RESUMEN
To determine absolute and relative (adjusted for body mass) strength, mean power, and mean velocity for upper and lower body resistance exercises, forty-seven young boys and girls participated in maximal strength testing. Healthy young boys and girls, ages 3- to 7-years old, were tested for one-repetition maximum (1-RM) strength, and 70% of 1-RM to determine mean power and mean velocity on the chest press and leg press exercises. Adult weight machines were modified to accommodate the smaller size and lower strength levels of the children. A 2 × 4 (sex × age) ANOVA was used to determine age and sex differences in performance. No interaction or sex differences were observed for any variable at any age. 1-RM strength, mean power, and mean velocity significantly increased across ages (p ≤ .05). When adjusted for body mass, the changes were insignificant, with one exception. Relative mean power for the bench press increased with age. Data indicated children from 3-7 years of age are capable of performing strength and power tests, but may require more attempts at maximal loads compared with adults. It appears that muscular strength and velocity during this stage of development are primarily dependent on increasing body mass, whereas power is influenced by additional variable(s).
Asunto(s)
Fuerza Muscular , Músculo Esquelético/fisiología , Levantamiento de Peso/fisiología , Factores de Edad , Peso Corporal , Niño , Preescolar , Ergometría , Prueba de Esfuerzo , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Factores SexualesRESUMEN
African American children's rates for fatal and non-fatal drowning events are alarmingly elevated, with some age groups having three times the rate as compared to White peers. Adequate swimming skills are considered a protective agent toward the prevention of drowning, but marginalized youth report limited swimming ability. This research examined minority children's and parents/caregivers' fear of drowning as a possible variable associated with limited swimming ability. Results confirmed that there were significant racial differences concerning the fear of drowning, and adolescent African American females were notably more likely to fear drowning while swimming than any other group. The "fear of drowning" responses by parents/ caregivers of minority children were also significantly different from their White counterparts.
Asunto(s)
Negro o Afroamericano , Protección a la Infancia , Ahogamiento , Miedo , Ahogamiento Inminente , Negro o Afroamericano/educación , Negro o Afroamericano/etnología , Negro o Afroamericano/historia , Negro o Afroamericano/legislación & jurisprudencia , Negro o Afroamericano/psicología , Aptitud , Niño , Protección a la Infancia/economía , Protección a la Infancia/etnología , Protección a la Infancia/historia , Protección a la Infancia/legislación & jurisprudencia , Protección a la Infancia/psicología , Preescolar , Ahogamiento/etnología , Ahogamiento/historia , Miedo/fisiología , Miedo/psicología , Historia del Siglo XX , Historia del Siglo XXI , Humanos , Ahogamiento Inminente/historia , Psicología Infantil/educación , Psicología Infantil/historia , Natación/educación , Natación/historia , Natación/fisiología , Natación/psicología , Estados Unidos/etnologíaRESUMEN
Objective Learning to swim is recommended for children to prevent drowning and to promote lifelong physical activity. Dissimilar US youth swimming ability rates by demographics have been reported. Our research purpose was to examine youth swimming ability by selected variables, and to compare with similar research in 2010. Methods USA Swimming Foundation sponsored a cross-sectional study in 5 US cities during 2017. Trained YMCA personnel administered surveys measuring self-reported swimming ability among youth, ages 4-18 (N = 1373). We compared the 2017 results with findings from the 2010 study (N = 1741). Results In 2017, fewer respondents reported no/low swimming ability. However, groups were identified with a high percentage (greater than 50%) of no/low swimming ability including the following ones; girls, African-American boys and girls, and boys and girls who participate in free or reduced-cost lunch programs. Multivariate analysis showed that significant predictors for lower swimming ability were parent education (less than college education), qualifying for free or reduced-cost lunch programs, and being African-American. Conclusion No/low swimming ability groups were identified and continue to need support. Interventions should target children who are African-American, qualify for free or reduced-cost lunch, and have parents with lower levels of education.
Asunto(s)
Factores Socioeconómicos , Natación/estadística & datos numéricos , Adolescente , Negro o Afroamericano/estadística & datos numéricos , Niño , Preescolar , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Factores Sexuales , Estados Unidos/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Professional sport organizations in the United States have notable celebrity status, and several teams have used this "star power" to collaborate with local school districts toward the goal of affecting children's health. Program effectiveness is unknown due to the absence of comprehensive evaluations for these initiatives. The Memphis Grizzlies, the city's National Basketball Association franchise, launched "Get Fit with the Grizzlies," a 6-week, curricular addition focusing on nutrition and physical activity for the fourth and fifth grades in Memphis City Schools (MCS). The health-infused mini-unit was delivered by physical education teachers during their classes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the "Get Fit" program effectiveness. METHODS: Survey research was employed which measured health knowledge acquisition and health behavior change using a matched pre/posttest design in randomly chosen schools (n = 11) from all elementary schools in the MCS system (N = 110). The total number of matched pre/posttests (n = 888) equaled approximately 5% of the total fourth-/fifth-grade population. McNemar's test for significance (p < .05) was applied. Odds ratios were calculated for each question. RESULTS: Analyses confirmed that there was significant health knowledge acquisition (7 of 8 questions) with odds ratios confirming moderate to strong associations. Seven out of 10 health behavior change questions significantly improved after intervention, whereas odds ratios indicated a low level of association after intervention. CONCLUSIONS: This community-school-home initiative using a professional team's celebrity platform within a certain locale is largely overlooked by school districts and should be considered as a positive strategy to confront childhood obesity.