Latest recommendations
Id | Title * | Authors * ▲ | Abstract * | Picture * | Thematic fields * | Recommender | Reviewers | Submission date | |
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05 Feb 2025
![]() Cigarette smoke exposure as a potential risk factor for sleep problems in pregnant womenAleksandra Ciochoń, Łukasz Balwicki, Magdalena Klimek, Dariusz P. Danel, Anna Apanasewicz, Anna Ziomkiewicz, Andrzej Galbarczyk, Urszula M. Marcinkowska https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14777983Have you ever wondered about the relationship between active/passive smoking and sleep in pregnant women?Recommended by Géraldine Escriva-BoulleyPregnancy has been shown to affect the quality, duration, and pattern of sleep (Paavonen et al., 2017; Reid et al., 2017). These changes have important implications, as insufficient sleep is associated with health problems and complications during labor. In line with studies investigating the general population, a few studies focused on pregnant smokers and have also shown a prevalence of sleep abnormalities (e.g., Danilov et al., 2022; Lange et al., 2018; Paavonen et al., 2017). Studies examining the role of passive smoking on sleep are rare, be it in the general population or in pregnant women. The aim of the Ciochon et al. study was to investigate the relationship between active or passive smoking and three types of sleep problems during pregnancy: difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, and waking up too early. The authors hypothesized that pregnant women's exposure to smoking (active and passive) would increase their risk of sleep problems during pregnancy. Participants were part of a larger study: the Corona Mums project, which included 3365 pregnant women from Poland, aged 18 to 43 years. These women completed an online questionnaire during the COVID-19 pandemic, from May 2020 to September 2021. The authors conducted multivariate logistic regressions that included the following control variables: socio-demographic, pregnancy-related variables, and psychological variables. The results of the study showed that passive smoking is a risk factor for waking up too early, but they showed no evidence suggesting that active or passive smoking was related to any of the other sleep variables. The authors highlighted the roles of control variables included in the models. Specifically, sleep difficulties were related to age, place of residence, education, level of anxiety and depression in pregnant women, and the presence of nausea or vomiting. Further, in all the models, the level of anxiety, depression, and trimester of pregnancy (3rd trimester in comparison to 1st and 2nd) were significantly related to the risk of occurrence of sleep problems. While only one of the six examined associations showed statistical significance, the findings are still useful in highlighting potential risks associated with passive smoking and sleep disturbances during pregnancy. The study also underscores the need for more comprehensive investigations, including direct measures of sleep quality, such as actigraphy or polysomnography, which are necessary to better understand the underlying mechanisms and to confirm the potential impacts of both active and passive smoking on sleep during pregnancy. References
- Ciochoń, A., Balwicki, Ł., Klimek, M., Danel, D., Apanasewicz-Grzegorczyk, A., Ziomkiewicz, A., Galbarczyk, A., & Marcinkowska, U. M. (2025). Cigarette smoke exposure as a potential risk factor for sleep problems in pregnant women. Zenodo, ver.4 peer-reviewed and recommended by PCI Health & Movement Sciences. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14777983
- Danilov, M., Issany, A., Mercado, P., Haghdel, A., Muzayad, J. K., & Wen, X. (2022). Sleep quality and health among pregnant smokers. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 18(5), 1343–1353. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.9868
- Lange, S., Probst, C., Rehm, J., & Popova, S. (2018). National, regional, and global prevalence of smoking during pregnancy in the general population: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. Global Health, 6(7), e769–e776. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30223-7
- Paavonen, E., Saarenpää-Heikkilä, O., Pölkki, P., Kylliäinen, A., Porkka-Heiskanen, T., & Paunio, T. (2017). Maternal and paternal sleep during pregnancy in the Child-sleep birth cohort. Sleep Medicine, 29, 47–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2016.09.011
- Reid, K. J., Facco, F. L., Grobman, W. A., Parker, C. B., Herbas, M., Hunter, S., Silver, R. M., Basner, R. C., Saade, G. R., Pien, G. W., Manchanda, S., Louis, J. M., Nhan-Chang, C. L., Chung, J. H., Wing, D. A., Simhan, H. N., Haas, D. M., Iams, J., Parry, S., & Zee, P. C. (2017). Sleep during pregnancy: the nuMoM2b Pregnancy and Sleep Duration and Continuity Study. Sleep, 40(5), zsx045. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsx045
| Cigarette smoke exposure as a potential risk factor for sleep problems in pregnant women | Aleksandra Ciochoń, Łukasz Balwicki, Magdalena Klimek, Dariusz P. Danel, Anna Apanasewicz, Anna Ziomkiewicz, Andrzej Galbarczyk, Urszula M. Marcinkowska | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Cigarette smoking and exposure to cigarette smoke during pregnancy have detrimental effects on the health of expectant mothers, increasing the likelihood of respiratory diseases or infections. Due to the exciting effect of smok... | ![]() | Health & Disease | Géraldine Escriva-Boulley | 2024-05-29 12:18:57 | View | |
