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Purpose: Understanding which physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior correlates cluster in children is important, particularly in the home, where children spend significant time. Therefore, this study aimed to assess clustering of physical and social activity-related factors at home, and whether these clusters are related to home-based sitting and PA in children. A secondary aim was to explore whether the clusters were associated with child, parent, and family characteristics. Methods: Altogether, 235 children (55% girls, mean age = 10.2 [0.7] y) and their parents took part. Physical (eg, PA and electronic media equipment, house and garden size, layout) and social (eg, activity preferences, priorities, parental rules) home environmental factors were obtained via the HomeSPACE-II audit and self-report, respectively. Principal component analysis was used to identify clusters of physical and social environmental factors. Backward regression analysis and partial correlations were used to examine relationships between clusters, children’s device-measured home-based activity behaviors, and background characteristics. Results: The findings show that physical and social environment activity-related factors at home cluster. The clusters were associated with several background characteristics, with socioeconomic factors appearing to be particularly influential. The clusters were also associated with home-based activity behaviors in the hypothesized directions. Conclusion: Interventions which target clusters of social and physical factors at home, especially among low-socioeconomic status families, are warranted.

Background: Sickle cell disease is the most common genetic hemoglobinopathy globally and systemically affects body functioning, decreasing exercise capacity. Objective: To assess exercise capacity through the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and biomarkers in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study involving 20 children and adolescents from Brazil. Demographic and socioeconomic data were obtained. Baseline measurements included biomarkers (red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, white blood cells, platelets, reticulocytes, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, and fetal hemoglobin). The following data were obtained before, during, and after the 6MWT: heart rate, blood pressure, and peripheral oxygen saturation. Results: Eighteen children and adolescents ages 5–14 years old were analyzed, 61.1% boys, 100% black or brown, and 61.1% in primary education, with low household income. The average distance walked in 6MWT was 463.8 (137.7) m, significantly less than the predicted value (P < .001). The distance of 6MWT was associated positively with age (P = .042) and inversely with reticulocyte count (P = .42) and interleukin 6 (P = .00). Age modified the effect of interleukin 6 in younger children (P = .038). Conclusion: Our findings suggest increased baseline levels of biomarkers of hemolysis and inflammation impact on 6MWT performance.

Purpose: This study investigated the associations between physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, and executive function in preadolescents. Methods: One hundred and twenty preadolescents were recruited from 2 Hong Kong primary schools. PA and sedentary behavior were recorded for 7 consecutive days by accelerometer. Executive function performance, including inhibition (Stroop task and Flanker task) and working memory (Sternberg paradigm task), were measured. Body mass index and cardiorespiratory fitness (multistage fitness test) were tested. Latent profile analysis explored the profiles of PA and sedentary behavior in preadolescents. Results: Three distinct profiles were identified: low activity, average activity, and high activity. Participants in low activity performed worse in the accuracy of Stroop task (vs average activity, P = .03; vs high activity, P < .01), Flanker task (vs average activity, P = .02; vs high activity, P < .001), and Sternberg paradigm task (vs average activity, P < .01; vs high activity, P < .01). No significant difference was observed between participants with average and high activities. No significant association was observed for profiles on body mass index and cardiorespiratory fitness. Conclusion: Supplementing the consensus of the literature that moderate to vigorous PA benefits cognition, the authors conclude that light PA may also enhance preadolescents’ executive functioning.

Purpose: To assess the correlates of sedentary time among children and adolescents in Ethiopia. Methods: The study was conducted in representative samples of children and adolescents in the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine associations of sedentary time and predictor variables. Results: The mean sedentary time was 4.61 (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.35–4.86) hours per day. Overall, the prevalence of high sedentary time (>3 h/d) was 68.2% (95% CI, 64.2–72.2). Results of multivariable logistic regression analyses showed a statistically significant association between high sedentary time and female household head (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.50; 95% CI, 0.32–0.80), literate mothers (AOR = 1.98; 95% CI, 1.26–3.11), child attending public school (AOR = 1.79; 95% CI, 1.12–2.85), children who belonged to the poor and rich household wealth tertiles compared with medium wealth tertile (AOR = 2.30; 95% CI, 1.42–3.72 and AOR = 2.04; 95% CI, 1.14–3.65, respectively), and those families that did not have adequate indoor play space for children (AOR = 0.45; 95% CI, 0.29–0.72). Conclusion: The study found that time spent sedentary was high in the study area as compared with other studies of similar settings. Several modifiable factors were identified that can be targeted in interventions to reduce sedentary time in the study setting.

