The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on physical activity and sedentary behaviour in secondary school teachers: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Mid-March 2020, Belgium went in lockdown to combat the COVID-19-pandemic. Having to provide school-based day care and adapt to online teaching, while all social, cultural and sports events and activities were cancelled, secondary school teachers' physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) may have been affected considerably. This study investigates the impact of the first Belgian lockdown on PA and SB in Flemish secondary school teachers.

Associations of lifestyle with burnout risk and recovery need in Flemish secondary schoolteachers: a cross-sectional study.

Teacher burnout and high recovery need are a topic of concern for educational institutions. This cross-sectional study assesses the association between lifestyle (including physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), dietary behavior and sleep), burnout risk and recovery need in 1878 secondary schoolteachers in Flanders. In September-October 2019, an online-questionnaire assessing burnout (i.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on risk of burn-out syndrome and recovery need among secondary school teachers in Flanders: A prospective study.

Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools were closed, teachers had to teach from home and after a while, they had to return to the classroom while the pandemic was still on-going. Even before the pandemic, teachers were already more at risk for burn-out syndrome compared to the general population. Furthermore, not much research pertaining to this population has been carried out during the pandemic and so the impact of the pandemic on teachers' risk of burn-out syndrome and recovery need remains unclear.

Hydration Status in Adolescent Alpine Skiers During a Training Camp.

Maintaining euhydration is important for optimal health, performance and recovery, but can be challenging for alpine skiers when training in a relatively cold but dry environment. This study aimed to evaluate hydration status, fluid loss and fluid intake in adolescent alpine skiers during a training camp. Twelve athletes aged 14.

Impact of guided self-study on learning success in undergraduate physiotherapy students in Switzerland - a feasibility study of a higher education intervention.

Background: Guided self-study (G-SS) can be used as a self-directed learning method or self-determined learning that fosters changes in knowledge and skills in a higher physiotherapy education setting. Until now, there has been no empirical evidence for the use of G-SS in higher physiotherapy education. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility to establish a G-SS program in a fulltime undergraduate physiotherapy degree course.

Planning and Implementation of Guided Self-study in an Undergraduate Physiotherapy Curriculum in Switzerland-A Feasibility Study.

Background: Self-directed learning (andragogy) or self-determined learning (heutagogy) can be implemented in guided self-study (GSS) with the aim to foster changes in the knowledge and skills of physiotherapy students in a higher education setting. To date, there is a lack of evidence for the use of GSS in higher education for physiotherapy.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of developing and implementing GSS in an undergraduate physiotherapy educational program in Switzerland.

The Association between Energy Balance-Related Behavior and Burn-Out in Adults: A Systematic Review.

Although it is believed that physical activity, sedentary, and dietary behavior (i.e., energy balance-related behavior) may decrease the risk of burn-out, the association between both is currently not well understood.

Risk factor and symptoms of burnout in physiotherapists in the canton of Bern.

Background: Several studies have shown that the risk of burnout is high for people working in health professions. Many physiotherapists have either suffered from burn out personally or have seen colleagues suffer from it. In Switzerland, there is a lack of evidence concerning the risk factors and symptoms for burnout among physiotherapist.

Posture analysis among Flemish secondary school teachers: difference between the use of chalkboards and electronic school boards during classroom teaching.

The aim of this study was to (i) make a posture analysis of teachers during theoretical classroom teaching; (ii) to estimate the risk for the development of musculoskeletal problems (MSP); (iii) test the hypotheses that an electronic school board (EB) has more ergonomic advantages for teachers. Thirty-five secondary school teachers, of which 15 used an EB and 20 used chalkboards, were selected by convenience sampling and filmed during 30 min of a theoretical course. Posture analysis of back, arms, legs and risk assessment was performed using the Ovako Working Posture Analysis System.

Sleep characteristics, exercise capacity and physical activity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Purpose: Unrefreshing sleep and lowered physical activity are commonly observed in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients, but how they might influence each other remains unexplored. Therefore, this study simultaneously examined the exercise capacity, sleep characteristics and physical activity in CFS patients.

Methods: Handgrip strength and cycle exercise capacity were assessed in 42 female CFS patients and 24 inactive control subjects.

Effect of a multidisciplinary program for the prevention of low back pain in hospital employees: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Hospital workers with physically demanding jobs are at risk for developing recurrent LBP. There is a lack of studies evaluating multidisciplinary prevention of low back pain (LBP) in hospital workers.

Objective: This randomized controlled trial evaluates the effect of a multidisciplinary prevention program, focusing on a client-centred approach, on hospital workers at risk for developing LBP.

Associations between different types of physical activity and teachers' perceived mental, physical, and work-related health.

Background: The teaching profession is characterized by high levels of stress and physical complaints, which might be improved through regular participation in physical activity (PA). However, the effect of PA on mental and physical health is not always consistent and depends on the type of PA performed. The aim of this study was to examine the mental, physical, and work-related health of Flemish secondary school teachers and identify the impact on those health variables by demographic and teaching-related factors and various types of PA.