18 Feb 2024
![]() Interlimb coordination in Parkinson’s Disease is minimally affected by a visuospatial dual taskAllen Hill, Julie Nantel https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.07.15.500215A recommendation of ‘Interlimb coordination in Parkinson’s Disease is minimally affected by a visuospatial dual task’Recommended by Deepak RaviEffective gait fundamentally requires spatial and temporal coordination of upper and lower limbs. Individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) often exhibit impaired coordination, leading to adverse events such as freezing of gait and falls (Plotnik et al. 2008). Despite their significance, the current literature lacks depth in our understanding of this characteristic, especially their adaptation to changing task demands and symptom laterality. Exploring these relationships may provide new insights into PD gait and facilitate the evaluation of potential treatments. With these objectives in mind, the present study conducted by Hill & Nantel (2024) includes 17 participants with mild to moderate PD and focuses on coordination within and between the more and less affected sides during both single and dual gait tasks. In the study, spatial coordination, assessed by range of motion, range of motion variability, and peak flexion for the shoulder and hip joints, was examined alongside temporal coordination, which was evaluated using the phase coordination index and variability of continuous relative phase. Their analysis reveals that, due to dual tasking, only the shoulder range of motion and peak flexion decreased within the least affected side, adding to the existing knowledge on arm swing impairments in early-stage PD (Navarro-López et al. 2022). However, no significant difference was observed between the more and less affected sides. Hip range of motion showed dual task-related differences between sides, while lower intralimb phase variability did not. The primary strength of the article lies in its attempt to systematically explore these differences in PD. As the authors pointed out, to interpret the clinical significance of these differences as well as the null findings on temporal coordination, it may be necessary to include a healthy control group or other comparison groups, such as individuals with severe PD. When interpreting these results, readers may also pay attention to the methodological choices, such as the patient-reported most affected side and the choice of dual task. Overall, the study will be of interest to researchers studying intra- and inter-limb coordination during gait in PD. References Plotnik, M., & Hausdorff, J. M. (2008). The role of gait rhythmicity and bilateral coordination of stepping in the pathophysiology of freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease. Movement disorders: official journal of the Movement Disorder Society, 23(S2), S444-S450. https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.21984 Hill, A., & Nantel, J. (2024). Interlimb coordination in Parkinson’s Disease is minimally affected by a visuospatial dual task. bioRxiv, ver. 3 peer-reviewed and recommended by Peer Community in Health and Movement Science. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.07.15.500215 Navarro-Lopez, V., Fernandez-Vazquez, D., Molina-Rueda, F., Cuesta-Gomez, A., Garcia-Prados, P., del-Valle-Gratacos, M., & Carratala-Tejada, M. (2022). Arm-swing kinematics in Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Gait & Posture, 98, 85-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2022.08.017 | Interlimb coordination in Parkinson’s Disease is minimally affected by a visuospatial dual task | Allen Hill, Julie Nantel | <p style="text-align: justify;">Parkinson’s disease (PD) leads to reduced spatial and temporal interlimb coordination during gait as well as reduced coordination in the upper or lower limbs. Multi-tasking when walking is common during real-world a... | ![]() | Biomechanics, Health & Disease, Sensorimotor Control | Deepak Ravi | 2023-10-13 21:54:15 | View | |
09 Jan 2025
![]() Improved accuracy of the whole body Center of Mass position through Kalman filteringCharlotte Le Mouel https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.07.24.604923Improved estimation of the whole-body center of mass, a step ahead in biomechanical analyses of balance control.Recommended by Jaap van DieenEstimation of the whole-body center of mass (CoM) is crucial in many biomechanical studies of human and animal movement. It is especially important in studies on the control of balance. For example, it has been assumed that sensory information is used to correct the horizontal position and velocity of the CoM (van Dieën et al., 2024; Wang and Srinivasan, 2014; Welch and Ting, 2008), to stabilize standing and walking against gravity. The studies cited have used more-or-less sophisticated estimates of the CoM, derived from kinematic, in some cases combined with anthropometric data, to predict motor outputs. These studies have provided support for the notion that the position and velocity of the CoM are controlled. This holds promise for the diagnosis of the quality of such feedback control as a cause of balance impairments and fall risk. However, such applications will suffer from errors in outcomes at the individual level, for example due to a poor fit of the anthropometrical model to a certain individual.
