Physical Activity Information Round-Up

May, 18, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:10:00 +0000

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

The Round-Up is going on vacation and will return May 31^st.

Note: where possible, we provide the DOI link to research papers in the Info Round-Up. To use it, cut and paste the DOI into the text box on this webpage: http://dx.doi.org/. Access to research articles will be dependent on your institutional rights.

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Complete Streets – Caltrans

A new brochure (.pdf) from the California Department of Transportation helps explain the department's Complete Streets approach and its benefits.

83% of Americans Support Federal Funding for Biking & Walking

A Princeton survey reveals that 83% of Americans favor maintained or increased federal funding for sidewalks, bike lanes, and bike paths.

Health economic assessment tools (HEAT) for walking and for cycling. Methodology and user guide. Economic assessment of transport infrastructure and policies

This methodology and user guide will be of key interest to professionals at both national and local levels: transport planners, traffic engineers, and special interest groups working on transport, walking, cycling or the environment, as well as health economists, physical activity experts and health promotion experts.

Outcomes of the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program

From its inception, the NTPP was designed as a demonstration program to gather statistical information on transportation mode share shifts before and after the implementation of nonmotorized transportation infrastructure and educational or promotional programs. The program was intended to "demonstrate the extent to which bicycling and walking can carry a significant part of the transportation load, and represent a major portion of the transportation solution, within selected communities."

Road To Health: Improving Walking And Cycling In Toronto

This report focuses on active transportation as a means to improve health and quality of life in Toronto. It reviews the literature on the health impacts of walking and cycling for transportation in urban areas, and also discusses the economic, social, environmental, and transportation system benefits. It presents data on walking and cycling mode shares in the City of Toronto and quantifies the health benefits of active transportation in Toronto. It also analyzes collision data and quantifies the costs of pedestrian and cyclist collisions and injuries in Toronto. Finally, it draws on secondary sources and interviews with municipal staff in other jurisdictions to identify strategies for increasing the safety and use of active transportation across Toronto.

Walking and cycling: local measures to promote walking and cycling as a form of travel or recreation

Take a look at new guidance from the UK on local measures to promote walking and cycling as a form of transport or recreation.

Why Johnny Can't Ride

Childhood obesity rates are soaring, youth participation in sports and other active pursuits is plummeting, and a generation is coming of age with little understanding of the joy and freedom of unsupervised play. There's a simple solution—but all across the nation our schools earn a failing grade when it comes to letting kids ride their bikes.

CHILDREN

Active After School Programs for Girls and Young Women: On the Move Top 10 Success Factors

This document provides a top 10 list of important program characteristics to engage girls and young women in active after school programs.

Community Design and Policies for Free-Range Children: Creating Environments That Support Routine Physical Activity

Childhood Obesity February 2012 | Volume 8, Number 1

Growing concern over childhood obesity has prompted a focus on underlying epidemics of physical inactivity and poor nutrition.

Return of risk: The growing movement to let kids play like kids

Safety-based Prioritization of Schools for Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Projects: A Process for Transportation Professionals

This document from the National Center for Safe Routes to School, will help communities identify the schools with the greatest need for walking infrastructure improvements and the greatest potential for improvement. The methodology may be helpful for Complete Streets implementation, especially in locating high priority gaps or deficiencies in the walking network.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

From Inspiration to Action: Implementing Projects to Support Active Living

The document is large - a 48 MB PDF – so please give it time to download to your computer.

This guide shares perspective on community engagement in planning and visioning, and describes how people can work with local government to shape their communities. You will read the personal stories of experts in the field and delve into case studies from places as different as the state of Hawaii, the city of Olympia, WA, and the quaint village of Hamburg, NY.

"The West Wing" Walk & Talk Exclusive

Walk & Talk from Every Body Walk!

URBAN DESIGN

Active Living for All Ages: Creating Neighborhoods Around Transit

Active Living for All Ages: "Creating Neighborhoods Around Transit” shows how transit-oriented development (TOD) facilitates the independence and mobility of older adults. (6 Minute video).

Built Environment Health Promotion Strategy, Phase 1: Evidence Informed Recommendations 2011-2015.

The Built Environment Health Promotion Strategy is one of many health promotion initiatives being developed by the Population and Public Health portfolio. The Strategy addresses the Be Healthy, Stay Healthy strategic priority outlined in Alberta Health Service’s Becoming the Best: Alberta’s 5-Year Health Action Plan 2010:2015.

Built 4 Kids: A good practice guide to creating child-friendly built environments

Built for kids highlights how built environments are important to the well-being of children.

It provides information to help increase their participation in planning built environments so they respond to their particular wants and needs. It includes a child-friendly indicator framework, as well as case studies, that highlight how children and young people have contributed to the development of the built environment in their community.

Child-friendly Community Indicators – A Literature Review

In Australia, there is a lack of practical tools that can be used by local government authorities and others to develop and encourage the child-friendliness of their communities. This report seeks to address this gap with a particular focus on child friendly communities and the physical environment.

Going the Distance Together: A Citizen’s Guide to Context Sensitive Solutions for Better Transportation

Designed to help citizens participate in the transpiration planning process, the new guide from the TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program, will help ensure transportation projects best fit the surrounding community. Understanding professional responsibility, the flexibility in design options, and collaborative partnerships are among the topics addressed.

How to Use Redevelopment to Create Healthier Communities

This link takes you to a page with a fact sheet and links to many other resources as well.

Mid-America Regional Council’s Complete Streets Handbook

The purpose of this handbook is to provide assistance to communities who may be at different stages of complete streets policy and/or facility implementation. This includes the following:

• “Just Getting Started”

• “Moving Forward”

• “Building Upon Successes”

State of Evidence: The Built Environment and Health

The Built Environment Health Promotion Strategy is one of many health promotion initiatives being developed by the Population and Public Health portfolio within Alberta Health Services (AHS). A Steering Committee comprised of directors and managers with interest in the built environment are providing oversight and direction for strategy development. It was agreed that a synthesis of existing evidence on population level, health promotion through the built environment was needed to inform strategy development.

Urban Trails: Building More Active Communities

An urban trail is a public path that provides a well-maintained corridor through an urban environment. Urban trails allow people to get from one place to another on foot, by bicycle, on roller skates or skateboards, with strollers or in wheelchairs, without feeling any threat from nearby motor vehicles

WOMEN

Empowering Girls and Women through Physical Education and Sport - Advocacy Brief

This UNESCO advocacy brief gives an overview on up-to-date facts and figures and offers strategies to overcome inequalities in physical education.

Perceived Barriers to Achieving Gender Equity in Canadian Interuniversity Sport: Perspectives of Athletic Directors

Coaching Association of Canada, ISSN 1496-1539 April 2012, Vol. 12, No. 2

The dearth of women in coaching in Canada has been the focus of study and discussion over the past 20 years. Despite increasing numbers of female participants at all levels of sport, the percentage of female coaches tends to hover around 30% with even fewer women coaching at the highest competitive levels….

WORKPLACE

Unlocking office Stairwells: A Resource for Property Owners, Building Managers, and Tenants

This fact sheet explores some of the risks and benefits associated with unlocking stairwells for physical activity.

May 11, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:54:00 +0000

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc
Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Active Transportation 101: Bringing AT to your community and developing an AT plan.
Active transportation 101 represents an interesting and exciting step forward for bicycle and pedestrian advocacy in Nova Scotia. For the first time, the wealth of knowledge and experience collected by planners, advocates, and citizens from around the province has been assembled in one place with the intention of encouraging and recruiting passionate new leaders into the AT community.

The Public Way: Transportation, health, and livable communities

A transportation and public health fact sheet. Loaded with stats and reference links where the data came from.

Tips for Meeting with Your Elected Officials

From your local town council to your senators and representatives in Washington, meeting with your elected officials is important to advancing bicycling and walking— and it’s easier than you think!

CHILDREN

Bicycling Interventions for Youth
This information was compiled as a resource which provides examples of successful bicycling initiatives for youth that could potentially be implemented in schools, communities and or municipalities around Nova Scotia. Included in this slide show are examples of successful bicycling initiatives for youth, information and tips for implementing effective interventions as well as common barriers to increasing and promoting youth to cycle.

Differential Effects of Acute and Regular Physical Exercise on Cognition and Affect

Neuroscience Available online 30 April 2012
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.04.056
► Regular physical exercise enhanced recognition memory and decreased stress. ► Effects were only detect in participants who exercised on the final day of testing. ► An acute, single bout of exercise did not affect memory. ► Exercise-induced changes in cognition were not correlated with mood/anxiety.

Kids That Are Driven Everywhere Don't Know Where They Are Going

Sarah Goodyear in the Atlantic writes a thought provoking article on one of the impacts of children being driven everywhere.

DISABILITY/ACCESSIBILITY

Active Video Game Play in Children With Cerebral Palsy: Potential for Physical Activity Promotion and Rehabilitation Therapies
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Available online 7 May 2012
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2012.02.033,
AVG play via a low-cost, commercially available system can offer an enjoyable opportunity for light to moderate physical activity in children with CP. While all games may encourage motor learning to some extent, AVGs can be strategically selected to address specific therapeutic goals (eg, targeted joints, bilateral limb use). Future research is needed to address the challenge of individual variability in movement patterns/play styles. Likewise, further study exploring home use of AVGs for physical activity promotion and rehabilitation therapies, and its functional outcomes, is warranted.

MENTAL HEALTH

Physical Activity and Psychiatric Problems in Children
The Journal of Pediatrics Available online 9 May 2012
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2012.03.037
We studied whether physical activity, measured by wrist-worn accelerometers, is associated with mother- and teacher-rated psychiatric problems in 8-year-old children (n = 199). Higher overall physical activity and more time spent in more intense physical activity were associated with lower odds for psychiatric problems in emotional, social, and behavioral domains.

Short Report: Is physical activity in natural environments better for mental health than physical activity in other environments?

Social Science & Medicine Available online 8 May 2012
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.04.012
► Experimental studies show physical activity in natural environments may be better for mental health than activity elsewhere. ► Such studies tend to be small, brief and not to test effects of activity in natural environments as part of everyday life. ► This study looked for evidence of such effects in a large, real-world population. ► It found evidence that physical activity in natural environments is better for mental health than activity elsewhere. ► Each additional use of a natural environment per week is associated with about a 6% lower risk of poor mental health.

OLDER ADULTS

ALCOA Canada Channel – Now on YouTube
On YouTube you can search “ALCOA Canada channel” as well.

Computer Activities, Physical Exercise, Aging, and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Population-Based Study

Mayo Clinic Proceedings Volume 87, Issue 5, May 2012, Pages 437–442
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2011.12.020
In this population-based sample, the presence of both physical exercise and computer use as assessed via survey was associated with decreased odds of having MCI, after adjustment for caloric intake and traditional confounders (includes video of interview with author).

Older people and the outdoors - overview of findings

The desire to get out and about did not diminish at older ages. Walkable access to local shops, services and green spaces doubled an older person’s chances of achieving recommended levels of ‘healthy walking,’ improved their level and range of activities, and increased feelings of life satisfaction.

Postural balance and physical activity in daily life (PADL) in physically independent older adults with different levels of aerobic exercise capacity

Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Available online 9 May 2012
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2012.04.009
Physically independent older adults with more preserved exercise capacity have better postural balance and higher levels of PADL in comparison to those older adults who show a poorer condition in terms of exercise capacity.

Reliability of gait parameters during treadmill walking in community-dwelling healthy seniors

Gait & Posture Available online 1 May 2012
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2012.04.003
► We assessed the reliability of gait parameters during treadmill walking in seniors. ► Most routine temporal and spatial gait parameters were highly reliable. ► Changes of less than 10% can be detected with 90% confidence in these parameters. ► Gait variability parameters obtained during treadmill walking were less reliable. ► These data may serve as a basis to interpret exercise intervention effects.

URBAN DESIGN

Promoting the Implementation of Proven Safety Countermeasures
Federal Highway Administration website with details on roundabouts, medians and pedestrian crossing islands in urban and suburban areas, pedestrian hybrid beacons, road diets & more.

Vancouver and the insatiable automobile

Gordon Price looks at Vancouver in the context of the phenomenon of car dependency that has prevailed in North American cities since the 1920s – Vancouver has done better than most in containing “Motordom,” but the struggle is far from won…

WOMEN
Pre and Post Natal Exercise
SIRC has compiled the following articles to help you learn more about pre and post natal exercise and have a healthy pregnancy.

Canadian Guidelines
Exercise During Pregnancy
Pilates and Pregnancy
Postpartum Challenge
Postnatal Exercise

May 7, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:24:00 +0000

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre For Active Living

Note: where possible we provide the DOI to link to research papers in the Info Round up. To use it, cut and paste the DOI into the text box on this webpage: http://dx.doi.org/ Access to research articles will be dependent on your Institutional rights.

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Cycling to work in 90 large American cities: new evidence on the role of bike paths and lanes

Transportation (2012) 39:409–432

DOI 10.1007/s11116-011-9355-8

Our results are consistent with previous research on the importance of separate cycling facilities and provide additional information about the potentially different role of paths vs. lanes. Our analysis also revealed that cities with safer cycling, lower auto ownership, more students, less sprawl, and higher gasoline prices had more cycling to work. By comparison, annual precipitation, the number of cold and hot days, and public transport supply were not statistically significant predictors of bike commuting in large cities.

Proven Countermeasures for Pedestrian Safety

Public Roads (FHWA) March/April 2012 Vol. 75 · No. 5

CHILDREN

Dance for Health: Implementation of a Dance Program to Improve Physical Activity of Children

Journal of Pediatric Nursing Volume 27, Issue 3, June 2012, Pages e4

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2012.03.007

The purpose of this study was compare the effect of dance, with unstructured playtime, on the physical activity level of an underserved, urban population of children. Activity, via pedometer readings (PR), effect on heart rate (HR), and body mass index (BMI), were assessed.

Family income and childhood obesity in eight European Cities: The mediating roles of: Neighborhood Characteristics and Physical activity

Social Science & Medicine Available online 25 April 2012

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.03.037

► Family income is inversely related to BMI among European, urban children. ► Lower-income children reside near fewer open green spaces and engage in less physical activity. ► Childhood BMI inequalities are partially explained by access to green space and physical activity.

Investigating Links between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and cognitive performance in elementary school students

Mental Health and Physical Activity Available online 25 April 2012

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2012.04.001

► The study included two classes of grade four students. ► Four cognitive processes were measured with and without physical activity. ► Physical activity improved performance on the planning task. ► Planning ability is used for problem solving and behavior regulation

Tooty Fruity Vegie: an obesity prevention intervention evaluation in Australian preschools

Health Promotion Journal of Australia 2012; 23: 10-15

In this one of a kind Australian study the Tooty Fruity Vegie (TVF) program focused exclusively on preschool children as research evidence supported findings that early childcare facilities are the most effective venue to reach young children and their parents. This study aimed to improve fundamental movement skills (FMS), increase fruit and vegetable intake and decrease unhealthy food options as methods to decrease overweight and obesity prevalence amongst preschool children.

Using the WHO Growth Charts to Assess Growth in the United States Among Children Ages Birth to 2 Years

Welcome to the online training course for using the WHO Growth charts. This course was developed by the CDC to train health care providers and others who measure and assess child growth on how to use the World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards to assess growth among infants and children ages birth to 2 years.

CHRONIC DISEASE

115 Objective Assessment of Physical Activity Performed by Cancer Survivors

European Journal of Oncology Nursing Vol 16, Suppl 1, 26 April 2012, Pg S41

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1462-3889(12)70127-8

116 Recommendations by Health Practitioners About Physical Activity for Cancer Survivors

European Journal of Oncology Nursing Vol 16, Suppl 1, 26 April 2012, Pgs S41–S42

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1462-3889(12)70128-X

Australia can lead the fight against Asia’s lifestyle disease epidemic

The Conversation website presents a commentary on Australia's role in the challenge of reducing chronic disease risk factors.

Health Report to Albertans: Choose well. Stay healthy

The Health Quality Council of Alberta recently released a report that explains major chronic diseases and highlights healthy choices that are known to modify the risk of developing these long-lasting conditions.

COMMUNITY

Ace Learnings March 2012

The key learnings that follow have been compiled on behalf of the ACE Communities Team by Project Director Brenda Herchmer. They are based on the team’s regular observations and reflections, ongoing interactions with community leaders, coaches and others (eg retreats,

reflective evaluation meetings, blogs, teleconferences), as well as the findings and previous reflective conversations covered in the separate Achievement Report

CIP’s Gateway to Healthy Communities Information

The Canadian Institute of Planners is an active partner in the Healthy Canada by Design CLASP initiative, which is led by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and largely funded by Health Canada via the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. The CIP Healthy Communities section of the website provides background information on CIP’s healthy communities programs and partnerships. It also provides a gateway to research, processes, policies, and best practices that will help us plan and develop healthier communities.

Healthy Communities Practice Guide

This guide is designed for planning practitioners to help them in their work towards healthier communities, and to increase the understanding of the supporting role that health practitioners can play in reaching our common goals. It provides a framework for considering the interconnected aspects of a healthy community, and includes practical examples of how others are accomplishing their goals.

OLDER ADULTS

CCAA Research Junction

Dr. Liza Stathokostas (CCAA Researcher) will be providing monthly updates on current physical activity research, will be sharing chats with researchers in the field of physical activity and aging, and providing links to timely and relevant topics.

in motion Older Adult Exercise Video

The in motion Older Adult Exercise DVD is a great way for older adults to add physical activity to their day - out in the community with a group of friends or exercising on their own at home.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Trends in aerobic fitness among Canadians, 1981 to 2007–2009

Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 2012, 37(3): 511-519

doi: 10.1139/h2012-023

This study investigated secular changes in aerobic fitness among Canadian adults and children. Participants aged 8–69 years were from 2 nationally representative surveys, conducted in-home in 1981 and in mobile examination centers in 2007–2009.

RESEARCH STUFF

Translating evidence into practice: the role of health research funders

Implementation Science 2012, 7:39

doi:10.1186/1748-5908-7-39

The purpose of this article is two-fold: first, to describe how one funding agency, the Michael

Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR) in British Columbia (BC), Canada, developed a plan to increase its role in KT; and second, to present a conceptual model that health organizations could use when considering KT programs.

URBAN DESIGN

Increasing density in Australia: Maximizing the health benefits and minimizing harm

The (Australian) Heart Foundation has released a literature review into the impact of density on health, conducted by the Centre for the Built Environment, University of WA. The impact of density on a range of health outcomes and across the life course was considered including: mortality, cardiovascular and cancer mortality, road traffic mortality, respiratory health, and mental health.

Sport Fields as Potential Catalysts for Physical Activity in the Neighbourhood

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2012, 9(1), 294-314

doi:10.3390/ijerph9010294

Physical activity is associated with access to recreational facilities such as sports fields. Because it is not clear whether objectively- or subjectively-assessed access to facilities exerts a stronger influence on physical activity, we investigated the association between the objective and perceived accessibility of sport fields and the levels of self-reported physical activity among adults in Edmonton, Canada.

Using Local Land Use Laws to Facilitate Physical Activity

This brief examines the extent to which local land use laws require structural improvements that facilitate physical activity. It also examines whether such requirements vary based on community income. The data was collected in 2010 from 264 communities across the United States.

WOMEN

Changing the Game, for Girls

This report from the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF) identifies that girls in the UK are not getting enough exercise – and that schools hold the key to encouraging girls to get active. The report, based on research carried out by the Institute of Youth Sport at Loughborough University, shows that half of all girls (51%) are put off physical activity by their experiences of school sport and PE.

April 27, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:00:00 +0000

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

Note: where possible we provide the DOI to link to research papers in the Info Round up. To use it, cut and paste the DOI into the text box on this webpage: http://dx.doi.org/ Access to research articles will be dependent on your Institutional rights.

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Active Transport, Physical Activity, and Body Weight in Adults: A Systematic Review

American Journal of Preventive Medicine Volume 42, Issue 5, May 2012, Pages 493–502

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2012.01.030

There is limited evidence that active transport is associated with more physical activity as well as lower body weight in adults. However, study heterogeneity, predominantly cross-sectional designs, and crude measures for active transport and physical activity impede quantitative conclusions.

