The aim of this study was to evaluate the body mass index (BMI), selected eating behaviour and physical fitness of children aged 10 years attending general education and sports classes in Siedlce. ...Subject children were 272 girls and boys mean aged 10.8-years attending general education (GC) and sports classes (SC). Survey questionnaires consisted of 18 questions about eating behaviour and physical activity. The BMI was determined for each child and compared with reference percentile charts. Eurofit testing was used to measure physical fitness. Increased physical fitness was positively correlated with beneficial eating behaviour among children. SC children showed significantly more frequent dietary intakes of milk, dairy products, poultry, fish, wholegrain bread, groats and vegetables when compared to GC ones. However, significantly more GC children ate red meat more frequently along with snacking on confectionery and savouries than SC ones. Most subjects fell within correct BMI percentile ranges. Underweight was more frequent in SC children at 12.85% than in GC children 9.88%. Overweight and obesity was most often observed in GC children (respectively 19.73% and 5.51%) compared to SC ones (respectively 14.37% and 3.8%). SC children achieved significantly better results in the Eurofit tests. The highest levels of physical fitness and most favourable BMIs and eating behaviour were observed more often among SC children than GC ones. The results confirmed the beneficial health effects of physical fitness for children.
The present research intends to examine the effect of a fencing training program on Musculoskeletal fitness of youth population diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. ...Musculoskeletal fitness (Mf) is a multidimensional design comprising the integrated function of muscle strength, muscle endurance, and flexibility constructed to enable the performance of work against one's own body weight or external resistance. One of the suggested tests for Mf evaluation is the Eurofit Test Battery. The study population (N=40) children, mean age of 10 at the beginning of the study diagnosed with ADHD divided into two groups: one is the experimental fencing training group (N=20, 10 boys and 10 girls) applying fencing training program combined with general physical activity program and specifically fencing physical activity program; compared to the second group, the Physical Activity (PA) control group (N=20, 10 boys and 10 girls) about the same age and characteristics undergoing only a Physical Education (PE) training program. The duration of the research was 9 months, twice a week, 90 minute each time. The end results as reflected from the Eurofit Physical Fitness Test Battery indicate superiority of the fencing program over the PA program. The control group undergoing PA program achieved definitive higher results only for the Flamingo Balance test and for the muscular upper body development as reflected by the Arm Bent while all other test where in favor of Fencing Training program. Fencing Training program was found to yield higher impact on Physical Fitness than the control group undergoing PA training program as reflected from the Eurofit Physical Fitness Test Battery, supporting the presumption of Fencing Training program superiority on improving the Mf of ADHD diagnosed children over plain PA program.
Objetivo: Valorar si existe alguna relación entre el rendimiento académico y la condición física en un estudio realizado en dos centros educativos con características similares. Material y Método: ...Estudio experimental cuantitativo, en el que han participado 144 alumnos de ambos sexos de edades comprendidas entre los 14 y los 18 años que cursan 4o curso de Enseñanza Secundaria Obligatoria (ESO). Se ha analizado la condición física mediante test estandarizados donde se han recogido datos referentes a la resistencia (test de Cooper), velocidad (test de 50 metros lisos), flexibilidad (test de flexión profunda de tronco) y fuerza abdominal (test de abdominales por minuto). Resultados y Conclusiones: Los resultados muestran una relación estadísticamente significativa entre el rendimiento académico y la actividad física de los alumnos en las pruebas de resistencia, velocidad y flexibilidad, aunque los mismos no han determinado relación significativa entre el rendimiento académico y la prueba de abdominales por minuto.
Individuals with High-Functioning Autism present impairments in communication, social interaction, and motor development. A low level of motor skills, namely difficulties in gross and fine mobility, ...and in motor control, discourage individuals with High-Functioning Autism from being involved in physical activities, resulting in fewer opportunities for social interaction. There is not much evidence available about the effects of regular swimming exercise and/or aquatic therapy on health promotion in adults with High-Functioning Autism. An adult male (22 yrs) diagnosed with High-Functioning Autism participated in a combined 6-month swimming and aquatic therapy program (two sessions/week, 60 min each). The pre- and post-intervention assessments consisted of physical fitness, balance, functional ability, and psychomotor tests. The post-intervention assessments showed improvements in the standing long jump (+100%), hand grip force (+71.7%), bend arm hang test (+123.1%), and the physiological parameters in the 6 min walk test (+10.2%). On the opposite, decrements in the sit-up (−12%) and sit-and-reach test (−6.3%) were observed. It was noted that the participant frequently lost interest and focus quickly, resulting in the abandonment of the exercise. Conclusively, there is a great need for further research on this topic examining a larger adult population.
