Yasutaka Ojio, Rei Amemiya, John L Oliffe, Simon M Rice
{"title":"Mental health help-seeking knowledge, attitudes and behaviour among male elite rugby players: the role of masculine health-related values.","authors":"Yasutaka Ojio, Rei Amemiya, John L Oliffe, Simon M Rice","doi":"10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002275","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002275","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Masculine norms of toughness and self-reliance can discourage help-seeking among elite athletes who are men. Effective ways to leverage masculine norms for help-seeking is a relatively unexplored area in athlete mental health. The study aimed to investigate how masculine health-related values measured by the Intentions Masculine Values Scale (IMVS) affect help-seeking behaviours among male elite rugby players.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 220 Japanese male elite rugby players in the Japan Rugby League One (response rate: 40.6%). Participants completed an online survey assessing help-seeking knowledge, attitudes and behaviours, along with masculine health-related values using the IMVS. Psychological safety within sports settings was evaluated using the Sport Psychological Safety Inventory (SPSI). Multiple regression analyses examined relationships between help-seeking behaviours and IMVS/SPSI.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The Open and Selfless IMVS value was significantly associated with help-seeking knowledge (β=0.059, p=0.009) and attitudes (β=0.064, p=0.006), increasing recognition of the need for help and willingness to seek it. However, no significant association with actual help-seeking behaviour was found (β=-0.006, p=0.774). The Healthy and Autonomous IMVS value was associated with lower help-seeking behaviour (β=0.060, p=0.010), indicating higher autonomy may inhibit seeking professional support. The SPSI was not significantly related to help-seeking measures.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Findings highlight critical gaps between intention and actual help-seeking behaviour among male elite athletes. Further research is needed to explore additional cultural and organisational factors that may better explain help-seeking behaviour and inform effective intervention strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":47417,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine","volume":"11 1","pages":"e002275"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11792290/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143190901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Emily M Smith, Kelly Drager, Erik M Groves, Leigh Gabel, Steven K Boyd, Lauren A Burt
{"title":"New approach to identifying elite winter sport athletes' risk of relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs).","authors":"Emily M Smith, Kelly Drager, Erik M Groves, Leigh Gabel, Steven K Boyd, Lauren A Burt","doi":"10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002320","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002320","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs) is a syndrome resulting from problematic low energy availability (LEA). Low areal bone mineral density (aBMD) is a primary indicator of LEA, measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). High-resolution peripheral quantitative CT (HR-pQCT) is an advanced imaging device that provides measures of volumetric BMD (vBMD), bone microarchitecture, geometry and strength. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of REDs in elite winter sport athletes and to observe the associations in bone parameters using HR-pQCT in athletes identified as at-risk or not at-risk of REDs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants included 101 elite athletes (24.1±4.4 SD years; 52% female). The REDs Clinical Assessment Tool (CAT2) was used to determine REDs risk. HR-pQCT scans of the non-dominant radius and left tibia were analysed on REDs risk grouping.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>17 athletes (17%; 71% female) were at-risk based on the REDs CAT2. After covarying for lean mass, OR suggested a higher likelihood of REDs risk classification for athletes with low cortical thickness, cortical area, total vBMD and bone strength.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Impaired total vBMD, bone strength and cortical bone parameters were approximately twice as likely (OR: 1.9-3.0) in athletes at-risk of REDs. Results agree with the consensus statement that HR-pQCT may identify impaired bone health in athletes at-risk of REDs. Future directions should use HR-pQCT to explore REDs risk longitudinally, using bone change over time, as this may provide greater insight. Using advanced imaging to explore REDs risk in a population of winter high-performance athletes is novel.</p>","PeriodicalId":47417,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine","volume":"11 1","pages":"e002320"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11784212/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143081673","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Thomas Molloy, Benjamin Gompels, Simone Castagno, Stephen McDonnell
