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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Sport and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 12647

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Juan Manuel García-Ceberino

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Guest Editor

Optimization of Training and Sports Performance Research Group (GOERD), University of Extremadura, 10003 Caceres, Spain
Interests: physical education; sports performance; pedagogy and education

Prof. Dr. Sebastián Feu

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Guest Editor

Research Group in Optimization of Training and Sports Performance, Faculty of Education, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
Interests: sports pedagogy: physical education, coach education; coaching science: sports, sports training, sports performance, performance analysis, notational analysis
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Dr. María de Gracia Gamero

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Guest Editor

Optimization of Training and Sports Performance Research Group (GOERD), University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Interests: sports tranning; sports performance; teaching method
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Physical education which is applied using a specific teaching methodology has a direct impact on different aspects of the lives of students. Its main purpose is to develop students’ motor skills, which are skills defined as the integration of procedures, attitudes, feelings and knowledge mainly related to motor behavior. The aim is to enable students to move effectively and efficiently.

This Special Issue in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, entitled “Physical Education and Health at School Age”, offers researchers the opportunity to publish multidisciplinary research regarding the importance and incidence of physical education in today’s society. We are interested in high-quality original research, review papers or study protocols related to the practice of physical activity (sports) to generate healthy lifestyle habits that favor an adequate quality of life and prevent diseases, such as childhood obesity.

The nature of this subject transversally allows improvement in other curricular subjects. It also generates suitable spaces for the development of sports learning and constructive conflict resolution. Therefore, papers that analyze the relationships between teaching methodology, sports learning and academic performance are also welcomed.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

Innovation and teaching methodologies;
Motor skills and sports analysis;
Physical fitness, health and quality of life;
Healthy habits and lifestyles in relation to physical activity;
Academic performance and co-education;
Evaluation instruments.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Healthcare.

Dr. Juan Manuel García-Ceberino
Prof. Dr. Sebastián Feu
Dr. María de Gracia Gamero
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

health
methodology
sports adherence
student
tactical–technical behavior
teacher
intensity

Published Papers (6 papers)

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16 pages, 1116 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Age- and Sex-Specific Physical Fitness Reference and Association with Body Mass Index in Hong Kong Chinese Schoolchildren

by Ka-Man Yip, Sam W. S. Wong, Gilbert T. Chua, Hung-Kwan So, Frederick K. Ho, Rosa S. Wong, Keith T. S. Tung, Elaine Y. N. Chan, Winnie W. Y. Tso, Bik-Chu. Chow, Genevieve P. G. Fung, Wilfred H. S. Wong and Patrick Ip

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(22), 15346; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215346 - 20 Nov 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3515

Abstract

There is lacking a population-based study on the fitness level of Hong Kong schoolchildren, and it seems that increasing childhood obesity prevalence has shifted the classification of healthy fitness, with ‘underfit’ as normal. This cross-sectional territory study aimed to develop an age- and sex-specific physical fitness reference using a representative sample of children aged 6–17 and to determine the associations with body mass index in schoolchildren. The study analyzed Hong Kong School Physical Fitness Award Scheme data covering grade 1 to grade 12 students’ physical fitness and anthropometric measurements from 2017 to 2018. This reference was established without the impact due to COVID-19. Four aspects of physical fitness tests were measured using a standardized protocol, including (i) upper limb muscle strength, (ii) one-minute sit-up, (iii) sit-and-reach, and (iv) endurance run tests. The generalized additive model for location, scale, and shape was used to construct the reference charts. A Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare the mean differences in age, weight, and height, and a Pearson’s chi-square test was used to examine the distributions of sex groups. A Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare the group differences in BMI status, followed by the Dunn test for pairwise comparisons. A 5% level of significance was regarded as statistically significant. Data of 119,693 students before the COVID-19 pandemic were included in the analysis. The association between physical fitness level and BMI status varied depending on the test used, and there were significant differences in fitness test scores among BMI groups. The mean test scores of the obese group were lower in most of the tests for both boys and girls, except for handgrip strength. The underweight group outperformed the obese group in push-ups, one-minute sit-ups, and endurance run tests, but not in handgrip strength. In conclusion, a sex- and age-specific physical fitness reference value for Hong Kong Chinese children aged 6 to 17 years old is established, and this study demonstrated a nonlinear relationship between BMI status and physical fitness. The reference will help to identify children with poor physical fitness to offer support and guidance on exercise training. It also serves as a baseline for assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Hong Kong students’ physical fitness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Education and Health at School Age)

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11 pages, 506 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adaptation and Validation of the Constructivist Teaching Practices Inventory in Elementary Physical Education (CTPI-EPE) for Brazilian Physical Education Pre-Service Teachers

by Ana F. Backes, Valmor Ramos, Ricardo T. Quinaud, Vinicius Z. Brasil, Humberto M. Carvalho, Sergio J. Ibáñez and Juarez V. Nascimento

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12091; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912091 - 24 Sep 2022

Viewed by 1229

Abstract

Constructivism is used as a powerful theoretical outlook to support teaching, learning, and curriculum in physical education and sport. The Constructivist Teaching Practices Inventory in Elementary Physical Education (CTPI-EPE) is a valid instrument for assessing in-service teachers. However, there is a need to translate constructivist teaching practices for PE into other languages. This study examined the validity of the Portuguese version of the adapted CTPI-EPE for Brazilian physical education preservice teachers (PST). The sample comprised of 869 physical education PSTs from Brazil. Data were collected through an online form. Aiken’s V was used to examine content validity, and Bayesian methods used for exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The results showed adequate content and internal structure of the translated and adapted questionnaire. This study highlighted the validity of the Portuguese version of the CTPI-EPE, which could be considered an important instrument for self-reflection by PSTs, and provide information for improved training in higher education toward constructivist teaching. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Education and Health at School Age)

