Europe PMC · 2026
Playground features and physical activity.
Talarowski M, Galfond E, Han B, Williamson S, Young DR, Eng S, McKenzie TL, Cohen DA.
Objectives To quantify which play elements and site features in playgrounds increase use and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for children, as well as teens, adults, and seniors. Study design This was a direct observational study of users of all ages and demographics in public playground environments. Methods As part of our National Study of Playgrounds, we used systematic direct observation to study 60 playgrounds across the US in ten major cities: Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Memphis, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle. The System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) was utilized to record individuals by apparent gender, age group, activity level, and race/ethnicity. Results Specific playground elements are associated with increased use and MVPA for all ages. These included swings and water play for children and climbers, berms, boulders, the presence of mature trees, and restrooms for all ages. The presence of picnic tables was also supportive of greater use and MVPA. Conclusions Playgrounds are a public health resource that can help children, teens, adults, and seniors reach the national PA recommendations if they include elements that promote increased use and MVPA for all ages.
Europe PMC · 2026
Relationship between parental physical activity and adolescents' physical activity: the mediating role of family physical activity support.
Liang F, Ding H, Gong P, Zhang L, Han L.
Background Physical activity (PA) in adolescents plays a critical role in their healthy development. Although parental PA is associated with adolescents' PA, the role of family PA support in this relationship remains unclear. This study aims to examine how family PA support mediates the association between parental PA and adolescent PA. Methods A 2023 survey conducted across 15 provinces in China ultimately included 11,940 participants. Multiple linear regression examined the links between parental PA, family PA support, and adolescents' PA, adjusting for potential confounders. A mediation model tested whether family PA support mediated the relationship between parental PA and adolescents' PA. Subgroup analyses explored heterogeneity across groups. Results After adjusting for confounding variables, parental PA was positively associated with adolescents' PA (β = 0.0969, 95% CI: 0.0796 to 0.1140; p p Conclusion The study found that parental PA was positively associated with adolescents' PA, while family PA support was positively associated with adolescents' PA, and family PA support mediated the relationship between parental PA and adolescents' PA.
Europe PMC · 2026
Physical activity, fitness, and longevity.
Sanchis-Gomar F, Lavie CJ, Rodriguez F, Kokkinos P, Franklin BA.
Longevity is a relevant cardiovascular (CV) endpoint because survival integrates incident CV disease (CVD), competing non-CVD risks, and the physiological reserve that determines resilience to aging and chronic illness. Two related constructs, physical activity (PA; a modifiable behavior) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF; an integrative phenotype reflecting habitual PA, genetics, cardiopulmonary function, skeletal muscle oxidative capacity, and comorbidity), are consistently associated with lower all-cause and CVD mortality across diverse populations. In this invited narrative review, we synthesize evidence linking PA and CRF to longevity, highlight the dose-response nature of benefits and the importance of activity domain and intensity, and explain why CRF generally outperforms self-reported PA for risk prediction. We address challenges in causal inference, residual confounding variables, reverse causation, and selection/measurement bias, and emphasize approaches that strengthen inference, including device-based PA assessment (e.g., accelerometry), repeated measures, and triangulation with mechanistic and trial evidence. Mechanistic pathways plausibly linking PA and CRF to survival include favorable effects on blood pressure, glycemia and insulin sensitivity, adiposity and body composition, vascular reactivity, autonomic balance, inflammation and immune function, thrombosis, and preservation of skeletal muscle and mitochondrial reserve. We review evidence in particularly relevant subgroups and discuss the "extreme exercise hypothesis", distinguishing mortality from risks, such as atrial fibrillation and accelerated coronary calcification, in endurance athletes. We conclude with practical actions for clinicians and health systems, such as prescribing activities based on the frequency, intensity, time, and type (FITT) principles, incorporating resistance training, treating CRF as a vital sign, and addressing common implementation barriers.
Europe PMC · 2026
Beyond Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA): Why Physical Activity Surveillance May Be Failing Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Girls in Australia.
Talukdar K.
