The Influence of Familiarization on Physical Fitness Test Results in Primary School-Aged Children

Purpose:The number of familiarization sessions in fitness assessments seems to be critical and inconsistent. Therefore, the primary aim of this research was to determine the number of familiarization attempts that stabilize the results in particular physical fitness tests. The secondary aim was to establish the test reliability through familiarization sessions.Methods:Thirty-nine primary school children participated in this research (age: 10.8 years, body mass: 40.6 ± 8.9 kg, and body height: 145.3 ± 7.2 cm). During six sessions, with one session every third day, participants performed the following tests to assess explosive strength (vertical jump and standing long jump), coordination (polygon backward and polygon with turn) and flexibility (toe touch).Results:The results of repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that there were significant increases (p < .05) in the polygon backward and polygon with turn performances from the first to third familiarization session. The standard error of measurement decreased as sessions progressed, indicating little within subject variation between the coordination test results following a familiarization period. Statistically significant differences were identified in the vertical jump test from the fourth test session compared with the first session. On the other hand, statistically significant differences for the standing long jump test were only found in the final session compared with the initial session. In the toe touch test, there were no significant increases from the first to the final familiarization session. All tests showed high a reliability coefficients, ranging from 0.979 to 0.991.Conclusion:Polygon backward and polygon with turn performance may be a practical, reliable method to assess coordination in primary school-aged children. However, completion of at least 3 practice sessions is suggested for participants to obtain a stable score. In addition, both jump tests are feasible for assessing skill-related fitness in young children, although the scientific reliability of the two tests should be questioned and the tests should be tailored to fit the age group of the children.

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Adverse Collateral Effects of COVID-19 Public Health Restrictions on Physical Fitness and Cognitive Performance in Primary School Children

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182111099 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (21) ◽

pp. 11099

Author(s):

Camille Chambonnière ◽

Nicole Fearnbach ◽

Léna Pelissier ◽

Pauline Genin ◽

Alicia Fillon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Primary School ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

School Children ◽

Primary School Children ◽

Mitigation Measures ◽

Standing Long Jump ◽

Collateral Effects ◽

Long Jump

The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the COVID-19-related confinement and social restrictions affected the levels of physical fitness and academic achievement in primary school French children. A total of 206 primary school children (106 before confinements and 100 after restrictions) completed a test battery evaluating their anthropometric characteristics, body compositions, activity preferences, cognitive performances and physical fitness. The performance of the Standing Long Jump was better at T0 (169.9 ± 142.5 cm) compared to T1 (135.2 ± 31.4 cm) (p = 0.0367), and the Medicine Ball Throw performance declined from T0 to T1 (297.3 ± 81.1 cm vs. 249 ± 52 cm; p < 0.0001). Motor skills (26.9 ± 6.2 s vs. 30.9 ± 5.4 s; p < 0.0001), the shuttle-run test (stages completed), Maximal Aerobic Speed, and the estimated VO2max were lower at T1 compared to T0 (p < 0.0001). Executive functioning was found to be greater at T0 compared to T1 (p < 0.0001). Explicit liking or wanting for sedentary or physical activities did not change between T0 and T1. Both overall physical fitness and cognitive performance drastically declined among primary school French children with the COVID-19-related public health restrictions, which reinforces the need to urgently develop preventive strategies in anticipation of further mitigation measures.

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THE EFFECTS OF THE ARTHISTIC GYMNASTICS PROGRAM ON PHYSICAL FITNESS OF ADOLESCENTS

Facta Universitatis Series Physical Education and Sport ◽

10.22190/fupes190413034m ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 385

Author(s):

Marija Miletić ◽

Hadži Saša Ilić ◽

Miljan Jeremić ◽

Milutin Parlić ◽

Igor Ilić ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Education ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Vertical Jump ◽

Experimental Period ◽

Main Phase ◽

Control Group ◽

Measuring Instruments ◽

Standing Long Jump ◽

Long Jump ◽

Discriminatory Analysis

The aim of the research is to determine the effects of the arthistic gymnastics program on the Physical fitness of adolescents. The sample of participants consisted of 28 participants, males, aged 14 years ± 6 months, seventh grade of "Bubanjski Heroji" elementary school in Niš. The sample was divided into two subgroups. The experimental group (EG) consisted of 14 participants who, during the experimental period, realized the program of artistic gymnastics during the main phase of a physical education class, ten weeks in two classes of 45 minutes. The control group (CG) consisted of 14 participants who during the experimental period realized the program contents of regular physical education in the main phase of physical education. The sample of motorized measuring instruments consisted of three variables of explosive power (standing long jump, triple jump off the site and vertical jump) and three variants of sprint run (20m flat out with a flying start flat out with a flying start, 30m flat out with a flying start flat out with a flying start and 50m flat out with a flying start flat out with a flying start). The program "Statistica" 8.0 for Windows was used, for calculation of basic statistics, canonical discriminatory analysis and multivariate analysis of covariates. The results of the study showed that there are statistically significant effects of the use of the artistic gymnastics exercises in the main part of the physical education course on the Physical fitness of the adolescent of the EG at the end of the experimental period.