Advocacy for active transport: advocate and city council perspectives

Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2010; 7: 5.

doi: 10.1186/1479-5868-7-5

There is potential for the health sector to make an important contribution to advocacy for active transport in New Zealand. While there are many barriers to achieving supportive environments for cycling and walking, a range of advocacy strategies were identified which could help ensure that health perspectives are considered in decisions relevant to active transport.

The Crisis in American Walking - How we got off the pedestrian path.

Part I of a four part series (II Sidewalk science – III What’s your walkscore? – IV Learning to walk). All four articles are available at this URL.

Marketing Active Transportation

This issue paper summarizes the successes and challenges of marketing active transportation programs and policies in Canada.

Political activity for physical activity: health advocacy for active transport

Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2011; 8: 52.

doi: 10.1186/1479-5868-8-52

This study provides novel information about the current nature of health advocacy for active transport and informs future advocacy efforts about areas for emphasis, such as health benefits of active transport, and potential alliances with other sectors such as environmental sustainability, transport and urban planning and local communities.

CHILDREN

Best Start Resources (updated 2011)

A list of resources, ideas and research information related to physical activity and early years.

Physical Education Policy Compliance and Children's Physical Fitness

American Journal of Preventive Medicine Volume 42, Issue 5, May 2012, Pages 452–459

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2012.01.008

Policy mandates for physical education in schools may contribute to improvements in children's fitness levels, but their success is likely to depend on mechanisms to ensure compliance.

HEALTHY EATING

The AHS School Nutrition Website has been updated

Not only has it been reorganized to make it easier to navigate, but a number of new and updated resources have been added.

OLDER ADULTS

AARP and WHO Launch Age-Friendly Communities Program

The goal of this program is to educate, encourage, promote, and recognize improvements that make cities, towns, and counties more age-friendly for their residents.

Activity and energy expenditure in older people playing active video games

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Available online 17 April 2012

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2012.03.034

Active video games provide light intensity exercise in community dwelling older people, whether played while seated or standing. People who are unable to stand may derive equivalent benefits from active video games played while seated. Further research is required to determine whether sustained use of active video games alters physical activity levels in community settings for this population.

ALCOA's Diabetes Guidebook Podcast Announcement

Exercise is Power: Resistance Training for Older Adults

Link to Video and link to News Release

Cognitive decline is a pressing global health care issue… A new study by researchers at the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility at Vancouver Coastal Health and the University of British Columbia shows that implementing a seniors’ exercise program, specifically one using resistance training, can alter the trajectory of decline.

Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

The CLSA will involve a multi-disciplinary research team comprised of more than 160 researchers from 26 universities across Canada. Approximately 50,000 Canadian men and women between the ages of 45 and 85 will be enrolled as participants in the CLSA and followed for at least 20 years.

Centre for Hip Health and Mobility

The Centre for Hip Health and Mobility (CHHM) represents a culture of collaboration and integration among scientists and clinicians from across disciplines who, together seek to solve the problem of arthritis and fall related fractures. Ultimately, CHHM aims to enhance the mobility of British Columbians and Canadians across the lifespan through innovative translational research.

International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) March/April newsletter

Includes two articles of interest:

· Use the stairs for physical activity - Kathie C. Garbe, PhD, MCHES

· Sedentary behavior: the new physical activity frontier? - Paul Gardiner, PhD

National Council on Aging – Aging in America – Conference Presentations

Presentations from the conference March 28^th – April 1^st in Washington, DC.

Seniors in need, caregivers in distress: What are the home care priorities for seniors in Canada?

This report explores the growing issue of home care in Canada. It takes a deeper look at the seniors who are receiving home care, the family caregivers that are lending support, as well as the challenges of home care in Canada.

Technology for Injury Prevention in Seniors (TIPS) program

TIPS is a unique university-community partnership for developing new technologies to prevent falls and fall-related injuries in older adults… TIPS uses innovative approaches (such as video capture and wearable sensors) to determine the causes and circumstances of falls of older adults.

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY

American Journal of Preventive Medicine Volume 42 Issue 5

Theme: Geographic Information Systems and Childhood Obesity. There are 8 papers in this theme set.

Bending the Obesity Cost Curve: Reducing Obesity Rates by Five Percent Could Lead to More than $29 Billion in Health Care Savings in Five Years

The Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and Micro Health Simulations conducted an analysis to examine how much the United States could save in health care costs if obesity rates were reduced by five percent. The analysis found that the country could save $29.8 billion in five years, $158.1 billion in 10 years and $611.7 billion in 20 years.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Non-pharmacological strategies in cardiovascular prevention: 2011 highlights

Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Available online 18 April 2012

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rehab.2012.03.005

Our objective was .. to compile a selection of commented articles most likely to interest the different operatives … working with these patients in rehabilitation units or in phase III associative structures. Their goals may vary: (1) learners may wish to further their knowledge of cardiac rehabilitation techniques; (2) practitioners may be interested in continued education but not have the time for regular bibliographic updates; (3) researchers may be intent on informing themselves on the latest breakthroughs and/or arousing their imagination… Enjoy your reading!

On the nature and function of scoring protocols used in exercise motivation research: An empirical study of the behavioural regulation in exercise questionnaire

Psychology of Sport and Exercise Available online 18 April 2012

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2012.03.009

► This study tested three scoring protocols used with Organismic Integration Theory. ► Identified regulation was the key predictor of physical activity behavior. ► Self-determined motives predicted more frequent physical activity per week. ► Scoring protocols impact observed motivation-physical activity links. ► Justification of scoring protocols used with Organismic Integration Theory is warranted.

Summary health statistics for U.S. adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2010

This report is one in a set of reports summarizing data from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)—a multipurpose health survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Pages 105 – 110 contain data tables of statistics related to LTPA.

Trends in Adults Receiving a Recommendation for Exercise or Other Physical Activity From a Physician or Other Health Professional

This report examines trends in the prevalence of U.S. adults receiving a physician’s or other health professional’s advice to exercise or perform other physical activity among adults who had seen a health professional in the past 12 months.

URBAN DESIGN

Comparing Neighbourhoods for Sustainable Features

This guide can help you compare neighbourhoods for certain aspects of affordability, livability and the environment.

National Complete Streets Coalition: 2011 Annual Report

The report highlights how the Coalition has helped to lead the movement and respond to its changing needs in 2011, celebrating the many milestones the year brought: at least 125 new policies on the books; attention from national media outlets such as NPR; the growth of the Coalition's membership and Partners program; and its efforts to provide targeted assistance for communities large and small.

WOMEN

End of the Women’s Health Contribution Program

Six federally funded organizations devoted to research and communication in women’s health learned this week that their funding will end March 31, 2013.

· Le Réseau québécois d’action pour la santé des femmes (RQASF)

· the Canadian Women’s Health Network (CWHN),

· the Atlantic Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health (ACEWH),

· the British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health (BCCEWH),

· the Prairie Women’s Health Centre of Excellence (PWHCE)

· the National Network on Environments and Women’s Health (NNEWH)

April 20, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:00:00 +0000

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Note: where possible we provide the DOI to link to research papers in the Info Round up. To use it, cut and paste the DOI into the text box on this webpage: http://dx.doi.org/. Access to research articles will be dependent on your Institutional rights.

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Active Transport, Physical Activity, and Body Weight in Adults: A Systematic Review

American Journal of Preventive Medicine Volume 42, Issue 5, May 2012, Pages 493–502
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2012.01.030
Physical activity has various health benefits. Active transport can contribute to total physical activity and thus affect body weight because of increased energy expenditure. This review summarizes published evidence on associations of active transport, general physical activity, and body weight in adults.

Bike Share Resource Centre

The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, in conjunction with Toole Design Group, has created a new website to serve as a clearinghouse for Bike Share resources. The site features the latest research and information on bike share programs, including guidelines for creating programs, as well as links to existing bike share systems around the world.

Building a bridge, transport infrastructure and population characteristics: Explaining active travel into Glasgow

Transport Policy Volume 21, May 2012, Pages 119–125
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2012.03.003
► Active travel can contribute to health by increasing levels of physical activity. ► Active travel is associated with good pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.
► A new bridge over the river Clyde was associated with a rise in active travel. ► Cordon counts can help monitor travel trends and evaluation of new infrastructure.

Transportation and the New Generation: Why Young People Are Driving Less and What It Means for Transportation Policy

Since the middle of the last decade, Americans have been driving less and travelling by foot, bike, or transit more. The trend, they found, is led by young people, age 16 to 34.

CHILDREN

** A large number of new releases from CFLRI**

2011 Physical Activity Levels Among Youth (Kids CANPLAY)

Bulletin 1: Methods

Bulletin 3: How many steps are sufficient for children and youth to be healthy?

Bulletin 4: Participation in organized physical activity and sport

New bulletins from the 2010 Physical Activity Monitor: Getting Kids Active

2011 Opportunities for physical activity at school Survey

March and April’s Research File

March and April’s Lifestyle Tip

2012 Series: Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the early years

The HAPPY Study: Development and reliability of a parent survey to assess correlates of preschool children's physical activity

Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Available online 3 April 12 In Press, Corrected Proof
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2011.12.009

This study reports the development, and assessment of the test–retest and internal reliability of a comprehensive proxy survey instrument designed to measure correlates of preschool children's physical activity across the three domains of the social ecological model.

Physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep in Canadian children: Parent-report versus direct measures and relative associations with health risk

Uses both parent-reported and directly measured (accelerometry) data about children's activity from the 2007 to 2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey to examine moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep duration in children aged 6 to 11. The objective was to compare and contrast findings from these data collection methods, and explore differences in their associations with health markers in children.

CHRONIC DISEASE

2 New Resources (from ALCOA) for Diabetes Prevention Workshops

Your Personal Passport to Healthy Living and Community Leaders’ Guidebook (to support use of the personal passport).

Risk factors contributing to chronic disease

In this new publication from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), the contribution of risk factors such as physical activity and diet to chronic disease are outlined.

HEALTH GENERAL

45 and Up Study

The 45 and Up Study is the largest study of healthy ageing ever undertaken in the Southern Hemisphere. Over 265,000 men and women aged 45 and over across NSW have been recruited – about 10% of this age group – and will have their health followed over the coming decades.

HEALTHY EATING

Food Security (Canadian Best Practices Portal)

"Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life."

School Nutrition Policies (Canadian Best Practices Portal)

The purpose of this knowledge pathway is to provide evidence to support practice in the area of school nutrition policies and guidelines for public health and dietetic practitioners who are involved in the development, implementation or evaluation of school nutrition policies and school nutrition interventions.

MENTAL HEATLH

Walking for depression or depressive symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Mental Health and Physical Activity Available online 4 April 12 In Press, Accepted Manuscript
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2012.03.002
Walking has a statistically significant, large effect on the symptoms of depression in some populations, but the current evidence base from randomized, controlled trials is limited. Thus, while walking is a promising treatment for depression or depressive symptoms with few, if any, contraindications, further investigations to establish the frequency, intensity, duration and type(s) of effective walking interventions particularly in primary care populations would be beneficial for providing further recommendations to clinical practitioners.

OLDER ADULTS

Active Living For All Ages: Creating Neighborhoods Around Transit

In this video, Streetfilms in partnership with AARP, shows the advantages of creating transit oriented neighbourhoods with a specific focus on older adults. By providing a range of mobility options Arlington, Virginia is an inspiring example of transit-oriented development that facilitates independent, active and healthy living for seniors.

Healthy Aging 2.0: The Potential of New Media and Technology

Preventing Chronic Disease 2012;9:110241
Healthy Aging 2.0 proposes that 21st century information and communications technology offers public health practitioners the unique opportunity to empower, engage, and educate… older adults in chronic disease management.

PANS - Physical Activity and Nutrition for Seniors (2009-2011)

The aim of this randomised control trial is to develop and evaluate a low cost, accessible, sustainable and replicable physical activity and nutrition program for older insufficiently active people aged 60 to 70 years (older Baby Boomer – young seniors group).

The role of physical activity in changes in walking mechanics with age

Gait & Posture Available online 24 March 2012 In Press, Corrected Proof
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2012.02.007
► We examined the role of physical activity in age related gait changes. ► Active older adults walking speeds are not reduced relative to younger adults. ► Only small changes in ankle joint mechanics with age found. ► Slight increase in hip joint moments found to compensate for changes at ankle. ► High volumes of walking in older adults may minimize age related gait changes.

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY

Obesogenic Neighborhood Environments, Child and Parent Obesity: The Neighborhood Impact on Kids Study

American Journal of Preventive Medicine Volume 42, Issue 5, May 2012, Pages e57–e64
doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2012.02.008
Results of a new study shows that neighborhood design, such as walkability, proximity to higher quality parks and access to healthy food, has influence on obesity rates.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

A Review of the Effectiveness of Physical Activity Interventions for Adult Males
Sports Medicine, Volume 42, Number 4, 1 April 2012 , pp. 281-300(20)
Males are generally under-represented in health-promotion interventions and should therefore be targeted specifically, and while results of the included studies are encouraging, there is a lack of intervention studies targeting adult males. Further research into this population group is therefore required.

Advancing sedentary behaviour research through the development of common taxonomy

SIT is a open science project setup to develop a common taxonomy (naming and classification system) of sedentary behaviours through a formal consensus process taking into account the opinion of experts and of the general public. Currently the project is under the administration of Prof D.Skelton and Dr S. Chastin at Glasgow Caledonian University.

Daily patterns of physical activity among Canadians

Identifies the times during the day when people engage in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), based on accelerometer measures over seven consecutive days. Minutes of MVPA are reported for two-hour intervals from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., by age group and sex, for weekdays and weekends. Patterns of physical activity among the most and least active in the population are also described. The data are from the 2007 to 2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey.

Minnesota Active Living Network Online

Active living is a way of life that incorporates physical activity into daily routines. Here you can ask questions of local and national experts, explore various topics related to active living, find out what is happening in Minnesota communities around active living, as well as search for other relevant issue areas.

Physical Activity and Physical Fitness: Standardizing Assessment with the PhenX Toolkit

American Journal of Preventive Medicine Volume 42, Issue 5, May 2012, Pages 486–492
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2011.11.017
The focus of the PhenX (Phenotypes and eXposures) Toolkit is to provide researchers whose expertise lies outside a particular area with key measures identified by experts for uniform use in large-scale genetic studies and other extensive epidemiologic efforts going forward. The current paper specifically addresses the PhenX Toolkit research domain of physical activity and physical fitness (PA/PF), which are often associated with health outcomes

Sitting Time and All-Cause Mortality Risk in 222 497 Australian Adults

Arch Intern Med. 2012;172 (6):494-500
doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2011.2174
The authors conclude that prolonged sitting is a risk factor for all-cause mortality, independent of physical activity. Public health programs should focus on reducing sitting time in addition to increasing physical activity levels.

Treadmill gait speeds correlate with physical activity counts measured by cell phone accelerometers

Gait & Posture Available online 2 April 2012
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2012.02.025
At all locations, cell phone PA counts were strongly associated with treadmill gait speed. Cell phones worn at the hip yielded the best predictive model. We conclude that in both men and women, cell phone derived activity counts strongly correlate with treadmill gait speed over a wide range of subject ages and weights.

Work your body, not your wallet – CFLRI Lifestyle tip

There are so many reasons to be active—for mental health, fitness, disease prevention and fun. Unfortunately, there is also a long list of reasons why people are not active enough. These common barriers are not just excuses—they are societal realities that impact the decisions we make each and every day, including the decision to be physically active. Whether it’s technological advances, financial pressures or psychological factors at play, we all have a lot of competing demands on our time and energy.

URBAN DESIGN

New and improved parks — now with no nature

In this article Will Doig explores the idea that modern urban parks have become over designed and over programmed. In an effort to provide an exciting user 'experience' at every turn, Doig argues that we’ve moved away from the versatile simplicity that characterizes many of North America’s greatest parks such as Boston Commons, Prospect Park and Bryant Park.

New Complete Streets Website to Launch in April 2012!

The Toronto Centre for Active Transportation (TCAT) will launch a new Complete Streets Canada website in advance of the 2012 Complete Streets Form on April 23 in Toronto. The website will feature a new-and-improved design, new original research, fact sheets, photographs, and more!

WOMEN

Exercise improves quality of life during breast cancer treatment

A University of Miami study shows that women with non-metastatic breast cancer who are physically active and receive stress management intervention during treatment may reduce depression and lessen fatigue.

WORKPLACE

Increasing Evidence-Based Workplace Health Promotion Best Practices in Small and Low-Wage Companies, Mason County, Washington, 2009

Preventing Chronic Disease 2012;9:110186.
Twenty-three workplaces participated in the program. From baseline to follow-up, we observed significant increases in the implementation of physical activity programs (29% to 51%, P = .02), health behavior policy (40% to 46%, P = .047), and health information communication (40% to 81%, P = .001).

Physical activity by stealth? The potential health benefits of a workplace transport plan

Public Health Volume 125, Issue 4, April 2011, Pages 210–216
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2011.01.005
The findings in this paper offer strong evidence supporting transport plans as an effective way to simultaneously reduce vehicle usage and provide health benefits through physical activity with significant increases in walking and cycling to work. This travel plan demonstrates a successful case study in increasing active travel and overall physical activity levels and can be replicated in other workplaces, together with a similarly thorough evaluation.

April 5, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:51:00 +0000

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

The Round-Up will return on April 20th

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Bike, Walk and Roll Safety Videos - "Doing it Right"

Safe Communities Central Alberta and the Red Deer Primary Care Network worked with some community partners to create a series of bike, walk and roll videos which promote safety and injury prevention.

British Social Attitudes survey 2011: public attitudes towards transport

The results from the Attitudes towards Transport survey conducted in 2011 have been released by the Department for Transport. This report presents statistics on attitudes towards transport in Great Britain during 2011 and discusses trend changes since 2010. It covers attitudes towards road use, congestion and sustainable travel, among other topics. The report raises a number of points which relate to physical activity.

Health benefits of cycling: A systematic review

While more intervention research is needed to build a solid knowledge base of the health benefits of cycling, the existing evidence reinforces the current efforts to promote cycling as an important contributor for better population health.

Health impact of motorised trips that could be replaced by walking

The European Journal of Public Health, 2012, Advance Access

In one of the first studies of its kind, this article seeks to establish the proportion of the Catalonian population who meets the daily recommended physical activity levels through using walking as a form of active transport, the proportion who could meet physical activity recommendations if they replaced short motorised trips with walking and the economic advantage of such changes.

The Walkable City: Neighbourhood Design and Preferences, Travel Choices and Health

Toronto Public Health has released this new report entitled. It summarizes the Toronto-and GTA-specific findings of a residential preferences survey that was conducted for Toronto Public Health (TPH) by Dr. Larry Frank and his team at Urban Design 4 Health.

CHILDREN

Young People and Sport 2010

The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland has released the Young People and Sport 2010 survey results. These are part of the findings from the 2010 Young Persons’ Behaviour and Attitudes Survey (YPBAS). The YPBAS is a school-based survey carried out among 11–16 year old students. A total of 4,070 pupils were surveyed.

CHRONIC DISEASE

Second consultation on a comprehensive global monitoring framework, including indicators, and a set of voluntary global targets for the prevention and control of NCDs

The document provides a basis for the development of a set of voluntary global targets on NCDs, including the target of a 10% relative reduction in the prevalence of insufficiently physically active adults.

COMMUNITY

Beyond 2012 – the London 2012 legacy story

The legacy document sets out for the first time the breadth and depth of the sporting, economic, regeneration and community legacy that will be delivered after the Games.

Community Health and the Built Environment: examining place in a Canadian chronic disease prevention project

Health Promot. Int. (2012) First published online: January 6, 2012

doi: 10.1093/heapro/dar093

The Community Health and the Built Environment (CHBE) project investigated the role of place in interventions for chronic disease prevention in order to identify contextual factors that may foster or inhibit intervention success.