Physical inactivity among culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) girls in Australia is typically framed as a participation problem. However, emerging evidence suggests it is equally a measurement problem. Current surveillance systems rely heavily on self-report tools, sport-centric participation models and generic moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) thresholds that may underestimate meaningful movement exposure whilst failing to detect genuine developmental risk. Longitudinal data show that CALD girls accumulate the lowest MVPA across adolescence, yet these patterns may reflect both true inactivity and under-recognition of culturally grounded movement practices. Self-report instruments often overlook transport-related activity, household responsibilities, caregiving-related movement and traditional dance forms involving repeated loading, muscular endurance, balance and multidirectional movement. These activities carry strength-related and musculoskeletal relevance but remain largely invisible within mainstream surveillance frameworks. Accelerometry improves objectivity but is still interpreted through MVPA-centric cut-points that do not capture force production, impact loading or mechanical competence-key components of adolescent development and long-term participation capacity. Reframing physical inactivity among CALD women as a downstream consequence of early-life exclusion from movement systems shifts the focus from participation to prevention. Improved measurement-through raw accelerometry, machine-learning-based activity recognition and ecological momentary assessment-offers a pathway to more accurate surveillance and more equitable policy responses. CALD girls are not only underrepresented in physical activity systems; they are often under-measured within them. Addressing surveillance blind spots is essential for designing prevention-focused, culturally responsive, developmentally meaningful interventions.
Europe PMC · 2026
Physical activity in ALS: friend or foe?
Fang F.
A fonte não publicou resumo para este artigo. O BETARUBI não abre o texto noutro site.
Europe PMC · 2026
Physical Activity and Your Health.
Hampton T.
A fonte não publicou resumo para este artigo. O BETARUBI não abre o texto noutro site.
Europe PMC · 2026
Bridging Healthcare and Community Physical Activity: The Emerging Role of Physical Activity for Health in Ireland
McNally S.
Background: Community-based exercise programmes are increasingly recognised as an important component of chronic disease management and long-term self-management. As healthcare systems seek to promote prevention, integrated care, and community-based service delivery, there is growing interest in pathways that support sustained physical activity participation beyond traditional clinical settings. In Ireland, the Physical Activity for Health Officer (PAfHO) role has emerged as a novel initiative designed to strengthen links between healthcare services and community-based physical activity opportunities. Objective: To review contemporary evidence relating to community exercise programmes for chronic disease and examine the emerging role and potential contribution of the Physical Activity for Health Officer model within the Irish health system. Methods: A narrative review of peer-reviewed and grey literature published between 2020 and 2025 was conducted. Evidence relating to community exercise programmes, exercise referral and signposting pathways, integrated care models, and the Physical Activity for Health Officer pilot in Ireland was examined and synthesised. Results: Community exercise programmes consistently demonstrate improvements in physical activity participation, functional capacity, and health-related quality of life among people living with chronic disease. Programmes incorporating personalised exercise prescription, behavioural support, and integrated care pathways appear to achieve the strongest outcomes. Emerging evidence from Ireland suggests that the PAfHO role supports the development of referral and signposting pathways, increases access to community-based physical activity opportunities, and enhances collaboration between healthcare, local authority, and community sectors. Conclusions: Community exercise programmes represent an effective and scalable approach to supporting individuals with chronic disease. The PAfHO model aligns with international evidence supporting integrated care and community-based physical activity pathways and may provide an important mechanism for connecting healthcare services with long-term community participation. Further evaluation is required to establish its impact on health outcomes, service utilisation, and health system performance.
Europe PMC · 2026
Effects of Parent-Child Coparticipation in Physical Activity on Physical Activity Levels and Motor Skills of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Aydemir U, Yarımkaya E.
This study aimed to examine the effects of parent-child coparticipation in physical activity (PA) on the PA levels and fundamental motor skills (FMSs) of children with autism spectrum disorder. Participants were assigned to one of the following three groups: (a) a parent-child group (n = 14), (b) a child group (n = 13), and (c) a control group (n = 13). After 8 weeks of intervention, the within-group comparison revealed a significant increase in PA levels and FMSs in children with autism spectrum disorder in the parent-child group and the child group (p < .001). The between-group comparison further showed that children in the parent-child group had statistically higher scores for PA levels and FMSs than children in the child and control groups (p < .001). These findings suggest that parent-child coparticipation in PA may be a promising component of family-based interventions to promote PA and facilitate the acquisition of FMSs among children with autism spectrum disorder.
