Lithuanian Sports University e-Journals
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Implementation of the Project “SecUring sPORTs Education ThRough Innovative and Inclusive Gender Equality Plans” at the Lithuanian Sports University
Get PDFPurpose: The goal is to develop a cross-sectoral, innovative, inclusive, and impactful gender equality plan for Lithuanian Sports University (LSU) that explicitly addresses the issues of gender-based violence and sexual harassment at the university and in the sports sector.
Project Description: Development. The SUPPORTER project at the Lithuanian Sports University was launched in 2023 by analysing the project goals and objectives and adapting them to the context of the university’s studies, research, and community activities. The main focus was on promoting an institutional, inclusive, and sustainable culture of change, addressing issues caused by inequality and promoting gender equality in the context of sport, including GBV (gender-based violence) in sport and academia. LSU researchers, lecturers, student representatives, and partners from sports organisations participated in the development of the project.
Implementation. During the implementation of the SUPPORTER project, LSU organised trainings, seminars, and discussions for students, staff, and external stakeholders. Cooperation was also carried out with local communities and other participants in the education sector, in order to spread the project ideas wider than just within the university.
Evaluation. The quality of the project implementation was assessed by collecting feedback from participants after the events, conducting questionnaires and discussions with students, staff, and external stakeholders. The evaluation also included the integration of project activities into study modules, research and the possibility of continuity of long-term initiatives.
Dissemination. The results of the SUPPORTER project at LSU were actively disseminated both within the university and nationally. Information was shared through the university’s website, social networks, public events, and the company. The project experiences were presented at international conferences, and it is also planned to integrate the accumulated experience into new scientific research and study programmes, ensuring the continuity and development of activities.
Conclusion: The SUPPORTER project at LSU has developed a Gender Equality Plan, organised trainings and discussions in a safe and inclusive physical activity environment. This has expanded knowledge about the importance of social inclusion in health-enhancing physical activity, encouraged the application of new interdisciplinary teaching methods, and practically strengthened the LSU community initiatives to promote a safe environment
Physical Activity Promotion in Healthcare Settings: A Survey in Europe
Get PDFBackground: Physical inactivity is a major contributor to non-communicable diseases in Europe. Although supportive policies exist, there is limited evidence on how physical activity promotion is implemented in healthcare settings across the Region. Objectives: This study aimed to explore how healthcare professionals in various healthcare settings deliver and engage with PA promotion across national and regional levels within the European Region.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted across 27 EU member states and the United Kingdom, targeting healthcare professionals involved in PA promotion. The survey included quantitative and open-ended items and was distributed online via national representatives.
Results: A total of 240 valid responses from 23 countries were analysed. The results revealed substantial heterogeneity in the implementation of the programmes, with scores ranging from 46% (Romania) to 100% (Latvia). The study identified 118 at the national and 68 at the regional level PA programmes, with Slovenia, Lithuania, and the Netherlands reporting the highest numbers. Physicians and physiotherapists were the most involved professionals, and the most frequently reported activity across professions was consultation.
Conclusion: This first-of-its-kind survey provides critical insights into the state of PA promotion in European healthcare. The findings highlight regional disparities and the need for more consistent integration of PA strategies into routine care.
Keywords: Physical activity, HEPA, healthcare settings, non-communicable diseases, Europ
Trajectories of Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Their Associations With Subjective Cognitive Decline
Get PDFPurpose: This study investigates trajectories of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) among ageing people and how these trajectories are associated with subjective cognitive decline. Furthermore, the study seeks to explore whether these trajectories vary by occupational class.
Methods: We utilised survey data from the Helsinki Health Study, a longitudinal cohort (n = 8,960, 80% women) of employees of the City of Helsinki (2000–2022). LTPA was quantified as weekly metabolic equivalent hours (MET-h). LTPA change (2000–2022) was categorised as repeated high (63%), increasing (low -> high) (13%), decreasing (high -> low) (14%), and repeated low (10%). The cut-off for low (<14 MET-h/week) was based on recommended levels of physical activity. Subjective cognitive decline in 2022 was assessed via three validated questions on memory, learning ability, and concentration, classified as ‘declined’ (31%, 48%, 31%, respectively) or ‘good’ (69%, 52%, 69%, respectively). Occupational class (2000–2002) was categorised as ‘low’ (routine non-manual and manual employees) or ‘high’ (managers, professionals, and semi-professionals).
Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratio (OR) and their 95% confidence interval (CI).
Results: Compared to repeated high LTPA group, especially repeated low LTPA (memory: OR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.35–1.97; learning: OR = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.49–2.16; concentration: OR = 1.93; 95% CI: 1.60–2.32) and a decline from high to low LTPA (memory: OR = 1.72; 95% CI: 1.46–2.03; learning: OR = 1.65; 95% CI: 1.41–1.94; concentration: OR = 2.16; 95% CI: 1.84–2.53) were associated with subjective cognitive decline. A decrease in LTPA was strongly associated with impaired learning ability among participants in low (OR = 1.91) versus high (OR = 1.31) occupational class (interaction p = 0.0199).
