Biomechanical Effects of the MIND&GAIT Exercise Program on Sit-to-Stand and Marching in Place Motor Coordination in Institutionalized Older Adults: Implications for Functional Stability Cristiana Mercê, Susana Alfaiate, Fátima Ramalho, David Catela, Marco Branco Healthcare Switzerland, 2026 Background: Motor decline associated with ageing compromises mobility, postural control and the ability, thereby increasing risk among older adults. Biomechanical characterization of movement, particularly using non-linear methods, offers a process-oriented approach capable of detecting subtle changes in motor coordination. The MIND&GAIT programme has previously demonstrated benefits in physical function in frail older individuals; however, its potential to improve motor coordination parameters that underpin fall risk remains insufficiently explored. Objectives: To analyse the impact of the MIND&GAIT program on motor coordination during sit-to-stand (STS) and walking tasks, two daily activities strongly associated with fall risk, using advanced non-linear and biomechanical metrics in institutionalized older adults. Methods: Fourteen institutionalized older adults (82.21 ± 7.14 years) participated. Three-dimensional acceleration and angular velocity were recorded using inertial sensors. Motor variability and predictability were quantified using the multivariate Lyapunov exponent (LyEM) and multivariate incremental entropy (MIE). STS (30 s) and walking-in-place (2 min) tasks were assessed pre- and post-intervention following a three-month, thrice-weekly programme. Results: Although no statistically significant differences emerged (ps > 0.05), trends were observed suggesting increases in LyEM during STS and in both MIE and LyEM during walking were found post-intervention. These exploratory findings may indicate enhanced motor complexity, stability and adaptability, features associated with reduced fall vulnerability. Conclusions: Despite the absence of statistical significance, the biomechanical trends observed suggest improvements in motor coordination patterns relevant to fall risk reduction in institutionalized older adults following the MIND&GAIT programme. These findings highlight the potential of structured exercise-based interventions for promoting safer movement behaviors in frail populations.
Effects of Martial Arts Intervention in Children and Young People with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD): A Systematic Review Beatriz Olhos, Marco Branco, Beatriz Rosa, David Catela, Cristiana Mercê Children, 2026 Background: Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental motor disorder characterised by marked difficulties in the acquisition and execution of motor skills, substantially affecting daily activities and quality of life. Martial arts (MAs), due to their multi-skilled nature, have been studied as possible intervention strategies to improve motor competence and functionality in children with DCD. Objectives: The present systematic review aimed to explore the effects of MA practice in children and adolescents with DCD, identifying the benefits, methodological characteristics and practical implications of existing interventions. Methods: The search was conducted in the PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCO databases, following the PRISMA 2021 guidelines, using the keywords (developmental coordination disorder OR DCD OR dyspraxia) AND (karate OR judo OR taekwondo OR aikido OR martial art) AND (child OR preschool). Experimental and quasi-experimental studies that applied MA programmes to children and adolescents (≤18 years) with a confirmed diagnosis of DCD were included. Results: Of the 1834 identified records, five studies met the inclusion criteria. The MA modalities examined were karate, tai chi, and taekwondo. Across studies (n per study = 16–145), MA-based programmes consistently yielded significant pre- to post-intervention improvements in overall motor competence (MC), balance, muscle strength, and coordination; one study reported maintenance of coordination gains at 3-month follow-up. Methodological quality assessed with the Downs and Black checklist ranged from fair to good (scores = 18–22). No adverse events were reported. Conclusions: Based on the included studies, MA interventions demonstrate potential as an effective motor intervention approach for children and adolescents with DCD. Findings consistently indicated significant improvements in motor competence, balance, muscle strength, and coordination, with additional benefits observed in cognitive and psychosocial domains and no reported adverse effects.