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10 pages, 368 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Creativity in Recreational Figure Roller-Skating: A Pilot Study on the Psychological Benefits in School-Age Girls

by Juan Manuel García-Ceberino, Sebastián Feu, María Gracia Gamero and Santos Villafaina

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11407; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811407 - 10 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1756

Abstract

Creative strategies allow students to feel ownership of their learning, fostering interest and motivation towards sports and educational contexts. This study aimed to compare different psychological variables after applying creative and traditional sessions of recreational figure roller-skating. Twelve school-age female skaters (9.00 ± 1.09 years old) participated in this pilot study. They performed two sessions: (1) a creative session (where participants created their own choreography) and (2) a traditional session (where participants followed the choreography created by the sports professional). In the creative session, participants created their choreographies without instructions. The basic psychological needs scale, the measure of intentionality to be physically active (sports adherence) and the games and emotions scale were administered after each session. The creative intervention led to a higher satisfaction of the needs of perceived competence (p-value = 0.04; effect size = 0.59), social relationships (p-value = 0.03; effect size = 0.62) and adherence to figure roller-skating (p-value = 0.02; effect size = 0.69), compared to the traditional intervention in female skaters. Participants showed significantly more humor and less surprise in the creative session than in the traditional session. This greater satisfaction with perceived competence and social relationships could translate into greater adherence to sports. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Education and Health at School Age)

11 pages, 632 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Incidence of Body Posture Abnormalities in Relation to the Segmental Body Composition in Early School-Aged Children

by Michalina Ziętek, Mariusz Machniak, Dorota Wójtowicz and Agnieszka Chwałczyńska

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(17), 10815; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710815 - 30 Aug 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1506

Abstract

Children are exposed to multiple factors that contribute to an increase in body mass and the development of posture defects. The aim of the study is to assess the relationship between the segmental distribution of fat mass and muscle mass and the incidence of body posture abnormalities in early school-aged children. A total of 190 children aged 7–9 were included in the research project. The examined children were divided according to age (class level) into three groups. Height, weight and body composition, BMI, and body posture were determined. Thoracic and lumbar spine abnormalities occurred most frequently in the examined children (7–95%, 8–92%, 9–89.5%). During the assessment of the segmental body composition, the lowest fat–fat-free index was found in the trunk. The number of abnormalities of the cervical spine, pelvis, and lower extremities increases with age. The number of abnormalities of the thoracic and lumbar spine, as well as of upper extremities and the pectoral girdle decreases with age. Body posture abnormalities are correlated with body composition and in particular with the fat mass percentage. The segmental body com-position analyzer can be used to screen for posture defects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Education and Health at School Age)

13 pages, 1047 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of the Health Promoting Schools (CEPS) Program in the Balearic Islands, Spain

by Maria Ramos, Elena Tejera and Elena Cabeza

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(17), 10756; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710756 - 29 Aug 2022

Viewed by 1341

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the structure, process, and results obtained by the CEPS Program. Methods: We combined quantitative and qualitative methods. We reviewed our databases, the health projects and reports sent by the schools, and the notes taken during the assessment visits to the schools. We included all the schools participating in the CEPS Program between 2014–2015 and 2018–2019 for structure purposes, but only those participating for at least two years for the process and results. We used a descriptive analysis as well as a content analysis. Results: 84 schools participated in the CEPS Program. Attrition (24%) occurred mainly after the first year. Most schools performed at least one situation analysis (88.1%) and had at least one teacher trained (73.8%). One of three obtained a certificate (35.7%) or grant (38.1%). For the process and results, we selected 44 schools. Teachers’ participation stood out (61.4% transformative and 38% representative) over the participation of other agents. The coordination of the health committee with other committees and with other local resources was a crucial element. Of the schools, 40.9% had high quality projects, 50% medium, and 9.1% low. Of the schools, 40.9% showed positive health results. Conclusion: We identified the characteristics of high-quality health-promoting schools. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Education and Health at School Age)

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16 pages, 982 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Influence of Hybrid Pedagogical Models on Learning Outcomes in Physical Education: A Systematic Literature Review

by Yafei Shen and Weide Shao

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9673; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159673 - 05 Aug 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2597

Abstract

Hybrid implementation of pedagogical models (PMs) helps to overcome the limitations of a single pedagogical model (PM) when it comes to improving student learning outcomes in physical education (PE). Empirical research on hybridizations has grown substantially in recent years, so the purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review on the effects and mechanisms of different hybridizations on students’ learning outcomes (i.e., motor, cognitive, affective, and social) in PE. Electronic databases, including ERIC, SCOPUS, EBSCO host, and Web of Science, were used to select intervention studies. After inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, 17 high-quality studies, published in English peer-reviewed journals, were assessed. Results show that there were seven different hybrid models having impacts on students’ learning outcomes, which could be divided into four categories: (1) game performance and technical skills; (2) understanding of tactics and decision-making abilities; (3) motivation, autonomy, and confidence; (4) interpersonal skills, cooperative learning ability, and responsibility. Length of implementation and teachers’ familiarity were the main factors that limit the implementation on hybridizations. Future research should consider quasi-experiments with control groups of hybrids versus single models to figure out the advantages of the hybrid model over the single model; including more evidence from different schools, regions, and countries is necessary. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Education and Health at School Age)

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