Perspective on strategies for matching across age and sex in physiology research: “recreationally active” is not good enough
Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscular fitness are powerful confounders in age and sex-related comparisons. This paper provides a perspective on the benefits and limitations of matching participants by physical activity behaviour, objectively measured fitness and normative fitness percentiles....
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| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2024.1517355/full |
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| author | Allyson M. Schweitzer Daniel Fuller Matthew D. Fliss Cameron J. Mitchell |
| author_facet | Allyson M. Schweitzer Daniel Fuller Matthew D. Fliss Cameron J. Mitchell |
| author_sort | Allyson M. Schweitzer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscular fitness are powerful confounders in age and sex-related comparisons. This paper provides a perspective on the benefits and limitations of matching participants by physical activity behaviour, objectively measured fitness and normative fitness percentiles. Data presented herein are a subset of a larger study, and highlight that matching by physical activity, does not necessarily match on other metrics like physical fitness, especially when age-related comparisons are being made. Our data showed that young and older adults matched by physical activity behaviours showed the expected higher CRF and muscular fitness in male and younger participants, but older adults had higher CRF percentiles. This suggests that matching by physical activity behaviour may select older adults with relatively higher CRF. Researchers must choose their matching method carefully to ensure the appropriate aspects of fitness have been matched between groups. For clarity, they should also report when certain aspects of fitness have not been accounted for and give an explanation as to why. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f3c7cd6c03394f67836d6fa51a3bce13 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-f3c7cd6c03394f67836d6fa51a3bce132025-01-07T06:50:56ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2025-01-011510.3389/fphys.2024.15173551517355Perspective on strategies for matching across age and sex in physiology research: “recreationally active” is not good enoughAllyson M. Schweitzer0Daniel Fuller1Matthew D. Fliss2Cameron J. Mitchell3School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaDepartment of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, CanadaSchool of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaSchool of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaCardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscular fitness are powerful confounders in age and sex-related comparisons. This paper provides a perspective on the benefits and limitations of matching participants by physical activity behaviour, objectively measured fitness and normative fitness percentiles. Data presented herein are a subset of a larger study, and highlight that matching by physical activity, does not necessarily match on other metrics like physical fitness, especially when age-related comparisons are being made. Our data showed that young and older adults matched by physical activity behaviours showed the expected higher CRF and muscular fitness in male and younger participants, but older adults had higher CRF percentiles. This suggests that matching by physical activity behaviour may select older adults with relatively higher CRF. Researchers must choose their matching method carefully to ensure the appropriate aspects of fitness have been matched between groups. For clarity, they should also report when certain aspects of fitness have not been accounted for and give an explanation as to why.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2024.1517355/fullagingexercisematchingphysical activityself-reportsex comparisons |
| spellingShingle | Allyson M. Schweitzer Daniel Fuller Matthew D. Fliss Cameron J. Mitchell Perspective on strategies for matching across age and sex in physiology research: “recreationally active” is not good enough Frontiers in Physiology aging exercise matching physical activity self-report sex comparisons |
| title | Perspective on strategies for matching across age and sex in physiology research: “recreationally active” is not good enough |
| title_full | Perspective on strategies for matching across age and sex in physiology research: “recreationally active” is not good enough |
| title_fullStr | Perspective on strategies for matching across age and sex in physiology research: “recreationally active” is not good enough |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perspective on strategies for matching across age and sex in physiology research: “recreationally active” is not good enough |
| title_short | Perspective on strategies for matching across age and sex in physiology research: “recreationally active” is not good enough |
| title_sort | perspective on strategies for matching across age and sex in physiology research recreationally active is not good enough |
| topic | aging exercise matching physical activity self-report sex comparisons |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2024.1517355/full |
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