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INTRODUCTION: Physical activity (PA) is a major contributor to healthy aging. However, physical inactivity is prevalent among the elderly in Germany, particularly in institutionalized settings such as nursing homes. This paper aims to describe the study objectives, design, methods, assessment types, collection schedules and considerations for analyzing the data within the BaSAlt study on facilitators and barriers for PA promotion in nursing homes. METHODS: We designed the BaSAlt study as a participatory intervention study with multiple measurement points in six to eight nursing homes with a total of approx. 200 residents using four main modules: (1) setting-level analysis of physical activity patterns, physical activity-related climate and physical activity-related interaction with 'significant others,' and organizational facilitators and barriers to physical activity, (2) physical-activity related individual-level analysis of objective and self-reported physical activity and sedentary behavior, a geriatric assessment with established procedures, assessment of people's activity and health biographies (biographical mapping) as well as their motivational, subjective well-being and distress status, and (3) a counseling module that integrates counseling at the setting level as well as individual physical activity counseling for residents. In module (4) evaluation, the effects of integrated counseling with regard to the implementation of PA promotion strategies are analyzed. DISCUSSION: This study will extend our knowledge of physical activity promotion in German nursing homes. Its findings will inform governmental authorities, care professionals, and academics on how to reach a particular group, characterized by inactivity, multimorbidity, and a high prevalence of dementia, residing in nursing homes, a setting that will gain further relevance in the future.

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OBJECTIVES: Associations between the perceived social and physical environment and self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and screen time (ST) were examined among adolescents in four European countries. METHODS: Representative samples were surveyed with standardised methodologies. Associations between environmental variables and meeting MVPA recommendations and tertiles of ST were tested in gender-specific logistic regression models. Moderation by country and country-specific relationships were also examined. RESULTS: The most consistent findings across countries were found for the significant associations between neighbourhood social environment and MVPA in both boys and girls. Significant associations with the physical environment varied more between countries and by gender. The most consistent negative associations with ST were found for the social environmental variable of having parental rules for spending time outside the home. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings provided evidence for the generalisability of the associations between environmental correlates and MVPA across four European countries. The findings show clear differences in correlates for MVPA and ST. Further research is needed to better understand the unique aspects of the social and physical environment which explain each of the two behaviours.

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BACKGROUND: The promotion of a physically active lifestyle has become an important issue in exercise therapy. Exercise-only interventions are frequently used for the rehabilitation of individuals with chronic diseases. These do indeed improve functional and physical performance, but they are not alone sufficient to initiate long lasting changes in physical-activity behaviour. Behaviour-related aspects are rarely integrated into exercise-therapy interventions. OBJECTIVE: Based on theories of health behaviour change, effective techniques for changing physical-activity behaviour in the context of exercise therapy will be identified. METHODOLOGY: The starting point is a theory-driven definition of individual behavioural determinants of physical activity and the identification of techniques for influencing the determinants. Subsequently, the potential of the techniques for enhancing physical activity is evaluated. The available evidence was reviewed on the basis of international reviews and control-group studies from the German rehabilitation setting. Finally, recommendations are offered for designing exercise-based interventions to promote participation in and adherence to physical activity. RESULTS: A total of 28 techniques for the promotion of physical activity behaviour were identified. An approach that proved particularly effective was self-monitoring of physical activity behaviour in a variety of combinations with other techniques, such as contracting, feedback, rewards, generating one's own varied exercise experience, action planning and barrier management. DISCUSSION: The integration of behaviour-related techniques in the context of exercise therapy interventions shows great promise as a means of initiating and promoting a physically active lifestyle.

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Exercise therapy constitutes the better part of rehabilitative treatment. However, in rehabilitation research the scientific analysis of exercise therapy only plays a minor role. Taking the theoretical model of rehabilitation and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) into account, we propose a heuristic model of aims and effects of exercise therapy and define a system of methodological target setting. This system offers a background for an expanded scientific discussion about biopsychosocial determinants and effects of exercise therapy as well as quality development and the evaluation of exercise treatment concepts within and across indications in the context of multimodal medical rehabilitation.

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