Harry Prapavessis

Effects of active video games on body composition: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND Sedentary activities such as video gaming are independently associated with obesity. Active video games, in which players physically interact with images on screen, may help increase physical activity and improve body composition. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of active video games over a 6-mo period on weight, body composition, physical activity, and physical fitness. DESIGN We conducted a 2-arm, parallel, randomized controlled trial in Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 322 overweight and obese children aged 10-14 y, who were current users of sedentary video games, were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to receive either an active video game upgrade package (intervention, n = 160) or to have no change (control group, n = 162). The primary outcome was the change from baseline in body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)). Secondary outcomes were changes in percentage body fat, physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, video game play, and food snacking. RESULTS At 24 wk, the treatment effect on BMI (-0.24; 95% CI: -0.44, -0.05; P = 0.02) favored the intervention group. The change (±SE) in BMI from baseline increased in the control group (0.34 ± 0.08) but remained the same in the intervention group (0.09 ± 0.08). There was also evidence of a reduction in body fat in the intervention group (-0.83%; 95% CI: -1.54%, -0.12%; P = 0.02). The change in daily time spent playing active video games at 24 wk increased (10.03 min; 95% CI: 6.26, 13.81 min; P < 0.0001) with the intervention accompanied by a reduction in the change in daily time spent playing nonactive video games (-9.39 min; 95% CI: -19.38, 0.59 min; P = 0.06). CONCLUSION An active video game intervention has a small but definite effect on BMI and body composition in overweight and obese children. This trial was registered in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry at http://www.anzctr.org.au/ as ACTRN12607000632493.

Couch potatoes to jumping beans: A pilot study of the effect of active video games on physical activity in children

The primary objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the effect of active video games on childrens physical activity levels.Twenty children (mean ± SD age = 12 ± 1.5 years; 40% female) were randomised to receive either an active video game upgrade package or to a control group (no intervention). Effects on physical activity over the 12-week intervention period were measured using objective (Actigraph accelerometer) and subjective (Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children [PAQ-C]) measures. An activity log was used to estimate time spent playing active and non-active video games.Children in the intervention group spent less mean time over the total 12-week intervention period playing all video games compared to those in the control group (54 versus 98 minutes/day [difference = -44 minutes/day, 95% CI [-92, 2]], p = 0.06). Average time spent in all physical activities measured with an accelerometer was higher in the active video game intervention group compared to the control group (difference at 6 weeks = 194 counts/min, p = 0.04, and at 12 weeks = 48 counts/min, p = 0.06).This preliminary study suggests that playing active video games on a regular basis may have positive effects on childrens overall physical activity levels. Further research is needed to confirm if playing these games over a longer period of time could also have positive effects on childrens body weight and body mass index.Trial Registration NumberACTRN012606000018516

Perfectionism, social physique anxiety and disordered eating: a comparison of male and female elite athletes.

Abstract Objective: To examine the relationship between Positive and Negative Perfectionism and Social Physique Anxiety (SPA) and the extent to which these two variables predict disturbed eating attitudes in male and female elite athletes. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Method: Athletes ( n =316) completed measures of Positive and Negative Perfectionism, SPA, disordered eating and social desirability. Zero- and first-order (partial) correlations were examined to determine the relationship between Positive and Negative Perfectionism and SPA. Hierarchical regression analyses were used to examine how two individual difference variables, perfectionism and SPA, relate and contribute to disordered eating. Results: For both male and female athletes, Negative Perfectionism was significantly related to SPA. For males, Positive Perfectionism made a small, yet significant, contribution (i.e. 6%) in predicting disturbed eating attitudes. For females, Negative Perfectionism and SPA uniquely and in combination significantly contributed 41% of the variance in the prediction of disturbed eating attitudes. Discussion: These findings suggest that Negative Perfectionism is strongly linked with SPA and that, in females, SPA is an additional psychosocial variable to consider in the relationship between Negative Perfectionism and disordered eating.

Decreasing landing forces: effect of instruction

Objective—To examine the effects of instructions related to joint kinematics, auditory stimuli, and imagery on lowering the vertical ground reaction forces associated with landing from a jump. Study Design—Randomised controlled trial. Setting—A laboratory in an educational institution. Subjects—Eighty asymptomatic subjects (27 men) with a mean age of 24 years. Intervention—Subjects were randomly assigned to the following groups: (1) instruction (limb position instructions); (2) auditory cue (listen to impact sounds); (3) imagery (metaphorical); (4) control. Subjects were required to jump from a box 300 mm in height and land on a force plate. Measures of the ground reaction force were recorded before and after the intervention. Main Outcome Measure—The peak vertical ground reaction force recorded at footstrike. Results—The peak vertical ground reaction forces in the technical instruction and auditory groups were significantly less than those of the control group. There was no significant difference between the auditory and technical instruction groups. There was no significant difference between the imagery and control groups. Conclusions—When an aim of a rehabilitation programme is to minimise forces on the lower limb during landing type activities, the findings support the use of instructions related to kinematics as well as instructions that draw the patients attention to the sound at impact.

