Tag: physical activity

Group PE lessons have greatest impact on children’s attention in schools, new study finds

The type of activity primary school children do in PE lessons can affect how well they are able to focus afterwards, a new study has found.

Published in the British Journal of Education Psychology, the research found that physical activity performed as part of a group, rather than alone, had the greatest impact on children‘s attention scores.

Games-based activities also resulted in participants being better able to control their impulses.

Lead researcher of the Spanish study Dr Josune Rodriguez-Negro, who is a PhD researcher in the physical education and sport department of the University of the Basque Country, said: “The study findings highlight not only that physical education in schools can improve children’s attention and impulse control, both of which are linked to academic success – but also that different types of content can produce different results.

“Therefore it seems right to increase the amount of time children spend doing PE and for children to do PE first thing in the mornings to get the best results. Also, school leaders should select activity for lessons based on what they are looking to influence.”

A total of 135 children aged between six and eight took part in the study in a Spanish state school. They were split into three groups and each group was assigned to one of three intervention programmes: a balance intervention programme (BIP), a games-based programme (GBP) and a drama learning programme (DLP).

In the BIP intervention, children performed individual balance activities, like standing on one leg for a minute, whereas the other two interventions were group-based.

The study is believed to be the first to compare the effects of BIPs, GBPs and DLPs on children’s perception of the intensity of the intervention, how they felt and their cognitive functions.

The intervention programmes lasted eight weeks and were held during the school’s regular 90-minute weekly PE lesson, so there was no change to the structure of the school day.

Researchers found that after each intervention programme, children in the GBP and DLP groups ‘significantly’ improved their attention test scores.

Children in the GBP group also improved their impulse control scores.

However, children in the BIP group showed no improvement in either attention or impulse control scores. However, children in this group thought the activity they did was more intense than children in the other groups.

The type of activity children did had no bearing on how they felt during the intervention, they enjoyed it equally, whichever group they were.

You can read the full study here:

https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/bjep.12533

Edinburgh Leisure’s You Can project receives major funding boost

The Scottish Children’s Lottery has awarded £10,000 to Edinburgh Leisure’s You Can project, which uses the power of sport and physical activity to support care experienced young people aged 14-26 to improve their health, wellbeing, and quality of life.  

Across Edinburgh there are over 1,300 children and young people growing up in the care system. Many of them face barriers to taking part in sport and physical activity, such as the cost, low confidence, and not having the right equipment and lack of role models.

Edinburgh Leisure’s funding manager, Jenny Selman said: “We believe every child should have the opportunity to enjoy an active childhood. You Can supports care experienced young people in Edinburgh to get active by providing free access to our facilities, 1:1 support from an instructor and access to group activities.

“The project helps them to reap the benefits of being active, such as improving their health and wellbeing, making new friends, boosting their confidence and developing healthy habits.”

One young person who has benefitted from getting active through You Can is Taylor, who goes to the gym on Monday mornings with her instructor Gemma. 

“Before I started working with Gemma, I struggled with poor mental health, low confidence, and difficult relationships with my family. I spent a lot of time alone in my bedroom rather than going to school. 

“Now I look forward to going to the gym. Even if I’m not feeling 100%, I’ll never miss a session. When I’m feeling low, my Gran reminds me about the rush of feel-good endorphins I get after I exercise, and I know she’s right. Starting my week with a trip to the gym makes me feel more motivated and means I’m far more likely to go to school.”

The Scottish Children’s Lottery was launched to raise funds for and improve the lives of young people across Scotland.

Scott Millar, Charity Manger at The Scottish Children’s Lottery said: “The Scottish Children’s Lottery (Chance to Flourish) are delighted to provide funding support to the Edinburgh Leisure’s You Can project.

“Sport is such a powerful tool in enabling and enhancing health and wellbeing. There are still many barriers that prevent our young people from taking part but the ‘You Can’ project actively removes these hurdles and allows those involved to flourish”.

For further information on You Can, visit: https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/active-communities/you-can

Promoting physical activity is key to achieving U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, says study

A new study by Queen’s University Belfast and Washington University in St. Louis shows that promoting physical activity is key to achieving the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s).  

The research provides new evidence to show that integrating strategies to promote increased physical activity is a key part of the action plan for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 

The study, ‘Physical Activity Promotion and the United National Sustainable Development Goals: Building Synergies to Maximize Impact’ was published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health. It is the first study to systematically explore the links between the seven strategies known to be effective for promoting physical activity at scale or a population-wide level, and the 17 U.N. development goals  (SDGs).  

The study found strong links between physical activity promotion strategies and eight out of the 17 SDGs: good health and well-being (SDG 3); gender equity (SDG 5); industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9); reduced inequalities (SDG 10); sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11); climate action (SDG 13); and peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16). 

Deborah Salvo, Assistant Professor of Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis and lead author on the study, said: “Physical inactivity has been characterized as a pandemic, accounting for 7% of all premature deaths per year globally and resulting in billions of dollars spent on health-related expenditures.”  

