The objective of this study was to develop count cut-points for three different accelerometer models: ActiGraph GT3X, RT3 and Actical to accurately classify physical activity intensity levels in adolescents. Seventy-nine adolescents (10-15 years) participated in this study. Accelerometers and oxygen consumption ([Formula: see text]) data were collected at rest and during 11 physical activities of different intensities. Accelerometers were worn on the waist and [Formula: see text] was measured by a portable metabolic system: Cosmed K4b2. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine cut-points. Cut-points for sedentary (SED), moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA) and vigorous-intensity physical activity (VPA) were 46, 607 and 818 counts·15s(-1) to the vertical axis of ActiGraph; 180, 757 and 1112 counts·15s(-1) to the vector magnitude of ActiGraph; 17, 441 and 873 counts·15s(-1) for Actical; and 5.6, 20.4 and 32.2 counts·s(-1) for RT3, respectively. For all three accelerometer models, there was an almost perfect discrimination of SED and MVPA (ROC >0.97) and an excellent discrimination of VPA (ROC>0.90) observed. Areas under the ROC curves indicated better discrimination of MVPA by ActiGraph (AUC=0.994) and Actical (AUC=0.993) when compared to RT3 (AUC=0.983). The cut-points developed in this study for the ActiGraph (vector magnitude), RT3 and Actical accelerometer models can be used to monitor physical activity level of adolescents.

BackgroundPhysical activity is recommended as a part of a comprehensive lifestyle approach in the treatment of hypertension, but there is a lack of data about the relationship between different intensities of physical activity and cardiovascular parameters in hypertensive patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the time spent in physical activities of different intensities and blood pressure levels, arterial stiffness and autonomic modulation in hypertensive patients.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 87 hypertensive patients (57.5 ± 9.9 years of age) had their physical activity assessed over a 7 day period using an accelerometer and the time spent in sedentary activities, light physical activities, moderate physical activities and moderate-to-vigorous physical activities was obtained. The primary outcomes were brachial and central blood pressure. Arterial stiffness parameters (augmentation index and pulse wave velocity) and cardiac autonomic modulation (sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation in the heart) were also obtained as secondary outcomes.ResultsSedentary activities and light physical activities were positively and inversely associated, respectively, with brachial systolic (r = 0.56; P < 0.01), central systolic (r = 0.51; P < 0.05), brachial diastolic (r = 0.45; P < 0.01) and central diastolic (r = 0.42; P < 0.05) blood pressures, after adjustment for sex, age, trunk fat, number of antihypertensive drugs, accelerometer wear time and moderate-to-vigorous physical activities. Arterial stiffness parameters and cardiac autonomic modulation were not associated with the time spent in sedentary activities and in light physical activities (P > 0.05).ConclusionLower time spent in sedentary activities and higher time spent in light physical activities are associated with lower blood pressure, without affecting arterial stiffness and cardiac autonomic modulation in hypertensive patients.

This study compared variation in size, function and sport-specific technical skills of youth soccer players associated with differences in biological maturity status. 60 male soccer players of under-14 (U14) and under-17 (U17) categories were submitted to anthropometric and body composition measurements as well as motor and soccer-specific technical skill tests. Skeletal maturity was determined by skeletal age. Athletes of both categories were classified as early, on-time or late-maturing, according to the difference between chronological age and skeletal age. Body mass and height were lower in the late athletes, independent of category (P<0.01). Differences in adiposity were found only between athletes of the U14 (late

The aim of this study was to analyze the validity of 4 regression equations to estimate the peak oxygen consumption (V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak) from the 20-m shuttle run test in adolescents aged 11-13 years. One hundred and fifteen adolescents, 61 boys (mean ± SD: age = 12.3 ± 0.9 years) and 54 girls (age = 12.1 ± 0.7 years) performed the 20-m shuttle run test and an incremental progressive maximal test for direct V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak analysis. Four linear regression equations were used to estimate the V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak: Barnett et al. (equation 1), Léger et al. (equation 2), Mahar et al. (equation 3), and Matsuzaka et al. (equation 4). For boys, only the V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak estimated by EQ3 did not differ from the value directly measured (p > 0.05). The EQ1, EQ2, and EQ4 underestimated the V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak, whereas the EQ3 overestimated, particularly in girls (p < 0.05). Large limits of agreement were found between the reference method and the 4 equations, with higher estimated values by EQ2 for boys (8.36 ± 15.24 mL·kg·min) and girls (2.45 ± 12.63 mL·kg·min). The highest correlation values were observed by EQ4 for boys (r = 0.80), EQ1 for girls (r = 0.72), and EQ3 for total sample (r = 0.80). The equations analyzed were not precise for individual V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak prediction; however, the EQ3 revealed better agreement, particularly for boys. Considering the data obtained in the boys and total sample, our results suggest that the EQ3 may provide the best predictive measure of V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak from the 20-m shuttle run test in adolescents aged 11-13 years.

This study compared maturation, body composition and physical fitness between youth soccer athletes with different technical skills levels. Sixty-two young athletes (11-17 years) were categorized dichotomously in more skilled (n=31) and less skilled (n=31) groups based on 3 specific technical tests (Dribbling Speed Test [DST], Shuttle Dribble Test [SDT] and Slalom Dribble Test [SLDT]). Chronological and skeletal age, time of practice, body composition and 4 physical fitness tests were performed for comparisons. As expected, the 3 technical tests were correlated (r=0.47-0.54, P<0.05). More skilled subjects in DST and SDT showed (respectively) higher time of practice (effect size [ES]=0.72 and 0.90), and greater performance sit-ups (ES=1.23 and 0.81), squat jump (ES=1.10 and 1.08), countermovement jump (ES=1.11 and 1.10), and Yo-Yo test (ES=1.17 and 1.40) compared to the less skilled subjects (P<0.05). However, more skilled subjects in SLDT showed greater performance (P<0.05) only in the squat jump (ES=0.67) and Yo-Yo tests (ES=0.83). The results suggest that technical performance is associated with greater time of practice and some physical capabilities. Moreover, the DST and SDT tests seem to be good options to discriminate technical performance in youth soccer athletes.