Development Of Physical Fitness Research Articles

Entry Fitness And Subsequent Physical Performance Change In Recruits Across British Army Basic Training Courses.

Soldiers require high levels of fitness to perform physically demanding role-related tasks, such as load carriage and moving equipment. Developing cardiorespiratory endurance and muscular strength through progressive physical training programmes during Basic Training (BT) will support soldiers to perform their duties and reduce musculoskeletal injury risk. PURPOSE: To (1) quantify physical performance changes in recruits undertaking three British Army BT courses; Standard Entry (SE), Junior Entry Short (JE-Short) and Long (JE-Long) and (2) explore differences between courses, men and women, and entry fitness level. METHODS: Performance of 2 km run, medicine ball throw (MBT) and mid-thigh pull (MTP) were assessed at entry and completion of BT (14 [SE]), 23 [JE-Short] or 49 [JE-Long] weeks in duration) for 2350 (272 women) British Army recruits. Performance change was analysed with entry performance as a covariate (ANCOVA), before an additional interaction term allowing different slopes for course and gender. RESULTS: There was high heterogeneity, although BT courses saw average improvements in surrogate tests for cardiovascular endurance (2 km run: SE: -6.8% [-0.62 min], JE-Short: -4.6% [-0.43 min], JE-Long: -7.7% [-0.70 min]; all p < 0.001) and muscular strength and power (MBT: 1.0-8.8% [0.04-0.34 m]; all p < 0.05; MTP: 4.5-26.9% [6.5-28.8 kg]; all p < 0.001). Regression models indicated a form of regression to the mean whereby performance change was negatively associated with entry fitness (those with low baseline fitness exhibit larger improvements), particularly for women. However, when matched for entry fitness, men displayed considerable improvements in all tests, relative to women. CONCLUSIONS: British Army BT courses were effective in developing physical fitness and entry fitness was negatively associated with change over time. Other factors not measured including age and physical maturity could also be contributors to the training response. Individualising physical training may enhance physical fitness development and role-related job-task performance. Funded by the UK Ministry of Defence (Army).

Motivation incentives for the development of servicemen’s physical fitness in foreign language teaching

The article highlights the issue of Physical Training and Foreign Language interaction within the competence-based, system and subject-activity approaches to the education of a military specialist. The correlation and integration of these two subjects can facilitate the building of the motivation for the development of students’ physical fitness. The necessity to motivate servicemen for healthy lifestyle, physical training and sport is due to the requirements imposed on military specialists in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Foreign Language classes can contribute to the development of this training field which is considered one of the key fields in the education system of the Russian Defence Ministry. To achieve the goal a teacher should choose appropriate and various methodological techniques that will add to the effective realisation of mental activity, creative and cognitive abilities of students and to the development of their culture. The motivation component is seen rational in the language material related to physical fitness and healthy lifestyle. Moreover, using modern pedagogic technologies, such as gaming and project-based ones, during Foreign Language classes will definitely play and important role in building the essential motivation for students’ physical fitness development.

Motivational regulation and physical activity in future emergency responders – staying fit, healthy and safe in a demanding occupational context

PurposeTo meet physically demanding occupational tasks, reduce occupational stress and work-related injuries and to uphold general health, emergency responders need to maintain a certain level of physical fitness. However, among emergency responders a career-long decreasing physical fitness constitutes a challenge. Based on the self-determination theory (SDT), this study aims to explore if there is any relationship between motivational regulation and physical activity patterns among future emergency responders.Design/methodology/approachThe study used a survey design including two questionnaires: Sport Motivation Scale-2 (SMS-2) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form (IPAQ–SF), and 258 students at the Norwegian Police University College (NPUC) participated.FindingsThe authors’ findings revealed a significant relationship between motivational regulation and physical activity patterns amongst police students. The study reveals the value of the SDT in understanding exercise behaviour and physical activity adherence amongst emergency responders, and moreover, the importance of fostering intrinsic motivation, in the educational institutions, to increase physical activity and physical activity adherence throughout their career.Originality/valueTo the authors’ knowledge, there is limited research which uses the motivation theory to explain the development of physical fitness and health amongst emergency responders. With this approach, this study is something new to this discussion and should be of interest for both educational institutions and authorities managing emergency responders.