Conclusion: Especially individuals with repeatedly low or decreasing levels of LTPA may require further attention and targeted interventions, particularly those focused on enhancing preventive strategies, such as physical activity, to promote overall health and wellbeing and maintenance of memory, learning, and concentration in older age.
Support/Funding Source: Ministry of Education and Culture, the Juho Vainio Foundation, and the Research Council of Finland (330527)
S01-1: Active Lives, Diverse Places: Co-Production of the Movement Inspired by Martial Arts Programme to Support Physical Activity and Healthy Ageing in Diverse Communities
Get PDFPurpose: The project aimed to co-produce a novel, multicomponent intervention to support sustainable physical activity among older adults in ethnically diverse communities. Promoting physical activity in this population is vital for maintaining independence, improving quality of life, and reducing dementia risk. However, physical inactivity remains a significant public health concern. Co-production approaches can help develop effective, sustainable interventions, particularly in socially disadvantaged communities.
Project Description: The Movement Inspired by Martial Arts (MIMA) programme was developed in Cardiff through three stages: (1) Engaging diverse middle-aged and older adults to identify key factors for sustaining and increasing physical activity, including barriers and facilitators to exercise. (2) Designing a hybrid martial arts programme focused on coordination, learning, and social interaction. (3) Gathering participant feedback through evaluation forms and focus groups at MIMA showcase events in three highly deprived, ethnically diverse areas. Overall, 72 participants took part in stages 1 and 3, with 12 actively involved in co-production. Stakeholders from the Wales Martial Arts Research Network, public health, local council, and third sector supported recruitment, and eight representatives joined the co-production process.
The final programme includes non-contact martial arts movements targeting coordination and strength, along with educational materials, group sessions, and structured social interaction to promote adherence. Participants appreciated the co-production process, and showcase events demonstrated strong interest and enjoyment across diverse groups. Stakeholders reported benefits related to social interaction, flexibility, and reduced fall risk.
The MIMA pilot is implemented from May 2025 and evaluated using qualitative methods and field-based measures. Volunteer MIMA ambassadors are being trained to help sustain and expand the programme and support its wider dissemination.
Conclusions: Integrating co-production with stakeholder engagement offered several benefits, including increased uptake and greater likelihood of the programme being perceived as feasible by older adults, supporting recruitment. Reporting on MIMA’s development process may benefit researchers designing interventions for older adults. Future research is focused on upscaling and evaluating the programme. Recommendations for promoting health-enhancing physical activity in diverse communities: (1) Build trust through compassionate public engagement activities and collaborative work with communities. (2) Establish a stakeholder network from early stages of development to support implementation.
Funding/Support Source: The co-production stage of the project received funding from the Wales Innovation Network in 2024 and the implementation of MIMA pilot is funded by the National Lottery Awards for All.
Keywords: Co-production, martial arts, ethnically diverse, community-base
S02-3: Long-Term Behavioural Change Through Physical Activity on Referral?
Get PDFPurpose: This study investigates whether participants of the Flemish programme Physical Activity on Referral (PAR) maintain increased physical activity levels after the coaching ends, focusing on long-term behavioural changes and changes in psychosocial determinants of physical activity.
Methods: An online survey was conducted among former PAR participants, distributed by PAR coaches. Responses from 94 respondents were analysed. The survey included questions about physical activity levels and psychosocial determinants ( e.g. motivation, barriers, and self-efficacy) before the start of PAR (pre), at the end of the coaching (post), and at the time of the survey (follow-up). Participants self-reported their activity levels and experiences. Guidance of the PAR trajectory varied based on need for support, up to a maximum of 14 hours of individual coaching spread over two years. All participants received the questionnaire simultaneously and had completed the coaching at least three months to over two years ago.
Results: The survey revealed that 63.8% of respondents reported higher physical activity levels at follow-up compared to before the programme, while 24.5% maintained the same level of activity. A notable finding was that a significant number of participants increased their activity levels even after the coaching ended. The study found no significant differences in the change in physical activity levels from pre to follow-up based on gender, educational level, or age group. At follow-up the respondents had less barriers to be physically active compared to pre. Among the group that is more physically active from pre to follow-up, the following psychosocial determinants improved: autonomous motivation increased, controlled motivation decreased, social support increased, and self-efficacy increased.
Conclusions: The PAR programme seems to contribute to sustainable behavioural changes in physical activity. These findings suggest that the coaching methods used in PAR can lead to long-term increases in physical activity. Limitations of this study include self-reporting of physical activity from a long time ago (recall bias) and the absence of a control group.
