The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences
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The role of acute changes in mBDNF, cortisol and pro-BDNF in predicting cognitive performance in old age.
No full textThe interplay between biomarkers of relevance to neuroplasticity and its association with learning and cognitive ability in old age remains poorly understood. The present study investigated acute changes in plasma concentrations of mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (mBDNF), its precursor protein (pro-BDNF), and cortisol, in response to acute physical exercise and cognitive training interventions, their covariation and role in predicting cognitive performance. Confirmatory results provided no support for mBDNF, pro-BDNF and cortisol co-varying over time, as the acute interventions unfolded, but did confirm a positive association between mBDNF and pro-BDNF at rest. The confirmatory results did not support the hypothesis that mBDNF change following physical exercise were counteracted by temporally coupled changes in cortisol or pro-BDNF, or by cortisol at rest, in its previously demonstrated faciliatory effect on cognitive training outcome. Exploratory results instead provided indications of a general and trait-like cognitive benefit of exhibiting greater mBDNF responsiveness to acute interventions when coupled with lesser cortisol responsiveness, greater pro-BDNF responsiveness, and lower cortisol at rest. As such, the results call for future work to test whether certain biomarker profiles are associated with preserved cognition in old age
Is there a benefit of super spikes in long jump performance?
No full textBackground and aim The pace of development of distance running shoes has been fast-forward since 2016 when Nike introduced their model Nike Zoom Vaporfly, with an imbedded carbon fiber plate and an advanced newly developed Pebax®-foam. The shoe-development has continued to track events, with the introduction of carbon fiber plate in several shoe-models for running and sprint- events. The research area for track events has not reached the level as for distance running shoes, therefore the aim of this study was to examine the effects on long jump performance when using long jump spikes with (AFT) compared to without (non-AFT) a carbon fiber plate. Method Nine experienced male (n=6, age 22 ± 4.8 years, body mass 76.4 ± 3.5 kg, height 182 ± 4.9 cm), and female (n=3, age 20.3 ± 3.5 years, body mass 64.8 ± 6.0 kg, height 172 ± 2.0 cm) Swedish long jumpers performed three maximal effort long jumps in AFT and non-AFT long jump shoes. Three-dimensional kinematic data was captured with eight markerless motion capture cameras, and the take-off was performed from a force plate. Run-up velocity was measured using a lidar laser and step characteristics using an optical contact grid. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was calculated for jump distance and maximal run-up velocity and paired samples t-tests and a Wilcoxon rank sum test were conducted to examine differences between the shoes. Results Peak run-up velocity correlated with jump distance both for AFT (Pearson’s r=0.919, p<0.001) and non-AFT shoes (Pearson’s r=0.910, p<0.001). At a group-level no statistical differences were found between the shoes for the run-up variables. The AFT shoes showed significantly greater horizontal velocity at touchdown (p=0.046) and vertical velocity difference from touchdown to toe-off (p=0.029) compared to the non-AFT shoes. No other significant difference was found on group level for the take-off variables. Conclusion The results in this study did not show a longer jump distance in long jump specific AFT shoes compared to non-AFT on a group level, but individual differences were seen. To further understand the effect of AFT shoes on long jump performance, more studies on different individual characteristics and their relation to long jump performance is needed. Keywords Long jump, super spikes, AFT-shoes, carbon fiber plate, biomechanics.Bakgrund och syfte Sedan Nike 2016 introducerade sin skomodell Nike Zoom Vaporfly har utvecklingen av löparskor med en inbäddad kolfiberplatta och nyutvecklade med energiåtergivande material snabbt fortskridit. Utvecklingen av skor har fortsatt från löparspåren till friidrottsbanan för flera grenar. Forskningsområdet för grenspecifika skor har inte kommit lika långt som för distanslöparskor, därför var syftet med denna studie att undersöka effekterna på längdhoppsprestation av att använda längdhoppsspecifika spikskor med (AFT) jämfört med utan (non-AFT) kolfiberplatta. Metod