Le Mouel (Le Mouel, 2025) presents a novel approach to estimate the position of the CoM. The author proposes that CoM estimation can be improved by optimally combining kinematic and kinetic data through a Kalman filter. The Kalman-filter-based method was indeed shown to effectively addresses the inherent limitations of both kinematic and kinetic methods used in isolation. The author used an innovative approach to validate CoM estimates, based on incorrect CoM estimates violating Newton's laws of motion. The new method substantially reduced errors compared to conventional approaches based on kinematic (and anthropometric) or kinetic data only. The paper presents a clear and comprehensive description of the method and code implementation is provided such that the method can be easily adopted by colleagues in the field. The author also shows how the new method improves the analysis of stabilizing feedback control of walking, demonstrating the promise it holds for the analysis of balance control.
The method was tested on a small data set and further testing, preferably with participant pool showing large variance in anthropometrical properties, seems warranted. This may also lead to further improvement of the approach. For example, the anthropometrical model used could be refined by using regression equations that take into account segment circumferences of the individual tested (Zatsiorsky, 2002) or even by using individual imaging data. However, the proposed optimal combination of kinematic and kinetic data is likely to become a cornerstone of future methods for accurate CoM estimation.
References - Le Mouel, C., 2025. Improved accuracy of the whole body Center of Mass position through Kalman filtering. bioRxiv, ver.3 peer-reviewed and recommended by PCI Health & Movement Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.07.24.604923 - van Dieën, J.H., Bruijn, S.M., Afschrift, M., 2024. Assessment of stabilizing feedback control of walking: a tutorial. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 78, 102915. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2024.102915 - Wang, Y., Srinivasan, M., 2014. Stepping in the direction of the fall: the next foot placement can be predicted from current upper body state in steady-state walking. Biol Lett 10(9), 20140405. https://doi.org/ 10.1098/rsbl.2014.0405 - Welch, T.D., Ting, L.H., 2008. A feedback model reproduces muscle activity during human postural responses to support-surface translations. J Neurophysiol 99, 1032-1038. https://doi.org/ 10.1152/jn.01110.2007 - Zatsiorsky, V., 2002. Kinetics of Human Motion. Human Kinetics, Champaign, Illinois. | Improved accuracy of the whole body Center of Mass position through Kalman filtering | Charlotte Le Mouel | <p>The trajectory of the body center of mass (CoM) is critical for evaluating balance. The position of the CoM can be calculated using either kinematic or kinetic methods. Each of these methods has its limitations, and it is difficult to evaluate ... | ![]() | Biomechanics | Jaap van Dieen | 2024-07-25 10:58:37 | View | |
25 Oct 2024
![]() Feedback-driven adaptation of gravity-related sensorimotor control to an upside-down postureDenis Barbusse, Sarah Amoura, Jérémie Gaveau, Olivier White https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/D9JPFAn inverse gravity experiment supports the theory of an internal gravity model in the central nervous systemRecommended by Anne KoelewijnThe study by Barbusse et al. (2024) investigated how motor control of arm movements is affected by reversed gravity. It is commonly assumed that the central nervous system contains an internal gravity model, and that this model is used to optimize movements to minimize effort under the influence of gravity (e.g., Berret et al., 2008). Previously, the effect of decreased and increased gravity was investigated, and it was shown that people were able to adapt to this novel environment in a matter of minutes or days (e.g., Gaveau et al., 2011). Therefore, the authors investigated the effect of inverse gravity on motor control of arm movements. In this study, an experiment was performed in which participants were placed in an inversion table and asked to perform as many pointing movements with their shoulder as possible in 12 blocks. In each block, the inversion table was placed either in the head-up or head-down position, and the position was switched every 35 seconds, starting from the head-up position. After 4 blocks, a 90 second break was taken. It was found that movement duration and amplitude did not significantly differ between both orientations. An analysis of the difference in time to peak acceleration, time to peak velocity, and time to peak deceleration between upward and downward movements revealed no significant difference for the peak acceleration, while for the peak velocity, the