Background and objective: Reports have revealed a growing tendency towards sedentary lifestyles in all age groups, especially among female adolescents. This study aimed to determine the influence of a social cognitive theory (SCT)-based educational intervention on the physical activity of secondary school students in 2013. Materials and methods: This randomized, controlled field trial was conducted on 132 second-and third-year high school female students. The subjects were divided into control and intervention groups-68 students with an average of 13 ± 1 years of age in each group. Data collection tools included demographic, physical activity, and SCT-based questionnaires. For data analysis, descriptive statistics were calculated and regression test was performed using SPSS 22 through descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression with 95% confidence interval. Results: In the intervention group, a significant increase was observed in the mean scores of selected SCT concepts (environmental factors, behavioral capacity, outcome expectation, expectancies, observational learning, reinforcement, and self-efficacy), affecting physical activity (p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression in the intervention group showed that daily and weekly physical activity increased to 70.14 and 263.34 minutes, respectively. Conclu sion: SCT-based educational intervention has a positive impact on the physical activity of female adolescents. Paper Type: Research Article.

Objective The incidence of COVID-19 disease in the elderly can accelerate normal degenerative process of cognitive functions. Interactive cognitive-motor training (CMT) is an intervention that integrates cognitive and motor tasks to promote individuals' physical and psychological health. The present study aimed to examine the effect of CMT on reconstructing cognitive health components in older men, who have recently recovered from COVID-19. Materials and methodsThis study is a quasi-experimental repeated measure (without control group). Participants were 42 elderly men (65-80 years) who recovered from the COVID-19 disease that individually participated in a 4-week CMT program twice a week. The cognitive health components of the participants were assessed by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-2) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) at 3 stages before the beginning of the intervention (baseline assessment); 2 weeks after the intervention (short-term follow-up); and 3 months after the intervention (long-term follow-up). Results The results showed that the scores of depression, anxiety, physical symptoms, and social performance components and the overall GHQ score improved significantly in short-term follow-up (P < 0.05) and also in long-term follow-up compared to baseline assessment (P < 0.05). It was also found that attention and calculation, recall, lingual skill, and action performance components and the overall score of MMSE were also improved at three stages of assessments. Other components did not differ among stages. Conclusions This study adds to the research on the effectiveness of using CMT for reconstructing cognitive health components in older adults, recovered from the COVID-19, and supports CMT as a viable intervention practice.

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The purpose was to investigate the effects of a 7-day creatine (Cr) loading protocol at the end of four weeks of β-alanine supplementation (BA) on physical performance, blood lactate, cognitive performance, and resting hormonal concentrations compared to BA alone. Twenty male military personnel (age: 21.5 ± 1.5 yrs; height: 1.78 ± 0.05 m; body mass: 78.5 ± 7.0 kg; BMI: 23.7 ± 1.64 kg/m2) were recruited and randomized into two groups: BA + Cr or BA + placebo (PL). Participants in each group (n = 10 per group) were supplemented with 6.4 g/day of BA for 28 days. After the third week, the BA + Cr group participants were also supplemented with Cr (0.3 g/kg/day), while the BA + PL group ingested an isocaloric placebo for 7 days. Before and after supplementation, each participant performed a battery of physical and cognitive tests and provided a venous blood sample to determine resting testosterone, cortisol, and IGF-1. Furthermore, immediately after the last physical test, blood lactate was assessed. There was a significant improvement in physical performance and mathematical processing in the BA + Cr group over time (p < 0.05), while there was no change in the BA + PL group. Vertical jump performance and testosterone were significantly higher in the BA + Cr group compared to BA + PL. These results indicate that Cr loading during the final week of BA supplementation (28 days) enhanced muscular power and appears to be superior for muscular strength and cognitive performance compared to BA supplementation alone.