HEALTHY EATING

Building a beverage for recovery from endurance activity: A review

J Strength Cond Res. 2011 Nov;25(11):3198-204

This article summarizes research to date on the use of recovery beverages after aerobic activities and provides the following recommendations for practitioners on the optimal formula and timing of use for endurance and team-sport athletes.

The effects of low fat chocolate milk on postexercise recovery in collegiate athletes.

J Strength Cond Res. 2011 Dec;25(12):3456-60.

When the results from men and women were combined, chocolate milk and Gatorade produced a similar time to fatigue. But when separated by gender, the men were able to sustain their shuttle run for 1.5 to 2 minutes longer after drinking chocolate milk vs. Gatorade. The women demonstrated no difference in performance between the two beverages, for which the researchers had no answers but suggested it worthy of future study

OLDER ADULTS

Physical activity for older adults evidence briefing

This UK evidence briefing is designed for professionals who require a detailed review of the evidence base available for physical activity in older adults.

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY

A fitter future for all

A fitter future for all outlines a ten year strategy which seeks to tackle the prevalence of obesity across Northern Ireland.

Obesity Reviews Special Issue: The Toybox Study

March 2012 Volume 13, Issue Supplement s1, pages 1-132

A Special Issue of the journal Obesity Reviews focuses on obesity prevention measures in early childhood.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Alberta opens a door to active living. First Alberta Get Outdoors Weekend is April 13-15^th

The Alberta Get Outdoors Weekend will be an annual event marked during the second weekend of April each year. During this weekend, Albertans are invited to get outside even for a few minutes to enjoy some fresh air and physical activities suitable to them. The goal is to get outside and enjoy an activity which will benefit the mind, body and spirit and at the same time experience the natural beauty of our province.

Efficacy of tailored-print interventions to promote physical activity: A systematic review of randomised trials

There is preliminary evidence that tailored-print interventions are a promising approach to promoting physical activity in adult populations. Future research is needed to further identify key factors relating to efficacy and to determine if this approach is cost-effective and sustainable in the long-term.

Estimating the future burden of cancers preventable by better diet and physical activity in Australia

Medical Journal of Australia, 2012, 196: 337-340

This research makes a clear, compelling case that prevention through promoting healthier lifestyle needs to be a key policy priority for governments in order to impact incidence rates of cancer as well as other chronic diseases.

Lose the loafers. Give the heels a break. Sneak It In Week is coming!

Brought to you by ParticipACTION - April 9-13, 2012

RESEARCH STUFF

The use of tacit and explicit knowledge in public health: a qualitative study

Implementation Science 2012, 7:20

doi:10.1186/1748-5908-7-20

Public health practitioners often draw on forms of knowledge other than formal research literature. Using interviews and focus groups, this study published in Implementation Science aimed to gain a better understanding of how tacit knowledge is used to inform program initiatives in public health organizations. The authors conclude that tacit knowledge is used to identify opportunities, bring together teams and plan program details, a finding that is useful in guiding knowledge translation strategies.

WORKPLACE

Evaluation of Walking Works Pathfinder Employers Scheme

The UK evaluation report presents an assessment of the delivery of the project as well as findings from an employee survey conducted in each organization.

March 30, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 16:16:00 +0000

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Covered walkways at construction sites made from reusable shipping containers

Calgary's busy construction sites are notorious for clogging city sidewalks, forcing pedestrians like cattle through solid but rickety-looking scaffold-covered walkways. Even worse, some major developments block sidewalks completely for months on end….. Now, thanks to Lubarski's spin on shipping containers as pedestrian thoroughfare, it's business as usual outside the massive Keynote building under construction at 11th Avenue and 1st Street S.E.

Cycle Tracks and the Evolving American Streetscape

According to the author, as an emerging generation of designers and engineers rise to challenge the traditional rubric and protocol of traffic engineering, the first highly visible struggle will be that of the cycle track! Why? This article dissects the issue exploring three themes: the tension between rural and urban transportation policy; the question of dedicating versus sharing road space; and the interpretation and limitations of conventional design standards and criteria.

Cycling to work in 90 large American cities: new evidence on the role of bike paths and lanes

Transportation Volume 39, Number 2, 409-432,

DOI: 10.1007/s11116-011-9355-8

Our analysis also revealed that cities with safer cycling, lower auto ownership, more students, less sprawl, and higher gasoline prices had more cycling to work. By comparison, annual precipitation, the number of cold and hot days, and public transport supply were not statistically significant predictors of bike commuting in large cities.

Employee Bike Access Bill

…..groundbreaking legislation that would require the owners of commercial buildings to either provide secure bicycle parking in their buildings or to allow the tenants to bring their bicycles into the building.

Income Disparities in Street Features that Encourage Walking

This study shows that people living in low-income communities are less likely to encounter sidewalks, street/sidewalk lighting, marked crosswalks and traffic calming measures such as pedestrian-friendly medians, traffic islands, curb extensions and traffic circles

Why Bicyclists Are Better Customers Than Drivers for Local Business

“(Cyclists) tend to shop closer to home and shop more often,” said April Economides, a consultant who helped the city of Long Beach, California build bicycle-friendly business districts. Rather than jumping in the minivan and heading to the suburbs to go to the big shopping malls, cyclists patronize the businesses in our neighborhoods.

Why Don't Young Americans Buy Cars?

… surveys have found that 88 percent (of 20 – 30 year olds) want to live in an urban environment. When they're forced to settle down in a suburb, they prefer communities like Bethesda, Maryland, or Arlington, Virginia, which feature plenty of walking distance restaurants, retail, and public transportation to nearby Washington, DC.

CHILDREN

The Active Schools Acceleration Project (ASAP)

An initiative of ChildObesity180, an organization at Tufts University committed to facilitating cross-sector collaboration in order to reverse the trend of childhood obesity within one generation’s time. ASAP seeks to increase quality physical activity in schools as a means to promote healthy, active living and to evoke the beneficial behavioral and academic outcomes that follow.

Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for the Early Years (0-4)

The first-ever "evidence-based" guidelines in Canada for children this young.

Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for the Early Years (0-4) – Background Information

Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for the Early Years (0-4) – Scientific Statement

Canadian Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for the Early Years 0-4

Canadian Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for the Early Years 0-4 – Background Information

Canadian Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for the Early Years 0-4 – Scientific Statement

The Government of Canada Supports Active and Safe Play After School

Health Canada announces support for a project to prevent injuries among young Canadians taking part in after-school sports and recreational activities.

COMMUNITY

Development and testing of a community stakeholder park audit tool

Am J Prev Med. 2012 Mar;42(3):242-9

The CPAT provides a reliable and user-friendly means of auditing parks for their potential to promote physical activity. Future use of the CPAT can facilitate greater engagement of diverse groups in evaluating and advocating for improved parks and overall healthy community design.

OLDER ADULTS

Fall Prevention Center of Excellence.

This is the official website of the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence. Our mission is to identify best practices in fall prevention and to help communities offer fall prevention programs to older people who are at risk of falling.

The Falling Monologues

The Falling Monologues are a series of stories reflecting the thoughts, emotions, and lessons learned by some older adults after they’ve fallen, developed as a creative approach to spark interest and start discussion about fall prevention.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Adult sedentary behavior: a systematic review

Am J Prev Med. 2012 Mar;42(3):e3-28

Results point to the high specificity of various sedentary behaviors (e.g., TV viewing vs sitting and socializing), suggesting that the research domain is complex and cannot be considered the simple absence of MVPA. Several sociodemographic and health factors appear reliably linked to sedentary behavior, yet there is an obvious absence of research focused on cognitive, social, and environmental factors that could be of use in anti-sedentary behavior interventions.

Effect of Intensity and Type of Physical Activity on Mortality: Results From the Whitehall II Cohort Study

American Journal of Public Health Volume 102, Issue 4 (April 2012)

The authors Conclude: It is important to consider both intensity and type of physical activity when examining associations with mortality.

The great outdoors is the sports arena of the future

In this article the author argues that as an increasing number of people want to be outdoors for leisure time activities, physical activities and sports in Europe, the borders between training routines for sport and for everyday physical activities in the urban environment are blurring.

Using Local Land Use Laws to Facilitate Physical Activity

This brief focuses on land use and differences between communities and possible links between community policies and income level.

URBAN DESIGN

Hopscotch as speed reducer

A trial in which Hopscotch patterns are painted on the streets of the Woudenberg municipality has resulted in a speed reduction of 3 km/hour. According to the researchers who did the trial, this is proof that one can influence behavior through the subliminal effects of images.

Living in intensified urban environments: residential self-selection and travel behavior

A core finding from our fieldwork and analysis of existing datasets was that inner city residents were more likely to walk and less likely to drive for any trip purpose than residents living elsewhere in Auckland/Wellington cities and metropolitan areas…..In line with the literature review findings, there was no notable difference in the amount of walking and cycling for recreation, sport, exercise or leisure between inner city Auckland/Wellington residents and other areas in our sample population.

Measuring the Built Environment for Physical Activity

Am J Prev Med. 2009 April; 36(4 Suppl): S99–123.e12.

doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2009.01.005

This review provides a critical assessment of three types of built-environment measures relevant to the study of physical activity.

Signature Park Stewardship Results of a Survey of Dedicated Park Managers

Signature parks help to define their cities and generate substantial civic, economic, and fiscal value. City Parks Alliance and HR&A Advisors conducted a survey of the country’s most prominent signature park stewards to demonstrate how they contribute to the betterment of American cities and identify opportunities for improvement.

What is Urban Design and Housing?

In practical terms, Urban Design provides a set of descriptive and analytical tools for working with the tangibles of landscape, built form, land use, and hard infrastructure. Its concepts and methods also enable us to examine and make sense of how people use space.

March 23, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:32:00 +0000

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Streets Ahead Evaluation Report

In 2008 VicHealth made a three-year investment in the Streets Ahead program. Targeting children aged four to 12, Streets Ahead aimed to create environments that increased children’s active travel and independent mobility in all aspects of their local community life, with a focus on travelling to and from school.

Transport, Physical Activity and Health: Present knowledge and the way ahead

This document contains a review of the literature in the field of transport and physical activity. The purpose of the project which led to this review was to bring together experts from the fields of transport and physical activity, and complementary fields, to share knowledge and exchange ideas through a series of workshops, to examine the evidence of the role of transport in influencing levels of physical activity and hence its possible contribution to the solution of the health problems caused by the decline in physical activity.

Webinar: Empowering Women to Bicycle for Transportation

I checked and they list the Cdn Provinces on the registration page.

Join the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals for a free webinar on programs and approaches that engage, empower, and encourage women to bicycle more on a regular basis. Scheduled for Wednesday, March 28, at 3:00 pm Eastern Time.

CHILDREN

Re:Activity

re:activity is a multi-media memo to parents from Saskatchewan in motion regarding physical activity. And the message? Your kids aren't as active as you think they are. But the good news is that it doesn't take a super hero to make physical activity the easy choice.

Towards active and independently mobile children

Despite clear evidence of the fundamental health benefits to children who undertake regular physical activity, research has found a dramatic decline in children walking to school on their own. In examining the results of three literature reviews and two independent surveys, this report provides evidence of Victorian community attitudes to active travel for children and raises a number of areas for consideration to increase children’s active transport.

DISABILITY/ACCESSIBILITY

Creating Evidence-Based Research in Adapted Physical Activity

Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly Volume 29, Issue 2, April

The aim of the present paper is to describe five fundamental beliefs of adapted physical activity practices that should be considered in an 8-step research model to create evidence-based research in adapted physical activity.

HEALTH GENERAL

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure: Making the case for choosing health promotion

In this issue we look at the many barriers to investing in public health and examine what needs to be done to overcome these barriers. The articles cast light on a number of different facets of the interaction between health promotion and prevention concepts, our practice, and the decision-making processes in our society.

HEALTHY EATING

CDC research shows outbreaks linked to imported foods increasing

Foodborne disease outbreaks caused by imported food appeared to rise in 2009 and 2010, and nearly half of the outbreaks implicated foods imported from areas which previously had not been associated with outbreaks, according to research from the CDC….

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY

Breaking Up Prolonged Sitting Reduces Postprandial Glucose and Insulin Responses

Diabetes Care February 28, 2012

Interrupting sitting time with short bouts of light- or moderate-intensity walking lowers postprandial glucose and insulin levels in overweight/obese adults. This may improve glucose metabolism and potentially be an important public health and clinical intervention strategy for reducing cardiovascular risk.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Amount of time spent in sedentary behaviors and cause-specific mortality in US adults

Am J Clin Nutr February 2012 vol. 95 no. 2 437-445

Time spent in sedentary behaviors was positively associated with mortality, and participation in high levels of MVPA did not fully mitigate health risks associated with prolonged time watching television.

Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Volume 9, Issue 2, February

The latest issue of the journal dedicated to physical activity and health is now available.

Self-determination theory and motivational interviewing in behavioral nutrition, physical activity, and health

Check out this thematic series of papers developed from a satellite meeting of the 9th Annual Meeting of the International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA).

Sustainability of the whole-community project ’10,000 Steps’: A longitudinal study.

BMC Public Health 2012, 12:155

doi:10.1186/1471-2458-12-155

Facilitators of project sustainability included an organizational leader supporting the project, availability of funding or external support, and ready-for-use materials with ample room for adaptation. Barriers included insufficient synchronization between regional and community policy levels and preference for other PA projects.

RESEARCH STUFF

Smartphones more accurate, faster, cheaper for disease surveillance

From the CDC online newsroom. The Kenya Ministry of Health, along with researchers in Kenya for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found that smart phone use was cheaper than traditional paper survey methods to gather disease information, after the initial set–up cost….

URBAN DESIGN

National Index Reveals Combined Housing and Transportation Affordability Has Declined Since 2000

Despite the increase in transportation costs from 2000 to 2009, the Index shows that people living in location efficient neighborhoods—characterized by access to transit, jobs, and amenities—experienced a smaller increase than those living in car-dependent places.

WORKPLACE

Staying Healthy When Starting a New Job

As you make the transition to a new workplace and new tasks, don’t forget to take care of your health! This article offers numerous tips and insights to help you eat well, be active and feel positive as you move forward with your new job.

March 16, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:57:00 +0000

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

Note: where possible we provide the DOI to link to research papers in the Info Round up. To use it, cut and paste the DOI into the text box on this webpage: http://dx.doi.org/ Access to research articles will be dependent on your Institutional rights.

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

5 Steps a Municipality Can Take Toward Increasing Active Transportation

A 2 page pamphlet from the Physical Activity Coalition of Manitoba

A niche in the market for safe cycling products for seniors

Seniors are vulnerable in traffic. Therefore the Fietsersbond (Cyclists’ Union), aided by a senior test panel, researched possibilities for safer and more comfortable cycling.

Associations Between Sociodemographic Characteristics and Perceptions of the Built Environment With the Frequency, Type, and Duration of Physical Activity Among Trail Users

Preventing Chronic Disease 2012; 9: 110114

Our results suggest that the most frequent users of a rail trail for PA are those who use the trail alone and travel to the trail by bicycle or on foot. Trails are an aspect of the built environment that supports active lifestyles, and future studies should evaluate different types of trails among more diverse populations and locations.

Can You Spy the Signs: How Walking with Children Can Change the World

The purpose of this (Walk 21) breakout session is to stimulate thought and discussion about how and why children and families fit into pedestrian planning.

Calgary 2011 Cycling Survey Results

Both the telephone and online survey results are available for download. HarGroup Management Consultants conducted a telephone and online survey in September 2010 asking Calgarians about barriers to cycling and possible measures to encourage people to cycle more often.

Effects of Pedestrian Perceptions of Safety: An Examination of Pedestrian Crossing Behavior in Marked versus Unmarked Crosswalks

This study examines the relationship between pedestrian perceptions of their right of way in marked versus unmarked crosswalks and the level of caution they exercise when crossing…. These findings suggest that marked crosswalks do not give pedestrians a false sense of security or correlate with reckless behavior.

Greater Strides: Taking Action on Active Transportation

Recommendations to the Manitoba government for Manitoba’s Active Transportation Advisory Network. (June 2011)

Transport, Physical Activity and Health: Present knowledge and the way ahead

The purpose of the project which led to this review was to bring together experts from the fields of transport and physical activity, and complementary fields, to share knowledge and exchange ideas through a series of workshops, to examine the evidence of the role of transport in influencing levels of physical activity and hence its possible contribution to the solution of the health problems caused by the decline in physical activity.

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

Volume 2264 / 2011

17 articles on pedestrian technical issues.

Winter Maintenance of Pedestrian Facilities in Delaware: A Guide for Local Governments

Originally titled “Research of Management Plans for Sidewalk Snow Removal,” the title of this report was changed to Winter Maintenance of Pedestrian Facilities in Delaware: A Guide for Local Governments to reflect more comprehensive research endeavors on “best practices” for winter maintenance–management plans––particularly those that address pedestrian facilities, local government sidewalk snow-removal regulations, and innovations in snow removal.

CHILDREN

A Cluster Analysis of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Patterns in Middle School Girls

Journal of Adolescent Health Available online 5 March 2012

doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2011.12.021

Encouraging participation in organized sports teams/class/lessons in middle school girls may promote greater MVPA and vigorous physical activity than other activities and may help to better sustain PA levels over time.

Adolescents’ Exercise and physical activity are associated with mental toughness

Mental Health and Physical Activity Available online 13 March 2012

doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2012.02.004

The purpose of this study was to compare the mental toughness of adolescents and young adults with self-reported exercise, physical activity and recommended levels of physical activity.

The Evolution of the Steps Program, 2003-2010: Transforming the Federal Public Health Practice of Chronic Disease Prevention

Preventing Chronic Disease 2012; 9: 110220

In this article, we describe the shift in intervention strategies that occurred among Steps communities, the model that was developed as Steps evolved, common interventions implemented before and after the shift in approach, challenges experienced by Steps communities, and CDC programs that were modeled after Steps.

Raise the Bar

Cardel Place, together with our community, Mount Royal University, and with support from the Flames Foundation for Life, has officially launched a groundbreaking new initiative. Raise the Bar is a generational campaign designed to increase physical activity among children, youth and families in north-central Calgary.

CONFERENCES

American Public Health Association

140^th Annual Meeting October 27- 31^st San Francisco, CA

Pro Walk / Pro Bike 2012

September 10-13^th Long Beach California

Velo-City Global 2012 (Vancouver)

The wheels will be turning June 26-29, 2012 in Vancouver when the most complete global conference on cycling planning and infrastructure development rolls into town--and even though June is 'Bike Month,' bicycle wheels won't be the only things turning.

Walk21 Mexico City

Step into the future! Come and share the experience Sep 30 - Oct 4 2012

MENTAL HEALTH

Physical Activity and Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults: 11-Year Follow-Up

American Journal of Preventive Medicine Vol 42, Iss 4, April 2012, Pp 355–362

doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2011.11.010

Physical activity engagement in later life is associated with a lower risk of subsequent depressive symptoms, but the reverse association is not supported. The finding has underlying implications for future physical activity and mental health promotion in aged populations.

OLDER ADULTS

Age-Friendly Communities

To learn more about the Age-Friendly Initiative, click on the report to learn how the Age-Friendly Initiative has been implemented locally, nationally, and internationally.

Silver Times *New website *

Silver Times is the official publication of ALCOA and is designed to offer solutions and inspiration for optimal aging for older adults.

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY

The Aging Musculoskeletal System and Obesity-Related Considerations With Exercise

Ageing Research Reviews Available online 14 March 2012

doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2012.03.002

► Aging and obesity contribute to musculoskeletal diseases and sarcopenia. ► We reviewed randomized controlled trials for effect on functional performance. ► Multimodal exercise and diet improve mobility and function in the aging obese adult. ► Strengthening exercise attenuates muscle loss with interventions.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

A 15-Year Longitudinal Test of the Theory of Planned Behaviour to Predict Physical Activity in a Randomized National Sample of Canadian Adults

Psychology of Sport and Exercise Available online 7 March 2012

doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2012.02.005

The primary objective was to examine the Theory of Planned Behaviour's (TPB) ability to explain PA behaviour in a randomly selected national sample of Canadian adults over a 15-year period. A secondary objective was to test the moderating effects of gender on TPB.