Association between cognitive performance, physical fitness, and physical activity level in women with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Limited scientific evidence suggests that physical activity is directly related to cognitive performance in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). To date, no other study has examined the direct relationship between cognitive performance and physical fitness in these patients. This study examined whether cognitive performance and physical fitness are associated in female patients with CFS and investigated the association between cognitive performance and physical activity level (PAL) in the same study sample.

Energy expenditure and habitual physical activities in adolescent sprint athletes.

This study aimed to assess total energy expenditure (TEE) and specific habitual physical activities in adolescent sprint athletes. Two methods used to estimate TEE, an activity diary (AD) and SenseWear armband (SWA), were compared. Sixteen athletes (6 girls, 10 boys, mean age 16.

Tired of being inactive: a systematic literature review of physical activity, physiological exercise capacity and muscle strength in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

A systematic review was undertaken to examine whether patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) differ from healthy sedentary controls in physiological exercise capacity, physical activity level and muscle strength. From the available literature, it can be concluded that patients with CFS perform less physical activity during daily life, and have less peak isometric muscle strength compared to healthy sedentary control subjects. Conflicting data in relation to physiological exercise capacity of patients with CFS have been reported, but the weighted available evidence points towards a reduced physiological exercise capacity in CFS.

Low-back problems in recreational self-contained underwater breathing apparatus divers: prevalence and specific risk factors.

Low-back problems (LBP) are one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders in the general population, with reported lifetime prevalences of 50% to 80%. Also, certain sports participants (e.g.

Work and family support systems and the prevalence of lower back problems in a South African steel industry.

Introduction: Back complaints are a common in society.

Methods: An analytical cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out among 366 steel plant workers to examine the prevalence and association between lower back problems (LBP) and family and workplace related psychosocial risk factors.

Results: Using inclusive and stringent definitions for LBP, point prevalence was 35.

Lower back problems and work-related risks in a South African manganese factory.

An analytical cross-sectional epidemiological study carried out among 109 manganese plant workers aimed to examine the prevalence and association between lower back problems (LBP) and occupational risk factors. Outcome was defined using a guided questionnaire and a functional rating index. Exposure to occupational risk factors was determined using self-reported questionnaires and workstation analyses.

Perceptions of work and family assistance and the prevalence of lower back problems in a South African manganese factory.

An analytical cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out among 109 manganese plant workers to examine the prevalence and association between lower back problems (LBP) and family and workplace related psychosocial risk factors. Outcome (LBP) was defined using a guided questionnaire and a functional rating index. Exposure to family and workplace related psychosocial risk was determined using the Occupational Risk Factor (ORFQ) and APGAR questionnaires for work and family support.

Fear-avoidance beliefs and pain coping strategies in relation to lower back problems in a South African steel industry.

The objective was to determine the association between the prevalence of lower back problems (LBP), fear-avoidance beliefs and pain coping strategies using an analytical cross-sectional epidemiological study among a group of 366 workers in a South African stainless steel industry. Outcome (LBP) was defined using a questionnaire and a functional rating index. Exposure to psychosocial risk was determined using the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs (FABQ) and Coping Strategies (CSQ) questionnaires.

Psychosocial factors related to lower back problems in a South African manganese industry.

The purpose of this study was to determine the association between the prevalence of lower back problems, fear-avoidance beliefs, and pain-coping strategies in using an analytical cross-sectional epidemiological study among a group of 109 workers in a South African manganese industry. Outcome (LBP) was defined using a guided questionnaire and functional rating indexes. Exposure to psychosocial risk was determined using the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs (FABQ) and Coping Strategies (CSQ) questionnaires.

Lower back problems and occupational risk factors in a South African steel industry.

Background: The etiology of work-related back disorders is often population specific. The objective of this study was to identify and establish the association of occupational risk factors with the prevalence of low back (LB) problems in a semi-automated South African Steel industry.

Methods: The design entailed an analytical cross-sectional epidemiological study among a group of 366 steel plant workers.

Anthropometric fractionation of body mass: Matiegka revisited.

In a group of 699 Belgian nursing professionals, we estimated body composition using the four-component anthropometric model, relying on the equations originally formulated by Matiegka in 1921 and later revised by Drinkwater and colleagues. We estimated muscle mass using the more recent formula proposed by Martin and co-workers. A discrepancy was noted between estimated total body mass and 'assessed' mass, suggesting erroneous estimations of the components.

The influence of geographic variations on the muscular activity in selected sports movements.

Surface EMG (SEMG) has been used frequently to study motion techniques or skills, body positions, material or equipment used, training-methodology and learning processes in sports and ergonomics. Little if any information is available on the effect of the geographical environment on the neuromuscular control of an athlete or workman during his/her performance or effort. Motions were chosen in Alpine skiing and cycling.