Study on the Evaluation of Exercise Effect in Physical Education Teaching under the Application of Random Forest Model

Physical education is a school-based topic that emphasizes the development of physical fitness and the capacity to do and enjoy everyday physical activities. Children also get the skills they need to participate in a wide range of activities. Engaging classes, skilled P.E. teachers, proper instructional hours, and student evaluation should all be part of an effective physical education program. The basics of physical education start with exercises. A remarkable change can be observed when individuals practice exercises in their physical education. In this research work, exercise requirement in physical education teaching is analyzed under students of certain groups under different dimensions. The work analysis is performed by implementing a random forest algorithm and comparison with the support vector machine and fuzzy set based on hesitation algorithms. The performance is evaluated based on teaching and learning, evaluation, and exercises with the support of all the equipment. In all these categories, the proposed random forest algorithm has achieved 98%, 98%, and 43%, respectively.

Evaluation the application of the 26-workout to enhance the physical fitness – A case study in young male distance cycling athletes in an Giang province, Vietnam

The purpose of this study was to select and apply the 26 workouts in order to improve the physical fitness for young male distance cycling athletes in An Giang province, Vietnam. 08 healthy male were chosen with at least 3-4 years training in distance cycling.Results showed that the 26 workouts were selected to improve the physical fitness through the actual of training in An Giang province, participant’s characteristics, former studies, and expert interviews. Besides, there were significant differences in all 05 tests to evaluate the physical fitness after the application of the 26-workout. Moreover,the highest rate of growth was in flexibility test (9.76%), while the lowest one in 10km cycling (0.56%). This reflects that the endurance ability of participants was so high (caused by low improvement). Therefore, it is necessary to apply the 26-workout more flexibly and closely to improve the physical fitness next year. It was concluded that the application of the 26-workout has brought a good result and was suitable for the development of physical fitness in young male cycling athletes in An Giang province, Vietnam.Future studies should be conducted on a group of females, diverse in training levels, and/ or on the other ability that need to promote a good distance cycling athlete.

The Attitude of Portuguese Physical Education Teachers toward Physical Fitness

In this study, we aimed to examine how Portuguese physical education teachers perceive the development of physical fitness through fitness tests in schools. The participants were 764 Portuguese teachers teaching at middle-school and high-school levels. The Physical Education Teacher Attitudes Toward Fitness Tests Scale (PETAFTS) was used to collect the data. The means and confidence intervals for each attitude subdomain and the overall attitude were computed. A one-way ANOVA was used to examine the group differences in three subdomains of the attitudes of teachers by different variables. The overall attitude of teachers toward fitness tests was slightly positive according to a 7-point Likert scale (5.52, 95% CI: 5.47, 5.58). The results suggested that female teachers found fitness tests more useful, but male teachers significantly enjoyed implementing them. The data collected also showed that younger teachers found the implementation of fitness tests significantly more enjoyable than older teachers. In conclusion, future research should prioritise specific intervention content considering gender and the age of teachers to reinforce the development of physical fitness through fitness tests in schools.

Characteristics and Rehabilitation Training Effects of Shoulder Joint Dysfunction in Volleyball Players under the Background of Artificial Intelligence.