time difference was significantly smaller in the head-down than the head-up position, and for the peak deceleration, the time difference changed in the head-down position with the number of blocks, reaching a value more similar to the head-up (baseline) position. The time to peak acceleration did not reverse for the head-down position, which showed that the central nervous system is not able to take advantage of gravity when it is placed in a head-down position, since it does not take advantage of the “free” acceleration provided by gravity. A longer exposure to inverse gravity might allow the body to adapt and re-optimize its internal gravity model to the new situation. The time difference was significantly different for the deceleration, but not for acceleration, which indicates that the movement was adapted mainly by feedback control, but that feedforward control remained largely the same. This further supports the conclusion that the central nervous system had not yet adapted its internal gravity model, and that re-optimization starts with adapting feedback control (Izawa et al., 2008). An important limitation is the discomfort that is experienced in the head-down position, which not only changes gravity, but also created negative physiological responses. References Denis Barbusse, Sarah Amoura, Jérémie Gaveau, Olivier White (2024) Feedback-driven adaptation of gravity-related sensorimotor control to an upside-down posture. OSF preprints, ver.3 peer-reviewed and recommended by PCI Health & Movement Sciences. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/D9JPF. Berret B, Darlot C, Jean F, Pozzo T, Papaxanthis C, Gauthier JP (2008) The inactivation principle: mathematical solutions minimizing the absolute work and biological implications for the planning of arm movements. PLoS computational biology, 4, e1000194. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000194 Gaveau J, Paizis C, Berret B, Pozzo T, Papaxanthis C (2011) Sensorimotor adaptation of point-to-point arm movements after spaceflight: the role of internal representation of gravity force in trajectory planning. Journal of Neurophysiology, 106, 620–629. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00081.2011 Izawa J, Rane T, Donchin O, Shadmehr R (2008) Motor adaptation as a process of reoptimization. The Journal of Neuroscience: The Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 28, 2883–2891. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5359-07.2008 | Feedback-driven adaptation of gravity-related sensorimotor control to an upside-down posture | Denis Barbusse, Sarah Amoura, Jérémie Gaveau, Olivier White | <p>The ability to move is a vital and essential feature of human existence. We are experts at producing a variety of movements and have refined their control through evolution. As gravity is a major feature of our every-day environment, we h... | ![]() | Biomechanics, Sensorimotor Control | Anne Koelewijn | Anonymous, Anonymous | 2023-12-14 11:47:30 | View |
15 Jun 2024
![]() Kinesiophobia and physical activity: A systematic review and meta-analysisGoubran M, Farajzadeh A, Lahart IM, Bilodeau M, Boisgontier MP https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.08.17.23294240Evidence of the Association between Kinesiophobia and Physical InactivityRecommended by Jasmin HutchinsonThis article (Goubran et al., 2024) presents a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis examining the relationship between kinesiophobia and physical activity. The inclusion of multiple health conditions and diverse measures of physical activity and kinesiophobia provides a broad perspective on the issue. Kinesiophobia (i.e., an excessive, irrational, and debilitating fear of movement) is thought to contribute to negative affective associations towards physical activity and avoidance behaviors, leading to decreased engagement in physical activity. Thus, the relationship between kinesiophobia and physical activity merits further investigation, particularly in health conditions where physical activity has a preventative and/or therapeutic role. The results of this meta-analysis (k = 83, n = 12,278) indicate a small-to-moderate negative correlation between kinesiophobia and physical activity (r = −0.19; 95% CI: −0.26 to −0.13; I2 = 85.5%; p < 0.0001.) Substantial heterogeneity and publication bias were noted, but p-curve analysis suggested true effects. Notably, this finding was consistent across studies using both self-report and objective device-based measures, and there was no evidence of a moderating effect of different measurement instruments or physical activity outcomes. Subgroup analyses revealed that the negative association between kinesiophobia and physical activity is significant in patients with cardiac, rheumatologic, neurologic, or pulmonary conditions but not in those with chronic or acute pain. This latter finding underscores the need to distinguish kinesiophobia from pain. Understanding that the fear of pain, injury, or aggravating an underlying condition, rather than actual pain, is associated with physical inactivity is important to consider when developing interventions to promote physical activity. Tailored interventions that address kinesiophobia specific to different health conditions could enhance physical activity levels and improve health outcomes. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms underlying kinesiophobia and evaluate the efficacy of targeted interventions to mitigate its impact. This article makes an important contribution to our understanding of the relationship between kinesiophobia and physical activity. It provides evidence that fear of movement can be a barrier to physical activity in certain health conditions and highlights the need for condition-specific approaches to address this issue. This work is highly relevant for clinicians, researchers, and public health policymakers aiming to improve physical activity levels and overall health outcomes in a variety of populations.
References Goubran, M., Farajzadeh, A., Lahart, I.M., Bilodeau, M. & Boisgontier, M.P. (2024). Physical activity and kinesiophobia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. MedRxiv, version. 3 peer-reviewed and recommended by Peer Community in Health and Movement Science. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.08.17.23294240 | Kinesiophobia and physical activity: A systematic review and meta-analysis | Goubran M, Farajzadeh A, Lahart IM, Bilodeau M, Boisgontier MP | <p><strong>Objective. </strong>Physical activity contributes to the primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of multiple diseases. However, in some patients, an excessive, irrational, and debilitating fear of movement (i.e., kinesiophobia) is t... | ![]() | Exercise & Sports Psychology, Health & Disease, Physical Activity, Rehabilitation | Jasmin Hutchinson | Paquito Bernard | 2023-08-21 07:07:46 | View |
20 Nov 2024
Cumulative evidence synthesis and consideration of "research waste" using Bayesian methods: An example updating a previous meta-analysis of self-talk interventions for sport/motor performanceHannah Corcoran, James Steele https://doi.org/10.51224/SRXIV.348Bayesian cumulative evidence synthesis and identification of questionable research practices in health & movement scienceRecommended by Wanja WolffResearch is a resource-demanding endeavor that tries to answer questions such as, “Is there an effect?” and “How large or small is this effect?” To answer these questions as precisely as possible, meta-analysis is considered the gold standard. However, the value of meta-analytic conclusions greatly depends on the quality, comprehensiveness, and timeliness of the meta-analyzed studies, while not neglecting older research. Using the established sport psychological intervention strategy of self-talk as an example, Corcoran & Steele demonstrate how Bayesian methods and statistical indicators of questionable research practices can be used to assess these questions [1]. Bayesian methods enable cumulative evidence synthesis by updating prior beliefs (i.e., knowledge from an earlier meta-analysis) with new information (i.e., the studies that have been published on the topic since the earlier meta-analysis had been published) to arrive at a posterior belief - an updated meta-analytic effect size. This approach essentially tells us whether and how much our understanding of an effect has improved as additional evidence has accumulated; as well as the precision with which we are estimating it. Or to put it more bluntly, how much smarter are we now with respect to the effect we are interested in? Importantly, the credibility of this updated effect depends not only on the newly included studies but also on the reliability of the prior beliefs – that is, the credibility of the effects summarized in the earlier meta-analysis. A set of frequentist and Bayesian statistical approaches have been introduced to assess this (for a tutorial with worked examples, see [2]). For example, methods such as the multilevel precision-effect test (PET) and precision-effect estimate with standard errors (PEESE) [2] can be used to adjust for publication bias in the meta-analyzed studies, providing a more realistic estimation of the effect size for the topic at hand. This would then help to assess the magnitude of the true effect in the absence of any bias favoring the publication of significant results. Why does it matter for health and movement science? Open Science practices, such as open materials, open data, pre-registration of analyses plans, as well as registered reports are all good steps for improving science in the future [15–17] and might