Marita K. Cardinal

Evaluation of the revised physical activity readiness questionnaire in older adults.

Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PARQ) clearance has been recommended prior to low-to-moderate exercise involvement. The measure, however, appears to exclude a high proportion of older adults due to false positive responses. To improve this situation, a revised PARQ was developed (rPARQ). The purpose of this study was to compare the number exclusions resulting from the PARQ and rPARQ in 60- to 69-yr-old adults. Participants were recruited from Community Nutrition Centers (97 males, 96 females; mean age = 64.82 yr, SD +/- 2.85). At random, half completed the PARQ or rPARQ on day 1 and the respective opposite instrument on day 2. There was a significant decrease in the number of exclusions resulting from the PARQ as compared to the rPARQ (146 to 128, P < 0.001). Percentage of agreement regarding exclusion/inclusion status between the two measures was 87.6% (kappa = 0.71). Responses for the six matched questions were significantly (P < 0.0001) related with contingency and phi coefficients ranging from 0.40 to 0.58 and 0.43 to 0.71, respectively. These results support the concurrent validity of the rPARQ and suggest the revisions have had their intended effect.

Historical Perspective and Current Status of the Physical Education Graduation Requirement at American 4-Year Colleges and Universities.

This study gives an overview of the history of required physical education in Americas 4-year colleges and universities and provides an update on the requirement status. After randomly identifying 354 institutions, we searched their respective websites to determine whether physical education was a requirement to earn a baccalaureate degree. The major finding was that the physical education requirement declined from an all-time high of 97% in the 1920s and 1930s to an all-time low of 39.55% in 2010. Given societys ongoing health challenges and the important role of physical activity in maintaining health, this seems counterintuitive. It is also inconsistent with the National Physical Activity Plan (2010).

Negative Experiences in Physical Education and Sport: How Much Do They Affect Physical Activity Participation Later in Life?

Peoples feelings toward physical activity are often influenced by memories of their childhood experiences in physical education and sport. Unfortunately, many adults remember negative experiences, which may affect their desire to maintain a physically active lifestyle. A survey that asked 293 students about recollections from their childhood or youth physical education and sport experiences revealed that participants who had been picked or chosen last for a team had a significant reduction in physical activity later in life. Long recognized as an “inappropriate” instructional practice by NASPE, “captains picking teams” still occurs in some physical education and sport settings. With the increase in sedentary lifestyles and related health problems, teachers and coaches must consider the long-term effects of their use of potentially negative practices with children and youths in physical education and sport settings.

Wellness education for dancers: a 15-year retrospective.

JOPERD • Volume 80 No. 5 • May/June 2009 S uzanne Gordon (1986) wrote, “We have spent the last 50 years nurturing the art of dance. We need to spend the next 50 years nurturing the artists, without whom the art is not possible” (p. 13). How has the field of dance responded nearly 25 years later? The health and well-being of dancers remains a critical, but often neglected, issue. Dance students face many pressures, including extreme physical and emotional demands and lean body weight, which can result in musculoskeletal injuries, disordered eating behaviors, and diminished health and artistic performance. Unfortunately, many students do not receive adequate education and supplementary programs to assist them in developing healthy behaviors or learn how to take care of their body and their health. One potential solution has been the inclusion of wellness-related curricula for dance students in higher education dance programs. This article consists of four parts: first, a qualitative discussion of current wellnessrelated issues of dance students and an example of a Wellness for Dancers course to address such issues; second, an historical review of developments in the fields of dance medicine and science (from which dance wellness evolved); third, a quantitative analysis of the current status of dance wellness education in higher education dance programs, including developments that have been made during the past 15 years; and fourth, a conclusion and recommendations for future improvements to further enhance dancers’ health and well-being.

SPICE2S: Wellness Dimensions Applied to Dance with Advice for Teachers

The acronym SPICE2S stands for the following dimensions of wellness: social, physical, intellectual, career, emotional, environmental, and spiritual. In this article, each dimension is discussed with respect to the unique issues and needs of dancers, and specific recommendations are provided for how dance teachers can foster wellness in dance education programs.

Diversifying Physical Activity Course Curricula to Meet Institutional Expectations and Satisfy Student Needs in Higher Education: An Introductory Framework

The purpose of this Viewpoint is to offer an introductory framework that seeks to diversify physical activity education course curricula in an attempt to satisfy institutional and student expectations within higher education.

Deciphering Dance in Reality Television: The Good, the Questionable, and the Unconscionable

This editorial discusses the potential positive and negative issues related to reality-TV dance shows. It describes what we can learn from them, how they might influence our fields, and what teachers need to be aware of that could be potentially harmful.

Regulating Physical Activity Education for the Public's Health and Safety, and the Field's Continued Relevance and Survival: Licensure for Exercise Leadership — It's Time!

This article makes a case for requiring those who teach physical activity to be appropriately educated through accredited college and university programs, and certified and/or licensed by legitimate governing bodies.

Physical Education and Sport: Does Participation Relate to Physical Activity Patterns, Observed Fitness, and Personal Attitudes and Beliefs?:

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between physical education (PE) and sports involvement with physical activity (PA), physical fitness, and beliefs about PA among a national sample of adolescents. Setting: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey National Youth Fitness Survey were used. Participants: A total of 459 adolescents aged 12 to 15 years. Measures: Adolescents self-reported engagement in the above parameters; muscular fitness objectively determined. Analysis: Multivariable linear regression. Results: Adolescents who had PE during school days had a higher enjoyment of participating in PE (β = 0.32; P = .01), engaged in more days of being physically active for ≥60 min/d (β = 1.02; P < .001), and performed the plank fitness test longer (β = 17.2; P = .002). Adolescents who played school sports reported that more PA was needed for good health (β = 0.23; P = .04), had a higher enjoyment of participating in PE (β = 0.31; P = .003), engaged in more days of being physically active for ≥60 min/d (β = 0.70; P = .01), performed more pull-ups (β = 2.33; P = .008), had a stronger grip strength (β = 2.5; P = .01), and performed the plank fitness test longer (β = 11.6; P = .04). Conclusion: Adolescents who had PE during school, who had more frequent and long-lasting PE, and who played school sports generally had more accurate perceptions of the amount of PA needed for good health, had greater enjoyment of PE, were more physically active, and performed better on several muscular fitness-related tests. This underscores the importance of PE integration in the schools and encouragement of school sports participation.