With the development of volleyball technology, the frequent competition, the fierce competition, and the increase of sports load, the requirements for the athletes' own body, intelligence, combat, heart, and skills are getting higher and higher. Volleyball is one of the most popular sports in the world. It attracts people all over the world with its strong team appeal and its own unique charm. This study mainly discusses the characteristics of shoulder joint dysfunction in volleyball players and the effect of rehabilitation training under the background of artificial intelligence. By sorting out the development process of artificial intelligence technology, it can be analyzed that artificial intelligence technology already has a certain knowledge reserve, can make corresponding mechanized feedback, and can make correct judgments based on experience in more complex situations. This study compared volleyball athletes with handicap and barrier-free shoulder joints and observed the characteristics of shoulder pain, stability, and flexibility caused by subacromial impingement syndrome. It also looked at whether subacromial impingement syndrome athletes differ in volleyball spiking sequence and mobilization and recruitment of muscle power during swing spikes compared to athletes with normal shoulder function in the full kinetic chain. According to the volleyball intelligent competition platform, the implementation and application of ideas such as data collection, result feedback, adjustment of training plan, implementation of training plan, and real-time monitoring are regularly monitored. On the one hand, through timely assessment and detection of shoulder function of volleyball players, functional training is carried out for weaknesses to prevent injury; on the other hand, after a mild injury occurs, timely targeted training should be taken to find and correct wrong actions, and strengthen the weak part of muscle strength, so as to reduce the probability of repeated injury and improve sports performance and athletic ability. In the new system, after collecting and sorting, testers can directly upload to the web page in the form of Excel for automatic filling, grasp the test information of athletes in time, generate automatic warning, and save time. The monitoring content determined by this study mainly includes three index systems, including load, training preparation performance, and recovery. According to the self-provided evaluation system of relevant test equipment and the experience of expert coaches, the evaluation standards for each index are formulated. There was a statistically significant difference in the scores between the rehabilitation group and the pre-rehabilitation group during the study (P < 0.05). This study attempts to find the characteristics and rules of FMS scores of women's volleyball players of different levels, so as to provide more targeted physical training for volleyball players, promote the all-round development of physical fitness, and avoid the risk of sports injuries. This study provides more effective and comprehensive recommendations for the prevention and recovery of shoulder injuries in volleyball players. This study provides more effective and comprehensive recommendations for the prevention and recovery of shoulder injuries in volleyball players. The results of the study can provide reference for the scientific training and rehabilitation of volleyball players and make suggestions for the treatment and prevention of subacromial impingement syndrome.

Pedagogical control of physical preparedness of senior students in the process of volleyball

Pedagogical control over the level of physical fitness of high school students in volleyball classes helps to increase the effectiveness of management of the educational and training process, making adjustments in the planning of physical activity and forecasting academic achievements. Optimization of the methodology of complex development of motor skills in the classroom is the main factor in the success of the harmony of the development of physical fitness of students. The main stages of the process of pedagogical control of physical fitness include: 1) the correct selection of motor tests, which must meet the metrological criteria of reliability, objectivity and informativeness; 2) compliance of methods and means of control with the task of sports training; 3) the adequacy of methods of statistical processing of the results of pedagogical control. The purpose of the study is aimed at introducing into the educational and training process of high school volleyball students means of pedagogical control and determining the relationship, the contribution of certain structural elements in the state of their physical fitness.

Effects of High-Intensity Resistance Training on Physical Fitness, Hormonal and Antioxidant Factors: A Randomized Controlled Study Conducted on Young Adult Male Soccer Players.

Simple SummaryWe aimed to analyze the effects of high-intensity resistance training (HIRT) on physical fitness and hormonal and antioxidant factors of adult young male soccer players. We have compared an 8-week intervention using HIRT period with a control group that only performed regular technical/tactical sessions. The soccer players were assessed before and after the intervention for their physical fitness, and hormonal and antioxidant factors. We have found that using HIRT for 8 weeks, with three sessions a week, results in significant improvements in aerobic capacity, sprint at short (10 m) and medium (20 and 30 m) distances, repeated sprint ability, and change-of-direction. This suggests that HIRT combined with regular field-based practice can provide an additional benefit to physical fitness development. Additionally, the group enrolled on HIRT also exhibited significantly decreased levels of cortisol and malondialdehyde, whereas it exhibited significantly increased growth hormone, testosterone, dis-mutase, and glutathione. The results suggest that HIRT can be an interesting approach for improving physical fitness and adjusting the hormonal and antioxidant levels of adult male soccer players.Purpose: The aim of this study was to test the effects of high-intensity resistance training (HIRT) intervention on the physical fitness, hormonal and antioxidant factors of adult male soccer players. Methods: A randomized controlled study design was implemented. Eighteen soccer players (age: 20.3 ± 0.66 years; stature: 174.0 ± 6.01 cm; body mass: 69.1 ± 6.4 kg; body mass index: 22.8 ± 1.6 kg/m2) voluntarily participated in this study. Players were assessed before and after an intervention lasting 8 weeks, with three training sessions a week. Assessments of physical fitness included the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1 (YYIRT1), 10-, 20-, and 30 m sprint time (ST), running-based anaerobic sprint test (RAST) and change-of-direction time (COD). Hormonal tests included cortisol, testosterone and growth hormone (GH), whereas the antioxidant assessment included superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH). Results: Between-group analysis revealed no significant differences at baseline, whereas it revealed that HIRT presented significant better results than the control group on YYIRT (p = 0.032), 10 m ST (p = 0.041), 20 m ST (p = 0.040), 30 m ST (p = 0.044), RAST (p = 0.013), and COD (p = 0.031) after the intervention period. The within group analysis revealed that the HIRT group significantly improved the YYIRT1 (p < 0.001), VO2max (p < 0.001), 10 m ST (p < 0.001), 20 m ST (p = 0.006), 30 m ST (p < 0.001), RAST (p < 0.001) and COD (p < 0.001). Moreover, HIRT group significantly reduced the cortisol (p < 0.001) and MDA (p = 0.021), whereas it significantly increased the GH (p < 0.001), testosterone (p < 0.001), SOD (p = 0.009) and GSH (p = 0.005). Conclusions: The HIRT is effective for improving physical fitness, revealing significant better adaptations than controls. Moreover, hormonal and antioxidant adaptations are also confirmed after HIRT intervention.