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HOW DOES PARTICIPATION IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AFFECT PHYSICAL FITNESS ELEMENTS IN CHILDREN AGED 5-9?

European Journal of Fitness, Nutrition and Sport Medicine Studies ◽

10.46827/ejfnsm.v2i1.102 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Aslihan Buksur ◽

Umut Canli ◽

Cüneyt Taskin

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Body Weight ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Core Strength ◽

Explosive Strength ◽

Jump Test ◽

Standing Long Jump ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Long Jump ◽

Run Test

This study was conducted to examine the effect of participation in physical activity on physical fitness parameters in children aged 5-9 years. A total of 83 children, 44 girls, and 39 boys, studying in a private primary school participated in the study voluntarily. The Eurofit Test Battery was used to evaluate the physical fitness levels of children. Within the scope of the Eurofit test battery; the body weight and height values of the children were measured. In the determination of motoric performances, flamingo balance, disc touch, sit-reach, standing long jump, sit-up, bent-arm hanging, and 5x10 meter sit-up tests were used. A personal information form prepared by the researchers was used to determine demographic characteristics. Whether the data is normally distributed or not was checked with kurtosis and skewness values. In the statistical analysis dimension; descriptive analysis (mean, standard deviation, median, min-max value, ratio, frequency), independent samples t test (Independent Samples t test) were used. In terms of children having an athlete license, a significant difference was found in their height, standing long jump test, sit-up test, bent-arm hanging test, 5x10 meter sit-up run test scores (p>0.05). A significant difference was found in the findings of height, body weight, standing long jump test, sit-up test, bent arm hanging test, 5x10 meter sit-up run test in terms of children's participation in traditional children's games (p>0.05). As a result, it has been determined that children's having an athlete's license increases their height, explosive strength, core strength endurance, upper extremity strength endurance, agility, and again, the students' participation in traditional children's games has positive effect on height, body weight, explosive strength, core strength endurance, upper extremity strength endurance and agility. Article visualizations:<img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0891/a.php" alt="Hit counter" />

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Changes in physical fitness and anthropometrics differ between female and male recruits during the Finnish military service

BMJ Military Health ◽

10.1136/bmjmilitary-2020-001513 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. bmjmilitary-2020-001513

Author(s):

Matti Santtila ◽

K Pihlainen ◽

J Vaara ◽

K Tokola ◽

H Kyröläinen

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Military Service ◽

Military Training ◽

Test Results ◽

Male And Female ◽

Standing Long Jump ◽

Fitness Tests ◽

Long Jump ◽

Training Programmes

IntroductionMilitary training programmes are often similar for male and female recruits despite sex differences in physical performance that may influence training adaptations during military service. The present study aimed to compare changes in physical fitness and anthropometrics between Finnish female and male recruits during military service.MethodsA total of 234 690 male and 3549 female recruits participated in fitness tests at the beginning and end of military service between 2005 and 2015. Anthropometric measurements were body mass, height, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Fitness tests consisted 12 min running, standing long jump, and sit-ups and push-ups.ResultsNo changes were observed in anthropometrics, while both sexes improved most of the fitness test results. After adjustment for service time, branch, age, initial fitness test results, BMI and WC, improvement in running test performance was 158 m (95% CI 142 to 173, p≤0.001) greater in male than female recruits. Similarly, improvements were larger in male recruits for push-ups (5 reps/min, 95% CI 5 to 6, p≤0.001), sit-ups (2 reps/min, 95% CI 2 to 3, p≤0.001) and standing long jump (12 cm, 95% CI 11 to 13, p≤0.001) when compared with women.ConclusionsThe study revealed sex differences in adaptations to the standardised military training. Both male and female recruits improved their physical fitness, but smaller gains were observed in women using the same training programme. The mechanisms explaining sex differences in adaptations to military training, and whether tailored training programmes are needed specifically for female recruits to reduce sex differences during military service, warrants further studies.

