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Active Commuting and Physical Fitness: A Systematic Review

Author

Listed:
  • Duarte Henriques-Neto

    (CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-004 Lisbon and Portugal)

  • Miguel Peralta

    (CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-004 Lisbon and Portugal
    ISAMB, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1649-004 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Susana Garradas

    (Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-004 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Andreia Pelegrini

    (Health and Sport Sciences Center, State University of Santa Catarina, 3664-8600 Coqueiros - Florianopolis, Brazil)

  • André Araújo Pinto

    (Health and Sport Sciences Center, State University of Santa Catarina, 3664-8600 Coqueiros - Florianopolis, Brazil)

  • Pedro António Sánchez-Miguel

    (Department of Didactics of Music, Plastic and Body Expression, Teacher Training College, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain)

  • Adilson Marques

    (CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-004 Lisbon and Portugal
    ISAMB, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1649-004 Lisbon, Portugal)

Abstract

Physical fitness (PF) is considered an excellent biomarker of health. One possible strategy to improve PF levels is active commuting. This review, performed accordingly to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews guidelines includes scientific articles published in peer-reviewed journals up to December 2019 that aim at examining the relationship between active travel/commuting and PF. The search was performed in three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science). Sixteen studies were included in this review. Findings from the 16 studies were unclear. From the eleven studies on children and adolescents screened, eight were cross-sectional, one prospective cohort, one quasi-experimental, and one experimental. From the five studies on adults, four were experimental and one cross-sectional. Body mass, waist circumference, skinfolds, fat mass, cardiorespiratory fitness, upper and lower strength tests were performed in children, adolescents, and adults. Agility and speed tests were performed only in the young age groups. Majority of the investigations on young ages and adults have shown positive effects or relationships between active commuting and several attributes of PF. However, to avoid misconceptions, there is a need for future robust investigation to identify potential mediators or confounders in this relationship. More robust investigations are essential to understand how and whether decision-makers and public health authorities can use active travel/commuting as a strategy to improve PF in all ages.

Suggested Citation

  • Duarte Henriques-Neto & Miguel Peralta & Susana Garradas & Andreia Pelegrini & André Araújo Pinto & Pedro António Sánchez-Miguel & Adilson Marques, 2020. "Active Commuting and Physical Fitness: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-15, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:8:p:2721-:d:345880
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Emilio Villa-González & Jonatan R. Ruiz & Palma Chillón, 2015. "Associations between Active Commuting to School and Health-Related Physical Fitness in Spanish School-Aged Children: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-12, August.
    2. Robert J. Noonan & Lynne M. Boddy & Zoe R. Knowles & Stuart J. Fairclough, 2017. "Fitness, Fatness and Active School Commuting among Liverpool Schoolchildren," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-12, August.
    3. David Moher & Alessandro Liberati & Jennifer Tetzlaff & Douglas G Altman & The PRISMA Group, 2009. "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(7), pages 1-6, July.
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    8. Isabel María Martín-López & Olalla García-Taibo & Antoni Aguiló Pons & Pere Antoni Borràs Rotger, 2024. "Environmental and Psychosocial Barriers to Active Commuting to University in a Spanish University Community," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-11, February.
    9. Simon Kolb & Alexander Burchartz & Doris Oriwol & Steffen C. E. Schmidt & Alexander Woll & Claudia Niessner, 2021. "Indicators to Assess Physical Health of Children and Adolescents in Activity Research—A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-13, October.
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    11. Deanna M. Hoelscher & Leigh Ann Ganzar & Deborah Salvo & Harold W. Kohl & Adriana Pérez & Henry Shelton Brown & Sarah S. Bentley & Erin E. Dooley & Amir Emamian & Casey P. Durand, 2022. "Effects of Large-Scale Municipal Safe Routes to School Infrastructure on Student Active Travel and Physical Activity: Design, Methods, and Baseline Data of the Safe Travel Environment Evaluation in Te," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-17, February.
    12. Ellen Haug & Otto Robert Frans Smith & Jens Bucksch & Catherina Brindley & Jan Pavelka & Zdenek Hamrik & Joanna Inchley & Chris Roberts & Frida Kathrine Sofie Mathisen & Dagmar Sigmundová, 2021. "12-Year Trends in Active School Transport across Four European Countries—Findings from the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-15, February.
    13. Ho Yeung Lam & Sisitha Jayasinghe & Kiran D. K. Ahuja & Andrew P. Hills, 2023. "Active School Commuting in School Children: A Narrative Review of Current Evidence and Future Research Implications," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(20), pages 1-20, October.
    14. Aron Laxdal & Bjørn Tore Johansen & Elling Bere & Bård Erlend Solstad, 2022. "Towards More Sustainable Sports: Analyzing the Travel Behavior of Adolescent Soccer Players in Southern Norway," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-7, July.
    15. Sharon Levi & Orna Baron-Epel & Riki Tesler & Yossi Harel-Fisch, 2022. "Patterns of Active Travel and Physical Activity among Adolescents in Israel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-14, October.
    16. João Martins & Adilson Marques & Élvio Rúbio Gouveia & Francisco Carvalho & Hugo Sarmento & Miguel González Valeiro, 2022. "Participation in Physical Education Classes and Health-Related Behaviours among Adolescents from 67 Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-16, January.

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