Image courtesy of the President’s Challenge

Providing low cost, readily accessible tools that organizations and individuals can use to help children increase their levels of physical activity can be a challenge, but it’s one the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports’ (PCPFS) President’s Challenge program is ready to meet.  Thanks to one of the goals identified in First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” initiative--to increase youth physical activity as measured through participation in the President’s Challenge Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) , the Council hopes more physical activity practitioners, parents, caregivers, and teachers will know about the tools at their disposal. 

In addition to the PALA, the physical activity and fitness awards programs that make up the President’s Challenge offer a low or no cost and easy way to help children and adults stay on track with their physical activity and fitness.  While tracking physical activity isn’t for everyone, it can help some realize a goal, such as those outlined in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, and help them work towards improved health.

As the Guidelines for children and adolescents state, young people should engage in a variety of activities that they enjoy.  There are over 100 different activities that count towards earning the PALA including skateboarding, soccer, baseball, rock climbing, canoeing, and the increasingly popular video-based physical activity or exer-games.    This variety exemplifies the breadth of physical activities, including sports and recreational activities, in which individuals of all ages and abilities can participate to maintain or improve their health. 

People need to start someplace and by doing the amount of activity required to earn the PALA, youth and adults are well on their way to realizing the health benefits of physical activity.  If you have the capacity to influence a child’s life, take a moment to consider challenging them to earn the PALA.  The program is for individuals ages 6 and older, therefore, adults (e.g., parents, grandparents, big brothers or sisters, coaches) have the opportunity to set an example for the children they influence by earning their own PALA, too. 

What kinds of tools are you using to increase levels of physical activity among the children you serve?  Do you believe that adults can serve as physical activity role-models for youth?  Have you had success using awards programs to encourage youth or adult physical activity?

This week, we present abstracts on two studies published this month, and announce a webinar that may be of interest to our readers:

School Wellness Policy Leadership: Improving physical activity and physical education from state policy to school practices  (Source:  National Association of State Boards of Education).  A free webinar this Thursday (4/15), sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and hosted by NASBE.

Effects of continuous vs. interval exercise training on blood pressure and arterial stiffness in treated hypertension (Source:  Hypertension Research, PubMed)  Researchers examine the effect of various exercise patterns among patients being treated for hypertension.

Physical Activity and Risk of Stroke in Women (Source:  Stroke)  Researchers continue building the evidence base for physical activity and reduced incidence of stroke.

How do YOU keep up with the latest research and training opportunities?  Share your tips and share some links! 

It’s as inescapable as the return of spring. As writers have pointed out repeatedly on this site and as researchers have documented in study after study, physical activity is good for everyone. The benefits (health, fitness, well-being, self-image and more) accrue from bouts as brief as ten minutes and accumulate through daily activities such as housework, gardening, walking the dog or playing with the kids. We must continually help people understand that physical activity is for everyone, regardless of age or condition.

Expecting? Keep active!

Pregnancy should not keep women from a healthy dose of activity. Exercise during pregnancy and postpartum is a professional interest of mine; I’ve seen how appropriate levels and kinds of activity can help keep mothers and babies healthier and happier. Both during pregnancy and after delivery, exercise can help the mother through improved cardiovascular fitness and in many other ways. Postpartum benefits also include mood improvement and weight management. Some evidence points toward shortened labor and reduced risk for certain complications. The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans spell it out, based on solid evidence and in lay terms.

Among the key recommendations:

• Healthy women who are not already highly active or doing vigorous-intensity activity should get at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Preferably, this activity should be spread throughout the week.
• Pregnant women who habitually engage in vigorous-intensity aerobic activity or are highly active can continue physical activity during pregnancy and the postpartum period, provided that they remain healthy and discuss with their health-care provider how and when activity should be adjusted over time.
• Pregnant women who habitually engage in vigorous-intensity aerobic activity or are highly active can continue physical activity during pregnancy and the postpartum period, provided that they remain healthy and discuss with their health-care provider how and when activity should be adjusted over time.

Pregnant women should review the recommendations in full, including activities to avoid and the wisdom of seeking a health-care professional who can provide knowledgeable guidance. Armed with solid information and motivated by the desire to achieve the best health for themselves and their babies, pregnant women can remain active through pregnancy and beyond.

What has been your personal or professional experience with exercise during pregnancy?

What barriers do you see that make it difficult for pregnant women to achieve beneficial levels of exercise, and how can we overcome those barriers?