Exploring user profiles and preferences for mobile apps promoting active lifestyles during pregnancy and postpartum: cross-sectional study Laura Alves, Cátia Ferreira, Cristiana Mercê, Rita Santos-Rocha BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 2025 BACKGROUND: The proliferation of mobile health applications (apps) presents promising opportunities for promoting maternal-fetal health outcomes. While numerous pregnancy-related apps exist, their alignment with user needs and evidence-based recommendations remains understudied. This study aimed to analyze the usage profile, characteristics, and preferences regarding mobile apps for promoting a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy and postpartum, with particular emphasis on physical activity. METHODS: A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted using a questionnaire titled "Active Pregnancy App- Promoting an active and healthy lifestyle during pregnancy and postpartum," consisting of 36 questions in digital format via the Google Forms platform. The participants included 235 pregnant or postpartum women, with a mean age of 36 ± 4.67 years, with babies born between 2021 and 2023. RESULTS: Among the women surveyed, 80% engaged in physical activity during pregnancy (39% 1-2 times/week), and 63% in the postpartum period. Walking was the predominant activity (90% of health/wellness activities). Most participants (87%) had never used pregnancy-specific fitness apps, despite 53% using general fitness apps. The majority considered the existence of a specific application for physical activity during pregnancy and postpartum to be important or very important. The main preferences regarding the app were: access to recommendations on an active and healthy lifestyle during pregnancy and postpartum; direct interaction with health and exercise professionals; the ability to record health and clinical parameters, physical activity, and training logs; access to guidelines on postpartum preparation and recovery programs; and workouts to perform at home and outdoors. CONCLUSIONS: User perspective is an actual trend for focusing on end users' point of view and preferences, as they are the people for whom the software is designed. The results reinforce and highlight the relevance of building a specific app for physical activity and other lifestyle parameters during pregnancy and postpartum that includes reliable and updated information, allows interaction with health and exercise professionals for monitoring, and enables the recording of progress. These results will be used in the creation and development of the "Active Pregnancy App" which can thus better meet the needs and demands of pregnant and postpartum women.
Precision of an Inertial System to Evaluate the Finger Tapping Test in Women with Fibromyalgia Nancy Brígida, David Catela, Cristiana Mercê, Marco Branco Sports, 2025 Background: This study investigates the precision of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) in evaluating the Finger Tapping Test (FTT) to differentiate motor control competencies in women with fibromyalgia, a clinical population characterized by motor impairments. Methods: The sample consisted of 240 FTT trials collected from 20 women, half of whom were diagnosed with fibromyalgia (F = 46.4 ± 12.714; C = 45.9 ± 12.950). Procedures consisted of participants completing FTT while data were collected from a high-speed camera and an IMU for linear acceleration and angular velocity, respectively. Analyses employed the Bland–Altman technique with both parametric and bootstrap-derived limits of agreement and intraclass correlation coefficients to assess levels of agreement between traditional and IMU-derived methods. Results: The results showed a strong agreement at subject×hand aggregation for the number of taps (RPC = 4.3 and ICC = 0.94) and for the inter-tap interval (RPC = 0.02 and ICC = 0.89), indicating minimal differences between measurements and demonstrating the potential for highly sensitive motor function assessment using an IMU. Conclusions: These findings suggest that IMU technology can effectively detect subtle aspects of motor control, supporting its use in exercise, rehabilitation, and clinical physiotherapy settings, including functional training, adapted rehabilitation exercises, and home-based monitoring for fibromyalgia. This approach offers detailed insights into subtle motor impairments, emphasizing its value for both clinical and exercise applications.
A Quasi-Experimental Hip-Hop-Based Program to Improve Motor Competence and Physical Activity in Preschoolers in Portugal: The “Grow+” Program Cristiana Mercê, Sofia Bernardino, Neuza Saramago, Marco Branco, David Catela Healthcare Switzerland, 2025 Background/Objectives: Dance, particularly hip-hop, offers a dynamic means of fostering physical activity (PA) and encouraging movement in health-related initiatives among children and youth in educational environments. Hip-hop offers benefits across motor, physical, social, and mental domains. Given the importance of PA in early development, and the preschool period as a sensitive phase for acquiring motor skills, this study aimed to examine the effects of the “Grow+” hip-hop program on motor competence (MC), perceived motor coordination (PMCoor), and PA levels in preschoolers. Methods: A quasi-experimental within-subjects design was used, including 37 children aged 3 to 4 (M = 4.29 ± 0.58). The intervention included two 4-week hip-hop periods, separated by a 4-week break. Four assessments were conducted using the MCA battery (MC), PA’s pictorial scales, and questionnaires completed by caregivers and educators (PMCoor). Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Spearman correlations. Results: MC and PA levels showed a nonsignificant but positive trend across the study. Significant improvements in MC were observed during intervention periods, while no significant changes occurred during the break. Educators’ perceptions of PMCoor remained unchanged, despite improvements in MC. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the “Grow+” hip-hop program contributed meaningfully to improvements in MC and PA levels among children in early childhood. These findings accentuate the potential efficacy of structured rhythmic movement interventions in promoting motor development throughout early childhood, thereby supporting their integration into early childhood education curricula.