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Physical Fitness Testing and Screening Reveal a Gateway to Identify Locomotive Disorders: Retrospective Study of a Japanese Elementary School Population

Global Pediatric Health ◽

10.1177/2333794x211062459 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 2333794X2110624

Author(s):

Syuro Ito ◽

Takahiko Fukumoto ◽

Hidetaka Imagita

Keyword(s):

Elementary School ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Fitness Testing ◽

Physical Fitness Test ◽

Receiver Operating Characteristic Curves ◽

School Based ◽

Jump Test ◽

Standing Long Jump ◽

Long Jump ◽

Physical Fitness Testing

This retrospective epidemiological study investigated the relationship between physical fitness testing and locomotive disorder screening results among elementary school children in Japan. The test and screening results of 1033 children from a single elementary school between 2016 and 2018 were examined. Multiple regression analysis was performed for each gender of children of grades third and fourth to generate receiver-operating characteristic curves. Of the 69 children with parent-identified locomotor problems, 29 (42%) had physical fitness test score of mean ± 2 SD. For the standing long jump test in fourth grade girls, the results differed significantly ( P < .001; cut-off, 127 cm) for children whose parents did (n = 7) and did not (n = 84) suspect a possible locomotive disorder. Physical fitness testing in combination with school-based screening for locomotive disorders may be useful for identifying and accurately diagnosing these disorders in children.

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Cognitive Functioning, Physical Fitness, and Game Performance in a Sample of Adolescent Soccer Players

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12135245 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (13) ◽

pp. 5245

Author(s):

Alejandro Sabarit ◽

Rafael E. Reigal ◽

Juan P. Morillo-Baro ◽

Rocío Juárez-Ruiz de Mier ◽

Auxiliadora Franquelo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Fitness ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Assessment Instrument ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Intelligence Scale ◽

Speed Test ◽

Jump Test ◽

Standing Long Jump ◽

Long Jump ◽

Game Performance

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between cognitive functioning, physical fitness, and game performance in a sample of adolescent soccer players. Eighty-five boys from a soccer team in Rincon de la Victoria (Malaga, Spain), aged between 12 and 16 years, participated in the study. The D2 and Global-Local Attention (GLA) tests were used to evaluate selective and divided attention, respectively, and the Coding and Symbol Search tests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV) were used for processing speed. To analyze physical fitness, the standing long jump test, speed test, and Course-Navette test of the Alpha-Fitness battery were used. Finally, the Game Performance Assessment Instrument (GPAI) was used to analyze sports performance in three vs. three small-sided games. The analyses showed that cognitive functioning was related to game performance. The results obtained suggest the importance of cognitive functions for performance in this sport.

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The influence of circuit training on the development of strength and speed-power abilities in basketball players of 18-19 years old

Physical Education of Students ◽

10.15561/20755279.2019.0206 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 89-92

Author(s):

I.V. Strelnikowa ◽

G. G. Polevoy

Keyword(s):

Vertical Jump ◽

Training Process ◽

Circuit Training ◽

Basketball Players ◽

Physical Exercises ◽

Jump Test ◽

Standing Long Jump ◽

Long Jump ◽

Process Material

Purpose: to determine the influence of circuit training on the level of strength and speed-strength abilities development in basketball players of 18-19 years old at the pre-competitive and competitive stages of the training process. Material: athletes (n = 32) were divided into 2 groups of 16 people. The pedagogical experiment lasted 7 months. Tests were applied to determine speed-power abilities: standing long jump test (broad jump, cm); vertical jump test. Strength was evaluated by the following tests: pull-up bars; hanging leg raises (stall bars)). Results: it was determined that power and speed-power abilities are leading in basketball. It was proposed the set of physical exercises performed on the principle of circuit training. It was confirmed the expediency of the circuit training applying for the development of power and speed-power abilities in basketball players. It is established that the circular training in the preparatory and final parts of the training increases the speed and speed-strength indicators of basketball players. Conclusion: It is recommended the circuit training applying at the pre-competitive and competitive stages of the training process.