Normative data of vertical ground reaction forces during landing from a jump

This technical report provides normative data of vertical ground reaction forces (GRFs) associated with landing from a jump. Subjects were 234 adolescents (mean age: 16 years) who were categorised by gender, activity level and type of sport played. Subjects jumped from a box 0.3 metres high to land on a force plate. Results showed that there were no significant differences (p>0.05) across gender, activity levels, and type of sport played. Across all subjects, the mean peak vertical GRF was 4.5 bodyweights (SD: 1.7). In regard to gender, mean peak vertical GRFs were 4.6 (SD: 1.7) and 4.2 (SD: 1.4) for males and females respectively. The mean peak vertical GRF for subjects involved in recreational sport 1-3 times per week was 4.4 bodyweights (SD: 1.7), while the mean for those playing competitive sport 4-7 times per week was 4.5 bodyweights (SD: 1.7). The mean peak vertical GRF for subjects participating in sports involving jumping and landing activities was 4.6 bodyweights (SD: 1.8) as compared to 4.4 bodyweights (SD: 1.5) for subjects in sports that did not involve jumping activities.

Team building and cohesiveness in the sport and exercise setting: Use of indirect interventions

Abstract The general focus in this paper is on indirect team building intervention strategies to enhance cohesiveness in sport and exercise groups. Initially, the objectives for team building interventions are presented. Then, an overview of the distinction between direct and indirect intervention strategies is discussed. Following this, a conceptual model for the development of team building in sport and exercise groups is introduced. Research in which the conceptual model has been used with exercise and sport groups is then outlined. Finally, suggestions for future research and application in the area of team building in sport and exercise are advanced. Naturally there arc going to be some ups and downs, particularly if you have individuals trying to achieve at a high level. But when we stepped in between the lines, we knew what we were capable of doing. When a pressure situation presented itself, we were plugged into one another as a cohesive unit. Thats why we were able to come back so often and win ...

The Effect of a Prehabilitation Exercise Program on Quadriceps Strength for Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

To examine the effect of a 6‐week prehabilitation exercise training program on presurgical quadriceps strength for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Home-Based Physical Therapy Intervention With Adherence-Enhancing Strategies Versus Clinic-Based Management for Patients With Ankle Sprains

Background and Purpose: To some extent, favorable treatment outcomes for physical therapy intervention programs depend on patients attending their clinic appointments and adhering to the program requirements. Previous studies have found less-than-optimal levels of clinic attendance, and a viable option might be physical therapy intervention programs with a large component of home treatment. This study investigated the effects of a standard physical therapy intervention program—delivered primarily at either the clinic or home—on ankle function, rehabilitation adherence, and motivation in patients with ankle sprains. Subjects: Forty-seven people with acute ankle sprains who were about to start a course of physical therapy intervention participated in the study. Methods: Using a prospective design, subjects were randomly assigned to either a clinic intervention group or a home intervention group. Ankle function and motivation were measured before and after rehabilitation, and adherence to the clinic- and home-based programs was measured throughout the study. Results: The groups had similar scores for post-treatment ankle function, adherence, and motivation. The home intervention group had a significantly higher percentage of attendance at clinic appointments and better physical therapy intervention program completion rate. Discussion and Conclusion: Home-based physical therapy intervention appears to be a viable option for patients with sprained ankles.

Do individual perceptions of group cohesion reflect shared beliefs? An empirical analysis

This studys primary purpose was to examine the degree to which individual perceptions of cohesiveness reflect shared beliefs in sport teams. The secondary purposes were to examine how the type of cohesion, the task interactive nature of the group, and the absolute level of cohesion relate to the index of agreement. Teams (n = 192 containing 2,107 athletes) were tested on the Group Environment Questionnaire. Index of agreement values were greater for the group integration (GI) manifestations of cohesiveness (GI-task, rwg(j) = .721; GI-social,rwg(j) = .694) than for the individual attractions to the group (ATG) manifestations (ATG-task, rwg(j) = .621; ATG-social, rwg(j) = .563). No differences were found for interactive versus coactive/independent sport teams. A positive relationship was observed between the absolute level of cohesiveness and the index of agreement. Results were discussed in terms of their implication for the aggregation of individual perceptions of cohesion to represent the group construct.

Cohesion and work output

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the relationship between group cohesion and individual work output (effort) in sport teams. Results showed that athletes who scored high on the Individual Attractions to the Group Task (AGT-T) Scale from the Group Environment Questionnaire (GEQ) worked harder (predicted from a bag of expired air at the end of training and expressed as apercentage relative to the maximal volume of oxygen consumption) than athletes who scored low on the ATG-T The results extend previous research that has shown that cohesion is positively associated with individual adherence in sport teams and exercise classes. Recommendations forfuture research are discussed.