Use of Reinforcement to Increase Independence in Physical Fitness Performance of Profoundly Mentally Retarded Youth

1992 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 975-982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet L. Rogers-Wallgren ◽  
Ron French ◽  
Vic Ben-Ezra
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Mentally Retarded ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Single Subject ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Verbal Praise ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Upper Body Strength ◽  
The Difference

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of verbal praise and verbal praise plus music or vibratory reinforcement on the level of independent performance on abdominal strength and endurance, lower back and hip flexibility, and upper body strength/endurance exercises of 12 profoundly mentally retarded, ambulatory youth, ages 10 to 18 years. A single-subject AB design with a control group was used to assess the difference in performance of physical fitness under the baseline condition of no reinforcement and under the two experimental conditions of verbal praise and verbal praise plus music or vibratory reinforcement. In contrast to previous results reported in the literature, verbal praise and verbal praise plus music or vibratory reinforcement were not effective in increasing the level of independence in performing selected physical fitness tasks.

Associations of Maternal Prepregnancy Body Mass Index and Gestational Weight Gain With Physical Fitness in Childhood

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 165-171
Author(s):  
Konstantinos D. Tambalis ◽  
Stamatis Mourtakos ◽  
Labros S. Sidossis
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Lower Body ◽  
Gestational Weight ◽  
Prepregnancy Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Fitness Tests ◽  
Upper Body Strength ◽  
Lower Body Strength

Purpose: To investigate the potential associations of maternal prepregnancy body mass index (mppBMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) with physical fitness in children. Methods: A random sample of 5125 children and their mothers was evaluated. The mothers provided data contained in their medical booklets and pregnancy ultrasound records. The data from 5 physical fitness tests (eg, 20-m shuttle run, 30-m sprint, vertical jump, standing long jump, and small ball throw) were used to assess children’s cardiorespiratory fitness, speed, explosive power, and lower and upper body strength, respectively. Results: MppBMI was inversely associated with cardiorespiratory fitness (b = −0.02), lower body strength (b = −1.01), upper body strength (b = −0.07), and speed (b = 0.04). Also, GWG was unfavorably associated with cardiorespiratory fitness (b = −0.02), lower body strength (b = −1.12), upper body strength (b = −0.03), and speed (b = 0.03), after adjusting for sex, birth weight, and children’s BMI (all P values < .05). Children of mothers with an mppBMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 and excess GWG had almost 30% and 20% increased odds for low performances in physical fitness tests than those of mothers with an mppBMI < 25 kg/m2 and adequate GWG, respectively. Conclusions: Antenatal factors such as increased mppBMI and excess GWG could play an unfavorable role in the future health of the offspring.

scholarly journals Secular trends in health-related physical fitness among 11–14-year-old Croatian children and adolescents from 1999 to 2014

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario Kasović ◽  
Lovro Štefan ◽  
Vilko Petrić
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Lower Body ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Upper Body Strength ◽  
Lower Body Power

AbstractThe main purpose of the study was to analyze secular trends of health-related physical fitness in 7–14-year-old Croatian children and adolescents from 1999 and 2014. In this observational cross-sectional study, we recruited 5077 children and adolescents between ages 11 and 14 (50.8% girls) from five primary schools located in the capital city of Zagreb. Physical fitness performance was tested from 1999 until 2014. Physical fitness performance included: (1) body-mass index (measure of body size), (2) standing broad jump (measure of lower-body power), (3) polygon backwards (measure of general coordination and agility), (4) sit-ups in 60 s (measure of upper-body strength), (5) sit-and-reach test (measure of flexibility) and (6) 6-min run test (measure of cardiorespiratory fitness). Boys performed better in all physical fitness tests, except for sit-and-reach test (p < 0.001). In boys, between 1999 and 2014, body size, upper-body strength and coordination/agility increased, while flexibility, lower-body power and cardiorespiratory fitness decreased. During the same period, girls experienced an increase in body size, lower-body power, upper-body strength, coordination/agility and flexibility, while cardiorespiratory fitness decreased. This study shows that cardiorespiratory fitness, flexibility and coordination/agility decrease, while upper-body strength increases in both sexes. These findings should serve as an avenue for national monitoring system to screen and track biological development in children and adolescents.

The Effects of Resistance and Martial Arts Training in 6- to 8-Year-Old Boys

1996 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bareket Falk ◽  
Guy Mor
Keyword(s):  
Training Program ◽  
Martial Arts ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Strength Exercises ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Weekly Training ◽  
Upper Body Strength ◽  
Prepubertal Boys ◽  
Shuttle Run

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of a 12-week training program on the motor performance of 6- to 8-year-old prepubertal boys (n = 14). Each subject participated in a 40-min session twice a week, which included three sets of upper body strength exercises (1 to 15 repetitions/set), unregimented lower body strength exercises, coordination, balance, and martial arts skills. The control group included 15 prepubertal boys in the same age range. All subjects were pre- and posttested on 20-s sit-ups, seated ball put, standing broad jump, sit-and-reach flexibility, 6 × 4-m shuttle run, and a coordination task. The experimental group improved significantly (p < .05) more than the control group in the sit-ups and in the long jump. Both groups improved (p < .05) in the coordination task. No significant changes were observed in body weight, seated ball put, flexibility, and shuttle run. A twice-weekly training program seems to improve performance in selected motor tasks in 6- to 8-year-old boys.

