Play Your Way to Fitness

PURPOSE To examine the efficacy of a ten-week physical activity program on the health-related components of physical fitness of children in grades 4 and 5. METHODS Twelve boys (10.3±0.57 yrs) and 16 girls (10.0±0.65 yrs) participated at least 3 days per week in a low organizational games program offered every day after school for 10 weeks. With supervision, the children walked 25 minutes to the one-hour physical activity program which emphasized inclusive and continuous participation rather than elimination or competition. Pre and post-program testing included assessments of cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition. Aerobic power and heart rate were directly assessed in a submaximal treadmill test that involved walking at 5 km.hr−1 with a 2% increase in grade every 2 minutes for up to 16 minutes. Following CSEP standardized protocols, muscular strength and endurance were assessed using push-ups and curl-ups and the sit and reach test was performed to measure flexibility. Body fat was assessed indirectly from the sum of eight skinfolds. RESULTS Indicative of improved cardiorespiratory endurance, submaximal exercising heart rate and recovery heart rate were lower during post-intervention testing, with significant differences (p < .05) noted at minutes 7, 9, and 11 of the treadmill test and 3 minutes of recovery. No significant changes were found in aerobic power. The number of curl-ups performed increased significantly (p = .000) from 11.6±9.5 to 16.6±12.1. The number of push-ups performed increased significantly (p = .000) from 7.7±5.7 to 11.6±6.5. Flexibility increased significantly (p = .000) from 256.3±58.0 mm to 287.9±58.4 mm. The average sum of skinfolds decreased significantly (p = 0.008) from150.6±61.3 mm to 142.3±59.9 mm. CONCLUSION The results from this study showed that children participating at least 3 times per week in a low organizational games program for 10 weeks significantly improved their cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility while decreasing their sum of skinfolds. *Supported by St. Francis Xavier University