How learning to cycle influences lifestyle: An eight country pooled analysis and person-centered approach Isaac Estevan, An De Meester, Sanne L.C. Veldman, Cristiana Mercê, Marco Branco, Frederico Lopes, David Catela, Elina Hasanen, Arto Laukkanen, Patrizia Tortella, Cristina Sá, Boris Jidovtseff, Ricardo Fujikawa, Xavier García-Massó, Rita Cordovil Journal of Transport and Health, 2025 Cycling plays a key role in the promotion of individual, community, and planetary health. However, no previous study has explored the interplay between the process of learning to cycle and cycling habits, adopting a person-centered approach. To understand which variables promote the learning process (i.e., acquisition) and lifelong bicycle use on a daily and recreational basis (i.e., engagement), the aim of this study was to identify different clusters of individuals with similar characteristics related to their cycling acquisition and engagement. A cross-country pooled sample of 8542 individuals aged 28.9 ± 14.4 years (58.5 % female) was assessed via online questionnaire. A Self-Organizing Map (SOM) was used to classify and visualize the values of individuals in the variables tested. A K-means cluster analysis resulted in seven profiles. Participants in profiles characterized by a relatively old age to learn to cycle (i.e., 7-8 years-old; n > 1500 mainly from Mexico and the United Kingdom) typically learned to cycle on a conventional bicycle, were taught by their father, mother, or both, and mainly cycle for leisure. Participants in profiles characterized by a relatively young age to learn to cycle (i.e., 5 years old; n > 1500 mainly from Belgium and Finland) typically learned to cycle by using a wide variety of bicycles (i.e., balance-bicycle, two-training wheels, one-training wheel and conventional bicycle) and without guidance from a specific significant other. The identified clusters highlight the diversity of cycling engagement across different demographics and geographic locations. The results provide valuable insights to plan and guide targeted policies and interventions to promote cycling as a mode of transportation and recreational activity. • Cyclist profiles were identified based on a 9-country pooled sample of 8542 individuals. •Seven profiles were revealed based on how participants learned to cycle and their current cycling habits. •The type of bicycles used to learn to cycle was found to be an important factor in the profiles. •Profile characteristics give direct input for practical implications to promote cycling.
Analysis of body composition, motor skills and mental health in the injury risk in youth soccer and futsal athletes Oliveira, Rafael, Tavares, Bárbara, Mercê, Cristiana, Santos, Fernando Motricidade, 2025 A prática desportiva, particularmente no âmbito da formação de jovens atletas, é essencial para o seu desenvolvimento integral, abrangendo as dimensões físicas, psicológicas e sociais. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar diferenças entre atletas de futebol e futsal, considerando variáveis antropométricas, motoras e psicológicas, bem como explorar possíveis correlações entre estas dimensões. Participaram 228 atletas masculinos e femininos de ambas as modalidades, sendo utilizados instrumentos como a bateria Motor Competence Assessment (MCA) para avaliação da competência motora, o Inquérito de Morbidade Referida (IMR) para levantamento de lesões, e o Questionário das Características Psicológicas Relacionadas com o Rendimento Desportivo (CPRD) para análise de variáveis psicológicas. Igualmente foi avaliada a composição corporal através do peso e altura. Os resultados demonstraram que os atletas de futebol apresentaram maior incidência de lesões em comparação com os de futsal (p = 0,014), enquanto o desempenho motor foi significativamente superior no futebol em testes como os saltos laterais, horizontais e shuttle run (p < 0,001). Além disso, ambas as modalidades obtiveram percentis máximos nos testes de atirar e pontapear, refletindo a influência da especificidade das modalidades. As características psicológicas apresentaram relações limitadas com a competência motora, sendo observadas apenas algumas correlações no futebol feminino. Conclui-se que as especificidades das modalidades influenciam diretamente as competências motoras e as incidências de lesões, sublinhando a necessidade de estratégias de treino personalizadas e integradas para otimizar o desempenho e prevenir lesões em cada contexto desportivo.
Move4Future: implementation and effects of a pilot physical exercise programme for children and youth at risk from multiproblem families Cristiana Mercê, Vera Simões, Liliana Ramos, Miguel Silva, Nancy Brígida, Anabela Vitorino, Marco Branco, Rafael Oliveira Retos, 2025 Introduction and Objective: Multi-problem families include several risk factors (e.g., mental health and weight issues). Physical exercise could be a strategy to prevent, treat and overcome numerous disorders. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the effects of implementing the Move4Future pilot program, in children and adolescents, on the following variables: i) anxiety levels, ii) body composition, iii) physical fitness, and iv) physical activity levels. Methodology: Ten participants (10.61±2.40 years) completed a 12-week physical exercise program with a weekly frequency of one session and were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. The Revised Manifest Anxiety Scale for Children, body mass, height, triceps skinfold, calf skinfold, relaxed arm circumference, waist circumference, calf circumference, and the FITescola® battery tests (push-ups, horizontal jump, agility, shoulder flexibility and lower limb flexibility) were applied. Results and Conclusions: The main results showed a lower anxiety trait, although this change was not statistically significant (z=-1.832, p=0.067), a significant increase in stature (z=-2.197, p=0.028), a significant decrease in body mass index (z=-2.366, p=0.018), and in waist circumference (z=-2.201, p=0.028). The Move4Future pilot program shows improvement in average values of anxiety levels, body composition and upper strength in physical fitness. However, a multi-component intervention, including families and more sessions per week, may be important for better results.