Nio erfarna manliga (n=6, ålder 22 ± 4,8 år, kroppsvikt 76,4 ± 3,5 kg, längd 182 ± 4,9 cm) och kvinnliga (n=3, ålder 20,3 ± 3,5 år, kroppsvikt 64,8 ± 6 kg, längd 172 ± 2 cm) svenska längdhoppare gjorde tre maximala längdhopp i AFT och non-AFT längdhoppsskor. Tredimensionell kinematisk data samlades in med åtta markörlösa motion capture-kameror och uthoppet skedde från en kraftplatta. Ansatshastigheten mättes med en laserkamera och steg-specifik data med ett optiskt kontaktnät. Pearson’s korrelations koefficient beräknades for hopplängd och maximal ansatshastighet samt så genomfördes paired samples t-test och Wilcoxon rank sum test för att undersäka skillnaderna mellan skorna. Resultat Maximal ansatshastighet korrelerade med maximal hopplängd både för AFT skor (Pearsons r=0,919, p<0,001) och non-AFT skor (Pearsons r=0,910, p<0,001). På gruppnivå hittades ingen statistisk skillnad mellan skorna vad gäller ansatslöpningens variabler. AFT skorna visade en signifikant högre horisontell hastighet vid första markkontakt med kraftplatta (p=0,046) och vertikal hastighetsdifferens från första markkontakt med kraftplatta till sista markkontakt med kraftplatta (p=0,029) jämfört med non-AFT-skor. Ingen annan signifikant skillnad hittades på gruppnivå vad gäller uthoppsvariabler. Slutsats Resultaten i denna studie visade inte på en längre hopplängd i längdhoppsspecifika AFT skor jämfört med icke-AFT skor på gruppnivå men skillnader sågs på individnivå. För att ytterligare förstå effekten av AFT skor på längdhoppsprestation behövs fler studier om olika individuella egenskaper och dess relation till längdhoppsprestation. Nyckelord Längdhopp, super spikes, AFT-skor, karbonfiberplatta, biomekanik
Associations between organised sports participation, general health, stress, screen-time and sleep duration in adolescents.
No full textAIM: Physical activity patterns in adolescents have been associated with general health. Stress, screen-time and sleep are other factors associated with physical activity that influence health in adolescents. Physical activity accounts for several health benefits; however, the impact of organised sports participation to achieve the same health benefits are less explored. This study explored the associations of organised sports participation with general health, stress, screen-time and sleep-duration in adolescents. METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, data from 1139 adolescents (age 13-14 years) from 34 schools were analysed. Data were collected during autumn 2019. Data collection consisted of self-reported questionnaires and standard methods for height and weight measurements. RESULTS: Adolescents with organised sports participation ≥3 times/week were twice as likely to report better general health (OR: 2.11, CI: 1.45-3.07) and lower screen-time (OR: 1.98, CI: 1.43-2.74). Adolescents with organised sports participation ≥3 times/week were less likely to meet the recommended sleep-duration on weekdays (OR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.29-0.65). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with frequent organised sports participation had better general health, lower amounts of screen-time and shorter sleep-duration on weekdays than those with no participation. Although the causal relationships remain unknown, these results can be relevant when developing strategies promoting physical activity and health in adolescents.Projektet samfinansieras av KK-stiftelsen, Coop AB, Skanska, IKEA, Generation Pep, Skandia och Konsumentföreningen Stockholm samt GIH.</p
Motivational climate, perceived competence, goal orientation and RIG-students level of satisfaction : A quantitative study at two Swedish basketball national sports high school (RIG)
No full textSyftet med denna studie är att undersöka vilken typ av prestationsmål och motivationsklimat RIG-elever identifierar. Vidare ämnar studien undersöka samband mellan prestationsmål, motivationsklimat och upplevd förmåga samt samband mellan prestationsmål, motivationsklimat och tillfredsställelse hos RIG-elever. ● Är RIG-elever uppgiftsorienterade eller egoorienterade? ● Är det ett uppgiftsorienterat eller egoorienterat klimat som dominerar vid RIG-skolorna? ● Finns det något samband mellan upplevd förmåga och typ av prestationsmål samt motivationsklimat? ● Finns det något samband mellan grad av upplevd tillfredställelse och prestationsmål samt motivationsklimat? En kvantitativ studie utfördes med hjälp av ett digitalt frågeformulär. Målgruppen var gymnasieelever som går på två Riksidrottsgymnasium med inriktning basket i Sverige. Enkäten besvarades