even lead to a ‘credibility revolution’ [18]. However, it is also crucial to evaluate the extent to which an existing body of literature might be affected by questionable research practices and how this might affect conclusions drawn from the research. Using self-talk as an example, Corcoran and Steele demonstrate this approach and provide a primer on how it can be effectively implemented [1]. By adhering to Open Science practices, their materials, data, and analyses are openly accessible. We believe this will facilitate the adoption of Bayesian methods to cumulatively update available evidence, as well as making it easier for fellow researchers to comprehensively and critically assess the literature they want to meta-analyze. | Cumulative evidence synthesis and consideration of "research waste" using Bayesian methods: An example updating a previous meta-analysis of self-talk interventions for sport/motor performance | Hannah Corcoran, James Steele | <p>In the present paper we demonstrate the application of methods for cumulative evidence synthesis including Bayesian meta-analysis, and exploration of questionable research practices such as publication bias or <em>p</em>-hacking, in the sport a... | Exercise & Sports Psychology, Meta-Science in Health & Movement | Wanja Wolff | Maik Bieleke, Anonymous | 2023-11-27 10:06:36 | View | |
19 Nov 2024
![]() Structural vulnerability factors and gestational weight gain: A scoping review on the extent, range, and nature of the literatureJocelyne M. Labonté, Alex Dumas, Emily Clark, Claudia Savard, Karine Fournier, Sarah O'Connor, Anne-Sophie Morisset, Bénédicte Fontaine-Bisson https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3060015/v4Structural vulnerability factors and gestational weight gain in high-income countriesRecommended by Paquito BernardThis manuscript presents a compelling scoping review examining the structural vulnerability factors associated with gestational weight gain. The topic is highly relevant because excessive gestational weight gain is prospectively associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes and perinatal mortality. The authors employed excellent search strategies to address an area that is often overlooked, as structural vulnerability factors are generally understudied or not the primary focus in many existing studies. A total of 157 academic articles were included in the scoping review. The authors identified eight frequently studied structural vulnerability factors: race/ethnicity (58% of articles), age (55%), parity (31%), education (28%), income (25%), marital status (18%), immigration (12%), and experiences of abuse (physical, psychological, or sexual) (8%). Most studies were conducted in the United States of America, employed retrospective designs, and examined diverse populations in which a subgroup or the entire sample experienced one or more structural vulnerability factors. This work makes a significant contribution to understanding the role of structural vulnerability factors in gestational weight gain. It highlights the critical impact of systemic inequalities on the health of pregnant women and underscores the importance of addressing these disparities. Furthermore, the manuscript thoughtfully discusses the methodological challenges and limitations in the current literature, particularly in considering interacting structural vulnerability factors and social identities. From my perspective, this work provides a more detailed and nuanced analysis of structural vulnerability factors in the context of gestational weight gain than previous reviews. This review will undoubtedly serve as a valuable resource for clinicians and researchers, inspiring them to adopt an ‘intersectional lens’ in their future practices and research projects. Reference
Labonté JM, Dumas A, Clark E, Savard C, Fournier K, O’Connor S, Morisset AS, Fontaine-Bisson B (2024) Structural vulnerability factors and gestational weight gain: a scoping review on the extent, range, and nature of the literature. Research Square, ver.4, peer-reviewed and recommended by PCI Health & Movement Sciences. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3060015/v4
| Structural vulnerability factors and gestational weight gain: A scoping review on the extent, range, and nature of the literature | Jocelyne M. Labonté, Alex Dumas, Emily Clark, Claudia Savard, Karine Fournier, Sarah O'Connor, Anne-Sophie Morisset, Bénédicte Fontaine-Bisson | <p><strong>Background:</strong> Inadequate and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) are rising epidemiological health concerns, affecting a substantial proportion of pregnant women in high-income countries and contributing to a multitude of adv... | ![]() | Health & Disease | Paquito Bernard | 2024-05-03 23:40:07 | View | |
24 Aug 2023
