Effects of physically active maths lessons on children's maths performance and maths-related affective factors: Multi-arm cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: Physical activity (PA) may benefit academic performance, but it is unclear what kind of classroom-based PA is optimal for learning.

Aim: We studied the effects of physically active maths lessons on children's maths performance and maths-related effects, and whether gender and previous mathematical or motor skills modify these effects.

Sample: A total of 22 volunteered teachers and their pupils with signed consent (N = 397, mean age: 9.

The Effects of Virtual Reality Training on Cognition in Older Adults: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-Regression of Randomized Controlled Trials.

The aim of this systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression was to examine the effects of virtual reality-based training on global cognition and executive function compared with conventional training or information-based treatment in older adults, regardless of cognitive level. A systematic literature search was conducted using four databases. A total of 31 randomized controlled trials were identified.

Associations of active commuting to school in childhood and physical activity in adulthood.

This study examined whether active commuting to school in childhood and adolescence predicted active commuting to work and overall physical activity (PA) in adulthood. Participants from the Young Finns Study (N = 2436) were aged 9-18 years in 1980 and followed up until 2018/2020. Their commuting modes to school were assessed with a self-reported questionnaire in 1980.

Physical fitness characteristics and neck and shoulder pain incidence in school-aged children-A 2-year follow-up.

Background And Aims: Neck and shoulder pain (NSP) is common in school age, but preventative factors have not been identified. The purpose was to study whether a fitness test could be used to predict the incidence of NSP and determine whether good physical fitness characters would be associated with lower NSP incidence in school-aged children at 2-year follow-up.

Methods: After the invitation to nine schools, 970 children (10-15 years old) agreed to participate.

Associations of parental physical activity trajectories with offspring's physical activity patterns from childhood to middle adulthood: The Young Finns Study.

We investigated the association of parental physical activity (PA) trajectories with offspring's youth and adult PA. Self-reported PA data were extracted from the Young Finns Study with three follow-ups for parents between 1980 and 1986 and nine follow-ups for their offspring in youth between 1980 and 2011 (aged 9-39 years, n = 2402) and in adulthood in 2018. Accelerometer-derived PA was quantified in 2018-2020 (aged 43-58 years, n = 1134).

Organized Youth Sports Trajectories and Adult Health Outcomes: The Young Finns Study.

Introduction: This study identified the trajectories of organized youth sports over 9 years in youths aged 9-18 years and examined whether the trajectories predicted physical activity, sedentary behavior, and obesity in midlife.

Methods: Self-reported organized youth sports trajectories were identified for participants between 1980 and 1989 (N=3,474). Accelerometer-derived physical activity was quantified for participants (n=1,349) in 2018-2020.

Physical activity, screen time and the incidence of neck and shoulder pain in school-aged children.

This study investigated the associations of accelerometer-measured physical activity, sedentary time and screen time with the incidence of neck and shoulder pain in school-aged children over a two-year follow-up. Children (aged 10-15) were measured at baseline 2013 (T0) (n = 970) and at follow-ups 2014 (T1) and 2015 (T2). Neck and shoulder pain frequency and screen time were determined with a web-based questionnaire.

Development of accelerometer-based light to vigorous physical activity in fitness profiles of school-aged children.

This study examined the developmental trajectories of light (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in fitness profiles derived from motor competence, perceived motor competence, health-related fitness, and MVPA behavior. Locomotor, stability, and object control skills, muscular and cardiovascular fitness, and physical activity were assessed in 510 (girls 285 and boys 225) Finnish school-aged children (M  = 11.26 ± 33 years) over three years.

How physical activity, fitness, and motor skills contribute to math performance: Working memory as a mediating factor.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine whether physical activity, fitness, and motor skills have an indirect association with math performance via cognitive outcomes and if so, through which aspects of cognition?

Methods: This study comprised 311 6th-9th grade adolescents (12-17 years [M age = 14.0 years], 59% girls) from seven schools throughout Finland in 2015. Math performance was measured via a teacher-rated math achievement and the Basic Arithmetic test.

Motor Competence and Health-related Fitness of School-Age Children: A Two-Year Latent Transition Analysis.

Purpose: The aims of this study were twofold: 1) to identify latent physical performance profiles of motor competence (MC) and cardiorespiratory (CF) and muscular fitness (MF) among school-age children and 2) explore transition probabilities in physical performance profiles over a 2-yr period.

Methods: The present sample comprised 1148 (583 girls, 565 boys) elementary school students (baseline Mage = 11.27 ± 0.

Tracking and Changes in Daily Step Counts among Finnish Adults.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the tracking and changes of steps per day in adults and their determinants over 13 yr.

Methods: A total of 2195 subjects (1236 women) 30-45 yr of age were randomly recruited from the ongoing Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study in 2007 and were followed up in 2020. Steps per day, including both total and aerobic steps per day, were monitored for seven consecutive days with a pedometer in 2007-2008 and 2011-2012 and with an accelerometer in 2018-2020.

Physical fitness development in relation to changes in body composition and physical activity in adolescence.

The decline in adolescents' physical fitness (PF) in recent decades has raised concerns about current population's possible future challenges with health and physical functional capacity. This study explored the associations between body composition, physical activity, maturation, and PF development in adolescents. Furthermore, PF development of adolescents with low initial PF was assessed.