av (N = 42) gymnasieelever av totalt (N = 60), där (N = 26) är kvinnliga och (N = 16) manliga. Deltagarna var mellan 15-19 år (m=17). Frågeformuläret som användes i studien utformades med hjälp av fyra färdiga och beprövade enkäter. Enkäterna var: Task and Ego Goal Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (TEOSQ); The Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire-2 (PMCSQ -2); Competence scale och Athlete Satisfaction Questionnaire. Studiens externa bortfall låg på 30 procent och inget internt bortfall förekom.Resultatet visar att majoriteten av eleverna är uppgiftsorienterade. Det upplevda motivationsklimatet som dominerar mellan RIG-eleverna är ett uppgiftsorienterat motivationsklimat. Eleverna som angav att de var mycket uppgiftsorienterade angav också en hög upplevd förmåga. De elever som angav en hög upplevd förmåga angav också låg egoorientering och låg andel egoorienterat klimat. De elever som uppgav hög tillfredsställelse angav även att de upplevde ett uppgiftsorienterat klimat. Det fanns ingen korrelation mellan egoorienterade elever och högre grad av upplevd tillfredsställelse i ett egoorienterat motivationsklimat.En generell slutsats som kan dras från studien är att majoriteten av eleverna från de två RIG-skolorna som inriktar sig på basket är uppgiftsorienterade. Resultaten visade också att RIG-eleverna i huvudsak upplever ett uppgiftsorienterat motivationsklimat. Det fanns också en positiv korrelation mellan upplevd förmåga och uppgiftsorienterade elever samt mellan uppgiftsorienterat motivationsklimat och hög nivå av tillfredsställelse. Detta tyder på att ett uppgiftsorienterat motivationsklimat kan hjälpa eleverna att bli mer uppgiftsorienterade och uppleva en högre kompetens och tillfredsställelse.The aim of this study is to investigate the type of performance goals and motivational climate that RIG students identify. Furthermore, the study aims to examine the relationship between performance goals, motivational climate, and perceived ability, as well as the relationship between performance goals, motivational climate, and satisfaction among RIG students. • Are RIG students task-oriented or ego-oriented? • Is the task-oriented or ego-oriented climate dominant in RIG schools? • Is there any relationship between perceived ability and type of performance goals and motivational climate? • Is there any relationship between the degree of perceived satisfaction and performance goals and motivational climate? A quantitative study was conducted using a digital questionnaire. The target group was high school students attending two basket national sports high schools in Sweden. The questionnaire was answered by (N = 42) high school students out of a total of (N = 60), where (N = 26) were female and (N = 16) male. The participants were between 15-19 years old (m = 17). The questionnaire used in the study was designed with the help of four ready-made and tested surveys. The surveys were: Task and Ego Goal Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (TEOSQ); The Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire-2 (PMCSQ-2); Competence scale and Athlete Satisfaction Questionnaire. The external dropout rate of the study was 30 precent and no internal dropout occurred. The results show that the majority of students are task-oriented. The perceived motivational climate that dominates among RIG students is a task-oriented motivational climate. Students who stated that they were very task-oriented also reported a high perceived ability. The students who reported a high perceived ability also reported low ego-orientation and low proportion of ego-oriented climate. The students who reported high satisfaction also reported that they experienced a task-oriented climate. There was no correlation between ego-oriented students and a higher degree of perceived satisfaction in an ego-oriented motivational climate. The general conclusion that can be drawn from the study is that the majority of students from the two RIG schools that focus on basketball are task-oriented. The results also showed that RIG students generally experience a task-oriented motivational climate. There was also a positive correlation between perceived ability and task-oriented students, as well as between task-oriented motivational climate and high levels of satisfaction. This suggests that a task-oriented motivational climate can help students become more task-oriented and experience higher levels of competence and satisfaction
Nature enthusiasts' thoughts and experiences regarding nature's impact on well-being : A contribution to use in school?