Improving Motor Competence of Children: The “Super Quinas” Intervention Program in Portuguese Primary Schools Luis P. Rodrigues, Rita Cordovil, Júlio A. Costa, André Seabra, José Guilherme, Susana Vale, Carlos Luz, Fábio Flôres, Maria João Lagoa, Gabriela Almeida, Vítor P. Lopes, Cristiana Mercê, Pedro Tiago Esteves, Sara Santos, Vanda Correia, João Serrano, Rui Mendes, Rui Matos, Vânia Loureiro, Carlos Neto, _ _ Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 2025 Objectives: The objective of this study was to describe the effects of an extra hour of a structured motor program on the motor competence (MC) of children 6–10 years old.. Design: The need for movement interventions to enhance MC among school-aged children has gained vital importance in the last years, given the negative secular trends reported. Hence, the Portuguese Football Federation organized an intervention program on MC to be implemented on the extracurricular time of the Portuguese primary schools: the Super Quinas program. Methods: Thirty-nine schools from all of Portugal were assigned to intervention and control condition, with a total of 1034 children (6–10 y old) completing all the program (77.7%). The Super Quinas intervention comprised of 1 hour of activity per week, led by a physical educator teacher during extracurricular activities for 12 wees. MC was assessed using the Motor Competence Assessment (MCA) before and at the end of the program (January and April 2023). Normative results of the MCA were used to compare changes between pre and posttest according to experimental or control condition. Results: Results showed a general improvement (P ≤ .001) for all subscales (Locomotor, Manipulative, Stability) and total MCA. More importantly, the experimental group showed significant and positive differences, when compared with the control group, in the Stability (P = .007), Manipulative (P = .015), and total MCA results (P = .018) after controlling for gender, age, and baseline effect. Conclusions: The Super Quinas intervention program proved that adding 1 hour of structured movement program to the regular primary school schedule can lead to greater development of MC in school-age children.
Learning to Cycle: Body Composition and Balance Challenges in Balance Bikes Versus Training Wheels Cristiana Mercê, David Catela, Rita Cordovil, Mafalda Bernardino, Marco Branco Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 2025 Background/Objectives: Empowering our children and youth to cycle empowers them to pursue a healthier, fuller, and more responsible life. The present study implemented the Learning to Cycle program with the following aims: (i) to promote learning to cycle; (ii) to investigate and compare the use of different learning bicycles, i.e., balance bicycle (BB) and bicycle with training wheels (BTW); (iii) to investigate the influence of body composition during this learning process. Methods: The program was implemented through a quasi-experimental study involving two intervention groups, with pre- and post-test evaluations. The program was applied to 50 children (M = 5.82 ± 0.94 years, 23 girls) who did not know how to cycle previously. One group explored the BB and the other the BTW for six sessions, followed by four more sessions with the conventional bicycle (CB) for both groups. The assessment of independent cycling was considered as the ability to perform, sequentially and unaided, and the various cycling milestones: self-launch, ride, and brake. The children’s body composition was accessed by the BMI’s percentile and classification according to their age and sex. Results: The program had a success rate of 88.24% for acquiring independent cycling, with 100% success in the BB group and 76.92% in the BTW group. The BB children learned significantly faster to self-launch, ride, brake, and cycle independently. Children with higher BMI percentiles faced greater challenges in achieving balance milestones. Conclusions: BB are recommended, especially for overweight and obese children, as they help develop balance from the onset, and showed to be more efficient in learning to cycle than the BTW.
Learning to Cycle: A Cross-Cultural and Cross-Generational Comparison Rita Cordovil, Cristiana Mercê, Marco Branco, Frederico Lopes, David Catela, Elina Hasanen, Arto Laukkanen, Patrizia Tortella, Guido Fumagalli, Cristina Sá, Boris Jidovtseff, Linus Zeuwts, An De Meester, Farid Bardid, Ricardo Fujikawa, Sanne Veldman, Silvija Zlatar, Isaac Estevan Frontiers in Public Health, 2022
