effects of three popular physical activities on the psychological well-being of university students. 44 students in three physical activity classes enrolled in the Fitness for Life Program at Montana State University which included circuit training, weight training, and racquetball were administered the Profile of Mood States scale 5 min. before and 5 min. after one bout of physical activity. Two of the three activities appeared to be associated positively with scores on certain subscales. The results supported positive psychological well-being of students after physical activity. Implications for research are presented.

Developing Team Cohesion: A Comparison of Cognitive-Behavioral Strategies of U.S. and Australian Sport Coaches

Abstract Anecdotal importance has been placed on various means of developing sport team cohesion. However, little empirical evidence exists as to the specific cognitive-behavioral strategies used by coaches and the situational variables that govern their use (M. H. Anshel, 1990; F. Gardner, 1995). The goal of this study was to determine the latent factors of cohesion strategies as well as patterns of use. Australian (n = 196) and U.S. (n = 162) coaches reported the frequency of use, relative effectiveness, and perceived control of coaching behaviors proposed to facilitate team cohesion. Multiple analysis of variance revealed that social cohesion strategies were determined primarily by sporting culture, coach gender, sport type, and competitive level of teams. Cultural differences in strategy use are discussed within the framework of J. Misumis (1992) performance-maintenance theory of leadership.

Fundamental Movement Patterns in Tasmanian Primary School Children

Gross motor development, using the Test of Gross Motor Development was investigated in 7– and 10-yr.-old Tasmanian school children (N = 574) to provide normative data for primary school children. The effects of daily physical education, time spent on physical education per week, schools with and without a trained physical educator, motor skill training programs, and their effects upon development of fundamental movement patterns was also investigated. Time spent on physical education instruction per week, significantly influenced Gross Motor Development scores in that the more time spent on physical education, the higher the score. Having a motor skill training program in the school was significant for 10-yr.-olds. A review of daily physical education with perhaps a goal of greater emphasis on manipulative control skills such as kicking, throwing, and striking should take place especially for girls, as their scores were significantly lower than those of boys.

Assessment of the Impact of a Workplace Intervention to Reduce Prolonged Occupational Sitting Time

We aim to provide a better picture of the outcomes associated with implementing a nonpurposeful, physical activity, e-health intervention in a professional workplace. There is a need for health professionals to evaluate physical-activity-based workplace health interventions with a full range of measures. Using a social ecological model as a basis, we identify a range of subjective outcomes from 15 interviews of a cross section of participants. We document that not only did participants report a range of positive outcomes across multiple systems of influence, but they experienced some negative outcomes because of disruption to work flow and a changing of work habit. We conclude that using subjective evaluations provides a comprehensive picture of the factors that influence judgments of the efficacy of a workplace health intervention.

Aerobic fitness of Tasmanian secondary school children using the 20-m shuttle run test.

The aim of this study was to determine the aerobic fitness of Tasmanian secondary school children aged 11 to 16 years. A random sample of Tasmanian secondary schools was undertaken and then all children within each grade in the school were tested. In all, 6061 children undertook the test, 2981 boys and 3080 girls. The test consisted of a 20-m shuttle run in time to a prerecorded timing sequence. Each child had to complete as many shuttles as possible while staying in time with the beep. The test ceased for each child when they could no longer reach the marker at the same time or prior to the generated sound. The analyses indicated that there was a significant main effect of grade and sex. Children in lower grades completed fewer shuttles than the children in higher grades, and boys completed more shuttles than girls within each grade. Students in government-run schools completed significantly fewer shuttles than their nongovernment school counterparts (p<.0001). On a regional basis, there were no differences between children in the north and south of Tasmania as each completed 5.7 ± 0.1 shuttles but children in the northwestern region of the state completed a significantly greater number of shuttles. An estimation of mean V̇O2max based upon shuttle stages completed indicated that these values ranged from a low of 40.6 ml · kg−1 · min.−1 in 13-, 14-, and 15-yr.-old girls to a high of 50.4 ml · kg−1 · min.−1 in 16-yr.-old boys. Comparisons between this and similar data suggest that Tasmanian school children are less fit than their counterparts around the world. In conclusion, normative data for Tasmanian school children were developed and distributed to schools throughout Tasmania for use by teachers in evaluating the fitness of their students.

Activity Behaviors of University Staff in the Workplace: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND Sedentary behavior is related to metabolic syndrome and might have implications for the long-term health of workers in a low activity environment. The primary aim of this pilot study was to determine activity levels of adults working at a University during work hours. A secondary aim was to determine the relationship between actual and perceived activity levels. METHODS Activity levels of university staff (n = 15, male = 7, age = 53 ± 7 years, BMI = 26.5 ± 2.5kg·m2) were monitored over 5 consecutive workdays using SenseWear accelerometers, then participants completed a questionnaire of their perception of workplace sedentary time. RESULTS Each participant spent 71.5 ± 13.1% (358 ± 78 min) of their workday being sedentary (< 1.5 METs), 15.6 ± 9.0% involved in light activity (1.5-3 METs), 11.7 ± 10.0% in moderate activity (3-5 METs), and 1.1 ± 1.3% in vigorous activity (> 5 METs) (P < .0001). The mean difference between actual (SenseWear < 1.5 METs) and perceived sitting time was -2 ± 32%; however, perceived sedentary time was reported with a range of under-to-over estimation of -75% to 51%. CONCLUSION This pilot study identifies long periods of low metabolic activity during the workday and poor perception of individual sedentary time. Interventions to reduce sedentary time in the workplace may be necessary to ensure that the work environment does not adversely affect long-term health.

A workplace intervention designed to interrupt prolonged occupational sitting: Self-reported perceptions of health from a cohort of desk-based employees over 26 weeks

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness of a workplace intervention designed to interrupt prolonged occupational sitting time (POST) and its impact on the self-reported health of a cohort of desk-based employees. Design/methodology/approach – In total, 43 participants received an interactive computer-based software intervention for 26 weeks. For the first 13 weeks the intervention passively prompted the participants to interrupt POST and perform brief bouts of non-purposeful movement. The second 13 weeks involved the passivity of the intervention being removed, with the intervention only accessible voluntarily by the participant. This approach was adopted to determine the sustainability of the intervention to change workplace health behaviour. Findings – ANOVA results revealed a significant interaction between group and test occasion, F(2, 42)=2.79, p < 0.05, such that the experimental group increased their total health from pre-test to post-test (13 weeks), and to second p...