The international research team applied a modelling method to simulate the effects of large-scale physical activities strategies to gain insights on the potential impacts of widespread scale-up of active transport systems and active urban design strategies on three different city types of high-, middle- and low-income countries. 

The simulation results indicated that expected physical activity gains are greater for low- and middle-income countries. In high-income countries with high car dependency, physical activity promotion strategies may help to reduce air pollution and traffic-related deaths, but shifts toward more active forms of travel and recreation and climate change mitigation may require complementary policies that disincentivize driving. 

Dr Leandro Garcia, from the Centre for Public Health at Queen’s University Belfast and co-author, said: “The simulation results reveal context-specific relations. In terms of physical activity increases, low- and middle-income country cities stand more to gain from urban transformations that prioritize equitable access to walking, cycling, public transport, and recreational infrastructure.

“As for high-income country cities, findings suggest that to observe meaningful improvements in physical activity levels and climate change mitigation, these types of strategies may need to be further complemented by policies that increase the cost of driving.  

“Our research provides strong evidence to illustrate the multiple benefits of promoting physical activity on a large scale, not just for specific areas or populations. The benefits are huge for individuals, communities and to the planet and goes a long way in contributing to the U.N. sustainable development agenda.  

“As well as helping to prevent chronic disease, promoting physical activity at scale can reduce traffic deaths and pollution. It helps to create more equitable societies and reduce climate change.

“Physical activity promotion strategies can bring benefits beyond health and bring us closer to a more equitable, sustainable and environmentally friendly future.” 

Edinburgh goes for gold: our Olympic athletes with years of experience!

Seated volleyball, 400m wheelchair and walking challenge, and pitch n putt: Capital’s very own version of the Olympics

With just 20 days until Tokyo 2020 finally gets underway, elderly care home residents across Scotland have launched their own Olympics with a special Tokyo-inspired opening ceremony event, following on from weeks of training.

The Renaissance Care Olympics will see 15 care homes across the country compete across five sports which have been designed to suit the abilities of the care home athletes to encourage physical and mental wellness.

Edinburgh-based Letham Park Care Home and Mathieson House Care Home kicked off their opening ceremonies within the individual homes.

The residents, dressed in their own team shirts, were given a taste of Tokyo with Japanese taster plates, chop stick trials, music and discussions on the Japanese culture. Mathieson House also recreated the famous Olympic flame, using colourful tissue paper and streamers.

The athletes have been in training over the month of June, getting ready to compete in each of the sports throughout July before a closing ceremony to celebrate their achievements at the end of the month.

For the gold medal, the residents will be competing to see who can walk or wheelchair the most 400m stints throughout July, how many hits of a balloon they can get to keep it off the ground for seated volleyball, and how many punches they can land on the boxing pads.

They will also compete in Pitch n Putt, with nine holes set up around the homes, and a one off shot putt event where the resident who can throw the bean bag furthest will take the medal.

Ann Marie Byrne, Activity Co-ordinator at Renaissance Care’s Mathieson House Care Home, said: “Encouraging physical activity for our residents is extremely important and we really wanted to create something fun that would get everyone involved.

“The residents across each of the homes have been enjoying the training and we have already seen a great lift in spirits as they get in touch with their competitive side.

“During lockdown, we have been as creative as possible to come up with new ideas to ensure that the residents always have new experiences and the Olympics felt like the perfect way to bring everyone together.

“The relatives have been routing for their loved ones and we have been sharing their progress along the way, so it has been a lovely way to keep everyone connected.”

Grassroots coaches are highly valued but concerns remain, says lead body

  • Majority of Brits believe coaches will help nation become fitter and more active
  • 9 in 10 coaches are concerned about the poor mental and physical health of participants

The role that coaches play in inspiring people to be active will become increasingly significant as we emerge from the coronavirus crisis, with 72% of the British public saying that coaches and instructors will be important in supporting and encouraging people to get back into physical activity after the pandemic.

The coronavirus crisis has had a huge impact on the nation’s activity levels, with 1.2 million more adults now classed as ‘inactive’ (up 2.6% to 27.1%) and less than half (44.9%) of children and young people meeting the Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines of 60 minutes a day.

The pandemic has also impacted the nation’s mental well-being, with new data from UK Coaching showing that nearly 9 in 10 coaches (87%) are concerned about the poor mental and physical health of participants. Additionally, nearly half of all coaches (47%) said one of the biggest challenges currently facing them is motivating people to return to sport and physical activity.

Coaches will be central to the nation’s restart, with research conducted by YouGov on behalf of UK Coaching revealing that 7 in 10 adults (70%) believe grassroots coaches and instructors are important in helping Britain become a fitter and more active society.

And the vital work that coaches deliver is being understood and appreciated more than ever, with over two thirds (69%) of the nation believing it is important for society to value the role that coaches and instructors play in keeping local communities active.

Yet concerns amongst coaches remain and UK Coaching, the lead charity for coaches in Britain, fear that coaches aren’t receiving the support they need in order to continue playing this vital role in communities.