scholarly journals Field-Based Health-Related Physical Fitness Tests in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adilson Marques ◽  
Duarte Henriques-Neto ◽  
Miguel Peralta ◽  
João Martins ◽  
Fernando Gomes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
School Setting ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
School Settings ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Upper Body Strength

Physical fitness (PF) is a multi-component construct and a biomarker of health. Worse PF is related to vulnerability and predicts worse academic achievements. Thus, assessing PF is important to monitor health in youth. This systematic review aimed to identify and inform physical education, health professionals and entities about existing PF batteries and field-tests that can be used in school settings. A comprehensive literature search was carried out in five electronic databases (Academic Search Complete, Education Resources Information Center, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) to identify PF battery protocols that can be carried out in the school setting. Overall, 24 PF batteries were identified. Regarding the PF components assessed, only cardiorespiratory fitness and upper body strength were contemplated in all batteries. Middle-body strength and lower body strength were presented in most batteries (21 and 19 of 24, respectively). Agility (16 of 24) and body composition (16 of 24) were also considered in several batteries, although to a lesser extent. Flexibility (14 of 24) and speed (12 of 24) were the PF components less represented in the batteries. Among the 24 identified PF batteries, 81 PF tests assessing the different PF components were encountered. The advances in the PF field-based assessment in school settings and health in youth resulted in the amplification of the number of existing batteries. Considering the connection between PF and health and the opportunity that the school setting provides to assess fitness in children and adolescents, there is a need for standardization and a consensus of PF assessments in this specific setting.

scholarly journals Increasing Upper Body Strength of Wrestling Athletes through Bulgarian Bag Exercise

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-76
Author(s):  
M. Tobibi Maki ◽  
Berliana Berliana ◽  
Dede Rohmat Nurjaya ◽  
Geraldi Novian
Keyword(s):  
Strength Training ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Group Design ◽  
Hand Grip ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Upper Body Strength ◽  
The Right ◽  
Dynamic Endurance

Wrestling is a fighting sport that requires strength, especially in the upper body. However, the strength training carried out so far is still conventional and monotonous, while literature studies have provided various other, more modern and effective alternatives for strength training, one of which is the Bulgarian Bag. This study aims to examine the effect of training using Bulgarian Bag on the strength of the upper body of wrestling athletes. Research on Bulgarian Bag itself is still relatively small because Bulgarian Bags themselves are still relatively new. The research method used is an experimental method with a pre-test post-test control group design. The subjects of this study were wrestling athletes in West Bandung Regency with 10 male athletes taken by total sampling from the population. The research instrument used was a dynamic endurance hand grip strength test and a push up test which was given 2 times to the subject. Subjects were divided into two groups, namely the experimental group which was given the Bulgarian Bag exercise and the control group which was given the conventional exercise. T-test using SPSS version 24 was performed as data analysis in this study. The results showed that the Bulgarian Bag exercise had a significant effect on increasing the strength of the upper extremity of wrestling athletes. So it can be concluded that training using Bulgarian Bags can be used as the right choice to increase the strength of the upper body of wrestling athletes. The authors suggest integrating these exercises into a structured strength training program.

Birth Weight was Favorably Associated With Physical Fitness in Childhood After Adjustment for Several Perinatal Factors

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Konstantinos D. Tambalis ◽  
Stamatis Mourtakos ◽  
Labros S. Sidossis
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Low Birth Weight ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Infant Growth ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Perinatal Factors ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Upper Body Strength

Background: The purpose was to examine the potential associations of birth weight and infant growth with physical fitness (PF) components in childhood. Method: A random sample of 5125 dyads of children aged 8–9 years and their mothers were evaluated. Telephone interviews were carried out with the use of a standardized questionnaire for the collection of maternal lifestyle factors. Mothers were asked to provide information contained in their medical booklets and pregnancy ultrasound records. Data from 5 PF tests were used to assess cardiorespiratory fitness, speed, and body strength. Linear regression analysis was applied to assess the associations between birth weight and infant growth with PF test performances and logistic regression analysis to evaluate the associations of normal weight versus low birth weight and normal versus accelerated infant growth with PF tests performance categories (low vs high/average). Results: Birth weight was favorably associated with cardiorespiratory fitness (b = 0.12 stage increase per SD increase in birth weight, P = .047), lower body strength (b = 1.07, P = .037), upper body strength (b = 0.10, P = .038), and speed (b = −0.04, P = .001), and infant growth was associated with upper body strength (b = 0.21 cm increase per SD increase in infant weight gain, P < .001) after adjusting for children’s body mass index and several perinatal factors. Low birth weight children had 35% increased odds for low performances in PF tests compared with their normal birth weight counterparts. Conclusion: Low birth weight negatively affects childhood PF, and hence, it could play an unfavorable role in the future health of the offspring.