“Barriers and Enablers” to Physical Activity Among Adults

Physical activity levels among Canadian adults have been declining over the last decade. This article discusses: three main reasons or barriers that may contribute to this decline; and some of the enablers or ways to boost physical activity levels of adults, helping them to get past the barriers.

Physical Activity and Health - 2nd Edition

At the core of the text is a review of our current understanding of how physical activity affects health concerns such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity as well as aging and mental health.

Sports Participation and Happiness: Evidence from U.S. Micro Data

Journal of Economic Psychology Available online 7 March 2012

doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2012.02.007

We investigate the relationship between participation in physical activity and self reported happiness in the United States…..

RESEARCH STUFF

Canadian Platform to Increase Usage of Real-World Evidence

CAPTURE is not limited to previously published literature or best practices. Instead, it seeks to harness the full breadth of knowledge that resides in our programs and communities, including tacit knowledge that isn’t documented anywhere else. Diane Finegood is the Executive Director.

National Benefits Hub

The DataBank is intended to help the fields of Recreation/Sport/fitness/Active Living, Arts, Culture/Heritage, Parks/Greenspace focus on outcomes that matter to their work. It takes the best research available and then shows what our work can do for individuals, ‘families’, communities, economies, and the environment. Many of you may remember it in its earlier version “The Benefits Catalogue”.

Quality of Life Resources Search Engine

LIN and ARPA have partnered to provide a filtered search of knowledge and resources designed specifically for recreation, parks, community building and healthy living practitioners. Powered by Google, it is focused on searching 45+ respected, partner web sites specifically related to recreation, parks, and active living. LIN's National Recreation Database and the Benefits DataBank are included in the search.

RURAL

Dorset Rural Roads Protocol

A set of principles and practices to support safer and more livable rural transport planning. Cows are apparently an excellent traffic calming and speed control device.

Rural communities lead the way in walking and cycling

Portage La Prairie to host provincial conference on active transportation.

URBAN DESIGN

An evidence and best practices based review for the development of a health assessment tool

Applying research evidence to land development decisions to increase the health promoting ability of built environments.

Effect of Changes to the Neighborhood Built Environment on Physical Activity in a Low-Income African American Neighborhood

Preventing Chronic Disease 2012; 9: 110165

Methods: We built a 6-block walking path and installed a school playground in an intervention neighborhood. Conclusion: Changes to the built environment may increase neighborhood physical activity in low-income, African American neighborhoods.

Health Impact Assessments and Land Use Development—Peel’s Framework

The Peel Region developed a framework for integrating health considerations into the land development processes—both at the development application stage as well as at prior policy stages.

How Communities are Slowing Down

Communities around the United States are addressing the problem of speed on their streets in a variety of ways. Every community’s problems and solutions are different, but there are some general approaches that resonate across the country.

Neighbourhood environments and resources for healthy living – A focus on diabetes in Toronto

The first Canadian study of its kind, this ICES Atlas examines the role neighbourhoods play in the diabetes epidemic. This study shows that low-density suburbs have low walkability and a higher prevalence of diabetes.

Urban Traffic Calming and Health: A Literature Review

This report examines how traffic calming affects the number and severity of road collisions, air quality, environmental noise, and physical activity associated with active transportation.

Why we’re Stuck at High Speed, and What We’re Going to Do About It

Many people are concerned about the speed of automobiles in their community. Higher speeds create both a traffic safety hazard, and an environment in which people are uncomfortable walking. Defines operating speed, design speed and posted speed.

WOMEN

A prospective cohort study of physical activity and time to pregnancy

Fertility and Sterility Available online 15 March 2012

doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.02.025

These findings indicate that PA of any type might improve fertility among overweight and obese women, a subgroup at higher risk of infertility. Lean women who substitute vigorous PA with moderate PA may also improve their fertility.

Actively Engaged: A Policy on Sport for Women and Girls

Provides renewed direction for the leadership and programs of Canadian Heritage in promoting and developing a strengthened sport system where women and girls are full, active and valued participants and leaders, experiencing quality sport and equitable support.

Actively Engaging Women and Girls: Addressing the Psycho-Social Factors.

A Supplement to Canadian Sport for Life

A new CAAWS resource designed to increase opportunities for women and girls as both participants and leaders in the Canadian sport and physical activity system. A valuable resource for everyone involved in sport and physical activity, it will support and guide those working with women and girls so they engage in, and maintain, healthy and active lifestyles.

March 9, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:28:00 +0000

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Patterns of adult stepping cadence in the 2005–2006 NHANES

Volume 53, Issue 3, 1 September 2011, Pages 178–181

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.06.004

Laboratory studies of adult walking behavior have consistently found that a cadence of 100 steps/min is a reasonable threshold for moderate intensity. The purpose of this study was to determine cadence patterns in free-living adults, and in particular, time spent at increasing cadence increments including 100 steps/min and beyond.

Walking and Cycling facilities

This PAG Unit outlines a simple method for assessing the benefits of proposals to improve facilities for cycling and/or walking. It can be used for the appraisal of both standalone schemes and road schemes which incorporate cycling and walking facilities

CHILDREN

Effect of school-based interventions on physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents: A review of reviews and systematic update

Health Evidence assigned this a Review Quality Rating of 6 (moderate)

Garden affordances for social learning, play, and for building nature–child relationship

Urban Forestry & Urban Greening Available online 28 February 2012

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2012.01.003

This study examines the physical qualities of a garden environment and the behavior they bring out in 7- to 12-year-olds suburban children…. The garden fostered social interactions by offering plentiful materials in a varied space. The multiple affordances for a variety of actions in a garden made it basically a child-friendly environment. Consequently, activities in a garden environment appeared to promote the children's Zone of proximal development (ZPD).

Interventions to promote physical activity among young and adolescent girls: A systematic review

Health Evidence assigned this a Review Quality Rating of 7 (moderate)

Physical activity guidelines for preschoolers: a call for research to inform public health policy

The Medical Journal of Australia, 2012

In this article researchers acknowledge a need for a unified global approach to physical activity guidelines for children 0-5 years. This is currently unavailable, and there are notable inconsistencies in recommendations across the globe.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Transport, Physical Activity and Health: Present knowledge and the way ahead

Why we need a global target on physical inactivity

The NCD Alliance is advocating for a global physical activity target.

March 2, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:59:00 +0000

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

The Best Way to Promote Cycling ‘Is to Not Talk about Cycling’

Gil Peñalosa. A man capable of inspiring just about anybody, be they a transport planner or an everyday commuter, talks to ECF about Transport Policy, Velo-city Global going to Vancouver and what we should be doing if we want more people cycling…

Promoting Bicycle Commuter Safety

A basic premise in this report is that cycling should be encouraged because as the number of cyclists increases, the attention of motorists and safety improves; however, an important caveat is that the number of cyclists has to be commensurate with the infrastructure built for cycling to enhance their safety.

CHILDREN

Increasing Physical Activity Through Recess

This brief summarizes the growing body of research examining recess, which shows that providing recess during the school day is an effective and efficient way to increase physical activity and improve academic performance among children

OLDER ADULTS

AARP Bulletin: Survey on Exercise

Physicians may recommend that their patients exercise, but in the US, only about 24% of adults 55 years and older reported engaging in “regular” leisure-time physical activity, according to a National Health Statistics Report. What activities will attract more people?

Hearing Loss Linked to Three-Fold Risk of Falling

Hearing loss has been linked with a variety of medical, social and cognitive ills, including dementia. However, a new study led by a Johns Hopkins researcher suggests that hearing loss may also be a risk factor for another huge public health problem: falls.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Trends in Adults Receiving a Recommendation for Exercise or Other Physical Activity From a Physician or Other Health Professional

This report examines trends in the prevalence of U.S. adults receiving a physician’s or other health professionals advice to exercise or perform other physical activity among adults who had seen a health professional in the past 12 months.

URBAN DESIGN

The Case for Open Space

Program Open Space creates state and local parks, preserves agricultural lands, and provides playgrounds, ball fields, and other recreational opportunities for Marylanders.

Pedestrian Countdown at Traffic Signal Junctions (PCaTS) - Road Trial

Pedestrian Countdown at traffic signals tells you how long you have to cross the road after the green man light has gone out. Research on how the technology affects behavior and public perception suggests it will help all users.

Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled through Smart Land-use Design

The objective of the present study was to help planning and transportation organizations across New York State identify the most appropriate methods that can evaluate the likely impacts of smart growth strategies. Findings support the claims that compact, mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly and transit-friendly designs can reduce vehicle trips, encourage non-motorized modes, decrease average trip length, and reduce daily VMT. Moreover, the study has developed two useful methodologies which can be applied to increase the sensitivity of current modeling tools toward assessing the likely impacts of proposed smart growth strategies.

February 24, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:54:00 +0000

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

The Centre would like to get a better idea of what type of practitioners access the Round-Up and how they use it (no personal information). Please complete this quick (1-2 minute) survey.

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Does walkable mean sociable? Neighborhood determinants of social capital among older adults in Japan

Health & Place Volume 18, Issue 2, March 2012, Pages 229–239

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2011.09.015

In the present study, we examined the associations between social capital and different area characteristics: (1) neighborhood walkability, (2) date of community settlement, and (3) degree of urbanization….. Community social capital thus appears to be more consistently linked to the broader historical and geographic contexts of neighborhoods, rather than to the proximal built environment (as measured by walkability).

Habitual Active Transport, TV Viewing and Weight Gain: A Four Year Follow-up Study

Preventive Medicine Available online 7 Feb 2012 In Press, Accepted Manuscript

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.01.021

► We modeled associations of physical activity, TV viewing time with weight gain ► Baseline TV viewing time was positively associated with weight gain over 4years ► Habitual active transport moderated the TV time -weight gain association ► Active commuters were protected against weight gain associated with TV viewing.

Neighborhood Crime and Travel Behavior: An Investigation of the Influence of Neighborhood Crime Rates on Mode Choice

There are considerable environmental and public health benefits if people choose to walk, bicycle, or ride transit, instead of drive. However, little work has been done on the effects of neighborhood crimes on mode choice. The report provides evidence that high crime neighborhoods encourage driving to transit stops and discourage walking or bicycling, lending support to the neighborhood exposure hypothesis.

Spotlight on Pedestrian Safety

For the past 7.5 years, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has been trying to aggressively reduce pedestrian deaths by focusing extra resources on the States and cities with the highest numbers or rates of pedestrian fatalities.

Tacoma Strategic Mobility Master Plan – Progress Report

This report tracks progress for each action strategy during the first year and a half of (the plans) implementation.

CHILDREN

Adolescent physical activity and the built environment: A latent class analysis approach

Health & Place Volume 18, Issue 2, March 2012, Pages 191–198

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2011.09.004

We found no difference in adolescent activity by neighborhood class. These results highlight the difficulty of disentangling the potential effects of the built environment on adolescent physical activity.

CHMS Tables and Figures

Fitness of Canadian children and youth: Results from the 2007-2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey. Includes comparison of body composition 1981 vs 2007-2009.

How far do children travel from their homes? Exploring children's activity spaces in their neighborhood

Health & Place Volume 18, Issue 2, March 2012, Pages 263–273

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2011.09.019

► We explored the area of children's activity spaces. ► We compared children's activity spaces to neighborhoods operationalised as network buffers. ► Factors influencing size of activity space were examined. ► A traditionally-defined neighborhood may not reflect children's movements. ► Independent mobility and traffic safety may contribute to larger activity spaces among children.

Physical activity for early years - information for parents

These information leaflets (from the UK) are designed for parents of children under the age of five. They provide information on how much physical activity young children need to do to benefit their health as well as practical physical activity ideas and how these can be incorporated into a daily routine.

Promoting Physical Activity in Preschoolers to Prevent Obesity: A Review of the Literature

Journal of Pediatric Nursing Available online 8 Feb 2012 In Press, Uncorrected Proof

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2012.01.002

This literature review summarizes clinical recommendations for adequate physical activity and reviews recently published studies that focus on identifying common factors associated with physical activity levels among preschoolers in the United States and Canada.

Sports and Child Development

This study analyzes the effect of sports club participation, one of the most popular extra-curricular activities, on children’s skill development. Our results indicate positive effects: both cognitive skills, measured by school performance, and overall non-cognitive skills improve by 0.13 standard deviations. The results are robust when using alternative datasets as well as alternative estimation and identification strategies. The effects can be partially explained by increased physical activities replacing passive leisure activities.

Understanding the determinants of active transportation to school among children: Evidence of environmental injustice from the Quebec longitudinal study of child development

Health & Place Volume 18, Issue 2, March 2012, Pages 163–171

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2011.08.017

► Poverty and the neighborhood on active transportation (AT) to school was examined. ► Parent-reported dangerousness and pedestrian–vehicle collision data were used. ► Children who use AT to school are likely to experience environmental injustice.

CHRONIC DISEASE

Prevention of type 2 diabetes: preventing pre-diabetes among adults in high-risk groups

Report on Use of Evidence from Effectiveness Reviews and Cost-effectiveness Modeling. Exercise is mentioned 31 times and physical activity 33 times in this 69 page report.

COMMUNITY

Bill Wells Announced as New CEO of ARPA

Bill Wells will officially become the CEO on March 1st, replacing Stephen Allan, who has been Acting CEO since ARPA's long-term CEO, Rick Curtis, retired after the ARPA Conference in late October this past year.

Edmonton Public School Board approved recommendations from its school closure moratorium committee

The EPSB approved recommendations from its school closure moratorium committee Jan. 31 that include promoting schools as community hubs, working with the City of Edmonton to promote “smart growth” and increase densification in established communities, advocating for family-friendly housing in mature neighbourhoods through new development or by providing housing for seniors so as to “free up” housing for families with children, and encouraging and supporting government incentives for retro-fitting older homes to make them more attractive to younger families.

Elevate, the report of Edmonton’s Community Sustainability Task Force

The has just been released and among its recommendations are to create a template for an asset-based development plan for every mature neighbourhood; offer a diversity of housing and educate citizens about issues related to diversity and densification; and deliver life-long learning opportunities for all.

HEALTH GENERAL

Who's Doing What in the Canadian Health System: An Inventory of Research Organizations

This inventory provides an overview of Canadian health care research, focusing on three interests: health economics research and modeling, operations management, and health human resources

HEALTHY EATING

Healthy Eating and Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is a chronic health condition that impacts the digestive tract, causing diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, cramps and bloating. While there is no cure for this condition, following a gluten-free diet can help to keep the painful symptoms of celiac disease at bay.

The Healthy Eating Manual

This on-line resource consists of 8 ready-to-use “lessons” designed for use by Registered Dietitians, Public Health Nurses, Health Promoters, Occupational Health Professionals, Community Food Advisors, Peer Nutrition Workers and others who are involved in delivering healthy eating education.

OLDER ADULTS

A Photovoice Documentation of the Role of Neighborhood Physical and Social Environments in Older Adults’ Physical Activity in two Metropolitan Areas in North America

Social Science & Medicine Available online 8 Feb 2012 In Press, Accepted Manuscript

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.12.039

This article presents qualitative themes related to the role of the physical and social environments in influencing physical activity among older adults as identified through the photovoice method with sixty-six older adults in eight neighborhoods in metropolitan Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and Greater Portland, Oregon, USA. The photovoice data generated seven themes: being safe and feeling secure, getting there, comfort in movement, diversity of destinations, community-based programs, peer support and intergenerational/volunteer activities.

Lifetime leisure-time physical activity and the risk of depressive symptoms at the ages of 65–74 years: The FIN-D2D survey

Preventive Medicine Available online 22 February 2012

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.02.008

This study reveals lifetime LTPA variation and its potential consequences. The relationship found between reduced lifetime LTPA and the occurrence of DS suggest that promoting LTPA throughout one's lifetime would be beneficial in terms of DS and somatic diseases in older age.

Policy and Design Considerations for Accommodating Low-Speed Vehicles and Golf Carts in Community Transportation Networks

Low-speed vehicles (in particular, neighborhood electric vehicles) and golf carts have become increasingly popular, especially among older adults, as motorized alternatives to passenger cars. Numerous states and communities are grappling with legislative proposals that aim to address the increasing use of such vehicles or everyday travel on local streets and paths. Safety considerations need to play a more central role in the design of the transportation networks that will accommodate these vehicles and in the regulation of their use.

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY

Childhood Obesity: Celebrating the Second Anniversary of the Let’s Move! Initiative

Childhood Obesity. February 2012, 8(1)

This special issue of the journal is dedicated to the 2nd anniversary of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative. The issue is celebratory, reflecting on 2 years of dedication by one of the preeminent role models in our culture to the promotion of health among children and the elimination of obesity as the all-but omnipresent threat to that health it now is…. The rich and diverse content of this issue serves up one ostensible answer to a fundamental, if not essential, question: What, exactly, does “Let’s Move” mean? The contributions here suggest it means many things to many people….

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Active Living for All: A Framework for Physical Activity in Western Australia 2012-2016

Read about the Active Living for All framework which represents the strategic direction for increasing and improving opportunities for physical activity in WA over the next five years.

Adopting leisure-time physical activity after diagnosis of a vascular condition

A new report from Statistics Canada.

CHMS Tables and Figures

Fitness of Canadian adults: Results from the 2007-2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey. Includes comparison of body composition 1981 vs 2007-2009.

Just Stand

This new website promotes reducing the time people spend sitting.

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise – special supplement

January 2012 - Volume 44 - Supplement 1 1S pp: S1-S89

Objective Measurement of Physical Activity: Best Practices and Future Directions

Read the latest research on measurement of physical activity in this supplement.

The National Sport and Active Recreational Policy Framework

A Framework has recently been released to provide a nationally consistent approach for Australia’s sport and recreation system. The Framework has been designed to benefit both sport and active recreation, from grassroots through to the elite level. It will be a guide to assist in the development of policies, strategies and programs to deliver benefits to all Australians through sport and active recreation.

Network social capital, social participation, and physical inactivity in an urban adult population

Social Science & Medicine Available online 22 February 2012

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.01.005

Findings highlight the importance of social participation and network social capital and the added value of network measures in the study of social capital and physical inactivity. Population-based programs targeting physical inactivity among adults might consider ecological-level interventions that leverage associational involvement and interpersonal relationships to improve population-level physical activity.

Physical activity in midlife and telomere length measured in old age

Experimental Gerontology Available online 22 February 2012

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2012.02.003

The main finding of this study was that long-term moderate level of leisure time physical activity was associated with longer mean LTL than both low and high levels of physical activity. After adjusting for age, BMI, cholesterol and smoking in 1974 the difference between mean LTL:s of the moderate and low activity groups was 172 base pairs corresponding to a difference of approximately four to six years in “biological age” assuming an annual mean LTL shortening of 30–40 base pairs

Place-focused physical activity research, human agency, and social justice in public health: Taking agency seriously in studies of the built environment

Health & Place Volume 18, Issue 2, March 2012, Pages 172–179

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2011.08.019

Built environment characteristics have been linked to health outcomes and health disparities. However, the effects of an environment on behavior may depend on human perception, interpretation, motivation, and other forms of human agency….. We draw on epidemiological and ethical concepts to articulate a critique of research on the built environment and physical activity.

Prescription for gym just what doctor orders

In what may be the first of its kind in Alberta and perhaps Canada, 51 doctors working in the primary care network south of Edmonton have new prescription pads to officially prescribe running, swimming or weights, including a free one-month pass to the local recreation centre

URBAN DESIGN

Built Environment Resource Database

Browse resources related to the Built Environment in this searchable database from the National Collaborating Centre for Environment and Health.

Levels of Service and Travel Projections: The Wrong Tools for Planning Our Streets?

"Would you use a rototiller to get rid of weeds in a flowerbed? Of course not. You might solve your immediate goal of uprooting the weeds--but oh, my, the collateral damage that you would do. Yet when we try to eliminate congestion from our urban areas by using decades-old traffic engineering measures and models, we are essentially using a rototiller in a flowerbed. And it's time to acknowledge that the collateral damage has been too great."

