Background: Physical fitness (PF) levels correlate with health hallmarks at all ages. In this study, w aimed to determine the PF level of schoolchildren from the Campania Region (Italy) through ...health-related PF (HRPF) components, taking into account body weight and sport practice (SP). Methods: PF level was determined in 565 schoolchildren aged 10−13 (11.7 ± 1.0 yrs; m: 353, f: 212) using some of the Eurofit battery tests. Results: 77% children practiced sport, boys more than girls (86% vs. 63%, respectively; p < 0.05). Boys performed better than girls (p < 0.05) in the Plate Tapping, Standing Broad Jump, Bent-Arm Hang, and 10 × 5 m Shuttle Run tests; girls performed better in the Sit-and-Reach Test (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Overweight/obese status negatively affects the muscular strength of lower limbs, even if it progressively improves during growth. SP was revealed to be a determinant in performance only in some PF tests, likely due to the heterogeneous training level among boys and girls who practice sport.
Despite the numerous health benefits of being physically active, children are not active enough. Various researchers have indicated that intervention programs improve physical fitness levels. Still, ...only a few have focused on improving physical fitness levels by incorporating technology. HOPSports Brain Breaks
are designed and presented as physical activity solutions with online videos requiring the participants to imitate the movements. These videos are 2-5-min classroom activity breaks. This study determined the effect of a three-month HOPSports Brain Breaks
intervention program on the physical fitness levels of Grade 6-learners. Physical fitness was measured with the EUROFIT test battery. The experimental group consisted of 79 children (26 boys and 47 girls) and the control group of 47 children (16 boys and 33 girls). The mean age for the entire group was 11.92 (±0.36) years. The results indicated that there was a statistically (
≤ 0.05) and practically (
≥ 0.20) significant difference between the experimental and control group for percentage body fat; stork balance; plate tapping; sit-and-reach; standing jump; sit-ups; and 10 × 5 m shuttle run and 20 m shuttle run between the pre-and post-test. Therefore, considering the results mentioned above, the HOPSports Brain Breaks
intervention program can indeed contribute to the improvement of physical fitness, and motor skills of children. Therefore, future studies should be conducted to determine the effect of HOPSports Brain Breaks
between genders as well as what impact it will have on academic performance.
Research confirms the effectiveness of training based on specific sports discipline in the therapy of people with intellectual disabilities. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of ...climbing activities on the physical fitness of people with ID. This is a randomised, controlled trial. In total, 68 people with diagnosed mild or moderate intellectual disabilities took part in the study. An experimental group participated in the activities on an artificial climbing wall for a period of 15 weeks. The assessment of physical fitness included selected samples from the Eurofit and Eurofit Special tests set. Statistical analysis was carried out with Statistica 13 programme. After the end of the programme, the balance measured by a walk on a bench and the strength of upper limbs assessed by bent arm hang test, push a 2 kg medicine ball and dynamometric measurement of handgrip force were significantly improved in the experimental group. The index of the relative strength of both limbs, depending on body weight, also increased. Participation in climbing activities has a positive effect on the level of some components of the physical fitness of people with ID and maybe an alternative form of therapy.
•Balance and motor tasks of children with ID can be improved by trampoline intervention program.•Trampoline is an effective training that provides deep proprioception as well as other sensory ...inputs.•Trampoline can facilitate the overall development of children with ID.•Students with ID require intervention programs that are fun and interesting in order to remain active.
Balance and motor impairments are most evident among inactive individuals with ID that might be particularly susceptible to a loss of basic functioning and further limit the person's autonomy in activities of daily living. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of a 12-week trampoline exercise intervention program on motor and balance ability of school aged children with intellectual disability (ID). Eighteen healthy schools aged children (mean age=10.3±1.6 years) with moderate ID were assigned either to an experimental group (n=9) or a control group (n=9). The experiment group attended a 12 weeks trampoline training intervention program consisting of daily individualized 20-min sessions, while the control group followed the regular school schedule. Balance was assessed using three tasks of increased difficulty (double-leg stance with eyes opened or closed, and one-leg stance with eyes opened) performed while standing on an electronic pressure platform (EPS). Motor performance of all participants was tested using sit and reach test and long and vertical jump tests all derived from the Eurofit Test Battery of physical fitness. Trampoline intervention resulted in significant improvements of participants’ performance in all motor and balance tests. In conclusion, trampoline training can be an effective intervention for improving functional outcomes and can be recommended as an alternative mode of physical activity programming for improving balance and motor performance. Furthermore, it also supports the idea that individuals with ID require enjoyable and interesting intervention programs such as the trampoline program used in this study so as to remain active and consequently to facilitate their overall development and promote a more active and healthier way of life.