Design of Growth Trend Map of Children and Adolescents Based on Bone Age.

Accurate height prediction has important reference significance for the development of children and adolescents and the selection of athletes. The current mainstream height prediction methods include the B-P (Bayley–Pinneau) method and the TW2 (Tanner–Whitehouse) method. A large number of documents show that the B-P method and the TW2 method have relatively large deviations in the lifelong height prediction results of Chinese children and adolescents. Based on the data collected by the Chinese Adolescent Students' Physical Fitness and Growth and Development Health Project in Zhejiang's primary and secondary schools, this paper proposes a graph of height growth trends based on bone age. The height map of age has more reference value. Aiming at the feasibility of the height data in the statistical results, the interpolation prediction method is used to verify the data, and the height growth trend graph is drawn through the method of fitting. Validation results with actual data show that the average error of the lifetime height prediction of the height growth trend map proposed in this paper is 2.1 cm, which is 1.4 cm lower than the 3.5 cm error predicted by the B-P method and 0.4 cm lower than the 2.5 cm error predicted by the TW2 method.

Adolescents with Higher Cognitive and Affective Domains of Physical Literacy Possess Better Physical Fitness: The Importance of Developing the Concept of Physical Literacy in High Schools.

Physical literacy (PL) is thought to facilitate engagement in physical activity, which could lead to better physical fitness (PF). The aim of this study was to examine the reliability of the Croatian version of two frequently applied PL questionnaires that evaluate knowledge and understanding, perceived competence, environment, and value for literacy, numeracy, and PL and validity regarding correlation with objectively evaluated PF in adolescents. Five hundred forty-four high school students (403 females, 141 males) from Croatia were tested on PF (standing long jump, sit-ups for 30 s, sit-and-reach test, multilevel endurance test) and two PL questionnaires. The reliability of the Croatian version of the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy knowledge and understanding (CAPL-2-KU) and PLAYself was good (α = 0.71–0.81 for PLAYself subscales, κ = 0.39–0.69 for CAPL-2-KU). Genders differed in the self-description dimension of PLAYself, with higher results in boys (Z = 3.72, p < 0.001). CAPL-2-KU and PLAYself total score were associated with PF in boys and girls, with PLAYself having stronger associations with PF. This research supports the idea of PL as an essential determinant for the development of PF, highlighting the necessity of the development of cognitive and affective domains of PL in physical education throughout a specifically tailored pedagogical process.

Correlation analysis of physical fitness and its impact on falls in 2130 community- dwelling older adults: a retrospective cross-sectional study

