The importance of physical education and health to be a core subject: Arguments and postures concerning the curricular modifications in Chile
This study is focused on the declarations made by different Chilean institutions regarding the modifications affecting the subject Physical Education and Health (PEH), which were approved by the National Education Council. Purpose: The main aim was to analyse the speech generated and gather data around the curricular modifications in the 3rd and 4th course of the middle education in 2020, specifically the choice of leaving the subject PEH as an elective subject. Design: A qualitative, pragma-dialectic approach was used, focusing on the point of view and main arguments of the institutions on the topic. Results: 23 declarations were reviewed, pertaining 6 to health institutions, 12 to educati…
'Not as safe as I believed': Differences in perceived and self-reported cycling behavior between riders and non-riders
Cycling behavior remains a key issue for explaining several traffic causalities occurring every day. However, recent studies have shown how the assessment of the own safety-related behaviors on the road may substantially differ from how third parties assess them. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the differences between cyclists’ self-reported behavior and the proxy-reported behavior that other (non-cyclist) road users perceive from bike riders. For this purpose, this study used data from two samples: (i) 1064 cyclists (M = 32.83 years) answering the Cycling Behavior Questionnaire—CBQ, and (ii) 1070 non-cyclists (M = 30.83 years) answering an adapted version of the CBQ for externa…
Resistance training for chronic low back pain in the elderly: A systematic review
Chronic low back pain is a musculoskeletal pathology with a considerably high prevalence in the elderly. This condition increases disability and negatively affects the quality of life. Muscular resistance training is being used as a cornerstone in interventions for elder people due to the numerous benefits associated with physical and functional health. For this reason, the purpose of this study was to systematically review the literature on the main characteristics of resistance training programs in the elder population with chronic low back pain. A literature search in five databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Sports Discuss, and Cochrane Library) was carried out. Inclusion-exclusio…
Compliance, practices, and attitudes towards VTIs (Vehicle Technical Inspections) in Spain: What prevents Spanish drivers from checking up their cars?
Objective Mechanical conditions of vehicles may play a determinant role in driving safety, the reason why vehicle periodical technical inspections (VTIs) are mandatory in many countries. However, the high number of drivers sanctioned for not complying with this regulation is surprisingly high, and there is not much evidence on what kind(s) of motives may explain this concerning panorama. This study aimed to identify the aspects that modulate the relationship between complying (or not) with VTI’s standards in a nationwide sample of Spanish drivers. The study design also addressed the drivers’ awareness regarding different risky behaviors while driving, depending on their sex and their crash…
Incidence and prevalence of injuries in futsal: A systematic review of the literature
Futsal athletes are exposed to a high number of injures. Purpose: This study aimed to gather data on the injures produced in futsal, attending to the prevalence, part of the body injured, type of injury and mechanism, and severity. Also, to evaluate the influence that sociodemographic factors and the position on the pitch may have on the injuries. Finally, we pursued to summarize the prevention strategies proposed by the expert literature. Design: Different search strategies were entered in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Sport Discuss databases. Results: 36 articles were selected to be reviewed. Futsal is situated among the sports with the highest injury incidence, being the main body …
Do Age and Sex Play a Role in the Intraocular Pressure Changes after Acrobatic Gymnastics?
