Two studies examined preschoolers' physical activity patterns, through the use of wrist-mounted portable heart rate monitors, during structured and unstructured daily activity. Found that the children's heart rates were significantly higher during developmental movement sessions than during other day-care sessions or home activities, which were…

A relationship between physical fitness and cognition has been difficult to document. The paper describes cognition and examines the effects of aging on cognition, the fitness-cognition relationship hypothesis, difficulties in determining the fitness-cognition relationship, and the current status of the relationship. (SM)

Evaluated the effect of pacifiers and sucrose stimulation on the heart rate, coordination, and behaviors of normal infants and infants born to methadone-maintained mothers. Found that pacifiers stimulated immediate changes in all behaviors, which returned to baseline levels when pacifiers were removed. Sucrose stimulation precipitated gradual…

One theme in discussing physical activity and stress is the relationship between emotional arousal and motor performance. Different research models have produced converging evidence for the notion that motor performance relates to a state of optimal arousal. Themes emerging from the literature and recommendations for future consideration are…

Reviews articles on stress and exercise. After defining stress, the paper analyzes competition as either eustress or distress, provides evidence for Berger's taxonomy of stress and exercise, examines Type A behavior, discusses multidimensional anxiety and stress management, describes the inverted-U hypothesis and task characteristics, and explains…

This study attempted to (1) determine whether stroke patients (n=20) can safely increase their walking speed above that of comfortable walking; (2) describe the relationship between comfortable and maximum safe walking speed; and (3) examine correlations between maximum and comfortable speeds and a functional walking score. Subjects were able to…

Based on a British study of exercise among girls ages 14-15, the article identifies influences and constraints affecting their physical activity levels in and out of school. Interviews with adolescent girls indicated a scope for developing more appropriate ways to encourage physical activity and facilitate the process. (SM)

Investigates the effect of secondary school physical education on fitness load: the product of the mean heart rate above threshold (144 bpm) and the time duration of heart rate above that threshold. Highly and moderately skilled students achieved fitness load more frequently than their lower skilled colleagues. (GLR)

A step-by-step guide to auscultating young athletes helps physicians identify normal heart murmurs as well as sounds that might signify underlying cardiac pathology. Rapid, thorough preparticipation screening can help differentiate athletes who may require treatment or activity restriction from those with normal murmurs who can remain active. (SM)

Examines a one-year study conducted in a day hospital for older adults to determine whether a leisure education program would have a significant impact on leisure and life satisfaction of older adults while at the same time enhancing their leisure participation. Found leisure education may reduce the gap that emerges between environmental demands…

Presents a model for counseling on health-related physical activity. Grounded in theory and knowledge of the client, the model provides the practitioner the main work steps to follow and lists factors to be taken into account at each stage. An illustrative case history and evaluation results are presented. (Author/EMK)

Health-care practitioners generally lack counseling skills. Article introduces general principles of counseling, emphasizing client-centeredness, cooperative role relations, unconstrained interaction, and goal-oriented proceeding are emphasized. Methods to be used in health care to promote physical activity are related to counselor skill and…

Exercise has important benefits for people with epilepsy, but several factors must be considered when making activity recommendations. Seizures during sports activity are rare, but physicians, coaches, and parents should know what to do if a seizure occurs. Some antiepileptic drugs may adversely affect sports performance, and exertion may reduce…

Effects of two 9-month sports programs (four or two sessions per week) on daily physical activity (PA), fat mass (FM), and physical fitness were assessed in 20 Dutch children (ages 7-13) with spastic cerebral palsy. Four sessions per week tended to increase PA ratio and held FM constant. (Author/CR)

To determine the role that physical aspects of corporate adventure training played in the acquisition of trust, 75 employees from a New Zealand computer company were assigned to one of two groups with varying levels of physical activity or to a control group. Trust was enhanced in the two experimental groups but more so in the more active group.…