Journal of Kinesiology & Wellness

Assessing Spanish-language Patient Education Materials for Comprehension: A Pilot Feasibility Study with Implications for Physical Activity and Wellness Promotion

Jafra D. Thomas, Emily N. Rodriguez, Kaitlyn I. Kuan, Giselle Martinez — Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Physical activity, health literacy, and wellness promotion strategies target several health behaviors simultaneously (e.g., exercise and nutrition education). However, comprehension of Spanish-language patient education materials is rarely assessed directly with the cloze procedure (a fill-in-the blank reading test). This study's purpose was to evaluate the feasibility of adapting methods from one 1977 dissertation study, which evaluated comprehension of primary school education materials by comparing cloze and open-response recall scores. The present study used adult patient education materials on the health benefits of dietary fiber from two unaffiliated organizations: a mobile health unit (MHU) and a university hospital (UH). Materials had an 8th-grade reading level. Two groups of college adults, with varied Spanish literacy skills, participated in the study in August 2024 (n₁ = 4, n₂ = 6, counter-balanced design). Qualitative feedback was collected through an online questionnaire. Percent-correct scores from the cloze and open-response tests suggested inadequate to partial comprehension in general: MHU (cloze: M = 37.09%, SD = 9.59%; open-response: M = 36.67%, SD = 15.32%); UH (cloze: M = 33.78%, SD = 8.28%; open-response: M = 44.00%, SD = 18.38%). However, convergent validity between cloze and open-response scores was not well-supported through correlation tests, per Bonferroni correction. Replication was feasible. The study protocol took one hour to administer. Participants found tasks understandable and acceptable. The preliminary findings mirrored comprehension results of previous studies. Studies with larger sample sizes, however, should be used to confirm the cloze procedure's validity with Spanish-language patient education materials.

Ninth-Grade Students' Physical Activity Levels and Self-Efficacy

Yang Song, Sally Zengaro, Franco Zengaro — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose: This study examined ninth-grade students' physical activity levels within a week of a regular school semester and their self-efficacy to overcome barriers to physical activity. Methods: One hundred thirty-one students from a 6A midwestern state high school in the United States completed the study where the authors collected students' data on their Physical Activity levels via the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A), Self-efficacy in Physical Activity assessed via Adolescents' self-efficacy to overcome barriers to physical activity scale (Dwyer et al., 2012), and the general demographic data. The authors intended to examine differences in physical activity levels among ethnic groups and between male and female students, and to identify significant factors that predict physical activity levels. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in physical activity levels among ethnic groups (e.g., M_Caucasian = 2.87; SD = 0.67; M_{African American} = 2.73; SD = 0.63; F(3,122) = .824, p > .05). Moreover, male and female students reported similar physical activity levels (M_Male = 2.93; SD = 0.74, M_Female = 2.83; SD = 0.67; t(129) = .791, p > .05). The physical activity readiness levels and the self-efficacy scores on overcoming the internal, social, and responsibility barriers were the only significant factors in predicting students' physical activity levels.

An Examination of an Isometric Core Rotation Test and its Relationship to Baseball Exit Velocity in Division II Collegiate Players

Nathan May, Jeffrey Willardson — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The purpose of this study was to examine an isometric core rotation test and its relationship to baseball exit velocity in Division II collegiate players. This was a replication study based on Spaniol et al. (2010). Data collection involved assessing isometric core rotation force with a digital crane scale, followed by measuring baseball exit velocity with a radar gun. Both assessments were conducted for three trials on the dominant and non-dominant sides, respectively. The reliability of the three test trials for the isometric core rotation and baseball exit velocity tests for the non-dominant and dominant sides were assessed with Cronbach's alpha values. The reliability values were as follows: isometric core rotation test non-dominant side (0.873), isometric core rotation test dominant side (0.955), baseball exit velocity non-dominant side (0.942), and baseball exit velocity dominant side (0.922). Independent t-tests were conducted to assess differences between the dominant and non-dominant sides in isometric mean core rotation force and baseball mean exit velocity, respectively. Pearson correlations were conducted to assess the relationship between the isometric mean core rotation force and the baseball mean exit velocity. The key finding was a significant (p = 0.026) and moderate positive relationship (r = 0.570) between the dominant-side isometric mean core rotation force and the dominant-side baseball mean exit velocity. Additionally, a significant (p = 0.002) and moderate positive relationship (r = 0.733) was found between the non-dominant side isometric mean core rotation force and the dominant side baseball mean exit velocity. The isometric mean core rotation force was not significantly different between the dominant and non-dominant sides (p = 0.86); whereas the baseball mean exit velocity was significantly different between sides (p = 0.0004). Therefore, on the dominant side, players had learned to effectively transfer isometric core rotational force into a dynamic bat swing, as reflected in baseball exit velocity. These findings highlight the importance of isometric core rotation strength in baseball players, due to its moderate relationship with baseball exit velocity. The use of the crane scale, as in this study, represents a reliable, inexpensive, time-efficient, and practical method for monitoring sports-specific core fitness in baseball players.

Facilitators of and Barriers to Physical Activity Promotion among Physical Therapists who Treat Clients with Neurological Conditions: A Qualitative Study Informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework

Winston Kennedy, Carol Curtin , Jafra Thomas, April Bowling — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Healthcare provider communications about physical activity (PA) lead to meaningful and sustained increases in PA, but physical therapists (PTs) do not consistently promote PA for clients with neurological conditions (NC). The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand factors that could support implementation strategies related to PTs promoting PA for clients with NC. The Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) was used to develop a semi-structured interview guide. One-on-one online interviews were conducted in 2022 with 10 physical therapists licensed to practice in the United States whose caseloads include clients with NC. Responses were first sorted into a priori factors derived from previous research (TDF codebook), then reappraised to ensure other factors were not overlooked (inductive analysis). Responses about facilitators corresponded to three factors: Personal (e.g., sense of responsibility, personal connections to community opportunities); Professional (e.g., a specific PT course on PA promotion); and Client-related (e.g., highly motivated). Barriers corresponded to two factors: Professional (e.g., limited continuing education, lack of guidance/communication from PT-associations), and Client-related (e.g., lack of low-cost/free services to offer, provider safety concerns). There are opportunities for PTs to increase PA promotion when treating clients with NC, as outlined in PT education. PTs should also utilize and advocate for community-based partnerships and expand education/resources from PT associations beyond traditional communication channels.