SUMMARY Introduction. Therefore, the main aim of this dissertation is an assessment of the somatic and motor development of ten to twelve-year-old children from Polish families who live in London and ...a comparison of the results with the analogical measurements children live in Poland. Material and methods. The material of the research are the results of the measurements of 113 children of Polish origin who live in London and 151 children who live in Poland. The research was performed in the autumn of 2012. Chosen somatic features (body height, body mass, lean body mass – LBM, the percentage of fat in the body) and the level of motor skills (measured by the use of chosen tests of the European Physical Fitness Test – EUROFIT: running speed, abdomen muscles force, shoulders force, static force, spine flexibility) were analyzed. Results. There are significant differences between the body composition of children from Polish families who live in London and of those who live in Poland. Eleven and twelve-year-old children from London are characterized by a significantly higher percentage of fat in the total body mass than the children who live in Poland. Although children from London do not have a lower level of body height and mass than the children from Poland, they are characterized by a significantly lower level of motor skills, which was visible especially in case of speed, power endurance, explosive power and flexibility. STRESZCZENIE Wstęp. Za główny cel pracy przyjęto próbę oceny poziomu rozwoju somatycznego i motorycznego 10–12-letnich dzieci z rodzin polskich mieszkających Londynie oraz porównanie wyników badań z analogicznymi pomiarami dzieci mieszkających w Polsce. Materiał i metody badań. Materiał opracowania stanowią wyniki pomiarów 113 dzieci pochodzenia polskiego mieszkających w Londynie oraz 151 dzieci mieszkających w Polsce. Badania przeprowadzono jesienią 2012 roku. Analizie poddano poziom wybranych cech somatycznych (wysokość ciała, masę ciała, masę ciała szczupłego – LBM, procentową zawartość tłuszczu w organizmie) oraz poziom sprawności motorycznej mierzonej przy zastosowaniu wybranych prób Europejskiego Testu Sprawności Fizycznej – EUROFIT (szybkość biegowa, siła mięśni brzucha, siła ramion, siła statyczna, gibkość kręgosłupa). Wnioski. Wystąpiły wyraźne różnice w zakresie składu ciała pomiędzy dziećmi z rodzin polskich mieszkających w Wielkiej Brytanii a badanymi w kraju. U dziewcząt i chłopców w wieku 11 i 12 lat z Londynu znacząco większy niż u rówieśników z polskiej grupy porównawczej był udział masy tłuszczu w ogólnej masie ciała. Dzieci mieszkające w Londynie, choć nie ustępowały poziomem wysokości i masy ciała rówieśnikom z Polski to charakteryzowały się znacznie niższym poziomem sprawności motorycznej, co szczególnie widoczne było w zakresie szybkości, wytrzymałości siłowej, a także siły eksplozywnej i gibkości.
SUMMARY Introduction. Therefore, the main aim of this dissertation is an assessment of the somatic and motor development of ten to twelve-year-old children from Polish families who live in London and ...a comparison of the results with the analogical measurements children live in Poland. Material and methods. The material of the research are the results of the measurements of 113 children of Polish origin who live in London and 151 children who live in Poland. The research was performed in the autumn of 2012. Chosen somatic features (body height, body mass, lean body mass – LBM, the percentage of fat in the body) and the level of motor skills (measured by the use of chosen tests of the European Physical Fitness Test – EUROFIT: running speed, abdomen muscles force, shoulders force, static force, spine flexibility) were analyzed. Results. There are significant differences between the body composition of children from Polish families who live in London and of those who live in Poland. Eleven and twelve-year-old children from London are characterized by a significantly higher percentage of fat in the total body mass than the children who live in Poland. Although children from London do not have a lower level of body height and mass than the children from Poland, they are characterized by a significantly lower level of motor skills, which was visible especially in case of speed, power endurance, explosive power and flexibility. STRESZCZENIE Wstęp. Za główny cel pracy przyjęto próbę oceny poziomu rozwoju somatycznego i motorycznego 10–12-letnich dzieci z rodzin polskich mieszkających Londynie oraz porównanie wyników badań z analogicznymi pomiarami dzieci mieszkających w Polsce. Materiał i metody badań. Materiał opracowania stanowią wyniki pomiarów 113 dzieci pochodzenia polskiego mieszkających w Londynie oraz 151 dzieci mieszkających w Polsce. Badania przeprowadzono jesienią 2012 roku. Analizie poddano poziom wybranych cech somatycznych (wysokość ciała, masę ciała, masę ciała szczupłego – LBM, procentową zawartość tłuszczu w organizmie) oraz poziom sprawności motorycznej mierzonej przy zastosowaniu wybranych prób Europejskiego Testu Sprawności Fizycznej – EUROFIT (szybkość biegowa, siła mięśni brzucha, siła ramion, siła statyczna, gibkość kręgosłupa). Wnioski. Wystąpiły wyraźne różnice w zakresie składu ciała pomiędzy dziećmi z rodzin polskich mieszkających w Wielkiej Brytanii a badanymi w kraju. U dziewcząt i chłopców w wieku 11 i 12 lat z Londynu znacząco większy niż u rówieśników z polskiej grupy porównawczej był udział masy tłuszczu w ogólnej masie ciała. Dzieci mieszkające w Londynie, choć nie ustępowały poziomem wysokości i masy ciała rówieśnikom z Polski to charakteryzowały się znacznie niższym poziomem sprawności motorycznej, co szczególnie widoczne było w zakresie szybkości, wytrzymałości siłowej, a także siły eksplozywnej i gibkości.
