A ubiquitous goal of physical education (PE) has been that students learn the skills, knowledge, and motivation to engage in a lifetime of healthful physical activity. Thus, a preeminent question for any physical educator is whether their curriculum and instruction will influence students' behavior choices outside the PE environment. As a discipline, we have been somewhat reticent to pursue the empirical evidence required to validate that the PE experiences we provide positively influence students' choice to continue to engage in these movement forms within extra-curricular contexts. Failure to address this issue may be the result of long-term effects of PE in adulthood being mostly negative or an educational experience that had little impact on decisions to live an active lifestyle. From a research standpoint, the complexity of explaining the transfer phenomenon and, specifically, how to empirically parse out the role of PE in understanding students' wider active lifestyle choices has also been a challenge. Despite these barriers, understanding and facilitating student motivation and physical activity (PA) behavior transfer from PE to other PA contexts remains arguably a quintessential goal of PE. This scholar lecture will provide a summary of the author's research over the past two decades that has examined how different types of instructional models and content can influence students' motives to "take it out of PE."
Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) and endometriosis are common gynecological conditions with no cure. Management is aimed at symptom relief with clinical guidelines recommending lifestyle changes including exercise. The aim of this study was to explore the experience and source of exercise advice that women with PMOS and/or endometriosis have received from healthcare professionals in the management of their condition(s) in comparison to women without these conditions. Participants (N = 151) completed an online survey on experiences, type, and satisfaction of exercise advice, healthcare professional interaction, physical activity levels, mental health, and body image. Participants were women with PMOS (21%), endometriosis (33%), PMOS and endometriosis (10%), and women without these conditions (36%). Exercise advice was received most frequently from GPs (75%) relative to other health professionals. For women with PMOS and PMOS and endometriosis, exercise was most frequently discussed in relation to weight loss/control, in comparison to symptom management for women with endometriosis, and general health in women without these conditions (p = <.001). Women without these conditions were significantly more satisfied (p = .004) with the advice received and more confident (p = .006) to exercise post conversation. Findings show exercise advice is most commonly weight-centric for PMOS and symptom management for endometriosis. Women with PMOS and/or endometriosis report significantly more dissatisfaction and less confidence with advice compared to women without these conditions. This highlights the need for better education or referral to appropriately qualified healthcare professionals when advising on exercise for women with PMOS and/or endometriosis.
Caffeine is widely used to enhance neuromuscular performance; however, whether its ergogenic effects vary across menstrual cycle phases remains unclear. This study investigated the acute effects of caffeine on isokinetic and isometric strength performance during the follicular and luteal phases in resistance-trained females. Sixteen resistance-trained females (26.4 +/- 3.9 years) completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Participants ingested caffeine (6 mg & centerdot;kg(-1)) or placebo during both menstrual cycle phases under standardized experimental conditions. Outcomes included isokinetic peak torque (PT) at 60 degrees & centerdot;s(-1) and 180 degrees & centerdot;s(-1,) average rate of force development, time to peak torque, and maximal voluntary isometric contraction. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. Caffeine significantly increased knee extensor absolute and relative PT at 60 degrees & centerdot;s(-1) (p = .009, eta p(2) = 0.146; p = .005, eta p(2) = 0.166) and 180 degrees & centerdot;s(-1) (both p < .001, eta p(2) = 0.293 and 0.310, respectively). Significant Phase & times; Condition interactions were observed for knee extensor absolute and relative PT at 60 degrees & centerdot;s(-1) (p = .016, eta p(2) = 0.125 and 0.126, respectively) and 180 degrees & centerdot;s(-1) (p = .025, eta p(2) = 0.109; p = .022, eta p(2) = 0.114). For knee flexors, the interaction was not significant for absolute PT at 180 degrees & centerdot;s(-1) (p = .069, eta p(2 )= 0.073) but was significant for relative PT (p = .050, eta p(2) = 0.085). No significant interactions were observed for other neuromuscular outcomes (all p > .05). These findings suggest that menstrual cycle phase may modify the ergogenic effects of caffeine, particularly for knee extensor PT, with greater benefits during the follicular phase.
This study examined the feasibility and acceptability of a co-designed, Behavior Change Wheel-guided, pair-based physical activity (PA) program and explored preliminary changes in PA's level and motivation. A single-arm trial with pre-, mid-, and post-intervention measurements was conducted. Autistic adults participated with a chosen partner in a 12-week PA program that supported self-determined activities, goals, schedules, self-monitoring, fortnightly check-ins, and regular facilitator support. Outcomes included intervention acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, adherence, and adverse events, as well as study feasibility indicators including consent, eligibility, recruitment, retention, data completeness and analyzability rates. PA and sedentary behavior were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and a SENS accelerometer, and PA motivation was assessed using the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-3 (BREQ-3). Four dyads enrolled. Participants rated the program as feasible, appropriate, and acceptable. Attendance and adherence exceeded the prespecified benchmark of >= 70%, and no adverse events were reported. One pair opted out of all non-measurement components after Week 1. The consent rate (29.3%) and enrollment eligibility rate (33%) fell below prespecified benchmarks, whereas recruitment and retention were 100%. Measurement completion rates met the benchmark (>= 80%) at every time point. Analyzable rates met benchmark for SENS, BREQ-3, and the post-program acceptability/appropriateness/feasibility questionnaire, but not IPAQ-SF. SENS data showed reduced sedentary time and increased low-intensity activity at mid-program, with both returning to baseline at post-program. Most autistic participants showed higher self-determined PA motivation post-program. The program appeared feasible, acceptable, and appropriate for participants, but recruitment and onboarding posed challenges.