{"title":"The Cambridge Knee Injury Tool (CamKIT): a clinical prediction tool for acute soft tissue knee injuries.","authors":"Thomas Molloy, Benjamin Gompels, Simone Castagno, Stephen McDonnell","doi":"10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002357","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002357","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/aim: </strong>This study focuses on the development of the Cambridge Knee Injury Tool (CamKIT), a clinical prediction tool developed as a 12-point scoring tool based on a modified e-Delphi study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective cohort evaluation was conducted involving 229 patients presenting to a Major Trauma Centre with acute knee pain over 3 months. The evaluation extracted data on the 12 scoring tool variables as well as diagnostic and management pathway outcomes. CamKIT scores for the injured and non-injured cohorts were then calculated and evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The CamKIT yielded a median score of 7.5 (IQR: 6-9) in the injured cohort, compared with a median score of 2 (IQR: 1-4) in the non-injured cohort, with a statistically significant difference (p<0.0001). When constructed as a three-tier risk stratification tool, the CamKIT produces a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 94.3%, a positive predictive value of 89% and a negative predictive value of 100% for diagnosing clinically significant soft tissue knee injuries.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The CamKIT provides a non-invasive tool that has the potential to streamline the diagnostic process and empower healthcare workers in resource-stretched settings by instilling confidence and promoting accuracy in clinical decision-making. The CamKIT also has the potential to support efficiency in the secondary healthcare setting by enabling more targeted and timely use of specialist resources. This research contributes to the ongoing efforts to enhance patient outcomes and the overall quality of care in managing acute knee injuries.</p>","PeriodicalId":47417,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine","volume":"11 1","pages":"e002357"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11780958/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143080776","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Armando Calleja-Rodríguez, Beatriz Ruiz-Ruiz, Ángel González-de-la-Flor, María García Arrabé
{"title":"Translation, cultural adaptation and validation of the Achilles Tendon Total Rupture Score (ATRS) into Spanish: a study protocol.","authors":"Armando Calleja-Rodríguez, Beatriz Ruiz-Ruiz, Ángel González-de-la-Flor, María García Arrabé","doi":"10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002423","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002423","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Achilles tendon is the strongest and largest tendon in the human body, yet it is also the most frequently ruptured. The incidence of Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) is increasing due to an ageing population, rising obesity rates and greater sports participation. The Achilles Tendon Total Rupture Score (ATRS) is a validated patient-reported outcome measure widely used to assess clinical and functional outcomes after ATR. However, there is no culturally adapted and validated Spanish version of this tool, limiting its applicability in Spanish-speaking populations. The aim is to translate, culturally adapt and validate the Spanish version of the ATRS following international guidelines and to analyse its psychometric properties for assessing clinical and functional outcomes in patients with ATR. This study protocol outlines a cross-sectional design adhering to Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology and Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys guidelines for observational studies and online surveys. The ATRS will be translated and culturally adapted, psychometric analysis will follow COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments standards, including reliability, validity and sensitivity assessments. Participants will include patients treated surgically for ATR in hospitals across Madrid and healthy controls recruited through social media. Sociodemographic, clinical and functional data will also be collected to support the validation process. This study protocol was approved by the Universidad Europea de Madrid Institutional Board (Approval ID: CI 2024/897) prior to data collection based one the Declaration of Helsinki. The study's findings will be distributed to athletes, physicians and academics via peer-reviewed publications and national/international conferences.</p>","PeriodicalId":47417,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine","volume":"11 1","pages":"e002423"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11781081/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143081029","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anne Inger Mørtvedt, Tron Krosshaug, Erich J Petushek
{"title":"Perspectives on usability and adoption of a new ACL injury prevention programme for female handball players: a mixed methods approach.","authors":"Anne Inger Mørtvedt, Tron Krosshaug, Erich J Petushek","doi":"10.1136/bmjsem-2024-001965","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmjsem-2024-001965","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Effective injury prevention programmes (IPPs) hold promise for mitigating ACL injuries in female handball players, yet adherence remains a challenge. This mixed methods study explores the relationship between programme usability characteristics and the potential effectiveness of a newly developed ACL IPP through survey and interview data from 23 female handball players aged 15-18 and their four coaches. Players' knee abduction moment (KAM) was measured during a cutting task and used to measure potential effectiveness. Findings reveal significant correlations between reductions in KAM and players' perceived effectiveness of the programme in reducing ACL injury risk and their intention to use it (Spearman's rho (r<sub>s</sub>) -0.52, 95% CI -0.78 to -0.1, p=0.02 and r<sub>s</sub> -0.46, 95% CI -0.75 to -0.03, p=0.04, respectively). Coaches and players identified efficiency and perceived effectiveness as key factors influencing programme adoption. Concerns regarding programme length and doubts about exercise efficacy and transferability emerged as barriers, while perceived effectiveness, efficiency and enjoyability were facilitators for programme use. Players' suggestions for programme improvement included shortening the duration and incorporating playful elements. Design thinking sessions yielded strategies to optimise time efficiency and integrate IPPs into existing training routines. The study reaffirms the importance of balancing programme effectiveness with practicality and clear communication about its purpose and benefits to facilitate programme adoption. Enhancing programme usability and involving all end-users in the design process are crucial steps toward promoting the acceptance and adoption of IPPs among target populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":47417,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine","volume":"11 1","pages":"e001965"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11781089/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143081675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jonathan Schütze, Benedikt Bernhard, Noah Greisser, Philippe Joss, Sarah Manser, Anselm W Stark, Isaac Shiri, Catherine Gebhard, Maryam Pavlicek, Matthias Wilhelm, Christoph Gräni