February 17, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:16:00 +0000

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

The Centre would like to get a better idea of what type of practitioners access the Round-Up and how they use it (no personal information). Please complete this quick (1-2 minute) survey.

February 8, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:20:00 +0000

Alberta Centre for Active Living

The Centre would like to get a better idea of what type of practitioners access the Round-Up and how they use it (no personal information). Please complete this quick (1-2 minute) survey.

February 3, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:05:00 +0000

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

The Centre would like to get a better idea of what type of practitioners access the Round-Up and how they use it (no personal information). Please complete this quick (1-2 minute) survey.

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Bicycling and Walking in the U.S.: 2012 Benchmarking Report

An essential resource and tool for government officials, advocates, and those working to promote bicycling and walking. The Benchmarking Project is an on-going effort by the Alliance for Biking & Walking to collect and analyze data on bicycling and walking in all 50 states and the 51 largest U.S. cities.

Biking Benefits Exceed $450 Million in Iowa

According to 'Economic and Health Benefits of Bicycling,' the spending of recreational cyclists generates $364.8 million in direct and indirect impacts to the State of Iowa. And that's just the economic aspect. When it comes to health, bicycling saves the state $73.9 million in healthcare costs for those who cycle recreationally, while bicycle commuters cash in on another $13.2 million in health care cost savings..."

“I don't see many adults on a bicycle” — Is it time to despair for the human race?

Reflections on the gap between the numbers of bicycles owned and the numbers of cyclists

Preventive Medicine Available online 16 December 2011 In Press, Corrected Proof

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.12.011

We argue that there are social, commercial and environmental drivers of cycling rates and agree that there is an urgent need to take action to promote both cycling and build environments to support cycling.

Signalized Intersection Enhancements that Benefit Pedestrians -- Making America a Great Place to Walk

The purpose of this resource is to educate decision makers, planners, engineers, and citizens on signalized intersection enhancements that can improve pedestrian safety and convenience. This resource is intended to summarize a wide array of potential treatments for a variety of signalized intersections; not all of the treatments summarized in this resource are appropriate for every signalized intersection.

Two Wheels and High Heels: Ten lessons from the great cycling cities.

Recently, I won a fellowship and got to spend six months living life on two wheels in the world’s most bike-friendly cities. I brought home ten lessons, and thousands of photographs, for Cascadia [author's community].

You’re safer on the bicycle than on the sofa!

A marketing piece designed by the Copenhagen Public Health Department.

CHILDREN

Fundamental Movement Skills

From the Edmonton Sport Council. A page with information and links relevant to fundamental movement skill development.

Gear Up for the First-ever National Bike to School Day

The National Center for Safe Routes to School will be coordinating the first-ever National Bike to School Day on Wednesday, May 9, 2012.

Getting Preschoolers (3 to 5-year-olds) Moving!

This article discusses physical activity recommendations for preschoolers and also offers several ideas on how to support and encourage your preschooler to be active.

CHRONIC DISEASE

Alberta’s Caring for Diabetes (ABCD) project

The ABCD project involves two quality improvement interventions…. and 2) Lifestyle behavioral support intervention called Healthy Eating and Active Living in Diabetes (HEALD-PCN).

CAPTURE Project

CAPTURE is a freely accessible, web-based repository that Canadian public health practitioners and program managers can use to find and share practice-based evidence. Not just limited to published literature or best practices, CAPTURE provides a platform for collecting and disseminating the full breadth of activity across Canadian public health.

COMMUNITY

Future Communities

Creating new communities involves far more than building homes and roads. It is the residents of a community that bring a place to life and help it to gain its own particular identity. However, much more is known about the physical and environmental challenges involved in building new settlements, than about how to plan, design and develop services and supports that can help new residents come together, share common interests, agree on local priorities and work together to create a sense of community.

CONFERENCES

8th World Congress on Active Ageing - Glasgow 13th-17th August 2012

In the London Olympic Year of 2012 the Congress will be an event that will not only highlight the latest research evidence and best practice on physical activity and active ageing, but also highlight the needs of an often excluded but growing population group world-wide, the oldest old.

Velo-city Global 2012 conference

Vancouver, BC June 26 – 29^th, 2012

Velo-city Global is the world’s premier international cycling planning conference. The four day event offers delegates from around the world a chance to share best practices for creating and sustaining cycling-friendly cities, where bicycles are valued as part of daily transport and recreation.

OLDER ADULTS

Effect of Exercise on Physical Function, Daily Living Activities, and Quality of Life in the Frail Older Adults: A Meta-Analysis

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Vol 93, Iss 2, Feb 2012, Pgs 237–244

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2011.08.042

The authors conclude that Exercise is beneficial to increase gait speed, improve balance, and improve performance in ADLs in the frail older adults.

Validity of an Exercise Test Based on Habitual Gait Speed in Mobility-Limited Older Adults

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Vol 93, Iss 2, Febr 2012, Pgs 344–350

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2011.08.032

The authors conclude that Mobility-limited older adults can complete this customized ETT protocol, allowing for the identification of acute cardiac instability and the achievement of optimal exercise parameters.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

The exercise scientist with a moving argument: Diet is less important than being active, leading researcher Steven Blair says

According to Blair, the most important message to come from his research is that physical inactivity is the single largest health problem of our generation… "It's a bigger health problem than obesity," said Blair, who says that when it comes to improving health, exercising more trumps eating less. "Being fit eliminates the mortality risk of being obese."

RURAL

Beyond Urban Centers: Active Transportation in Rural America

A new research report by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy demonstrates that, AT is a part of life even far beyond urban centers……. kids, seniors and working people walk and bicycle at rates that are not so different from what you find in metropolitan areas

URBAN DESIGN

Design For Social Sustainability: A framework for creating thriving new communities

This paper sets out how to plan, design and develop successful and socially sustainable new communities. The ideas and examples are drawn from a large scale review of evidence about what makes communities flourish, with practical examples and approaches from new settlements around the world.

Large scale urban design: Getting the big picture right

How do we deal with the economic, social and environmental challenges of large areas that cannot be solved through local action? This guide outlines a new approach to large scale urban design and includes our step-by-step guide to a new workshop-based process.

Making Healthy Places: Designing and Building for Health, Well-being, and Sustainability

Read the article about this new publication here.

Sustainable Street Network Principles

We advocate a return to the historic understanding of the street network as a fundamental framework for safe, livable communities, where the human scale of the individual and the act of walking represent the basic unit of design.

January 27, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:51:00 +0000

By Rosanne Prinsen MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

The Centre would like to get a better idea of who accesses the Round-Up and how they use it. Please consider taking this quick (1-2 minutes) survey.

CHILDREN

Canadian School Health Community: Toolbox of Research, Reports, Resources

This list of research, reports and educational/planning resources has organized in accordance with a standard framework or outline used to describe comprehensive approaches, coordinated agency-school programs and whole school strategies to address broad health, social, safety and other issues.

Impact of a pilot walking school bus intervention on children's pedestrian safety behaviors: A pilot study

Health & Place Volume 18, Issue 1, January 2012, Pages 24–30

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2011.07.004

Walking school buses (WSB) increased children's physical activity, but impact on pedestrian safety behaviors (PSB) is unknown.

Note: Be sure to look at the table of contents of this Issue of Health and Place – there are many good PA/AL articles in side.

The impact of Nintendo Wii to physical education students' balance compared to the traditional approaches

Computers & Education Available online 17 January 2012 In Press, Uncorrected Proof

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2012.01.003

► We examined the effectiveness of Nintendo Wii in balance ability. ► Nintendo Wii was compared to a traditional balance training program. ► Results indicated that both groups demonstrated an improvement in balance ability. ► Findings support the effectiveness of using Nintendo Wii on balance competence.

The Influence of School Neighborhood Safety and Parks and Recreation Resources on Middle School Students' Physical Activity Levels

Journal of Adolescent Health Volume 50, Issue 2, Supplement, February 2012, Pages S37

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2011.10.103

To determine if the number of parks and recreation areas within 400, 800, and 1500 meter radii of middle schools participating in the Healthy Choices (HC) study and the crime rate in the neighborhood surrounding these schools were associated with individual student-reported physical activity (PA) levels.

Is active travel to non-school destinations associated with physical activity in primary school children?

Preventive Medicine Available online 18 January 2012 In Press, Uncorrected Proof

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.01.006,

► We investigated non-school travel mode and physical activity levels in children. ► Active travel was associated with higher overall activity levels in males. ► Active travel was associated with greater after-school activity levels in females. ► Promoting non-school active travel may help to achieve higher activity levels.

Physical Activity of Children Attending Afterschool Programs: Research- and Practice-Based Implications

American Journal of Preventive Medicine Vol 42, Iss 2, Feb 2012, Pages 180–184

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2011.10.007

The authors conclude: Activity levels in ASPs are well below recommendations. Substantial effort is needed to identify strategies ASPs can employ to ensure children are sufficiently active.

What can global positioning systems tell us about the contribution of different types of urban greenspace to children's physical activity?

Health & Place Available online 25 January 2012 In Press, Accepted Manuscript

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2012.01.006

We summarised activity intensities in different types of greenspace on weekday evenings, weekend days, and by season. Around half of outdoor moderate-vigorous activity took place in greenspace at the weekend and use was consistent across seasons.

CHRONIC DISEASE

Awareness of diabetes risks is associated with healthy lifestyle behavior in diabetes free American adults: Evidence from a nationally representative sample

Primary Care Diabetes Available online 17 January 2012 In Press, Corrected Proof

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pcd.2011.12.005

The purpose of this study was to examine whether diabetes free healthy non-Hispanic Whites (NHW), non-Hispanic Blacks (NHB), and Mexican-Americans (MA) who are told of their diabetes risk were more likely to adopt healthy lifestyle behavior defined as current weight control, physical activity and reduced fat/calories intake than those who were not told that they were at increased risk.

HEALTH GENERAL

Prevention left out of health-care debate

This opinion piece looks at the current debate on the Canada Health Transfer and points to how the preventative benefits of sport and physical activity might help the longer term financial viability of the health care system.

HEALTHY EATING

Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA).

The HHFK Act allows USDA, for the first time in over 30 years, opportunity to make real reforms to the school lunch and breakfast programs by improving the critical nutrition and hunger safety net for millions of children.

USDA sets guidelines for healthier school meals

School meals for millions of children will be healthier under obesity-fighting U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards unveiled on Wednesday that double the fruits and vegetables in cafeteria lunches -- but won’t pull French fries from the menu.

MENTAL HEALTH

Sport participation and stress among women and men

Psychology of Sport and Exercise Online 24 January 2012 In Press, Accepted Manuscript

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2012.01.003

Very little difference in perceived-stress and emotional-distress existed in women and men who participated in different sport-types, suggesting that "one-activity-fits-all recommendations" are likely inappropriate. Different sports are suitable for different individuals, and it is important that one finds the sport that suits one best.

OLDER ADULTS

Creating an Age-Friendly Community: Assessing Needs and Priorities Executive Summary

An age-friendly community is an inclusive and accessible environment that “allows people to realize their potential for physical, social, and mental well-being throughout the life course and to participate in society, while providing them with adequate protection, security and care when they need.

Development of a Clinical Multiple-Lunge Test to Predict Falls in Older Adults

Arch of Phys Med and Rehab Available online 14 Jan 2012 In Press, Corrected Proof

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2011.08.044

The test is easily administered and because of its challenging nature, it may be well suited to detect subtle differences in abilities of higher functioning, community-dwelling older adults. A practitioner can be confident in 7 of 10 cases that an older adult who cannot complete all 5 steps of the Multiple-Lunge Test is at high risk of falls. The results suggest that there is potential for the Multiple-Lunge Test to be used in clinical practice; however, additional research on how to further increase its validity appears warranted.

*new* Active Living Tip sheets from ALCOA

Northern B.C. study investigates impact of non-medical resources on seniors

Studies show that having access to non-medical social support services including transportation and various community-based leisure time opportunities directly affects the lives of older persons…… Although this may seem obvious to many of us at first glance, those engaged in scientific study indicate that research-based evidence on the subject is actually quite limited.

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY

External Validity Reporting in Behavioral Treatment of Childhood Obesity: A Systematic Review

American Journal of Preventive Medicine Vol 42, Iss 2, Feb 2012, Pages 185–192

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2011.10.014,

Enhanced reporting of relevant and pragmatic information in behavioral investigations of childhood obesity interventions is needed to improve the ability to evaluate the applicability of results to practice implementation. Such evidence would improve translation of research to practice, provide additional explanation for variability in intervention outcomes, and provide insights into successful adaptations of interventions to local conditions.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Health & Place Volume 18, Issue 1, January 2012

This issue is full of articles about physical activity/active living.

Physical activity and health-related quality of life among older men: An examination of current physical activity recommendations

Preventive Medicine Available online 18 January 2012 In Press, Accepted Manuscript

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.01.009

Self-reported PA was significantly and positively associated with higher HRQoL scores among older men. Associations were stronger for those achieving a higher volume of PA.

USDA Releases New Online Food and Physical Activity Tracker

Unlike many other online trackers with similar features, the “SuperTracker” is offered free of charge. Features include a nutritional database, a food diary, and a physical activity tracker that matches progress against national recommendations for weekly physical activity accumulation

URBAN DESIGN

Developing and implementing the Active Design Guidelines in New York City

Health & Place Volume 18, Issue 1, January 2012, Pages 5–7

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2011.09.009

The ADG is a manual of evidence-based and best-practice strategies for increasing physical activity in the design and construction of neighborhoods, streets and buildings.

Note: Be sure to look at the table of contents of this Issue of Health and Place – there are many good PA/AL articles in side.

WOMEN

Bone mass in women with celiac disease: Role of exercise and gluten-free diet

Digestive and Liver Disease Available online 24 January 2012 In Press, Corrected Proof

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dld.2011.12.012

Celiac patients report fatigue and reduced social activities, which may decrease physical activity. This study investigated the physical activity, fatigue and bone mineral density in celiac women at diagnosis and during diet.

The impact of an after-school physical activity program on health-related fitness of mother/daughter pairs: CASPIAN study

Preventive Medicine Available online 24 January 2012 In Press, Accepted Manuscript

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.01.010

► We examined the effect of school-based physical exercise on mother/daughter pairs. ► We compare the health-related fitness outcome of physical exercise in mother/daughter group versus student only group. ► The 12-week physical exercise improved health-related fitness in both students and their mothers. ► The effect of intervention on students in mother/daughter group was significantly stronger than that of student only group. ► Family support and parent participation can contribute to improve efficacy of health related interventions in adolescents.

WORKPLACE

Promoting Routine Stair Use: Evaluating the Impact of a Stair Prompt Across Buildings

American Journal of Preventive Medicine Vol 42, Iss 2, Feb 2012, Pages 136–141

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2011.10.005

Findings suggest that the prompt was effective in increasing physical activity in diverse settings, and increases were maintained at 9 months.

Staying Healthy as You Move Into Retirement

The period of time when you transition into retirement can be stressful, even if retirement is a happy and welcome change from working. Major life changes happen when you wind down your working career and begin your retirement years.

January 23, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:53:00 +0000

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

The Centre would like to get a better idea of who accesses the Round-Up and how they use it. Please consider taking this quick (1-2 minute) survey.

Note: where possible we provide the DOI to link to research papers in the Info Round-Up. To use it, cut and paste the DOI into the text box on this webpage: http://dx.doi.org/ Access to research articles will be dependent on your Institutional rights.

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Active Transportation Alliance: Chicagolands voice for better walking, biking and transit

They have a great resource section.

The bikeability and walkability evaluation table reliability and application

Am J Prev Med. 2010 Nov;39(5):457-9.

The purpose of this paper is to describe the approach to develop and test a simple and efficient audit tool to get a quick overview of environmental characteristics along a route or in a neighborhood….. The BiWET is a reliable and time-efficient audit instrument to determine accurately and relatively quickly the physical characteristics of an area or route, which is potentially useful for the study of the relationship between the built environment and physical activity behavior.

Crowd Dynamics: The wisdom of crowds - The strange but extremely valuable science of how pedestrians behave

More than any other way of getting around—such as being crushed into a train or stuck in a traffic jam—walking appears to offer freedom of choice. The reality is more complicated. Whether stepping aside to avoid a collision or following the person in front through a crowd or navigating busy streets, pedestrians are autonomous yet constrained by others.

Dutch Study: Blind Spot Roadside Mirrors Don't Stop Biking Deaths

The Institute for Road Safety Research in the Netherlands has found that blind spot roadside mirrors (known as Trixi mirrors) do not have a significant impact on the number of collisions between trucks and cyclists at junctions. They state that the solution is 'a structural separation of trucks and cyclists.

Health benefits of cycling: a systematic review

Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2011 Aug;21(4):496-509.

doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2011.01299.x

According to standard criteria used primarily for the assessment of clinical studies, the strength of this evidence was strong for fitness benefits, moderate for benefits in cardiovascular risk factors, and inconclusive for all-cause mortality, coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality, cancer risk, and overweight and obesity. While more intervention research is needed to build a solid knowledge base of the health benefits of cycling, the existing evidence reinforces the current efforts to promote cycling as an important contributor for better population health.

"Health in all policies" in practice: guidance and tools to quantifying the health effects of cycling and walking.

J Phys Act Health. 2010 Mar;7 Suppl 1:S120-5.

There is a need for a more consistent approach to the quantification of health benefits from cycling and walking. This project is providing guidance and an illustrative tool for cycling for practical application. Results show that substantial savings can be expected. Such tools illustrate the importance of considering health in transport policy and infrastructure planning, putting "Health in All Policies" into practice.

Want to Foster Walking, Biking and Transit? You Need Good Parking Policy.

The author highlights the findings of a recently released report by The Institute of Transportation and Development Policy – ITDP that provides a comprehensive review of the new wave of parking policy innovation that could pay huge dividends for sustainable transport and liveable streets.

CHILDREN

Ohio Dot "Safe Out The Door" Video Inspires Safety For Kids

If you ever need a reason to smile, check out the Ohio Dept. of Transportation's (ODOT) new Glee-inspired Safe Routes to School video. The All-Ohio Safe Routes to School Show Choir will sing and dance their way into your safety awareness in this high-energy video.

Physical Activity and Performance at School: A Systematic Review of the Literature Including a Methodological Quality Assessment

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2012;166(1):49-55.

doi:10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.716

Conclusions: Participation in physical activity is positively related to academic performance in children. Because we found only 2 high-quality studies, future high-quality studies are needed to confirm our findings. These studies should thoroughly examine the dose-response relationship between physical activity and academic performance as well as explanatory mechanisms for this relationship.

Physical Education, Obesity, and Academic Achievement: A 2-Year Longitudinal Investigation of Australian Elementary School Children

American Journal of Public Health: February 2012, Vol. 102, No. 2, pp. 368-374.

doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2011.300220

Conclusions: The attenuated age-related increases in percentage of body fat and enhanced numeracy development among elementary school children receiving PE from specialists provides support for the role of PE in both preventive medicine and academic development.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation renews funding for safe routes to school national partnership

RWJF has provided a three-year renewal grant of $2,999,725 to the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, a diverse, nationwide coalition of more than 550 organizations. This project will result in thousands of more miles of sidewalks and bike paths, traffic-calming projects and safer street crossings, and will enable many more students to benefit from Safe Routes to School. The project will focus on supporting communities with high rates of childhood obesity..."

COMMUNITY

Bringing Life and Fresh Activities to Community Spaces

This article offers fresh ideas and inspiration for launching different types of events or activities in different types of community spaces, settings or locations.

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY

Do Youth Sports Prevent Pediatric Obesity? A Systematic Review and Commentary

Current Sports Medicine Reports: Nov/Dec 2011 - Volume 10 - Issue 6 - pp 360-370

doi: 10.1249/JSR.0b013e318237bf74

It is unclear from these results whether sports programs, as currently offered, protect youth from becoming overweight or obese. Additional research may foster understanding about how sport, and youth sport settings, can help promote energy balance and healthy body weight.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Minnesota Active Living Network Online

Wife carrying for health

Med J Aust. 2011 Dec 12;195(11-12):723-6.