To evaluate the effects of an acrobatic gymnastics (AG) training session on intraocular pressure (IOP), a familiarization session was employed to confirm the participant’s suitability for the study. Forty-nine gymnasts (63.27% females, 18–40 years old) voluntarily agreed to participate. As age, sex, baseline IOP, and central corneal thickness (CCT) were considered as potential predictors of the IOP variations, in the second session measurements of the above parameters were taken before and after 90 min of AG. A mixed-factorial analysis of variance evaluated differences. Linear regression was conducted to potentially predict the IOP variation with the exercise. After the scheduled exercise, …
Effects of power resistance training program with elastic bands on body composition, muscle strength and physical function in older women
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a power-strength resistance program with elastic bands on body composition, physical function, and muscle strength in older women. For such purpose, a randomized controlled trial with a pre-post-intervention design was conducted. Thus, 58 healthy, physically independent, sedentary women, aged 65-85 years, were randomly allocated to the intervention (n = 28) or control group (n = 30). Measurements of body composition (total mass, total fat mass, total skeletal-muscle mass, and body fat percentage), isokinetic muscle strength of knee flexors and extensors (at 60º/second and 180º/second), and physical performance (flexibility, agility/dyn…
Could Road Safety Education (RSE) Help Parents Protect Children? Examining Their Driving Crashes with Children on Board
Recent evidence suggests that driving behavior and traffic safety outcomes of parents may be influenced by the extent to which they receive information and education on road safety, as well as the fact of driving with their children on board, which may increase their risk perception. However, there are no studies specifically addressing the case of crashes suffered while driving with children. Hence, this study aimed to describe the relationship between road safety education-related variables and parents’ traffic safety outcomes while driving with children on board. For this cross-sectional study, data was retrieved from a sample composed of 165 Spanish parents—all of them licensed drivers—…
Critical incidents which limit performance of Chilean University rowers who won a medal in the Pan American Games of Lima 2019
Main objective of this study was to provide a basis for the comprehension of the main critical incidents (i.e. obstacles) that Chilean rowers who were medallists in the Pan American Games of Lima 2019 have to face within the academic, socioeconomic and sports processes. 19 athletes were selected through a non-probabilistic sampling. A content validated questionnaire and an in-deep interview were used. Higher levels of consistency were observed. Through the inferential analysis (ANOVA) it was possible to conclude that athletes are concerned with some academic and social crisis within their sporting career. This fact does not allow them to concentration and integral tranquillity to be focused…
Unsafety on two wheels, or social prejudice? Proxying behavioral reports on bicycle and e-scooter riding safety - A mixed-methods study
The use of non-motorized transportation and micro-mobility is increasing in many cities. Bicycle riding and e-scooter use are now more common and affordable than ever. However, users of these devices face certain key issues. These include their own risky behaviors as well as involvement in conflicts with other road users. Self-report data may not adequately capture these behaviors and interactions. Despite this, more objective data (i.e., how third parties perceive these users’ road behaviors) is scarce. Aims: This study aimed to understand whether e-scooter riders have comparable or different riding behaviors than cyclists. This was investigated using a mixed-method study. Methods: This pa…
Bout duration and number of players of soccer small-sided games affect perceived enjoyment, physiological responses, and technical-tactical performance.
To compare perceived enjoyment (PE), % of heart rate peak (%HRpeak), blood lactate (La), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and technical-tactical performance of soccer players after four-a-side (4vs4) and three-a-side (3vs3) small-sided games (SSGs) with goalkeepers.Sixteen males (20.7 ± 0.7 years; experience: 6.9 ± 1.2 years) completed and were measured after six sessions of SSGs (one twelve-minute bout (1x12), two six-minute bouts (2x6), and three four-minute bouts (3x4), both 3vs3 and 4vs4). Repeated measurements ANOVA evaluated significant differences (There was higher PE for 1 × 12 compared to 2 × 6 (effect sizes [ES] = 1.53 [3vs3 and 4vs4]) and 3 × 4 (ES = 3.13 [4vs4] and 4.16 [3vs3…
Effect of physical activity on COVID-19 symptoms: A narrative review
In 2019, a new condition caused by the COVID-19, became a global pandemic, presenting a disparate symptomatological picture. The immune response to the virus depends on multiple factors, making the practice of physical exercise an important enhancer of the immune system, but it is unknown what effects it could have on the very different symptoms. In order to achieve and summarize the most outstanding information on the influence of the different types and parameters of physical exercise on the immune system and symptoms presented by COVID-19, it was decided to carry out a review of the literature in the databases PubMed and Medline until August 2020. The results showed that while high inten…
Assessing risky and protective behaviors among pedestrians in the Dominican Republic: New evidence about pedestrian safety in the Caribbean
Abstract Introduction Research on pedestrians’ behavior and safety in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) is scarce, compared to high-income economies. This study aimed to present the validation of the Walking Behavior Questionnaire (WBQ), which has not been tested before in the Dominican Republic, and to evaluate age differences in walking-related self-reported behaviors. Methods For this study, a nationwide sample of 1026 pedestrians answered a questionnaire on risky and safe walking behaviors. Psychometric properties of the WBQ, variable correlations and age-based differences in walking were tested. Results Overall, the WBQ presented an adequate structure, goodness-of-fit indexes, an…