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- Dependência ao exercício em praticantes de modalidades de fitness durante o confinamento covid‐19Publication . Frontini, Roberta; Ramos, Catarina; Oliveira, Janete; Mourão, Joana; Lopes, Pedro; Salvador, Rogério
- Development of an mHealth Platform for Adolescent Obesity Prevention: User-Centered Design ApproachPublication . Reis, Catarina I.; Pernencar, Cláudia; Carvalho, Marta; Gaspar, Pedro; Martinho, Ricardo; Frontini, Roberta; Alves, Rodrigo; Sousa, PedroObesity is a chronic condition that influences the quality of life of patients and families while increasing the economic burden for the world population. Multidisciplinary prevention programs are crucial to address it, allowing an early introduction of healthy behaviors into daily habits. Mobile health interventions provide adequate support for these programs, especially considering the gamification techniques used to promote users’ engagement. TeenPower is a multidisciplinary mHealth intervention program conducted in Portugal during 2018 to empower adolescents, promoting healthy behaviors while preventing obesity. An agile software development process was applied to the development of the digital platform that holds a web-based application and a mobile application. We also propose a model for future developments based on the user-centered design approach adopted for this development and the assessment conducted in each phase. The user-centered design approach model proposed has three distinct phases: (1) design study; (2) pre-production usability tests; and (3) post-production data. Phase 1 allowed us to obtain the high-fidelity version of the graphical user interfaces (n = 5). Phase 2 showed a task completion success rate of 100% (n = 5). Phase 3 was derived from statistical analysis of the usage of the platform by real end users (n = 90). We achieved an average retention rate of 35% (31 out of 90 participants). Each technique has provided input for the continuous design and improvement of the platform. This allowed the creation of a tailored platform that could meet users’ expectations. Nevertheless, the retention rate decreased significantly over a short period of time, revealing the need for further work in the improvement of the gamification experience.
- Pre- and Post-Activity Anxiety for Sustainable RaftingPublication . Faria, João; Quaresma, Luis; Cataldi, Stefania; Clemente, Filipe Manuel; Bonavolontà, Valerio; Badicu, Georgian; Greco, Gianpiero; Brandão, António; Candia, Michele De; Frontini, Roberta; Latino, Francesca; Fischetti, FrancescoThis study aimed to (i) analyze the levels of state-anxiety of rafting customers, before and after the activity; and (ii) characterize the levels of trait-anxiety and the amount of physical activity performed weekly by clients of a rafting activity. The sample had 100 subjects of a nature sports company, in the rafting activity, with a mean age of 33.27 ± 10.10 years, with 44% female and 56% male participants. They were evaluated in two moments M1 (pre-activity) and M2 (post-activity). In M1, the STAI—State-Anxiety questionnaire and the IPAQ—International Physical Activity Questionnaire (short version) were applied. In M2, the STAI Form 1 State-Anxiety questionnaire was applied again, followed by the STAI trait-anxiety. The results showed no correlation between the amount of weekly physical activity and levels of trait-anxiety (rho(100) = −0.144; p-value = 0.152), thus not corroborating with the existing literature. Regarding state-anxiety, we found that in 55% of cases, it decreased with the practice of rafting, which suggests that the practice may have an anxiolytic effect and promote the well-being and relaxation of participants promoting, in this way, the sustainability of the rafting activity.
- Plataforma interativa interdisciplinar para promoção de comportamentos saudáveis e prevenção do sedentarismo e da obesidade: TeenpowerPublication . Paulo, Rui; Honório, Samuel; Rocha, Rita Santos; Pimenta, Nuno; Morouço, Pedro; Sousa, Pedro; Frontini, Roberta
- A narrative exploratory study on the perspectives about physical exercise practise in a sample of Portuguese elderlyPublication . Rosa, Marlene; Antunes, Raúl; Marques, Pedro; Coelho, Rúben; Mendes, Patrícia; Frontini, RobertaThe overall prevalence of inactivity among individuals aged 55 or older in Portugal is the highest in Europe therefore it’s important to develop effective strategies to increase adherence to structured exercise programs by older adults (Picorelli et al., 2014a). The purpose of this paper is to characterise different perspectives on barriers and facilitators to the practise of physical exercise in a sample of the Portuguese elderly. Two groups of enrolled and non-enrolled in a community exercise program were recruited. Each group had 6 participants that were included in the study if they were ≥ 60 years of age. Two focus groups were conducted via Zoom and lasted ≤ 60 min. Participants were asked about five domains regarding physical exercise. Data analysis occurred in three phases by 2 trained and experienced examiners. While the enrolled group highlighted benefits (n = 6) and facilitators (n = 6), and shared strategies to overcome some barriers (n = 2) the non-enrolled group focused on the barriers (n = 6) instead and shared more excuses to justify their non-practice of physical exercise (n = 3). To overcome the barriers considered by the participants in the non-enrolled group, some education strategies focused on physical literacy might be crucial. The high number of barriers felt by the less active older people makes it more complicated for them to adopt and maintain an exercise program. Narratives-based methodologies are interesting methodologies to collect patient-centred perspectives about exercise practise and therefore design adequate programs.
