Impacts of the Four-Day School Week on Early Elementary Achievement.

This study explores the impact of four-day school weeks on early elementary achievement. Using covariate adjusted regression analyses and data on all students who entered kindergarten in Oregon, USA between 2014 and 2016, we examine differences in 3rd grade math and English Language Arts test scores (i.e.

Impacts of the Four-Day School Week on High School Achievement and Educational Engagement.

Four-day school week schedules are being adopted with increasing frequency, particularly in rural areas. In this paper we consider the academic implications of students in Oregon attending a four-day school week for the first time when they enter high school. We find 11 grade math achievement in 0.

Impact of Reduced School Exposure on Adolescent Health Behaviors and Food Security: Evidence From 4-Day School Weeks.

Background: Four-day school week (FDSW) use has increased substantially among US districts in recent years, but limited data exist on health impacts of this school schedule. This study examined associations of reduced school exposure via FDSWs with adolescent health and risk behaviors, obesity, and food security.

Methods: Self-report data from 8th- and 11th-grade students from the Oregon Healthy Teens survey across 5 survey years (odd years 2007-2015, total N = 91,860-104,108 respondents depending on the survey question) were linked to a FDSW indicator.

Effects of Four-Day School Weeks on Physical Education Exposure and Childhood Obesity.

Background: Use of 4-day school weeks (FDSWs) as a cost-saving strategy has increased substantially as many US school districts face funding declines. However, the impacts of FDSWs on physical activity exposure and related outcomes are unknown. This study examined physical education (PE) exposure and childhood obesity prevalence in 4- versus 5-day Oregon schools; the authors hypothesized lower PE exposure and higher obesity in FDSW schools, given reduced school environment exposure.

Parental influences on parent-reported motor skills in young children with developmental disabilities.

Background: Young children with developmental disabilities (DDs) often experience motor skill deficits. Although parents play an important role in developing their children's motor skills, the association between parents of young children with DDs and those children's motor skills has not been widely studied.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to cross-sectionally examine the pathway by which parental physical activity (PA) support, explicit modeling, and child's PA are associated with motor skills in young children with DDs.

Association of Teacher-Level Factors With Implementation of Classroom-Based Physical Activity Breaks.

Background: Classroom-based physical activity (CBPA) breaks are a common strategy to increase elementary school children's physical activity (PA) levels. There is limited research examining how teacher-level factors impact teacher implementation of CBPA breaks. In this study, we assessed the relationship of teacher-level factors with teacher use of a CBPA resource.

Teacher-Level Factors, Classroom Physical Activity Opportunities, and Children's Physical Activity Levels.

Background: Classroom-based physical activity (CBPA) breaks are a cost-effective strategy to promote physical activity (PA) at school. Despite teachers' critical roles in sustained implementation of CBPA breaks, few studies examined the association of teacher-level factors with student PA levels, and none focused on rural schools.

Methods: We monitored children's PA levels over 4 consecutive school days at 6 rural Oregon elementary schools with Walk4Life pedometers.

Food insecurity and physical activity insecurity among rural Oregon families.

Among rural families, rates of both child obesity and household food insecurity (FI) are higher compared to non-rural families. These disparities result from a complex interplay of social and environmental conditions that influence behavior. The Transtheoretical Model suggests individual readiness to change underlies success in modifying obesity-preventing behaviors; however, whether an association between readiness to change obesity-related behaviors and FI status among rural families exists is unknown.

Physical activity levels and obesity status of Oregon Rural Elementary School children.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between physical activity (PA, min/school-day) at school and body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)) among rural elementary-aged children.

Methods: Height (cm), weight (kg), and PA were measured for 1767 children (5-12 years) enrolled in six rural Oregon elementary schools in fall, 2013. PA at school was measured over four days using Walk4Life pedometers.

Development of a walking aerobic capacity test for structural firefighters.

Firefighting requires high fitness to perform job tasks and minimize risk of job-related cardiac death. To reduce this risk, the International Association of Firefighters has recommended firefighters possess a VO2max ≥ 42 ml·kg-1·min-1. This recommendation is not universally applied because existing screening tests require costly equipment and do not accommodate firefighters unable to run.

Meeting physical activity guidelines through community-based group exercise: "better bones and balance".

Objective: Community-based exercise programs are popular for achieving physical activity among older adults, but the amount of physical activity obtained through such programs is unknown. This study quantified the bone-loading forces and levels of cardiovascular activity associated with participation in "Better Bones and Balance" (BBB), a community-based fall- and fracture-prevention program for older adults.

Methods: Thirty-six postmenopausal women age 73.

Factors associated with physical activity in children attending family child care homes.

Objective: To determine the relationship between family child care home (FCCH) practices and characteristics, and objectively measured physical activity (PA) among children attending FCCHs.

Methods: FCCH practices and characteristics were assessed in 45 FCCHs in Oregon (USA) in 2010-2011 using the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care Instrument. Within the 45 FCCHs, 136 children between ages 2 and 5 years wore an accelerometer during child care attendance over a one-week period.

Physical activity in childhood may be the key to optimizing lifespan skeletal health.

Physical activities undertaken in childhood, particularly activities, which apply large forces quickly convey optimal benefits to bone mass, size, and structure. Evidence is accumulating that benefits persist well beyond activity cessation. This review examines the potential for early childhood activity to improve bone mineralization and structure and explores childhood activity as prevention for osteoporosis in later life.

Stride width discriminates gait of side-fallers compared to other-directed fallers during overground walking.

Purpose: The purpose was to identify differences in gait characteristics between older fallers with a tendency to fall sideways compared to those who do not fall to the side.

Method: The authors conducted a prospective, case control study of ambulatory adults older than 70 residing in retirement communities. Measurements included spatial and temporal gait parameters and prospective fall surveillance.

The effect of a novel ADL-based training program on performance of activities of daily living and physical fitness.

The purpose of this study was to determine the degree to which a novel training program based on activities of daily living (ADL) would affect performance of ADLs, as well as the fitness of older adults. Fourteen individuals (mean age 82 years) took part in a 10-week control period followed by a 10-week ADL-based training program. Pre- and posttests included the Physical Performance Test (PPT), the Physical Functional Performance-10 (PFP-10), and the Senior Fitness Test (SFT).