Abstract
Aim: The purpose of this study is to verify the association between sprint, lower limb power, and change of direction speed in schoolchildren. Method: This is a cross-sectional school-based study with a probabilistic sample (n=1455) of adolescents aged 10-17 years. The variables were: sex, chronological age, body mass, height, skinfold sum, maturity offset, lower limb power, change of direction speed, and sprint. For the data analyses, we used a t-test for independent samples, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression. A statistical significance level of 5% was considered for all analyses. Results: The three variables of physical fitness presented moderate and significant correlations between them (r = {0.39-0.61}). Three models were tested with sprint (model 1), change of direction sprint (model 2) and lower limb power (model 3) as an outcome. Predictors tested explain 47% of model 1, 49% of model 2, and 54% of model 3. The individual predictor's contribution in both models varied between 0.1% to 38%. Conclusions: The evidence suggests that change of direction speed and sprint, together with sex, body mass, and skinfold sum account for approximately 54% of the variance of lower limb power in adolescents aged 10-17 years.
Highlights
Long-term athletic development programs should provide children and adolescents with a variety of training forms to improve health and performance-related fitness[1]
The sample calculation to estimate prevalence was carried out based on the following criteria: a) population of 15,210 adolescents; b) prevalence of physical inactivity estimated at 70%; c) 95% confidence interval; d) sampling error of 3 percentage points; e) delineation effect equal to 1.5; and f) an increase of 15% to cover possible losses and refusals
This study presents insight into the associations between the change of direction speed, sprint, and lower limb power in an adolescent population
Summary
Long-term athletic development programs should provide children and adolescents with a variety of training forms to improve health and performance-related fitness[1]. In this perspective, some proposals indicate that holistic development of physical fitness throughout childhood and adolescence is the most suitable alternative[2]. Some proposals indicate that holistic development of physical fitness throughout childhood and adolescence is the most suitable alternative[2] Functional capacities such as strength, power, cardiorespiratory fitness, balance, coordination, speed, and agility are identified as fundamental to long-term development in children and adolescents[1,3]. A good level of these physical capacities is import for engaging in school sports[8] and this engagement can be favorable to high performance in posterior phases
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