- Assessing the impact of strength training in the functional fitness of the elderlyPublication . Salvador, Rogério; Frontini, RobertaBACKGROUND: The health benefits of resistance training have been vastly valued in opposition to strength training. Nonetheless, literature has consistently acknowledged the clinical and functional benefits of strength training. The main aim of this study was to better understand the impact of the inclusion of a strength training on the functional aptitude of elderly participants. METHODS: This observational research recruited the sample at a local wellness center. Participants were part of two different groups: a Control Group and a Strength Training Group. Both groups were assessed in the beginning and at the end of the school year. A validated adaptation of The Senior Fitness Test was used. Height, weight, Body Mass Index, and body fat mass were also calculated. RESULTS: Regarding the differences from Time 1 to Time 2, the Strength Training Group obtained a statistically significant result on the chair stand and the Body Mass Index, with a large and a moderate effect respectively. The Control Group had a statistically significant result on the chair sit-and-reach, the two-minute step test and the percentage of body fat mass. CONCLUSIONS: The results seem to suggest that the two training methodologies may be effective in improving the functionality of the elderly. Strength training revealed potential contributions in the improvement of some of the results, such as flexibility of the upper limbs or even strength of the lower limbs.
- Physical activity and mental health in Covid-19 times: an editorialPublication . Antunes, R.; Frontini, Roberta
- Association between food choices motivators and physical activity in body image (dis)satisfaction in Portuguese adolescentsPublication . Dias, Sara Simões; Lages, Marlene; Frontini, Roberta; Luís, Luís; Dixe, Maria dos Anjos; Sousa, PedroConcerns about weight and body image are common among adolescents since they are particularly vulnerable to body-image dissatisfaction due to the normal physiological, social, and psychological changes they are going through. This study aims to analyse the relationship between food choice motivations and physical activity in body-image perception among adolescents. Twelve to sixteen years old adolescents were recruited from three school districts. The Portuguese version of the Food Choices Questionnaire (FCQ) was used to assess food choice motivators, and the Quantification de l’Activité Physique en Altitude Chez les Enfants was used to assess physical activity and to calculate daily energy expenditure (DEE). Body image perception was measured using Collins’ sequence of seven silhouettes. Body image (dis)satisfaction was estimated by the present body shape minus the desired body shape. ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed to compare groups, and the post-hoc Bonferroni test was used to compare target groups. A multinominal logistic regression was performed to analyse the association between gender, age, hours of sport’s competition, FCQ, and body dissatisfaction. All analyses were performed in IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0. The sample comprised 286 adolescents (51.4% females). Means of FCQ categories varied between 0.33 and 0.97 (range: −2 to 2). Regarding the categories of FCQ, statistically significant differences were found in the category of body satisfaction and weight control among the three groups (p = 0.004). A preventive effect was found of choosing food regarding body satisfaction and weight control, on body-image dissatisfaction.
- The Practice of Physical Exercise and Sports in Portuguese Trans Youth: A Case StudyPublication . Oliveira, Joana; Frontini, Roberta; Jacinto, Miguel; Antunes, RaulThe following case study aims to analyze the experience of a Portuguese trans individual regarding their practice of physical exercise (PE) and sports in Portuguese gyms and sports clubs. A 30-min interview was conducted through the Zoom platform. Before the interview, four questionnaires—Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and EUROHIS-QOL 8-item index—were also applied, all in their Portuguese version. The interview was digitally video recorded after consent was obtained, transcribed verbatim, and subject to thematic analysis. Findings suggest positive values for satisfaction with life and quality of life. The values of positive affect were higher than those of negative affect, and there was an absence of depressive and anxious symptomatology. In the qualitative analysis, mental health was the main motive for the practice, while locker rooms separated by gender and university life were the main barriers mentioned. Mixed changing rooms were identified as facilitators of PE practice. This study highlights the importance of developing strategies for the creation of mixed changing rooms and sports teams in order to promote a comfortable and safe practice for all individuals.
- RespirArFundo: Um programa de promoção de exercício físico em professores e funcionários em contexto escolar - Estudo quantitativo e qualitativoPublication . Brito, Sara; Morouço, Pedro; Matos, Rui; Alves, Ana; Frontini, Roberta; Silva, Marlene; Antunes, RaulO projeto RespirArFundo, através de uma metodologia mista quantitativa e qualitativa teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito de um programa de intervenção (22 “sessões teórico-práticas”), com realização de diferentes tipos de atividades, para melhorar os níveis de aptidão física, bem-estar e qualidade de vida (QdV) em professores e funcionários de uma escola secundária da região centro de Portugal. Pretendeu-se ainda avaliar os níveis de satisfação dos participantes com o projeto e identificar as principais barreiras e facilitadores à sua participação. A fase de intervenção deste projeto decorreu entre janeiro e junho de 2021. A amostra foi constituída por 26 profissionais da escola (19 professores e 7 funcionários não docentes), sendo na sua maioria (92.3%) do sexo feminino (53.7 ± 5.0 anos). Para a avaliação da aptidão física foram utilizados os testes “levantar e sentar da cadeira”, “levantar, percorrer 2.44m e sentar” e o “teste de preensão manual”. Para a avaliação do bem-estar recorreu-se às escalas PANAS, SWLS e SVS enquanto o WHOQOL-Bref foi utilizado para a avaliação da QdV. Foi ainda realizado um grupo focal. Apóso programa, verificou-se que os participantes melhoraram no teste “levantar e sentar na cadeira” (η2=0.51), em relação ao momento inicial. Para além disso, os participantes revelaram níveis elevados de satisfação com o programa e percecionaram a existência de benefícios físicos e de bem-estar associados ao projeto, adotando hábitos saudáveis. A importância do projeto foi reconhecida pela Direção da escola, tendo sido atribuídas horas específicas para que o projeto continuassea funcionar nos seguintes anos letivos.