Abstract Background The relative lengths of the index finger to the ring finger (2D:4D) is sexually dimorphic and is thought to be a correlate of prenatal sex steroids (low 2D:4D = high prenatal ...testosterone and low prenatal oestrogen). In adults there have been reports that low 2D:4D is consistently associated with high sports performance. Aims To investigate correlations between 2D:4D and fitness levels in children. Study design Right 2D:4D and body size were measured, in addition to flexibility, speed, endurance and strength (Eurofit tests). Subjects: 922 boys and 835 girls (mean ages (years): 10.8 ± 1.01 and 10.07 ± 1.00 respectively). Outcome measures: height, mass, BMI, triceps and subscapular skinfolds, 20 m shuttle run, sit and reach, standing broad jump, hand grip strength, 10 × 5 m sprint, and the sit and reach test. Results Boys significantly outperformed the girls in the 10 × 5 m sprints, the 20 m shuttle run, standing broad jump, and hand grip strength. In boys but not girls, 2D:4D was significantly negatively correlated with scores in all these tests except the standing broad jump. In girls but not boys, 2D:4D was significantly positively correlated to stature, mass, BMI and waist circumference. Conclusions It is suggested that high prenatal testosterone and low prenatal oestrogen (low 2D:4D) is implicated in high sprinting speed, endurance and hand grip strength in boys. In girls low prenatal testosterone and high prenatal oestrogen is associated with large body size.
Objective. This study aimed to investigate the association between motor coordination (MC), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and academic achievement (AA) among school students aged 11 to 13 in the ...West Bank/Palestine. Methods. A total of 252 students were assessed through tests measuring gross and fine motor coordination (Flamingo balance, plate tapping, and other tests). The CRF was evaluated by the 3-minute step test, while AA was measured using grade point average (GPA) and subject-specific grades. Results. A significant correlation was recorded between MC, CRF, and AA (P = .00), rs range (0.436-0.718); Students who engaged in physical activity demonstrated better MC, CRF, and AA compared to their inactive counterparts (P = .00, Cohen’s d ranged between 0.53 and 1.35). Conclusion. Enhanced MC and CRF significantly impacted AA, with effect sizes ranging from moderate to large. Promoting physical activity interventions is vital to improve MC and CRF which could positively improve academic achievement among school students.
Students’ health, physical development, and physical ability are a primary task of the Bulgarian state, school and family. Very important for its effective solution is the correct combination of work ...and rest, proper nutrition, body strengthening and regular physical activity, which are also the main components of a healthy lifestyle. The aim of this study is to establish the level of physical ability in 6th grade students. To achieve this goal, we have applied the test battery "Eurofit", using 8 out of the 10 possible tests. Based on the results of the tests and analysis, we summarize that the classes in physical education and sports in each age group are of key importance for the physical and mental growth of students. In the age group studied by us, the peculiarities in the development of the child's organism also have a significant influence on the growth. It is obvious that the classes in physical education and sports are not enough to reach high physical potential of children, so it is recommended for them to be engaged in out of class sports or activities.
Abstract Background Level of physical fitness is related to the functional status of most of the bodily functions and so it appears to be very important to identify perinatal factors influencing ...physical fitness. Aim The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of birth weight on the level of physical fitness in children 6–7 years of age. Subjects and method Physical fitness was assessed using EUROFIT tests in 28,623 children, aged 6–7 years, from rural areas in Poland. Children below the 10th percentile for birth weight for gestational age were defined as small for gestational age (SGA). The influence of birth weight on parameters of fitness was assessed by means of covariance analysis. Results With the controls of age, sex and body size, children of low birth weight have shown significantly lower levels of body flexibility and running speed. The leg strength of children with SGA turned out to be significantly lower only in 7-year-old boys. Conclusion This study has revealed the significant influence of birth weight on physical fitness. The results suggest the importance of early intervention and its possible benefits for developing and maintaining the proper level of physical fitness further in life.