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The Daily Mile: 15 Minutes Running Improves the Physical Fitness of Italian Primary School Children

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16203921 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (20) ◽

pp. 3921 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Brustio ◽

Mulasso ◽

Marasso ◽

Ruffa ◽

Ballatore ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Fitness ◽

Primary Schools ◽

School Context ◽

Primary School Children ◽

Control Group ◽

Significant Group ◽

Standing Long Jump ◽

Long Jump ◽

Run Test ◽

Experimental Group

The Daily Mile™ is an innovative school-based intervention that requires children to run or jog outside for 15 min at a self-selected pace during class time. Today, only one study has investigated the efficacy of The Daily Mile on physical fitness, which was conducted with Scottish children. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of The Daily Mile in Italian primary schools. A total of 486 children participated in The Daily Mile for 3 months (experimental group), whereas 309 children continued their daily school routine (control group). The 6-min run test, standing long jump, body mass index, and waist-to-height ratio were assessed. Their teachers completed surveys for assessing the intervention acceptability. After correction for age and gender, significant group × time interactions were observed in the 6-min run test and standing long jump results. In the post-test period, the experimental group showed improvement in the 6-min run test and standing long jump results. Overall, the teachers were satisfied with the program and found it suitable for their school context and easy to implement. The Daily Mile was successfully implemented and smoothly accepted in the day routine of Italian primary schools.

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Association of Physical Fitness with Intelligence and Academic Achievement in Adolescents

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17124362 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (12) ◽

pp. 4362 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Francisco Javier Gil-Espinosa ◽

Palma Chillón ◽

José Carlos Fernández-García ◽

Cristina Cadenas-Sanchez

Keyword(s):

Academic Achievement ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽

Muscular Strength ◽

General Intelligence ◽

School Year ◽

Jump Test ◽

Standing Long Jump ◽

Long Jump ◽

Multidisciplinary Perspective

Physical fitness, intelligence and academic achievement are being studied from a multidisciplinary perspective. In this line, studies to advance our understanding of intelligence and academic achievement could be relevant for designing school-based programs. Our study analyzed the relationship between components of physical fitness including cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and flexibility and general intelligence and academic achievement in adolescents. We recruited 403 adolescents (53.6% boys) with a mean age of 13.7 ± 1.2 years from a secondary school in Spain with a medium socioeconomic status, during the 2015/2016 school year. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed by the 20-m shuttle run, muscular strength with the standing long jump test and flexibility with the sit-and-reach test. General intelligence was measured by both the D48 and the Raven tests. School grades were used to determine academic achievement. Linear regression analyses showed that cardiorespiratory fitness was positively associated with intelligence in both the D48 (all β ≥ 0.184, p ≤ 0.016) and the Raven tests (all β ≥ 0.183, p ≤ 0.024). Muscular strength, flexibility and overall fitness were not associated with intelligence (all β ≤ 0.122, p ≥ 0.139). Cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and flexibility were positively associated with academic achievement (all β ≥ 0.089, p ≤ 0.038), except muscular strength, which was not significantly associated with Spanish language or mathematics, (all β ≤ 0.050, p ≥ 0.200). Overall, cardiorespiratory fitness was positively associated with intelligence and academic achievement.

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PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, PHYSICAL FITNESS AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN

Baltic Journal of Sport and Health Sciences ◽

10.33607/bjshs.v1i108.4 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 1 (108) ◽

pp. 9-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Irina Klizienė ◽

Laura Kimantienė ◽

Ginas Čižauskas ◽

Laura Daniusevičiūtė-Brazaitė ◽

Gintautas Cibulskas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Primary School Children ◽

Physically Active ◽

Academic Achievements ◽

Jump Test ◽

Fitness Tests ◽

Long Jump ◽

And Mathematics ◽

N 93

Background.The purpose of this study is to estimate physical activity, physical fitness and assessment of mathematical achievements in primary schoolchildren. Methods. The study involved 1st grade students (N = 93), 45 of which were girls and 48 were boys. The flexibility test, the long jump test, 3 × 10 m speed shuttle run test, a medical (stuffed) 1 kg ball pushing from the chest test were used. Physical activity was measured using Children’s Physical Activity Questionnaire. Academic achievements were assessed using Mathematical diagnostic progress tests and mathematical learning achievements according to curriculum content. Results. It turned out that both boys (95.87 MET/min/week) and girls (91.30 MET / min/ week) were physically active in physical education lessons (p > 0.05). Long jump results ranged from 105.2 cm (girls) to 118.3 cm (boys), statistically significant differences were detected (p < 0.05) The best score of the girls’ shuttle running 3 × 10 m was 9.55 s, for boys it was 9.2 s, the worst performance time for boys was 13.68 s, for girls – 13.54 s (p < .05). Mathematics Diagnostic Progress Tests for both girls and boys indicated satisfactory levels. Conclusion. We should note that all 4 fitness tests had a positive, linear association with physical fitness tests and mathematics test scores.

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