No full textStudiens syfte är att undersöka naturentusiasters syn på naturens hälsofrämjande effekter på människans välbefinnande. Forskningsfrågor: 1. Vilken roll har människans relation till natur för upplevt välbefinnande? 2. Vilka är de potentiella hälsoeffekterna av vistelser i naturen? Tanken är också att få en djupare förståelse för hur naturens hälsofrämjande effekter kan användas i en skolkontext. Studien tar avstamp i den fenomenologiska inriktningen med fokus på fenomenens essens. Det empiriska materialet består av semistrukturerade intervjuer som genomfördes i form av walk-and-talks utomhus. Intervjupersonerna var naturentusiaster som studerar ett masterprogram med inriktning på friluftsliv. För analysen användes tematisk analys för att fånga upp de teman som var gemensamt för intervjupersonerna. Resultaten visar att intervjupersonernas tidiga upplevelser av naturen var i sällskap med deras föräldrar och med tiden blev något de gjorde på egen hand. Intervjupersonerna nämner även att olika landskap i naturen ger olika känslor av välbefinnande. Naturen används för att reducera stress (till exempel från teknologi) och för att komma bort från samhället i största allmänhet. Den används även för att finna sig själv genom självförstärkning. Slutsatsen blir att det krävs en relation till naturen för dess hälsofrämjande effekter på välbefinnandet, där tidig exponering till naturupplevelser kan bidra med att säkerställa en god naturrelation även senare i livet. Slutsatsen bör dock inte generaliseras för stort, utan blir den sanning som råder för den grupp som undersökts.The purpose of the study is to investigate nature enthusiasts' view of nature's health promoting effects on human well-being. Research questions: 1. What does humans’ relation to nature mean for perceived well-being? 2. What are the potential health effects of being in nature? The idea is also to gain a deeper understanding of how nature's health-promoting effects can be used in a school context. The study is based on the phenomenological orientation with a focus on the essence of the phenomena. The empirical material based of semi-structured interviews that were conducted in the form of walk-and-talks outdoors. The interviewees were nature enthusiasts studying a master's program with a focus on friluftsliv. For the analysis, thematic analysis was used to capture the themes that were in common for the interviewees. The results show that the interviewees' first experiences of nature were in the company of their parents and over time became something they did on their own. The interviewees also mention that different landscapes in nature give different impressions of well-being. Nature is used to reduce stress (for example from technology) and to get away from society in general. It is also used to find oneself through self-empowerment. The conclusion is that a relationship with nature is required for its health-promoting effects on well-being, where early exposure to nature experiences can help ensure a good relationship with nature even later in life. However, the conclusion should not be generalized too widely, but becomes the truth that prevails for the group that were investigated
Effects of a school-based intervention on adolescents’ psychosomatic health : Intervention with a three hour extended school week containing physical activity, walking listening to audio book and homework help with activity breaks.
No full textPatterns of mental health problems and well-being in children with disabilities in Sweden : A cross-sectional survey and cluster analysis.
No full textBACKGROUND: Children with disabilities have an increased risk of mental health problems. Patterns of mental health problems and well-being may vary. AIMS: To identify patterns of mental health problems and well-being in children with disabilities in Sweden, and investigate the influence of parental background (migration, education), and child cognitive level. METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, cluster analysis was used to analyse parents' ratings of conduct problems, emotional symptoms, and prosocial behaviour on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in children with disabilities (n = 136). The influence of parental background (migration, education) and child cognitive level on cluster membership was explored through multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Five clusters of mental health patterns emerged. Three clusters had mean ratings near or past clinical cut-off for one each of the SDQ-subscales. One cluster had difficulties on all three subscales. Greater child cognitive difficulties increased the likelihood of low prosocial behaviour (OR 2.501, p < .001) and of difficulties on all three subscales (OR 2.155, p = .006). Parental background did not influence cluster membership. CONCLUSION: Children with disabilities display varying mental health patterns. Awareness of the complexity of mental health patterns among children with disabilities is important. Screening and support for emotional symptoms and prosocial behaviour deficits should be considered for children with conduct problems
Process evaluation of an implementation intervention to facilitate the use of the Swedish Physical Activity on Prescription in primary healthcare.
