Objectives: Health problems in patients with heritable connective tissue disorders (HCTD) are diverse and complex and might lead to lower physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF). This study aimed to investigate the PA and PF of children with heritable connective tissue disorders (HCTD).Methods: PA was assessed using an accelerometer-based activity monitor (ActivPAL) and the mobility subscale of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory Computer Adaptive Test (PEDI-CAT). PF was measured in terms of cardiovascular endurance using the Fitkids Treadmill Test (FTT); maximal hand grip strength, using hand grip dynamometry (HGD) as an indicator of muscle strength; and motor proficiency, using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2 (BOTMP-2).Results: A total of 56 children, with a median age of 11.6 (interquartile range [IQR], 8.8–15.8) years, diagnosed with Marfan syndrome (MFS), n = 37, Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS), n = 6, and genetically confirmed Ehlers-Danlos (EDS) syndromes, n = 13 (including classical EDS n = 10, vascular EDS n = 1, dermatosparaxis EDS n = 1, arthrochalasia EDS n = 1), participated. Regarding PA, children with HCTD were active for 4.5 (IQR 3.5–5.2) hours/day, spent 9.2 (IQR 7.6–10.4) hours/day sedentary, slept 11.2 (IQR 9.5–11.5) hours/day, and performed 8,351.7 (IQR 6,456.9–1,0484.6) steps/day. They scored below average (mean (standard deviation [SD]) z-score −1.4 (1.6)) on the PEDI-CAT mobility subscale. Regarding PF, children with HCTD scored well below average on the FFT (mean (SD) z-score −3.3 (3.2)) and below average on the HGD (mean (SD) z-score −1.1 (1.2)) compared to normative data. Contradictory, the BOTMP-2 score was classified as average (mean (SD) z-score.02 (.98)). Moderate positive correlations were found between PA and PF (r(39) = .378, p < .001). Moderately sized negative correlations were found between pain intensity and fatigue and time spent actively (r(35) = .408, p < .001 and r(24) = .395 p < .001, respectively).Conclusion: This study is the first to demonstrate reduced PA and PF in children with HCTD. PF was moderately positively correlated with PA and negatively correlated with pain intensity and fatigue. Reduced cardiovascular endurance, muscle strength, and deconditioning, combined with disorder-specific cardiovascular and musculoskeletal features, are hypothesized to be causal. Identifying the limitations in PA and PF provides a starting point for tailor-made interventions.
Objectives: Health problems in patients with heritable connective tissue disorders (HCTD) are diverse and complex and might lead to lower physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF). This study aimed to investigate the PA and PF of children with heritable connective tissue disorders (HCTD).Methods: PA was assessed using an accelerometer-based activity monitor (ActivPAL) and the mobility subscale of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory Computer Adaptive Test (PEDI-CAT). PF was measured in terms of cardiovascular endurance using the Fitkids Treadmill Test (FTT); maximal hand grip strength, using hand grip dynamometry (HGD) as an indicator of muscle strength; and motor proficiency, using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2 (BOTMP-2).Results: A total of 56 children, with a median age of 11.6 (interquartile range [IQR], 8.8–15.8) years, diagnosed with Marfan syndrome (MFS), n = 37, Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS), n = 6, and genetically confirmed Ehlers-Danlos (EDS) syndromes, n = 13 (including classical EDS n = 10, vascular EDS n = 1, dermatosparaxis EDS n = 1, arthrochalasia EDS n = 1), participated. Regarding PA, children with HCTD were active for 4.5 (IQR 3.5–5.2) hours/day, spent 9.2 (IQR 7.6–10.4) hours/day sedentary, slept 11.2 (IQR 9.5–11.5) hours/day, and performed 8,351.7 (IQR 6,456.9–1,0484.6) steps/day. They scored below average (mean (standard deviation [SD]) z-score −1.4 (1.6)) on the PEDI-CAT mobility subscale. Regarding PF, children with HCTD scored well below average on the FFT (mean (SD) z-score −3.3 (3.2)) and below average on the HGD (mean (SD) z-score −1.1 (1.2)) compared to normative data. Contradictory, the BOTMP-2 score was classified as average (mean (SD) z-score.02 (.98)). Moderate positive correlations were found between PA and PF (r(39) = .378, p < .001). Moderately sized negative correlations were found between pain intensity and fatigue and time spent actively (r(35) = .408, p < .001 and r(24) = .395 p < .001, respectively).Conclusion: This study is the first to demonstrate reduced PA and PF in children with HCTD. PF was moderately positively correlated with PA and negatively correlated with pain intensity and fatigue. Reduced cardiovascular endurance, muscle strength, and deconditioning, combined with disorder-specific cardiovascular and musculoskeletal features, are hypothesized to be causal. Identifying the limitations in PA and PF provides a starting point for tailor-made interventions.
The goal of this cross-sectional study was to further explore the relationships between motor competence, physical activity, perceived motor competence, physical fitness and weight status in different age categories of Dutch primary school children. Participants were 2068 children aged 4 to 13 years old, divided over 9 age groups. During physical education classes, they completed the 4-Skills Test, a physical activity questionnaire, versions of the Self-Perception Profile for Children, Eurofit test and anthropometry measurements. Results show that all five factors included in the analyses are related to each other and that a tipping point exists at which relations emerge or strengthen. Physical fitness is related to both motor competence and physical activity and these relationships strengthen with age. A relationship between body mass index and the other four factors emerges in middle childhood. Interestingly, at a young age, motor competence and perceived motor competence are weakly related, but neither one of these have a relation with physical activity. In middle childhood, both motor competence and perceived motor competence are related to physical activity. Our findings show that children in late childhood who have higher perceived motor competence are also more physically active, have higher physical fitness, higher motor competence and lower body mass index. Our results indicate that targeting motor competence at a young age might be a feasible way to ensure continued participation in physical activities throughout childhood and adolescence.
MULTIFILE
Can provision of outdoor fitness and engaging communities in decision making process , encourage residents to use the facilities and be more physical active?ongoing project This a practical project that is part of the BIOR program in Groningen. We are aiming to explore the impact of implementing the fitness equipment as well as community involvements in four different areas in Groningen on physical activity level of residents and/or park utilisation. The project is drawing on qualitative data based on observation using SOPARC, interview with stakeholders and survey and focus group discussion with residents.
In dit onderzoek wordt de uitvoerbaarheid van een bewegingsprogramma tijdens chemoradiatie bij patienten met hoofd-halskanker onderzocht.The feasibility of an exercise intervention during CRT in HNSCC patients will be studied to design an optimal, large-scale RCT comparing the exercise intervention during CRT to usual care (UC) with the aim of a beneficial effect on the tolerability of CRT and physical fitness, body composition, fatigue and QoL on the longer term.
it is on going project.That is an exploratory research project to identify the demographics of inactive people in three different disadvantaged areas in city of Groningen, as well as understanding the reasons of being inactive or having insufficient physical activity. The main question to answer isWhat intervention design can help those inactive people to embed physical activity into their daily life? That's important because provision of outdoor fitness in their neighbourhood was not enough to encourage them to be active. A third year student is helping in this project as his internship, collected the data, will develop the intervention, implement it and evaluate it.