scholarly journals A Comparative Analysis of the Fitness of Collegiate Dancers as compared to Collegiate Volleyball and Softball Players

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leanna Miller ◽  
Fred Miller III
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Fitness Components ◽  
Physical Demands ◽  
Training Adaptations ◽  
Leg Strength ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Upper Body Strength ◽  
Comprehensive Comparison ◽  
Dance Medicine

Few studies directly compare the various fitness components of collegiate dancers and athletes in acknowledged sports. The limited studies that do exist fail to consider certain variables or to assess multiple fitness components. The purpose of this study was to provide a more comprehensive comparison of collegiate dancers and collegiate volleyball and softball players. We used multiple fitness components as an indicator of the comparative physical demands of these activities, to assess whether the physical demands of collegiate dance may warrant a comparable level of medical support as afforded to the volleyball and softball players. Thirty dancers and thirty volleyball and softball players were tested using six different measurements of physical fitness commonly used in athletic assessments at universities. A two-tailed independent t-test was performed to determine differences between dancers and athletes in each fitness component. Three tests revealed significant differences between the groups, with the dancers having a lower percent body fat and greater flexibility, and the athletes having greater relative upper body strength. No significant differences were found in relative leg strength, core strength, or estimated VO2max. The results of the current study suggest that dance provides training adaptations equivalent to traditional intermittent sports and thus support the use of similar levels of medical care for collegiate dancers to that afforded to collegiate volleyball and softball players. KEYWORDS: Physical Fitness; Dance; Dance Medicine; Athletics; Dance Health Benefits

scholarly journals The effect of elbow position on the handgrip strength test in children: validity and reliability of TKK 5101 and DynX dynamometers

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 240-247
Author(s):  
Stefan Kolimechkov ◽  
Jose Castro-Piñero ◽  
Lubomir Petrov ◽  
Albena Alexandrova
Keyword(s):  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Grip Strength ◽  
Handgrip Strength ◽  
Strength Test ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Upper Body Strength ◽  
The Difference

Background and Study Aim: One of the most widely applied methods to assess upper-body strength in children and adolescents is the handgrip strength test. While in adolescents it has been determined which elbow position, and which type of dynamometer are most appropriate for achieving the maximal grip strength, in children is still not clear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether elbow position and the type of dynamometer affect the handgrip strength in children. Material and Methods: Grip strength was measured by TKK and DynX dynamometers, and their validity and reliability were also analysed. A total of 60 children, 6 to 11 years old, participated in this study, and performed the handgrip strength test with their elbow extended and flexed at 90°. Results: While using the TKK dynamometer, grip strength was significantly higher when the test was performed with elbow extended, in contrast to those obtained with elbow flexed (14.58±3.04 kg vs 12.97±2.99 kg, p<0.001 for right, and 14.25±3.05 kg vs 12.61±2.99 kg, p<0.001 for left hand). Likewise, when using the DynX dynamometer, the difference between the two elbow positions was smaller but still significant (13.84±3.22 kg vs 13.35±3.01 kg, p=0.035 for right, and 13.35±2.95 kg vs 12.77±2.96 kg, p=0.003 for left hand). Conclusions: Both dynamometers provided sufficient results in terms of their reliability and the TKK dynamometer showed to be more valid. Performing the handgrip strength test with elbow extended appears to be the most appropriate position in order to obtain maximal results in children.

scholarly journals Using Anthropometric Data and Physical Fitness Scores to Predict Selection in a National U19 Rugby Union Team

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1499
Author(s):  
Luis Vaz ◽  
Wilbur Kraak ◽  
Marco Batista ◽  
Samuel Honório ◽  
Hélder Miguel Fernandes
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Handgrip Strength ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
National Team ◽  
Assessment Tests ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Upper Body Strength ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Run Test

The purpose of this study was to compare measures of anthropometry characteristics and physical fitness performance between rugby union players (17.9 ± 0.5 years old) recruited (n = 39) and non-recruited (n = 145) to the Portuguese under-19 (U19) national team, controlling for their playing position (forwards or backs). Standardized anthropometric, physical, and performance assessment tests included players’ body mass and height, push up and pull-up test, squat test, sit-and-reach test, 20 m shuttle run test, flexed arm hang test, Sargent test, handgrip strength test, Illinois agility test, and 20-m and 50-m sprint test. Results showed that recruited forwards players had better agility scores (p = 0.02, ES = −0.55) than the non-recruited forwards, whereas recruited backs players had higher right (p < 0.01, ES = 0.84) and left (p = 0.01, ES = 0.74) handgrip strength scores than their counterparts. Logistic regression showed that better agility (for the forwards) and right handgrip strength scores (for the backs) were the only variables significantly associated with an increased likelihood of being recruited to the national team. In sum, these findings suggest that certain well-developed physical qualities, namely, agility for the forwards players and upper-body strength for the back players, partially explain the selection of U19 rugby players to their national team.

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