All of the studies regarding movement have concluded that physical exercises (PEs) hold a very important part in improving people’s quality of life (QL). QL is comprised of several indicators ...influencing each other. One of these indicators is physical fitness (PF). PF is directly influenced by the degree of physical activity (PA) and it represents a precondition of being healthy physically, mentally and socially. The purpose of this research was to identify certain exercise programs which are meant to increase the PF of university students. In this regard, we introduced, in the physical education lessons of the experimental group, exercises from Pilates, Tae Bo, Stretching and Workout at Fitness Machines. Control group carried out typical activities of the ordinary Physical Education curriculum throughout the research. The PF components reported improvements in the values of the experimental group at the end of the research. There were significant improvements for balance (p = 0.009), speed of execution (p = 0.006), flexibility (p = 0.013), explosive strength (p = 0.001), static strength (p = 0.009), muscular endurance of the trunk (p = 0.0008), muscular endurance of the arms (p = 0.010) and agility (p = 0.0001). The results of our research support the idea of diversifying physical education lessons with students and orienting physical activities towards increasing their QL, because the improvement of QL for all age groups has become a major focus of modern society.
: The purpose of the study was to assess the level of physical fitness (PF) and somatic structure in children training a Korean martial art (ITF taekwondo) and untrained peers and to determine the ...associations of children’s BMI with that of their parents.
: The research material consisted of data from 135 individuals, representing 45 child-mother-father triplets, including 22 triplets with children practicing taekwondo and 23 triplets with untrained children. The children had an average chronological age of 10.08 ± 1.35 years, whereas the age of mothers and fathers was 38.09 ± 4.56 years and 40.57 ± 4.70 years, respectively. Traits analyzed included those evaluated by selected physical fitness tests from the Eurofit Physical Fitness Test battery, body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) in children, and BMI in parents. Statistical analyses included the chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Spearman’s correlations, with a significance level set at α = 0.05.
: The results showed no significant differences in the somatic structure, physical fitness, BMI, and WHtR in the children studied. However, a tendency was observed for children attending ITF taekwondo classes to be characterized by higher levels of physical fitness. Higher BMI was found in the parents of the trained children and positive correlations were found between the BMI of the trained children and their parents.
: Identifying and studying the effect size of PA determinants in adolescents, with a particular focus on the influence of parents, may be the key to improving the health of future generations.
Background: Human motor skills are the sum of all motor abilities and manifestations of activity. Somatic and functional differences between women and men may affect sex-related differences in motor ...skills. The aim of this research was to analyse sex-related differences in the physical fitness of young people aged 16 to 18 years.Material and methods: The research comprised 194 students attending randomly selected high schools in the Rzeszów district, including 104 females and 90 males aged 16 to 18 years. The research tool was the Eurofit test battery. The Mann-Whitney U test was used in the analyses.Results: There were statistically significant differences in the following tests for all studied groups: Sit-and-Reach, Standing Broad Jump, Hand Grip, Sit-Ups, 10×5 metre Shuttle Run, Endurance Shuttle Run (p>0.05). In the group of 18-year-olds, there were statistically significant differences between sexes in the Flamingo Balance test (p=0.003), whereas between the groups of participants aged 17 (p<0.001) and 18 years (p<0.001), differences were noted in the Bent Arm Hang test.Conclusions: Females, regardless of age, are more flexible than males. In turn, males, regardless of age, are characterised by greater explosive power of the lower limbs, greater static strength, strength endurance of the trunk muscles, greater speed and agility, and cardio-respiratory endurance. In the case of 18-year-olds, females were characterised by better static balance. In 17- and 18-year-old males, functional strength of the shoulder girdle and arms was higher in males than females. The speed of movements of the upper limb was not a differentiating feature between the examined females and males.
Childhood parental loss, parental separation, poverty and rearing in orphanages have negative impact on physical, psychological and social well-being in orphans. Yoga has a profound knowledge base ...and practical solutions for such traumatic consequences. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of a Yoga program on the physical fitness of adolescents staying in an orphanage. A total of 72 apparently healthy adolescents participated from an orphanage. They were randomized (based on their age and gender) and allocated into two groups as Yoga group (n = 40; 14 girls, 26 boys and age = 12.69 ± 1.35) and Wait-List Control group (WLC) (n = 32, 13 girls, 19 boys and age = 12.58 ± 1.52). The Yoga group (YG) underwent 3 months of Yoga program in a schedule of 90 mins/day and 4 days/week, whereas the WLC group underwent day-to-day activities. European physical fitness test battery (EUROFIT) was assessed in both groups at the beginning and end of the program. The group × time interaction analysis showed significant (p < 0.05) positive differences in Flamingo left-leg balance (FLL), Flamingo right-leg balance (FLR), left-hand tapping test (PTL), right-hand tapping test (PTR), sit and reach (SAR), standing broad jump (SBJ), sit-ups (SUP), bent arm hang (BAH) test, shuttle run (SHR) in YG compared to WLC group. Further analysis done on group × time interaction along with Bonferroni-corrected p-values showed significant positive differences in FLL, FLR, PTL, PTR, SAR, SBJ and SUP in YG compared to WLC group. The results suggested that the 3-month Yoga program was found useful for the young orphan adolescents in improving their physical fitness.
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