Support/Funding Source: This study was conducted in collaboration with master students of UGent and supported by the Fleming Institute of Healthy Living. No additional funding was in plac
S04-3: Back to a Healthy Society (BASE): Results, Impact, and Learnings of the BASE Project in Local Communities in Lithuania, North Macedonia, The Netherlands, and Spain
Get PDFThe project Back to a Healthy Society (BASE) aims to (re)connect older adults to society so that they can improve and enjoy a healthier lifestyle. To achieve this objective, an activation process in which older adults themselves take on a leading role is promoted. The BASE project has been experimentally implemented in communities across four European countries: Lithuania, North Macedonia, the Netherlands, and Spain. In the first phase, 11 professionals (international mentors) from those countries were selected based on their solid theoretical and practical expertise in promoting healthy lifestyles among older adults at the community level. They received specialised training to enhance their skills and commitment, enabling them to guide the professional development of local mentors within the active neighbourhood framework.
During the second phase, these international mentors trained 42 local mentors (i.e. sports professionals with experience in healthy lifestyle promotion for older adults), equipping them with the knowledge to sustainably support local change agents in implementing the active neighbourhood approach.
In the third phase, a total of 80 local change agents (Buddies) were trained by the local mentors. Using a learning-by-doing methodology, the Buddies acquire competencies through real-life experiences with the mentors’ guidance. These buddies are older adults with prior experience as participants in healthy lifestyle programmes who demonstrate leadership potential for active ageing initiatives in their communities.
To date, the healthy lifestyle activities conducted in collaboration with the Buddies have engaged over 1,000 participants, many of whom were first-time attendees in such programmes. It should be noted that more multiplier activities will be implemented in the coming months, with more comprehensive impact data expected soon.
However, assessing the project’s actual impact is complex and cannot be reduced to a single metric. The initiative has generated significant community engagement, and preliminary outcomes are highly promising. Beyond immediate effects, the project is designed to yield medium- and long-term impacts. An increasing number of neighbourhoods have expressed interest in adopting this approach, and the project’s experiences may serve as a roadmap for future implementations.
Acknowledgement: The Erasmus+ BASE project was co-funded by the European Union.
Keywords: Older adults, healthy lifestyle, healthy living, peer-to-peer, community-based social change, mentorship, active agein
S05: Dance and Movement for Health in Lifespan Perspectives
Get PDFThere is extensive recent literature on play/dance as a physical activity that is beneficial to our physical, mental, and social wellbeing. The speakers of the symposium, movement pedagogists and therapists from three different countries, discuss the role of movement/dance in early childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. Study 1 uses an embodied cognition model to understand the relationship between motor competence (MC) and executive functioning (EF) from early childhood to school age. It identifies diverse school readiness profiles in 91 children, revealing that while MC varies significantly, EF and language skills are consistently scored. The study calls for a deeper understanding of the overlap between motor, cognitive, and social skills when evaluating school readiness, as it may mitigate developmental disparities. Study 2 assesses a four-week dance-focused exergaming intervention on cognitive and psychological outcomes in adolescents, finding that while dance exposure improved working memory, psychological wellbeing changes are complex to demonstrate. Study 3 reviews 13 theses on Dance Movement Therapy (DMT), underscoring its potential in enhancing mental health and coping strategies, particularly in preventing depression. Lastly, Study 4 evaluates the preventive role of dance for neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly, with evidence showing brain volume increases and improved physical fitness in participants with cognitive impairment after dance training, highlighting dance’s contribution to neuroplasticity and overall health in older adults.
The symposium emphasises the significant benefits of dance for overall health and concludes by underscoring the importance of integrating dance into programmes for diverse populations, fostering a sense of community. The audience is invited to discuss how to facilitate interdisciplinary research on pedagogical and therapeutic applications of dance related to important themes: 1. Systematic recording of the transformative health benefits of dance as an engaging form of physical activity; 2. Ways to enhance research on the relationship between dance, cognitive function, and mental wellbeing; 3. Quantitative and qualitative assessment tools applied to investigate dance interventions across health conditions; 4. The role of diverse dance styles that appeal to different age/gender/ethnic groups; 5. Creating inspiring physical activity policies and recommendations that include dance to promote healthy self-concept, body image, and reduce anxiety
S09: Leveraging Global Physical Activity and Physical Education Data to Shape the Future: The Launch of the GoPA! and GoPE! 2025 Country Cards
Get PDFPhysical activity and physical education are cornerstones of public health, especially in addressing non-communicable diseases and promoting wellbeing across the lifespan. While many countries have high levels of surveillance, plan, policy, and programme development, and research of physical activity, physical education, and school-based physical activity, there is still a gap. The Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA!) and Global Observatory for Physical Education (GoPE!) Country Cards provide a comprehensive view of global progress, offering evidence to inform better advocacy, policy alignment, and action. The aim of this symposium is to launch the GoPA! Third set of Country Cards and the GoPE! First set of Country Cards and discuss the progress of global surveillance, policy, and research of physical activity, physical education, and school-based physical activity.
