Seasonal variations in physical fitness among elementary school children

Abstract

There is empirical evidence that children's physical activity is dependent on climatic conditions. In addition, a correlation between physical activity level and physical fitness has been identified. In this longitudinal study, we investigate whether seasons have an influence on physical fitness. A total of 145 German elementary school children were tested every six months over a two-year period. We used the German Motor Test 6-18 to assess physical fitness. Performance in the 6-min endurance run (P < 0.001), bidirectional jumping (P < 0.001), the standing long jump (P = 0.026), the 20 m sprint (P = 0.006) and the stand-and-reach task (P = 0.017) was significantly better in summer than in winter. There were no differences in the ability to balance backwards (P = 0.120); in the winter, the results for push-ups (P < 0.001) and sit-ups (P < 0.001) were better than those in the summer. We have shown that physical fitness is significantly influenced by the season. Consequently, when children's fitness tests are used (e.g. as the basis for intervention programs, for classifying health-risk groups or for recognising talent), the season in which testing occurred should be reported and accounted for in future studies.

Factors associated with motor performance among overweight and nonoverweight Tyrolean primary school children

“…In comparison, central European studies showed that 13-33 % of primary school children are overweight and obese [11,14,15,19,20]. In accordance to other studies [10,11,16], overweight and obese children showed significantly lower motor performance in the majority of test items. This might be due to the fact that the excess body fat of overweight and obese children is an extra load to be moved during weight-bearing tasks [21].…”

“…Well in accordance, Augste and Künzell [11] found in a longitudinal study over 2 years among 83 German primary school children that the BMI was the most important predictor for motor performance.…”

“…In total, eight items testing different subdomains of physical fitness were performed: 20-m sprint (sprint velocity), balancing backwards on three 3-m long beams with different width (coordination in a task requiring precision), jumping sideward over a middle line for 15 s (coordination under time pressure), stand-and-reach (flexibility), push-ups in a period of 40 s (strength endurance), sit ups in a period of 40 s (strength endurance), standing long jump (power), and 6-min run (endurance). A detail description of the test tasks is provided by Bös [18] and in recently published studies [11,12]. According to Bös [18], the objectivity (.95) and retest reliability (.82) of the test battery were good, and the battery has been validated for assessing speed, coordination, flexibility, strength, and endurance.…”

“…This test battery has been used also in recently published studies [11,12]. In total, eight items testing different subdomains of physical fitness were performed: 20-m sprint (sprint velocity), balancing backwards on three 3-m long beams with different width (coordination in a task requiring precision), jumping sideward over a middle line for 15 s (coordination under time pressure), stand-and-reach (flexibility), push-ups in a period of 40 s (strength endurance), sit ups in a period of 40 s (strength endurance), standing long jump (power), and 6-min run (endurance).…”

“…Therefore, an early prevention during preschool or primary school ages seems of utmost importance. In general, studies showed that motor performance of primary school children partly depends on so-called modifiable factors, for example, weight status, electronic media use, sports club participation and on so-called nonmodifiable factors, for example, sex, migration background or socio-economic status [9][10][11][12][13]. In addition, the number of weekly lessons in physical education at school seems important for improving motor performance and reducing overweight among primary school children.…”