Research library

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This is our storage space for research, reports, opinion and news for physical activity and the wider system which we've come across.

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FACILITIES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS A blueprint for sport and active recreation in Wales (2016)

This Blueprint has been designed to complement existing national and local capital investment schemes, initiatives like the Sports Facilities Capital Loan Scheme and the All Wales Artificial Turf Pitch Vision and Guidance. The intention is to provide a point of reference and support, to help inform responsible and sustainable decisionmaking on the design, provision and maintenance of sport and recreation facilities. The Sport and active recreation facilities that can provide those opportunities

Researchers at Dublin City University find that 25% of primary school age children in Ireland cannot run properly

Researchers at Dublin City University have carried out an all Ireland study of over two thousand primary school children on the island of Ireland, and have found that one in four cannot run properly; one in two cannot kick a ball properly; and less than one in every five can throw a ball. Source: https://www.dcu.ie/news/news/2020/Jan/Researchers-DCU-find-25-of-primary-school-age-children-cannot-run-properly.shtml (January 2020)

Physical Activity and Exercise Therapy Benefit More Than Just Symptoms and Impairments in People With Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis.

the majority of people with hip and knee OA do not meet physical activity guidelines, and are less active than their age-matched counterparts. Importantly, physical inactivity in people with OA also increases their risk of a number of comorbidities and functional decline, leading to higher health care costs. As walking 150 minutes per week might not be tolerable for individuals with end-stage knee OA, other types of physical activity, such as biking and walking with Nordic poles (walking poles s

How you'll be able to use sports facilities at Gloucestershire schools

Schools in Gloucestershire at set to fling their doors open and allow people to use their sports facilities. County schools will receive a share of a £1.6million funding boost to allow them to make better use of their sports halls or pitches. Source: https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/how-youll-able-use-sports-3781857 (January 2020)

Health matters: physical activity - prevention and management of long-term conditions

This edition of Health Matters focuses on the benefit of physical activity for the prevention and management of long-term conditions in adults. Includes summaries of the current guidelines and numerous examples of where this is being put in to practice. Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-matters-physical-activity/health-matters-physical-activity-prevention-and-management-of-long-term-conditions (January 2020)

Regular walking breaks prevent the decline in cerebral blood flow associated with prolonged sitting

Prolonged uninterrupted sitting in healthy desk workers reduces cerebral blood flow. However, this reduction in cerebral blood flow is offset when frequent short-duration walking breaks are incorporated into this sitting period. For those who engage in long periods of sedentary behavior, chronically breaking up these sitting periods with frequent active break strategies may have important implications for cerebrovascular health; however, further research should explore this hypothesis. Source:

Give Your Ideas Some Legs: The Positive Effect of Walking on Creative Thinking

Walking is an easy-to-implement strategy to increase appropriate novel idea generation. When there is a premium on generating new ideas in the workday, it should be beneficial to incorporate walks. In addition to providing performance benefits, it would address concerns regarding the physiological effects of inactivity (Hamilton, Healy, Dunstan, Zderic, & Owen, 2008;. Hamilton, Hamilton, & Zderic, 2007). Source: https://www.fincalabs.com/en/give-your-ideas-some-legs-the-positive-effect-of-walki

Enhancing daily well-being at work through lunchtime park walks and relaxation exercises: Recovery experiences as mediators.

Results of this intervention study showed that park walks at lunchtime were related to better concentration and less fatigue in the afternoon through enjoyment. Relaxation exercises were related to better concentration in the afternoon via detachment and linked to lower levels of strain and fatigue in the afternoon. Source:https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2017-14084-001?doi=1 (2018)

Active Cumbria Healthy Movers Evaluation Report 2019

During 2016/17 Active Cumbria led on a pilot roll out of Healthy Movers (formerly Smart Start) in Cumbria. The intention was to implement the programme with families of children in chosen settings, using physical literacy as a means of increasing physical activity, and improving young children's readiness to learn. The pilot was externally evaluated by the University of Northumbria and shown to increase young children's participation in daily physical activity, leading to improved concentration

Can exercise help treat anxiety? National College Health Association

Chances are good that you, or someone you know, is dealing with anxiety. One sobering study shows that people with anxiety tend to be more sedentary and do less intense forms of physical activity, if any. That’s ironic, because lacing up your sneakers and getting out and moving may be the single best nonmedical solution we have for preventing and treating anxiety. Source: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-exercise-help-treat-anxiety-2019102418096 (October 2019)

Adolescent obesity and related behaviours: trends and inequalities in the WHO European Region, 2002–2014

Physical activity is a key determinant of energy expenditure, as it has a fundamental positive influence on energy balance and weight control. Regular physical activity in children and adolescents is important for obesity prevention and supporting obese adolescents to manage their weight. Source: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/339211/WHO_ObesityReport_2017_v3.pdf?ua=1 (2017)

Gloucester Beat The Street 2019 resulted in 9% decrease in inactivity

Beat the Street is an inclusive, fun and motivating initiative that connects people with their local environment and encourages individuals to walk, cycle or scoot with family or friends to  collect points. Beat the Street Gloucester aims to increase physical activity amongst children and adults. (January 2020)

PHE Case study: Active Hospitals

The Active Hospital feasibility and acceptability pilot explores integrating physical activity interventions in a secondary care setting. Specific physical activity behaviour change interventions were designed, implemented and mapped alongside existing care using the Behaviour Change Wheel (Mitchie and others, 2011). One of the most successful interventions, the maternity pathway, has enhanced care through all pregnant women undergoing assessment and receiving brief physical activity advice.

Does increasing girls' and women's participation in physical activity improve their wellbeing?

On International Women’s Day in March,  we published our evaluation of the Sporting Equality Fund, a £325,000 set of grants from the Scottish government to get more girls and women participating in physical activity. Fourteen organisations were awarded up to £25,000 for year-long projects – all were asked to look at how participation increased wellbeing. Across the fund as a whole, we saw average life satisfaction go up from 6.9 to 8.0 out of 10, with similar rises across the other three ONS wel

People maintain increases in physical activity three years after receiving pedometers

Middle-aged to older adults given pedometers and a walking programme as part of two NIHR trials continued to be active three years later. In one trial they were walking around 650 extra steps a day. In both trials, they spent about 30 minutes per week extra in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity compared to controls. https://discover.dc.nihr.ac.uk/content/signal-00594/people-maintain-increases-in-physical-activity-three-years-after-receiving-pedometers (May 2018)