Wife carrying can be a novel option for increasing physical activity levels, which improve health. Although some key data were unavailable, such as wife's body weight, and injury rates, this study identified several factors associated with better performance in this sport.

RURAL

Supporting Sustainable Rural Communities

This report includes a number of case studies at the end.

URBAN DESIGN

Complete Streets – Master List of Current Policies

This link takes you to a 6 page table listing all 340 policies and the 321 US jurisdictions they can be found in.

Confessions of a recovering engineer

In this article, Engineer Charles Marohn explains why he changed his point of view about wider, faster and treeless roads and decided to start thinking about what people need to live better in cities

Built Environment Assessment Training (BEAT) Institute

June 24-29, 2012 – Boston, MA - Applications due Feb 1, 2012

A week long institute designed to train investigators and practitioners tangible skills that can be used to measure many of the aspects of the built environment that are believed to have an effect on health.

Healing Cities Institute: Creating healthy, sustainable cities

The majority of the world’s population lives in cities and therefore our cities have a significant impact on our health and wellbeing. In this context, why shouldn’t we plan and design our cities to make us healthier in every way?

Front yard ‘microparks’ pop up in East Chicago and Gary

“Please, Have a Seat!” a project that has installed nearly 30 benches for public use in the front yards of homeowners in East Chicago and Gary. The benches serve as a gathering place for residents and they provide places for people to sit and relax while walking. The “microparks” typically include a pressed concrete pad, a decorative bench and a planter.

In the future, urban bikers go faster than cars

It feels strange to equate slowing down with moving ahead, but in some ways, slowing down cities, much like the slow-food movement, is about shrugging off some of the 20th century’s ill-conceived “innovations.” A hundred years ago, city streets were a multi-use melting pot of cars, trolleys, horses, buggies, bicycles and pedestrians, all moving together in a low-speed symphony. It was easy to share the road because few things moved fast enough to be really dangerous. It wasn’t until the 1930s and ’40s that we started to see the streets as reserved for things that could go very fast, and pedestrians were expected to stick to the sidewalks.

Retrofitting the Suburbs to Increase Walking

Research led by a team at University of California at Irvine suggests that suburban communities looking to encourage more walking to destinations should develop a central core featuring a variety of shops and services that are within easy walking distance of each other.

January 13, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:21:00 +0000

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ABORIGINAL

Physical activity and young children

An information booklet for Aboriginal parents and service providers from the Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development.

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

The Economics of Active Transportation

Come explore developments in Active Transportation with a focus on Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation. See how bringing Healthy Transportation options to your community yields health and wellness benefits and consider the economic and social rewards that come with making the place you call home, a livable community.

CHILDREN

Physical activity and young children

An information booklet for parents and service providers from the Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development.

CHRONIC DISEASE

Feasibility of using pedometers to measure daily step counts in cystic fibrosis and an assessment of its responsiveness to changes in health state

Journal of Cystic Fibrosis – in press, corrected proof

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcf.2011.12.002

Conclusion: Step rate measured with a pedometer correlates significantly with changes in health status and self-reported activity, and could be used as an outcome measure in CF.

COMMUNITY

Becoming a Healthy Choice Facility

A PowerPoint presentation from the Stay active Eat Healthy initiative of BCRPA outlining background statistics for adult and childhood obesity and its consequences, and recreation facilities as “key community settings” that can influence behaviour of people in the community.

Healthy Food & Beverage Sales Policy

Communities have reported that the development of policy in support of healthy food and beverage sales has made the implementation of changes in food outlets - including vending, concessions and programs - easier and faster. Policy development also provides support for change in the long term.

OLDER ADULTS

Prevention of falls by outdoor-walking in elderly persons at risk (“power”) – a pilot study

European Geriatric Medicine In Press, Corrected Proof

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eurger.2011.06.008

This study shows the feasibility of implementing a simple program of outdoor walking for older people in nursing homes. A sufficiently powered randomized controlled trial is necessary to prove the effectiveness and safety of our approach.

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY

Use and interpretation of the WHO Growth Charts adapted for Canada

A new self-instructional, web-based learning package on the use and interpretation of the WHO Growth Charts adapted for Canada is now available... 5 modules:

Module 1 - Introduction to the WHO Growth Charts

Module 2 - Monitoring Growth: Measurements and Calculations

Module 3 – Interpreting the WHO Growth Charts

Module 4 – Childhood Obesity

Module 5 – Counseling to Promote Healthy Growth and Development

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Worldwide survey of fitness trends for 2012

From this article, the reader should understand the following concepts: The difference between a fad and a trend / Worldwide trends in the commercial, corporate, clinical (including medical fitness), and community health and fitness industry / Expert opinions about identified fitness trends for 2012.

RESEARCH STUFF

Online Business Case Creator with Project Management Tools

The new Online Business Case Creator (OBCC) is a tool that will guide you through a three-step process to assess and analyze your project and help you make your best recommendations about whether a project should move forward.

RURAL

“Active Living” Related to the Rural-Urban Continuum: A Time-Use Perspective

The Journal of Rural Health Volume 27, Issue 2, pages 141–150, Spring 2011

DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-0361.2010.00328.x

This paper assesses the degree to which “active living” varies along the rural-urban continuum, within the county-sized regional municipality of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The Journal of Rural Health

The journal is dedicated to bringing you the most up-to-date rural health research, policy discussion and education information. Its principal goal is to advance professional practice, research, theory development, and public policy related to rural health.

Physical activity levels of children living in different built environments

Preventive Medicine Volume 50, Issue 4, April 2010, Pages 193–198

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2010.01.005

The literature does not show major differences in the physical activity levels between children from rural or urban areas. Where studied, the suburban built environment appears most conducive to promoting physical activity. Further research should use at least a trilateral division of the built environment and should also account for socioeconomic status, racial factors and seasonal effects.

Rural and Remote Health

The (open access) international electronic journal of rural and remote health research, education, practice and policy.

URBAN DESIGN

What Is an Active, Healthy Community?

An active, healthy community is a place where everyone can live safely and get involved in activities they enjoy. … Everyone has easy access to safe places to be active. The community offers inviting and affordable public parks and playgrounds, trails and sidewalks,

WOMEN

Daily physical activity and menopausal hot flashes: Applying a novel within-person approach to demonstrate individual differences

Maturitas Available online 8 January 2012 In Press, Corrected Proof

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2011.12.011

A prospective daily diary study which applied experience sampling methods and time series modeling techniques investigated, at the within-person level, the relationship between objectively measured daily PA of varying intensities and self-reported menopausal HFs.

WORKPLACE

Making Workplace Vending Machines Healthy

A one-page information sheet on the importance and benefits, both to health and economically, of replacing unhealthy choices in vending machines with healthy ones.

January 6, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:36:00 +0000

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

The Association of Natural Elements and Trail Use by Adults

Prev Chronic Dis 2012;9:110177

In conclusion, the identified significant relationships between adults’ trail use and season, weather, and temperature may be useful for professionals planning and managing recreational trails or promoting trail use among adults.

GIS Walking Maps to Promote Physical Activity in Low-Income Public Housing Communities: a Qualitative Examination

Prev Chronic Dis 2012;9:110086

Walking maps that display PA opportunities and resources may be useful in increasing walking among residents of public housing sites.

Infrastructure and Cyclist Safety

This literature review considers the role of infrastructure in relation to the safety of cyclists and their interaction with other road users…. Of all interventions to increase cycle safety, the strongest evidence is for the benefits resulting from reduction in the general speed of motorized traffic.

Promoting Active Communities in a Culture of Distracted Driving

Prev Chronic Dis 2012;9:110212

Efforts to improve health outcomes through behavioral modification are often complicated by external factors that may thwart success and introduce potential harm. Factors associated with traffic safety present a contemporary challenge to efforts to promote physical activity. One example is the difficulty of encouraging pedestrian-based physical activity because of the growing prevalence of distracted driving.

WHO Finds Significant Health & Climate Benefits associated with Transit & Active Transportation

The World Health Organization (WHO) has concluded that the climate change mitigation strategies that significantly increase the accessibility, affordability and quality of public transit and active transportation (e.g. cycling), and the land use measures that support these modes of transportation, will generate much greater health co-benefits than those which focus solely on vehicle and fuel technologies.

CHILDREN

Active After School Programs for Girls and Young Women – Policy and recommendations

The after school time period, from 3:00pm – 6:00pm, is a key opportunity to encourage healthy choices amongst children and youth. Earlier this year, CAAWS hosted consultations with program providers and decision-makers to identify persisting and emerging barriers to girls’ and young women’s participation, and discuss essential components of quality programs. Based on the consultations, the document describes a vision and strategic directions for active after school programs for girls and young women. The policy was developed for community, provincial/territorial and national level organizations to use when considering the design and delivery of active after school programming.

Physical Activity Levels of Canadian Children and Youth

The majority of the analyses in this bulletin highlights the combined data collected in year five and six of the study (2009-2011), unless otherwise stated. Combining year 5 and 6 of data collection, the CANPLAY study shows that Canadian children, aged 5 to 19, take approximately 11,600 daily steps on average.

Strategies Proposed by Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities Partnerships to Prevent Childhood Obesity

Prev Chronic Dis 2012;9:100292

Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities (HKHC) is an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to prevent obesity among high-risk children by changing local policies, systems, and environments….The strategies proposed by HKHC partnerships were well aligned with the CDC recommendations. The popular strategies proposed by HKHC partnerships were those for which there were existing examples of successful implementation. Our analysis provides an example of how information from communities, obtained through grant-writing efforts, can be used to assess the status of the field, guide future research, and provide direction for future investments.

Physical Activity Monitor 8: Availability, use, and suitability of public facilities and programs

This bulletin describes parents’ perceptions of the availability of public facilities and programs, how well these facilities and programs meet the needs of their child, as well as their child’s use of these opportunities.

Physical Activity Monitor 9: Availability, use, and utility of commercial facilities for physical activity or sport

The 2010 Physical Activity Monitor asked parents about the availability of commercial facilities in their community, such as the YW/YMCA or other commercial facilities that are available for their children to be active.

Physical Activity Monitor 10: Availability, use, and suitability of parks and outdoor spaces

Parents were also asked about their child’s use of these parks and outdoor spaces and how well these types of places meet their child’s needs.

Physical Activity Monitor 11: Availability, use, and utility of non-designated physical activity facilities

The 2010 Physical Activity Monitor asked parents’ about other places in the community where children can be active that may not necessarily be designated for physical activity, such as a school yard used outside of school hours or community centre.

Physical Activity Monitor 12: Transportation among children and youth

The 2010 Physical Activity Monitor asked parents to indicate how their children typically commute to and from school.

COMMUNITY

The Policy Readiness Tool

The Tool is theoretically based on Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations theory and consists of a short questionnaire to assess a municipality’s readiness for policy change. Coupled with the questionnaire are a series of policy change strategies and advocacy resources for working with municipalities at different stages of policy readiness. While the Tool was created with municipalities in mind, it may also be used with other types of governing bodies (e.g., school boards or workplaces) to encourage policy change.

CONFERENCES

PARC Physical Activity Symposium 2012

May 14-15, 2012 University of Western Ontario

OLDER ADULTS

CFLRI Lifestyle Tips: Physical Activity: A boost to the brain

We often think of physical activity as the key to maintaining strong muscles and bones, but one organ that also benefits from moving our bodies is - the brain.

CFLRI Research File: Physical Activity and Alzheimer's Disease

Evidence linking physical activity to cognitive health in older adults is mounting. As described in December 2010’s The Research File (2), research has found that physical activity may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias during later adulthood.

Evaluation of a Community-Based Falls Prevention Program in South Florida, 2008-2009

Prev Chronic Dis 2012;9:110057

Lay leaders successfully implemented the programs in community settings. The programs were effective in reducing fear of falling among older adults.

Evaluation of an evidence-based education program for health professionals: The Canadian Falls Prevention Curriculum© (CFPC).

Journal of Safety Research, Volume 42, Issue 6

The Canadian Falls Prevention Curriculum provides evidence-based training for clinicians and community leaders using a public health approach to fall prevention that includes instruction on how to define the problem, assess the risk, examine best practices, implement the program, and conduct evaluation of the program's effectiveness.

Is a composite score of physical performance measures more useful than usual gait speed alone in assessing functional status?

Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics In Press, Corrected Proof

doi:10.1016/j.archger.2011.11.011

In conclusion, although we hypothesized that the composite LEP score, UEP score or, especially, the overall score would be more sensitive than usual gait speed (UGS) alone for assessing a wide range of functional status, we found UGS is almost as good as the overall score at discriminating older women with a declining functional status. NOTE: The TUG test is also mentioned.

Objective Measurement of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Among US Adults Aged 60 Years or Older

Prev Chronic Dis 2012;9:110109

MVPA estimates vary among adults aged 60 or older, depending on the cut point chosen, and most of their time is spent in sedentary behaviors. These considerations and the data presented suggest more research is necessary to identify the appropriate method of setting accelerometer cut points for MVPA in older adults.

Special issue of the Journal of Safety Research

December 2011 Volume 42 Issue 6

This is a special issue on fall prevention and knowledge translation and is a collaboration between the Public Health Agency of Canada, the US CDC, and the US National Safety Council.

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY

A framework for understanding school based physical environmental influences on childhood obesity

Health & Place In Press, Accepted Manuscript

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2011.12.009

Schools are inviting settings for the promotion of healthy behaviors in children, and a number of interventions have been trialed to improve diet or increase physical activity levels with the ultimate aim of reducing the prevalence of obesity. However, these have seen mixed results and there is suggestion that consideration needs to be given to a broader definition of the school environment in order to encourage sustainable behavior changes. This review considers evidence for associations between the physical school environment and diet, physical activity and adiposity

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Accuracy of Parental Report and Electronic Health Record Documentation as Measures of Diet and Physical Activity Counseling

Academic Pediatrics In Press, Corrected Proof

doi:10.1016/j.acap.2011.10.004

Electronic health record documentation may not be the most valid method of measuring physician counseling on weight, nutrition, and physical activity in pediatric primary care. Parental report via the use of a questionnaire administered immediately after the visit is a better alternative in quality improvement or research studies when resources do not allow for direct observation, with the caveat that parents may over report whether counseling was provided.

Association of Functional Status With Changes in Physical Activity: Insights From a Behavioral Intervention for Participants With Arthritis

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Vol 93, Iss 1, Jan 2012, Pgs 172-175

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2011.06.037

Participants at a higher risk of immanent mobility loss may have been more committed to improve lifestyle physical activity, reflecting the wisdom of targeting older adults at risk of mobility loss for physical activity behavior change interventions.

CFLRI Lifestyle Tips: Exercise and Sleep

Do you want to be productive, mentally sharp, emotionally balanced, and full of energy all day long? How well and how long you sleep during the night greatly impacts how you feel during the day.

CFLRI Research File: Staying active to get a good night's rest

According to the 1998 General Social Survey (GSS) conducted by Statistics Canada, 15% of Canadians received less 6.5 hours of sleep a night despite evidence which suggests that adults require an average of 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night.

Healthful Eating and Physical Activity in the Home Environment: Results from Multifamily Focus Groups

Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior In Press, Corrected Proof

doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2011.06.011

This study identified the importance of the family system and the reciprocal influences within the home environment on health behaviors.

RESEARCH STUFF

A Framework for Disseminating Evidence-Based Health Promotion Practices

Prev Chronic Dis 2012;9:110081

Discusses 7 practical roles that researchers play in dissemination and related research: sorting through the evidence, conducting formative research, assessing readiness of user organizations, balancing fidelity and reinvention, monitoring and evaluating, influencing the outer context, and testing dissemination approaches.

URBAN DESIGN

Livable Cities

At the University of Manitoba's Visionary Conversations event on October 18, 2011, the theme of Livable Cities: 21st Century Perspectives was explored, specifically the effects globalization, shifting demographics, resource scarcity and social changes are having on today's urban centres.

Public Health and Land Use Planning: How Ten Public Health Units are Working to Create Healthy and Sustainable Communities

This report examines the ways in which ten public health units in Ontario are working to influence land use and transportation planning processes to help create healthy and sustainable communities. It is intended as a tool for professionals in the public health sector.

WOMEN

The relationship between physical activity and sleep among pregnant women

Mental Health and Physical Activity In Press, Corrected Proof

doi:10.1016/j.mhpa.2011.12.002

Our data suggests a weak relationship between objectively-measured physical activity and sleep. Additional research using a larger sample of pregnant women, as well as experimental studies, are needed to determine the extent to which physical activity may assist in improving sleeping-related parameters among pregnant women.

Women 55-70+ Ontario Pilot Projects: New Ideas for Increasing Physical Activity and Sport

A number of pilot projects are taking place across Ontario aimed at increasing physical activity and sport participation for women 55-70+. These test sites are trying out new marketing ideas, adaptations and activities based on what the women told them they wanted to do. The link takes you to information on over 35 pilot projects, either recently completed or currently underway.

WORKPLACE

Cross-sectional associations between occupational and leisure-time sitting, physical activity and obesity in working adults

Preventive Medicine In Press, Uncorrected Proof

doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.12.020

Sitting time and physical activity are independently associated with obesity. Leisure-time sitting may have a stronger association with obesity risk than occupational sitting.

December 16, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:18:00 +0000

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

Welcome to the final Info. Round-Up for 2011. We’ll be taking a couple weeks off for the holidays. From all of us here at the Centre, we'd like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Good for Busine$$: The benefits of making streets more walking and cycling friendly

A discussion paper. The Australian Heart Foundation (SA) commissioned this discussion paper to bring together the evidence around the financial benefits to retailers and residents in making commercial streets more walking and cycling friendly.

Physical activity, walking and leanness: An analysis of the Northern Ireland Sport and Physical Activity Survey (SAPAS)

Preventive Medicine In Press, Accepted Manuscript

doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.12.008

► We analyzed walking behavior from a population based survey of sport and physical activity. ► 68% of the participants report walking for 10 minutes or more during the previous week. ► 24% of the participants report walking at a pace likely to be moderate intensity. ► Time spent walking briskly for personal transport was a predictor of leanness. ► Time spent working at home was negatively associated with leanness.

CHILDREN

Active Toy Guide

The Active Toy Guide features a variety of toys that encourage kids to play in a physically active way. Some are electronic and some are suited for indoor and outdoor play. Categories are for kids 0-5

Getting active with video games and other techno helpers

The bottom line: even if you are using active video games and other technical aids to become more active, you also need to participate in other activities and exercises that improve your flexibility, strength and endurance.

Healthy Kids Outdoors Act

WASHINGTON, DC (November 3, 2011) — Congressman Ron Kind (WI) and Senator Mark Udall (CO) introduced the Healthy Kids Outdoors Act today to support state, local and federal strategies to connect youth and families with the natural world, improve children’s health and support future economic growth and conservation efforts.

NSW Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (SPANS) 2010: Full Report

SPANS 2010 is the fourth in a series of school-based surveys of NSW school students and provides valuable trend information on physical activity and nutrition in years K, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10.

Physical activity levels and movement skill instruction in secondary school physical education

Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport In Press, Corrected Proof

doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2011.10.005

The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of physical activity (PA), lesson context and teacher interaction students receive during physical education (PE) in secondary schools in New South Wales, Australia.

The Wellness Child Care Assessment Tool: A Measure to Assess the Quality of Written Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies

Journal of the American Dietetic Association Vol 111, Iss 12, Dec 2011, Pg 1852-1860

doi:10.1016/j.jada.2011.09.006

This instrument provides a standardized method to analyze and compare the comprehensiveness and strength of written nutrition and physical activity policies in child-care centers.

COMMUNITY

LIN - New Web Site - Old Name - More Great Resources

The LIN web site has been relaunched with a new graphic design and improved functionality for users. At the same time, a revitalized LIN is reaffirming its connection to the recreation and parks sector by reinstating its original name - Leisure Information Network (LIN).

CONFERENCES

Fourth Pan-Canadian Conference: Integrated Chronic Disease Prevention: It Works!