![]() Comparing habit-behaviour relationships for organised versus leisure time physical activityKaterina Newman, Cyril Forestier, Boris Cheval, Zackary Zenko, Margaux de Chanaleilles, Benjamin Gardner, Amanda L. Rebar https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/x5e9dHabit-behaviour relationships in organised and leisure-time physical activityRecommended by Eleftheria GiannouliDespite public health campaigns, achieving recommended physical activity levels remains challenging. Investigating the factors influencing physical activity is essential for effective promotion. Habit strength is known to correlate with physical activity (Hagger, 2019), making habit formation a key intervention target. Newman et al. (2023) expand current knowledge on physical activity and habit strength. They investigate if habit strength and its association with behavior differ between organized and leisure-time physical activities. Given the broad definition of physical activity and individual differences in preferences, studying habit's influence on varied activities is crucial. The cross-sectional survey, spanning the UK, USA, Australia, and Switzerland, involves 120 young adults (mean age = 25) engaged in organized sports. Although self-report measures are used, excluding commuting and occupational activity, the study yields intriguing results: Authors find significant habit strength differences between organized sports and leisure-time activities, indicating potential distinctions in habit formation drivers. Investigating factors establishing habits in organized sports could inform broader interventions. Remarkably, the impact of habits on behavior is consistent across both activity types, suggesting a universal role of habits. Further analysis reveals stronger habit strength in team sports versus individual ones, with no behavior association difference. Diverse habit strength in organized versus leisure-time activities underscores the need for focused research. Understanding unique aspects of team sports that promote habituation can reshape interventions, aligning leisure activities with organized sports' characteristics. References Hagger, M. S. (2019). Habit and physical activity: Theoretical advances, practical implications, and agenda for future research. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 42, 118–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2018.12.007 Newman, K., Forestier, C., Cheval, B., Zenko, Z., De Chanaleilles, M., Gardner, B., & Rebar, A. L. (2023). Comparing habit-behaviour relationships for organised versus leisure time physical activity. OSF Preprints, 1–11, version 4, peer-reviewed and recommended by Peer Community in Health & Movement Sciences. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/x5e9d
| Comparing habit-behaviour relationships for organised versus leisure time physical activity | Katerina Newman, Cyril Forestier, Boris Cheval, Zackary Zenko, Margaux de Chanaleilles, Benjamin Gardner, Amanda L. Rebar | <p>Evidence shows that people with strong physical activity habits tend to engage in more physical activity than those with weaker habits, but little is known about how habit influences specific types of physical activity. This study aimed to test... | ![]() | Health & Disease, Physical Activity | Eleftheria Giannouli | 2023-03-01 08:59:18 | View | |
11 Feb 2025
![]() A novel robotic reaching task to advance the assessment of approach-avoidance tendencies through kinematic analysisKayne Park, Matthieu P. Boisgontier https://doi.org/10.51224/SRXIV.446A novel Kinarm-based behavioral paradigm to probe reaching and avoidance actionsRecommended by Tarkesh SinghI recommend this technical report by Park and Boisgontier. The authors present an innovative adaptation of the approach-avoidance task using the Kinarm robotic platform. Their Kinarm Approach-Avoidance Task (KAAT) enables precise measurement of multiple kinematic variables across multiple reach directions, providing richer behavioral data than traditional keyboard or joystick-based approaches. The robust technical documentation, including detailed task specifications and pilot data, demonstrates Kinarm’s capability to capture nuanced aspects of motor behavior like reaction times, movement speeds, and acceleration patterns. Particularly noteworthy are the potential applications across various clinical domains. This work also complements previous work done by Perry and colleagues, where they used an object hit and avoid task to create a comprehensive statistical model of motor learning. The authors have also thoughtfully included the capability to apply resistive loads during reaching movements. The transparent sharing of materials and code through their GitHub repository also reflects commendable research practices. While the pilot sample is small, the thorough technical foundation laid by this work opens valuable new avenues for investigating approach-avoidance tendencies with a lot of kinematic detail. References
