Background: Ageing is a life-long process characterized by a progressive loss of physical fitness compromising strength, flexibility, and agility. The purpose of this study was to use accelerometry to examine the relationship between sedentary time, light physical activity (LPA), and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) with the elderly’s physical fitness. Additionally, we aimed to examine the association between the aforementioned variables on older adults who fulfilled global recommendations on physical activity for health and on those who did not fulfil these recommendations. Methods: Eighty-three elderly (mean ± SD: 72.14 ± 5.61 years old) of both genders volunteered to participate in this cross-sectional study, being divided into an active group (n = 53; 71.02 ± 5.27 years old) and an inactive group (n = 30; 74.13 ± 5.72 years old) according to the established guidelines. Sedentary and physical activity times were assessed using an ActiGraph® GT1M accelerometer, whereas physical fitness was evaluated with the Senior Fitness Test. Results: MVPA time was correlated with lower body mass index (BMI) ((rs = −0.218; p = 0.048; −0.3 < r ≤ −0.1 (small)) and shorter time to complete the agility test ((rs = −0.367; p = 0.001; −0.5 < r ≤ −0.3 (low)). Moreover, MVPA time was positively correlated with aerobic endurance ((rs = 0.397; p = 0.000; 0.5 < r ≤ 0.3 (low)) and strength ((rs = 0.243; p = 0.027; 0.3 < r ≤ 0.1 (small)). In the inactive group, MVPA time was positively correlated with upper limb flexibility ((rs = 0.400; p = 0.028; 0.5 < r ≤ 0.3 (low)); moreover, sedentary time was negatively correlated with upper limb flexibility ((r = −0.443; p = 0.014; −0.5 < r ≤ −0.3 (low)), and LPA time was negatively correlated with BMI ((r = −0.423; p = 0.020; −0.5 < r ≤ −0.3 (low)). In the active group, MVPA time was correlated with lower BMI ((rs = −0.320; p = 0.020; −0.5 < r ≤ −0.3 (low)), and shorter time to complete agility test ((rs = −0.296; p = 0.031; −0.3 < r ≤ −0.1 (small)). Conclusions: Our results reinforce the importance of promoting MVPA practice among the elderly, thereby allowing physical fitness maintenance or improvement.

This study aimed to verify whether the presence of siblings and the type of delivery had an influence on the motor skills development of children in the first 48 months of life. We developed a quantitative study with a sample of 405 children of both genders, divided according to the studied variables: children with siblings, children without siblings, children born via eutocic delivery, and children born via dystocic delivery. The instrument used in the study was the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2. Overall, the results indicated that children who had siblings had, on average, better outcomes regarding all motor skills (global and fine). Furthermore, those born via eutocic delivery, on average, had better outcomes regarding all motor skills (global and fine) when compared to children born via dystocic delivery. Thus, the presence of siblings in the family context and the type of delivery positively influenced motor development, especially after 24 months of age, showing that the presence of siblings providing cooperative activities through play and challenges improved cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. Furthermore, a eutocic delivery, in addition to providing a better recovery from labor and the immediate affective bond between mother and child, also led to better results in terms of global and fine motor skills.

The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of Peabody Developmental Motor Scales II (PDMS-2-Folio and Fewell, 2000) using a Portuguese sample. The validation of the Portuguese version of the PDMS-2 was applied according to the manual, for 392 children, from two institutions, from 12 to 48 months, with an analysis of the internal consistency (α Cronbach), of test–retest reliability (ICC) and construct validity (confirmatory factor analysis). The results of the confirmatory factorial analysis (χ2 = 55.614; df = 4; p = 0.06; χ2/df =13.904; SRMR (Standardized Root Mean Square Residual) = 0.065; CFI (Comparative Fit Index) = 0.99, TLI = 0.99, RMSEA (Root Mean Square Error of Approximation) = 0.068) of two factors (Gross Motor and Fine Motor) as the original version but correlated. Most of the subtests had good internal consistency (α = 0.85) and good test–retest stability (ICC = 0.98 to 0.99). The results indicated that the Portuguese version of the PDMS-2 is adequate and valid for assessing global and fine motor skills in children aged 12 to 48 months, and can be used as a reference tool by health and education professionals to assess motor skills and, thus, allowing to detect maladjustments, deficiencies or precocity, so that children can later receive appropriate intervention.

