Publications by authors named "L S Leach"
Consensus in Action: Context-Specific Physical Activity Guidelines for Undergraduate Students at a South African University.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
December 2024
Physical inactivity among undergraduate university students has been considered a public health concern. To address this, researchers have utilized consensus workshop approaches to develop effective physical activity (PA) recommendations. However, the existing research has limitations: it is outdated, not context-specific to young adults, and does not account for psychosocial factors (such as mental health, motivation, and social support) that hinder or promote PA behavior, particularly in South Africa.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To investigate and explain observed features of the placental DWI signal in healthy and compromised pregnancies using a mathematical model of maternal blood flow.
Methods: Thirteen healthy and nine compromised third trimester pregnancies underwent pulse gradient spin echo DWI MRI, with the results compared to MRI data simulated from a 2D mathematical model of maternal blood flow through the placenta. Both sets of data were fitted to an intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) model, and a rebound model (defined within text), which described voxels that did not decay monotonically.
Background: Netball, with its dynamic movements, poses a high injury risk, notably to the ankles and knees. This study examined the injury knowledge and attitudes of semi-professional netball players in the Western Cape, South Africa.
Methods: In this study 117 semi-professional female netball players from eight clubs in the Western Cape district were conveniently sampled.
Article Synopsis
- The study focuses on the causal relationship between physical activity (PA) and body mass index (BMI) in Australia, addressing the common oversight of their reciprocal influence in previous research.
- Utilizing a quasi-experimental model with data from about 19,677 individuals, the study finds that overweight individuals are less likely to engage in PA, which is more pronounced in those with time or socioeconomic constraints.
- Results indicate that engaging in physical activity more than three times a week can significantly decrease BMI, with a notable 2.55-point reduction overall and a 2.92-point reduction for women, highlighting the need for policy reforms to encourage PA among resource-constrained individuals.
Article Synopsis
- Postpartum anxiety and depression affect many new parents, but traditional in-person interventions can be hard to access, leading to the exploration of digital self-help options.
- This study reviews the effectiveness of technology-based interventions for reducing postpartum mental health issues and enhancing social connections among both birth and adoptive parents.
- Out of 18 articles analyzed, results indicate a small but significant improvement in depression symptoms among participants using the technology-based interventions, both immediately after the intervention and at follow-up.