Purpose: Symptom scores commonly measured following concussion were compared between male and female adolescents with (Hx+) and without (Hx−) a history of concussion, pre and post physical exertion testing. Methods: Eighty (males [n = 60; Hx+ = 19], female [n = 20; Hx+ = 5]) high school students (ages 15–17 y) completed the Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test once and the modified shuttle run test twice. Symptom scores were collected using the 22-point Symptom Evaluation Scale on the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (version 5) immediately pre and post physical exertion testing. Results: The symptoms most reported during preexertional testing were fatigue/low energy, feeling slowed down, and nervous/anxious, whereas feeling slowed down, fatigue/low energy, “pressure in head” (males only), and headache (females only) were most frequently reported during postexertion testing. Conclusion: An understanding of the common exertion-related symptoms at baseline in a laboratory or field-based setting in adolescents may be advantageous for clinicians as they manage individual recovery postconcussion. This is particularly important during an adolescent’s recovery and return to play when exertional testing may be implemented, especially since symptoms were reported pre and post exertional testing in both males and females regardless of concussion history.

Purpose: Regular physical activity (PA) is a cornerstone therapy for many childhood chronic health conditions, and questionnaires offer a simple method for monitoring PA and identifying children who do not meet clinical practice guidelines. The purpose of this systematic review is to determine which questionnaires are most efficacious for assessing PA in children with chronic health conditions. Methods: Systematic literature searches were conducted through ProQuest, MEDLINE, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus from January 2010 to August 2020 to identify studies that measured PA with a validated questionnaire in children and adolescents aged 3–18 years old with chronic health conditions. In eligible studies, the validity and reliability of questionnaires were identified, and the modified COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments checklist and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations were used to assess the quality and strength of evidence and risk of bias. Results: Four thousand four hundred and seventy-eight references were extracted, and 10 articles were included for review. From 10 eligible studies, 6 questionnaires were identified, none of which adequately measure PA in clinical pediatric populations. Conclusion: Questionnaires to adequately measure PA in children with chronic conditions are lacking. This compromises the identification of those who do not meet PA guidelines, limiting the opportunity to identify and address factors contributing to low PA levels.

This study examined differences in resting concentrations of markers of bone formation and resorption, and osteokines between female adolescent (12–16 y) swimmers, soccer players, and nonathletic controls. Resting, morning blood samples were obtained after an overnight fast from 20 swimmers, 20 soccer players, and 20 nonathletic controls, matched for age. carboxyl-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), amino-terminal propeptide of type I collagen (P1NP), total osteocalcin (OC), sclerostin, osteoprotegerin (OPG), and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) were analyzed in serum. After controlling for percent body fat, there were no significant differences between swimmers and nonathletic controls in any of the measured markers. In contrast, soccer players had significantly higher P1NP (89.5 [25.6] ng·mL⁻¹), OC (57.6 [22.9] ng·mL⁻¹), and OPG (1052.5 [612.6] pg·mL⁻¹) compared with both swimmers (P1NP: 66.5 [20.9] ng·mL⁻¹; OC: 24.9 [12.5] ng·mL⁻¹; OPG: 275.2 [83.8] pg·mL⁻¹) and controls (P1NP: 58.5 [16.2] ng·mL⁻¹; OC: 23.2 [11.9] ng·mL⁻¹; OPG: 265.4 [97.6] pg·mL⁻¹), with no differences in CTX, sclerostin, and RANKL. These results suggest that bone formation is higher in adolescent females engaged in high-impact sports like soccer compared with swimmers and controls.

Purpose: Muscle power is a component of muscular fitness and is proportional to its volume. Reduced muscular fitness in children is linked to negative health outcomes. Associations between muscle volume (MV) and power have not been examined in young children and could reveal important insights into early neuromuscular development. Method: Forty-four children (2–8 y) completed 3 tests of short-term muscular power: repeated anaerobic sprint test, vertical jump, and horizontal jump. MV was assessed using 3D ultrasound for 3 lower limb muscles (rectus femoris, medial gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior) and summed for across legs. Associations between muscular power and summed MV were assessed using Pearson correlation (r). Sex-based differences in muscular power and MV were assessed using 1-way analysis of covariance. Results: Moderate–strong associations (r = .57 − .87) were found between muscular power and summed MV. No differences were found between boys and girls for height, weight, MV, or muscular power. Conclusions: Young children who have larger lower limb muscles perform better at tasks dependent on short-term muscular power, such as running and jumping, compared with children with smaller muscles. Sex-based differences in short-term muscular power do not exist in young children and reflect similar anthropometry, including lower limb MV.