{"title":"Sports behaviour and adherence to sports and exercise recommendations in patients with myocarditis.","authors":"Jonathan Schütze, Benedikt Bernhard, Noah Greisser, Philippe Joss, Sarah Manser, Anselm W Stark, Isaac Shiri, Catherine Gebhard, Maryam Pavlicek, Matthias Wilhelm, Christoph Gräni","doi":"10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002218","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002218","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>In the clinical setting of acute myocarditis, existing guidelines recommend refraining from moderate-intensity to high-intensity sports for 3-6 months, yet the extent to which these recommendations are implemented by clinicians and followed by patients remains unclear.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>From January 2020 to December 2023, consecutive patients with myocarditis according to European Society of Cardiology criteria were prospectively enrolled. Myocarditis was categorised into acute, subacute and non-acute myocarditis. Patients completed a sports questionnaire and sports behaviour was categorised into no sports (NSP), recreational (REC) or competitive sports (COMP).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 165 patients with myocarditis (mean age 50±17 years, 35% women) completed the questionnaire. Overall 73 (44%) patients received sports counselling. A total of 44 (72%) patients engaged in sports (REC+COMP) with acute or subacute myocarditis, received sports counselling with 38 (87%) adhering. Overall COMP patients (all male) received more counselling (11/11; 100%) compared with REC (53/105; 50%) and NSP (9/49; 18%). Of 39 women in the REC group, 14 (36%) received recommendations, whereas of 66 men 39 (59%) received recommendations (p<0.001). Of all patients engaged in sports, 55% received recommendations. Self-reported adherence to recommendations was significantly lower in COMP (73%) compared with REC (92%, p<0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Although only half of the myocarditis patients received counselling regarding sports activity, adherence to these recommendations was generally high but varied by activity level. Women received fewer recommendations overall compared with men. While competitive athletes were counselled more frequently than recreational athletes, they were less likely to adhere to the recommendations.</p>","PeriodicalId":47417,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine","volume":"11 1","pages":"e002218"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11781083/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143081678","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ruth Leese, Ash Kolstad, Ricardo T Sant'Anna, Carly D McKay, Stephen W West
{"title":"High tackle headache: implications of referee agreement for tackle height law change.","authors":"Ruth Leese, Ash Kolstad, Ricardo T Sant'Anna, Carly D McKay, Stephen W West","doi":"10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002347","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002347","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Rugby Union has a relatively high risk of injury. Early evidence suggests a benefit of lowering tackle height to reduce head and neck injuries, although concerns persist among stakeholders regarding implementation challenges. This study aimed to understand whether referees can reach the same conclusion regarding tackle height in a controlled environment (ie, video) and whether priming influenced these decisions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Forty-eight active referees completed a questionnaire based on high-tackle decision-making guidelines after watching tackles. Participants were randomly assigned one of two instructional videos containing a high or legal tackle to investigate the impact of priming on law interpretation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The percent agreement regarding tackle height was 78.1% between participants, 62.7% between participants and an experienced analyst, and 74.0% between participants and a gold-standard referee. Mean intra-rater reliability when determining whether a tackle was high was substantial (percent agreement: 91.2%). For high tackles, 83% of participants agreed on the danger level, 57% on the contact location and 71% on the presence of mitigating factors. No significant effects of priming were observed. Inter-rater agreement among participants and the gold-standard referee was moderate for all items except danger and height, which showed strong agreement.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These results suggest a need for improved referee training to support changes to the legal tackle height.</p>","PeriodicalId":47417,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine","volume":"11 1","pages":"e002347"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11781086/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143081550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jonathan M Flintoff, Cassandra Pattinson, Sarah Ahamed, Shahnewaz Ali, Angus Bagley, Daniel Broszczak, Blair Crewther, Louis de Waal, Shannon L Edmed, Tharindu Fernando, Clinton Fookes, Francesca D Frentiu, Andrew P Hunt, Ottmar V Lipp, Ben McMaster, Kerrie Mengersen, Luke Ney, Senn L Oon, Ajay Pandey, Parth Pandit, Jonathan M Peake, Muthukuttige Madusha Nuwanthi Perera, Virginie Perlo, Chamindie Punyadeera, Luke Schmidt, Simon S Smith, Kirsten Spann, Ian Stewart, Karen A Sullivan, Danielle Young, Graham Kerr, Tony J Parker
