Abstract
BackgroundCross-sectional studies detected associations between physical fitness, living area, and sports participation in children. Yet, their scientific value is limited because the identification of cause-and-effect relationships is not possible. In a longitudinal approach, we examined the effects of living area and sports club participation on physical fitness development in primary school children from classes 3 to 6.MethodsOne-hundred and seventy-two children (age: 9–12 years; sex: 69 girls, 103 boys) were tested for their physical fitness (i.e., endurance [9-min run], speed [50-m sprint], lower- [triple hop] and upper-extremity muscle strength [1-kg ball push], flexibility [stand-and-reach], and coordination [star coordination run]). Living area (i.e., urban or rural) and sports club participation were assessed using parent questionnaire.ResultsOver the 4 year study period, urban compared to rural children showed significantly better performance development for upper- (p = 0.009, ES = 0.16) and lower-extremity strength (p < 0.001, ES = 0.22). Further, significantly better performance development were found for endurance (p = 0.08, ES = 0.19) and lower-extremity strength (p = 0.024, ES = 0.23) for children continuously participating in sports clubs compared to their non-participating peers.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that sport club programs with appealing arrangements appear to represent a good means to promote physical fitness in children living in rural areas.
Highlights
Cross-sectional studies detected associations between physical fitness, living area, and sports participation in children
To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that investigated in a longitudinal approach the effects of living area and sports club participation on physical fitness development in healthy children from classes 3 to 6
Findings from the present study indicate that the development of physical fitness is positively affected by living area and sports club participation
Summary
Cross-sectional studies detected associations between physical fitness, living area, and sports participation in children. Their scientific value is limited because the identification of cause-and-effect relationships is not possible. Most of the literature on the association between living area and physical fitness observed better performances for children living in rural compared to urban areas [11,12,13]. Karkera et al [12] reported significantly better performances for rural than for urban school children (9–13 years) in tests for endurance (20-m shuttle run) and flexibility (sit-and-reach). Even though the reported studies provide further insight in the association between living area and physical fitness, their added scientific value is limited because findings from crosssectional studies do not allow the identification of cause-and-effect relationships
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