The Chair’s presentation will provide an overview of the global landscape of physical activity and physical education, discussing key trends, challenges, and opportunities. This introduction will set the foundation for data-driven discussions aimed at informing policy actions. Presentation 1 will launch the Third Edition of GoPA! Country Cards, and presentation 2 will launch the Third GoPA! Almanac – comprehensive collections of country profiles accessible to the public. Presentation 3 will introduce the First Edition of GoPE! Country Cards, followed by presentation 4, which will launch the First GoPE! Almanac. These resources are designed as key tools to support countries in promoting physical activity, physical education, and school-based initiatives. They aim to transform data into meaningful public health actions and policies. Presentation 5 will offer a reflective analysis of physical activity and physical education monitoring, emphasising successes, challenges, and strategies for future improvement.
This symposium will provide a comprehensive overview of the global state of physical activity and physical education through the lens of the GoPA! and GoPE! observatories and allow countries to determine their needs and opportunities to initiate or improve data collection, surveillance, research, and policies. A discussant will conclude by synthesising key insights and calling for stronger, integrated efforts to improve global physical activity and physical education policies
S18-2: How Does Perceived Walkability Change From Summer to Autumn in Two Streets in Leuven?
Get PDFPurpose: Walking is both one of the most accessible ways to meet physical activity goals, while also being a very sustainable urban mobility form. Whether or not people walk is closely tied to the perceived quality of the walking environment, commonly referred to as walkability. While previous research has identified various key determinants of perceived walkability, including security, traffic safety, infrastructure, and environmental features, the role of seasonal variation remains underexplored. This study aims to fill this gap by exploring perceived walkability changes from summer to autumn.
Methods: During the summer and autumn (2024), we interviewed 229 pedestrians in two streets in Leuven using the participatory tool ‘Walkability App’ (Walk21). The reported experiences were allocated into pre-existing categories of walking experiences within the Walkability App and were allocated into positive and negative clusters. To assess the changes between the seasons, we compared the differences between the experiences collected in summer and in autumn on the key dimensions mentioned above.
Results: First, using ordinal logistic regression, we compared the differences in perceived security between the seasons. We uncovered a significant decline in the main effect of perceived security during autumn compared to summer (odds ratio (OR) = 0.277; 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.101, 0.710]) as well as a significant interaction between season and time of the day (OR = 0.195; 95% CI [0.049, 0.795]), indicating the lack of safety specifically during the evening in autumn. Second, we found a significant interaction between season and time of the day for the item ‘missing lighting, seating, or ramps’, showing an increased endorsement of this item during the evening in autumn (OR= 4.816; 95% CI [1.282, 21.161]). Third, contrary to our expectations, we found no significant change in pedestrian volume (i.e. people walking) between the seasons using the Quasi-Poisson Regression analysis (p > .05). Finally, walking enjoyment significantly declined in autumn compared to summer (p = 0.047).
Conclusion: The study emphasises the need to take into account seasonal variations. For practitioners and policymakers specifically, the results highlight opportunities to design more adaptive, seasonally responsive streets, particularly through improving lighting and the perceived safety, to also support walking in darker seasons
S21: Empowering Healthcare Providers as Physical Activity Champions: Experiences From Around the World
Get PDFPhysical inactivity is a complex public health issue that requires multi-level, multi-sectoral approaches. Systems-based approaches address this complexity by addressing upstream determinants of health and intersectoral collaboration and partnerships. Addressing physical inactivity through healthcare settings is one of the International Society of Physical Activity and Health’s (ISPAH) ‘eight investments that work for physical activity’. Healthcare professionals come into frequent, recurring contact with large proportions of the population, especially those with physical inactivity-related health conditions. Further, healthcare professionals are widely respected and trusted, which translates into having considerable potential to support patients in changing their physical activity behaviour. WHO’s Global Action Plan on Physical Activity (GAPPA) describes the need to create active systems, which includes strengthening the physical activity training of current and future health professionals (e.g. doctors, nurses, allied health professionals) to ensure that they can conduct an assessment, provide brief advice, and/or counselling on physical activity in clinical practice. However, few health professional training programmes systematically provide education or training on the basics of physical activity counselling as a part of the patient care process. In a survey of HEPA Europe members in the Physical Activity Promotion in Healthcare Settings working group, ‘training of healthcare professionals’ was the top priority listed among the major challenges that needed to be addressed by the group. Thus, this symposium will feature several examples from across the globe of how physical activity training programmes were specifically developed, integrated, and evaluated for future and current healthcare professionals, with the ultimate goal of sharing best practices with the audience that they can appeal to with their local health systems, health professionals, and academic training programmes