Delta Ottawa City Centre February 7-10, 2012

The conference will take stock of advances that have been made with regard to integrated action for chronic disease prevention in Canada; the successes, the challenges, the gaps, and our opportunities. In recognition of the multi-factorial causes of chronic diseases, the emphasis will be upon ‘what works’; how are sectors coming together for collaborative action on chronic disease prevention.

HEALTHY EATING

California’s soda tax: Helping Cash-Strapped Communities Protect Children’s Health

If passed the soda tax would return 85 percent of all revenues back to communities. That 1.445 billion equates to an average of $233 per student in new funding that communities across the state will be able to use in their classrooms and to ensure that their children are healthy and will live brighter futures.

Sugary Drink FACTS: Evaluating Sugary Drink Nutrition and Marketing to Youth

This report quantifies the nutritional content and full array of marketing practices that promote sugary drinks to children and teens. In the first section……

MENTAL HEALTH

Non-Occupational Sitting and Mental Well-Being in Employed Adults

Annals of Behavioural Medicine, 2011, Online First.

DOI: 10.1007/s12160-011-9320-y

Find out more about the links between sedentary behavior and mental health in this new workplace health study.

MISCELLANEOUS

Nonprofit Finance Fund self-assessment worksheet

Organizations that can clearly and accurately articulate their financial story and resource needs are better positioned to make a strong case for support. In both good times and bad…. Use the worksheet on the back to capture a snapshot of your nonprofit’s strengths and weaknesses.

Show me the Evidence

Show me the Evidence was conceived as a way of showcasing some of the high-quality and relevant research supported by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). This premier issue presents three stories about initiatives that have the potential to improve the delivery of health services to Canadians….

OLDER ADULTS

Ageing, health and innovation: policy reform to facilitate healthy and active ageing in OECD countries

Alongside traditional policy responses there are also innovative solutions which include new ways addressing ageing that may involve new technology and new processes. In the area of health, a life course approach includes an increased focus on prevention and the promotion of healthy lifestyles at all stages of life to keep people active and prevent or mitigate chronic disease.

Evaluation of a peer-led falls prevention program for older adults

Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2011 Oct;92(10):1581-6

The objective was to evaluate measures of strength and balance and falls incidence in participants attending fall prevention exercise classes taught by volunteer peer leaders, paid professional (Age Concern Otago group), or a comparison class (comparison group).

The effect of supervised Tai Chi intervention compared to a physiotherapy program on fall-related clinical outcomes: a randomized clinical trial

Disabil Rehabil. 2011 Sep 29. [Epub ahead of print]

The impact of supervised Tai Chi on fall prevention can not be explained by a differential effect on balance, gait and fear of falling. It appeared to be related to an increase of general self-efficacy, a phenomenon which is not seen in the conventional physiotherapy program.

Rehabilitation, exercise therapy and music in patients with Parkinson's disease: a meta-analysis of the effects of music-based movement therapy on walking ability, balance and quality of life

Parkinsonism & Related Disorders Vol 18, Supl 1, Jan 2012, Pages S114-S119

doi:10.1016/S1353-8020(11)70036-0

No significant effects were found for UPDRS-motor score, Freezing of Gait and Quality of Life. Overall, MbM-therapy appears promising for the improvement of gait and gait-related activities in PD. Future studies should incorporate larger groups and focus on long-term compliance and follow-up.

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY

Perfect at Any Size

In an effort to reduce pejorative portrayals of overweight and obese persons in media reporting, he Canadian Obesity Network has created an Image Gallery that provides a collection of photographs that portray obese individuals in ways that are positive and non-stereotypical.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

23 1/2 hours: what is the single best thing we can do for our health?

A 9 minute YouTube video. A Doctor-Professor answers the old question "What is the single best thing we can do for our health" in a completely new way.

Dr. Mike Evans is founder of the Health Design Lab at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, an Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of Toronto, and a staff physician at St. Michael's Hospital

Active Vacation Guide - Backyard and Beyond

This guide is intended to assist families in creating memories through active experiences.

Use the information provided to create the right experience for your family.

Australian Social Trends June 2011: Sport and physical recreation

This article looks at the rates of participation in sport and physical recreation across Australia for people aged 15 years and over, by selected characteristics and by selected activities. The article also looks at Australians who had reported low or no exercise and who would therefore not be meeting the National Physical Activity Guidelines.

Barriers To Physical Activity Among Low-Income Edmontonians: The Leisure Access Program

Although the health benefits of physical activity are well-established, high rates of physical inactivity among Canadians continue to persist….

Holiday Exercise, No Gym Required

Here's how to turn exercise excuses into heart rate-boosting opportunities this holiday season.

Physical Activity and Other Health-Risk Behaviors During the Transition Into Early Adulthood: A Longitudinal Cohort Study

American Journal of Preventive Medicine Vol 42, Iss 1, Jan 2012, Pages 14-20

doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2011.08.026

Physical activity decline was evident during young adults' transition into early adulthood, with declines being steepest among men who entered a college/university.

Telephone-Delivered Interventions for Physical Activity and Dietary Behavior Change: An Updated Systematic Review

American Journal of Preventive Medicine Vol 42, Iss 1, Jan 2012, Pages 81-88

doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2011.08.025

Given the strength of evidence for telephone-delivered physical activity and dietary change interventions, greater emphasis on dissemination studies is warranted.

RURAL

Physical Activity in Rural Australia

AIHW figures indicate that, compared with people in metropolitan areas, those living in regional and remote areas were 1.16 times more likely to be sedentary…… Although rural residents are often perceived as being more active than urban residents, due to a larger proportion working in labor intensive occupations such as agriculture, forestry and fishing, the same study found that only 43 per cent of men and eight percent of women engaged in occupation-related physical activity.

URBAN DESIGN

Built Environment Assessment Training (BEAT) Institute

A week-long (24-29 June, 2012 in Boston) institute designed to train investigators and practitioners tangible skills that can be used to measure many of the aspects of the built environment that are believed to have an effect on health.

The Built Environment and Health: 11 Profiles of Neighborhood Transformation

Highlights neighborhood-level changes to the built environment that can have a positive influence on the health of community residents, especially in low-income communities. The profiles demonstrate how health practitioners, community members and many others can work together to improve community well-being by making changes to the built environment.

Creating Places for People – an urban design protocol for Australian cities

Creating Places for People does not take a one size fits all approach. It provides broad principles for urban design that take into account the unique characteristics of a location, people’s enjoyment, experience and health, and encourages excellence and collaboration in the design and custodianship of urban places.

WORKPLACE

A guide to writing and implementing a physical activity policy in the workplace

A physical activity policy is a written document which includes a statement of intent about how a company proposes to address physical activity issues in the workplace.

Peel Region Physical Activity at Work Policy

A sample workplace policy.

December 9, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:43:00 +0000

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

How the Dutch Got Their Cycle Paths

“Given the reputation of the Netherlands as a cyclist's paradise, you might think that its extensive cycling infrastructure came down from heaven itself, or was perhaps created by the wave of a magic wand. Not so. It was the result of a lot of hard work, including massive street protests and very deliberate political decision-making."

Take a hike, take a bike in future?

Walking, cycling and public transit are emphasized in an update to Coquitlam’s strategic transportation plan, a document that seeks to increase alternate modes of commuter travel in the municipality.

The Transportation Planning Rule Every City Should Reform

In brief, Level of Service (LOS) suggests that whenever the city wants to change some element of a street -- say by adding a bike lane or even just painting a crosswalk -- it should calculate the effect that change will have on car traffic. If the change produces too much congestion, then a great deal of time, money, and additional analysis must go toward the project's consideration."

CHILDREN

Getting Results: SRTS Programs That Reduce Traffic

National Center Releases “Getting Results” Resources. Three-part Series Shows Communities Are Seeing Benefits of SRTS Programs.

Use of pedometers to identify less active children and time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity in the school setting

Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport In Press, Corrected Proof

doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2011.11.001

The pedometer, a practical, relatively inexpensive tool, is suitable for the identification of less active children and has some utility to assess the relative intensity of activities in the context of a school day.

CHRONIC DISEASE

Physical Activity and Diabetes Laboratory (PADL)

In the (UofA) PADL our goal is to understand the physiological changes that occur in the body and to devise effective physical activity and behaviour modification strategies that stop the disease, or lessen its impacts on the quality of life for those with the disease.

Validation of the Yale Physical Activity Survey in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients

Archivos de Bronconeumología (English Edition) In Press, Corrected Proof

doi:10.1016/j.arbr.2011.07.004

The Yale Physical Activity Survey may be a valid tool to classify, but not to quantify, physical activity performed by COPD patients. The summary index of this questionnaire, based on seven short questions, shows the best validity properties. This suggests that it should be considered as a screening tool to identify patients at risk for sedentarism.

CONFERENCES

Walk 21 Conference

We are pleased to provide here highlights of the 12th annual Walk21 Conference that took place in Metro Vancouver on Oct 3-5, 2011. The theme was "Transforming the automobile city: walking steps up!" The Walk21 Metro Vancouver Society hosted 540 delegates from 24 countries who spent three glorious days exploring innovative approaches to designing and building communities where walking is an essential and preferred method of transport.

HEALTHY EATING

Make Sense of Nutrition Information: Use Healthy U’s New Food Checker!

Making sense of nutrition information on food labels can be confusing. With the introduction of the Healthy U Food Checker, the job of choosing healthy, nutrient-rich foods just got easier! This unique online tool helps take the confusion away by allowing you to compare the nutrition information you find on packaged foods to the Alberta Nutrition Guidelines.

OLDER ADULTS

Effects of physical exercise therapy on mobility, physical functioning, physical activity and quality of life in community-dwelling older adults with impaired mobility, physical disability and/or multi-morbidity: a meta-analysis

Ageing Research Reviews In Press, Uncorrected Proof

doi:10.1016/j.arr.2011.11.002

► Physical exercise therapy improves mobility and physical functioning in elderly patients suffering from mobility problems, disability and/or multi-morbidity. ► This positive effect is of great value in a population of already physically impaired elderly. ► High intensity exercise seems to be somewhat more effective in improving physical functioning than low intensity exercise. ► No conclusions about the most effective type of intervention can be drawn.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

The cost-effectiveness of public health interventions

J Public Health (2011) First published online: September 20, 2011

doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdr075

They found the majority of public health interventions assessed are highly cost-effective. Physical Activity is an intervention that is discussed.

URBAN DESIGN

Collingwood Urban Design Standards Manual

Renowned active transportation expert Dan Burden had kind things to say about Collingwood. He praised the town's Urban Design Manual, calling it "one of the best I've seen in all of North America.

The Death of the Fringe Suburb

The good news is that there is great pent-up demand for walkable, centrally located neighborhoods in cities like Portland, Denver, Philadelphia…….

Idaho Smart Growth Citizens Guide

Smart growth is about the nuts and bolts: the stuff most of us don’t often think about that has a lot to do with our quality of life. Smart growth addresses the way we move from one place to another and what those places are like.

December 5, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:04:00 +0000

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

The Value of Transportation Enhancements; Or, Are Walking and Cycling Really Transportation?

Improved walking and cycling conditions, and increased non-motorized travel activity can provide numerous benefits to users and society, including congestion reductions, road and parking facility cost savings, consumer savings and affordability, improved mobility for non-drivers, energy conservation, pollution emission reductions, improved public fitness and health, and local economic development

Evaluating Non-Motorized Transportation Benefits and Costs

This report describes methods for evaluating non-motorized transport (walking, cycling, and their variants) benefits and costs, including direct benefits to users from improved walking and cycling conditions, and various benefits to society from increased non-motorized travel activity, reduced automobile travel, and support for more compact land use development.

Share the Road: Investment in Walking and Cycling Road Infrastructure

The FIA Foundation for Automobiles and Society and the United Nations Environmental Program emphasizes the importance of improving walking and cycling conditions by changing roadway design and management, particularly in developing countries.

Understanding Walking and Cycling: Summary of Key Findings

It is suggested that policies to increase levels of walking and cycling should focus not only on improving infrastructure, but also must tackle broader social, economic, cultural and legal factors that currently inhibit walking and cycling. Together, such changes can create an environment in which driving for short trips in urban areas is seen as abnormal and walking or cycling seem the obvious choices.

CHILDREN

Access to after school programs – CFLRI bulletin #6

Based on a subsample of the 2010 Physical Activity Monitor, Canadian parents were asked whether their child had access to supervised programs after school….

All Work and No Play: Why Your Kids Are More Anxious, Depressed

An article in the most recent issue of the American Journal of Play details not only how much children's play time has declined, but how this lack of play affects emotional development, leading to the rise of anxiety, depression, and problems of attention and self control.

Children's active pursuits during the after school period – CFLRI Bulletin #4

The 2010 Physical Activity Monitor examined young people’s participation in a variety of activities during the after school period. Specifically, parents were asked to report on the types of activities which require energy expenditure such as doing chores, playing outdoors or participating in organized or unorganized physical activity and sport.

Constructs of Physical Activity Behaviour in Children: The Usefulness of Social Cognitive Theory

Psychology of Sport and Exercise In Press, Accepted Manuscript

doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2011.11.007

This study investigated Social Cognitive Theory and children’s physical activity. ▶A diverse sample of children from six schools was used in this analysis. ▶ Only barriers were a nonsignificant predictor of physical activity behaviours. ▶ The model accounted for little variance in children’s physical activity. ▶ Broader models may be needed to better predict children’s physical activity.

How parents influence their kids physical activity

You’re just like your mother!” If anyone has ever heard that, it’s probably because it’s true – we tend to emulate our parents’ behaviour, whether we like it or not. Parents are the biggest single source of influence in a child’s life, and parental support of healthy habits early on in a child’s life will pay a lifetime of dividends.

Parental influence on children's physical activity

Low rates of physical activity among young children and youth is of concern given the importance of physical activity for children’s healthy growth and development and since physical activity behaviors have been shown to track throughout childhood into adulthood.

Parental Involvement in Children’s Physical Activity – CFLRI Bulletin #7

The 2010 Physical Activity Monitor explored the concept of parental involvement by asking parents about the amount of time that they spend playing active games with their child and transporting their children to their physical activities or sports….

PERISCOPE Project: Workshop on Physical Activity and Indoor/Outdoor Environment in Kindergartens

International Journal of Pediatric Obesity Volume 6, Number S2 (October 2011)

The general objective of the PERISCOPE (Pilot European Regional Interventions for Smart Childhood Obesity Prevention in Early Age) is to prevent child obesity between the ages of 3 and 6 years. All articles in this special journal supplement are about the project – many discuss physical activity.

Sedentary pursuits during the after school period – CFLRI Bulletin #5

This bulleting explores more sedentary pursuits (for example: watching TV, reading, or doing homework) participated in after school.

CHRONIC DISEASE

Exercise in Individuals With CKD

American Journal of Kidney Diseases In Press, Corrected Proof

doi:10.1053/j.ajkd.2011.10.008

In the absence of guidelines specific to the CKD population, recent guidelines developed for older individuals and patients with chronic disease should be applied to the CKD population. In sum, exercise appears to be safe in this patient population if begun at moderate intensity and increased gradually. The evidence suggests that the risk of remaining inactive is higher. Patients should be advised to increase their physical activity when possible and be referred to physical therapy or cardiac rehabilitation programs when appropriate.

COMMUNITY

Ideas for Boosting Trail Usage in Your Community

This article offers plenty of ideas about: boosting the use of community trails by making them easier to access and more user-friendly; and promoting your community’s trails, so more people know about their locations and features.

HEALTH GENERAL

A literature review on health information seeking behaviour on the web: A health consumer and health professional perspective

From the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), this literature review by Swedish researchers provides an overview of English-language research studies published from 2006 to 2010 on online health information-seeking behaviour by health consumers and professionals.

Public health interventions and behaviour change: Reviewing the grey literature

Public Health In Press, Corrected Proof

doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2011.09.023

This study identified and reviewed grey literature relating to factors facilitating and inhibiting effective interventions in three areas: the promotion of mental health and well-being, the improvement of food and nutrition, and interventions seeking to increase engagement in physical activity

MENTAL HEALTH

General Practitioners’ beliefs about physical activity for managing depression in primary care

Mental Health and Physical Activity In Press, Accepted Manuscript

doi:10.1016/j.mhpa.2011.11.001

GPs are enthusiastic in promoting physical activity for managing depression. ► GPs promote physical activity despite awareness of evidence and guidelines. ► GPs believe physical activity has biochemical, social and psychological benefits. ► GPs are aware of the need for patient autonomy and a reduced reliance on medication.

MISCELLANEOUS

Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media

The Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media exists to improve health globally by accelerating effective application of social media tools throughout Mayo Clinic and spurring broader and deeper engagement in social media by hospitals, medical professionals and patients.

OLDER ADULTS

Physical activity monitoring by use of accelerometer-based body-worn sensors in older adults: A systematic literature review of current knowledge and applications

Maturitas In Press, Corrected Proof

doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2011.11.003

There is a rich variety in methods used for data collection and analysis as well as in reported variables. Different aspects of physical activity can be described, but the variety makes it challenging to compare across studies. There is an urgent need for developing consensus on activity monitoring protocols and which variables to report.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Is Playing Exergames Really Exercising? A Meta-Analysis of Energy Expenditure in Active Video Games

Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. November 2011, 14(11): 681-688

doi:10.1089/cyber.2010.0578.

The finding suggests that AVGs are effective technologies that may facilitate light- to moderate-intensity physical activity promotion.

Get active tip sheets

Updated by PHAC. Tip sheets for all four age groups (children, youth, adults and older adults).

Recommendations by Queensland GPs to be more physically active: which patients were recommended which activities and what action they took.

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2011.00779.x

General practitioners should be aware that physical activity recommendations are received favorably by most patients and there is potential to improve public health by giving physical activity advice to sedentary and/or overweight patients when appropriate.

Sedentary Behaviour Research Network

SBRN is the only organization for researchers and health professionals which focuses specifically on the health impact of sedentary behaviour. SBRN's mission is to connect sedentary behaviour researchers and health professionals working in all fields of study, and to disseminate this research to the academic community and to the public at large.

URBAN DESIGN

Cities for People: A Q&A With Architect Jan Gehl

Whatever you think of the Manhattan pedestrian mall known as Times Square (love it or hate it), you have Jan Gehl to thank….. no one has done more in the last decade to retrofit cities for cyclists and pedestrian ….

Evaluating Smart Growth Benefits and Costs

This is the third in a series of columns that respond to recent claims by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) that smart growth policies are ineffective and harmful.

Measuring Transportation: Traffic, Mobility and Accessibility

The ultimate goal of most transportation is “access,” people’s ability to reach desired goods, services and activities. Transportation decisions often involve tradeoffs between different forms of access. How transport is measured can have a major impact on these tradeoffs.

Shared Space

Shared space is a design approach that seeks to change the way streets operate by reducing the dominance of motor vehicles, primarily through lower speeds and encouraging drivers to behave more accommodatingly towards pedestrians.

WOMEN

Relation Between Clinical Depression Risk and Physical Activity and Time Spent Watching Television in Older Women: A 10-Year Prospective Follow-up Study

Am J Epidemiol. 2011 Nov 1;174(9):1017-27. Epub 2011 Oct 7.

Analyses simultaneously considering PA and television watching suggested that both contributed independently to depression risk.

November 25, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 15:31:00 +0000

By Rosanne Prinsen MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Pedestrian Road Safety Audit Guidelines and Prompt Lists

Incidence Rates of Pedestrian And Bicyclist Crashes by Hybrid Electric Passenger Vehicles: An Update

The largest difference between the incidence rates of HE versus Internal Combustion Engine vehicles in this study occurred in low-speed passenger vehicle maneuvers: those in which a vehicle is turning, slowing or stopping, backing up, or entering or leaving a parking space. It is hypothesized that these low-speed vehicle maneuvers may provide the largest difference between the vehicle sounds, in terms of both sound level and frequency…..

International Federation of Pedestrians (IFP)

Local economic implications of urban bicycle networks

If train networks can boost the economy of a city, could bicycle networks boost the economies of the communities they pass through?

