Effects of Soccer Exercise on Balance Ability and Kinesthesia of the Lower Limb Joints in Children Aged 5-6 Years

Reallocation of time to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and estimated changes in physical fitness among preschoolers: a compositional data analysis

BACKGROUND

Previous research has examined the associations of preschoolers' 24-h movement behaviours, including light and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (LPA and MVPA), sedentary behaviour (SB), sleep, with physical fitness in isolation, ignoring intrinsically compositional nature of movement data while increasing the risk of collinearity. Thus, this study investigated the associations of preschoolers' 24-h Movement behaviours composition with physical fitness, estimated changes in physical fitness when time was reallocated between movement behaviours composition, and determined whether associations differ between different genders, using compositional data analysis.

METHODS

In the cross-sectional study, a total of 275 preschoolers (3 ~ 6 y) from China were included. SB, LPA and MVPA times were objectively monitored with an ActiGraph GT9X accelerometer for 7 consecutive days. Sleep duration was obtained using parental reports. Physical fitness parameters, including upper and lower limb strength, static balance, speed-agility, and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), were determined with the PREFIT battery. The associations of 24-h movement behaviours composition with each physical fitness parameter were examined employing compositional multivariable linear regression models. The changes following time reallocation among behaviours were estimated employing compositional isotemporal substitution analyses.

RESULTS

Greater MVPA, but not LPA, was significantly related to better upper and lower limb strength, speed-agility, and CRF. Reallocating time from LPA or SB to MVPA was related to better physical fitness. The associations were non-symmetrical: the estimated detriments to physical fitness from replacing MVPA with LPA or SB were larger than the estimated benefits associated with adding MVPA of the same magnitude. The aforementioned associations with lower limb strength, CRF, and speed-agility were observed in boys, while associations with upper and lower limb strength were noted in girls.

CONCLUSION

Our findings reinforce the importance of physical activity (PA) intensity for the development of physical fitness in preschoolers. Replacing LPA or SB time with MVPA may be an appropriate strategy for enhancing preschoolers' physical fitness.

Effects of ankle isokinetic training on muscle strength and balance amongst older women with mild Parkinson's disease: A randomised trial

BACKGROUND

Patients with Parkinson's disease frequently experience problems with balance and gait.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the influences of regular ankle isokinetic muscle strength training on muscle strength and balance ability amongst elderly women with mild Parkinson's disease.

METHODS

A total of 55 elderly women with mild Parkinson's disease were randomly divided into the experimental group (n= 28) and the control group (n= 27) for 16 weeks. The experimental group was trained for 16 weeks by using isokinetic muscle strength training.

RESULTS

After 16 weeks of training in the experimental group, the peak torque (PT) of ankle (average of the left and right sides) dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, eversion and inversion, and the standing balance index revealed that the left and right stability and overall stability indexes significantly increased by 25.9%, 43.5%, 62.7%, 82.8%, 37.1% and 32.2%, respectively (p< 0.05). The experimental group exhibited significantly increased PT of ankle dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, eversion and inversion. Moreover, the left and right stability and overall stability indexes were significantly improved compared with those of the control group (p< 0.05). This study found a linear regression relationship between the PT of ankle inversion and overall stability index.

CONCLUSION

This study determined that ankle isokinetic muscle strength training improved ankle dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, eversion and inversion muscle strength, and balance ability amongst elderly women with mild Parkinson's disease. However, it did not improve stability in the anterior and posterior directions. Ankle inversion muscle strength is more likely to affect overall balance.