Abstract
Physical fitness level is considered to yield substantial health benefits. Earlier studies have demonstrated poor physical fitness outcomes and reduced level of physical activity among adolescents. There have been very few studies on adolescents concerning motor competence and its possible relationship with physical fitness. This study’s aim was to compare physical fitness in adolescents aged 15 to 16 years with high (HMC) and low motor competence (LMC). From an initial sample of 94 adolescents, a group of 18 were identified as having HMC or LMC on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2. Eight adolescents (3 girls and 5 boys) comprised the LMC group, and 10 children (5 girls and 5 boys) made up the HMC group. To measure physical fitness, four tasks were used: one endurance test, one power test, one speed test (Test of Physical Fitness) and one flexibility test (EUROFIT). A one-way ANOVA revealed significant differences between the group with LMC and the HMC group in all tasks except the endurance task (Reduced Cooper Test). The findings suggest that physical fitness components are negatively associated with LMC. However, no significant difference between the two groups in the Reduced Cooper Test might indicate that adolescents with LMC can enhance their cardiovascular fitness despite their poor motor coordination.
Highlights
Physical fitness refers to a set of inherent or achieved personal attributes that relate to the capacity to perform physical activity and/or exercise (Caspersen, Powell, & Christenson, 1985; Ortega, Ruiz, Castillo, & Sjöström, 2008)
This study reveals that the low motor competence (LMC) adolescent group had inferior fitness results compared with the HMC group on the total score of physical fitness, and in three out of four test items—test items where muscular strength and flexibility are of considerable importance
The findings suggest that physical fitness components are negatively associated with LMC
Summary
Physical fitness refers to a set of inherent or achieved personal attributes that relate to the capacity to perform physical activity and/or exercise (Caspersen, Powell, & Christenson, 1985; Ortega, Ruiz, Castillo, & Sjöström, 2008). Effects and health outcomes of health-related fitness has indicated a link to cardiovascular disease risk factors (Anderssen et al, 2007), overweight and obesity (Ortega et al, 2011), and skeletal health (Fonseca, de França, & Van Praagh, 2008). Despite the known benefits of physical activity and fitness, physical activity levels tend to decrease with age (Trost et al, 2002), and time spent in sedentary behavior increases, especially during adolescence (Pate, Mitchell, Byun, & Dowda, 2011). The prevalence of overweight and obesity (Neumark-Sztainer, Wall, Eisenberg, Story, & Hannan, 2006) relative to the time spent in sedative activities (Pate et al., 2011) can indirectly be a sign of such a trend in this age group. Identifying possible determinants that are associated with physical fitness and activity levels in adolescents may help to develop specific prevention strategies and promote a healthy lifestyle
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