Changes in physical activity and sedentary time during adolescence: Gender differences during weekdays and weekend days.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the gender-specific and time-segmented changes in accelerometer measured physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (ST) during adolescence.

Methods: The study population (N = 970) consisted of children from nine schools throughout Finland. At the baseline, the children were in grades 4-7 (ages 10-13).

Effects of school-based physical activity on mathematics performance in children: a systematic review.

Background: The benefits of physical activity (PA) on children's health and wellbeing are well established. However, the benefits of PA on academic performance and particularly on mathematics performance warrant systematic analysis. Mathematics is one of the core subjects in school education globally.

Validity and Reliability of a Single Question for Leisure-Time Physical Activity Assessment in Middle-Aged Women.

Purpose: To investigate the validity and test-retest reliability of a single seven-level scale physical activity assessment question (SR-PA L7) and its three-level categorization (SR-PA C3).

Methods: The associations of SR-PA L7 and C3 with accelerometer-measured leisure-time physical activity (ACC-LTPA) and with the results of four different physical performance tests (6-min walk [n = 733], knee extension [n = 695], vertical jump [n = 731], and grip force [n = 780]) were investigated among women aged 47-55 years participating in the Estrogenic Regulation of Muscle Apoptosis study (n = 795). The reliability was studied using Spearman correlations with 4-month test-retest period (n = 152).

The Longitudinal Associations of Fitness and Motor Skills with Academic Achievement.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine both independent and dependent longitudinal associations of physical fitness (PF) components with academic achievement.

Methods: A total of 954 fourth to seventh graders (9-15 yr [Mage = 12.5 yr], 52% girls) from nine schools throughout Finland participated in a 2-yr follow-up study.

Differences in the Physical Activity, Sedentary Time, and BMI of Finnish Grade 5 Students.

Background: This study examined the distribution of objectively measured physical activity (PA) and sedentary time of fifth-grade students during school, leisure time, and physical education (PE) classes. Demographic, anthropometric, and PA data were collected from 17 representative Finnish schools.

Methods: To estimate the PA and sedentary time, participants (N = 592) wore wGT3X-BT ActiGraphs for 7 consecutive days.

Longitudinal associations among cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, motor competence and objectively measured physical activity.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate cross-lagged associations in motor competence, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness and accelerometer-based moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) engagement.

Design: One-year prospective follow-up study.

Methods: A sample was 491 (275 girls; M at baseline=11.

Test-retest repeatability of questionnaire for pain symptoms for school children aged 10-15 years.

Background and aims There is a growing body of evidence, that pain is common at school age. Less is known about the repeatability of pain questionnaires for children. This study aimed to assess the test-retest repeatability of the Finnish version of the electronic pain questionnaire for school-aged children.

Motor competence, perceived physical competence, physical fitness, and physical activity within Finnish children.

The purpose of this study was to investigate reciprocal relationships among students' motor competence (MC) (leaping, throwing, catching, jumping skills), perceived physical competence, health-related fitness (HRF) (20 m shuttle run, push-up, abdominal muscles endurance tests) and objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Participants included 422 Grade 5 Finnish children (246 girls). Two separate structural equation models investigated paths (a) from MC through both perceived physical competence and HRF to MVPA, and (b) from MVPA through both perceived physical competence and HRF to MC.

Longitudinal associations of fundamental movement skills with objectively measured physical activity and sedentariness during school transition from primary to lower secondary school.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate cross-lagged associations of leaping skill and throwing-catching skills with objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time (ST) during school transition from upper primary (Grade 6) to lower secondary school (Grade 7).

Design: This study is a one-year prospective follow-up study within Finnish school settings. Students' MVPA, ST, leaping skill and throwing-catching skills were measured at Grade 6 and subsequently at Grade 7.

Differences in physical activity at recess and school-related social factors in four Finnish lower secondary schools.

This study investigated the differences in physical activity (PA) at recess and school-related social factors, and described school PA promotion processes and staff experiences at four lower secondary schools from the Finnish Schools on the Move programme. Recess PA, peer relationships at school, relatedness to school, and school climate were assessed via surveys with eighth-grade students in spring 2011 (n = 385) and spring 2013 (n = 373). Local contact people in the school projects (n = 6), school staff (n = 83) and principals (n = 3) provided information on the PA promotion process via telephone interviews and surveys.

The Relation of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviors, and Academic Achievement Is Mediated by Fitness and Bedtime.

Background: This study investigated the associations of subjectively and objectively measured physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior with academic achievement. We further examined whether aerobic fitness, obesity, and bedtime mediate these associations.

Methods: This study included 970 children aged 9-15 years (52.

Female reproductive factors are associated with objectively measured physical activity in middle-aged women.

Physical activity improves health and may delay the onset of several chronic diseases. For women in particular, the rate of these diseases accelerates at middle age; therefore it is important to identify the determinants of health-enhancing physical activity during midlife in this population. In this study, we focused on determinants that are unique to the female sex, such as childbearing and menopause.

Measuring Physical Activity in Free-Living Conditions-Comparison of Three Accelerometry-Based Methods.

We examined the agreement in time spent on different physical activity (PA) levels using (1) mean amplitude deviation (MAD) of raw acceleration from the hip, (2) wrist-worn Polar Active, and (3) hip-worn Actigraph counts using Freedson's cut-points among adults under free-living conditions. PA was measured in 41 volunteers (mean age 47.6 years) for 14 days.