To investigate the influence of playing multiple games on multiple days on youth soccer medical encounter rates.

Prospective cohort survey study.

Medical facility at the 2008 Schwan's USA Cup soccer tournament.

Players presenting to the medical facility for game-related medical evaluation.

Date, game and half of game for each medical encounter.

Game play-related medical encounters per 1000 match hours (MH).

211 players surveyed with 195 eligible and completed questionnaires. There were 4.06, 5.14 and 3.92 medical encounters/1000 MH on 11, 12 and 13 July, respectively, with no significant difference in injury incidence. There was no difference in medical encounter rates of second games compared with first games of the day (p=0.126). Daily medical encounter rates were 5.65, 8.95, 7.83, 6.94 and 4.62/1000 MH on 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 July, respectively, with statistically significant differences on 16 July (p<0.001) and 17 July (p=0.022) compared with 15 July. Encounter rates of second games compared with first games of the day showed no difference (p=0.385). A linear test for trend from 15 to 19 July was not significant (p=0.092).

The USA Cup format did not show either increased medical encounter rates from the cumulative total of games played or a consistently increased rate in the second game of the day compared with the first. Players, coaches, parents and administrators can feel confident that this tournament format does not pose an additional risk of injury.

Physical activity (PA) is beneficial for general health and the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. Interventions to increase PA range from community-wide interventions such as mass media campaigns to individual interventions such as behaviour change programmes. Previous systematic reviews have investigated the effectiveness of these interventions,1–4 but information on the relative cost effectiveness (ie, the costs per unit of benefit gained) of the interventions is limited.

To provide a systematic review of interventions to increase PA and to calculate their cost effectiveness.

Seven databases were searched for relevant studies published between 2000 and June 2008. Studies included in two systematic reviews1 4 were also...

Sedentary time is independently associated with an increased risk of metabolic disease. Worksite interventions designed to decrease sedentary time may serve to improve employee health.

The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility and use of a pedal exercise machine for reducing workplace sedentary time.

Eighteen full-time employees (mean age+SD 40.2+10.7 years; 88% female) working in sedentary occupations were recruited for participation. Demographic and anthropometric data were collected at baseline and 4 weeks. Participants were provided access to a pedal exercise machine for 4 weeks at work. Use of the device was measured objectively by exercise tracking software, which monitors pedal activity and provides the user real-time feedback (eg, speed, time, distance, calories). At 4 weeks, participants completed a feasibility questionnaire.

Participants reported sitting 83% of their working days. Participants used the pedal machines an average of 12.2+6.6 out of a possible 20 working days and pedalled an average of 23.4+20.4 min each day used. Feasibility data indicate that participants found the machines feasible for use at work. Participants also reported sedentary time at work decreased due to the machine.

Findings from this study suggest that this pedal machine may be a feasible tool for reducing sedentary time while at work. These findings hold public health significance due to the growing number of sedentary jobs in the USA and the potential of the device for use in large-scale worksite health programmes.