No full textBACKGROUND: The Swedish Physical Activity on Prescription (PAP-S) is a method for healthcare to promote physical activity for prevention and treatment of health disorders. Despite scientific support and education campaigns, the use has been low. The aim of this study was to perform a process evaluation of an implementation intervention targeting the use of the PAP-S method in primary healthcare (PHC). Specifically, we wanted to evaluate feasibility of the implementation intervention, and its effect on the implementation process and the outcome (number of PAP-S prescriptions). METHODS: This was a longitudinal study using the Medical Research Council guidance for process evaluation of a 9-month implementation intervention among healthcare staff at three PHC centres in Sweden. Data was collected by: participatory observations of the implementation process; questionnaires to the staff before, after and 6 months after the implementation intervention; interviews after the implementation intervention; and number of PAP-S prescriptions. RESULTS: During the implementation intervention, the workplaces' readiness-to-change and the healthcare staff's confidence in using the PAP-S method were favourably influenced, as was the number of PAP-S prescriptions. After the implementation intervention, the number of PAP-S prescriptions decreased to about the same number as before the implementation intervention, at two out of three PHC centres. Four of the six implementation strategies appeared to impact on the implementation process: external facilitation; leadership engagement by a committed workplace management; local PAP-S coordinator taking a leading role and acting as local champion; educational outreach concerning how to use the PAP-S method. CONCLUSION: The implementation intervention was not sufficient to produce sustained change of the healthcare staff's behaviour, nor did it achieve favourable long-term outcome on the number of PAP-S prescriptions. The healthcare staffs' sparse knowledge of the PAP-S method prior to the implementation intervention hampered the implementation. More hands-on education in how to use the PAP-S method introduced early in the implementation process is imperative for successful implementation of the PAP-S method. The findings also suggest that committed workplace management and local PAP-S coordinators, taking leading roles and acting as local champions, need to be firmly established at the PHC centres before the external facilitator withdraws. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered in the ISRCTN registry with study registration number: ISRCTN15551042 (Registration date: 12/01/2016)
Symptoms of depression and anxiety among elite high school student-athletes in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic : A repeated cross-sectional study.
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic precipitated numerous changes in daily life, including the cancellation and restriction of sports globally. Because sports participation contributes positively to the development of student-athletes, restricting these activities may have led to long-term mental health changes in this population. Using a repeated cross-sectional study design, we measured rates of depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 and anxiety using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 scale in student-athletes attending elite sport high schools in Sweden during the second wave of the pandemic (February 2021; n = 7021) and after all restrictions were lifted (February 2022; n = 6228). Depression among student-athletes decreased from 19.8% in 2021 to 17.8% in 2022 (p = .008, V = .026), while anxiety screening did not change significantly (17.4% to 18.4%, p > .05). Comparisons between classes across years revealed older students exhibited decreases in depressive symptoms, while younger cohorts experienced increases in symptoms of anxiety from 2021 to 2022. Logistic regressions revealed that being female, reporting poorer mental health due to COVID-19, and excessive worry over one's career in sports were significant predictors of both depression and anxiety screenings in 2022. Compared to times when sports participation was limited, the lifting of restrictions was associated with overall reduced levels of depression, but not anxiety
Idrottsföreningen som hälsofrämjande arena : Från fysisk aktivitet till hållbart idrottande – en fråga om hur!
No full textI årtionden har begreppen folkhälsa, hälsa och hälsofrämjande använts i relation till idrott på många sätt i såväl praktik, forskning som i policy. Att idrotten har någon slags betydelse för och koppling till folkhälsan torde vara helt klarlagt. Men hur kan vi förstå relationen eller kanske snarare relationerna mellan idrott och folkhälsa? Ett forskningsområde som tar tag i relationen idrott och folkhälsa och som också breddar vad relationen kan bestå av är forskningsfältet idrotten som hälsofrämjande arena (Health promoting sports clubs). I artikeln kommer vi därför att med utgångspunkt i forskning om idrotten som hälsofrämjande arena teoretisera relationen idrott - folkhälsa. Vi kommer därigenom diskutera och illustrera hur vi på fler än ett sätt kan öka förståelsen för idrotten som hälsofrämjande för så många som möjligt så länge som möjligt