CHILDREN

Physical Activity Interventions in the School Setting: a Systematic Review

Psychology of Sport and Exercise In Press, Accepted Manuscript

doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2011.11.006

Numerous school-based physical activity interventions achieved positive effects on three target levels. Further research is needed to clarify the mediator effects of psychological variables on physical activity and health and to increase our knowledge about the mechanisms that underlie behavioural change.

School Siting Guidelines

The document states that schools should be located in environments that contribute to the livability, sustainability and public health of neighborhoods and communities and it includes strong language about the relationship between walking and bicycling to school, obesity and academic achievement.

CHRONIC DISEASE

Health: medical care improving but better prevention and management of chronic diseases needed to cut costs, says OECD

CONFERENCES

4th International Congress on Physical Activity and Public Health (ICPAPH)

New South Wales, Australia Oct 31^st – Nov 3^rd, 2011

DISABILITY/ACCESSIBILITY

Activity Choices to Restore and Maintain Bone and Joint Health

The information on these pages should be used as a guide, but check with your doctor before starting any exercise program or activity, and select exercise that is right – and enjoyable – for you.

Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods

How People with Disabilities Use the Web: Overview (Draft April 2011)

This resource introduces how people with disabilities, including people with age-related impairments, use the Web. It describes tools and approaches that people with different kinds of disabilities use to browse the Web and the design barriers they encounter on the Web. It helps developers, designers, and others to understand the principles for creating accessible websites, web applications, browsers, and other web tools.

HEALTH GENERAL

New Canadian Index of Wellbeing Released

The first-ever CIW composite report shows that in the fifteen year period from 1994 to 2008, Canada's GDP grew by a robust 31% while our quality of life only improved by a very modest 11%.

OLDER ADULTS

CDC Healthy Aging Research Network (CDC-HAN)

Members work to develop and implement a national research and dissemination agenda related to the public health aspects of healthy aging. On this Web site you will find many tools—such as webinars and action briefs—publications, and information about research, projects, and members.

Debunking the Myths of Older Adult Falls

To promote greater awareness and understanding here are 10 common myths—and the reality—about older adult falls.

Developing Websites for Older People: How Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Applies

This page introduces how to use Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 to improve the accessibility and usability of websites and web applications for older people.

Go4Life Tip Sheets – National Institute of Aging

Go4Life tip sheets provide a wealth of information to help you add exercise and physical activity to your daily routine and have fun at the same time. And you can share these useful tips with others by simply printing copies for your family and friends.

Web Accessibility and Older People: Meeting the Needs of Ageing Web Users

Guidelines and techniques for making websites and web applications work better for people with disabilities as well as older users with accessibility needs due to ageing.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Dog Walking: Great Physical Activity for You and Your Best Friend

This article tells you about the relationship between owning a dog and dog walking, as well as how walking benefits both you and your dog.

Sufficient Sleep, Physical Activity, and Sedentary Behaviors

American Journal of Preventive Medicine Vol 41, Iss 6, Dec 2011, Pages 596-602

doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2011.08.009

Insufficient sleep among adolescents is common and has adverse health and behavior consequences. Understanding associations of physical activity and sedentary behaviors with sleep duration could shed light on ways to promote sufficient sleep.

WOMEN

Views on Aging and Emotional Benefits of Physical Activity: Effects of an Exercise Intervention in Older Women

Psychology of Sport and Exercise In Press, Accepted Manuscript

doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2011.11.001

► This randomized controlled trial shows that physical exercise in old age buffers against aging dissatisfaction. ► Direct approach orientations elicited by physical exercise result in less negative views on one’s aging. ► This study delineates a valid views-on-aging factor by testing the construct of well-being in old age.

November 18, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:49:00 +0000

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

America Walks Federal Advocacy Approach

An example of a US approach to advocacy for walking.

Assessment of the type of cycling infrastructure required to attract new cyclists

This research, which was conducted from July 2008 to January 2010, investigated what type of cycling infrastructure (ie physical street facilities) would encourage ‘new cyclists’ to use cycling as their mode of transport for daily activities in New Zealand.

Complete intersections: A guide to reconstructing intersections and Interchanges for Bicyclists and Pedestrians

Useful to local government planners, engineers, and other highway designers; transit planners involved in the siting of transit stops and stations; site planners involved in designing or modifying intersections around new developments; local government pedestrian and bicycle planners; and those whose work may influence or be directly involved in designing or modifying intersections.

The Five Minute Walk: Calibrated to the Pedestrian

The Five-Minute Walk is a standard that is best described as the average distance that a pedestrian is willing to walk before opting to drive.

Good walking is good business

For businesses, supporting improved walking conditions is a sound but sometimes overlooked investment. Dollar for dollar, the returns are impressive, from more customers to healthier, more productive employees.

Pedestrians' Quality Needs Project

The Pedestrians' Quality Needs Project (PQN) established what people need to choose to walk. The summary provides an understanding of those needs and how they can be met and supported by policy.

“Where have all the bicycles gone?” Are bicycle sales in Australia translated into health-enhancing levels of bicycle usage?

Preventive Medicine In Press, Corrected Proof

doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.09.011

There appear to be many more bicycles sold in Australia than are used. Further improvements may be needed in the cycling environment before a possible latent desire for cycling translates to participation.

Winter Walking for Walking Leaders

Scroll down the page a bit to see it. The video project was led by the Be Fit for Life Network of the Alberta Provincial Fitness Unit, in association with the Community Walking Project and the Alberta Centre for Active Living. Trained walking group leaders are an important part of a successful and sustainable walking group.

CHILDREN

Do All Children Have Places to Be Active? Disparities in Access to Physical Activity Environments in Racial and Ethnic Minority and Lower-Income Communities

This synthesis examines the growing body of evidence indicating that racial and ethnic minority, and lower-income, communities do not provide as many built and social environmental supports for physical activity

Implementing the Alberta Nutrition Guidelines in Your School

This article offers a variety of tips from some Alberta schools that are already “making it happen.” The tips are organized into three themes: nutrition provided by the school, nutrition education, and nutrition events.

Physical Activity Interventions in the School Setting: a Systematic Review

Psychology of Sport and Exercise In Press, Accepted Manuscript

doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2011.11.006

We conducted a literature search of school-based controlled studies that involved a physical activity intervention targeting school students. Study design, methodological quality, and effectiveness of interventions on three target levels, ‘health and fitness’ (BMI and motor performance), ‘physical activity’, and ‘psychological determinants’ (knowledge of physical activity effects, self-concept, and attitudes towards physical activity), were analysed. Furthermore, we examined the influence of specific factors (e.g., age and gender) and mediator effects.

Relationship between sports participation and the level of motor coordination in childhood: A longitudinal approach

Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport In Press, Corrected Proof

doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2011.09.006

The importance of the stability of motor coordination levels in childhood and its role in determining organized sports participation may have implications for talent identification purposes as well as potential health-related benefits in childhood and throughout the lifespan.

Sufficient Sleep, Physical Activity, and Sedentary Behaviors

American Journal of Preventive Medicine Vol 41, Iss 6, Dec 2011, Pages 596-602

doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2011.08.009

The purpose of this study is to determine whether physical activity and sedentary behaviors are associated with sufficient sleep (8 or more hours of sleep on an average school night) among U.S. high school students.

CHRONIC DISEASE

5th Edition of the Diabetes Atlas released on World Diabetes Day

New figures indicate that the number of people living with diabetes is expected to rise from 366 million in 2011 to 552 million by 2030, if no urgent action is taken. This equates to approximately three new cases every ten seconds or almost ten million per year…..Diabetics have inadequate blood sugar control, which can lead to serious complications like heart disease and stroke, damage to the kidneys or nerves, and to blindness.

DISABILITY/ACCESSIBILITY

A randomized trial of a health promotion intervention for adults with disabilities

Disability and Health Journal Volume 4, Issue 4, October 2011, Pages 254-261

doi:10.1016/j.dhjo.2011.06.003

This study examined changes in health behaviors among adults with disabilities following participation in the Healthy Lifestyles for People with Disabilities health promotion program. It was hypothesized that intervention participants would demonstrate significant increases in healthy behaviors in areas such as …physical activity …while controls would not show significant change.

Global Accessibility Map

The Rick Hansen Foundation has developed a Global Accessibility Map App.

“This easy-to-use consumer reviews tool, gives users the opportunity to submit and obtain reviews from a mobility, hearing or sight perspective, on the accessibility in your communities.”

Longitudinal changes in psychosocial constructs and physical activity among adults with physical disabilities

Disability and Health Journal In Press, Corrected Proof

doi:10.1016/j.dhjo.2011.09.002

In order to reassure the maintenance of an exercise program, interventionists need to first emphasize cognitive, motivational strategies (cognitive processes of change), such as the importance of PA and positive thoughts about exercise participation as well as exercise benefits (pros) before they implement behavioral strategies (behavioral processes of change), such as social support, goal setting, and self-rewarding.

HEALTH GENERAL

Healthy Toronto by Design

These reports highlight the features of a healthy and prosperous city and the role of all municipal government departments, business and the community in achieving them.

12 steps to better public health: a manifesto

These proposals are not intended to be the definitive list of everything necessary to improve our nation's health, but they represent a dozen significant steps for the new government to take towards a healthier future, and towards making the UK fitter for the decade ahead.

MISCELLANEOUS

A literature review on health information-seeking behaviour on the web: a health consumer and health professional perspective: Insights into health communication

The internet would appear to provide the ideal medium for the provision of information targeted at the prevention and control of communicable disease for both health consumers and health professionals. This potential is restricted by the relative absence of studies, particularly on the efficacy of the use of the web for public health communication. A literature review on health information-seeking behaviour on the web, specifically for communicable diseases. The closing of this knowledge gap has the potential to contribute to the prevention and control of communicable diseases across Europe.

OLDER ADULTS

Ageing Research Reviews In Press, Accepted Manuscript

doi:10.1016/j.arr.2011.11.002

► Physical exercise therapy improves mobility and physical functioning in elderly patients suffering from mobility problems, disability and/or multi-morbidity ► This positive effect is of great value in a population of already physically impaired elderly. ► High intensity exercise seems to be somewhat more effective in improving physical functioning than low intensity exercise. ► No conclusions about the most effective type of intervention can be drawn.

One walk a year to 1000 within a year: Continuous in-home unobtrusive gait assessment of older adults

Gait & Posture In Press, Corrected Proof

doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2011.09.006

Unobtrusive home walking assessments are ecologically valid measures of walking function. They provide previously unattainable metrics (periodicity, variability, range of minimum and maximum speeds) of everyday motor function.

'Smart' condo tracks seniors' doings

Edmonton researchers have tracked the daily movements and activities of a group of seniors living in a sensor-laden "Smart" condo to find out how to help them live independently.

Wii Balance Manual

Wii Balance is a program that was developed at Kerby Centre in Calgary with funding from the Alberta Center for Injury, Control and Research. This program is focused on balance training for older adults aged 55+ years. The program is based on the Nintendo Wii™ game system, primarily Wii Sports™ and WiiFit™.

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY

Good Practice Appraisal Tool: For obesity prevention programs, projects, initiatives and interventions.

The WHO developed this tool to assess good practice elements of design, monitoring, evaluation and implementation of preventive programs, projects, initiatives and interventions that aim to counteract obesity and improve nutrition and physical activity. This report gives a description of the good practice tool for obesity prevention programs and describes its development and use.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Climbing Trees: Getting Aussie Kids Back Outdoors

Read about findings of a survey which explored the views of 14-65 year olds on their thoughts and experiences of outdoor play.

Promoting Physical Activity

Run by the CDC, the online Guide to Community Preventive Services is a free Internet resource that helps the public chooses programs and policies to improve health and prevent disease in their home communities. This section on physical activity has links to systematic reviews of interventions.

URBAN DESIGN

Complete Streets as an Economic Development Strategy: The Green Beyond The Paint

Complete Streets is as much a community engagement and design process as a road layout result. And it only works when complemented by appropriate parking, land use, environmental, resident stabilization, and other policies.

Healthier Americans for a Healthier Economy

Featuring six case studies focused on the relationship between health and economic development. Several of the case study communities are working to adopt and implement Complete Streets policies.

The Neighborhood Unit

The relationships between the residential components of a neighborhood and the uses that could easily be traversed to and from by foot

Wider, Straighter, Faster Roads Aren’t Always Safer

We have allowed land uses incompatible with wide, high-speed roadways — such as retail and residential — to be placed along these roadways. Worse yet, we have widened and straightened existing roads and raised speed limits next to the places that we live and work.

WOMEN

Older Women's Health Report

Aging is an important women’s health issue. Canada’s aging population is presenting unique challenges to the health system on multiple fronts. Women comprise the majority of the older population and have different patterns of illness and health needs than men.

Views on Aging and Emotional Benefits of Physical Activity: Effects of an Exercise Intervention in Older Women

Psychology of Sport and Exercise In Press, Accepted Manuscript

doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2011.11.001

In women above 70 years, exercise participation increases direct approach motivation which in turn leads to lower aging dissatisfaction. This shows that exercise holds the potential to overcome subjective ageist bias.

November 4, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Alberta Centre for Active Living) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 20:50:00 +0000

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

The Information Roundup will be back on November 18th

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Vancouver Destination Walks

Each link contains a map, route information, and photos as well as a description of the areas history, amenities and cultural significance. Be sure to take the time to explore this website – there are lots of great links to many active living/physical activity resources and programs in the left hand navigation column.

Variability and seasonality of active transportation in USA: evidence from the 2001 NHTS

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2011, 8:96 doi:10.1186/1479-5868-8-96

This study analyzed monthly variation in active transportation for the US using National Household Travel Survey 2001 data. For each age group of children, adolescents, adults and elderly, logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of the odds of active transportation including gender, race/ethnicity, household income level, geographical region, urbanization level, and month.

CHILDREN

"Food company sponsors are kind, generous and cool": (Mis)conceptions of junior sports players

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2011, 8:95 doi:10.1186/1479-5868-8-95

Children's high recall of food and beverage company sport sponsors and their positive attitudes towards these sponsors and their promotions is concerning as this is likely to be linked to children's food preferences and consumption.

Move and Play Through Physical Literacy

The Be Fit For Life Network has created the Move & Play through Physical Literacy cards to assist activity leaders interested in integrating Physical Literacy into a variety of programs, activities and environments. These cards are designed to be used in a variety of applications including the home, school or community settings. Over 75 cards are included in this set, focusing on Active Start, FUNdamentals, and Learn to Train stages of the Long Term Athlete Development Model.

The Potential of Safe, Secure and Accessible Playgrounds to Increase Children’s Physical Activity

This brief summarizes research on playgrounds and how playgrounds impact physical activity among children. For the purposes of this brief, a playground is defined as a small, publicly owned, outdoor area that features play equipment and provides recreational physical activity for younger children.

Safe Routes to School: Helping Communities Save Lives and Dollars

A policy report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Systematic review of sedentary behaviour and health indicators in school-aged children and youth

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2011, 8:98 doi:10.1186/1479-5868-8-98

There is a large body of evidence from all study designs which suggests that decreasing any type of sedentary time is associated with lower health risk in youth aged 5-17 years. In particular, the evidence suggests that daily TV viewing in excess of 2 hours is associated with reduced physical and psychosocial health, and that lowering sedentary time leads to reductions in BMI.

COMMUNITY

Examining Healthy Active Communities Initiatives: Major Learnings and Promising Practices

Examines active living in the 20th century, and interactions of economy, community, and environment in building a healthy community, including healthy comunity principles, and focus on the whole community rather than just on specific problems.

The Power of Trails for Promoting Physical Activity in Communities

This brief highlights findings about specific trail characteristics that appear to attract regular users and examines how trails influence physical activity among various populations.

MENTAL HEALTH

The experiences of people with severe and enduring mental illness engaged in a physical activity programme integrated into the mental health service

Mental Health and Physical Activity Volume 4, Issue 1, June 2011, Pages 23-29 doi:10.1016/j.mhpa.2011.01.002

This qualitative research demonstrates that a physical activity programme integrated into the mental health service and supported by partnership working can address several of the unique barriers faced by this population.

MISCELLANEOUS

Healthy People Need Healthy Settings: The Contribution of Recreation and Parks in Confronting Canada's Public Health Challenges

Looks at Canada’s public health challenges (the case of obesity), what recreation and parks have to offer, the healthy settings approach (nature and health).

Media Advocacy and the Public Health Professional

This article will describe the key steps that are involved in conducting effective media advocacy campaigns and the relationship to other important activities such as coalition building and strategic planning.

Media Network for Healthy Eating, Active Living

The Media Network for HEAL supports more than 250 members including health practitioners, educators, consultants and volunteers working in the health industry across Ontario. We provide our members with daily media reports keeping them up to date on current media and policy issues…..

OLDER ADULTS

The influence of neighborhood residential density, physical and social environments on older adults' physical activity: An exploratory study in two metropolitan areas

Journal of Aging Studies Volume 26, Issue 1, January 2012, Pages 35-43 doi:10.1016/j.jaging.2011.07.001

Findings from this study provide perspectives of older adults themselves in identifying neighborhood physical and social environmental characteristics that have perceived or real influences on health promoting behaviors. The issue of residential density has emerged as a more complex reality than how it is typically perceived and conceptualized.

Use of a Systematic Observational Measure to Assess and Compare Walkability for Older Adults in Vancouver, British Columbia and Portland, Oregon Neighbourhoods

Journal of Urban Design Vol 16, Iss 4 pp 433-454 DOI:10.1080/13574809.2011.585847

The audit tool is useful in documenting walkable features in urban and suburban neighbourhoods with particular relevance to older adults’ needs.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Associations between multiple indicators of objectively-measured and self-reported sedentary behaviour and cardiometabolic risk in older adults

Preventive Medicine In Press, Uncorrected Proof doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.10.009

Sedentary behaviour is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in older adults. ► These associations are more consistent when sedentary behaviour is measured by self-report including TV viewing. ► Cardiometabolic risk factors included BMI, waist circumference, cholesterol ratio, Hb1Ac and diabetes. ► Non-TV self-reported sedentary time is only associated with diabetes. ► Accelerometer measured sedentary behaviour is only associated with waist circumference

Exercise and Our Immune System

This article addresses basic information about how your immune system works; how exercise affects the immune system and how regular, moderate exercise can provide benefits to your immune system.

RESEARCH STUFF

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

Don’t forget to check this open access journal frequently! To find the archive, from the main page click on the purple “articles” tab and then click on the orange “archive” tab underneath.

URBAN DESIGN

The Built Environment and Public Health: Critical Public Policy Considerations and the Role of Recreation and Parks

Overview: 1) Considering built and social environments, including features of each, 2) Introduction to research projects in Alberta, 3) Reflections on key findings, such as facilitators and barriers to walking and physical activity, car culture, social spaces, etc., 4) Policy considerations – where to from here?

Death by suburban sprawl: better urban planning will combat sedentary lifestyles

Read a perspective on quality urban planning for health from Professor Billie Giles-Corti.

The Economic Benefits of Open Space, Recreation Facilities and Walkable Community Design

This research synthesis reviews the sizable body of peer-reviewed and independent reports on the economic value of outdoor recreation facilities, open spaces and walkable community design. It focuses on “private” benefits that accrue to nearby homeowners and to other users of open space.

Healthy urban development checklist

This recently developed tool for urban planners and others involved in urban design is now available online.

Safe Streets, Livable Streets

While urban designers, architects, and planners often encourage the use of aesthetic streetscape treatments to enhance the livability of urban streets, conventional transportation safety practice regards roadside features such as street trees as fixed-object hazards and strongly discourages their use. In this study, I examine the subject of livable streetscape treatments and find compelling evidence that suggests they may actually enhance the safety of urban roadways.

Urban Design: Is there a Distinctive View from the Bicycle?

Journal of Urban Design Vol 16, Iss 4 pp 531-549 DOI:10.1080/13574809.2011.586239

Drawing on a review of international literature and practice, this paper compares the characteristics of cyclists with those of pedestrians and motorists, showing that cyclists have a substantial number of unique characteristics that warrant further investigation in terms of a special urban design response.