Effects of Physical Exercise on the Body Composition and Conditional Physical Capacities of School Children During Confinement by COVID-19

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the countries announced the temporary closure of schools, opting to continue classes virtually, affecting children's lifestyles, primarily by reducing the practice of physical activity and sport, which becomes a risk factor for the development of obesity and overweight. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of physical exercise on body composition in a sample of school-age children during confinement by COVID-19. A quantitative approach study and quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test. The sample consisted of 70 school-age children from 8 to 12 years old who were randomly assigned to 2 groups: the experimental group (GE: 35), who received an aerobic and anaerobic physical exercise program 3 times a day. With a duration of 60 minutes for 10 weeks in a virtual way and a control group (CG: 35) that received only the physical education class. Although the pre-test post measurements showed favorable changes in body composition, weight, and conditional capacities (speed and jumping), these were not statistically significant (P < .05). A structured physical exercise program through virtuality for schoolchildren can be a strategy to control overweight and obesity in children during confinement and improve their conditional physical capacities (speed, jumping).

Healthy Lifestyles Associated With Socioeconomic Determinants in the Older Adult Population

Introduction/Objective:

The evaluation of lifestyle in older adults and the study of socioeconomic determinants becomes an essential indicator of the health conditions of older adults. The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between socioeconomic factors and healthy lifestyles in older adults.

Methods:

Study with a quantitative approach, descriptive type, non-experimental design, cross-sectional in a sample of 407 elderlies who have applied a self-designed instrument for socioeconomic characterization and the FANTASTIC test to assess lifestyle. For data analysis, a bivariate analysis was applied using chi2 and multivariate analysis using ordinal logistic regression.

Results:

53% of elderlies aged between 60 and 70 years reported their lifestyle as excellent and very good. Age, average household income, and perceived health status are associated with healthy lifestyles in older adults.

Conclusions:

This study found that in addition to socioeconomic determinants, self-perceived health is a factor that influences the lifestyles of this population.

Knowledge and Practices of Back Care, Experience in Colombian Children

Early back care has become the preventive strategy to mitigate bad postural habits and musculoskeletal alterations that trigger inadequate postural patterns in the body schema. The objective was to determine the knowledge and practice of back care in first-grade school children after applying an educational intervention for back care. Quasi-experimental study with pre-test and post-tests in a sample of 71 first grade school students. Knowledge and practices for back care were evaluated before and after of the intervention. During 5 weeks, a program of education for back care was developed in the intervention group, formed by concepts about anatomy, physiology, alterations of the spine, adoption of appropriate postures and movements in school life and the execution of adequate movements learned. Simultaneously, physical exercises based on aerobic work, strengthening and stretching the back muscles were carried out with the children in the control group. A linear regression model and a two-level hierarchical model were applied to estimate the effect of the intervention. After the execution of the back care education program, a better score was found in the knowledge and practice questionnaire, which was different between the intervention group and the control group (1.72 95% CI 1.21-2.24). The development of an education program generated a change in the score of the questionnaire on knowledge of back care in the intervnetion group, which suggests the implementation of these strategies in the school context during early childhood, contributing to the prevention of back disorders and deficiencies

Perfil antropométrico y somatotipo en niños futbolistas según posición en terreno de juego

Introducción: El rendimiento de los deportistas está determinado por variables que incluyen la condición física, la habilidad técnica, la composición corporal, somatotipo y las características antropométricas específicas acordes con la posición en el campo de juego, por lo tanto, el presente trabajo busca identificar el perfil antropométrico y somatotipo en niños futbolistas según posición en el terreno de juego.Materiales y métodos: La muestra fue de 240 a los cuales se les realizó una valoración antropométrica siguiendo el protocolo propuesto por la ISAK. El análisis de la información se llevó a cabo en el programa SPSS versión 23.Resultados: Dentro de los resultados se encontró diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre las posiciones y el IMC, grasa corporal y el % peso muscular, siendo los arqueros los que presentan un mayor IMC, % de grasa corporal, peso y son los más altos, siendo valores significativamente más elevados en comparación con las otras posiciones de juego.Conclusiones: Se concluye que variables como el perfil antropométrico y el somatotipo son importante a la hora de escoger y decidir la posición del jugador en el terreno de juego, ya que se puede entrar en ventaja o desventaja en algunas medidas como la talla en los arqueros.