- Park K, Boisgontier MP (2025) A novel robotic reaching task to advance the assessment of approach-avoidance tendencies through kinematic analysis. SportRxiv, ver.2 peer-reviewed and recommended by PCI Health & Movement Sciences. https://doi.org/10.51224/SRXIV.446
- Perry CM, Singh T, Springer KG, Harrison AT, McLain AC, Herter TM (2020) Multiple processes independently predict motor learning. Journal of Neuroengineering and Rehabilitation, 17(1), 151. doi:10.1186/s12984-020-00766-3
| A novel robotic reaching task to advance the assessment of approach-avoidance tendencies through kinematic analysis | Kayne Park, Matthieu P. Boisgontier | <p>The investigation of automatic approach-avoidance tendencies has traditionally relied on computer-based technologies that primarily characterise human behaviour through reaction times. However, these technologies are unable to accurately quanti... | ![]() | Biomechanics, Exercise & Sports Psychology, Physical Activity, Sensorimotor Control | Tarkesh Singh | 2024-09-10 16:56:05 | View | |
23 Sep 2024
![]() Development and validation of the Value of Physical Effort (VoPE) scaleMaik Bieleke, Johanna Stähler, Wanja Wolff, Julia Schüler https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/pqw26Capturing Individual Differences in the Valuation of Physical EffortRecommended by Boris ChevalPhysical effort has long been viewed as an aversive experience that people generally seek to avoid, giving rise to the so-called "law of least effort," which posits that, other things being equal, people tend to minimize effort when engaging in goal-directed tasks. This principle has recently been applied to physical activity behavior (Cheval & Boisgontier, 2021).
However, beyond this general view of physical effort as an aversive experience to be avoided, substantial individual differences in the valuation of physical effort have been observed. This suggests that some individuals may actually evaluate physical effort positively. Contrary to the law of least effort, these individuals may prefer behavioral alternatives that require more effort, all else being equal (Inzlicht et al., 2018). Until the development of the Physical Effort Scale (Cheval et al., 2024) and the present work by Bieleke et al. (2024), no formal scale existed to capture such individual differences in the valuation of physical effort. The primary goal of the present study was to design, develop, and validate such a scale. To achieve this goal, the authors conducted three independent studies (total N = 1,364) to establish the psychometric properties of the Value of Physical Effort (VoPE) scale (Bieleke et al., 2024). Across these studies, using both cross-sectional and longitudinal designs and a variety of statistical techniques (e.g., psychometric network analysis, elastic net regression), results indicated that the VoPE scale has robust associations with physical activity behaviors, strong test-retest reliability, and captures unique variance in predicting exercise behaviors. Taken together, these findings suggest that the VoPE scale is a valid and reliable measure of individual differences in the valuation of physical effort. References
Bieleke M, Stähler J, Wolff W, Schüler J. Development and validation of the Value of Physical Effort (VoPE) scale.PsyArXiv. 2023, version 5. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/pqw26. Peer-reviewed and recommended by Peer Community in Health and Movement Sciences. https://doi.org/10.24072/pci.healthmovsci.100115 Cheval B, Boisgontier MP. The theory of effort minimization in physical activity. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2021;49(3):168-178. https://doi.org/10.1249/JES.0000000000000252 Cheval B, Maltagliati S, Courvoisier DS, Marcora S, Boisgontier MP.Development and validation of the physical effort scale (PES). Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 2024;72:102607. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2024.102607 Inzlicht M, Shenhav A, Olivola CY. The effort paradox: effort is both costly and valued. Trends Cogn Sci. 2018;22(4):337-349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2018.01.007 | Development and validation of the Value of Physical Effort (VoPE) scale | Maik Bieleke, Johanna Stähler, Wanja Wolff, Julia Schüler | <p>Physical effort has instrumental value because it helps people attain their goals. Growing evidence suggests that people might also experience the exertion of effort itself as valuable. To test this idea, we developed and examined the 4-item Va... | ![]() | Exercise & Sports Psychology, Physical Activity | Boris Cheval | Erik Bijleveld, Silvio Maltagliati | 2024-04-10 11:44:26 | View |
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