A Better Cardiopulmonary Fitness Is Associated with Improved Concentration Level and Health-Related Quality of Life in Primary School Children

Reliability of field- and laboratory-based assessments of health-related fitness in preschool-aged children

OBJECTIVES

Reliable measurements of health-related fitness-cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular endurance, muscular strength, body composition, and flexibility-are imperative for understanding and tracking health-related fitness from the preschool age. This study aimed to examine the test-retest reliability of field-based (i.e., sit and reach [standard and back-saver], standing long jump, grip strength); and laboratory-based (i.e., Bruce Protocol Treadmill Test, Wingate Anaerobic Test) assessments of health-related fitness in preschool aged children (4-5 years).

METHODS

Forty-two typically developing children participated in both assessment time points separated by 2-3 weeks. All fitness assessments were administered individually and repeated in the same order by the same assessor. Heteroscedasticity was examined for each parameter. Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated to assess test-retest reliability.

RESULTS

All parameters were homoscedastic. Test-retest reliability for the field-based tests and Bruce Protocol Treadmill Test parameters were moderate to good. Test-retest reliability for the Wingate Test parameters were good to excellent for maximum pedal rate, peak power, and peak power/kg; mean power and fatigue measured at 10 and 30 s demonstrated moderate to excellent test-retest reliability.

CONCLUSION

The standard sit and reach, grip strength, and short-term muscle power from the Wingate test are reliable assessments of health-related fitness in preschool-aged children.

Steps per day and health-related quality of life in schoolchildren: the mediator role of cardiorespiratory fitness

To analyse the relationship between steps per day and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and to examine whether the relationship between steps per day and HRQoL is mediated by CRF in schoolchildren. This was a cross-sectional study including 501 schoolchildren (aged 9-12 years, 47% girls), from Cuenca, Spain. Steps per day were measured using the Xiaomi Mi Band 3 Smart Bracelet, HRQoL was estimated by the KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire, and CRF was assessed using the 20-m shuttle run test. Analysis of covariance and multivariate analysis of covariance models showed that children with a higher mean number of steps per day (> 9000 steps/day) had better HRQoL (global score, and physical and psychological well-being) and higher CRF levels than their peers with a lower number of steps per day (p < 0.05); however, these differences were no longer significant when controlling for sex, age, mother's education level, and CRF (p > 0.05). Linear regression models estimated that each 1000-step increment was associated with better CRF (β = 0.350; 95% CI, 0.192 to 0.508). In addition, the relationship between steps per day and HRQoL was mediated by CRF (p < 0.05).    Conclusion: Steps per day are a good metric to estimate daily physical activity because of its positive relationship with CRF. Moreover, those children taking more than 9000 steps per day are associated with higher levels of physical and psychological well-being. Finally, a substantial part of the improvement in HRQoL achieved through the increase in physical activity (steps per day) is mediated by CRF. What is Known: • Physical activity is known to have a positive impact on health-related quality of life in children. Steps per day are commonly used as a measure of physical activity. • Cardiorespiratory fitness is a recognized indicator of overall health in youth. What is New: • Increments of steps per day were associated with better CRF, with a nonlinear association after approximately 9000 steps/day. • Schoolchildren with > 9000 steps/ day showed better HRQoL.

Physical fitness in Austrian elementary school children prior to and post-COVID-19

Background

With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries implemented policies that included movement restrictions, social distancing and school closures in order to control the spread of the virus. Even though these actions may have been necessary to save lives, there have been some unintended consequences that could affect future public health.

Methods

The present study uses data from more than 24,500 Austrian elementary school children (51.2% male) that participated in a state-wide fitness evaluation program, which was initiated in the 2016/17 school year. In addition to body weight and height, data on cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular power, speed, agility, flexibility and object control were collected from three cohorts prior to the implementation of movement restrictions (school years: 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19) and one cohort in 2022, after the majority of COVID-19 policies had been lifted.

Results

Body mass index percentiles were significantly higher in children post-COVID-19 (p < 0.01). Further, cardiorespiratory endurance, agility and flexibility were significantly lower post-COVID-19 compared to the years preceding movement restrictions (p ≤ 0.01), while absolute muscular strength was higher in the year 2022 (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Given the detrimental effects of COVID-19 policies on physical fitness in children, additional efforts are necessary that include versatile opportunities for physical activity and the promotion of physical fitness in order to modify the observed negative health trajectories and ensure future public health.

[The North Rhine-Westphalia state programme "Education and Health NRW"-sustainable development and establishment of the good healthy school in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia]

Mit dem Landesprogramm Bildung und Gesundheit Nordrhein-Westfalen (BuG NRW) bilden alle daran beteiligten Träger eine Verantwortungspartnerschaft zur Förderung der Guten Gesunden Schule und zur Umsetzung des Präventionsgesetzes in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Das Ministerium für Schule und Bildung (MSB NRW), das Ministerium für Arbeit, Gesundheit und Soziales (MAGS NRW), die gesetzlichen Krankenkassen/-verbände (GKV NRW) und die Unfallkasse (UK NRW) kooperieren für die Förderung der integrierten Gesundheits- und Qualitätsentwicklung sowie Unterstützung der Gesundheitsförderung und Prävention in Schulen. Zentrale Elemente der Public-Health-Forschung, wie beispielsweise Partizipation (aller Beteiligten) und Empowerment, sind Bestandteil des Gesamtkonzeptes.

Gemeinsames Leitziel der Programmträger ist es, Gesundheits- und Bildungschancen von Kindern und Jugendlichen sowie das Wohlbefinden und die Leistungsfähigkeit aller Beteiligten in der Lebenswelt Schule gerecht und nachhaltig zu verbessern. Dies gelingt für die Programmschulen mit der fachkompetenten Beratung durch persönliche Ansprechpartner*innen, vielfältige Unterstützung, regelmäßige Evaluation sowie die Finanzierung nachhaltiger Schulentwicklungsmaßnahmen zur Verankerung von Gesundheitsförderung und Prävention. Die Gesundheitsqualität und Gesundheitskompetenz aller Beteiligten in der Lebenswelt Schule können dadurch verbessert werden.

Dieser Beitrag gibt Einblicke in das langjährige, anerkannte Schulentwicklungsprogramm, dessen Fortschreibung durch die Kooperationspartner aktuell für weitere 5 Jahre geplant ist. Die neueste Evaluation von BuG NRW hat u. a. gezeigt, wie sich durch implementierte Strukturen, eine aktive Vernetzung und individuelle Unterstützungsangebote in NRW gesundheitsförderliche Schulentwicklung langfristig weiterentwickeln und etablieren kann.