BackgroundAs the community-dwelling population ages in Taiwan, concerns regarding long-term care have grown more urgent. Physical fitness plays a key role in enabling community-dwelling older adults to independently complete daily tasks and avoid falling accidents. However, the effect of physical fitness on falls and other fitness-related factors remains poorly understood.MethodsIn this retrospective cross-sectional study, 2130 community-dwelling older adults were recruited from a rural region of Taiwan. Each of these participants completed a demographics interview and frailty questionnaire and reported their history of falls. We evaluated each participant’s height and body weight measurements, calf circumference, bone mass density, and results on the grip strength, single-leg standing, chair sit-and-reach, 8-ft up-and-go, 30-second chair stand, 2-minute step, 30-second arm curl, 6-m walk, and back scratch tests to determine their overall physical fitness, which consisted of their body composition, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and cardiopulmonary fitness.ResultsThe prevalence of falls in the preceding year among the older adults surveyed was 20.8%, and the resultant hospitalization rate was 10.9%. The older adults who were more physically active in the past week, had regular exercise habits, lived with family, and had no history of hospitalization due to falls, exhibited greater performance on the physical fitness tests. Three time fallers exhibited lower levels of overall physical fitness than did those who had not fallen. The nonfallers outperformed the fallers in grip strength (participants who had not fallen and those who had fallen once, twice, or three times in the preceding year: 24.66 ± 0.19 vs. 23.66 ± 0.35 vs. 20.62 ± 0.71 vs. 22.20 ± 0.90 kg) and single-leg standing duration (19.38 ± 0.39 vs. 16.33 ± 0.78 vs. 13.95 ± 1.67 vs. 12.34 ± 1.82 seconds).ConclusionsExercise habits, living status, hospitalization due to falls, and amount of exercise were all associated with physical fitness in community-dwelling older adults. The results of all of the assessments indicated that the participants who had fallen three times exhibited lower levels of physical fitness than did those who had not fallen in the previous year. Physical measurements, including grip strength and single-leg standing duration, are associated with an individual’s risk of falling, which indicates that they should be considered in the development of geriatric physical fitness and fall-prevention programs.

Associations between measures of physical fitness and cognitive performance in preschool children

BackgroundGiven that recent studies report negative secular declines in physical fitness, associations between fitness and cognition in childhood are strongly discussed. The preschool age is characterized by high neuroplasticity which effects motor skill learning, physical fitness, and cognitive development. The aim of this study was to assess the relation of physical fitness and attention (including its individual dimensions (quantitative, qualitative)) as one domain of cognitive performance in preschool children. We hypothesized that fitness components which need precise coordination compared to simple fitness components are stronger related to attention.MethodsPhysical fitness components like static balance (i.e., single-leg stance), muscle strength (i.e., handgrip strength), muscle power (i.e., standing long jump), and coordination (i.e., hopping on one leg) were assessed in 61 healthy children (mean age 4.5 ± 0.6 years; girls n = 30). Attention was measured with the “Konzentrations-Handlungsverfahren für Vorschulkinder” [concentration-action procedure for preschoolers]). Analyses were adjusted for age, body height, and body mass.ResultsResults from single linear regression analysis revealed a significant (p < 0.05) association between physical fitness (composite score) and attention (composite score) (standardized ß = 0.40), showing a small to medium effect (F2 = 0.14). Further, coordination had a significant relation with the composite score and the quantitative dimension of attention (standardized ß = 0.35; p < 0.01; standardized ß = − 0.33; p < 0.05). Coordination explained about 11% (composite score) and 9% (quantitative dimension) of the variance in the stepwise multiple regression model.ConclusionThe results indicate that performance in physical fitness, particularly coordination, is related to attention in preschool children. Thus, high performance in complex fitness components (i.e., hopping on one leg) tends to predict attention in preschool children. Further longitudinal studies should focus on the effectiveness of physical activity programs implementing coordination and complex exercises at preschool age to examine cause-effect relationships between physical fitness and attention precisely.

Prevalence of motor tests in autism spectrum disorder people

In autism spectrum disorder, studies have in social communication, in their interest, education and social/educational inclusion with children and adolescents with aspects studied for this even larger audience is very scarce, observing a gap in the literature regarding this population. This work aims through a bibliographic survey to describe the tests that are being used in autism, as their advantages and objectives, are shown as evidence of study among them. The research was carried out in the Bireme and Pubmed databases with the descriptors “assessing motor autism”, “assessing motor skill performance and autism” and “assessing the development of physical fitness and autism”. the search resulted in 846 studies, after excluding duplicates, 823 articles remained. After reading the titles and abstracts, 703 studies were excluded and after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 16 articles were included in this review. have similarities with each other, such as some ages and some tests such as: delineating the trail, basting a cord that is manual dexterity, grabbing and dribbling a ball and very similar tests such as walking under a line, jumping on one foot only in displacement, among others. We conclude that the tests available in the market are expensive for professionals and that each one evaluates more a specific skill for gaps in the estimates.