{"title":"Predictive biomarkers of performance under stress: a two-phase study protocol to develop a wearable monitoring system.","authors":"Jonathan M Flintoff, Cassandra Pattinson, Sarah Ahamed, Shahnewaz Ali, Angus Bagley, Daniel Broszczak, Blair Crewther, Louis de Waal, Shannon L Edmed, Tharindu Fernando, Clinton Fookes, Francesca D Frentiu, Andrew P Hunt, Ottmar V Lipp, Ben McMaster, Kerrie Mengersen, Luke Ney, Senn L Oon, Ajay Pandey, Parth Pandit, Jonathan M Peake, Muthukuttige Madusha Nuwanthi Perera, Virginie Perlo, Chamindie Punyadeera, Luke Schmidt, Simon S Smith, Kirsten Spann, Ian Stewart, Karen A Sullivan, Danielle Young, Graham Kerr, Tony J Parker","doi":"10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002410","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002410","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Understanding and predicting individual responses to common stressors is essential for optimising performance in high-stress environments. This article outlines a protocol for a study to identify biomarkers that predict performance under heat, musculoskeletal, psychosocial and sleep stress, for future integration into a wearable sensor system. In Phase I, healthy adults aged between 18 and 45 years (n=104) will be recruited for an intervention trial that involves exposure to one of the four stressors: heat, musculoskeletal, psychosocial or sleep deprivation. Biomarkers will be identified from molecular markers in biological samples (eg, blood, saliva, sweat and stool), physiological measures and psychological assessments to predict cognitive and physical performance under stress. A within-subjects design will determine changes in molecular and non-molecular markers before and after stress exposure. In Phase II, we will use the biomarkers identified in Phase I to develop a wearable sensor to predict and monitor human performance under stress.</p>","PeriodicalId":47417,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine","volume":"11 1","pages":"e002410"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11784218/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143081676","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kristian Thorborg, Julie Sandell Jacobsen, Laura Mønsted Krohn, Lars Damsbo, Niels Christian Kaldau, Monika Lucia Bayer
{"title":"#Sportskongres2025: back to the future for the Scandinavian Sports Medicine Congress!","authors":"Kristian Thorborg, Julie Sandell Jacobsen, Laura Mønsted Krohn, Lars Damsbo, Niels Christian Kaldau, Monika Lucia Bayer","doi":"10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002425","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002425","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":47417,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine","volume":"11 1","pages":"e002425"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11781085/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143081543","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dario Novak, Marko Čule, Jinseo Kim, Rockli Kim, S V Subramanian
{"title":"Individual versus group exercise effect on youth physical activity levels: a randomised controlled trial.","authors":"Dario Novak, Marko Čule, Jinseo Kim, Rockli Kim, S V Subramanian","doi":"10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002024","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmjsem-2024-002024","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To explore the effects of two different types of exercise (individual vs group) on physical activity (PA) among Croatian university students.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 976 university students between the ages of 19 and 20 years (age 19.4±1.1 years, body mass index 21.9±2.9 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) were randomly assigned to either the control group (individual exercise) (n=504) or the intervention group, which received group exercise (n=472). Pre- and postintervention measures included: self-rated health, parents' occupation, psychological distress, nutritional status and PA levels. The overall intervention effect was estimated using linear regression method, and heterogeneity in intervention effect was assessed by modelling complex variance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Group-based exercise intervention significantly increased total PA time by more than 10 metabolic equivalents (METS) hours per week compared with individual-based exercise control group. When considering different types of activities, the intervention effect was stronger for vigorous activity (increase by almost 6 METS hours per week) than walking activity (2.5 METS hours per week). The change in moderate activity level was not significant after covariate adjustment. In addition, intervention was also effective in reducing sedentary hours. Finally, when complex level-1 heterogeneity was modelled by intervention status, we found substantially larger variance in the intervention group compared with the controls, indicating presence of heterogeneous treatment effect.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study discusses major implications of different ways of exercising among youths from a health, educational and sport perspective. Intervention and policies that leverage school social capital might serve as an avenue for health promotion in youth.</p>","PeriodicalId":47417,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine","volume":"11 1","pages":"e002024"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11781084/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143081554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}