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Purpose: This study examined the effectiveness of an early childhood educator (ECE)-focused physical activity e-Learning course on children’s physical activity and sedentary time in childcare. Methods: A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in 12 childcare centers in London, Ontario, Canada. A total of 145 preschoolers and 42 ECEs participated in this study. ECEs in the intervention condition completed a 5-hour e-Learning course related to physical activity. Outcomes were preschoolers’ minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity, light-intensity physical activity, and sedentary time assessed using accelerometers. Results: The intervention did not have a significant effect on moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (d < 0.01, P = .984), light-intensity physical activity (d = −0.17, P = .386), or sedentary time (d = 0.07, P = .717) from baseline to postintervention. There was also no significant intervention effect on moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (d = 0.27, P = .260), light-intensity physical activity (d = −0.08, P = .740), or sedentary time (d = −0.15, P = .520) from baseline to follow-up. Conclusions: Providing ECEs with online training in physical activity through an e-Learning course may not be sufficient to increase physical activity levels among young children in their care. It may be essential to deliver multicomponent interventions to increase preschoolers’ engagement in physical activity in childcare.

This study critically examines the suitability of using a single drop height to assess the reaction strength index in trained and active participants, a key component of athletic performance. Using a cross-sectional design, 377 trained (n = 163) and active (n = 214) participants aged 14–18 years performing drop jumps from 4 different heights (24, 32, 40, and 48 cm) were studied. The primary aim was to explore the individual differences in reaction strength index at these heights and to assess whether a single height can reliably represent stretch-shortening cycle capabilities. While the repeated measures analysis of variance did not reveal any significant differences, the Bland–Altmann analysis revealed significant individual discrepancies between the performance of the drop heights, resulting in a mean absolute error of 32.1 and a mean absolute percentage error of 20.6%. These results strongly suggest that a single drop height is not sufficient to determine performance in the stretch-shortening cycle. This has important practical implications as it can lead to underestimates of performance trends. The study advocates the inclusion of a range of drop heights in routine testing to accurately measure reactive power and thus improve the effectiveness of individualized training programs for young athletes/active youth.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of resistance training (RT) in physical education lessons on athletic motor skill competencies in secondary school children. Method: Seventy-eight males were randomized into experimental year groups or a control group. Experimental groups participated in RT during physical education lessons for a 6-week half-term. The control group continued with their games-based curriculum. Countermovement jump (CMJ) height, seated medicine ball throw (SMBT) distance, and RT skills battery scores were measured preintervention and postintervention. Results: All experimental groups significantly improved SMBT distance and RT skills quotient (P < .05). All intervention year groups also significantly improved CMJ height (P < .05), except for year 9. Although the control group did not show improvements in CMJ height and RT skills quotient, there was a significant improvement in SMBT distance (P < .05). The year 7 and 8 males exhibited greater improvements in CMJ height and SMBT distance (d = 0.21–0.79) than in year 9 (d = 0.00–0.40). Conclusion: Results of the study indicated that a 6-week half-term RT intervention in physical education lessons can improve athletic motor skill competencies (P < .05, d = 0.21–2.51) in male youths.

Background: Phase angle (PhA) is an indicator of cellular health, function, and integrity. PhA has been considered an indicator of nutritional and health status, but it is uncertain whether it could be used as a fitness or athletic performance indicator. Objective: To analyze the relationship between PhA and the fitness and athletic performance of adolescent boxers and to know whether this association is independent of body composition. Methods: Thirty-seven trained youth boxers (15–18 y old) participated in the study. Participants underwent anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance assessments. The following tests were conducted: Fitness-Gram battery; speed, agility, and quickness; ball throws; punch impact force; bench press maximal strength; and vertical and horizontal jumps. Linear regression models were estimated and adjusted by covariates. Results: The PhA was related to upper-limb strength. Nevertheless, in linear regression models, after adjusting models by body composition, only PhA remained as a predictor of relative maximal strength. The PhA was not a predictor of speed, agility, and quickness; cardiorespiratory fitness; or lower-limb power, in which adiposity was the main predictor of fitness. Conclusions: In adolescent boxers, PhA can predict upper-limb maximal strength independently of bioelectrical impedance analysis premises. However, compared with mucle mass, PhA is not a better predictor of upper-limb maximal strength.

Purpose: Analyzed the associations of sedentary behavior (SB) measured by questionnaire and accelerometer, with cardiometabolic markers in adolescents. Methods: Longitudinal study with 4 years of follow-up with adolescents from João Pessoa, Brazil. SB was measured using a questionnaire (305 adolescents: 54.5% females; age 11.7 [SD = 0.7]) and use of accelerometer (136 adolescents: 54.8% females; age 11.5 [SD = 0.7]). The cardiometabolic markers were body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins and high-density lipoproteins (HDL-C), total cholesterol/HDL ratio, triglycerides/HDL ratio, and non-HDL-C. Generalized Estimating Equation analysis was used to for analyses. Results: The average time in SB by the accelerometer was greater (average 8.3 [SD = 1.5], 8.8 [SD = 1.6], and 8.4 [SD = 1.9] h/d/wk) than observed in the questionnaire (on average 6.0 [SD = 4.1], 7.2 [SD = 4.9], and 6.6 [SD = 5.4] h/d/wk), in all years of the study, but without a significant increasing trend (P > .05) over time for both measures. There was a significant and positive association between SB measured by the questionnaire and SBP (β = 0.148; 95% CI, 0.021–0.274). Conclusions: The SB generally does not seem to contribute to significant changes in cardiometabolic markers in adolescents, despite it being associated with increased systolic blood pressure levels.