BACKGROUND: Physical activity in children is known to be generally lower at weekends but whether systematic day-to-day differences exist throughout the week is unclear. AIM: To determine if weekly patterns of pedometer-assessed physical activity (PPA) exist in elementary school-aged Australian boys and girls and whether they persist over 3 years. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seven-day pedometer measurements were recorded from 389 boys and 387 girls of initial age 8.0 (SD 0.3) in three successive years during spring. General linear mixed modelling was used to investigate patterns and the persistence of PPA. RESULTS: A pattern did emerge, significant differences in PPA occurring between certain days of the week (p<0.001). This pattern was similar in each year, PPA increasing from Monday through to Friday, decreasing on Saturday and again on Sunday. PPA was greater in boys (p<0.001), but less so on weekends. Significant day-to-day and year-to-year intra-class correlations of PPA (0.14 and 0.29, respectively, both p<0.001)) within individuals provided evidence of tracking on a daily basis, and to a lesser extent yearly. CONCLUSIONS: A well-defined week-long pattern of steps/day emerged in these 8-10-year-old children, the pattern being similar in three consecutive years.
BACKGROUND: Physical activity in children is known to be generally lower at weekends but whether systematic day-to-day differences exist throughout the week is unclear. AIM: To determine if weekly patterns of pedometer-assessed physical activity (PPA) exist in elementary school-aged Australian boys and girls and whether they persist over 3 years. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seven-day pedometer measurements were recorded from 389 boys and 387 girls of initial age 8.0 (SD 0.3) in three successive years during spring. General linear mixed modelling was used to investigate patterns and the persistence of PPA. RESULTS: A pattern did emerge, significant differences in PPA occurring between certain days of the week (p<0.001). This pattern was similar in each year, PPA increasing from Monday through to Friday, decreasing on Saturday and again on Sunday. PPA was greater in boys (p<0.001), but less so on weekends. Significant day-to-day and year-to-year intra-class correlations of PPA (0.14 and 0.29, respectively, both p<0.001)) within individuals provided evidence of tracking on a daily basis, and to a lesser extent yearly. CONCLUSIONS: A well-defined week-long pattern of steps/day emerged in these 8-10-year-old children, the pattern being similar in three consecutive years.
Authors: Richard D Telford; Ross B Cunningham; Robert Fitzgerald; Lisa S Olive; Laurence Prosser; Xiaoli Jiang; Rohan M Telford Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2011-11-28 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Donovan J Lott; Tanja Taivassalo; Claudia R Senesac; Rebecca J Willcocks; Ann M Harrington; Kirsten Zilke; Hilary Cunkle; Catherine Powers; Erika L Finanger; William D Rooney; Gihan I Tennekoon; Krista Vandenborne Journal: Muscle Nerve Date: 2020-11-27 Impact factor: 3.217
Authors: Rohan M Telford; Richard D Telford; Ross B Cunningham; Thomas Cochrane; Rachel Davey; Gordon Waddington Journal: Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act Date: 2013-06-21 Impact factor: 6.457
Authors: Richard D Telford; Ross B Cunningham; Paul Waring; Rohan M Telford; Lisa S Olive; Walter P Abhayaratna Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-10-25 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Richard D Telford; Ross B Cunningham; Rohan M Telford; Jennifer Kerrigan; Peter E Hickman; Julia M Potter; Walter P Abhayaratna Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-10-12 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Richard D Telford; Ross B Cunningham; Rohan M Telford; Malcolm Riley; Walter P Abhayaratna Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-11-21 Impact factor: 3.240