Effect of CrossFit Training on Physical Fitness of Kickboxers.

Background: Kickboxing is a combat sport that is complex in technique, tactics, and movement structure, and requires an adequate level of motor skills as a foundation for activities during competitions. General physical fitness, defined as the effect of the externalization of motor skills, is the basis for athletic training regardless of the sport. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of modified training based on the principles of CrossFit on the development of general physical fitness in a group of kickboxers compared to a control group. Methods: The study was experimental in nature and was conducted in a group of 60 kickboxers, divided into experimental and control groups. Participants were selected by purposive sampling, and the criteria were training experience, sports skill level (minimum class 1 athletes), and consent to participate in the experiment. The intervention in the study group involved the introduction of CrossFit-based training into a conventional kickboxing training program. General and special physical fitness of the athletes were diagnosed. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in general fitness in terms of abdominal strength (p < 0.001), pull-ups (p < 0.001), dynamometric measurement of handgrip force (p < 0.001) (kg), clap push-ups (p < 0.001), standing long jump (p < 0.001), shuttle run (p < 0.001), sit-and-reach (p < 0.001), and tapping (p < 0.001). Furthermore, changes in special fitness were also demonstrated for the special kickboxing fitness test (SKFT) (p < 0.02), the total number of punches (p < 0.001), punching speed (p < 0.001), and hip turning speed (p < 0.001). There was also a correlation between characteristics of general fitness and special fitness (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The experimental training program based on the principles of CrossFit training had a positive effect on the general and special kickboxing physical fitness.

Positive youth development through sport: A narrative review

The global issue of the importance of positive youth development has become an interesting topic to be studied more deeply. This is evidenced by the number of research results discussing positive youth development (PYD) in the sports context. This research generally aimed to examine the critical role of sport in forming PYD through the study on the research result development from time to time and strengthen the results of previous studies. The research was conducted using a literature review method with the narrative type. The article search was conducted to identify PYD through sports research results. The publication period of articles was quoted from 2000 to 2019. Database search was conducted through Google Scholar, Tailor and Francis, Elsevier, Science Direct, and Sage using positive youth development and development through sports keywords. All articles found as primary data were analyzed using critical appraisal analysis techniques, namely the process of analyzing relevant articles related to the results and theoretical basis being studied. The analysis and synthesis results show that sports, in general, can develop positive youth development, such as physical fitness development, social development, and life skill development, as the benchmarks for the country's success with youth as agents of change in the future. Therefore, it is important for a country to use sport to develop positive youth through sports activities.

Perception of the Special Troops (Commando) Soldiers Regarding Physical Fitness, Motor Control and Psychological Skills

Physical fitness and motor skills are considered important attributes for the military, affecting their professional performance. The high physical and psychological demand that the special forces are subjected to requires the acquisition of a set of volitional skills such as resilience, effort, perseverance, or resistance to frustration, which are worthy of further research. This study aimed to analyse the perception of the special troops (commandos) in physical fitness, motor control and psychological skills. A total of 35 male soldiers that ended the commando recruit training program (21.69 ± 2.36 years old) were investigated. A questionnaire was applied to verify differences in perception of physical fitness, motor capacity, physical effort and military training during recruit training according to age, education, work experience and sports background. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the participants. All data collected were analysed using IBM-SPSS Statistics, version 24. Our results revealed differences in the importance given to the training of motor skills within military training (χ2 = 19.284; p = 0.023), conditional motor skills – speed (χ2 = 17.378; p = 0.043), coordinative motor skills—motor control (χ2 = 20.616; p = 0.014), psychological skills in a military context (χ2 = 13.730; p = 0.008), volitional skills—resistance to frustration (χ2 = 21.568; p = 0.043) and volitional skills—psychological resistance (χ2 = 29.144; p = 0.004). The participants highlighted the importance of instructors having scientific knowledge in physical education to provide military physical training to be better prepared for this purpose. We concluded that motor skills and psychological abilities tend to be equally important in the context of military training. Physical fitness and motor skill development can be considered essential in military training for most of the inquired participants.

Association of Body Weight and Physical Fitness during the Elementary School Years.