Background. During a soccer game, the most diversified stimuli occur all the time, the physical condition level plays a determinant role, and there may be variations according to the competitive level. In this sense, the present study aimed to verify differences in body composition, lower limbs power, and anaerobic power, comparing senior soccer players of different competitive levels. Methods. Participants were 81 players belonging to six soccer teams, aged between 18 and 35 years, with a mean age of 23.14 ± 4.23 years, who were divided into three distinct competitive levels: Elite, Sub-Elite and Non-Elite. The players performed bioimpedance evaluations on a tetrapolarInbody270 scale (body composition), the Countermovement Jump (CMJ) through the ChronoJump (lower limbs power), and Running Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST) (anaerobic power). Results. Based on the competitive level analysis, we verified that the players present body composition values similar to each other regardless of the competitive level in which they play. Concerning the performance evaluations, we verified that the elite players present higher values of highest jump (p = 0.012; d = 0.76, moderate; and p = 0.022; d = 0.71, moderate) and maximum force produced (p = 0.05; d = 0.64, moderate; and p = 0.002; d = 1.00, moderate), together with higher values of anaerobic power (p < 0.001; d = 2.43, very large; and p < 0.001; d = 2.22, very large), compared to the others. Conclusions. We can thus conclude that there is a homogeneity regarding the body composition of soccer players, regardless of their competitive level; in turn, elite players show better performance indicators in all variables.

RESUMOObjetivou-se analisar a influência e a relação da atividade física (AF) na composição corporal e nos valores espirométricos, relacionando esses indicadores com a função respiratória. Amostra com 179 indiví-duos (85 Italianos; 94 Portugueses) alunos do ensino superior, dividida em três grupos: GESC+EXERC -64 alunos com AF supervisionada, curricular e extracurricular, mínimo 4 sessões/semana; GESCOLA -66 alunos com AF supervisionada, curricular, mínimo 2 sessões/semana; GSEDENTÁRIOS -49 alunos sedentários. Aplicou-se uma adaptação do questionário de Telama et al. (1997), avaliou-se a espirometria através do espirómetro Microquark/Cosmed, o IMC e perímetro da cintura (PC). Após a verificação da normalidade da amostra (Kolmogorov-Smirnov), utilizou-se a Análise de variância e o teste não paramétrico MannWhitney. Utilizou-se ainda o teste de correlação de Spearman. O GESC+EXERC dos dois países obteve melhores resultados no PC e em alguns valores espirométricos, comparativamente ao GSEDENTÁRIOS. Verificá-mos na amostra uma correlação positiva entre o IMC e o PC, e para os alunos Portugueses correlação negativa entre a composição corporal e alguns valores espirométricos. A Itália apresenta melhores indicadores de composição corporal, enquanto Portugal os apresenta na espirometria. Há evidências que os alunos que praticam exercício supervisionado apresentaram melhores indicadores de composição corporal e na função respiratória.Palavras-chaves: Atividade Física, Função respiratória, Composição Corporal, Espirometria ABSTRACTThe objective was to analyze the influence and relationship of physical activity (PA) on corporal composition and on spirometric values, associating these indicators with the respiratory function. Sample with 179 individuals (85 Italians; 94 Portuguese) who were higher education students, and they were divided into three groups: GSCH+EXER -64 students doing supervised exercise, curricular and extra-curricular, at least 4 sessions/week; GSCHOOL -66 students doing supervised curricular PA, at least 2 sessions/week; GSEDENTARY -49 sedentary students. We applied an adaptation of the questionnaire Telama et al. (1997), and measured the spirometry values through the spirometer Microquark/Cosmed, the BMI and Waist Circumference (WC). After checking the normality of the sample (Kolmogorov-Smirnov), we used the ANOVA and the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test. Was also used the Spearman correlation test. The GSCH-EXER of both nationalities achieved significantly better WC and some spirometric values, compared to GSEDENTARY. We confirmed in the sample there was a positive correlation between BMI and WC, and for Portuguese students a negative correlation between body composition and some spirometric values. Italians had better corporal composition values, while the Portuguese had better spirometric values. The evidence was that the students who did supervised exercise had better corporal composition and respiratory function.