With the Covid-19 pandemic causing many people to consider the need to be fitter and more active, nearly 6 in 10 (57%) of coaches surveyed are concerned about the increased cost of facilities and almost half (48%) said they needed to offer lower priced activities to enable wider access.

Access to funding and facilities also remains a barrier, with 40% of those surveyed raising concerns about the need for updated facilities in encouraging their local community to return, as well as increased access to funding for equipment (34%) and to reopen local facilities (31%).

Mark Gannon, Chief Executive at UK Coaching, said: “It is clear that the British public see coaches as fundamental to driving a more active society and value the important role they play in creating healthier and happier communities.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has revealed many of the vulnerabilities in the health of the nation and it is now more important than ever to support people to achieve healthier lives.

“Coaches will be vital as we transition through the pandemic but in order to continue delivering great coaching, we must ensure they have all the support and tools they need. From our research we know that three areas of concern remain – the cost of entry, access to and out-of-date facilities and cost of equipment.”

The research has been released during UK Coaching Week – a national awareness week to celebrate great coaching and help the nation’s coaches to share their voice, be heard and generate the investment they need to reinvent, recover and return.

Emma Hayes, Chelsea Women’s Head Coach, is supportive of the campaign. She said: “Coaches play a fundamental role in driving people to be more active and to reap all of the positive physical and mental health benefits that this brings.

“Elite coaches get a lot of attention, but really, it’s the army of grassroots coaches in communities who are making the biggest difference. That’s why I am happy to show my support for UK Coaching Week and recognise coaching’s importance in helping Britain become a more active nation.”

Tracey Neville, Performance Operations Director at Manchester Thunder Netball and former Head Coach of England Netball, said: “It’s fantastic to read that the majority of people back grassroots coaches to get the nation back to activity, fitness and good well-being as restrictions ease.

“I know first-hand the influence that great coaches can have on your life. My own coaches instilled principles in me that have driven me to be where I am now. They are at the centre of communities and bring people together in a welcoming environment to support them to enjoy sport and physical activity. That’s why I’m supporting UK Coaching Week.”  

To find out more about UK Coaching and the activity taking place this UK Coaching Week, visit www.ukcoaching.org.

Health support from NHS Lothian

The most recent Diet, Physical Activity and Healthy Weight key messages to support the public during the COVID-19 restrictions:

Physical Activity: http://www.paha.org.uk/Feature/covid-19-physical-activity-key-messages

Diet and Healthy Weight: http://www.paha.org.uk/Feature/covid-19-diet-and-healthy-weight-key-messages

Please feel free to share through your networks.

John Brennan | Senior Health Promotion Specialist (Physical Activity) | NHS Lothian Health Promotion Service

Heart Research UK Healthy Tip – Physical activity for children and young people

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, by Dr Helen Flaherty, Head of Health Promotion at Heart Research UK

Physical activity for children and young people while staying at home

Regular physical activity in children and young people is associated with improved learning, better mental health, healthier weight status and better cardiovascular fitness.

At a time when the population is being asked to stay at home, finding ways to keep children physically active can be challenging. Heart Research UK have some tips to help children and young people meet the recommended amount of physical activity while staying at home.

How much physical activity is recommended?

The Government recommends that children and young people aged 5 to 18 years engage in two types of physical activity every week: aerobic exercises and activities that strengthen muscles and bones. Children and young people should aim to do at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily.

Aerobic Exercises

Your heart will beat faster, you will breathe harder, you will get warmer and you can probably maintain a conversation

E.g. Brisk Walking, running, cycling, skateboarding or riding a scooter

Activities to strengthen muscles and bones

E.g. Skipping, sit-ups, press-ups, dance & games such as tug-of-war

Avoid too much time sitting in front of a screen

It is common for children and young people to spend too much time sitting in front of a screen. Why not limit this to a set amount of time each day/week and schedule in some time for getting active and away from the screen.

Make physical activity fun with

Look online for inspiration for getting kids and young people active and having some fun. Change 4 Life provide some good tips https://www.nhs.uk/change4life/activities/indoor-activities and there are also some online Physical Activity coaches who run free online sessions for kids.

Work out together

Try exercising as a family as this can be motivating for children and young people. Going for a family bike ride/walk or dancing around the house to your favourite songs can be a fun way to get moving together. You could also inspire others by posting videos of your activities on social media.

Networking Event: Let’s talk physical

Wednesday 20th March: 10am – 12.30pm

West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre

This is your personal invite to a networking get together specifically aimed at anyone who has an interest in how physical activity is promoted and delivered in the North West Locality in Edinburgh.  Continue reading Networking Event: Let’s talk physical

Charity launches new award to get Scotland’s workforce moving

A Scottish charity has launched a new accreditation that aims to reverse the trend of inactive workplaces. Paths for All has created the Walk at Work Award to reward employers across the country who are encouraging everyday walking in their workplace. Continue reading Charity launches new award to get Scotland’s workforce moving