Physical fitness and body weight are key correlates of health. Nevertheless, an increasing number of children display poor physical fitness and high body weight. The aim of this study was to examine the prospective association of physical fitness with body weight throughout the elementary school years with a special emphasis on children with high body weight or poor physical fitness at baseline. A total of 303 Austrian children (55.1% male) completed the German motor test up to eight times over a 4-year time span (between the ages 6 and 10 years). Physical fitness did not differ across quartiles of body weight at baseline. A more pronounced weight gain, however, was associated with an impaired development of physical fitness and this association was more pronounced in children with higher baseline body weight. In addition, the detrimental effects of an impaired development of physical fitness on subsequent body weight were more pronounced in children with higher baseline body weight. No differences in the longitudinal association between body weight and physical fitness, on the other hand, were observed across quartiles of baseline fitness. These results emphasize the importance of the promotion of physical fitness, particularly in children with increased body weight, to ensure future health.

Association of modifiable factors with the development of physical fitness of Austrian primary school children: A 4-year longitudinal study

ABSTRACT Physical fitness (PF) shows favourable associations with several health indicators in children. Children’s PF depends on a variety of non-modifiable (e.g., sex and age) and modifiable factors (e.g., weight status and sports participation). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of modifiable and non-modifiable factors on the development of PF during the 4 years of primary school. A longitudinal study was carried out with 265 children. PF was assessed using the German Motor Performance Test 6–18, whereas modifiable and non-modifiable factors with parent’s and children’s questionnaires. Total PF z‐score increased by 1.4 standard deviations from 1st to 4th year and raw values of subtests improved by an average of about 40%. The variables “parents’ physical activity”, “never being overweight”, “sports club participation”, and “playing outside” were positively associated with PF development. The present study highlights that a variety of modifiable factors, both from children and their parents, are significantly associated with the development of children’s PF during primary education. Interventions should not only focus on direct actions, such as proposing specific exercise programs, but also aim at increasing parents’ awareness of their role model function in endorsing their children’s healthy active lifestyle, especially at early ages.

PKM PENDAMPINGAN DAN PELATIHAN OLAHRAGA RENANG UNTUK ANAK USIA DINI

Promoting swimming from the community, including young people, requires serious attention. Because swimming is not only talking about physical fitness development activities related to improving motor skills but also relating to strengthening national identity in this era of globalization. Without the intervention of the transformation of swimming, the Indonesian nation will be worse off because it is a nation that does not have a strong character. To strengthen the sport of swimming, efforts are made to collect data and standardize swimming from an early age to adulthood. Furthermore, it is necessary to socialize swimming sports through PkM activities. In this context, placing swimming as part of the curriculum for learning swimming in early childhood is an important thing to do. Through various ways in introducing the sport of swimming, it can become part of the life of the Indonesian nation itself and is ready to build the nation towards a nation that has character and has the identity of the Indonesian nation. The formation of early childhood character through swimming. In today's era, many children prefer advanced technology compared to actual sports, this will have an impact on social interaction and character in children. At the time of doing the introduction of swimming with an indirect play approach to instill the values ??of being sporty, honest, tenacious, and patient. PkM aims to 1) Provide Knowledge to partners related to basic swimming techniques in early childhood and the dominant physical component in swimming, 2) Provide partner knowledge in the utilization of science and technology and sports in swimming in early childhood, 3) Provide swimming guidebooks in early childhood so that partners can provide pursuit for the introduction of water in basic swimming techniques in early childhood. Quality and productive, where so far the teachers only do teaching following experience and do not document the development of their learners. The method implemented in this activity is based on the results of discussions between the proposer and partners, Furthermore, the researcher concluded that the priority of the problem agreed to be resolved during the implementation of the PkM program is to provide education and training accompanied by practice to partners making basic swimming instruction modules in early childhood where the content in the guidance on the utilization of the development of sports science and technology is the basic technique of swimming in children. Early age that will facilitate partners by utilizing guidebook products is considered the level of attractiveness, effectiveness, and efficiency of the swimming guidebook developed/modified by the Service team. PkM results can be concluded that swimming assistance and training for early childhood can increase the enthusiasm of students in participating in these activities, this is evidenced by students feeling happy through water games, safety in the water, moving skills through the approach of play