Motor proficiency and physical fitness in active and inactive girls aged 12 to 13

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Date
2008-11
Authors
De Milander, Monique
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University of the Free State
Abstract
English: Introduction Research done by Spinks et aI., (2007:161) clearly states that 14.7% of the children do not meet the minimum daily recommended physical activity requirements expected from them outside school hours. In addition boys participate in significantly more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and vigorous physical activity compared to girls (Pate et aI., 2004:1258). Powers and Howley (2007:321) state that physical activity is related to physical fitness. A decrease in physical activity levels causes health-related fitness risks such as overweight and obesity, hypertension and diabetes influencing the physical fitness status among girls (Pate et aI., 2004:1258). Alternatively children need to acquire the necessary fundamental movement skills to be able to participate successfully in physical activities (Hands, 2008:155). Therefore it is obvious that a decrease in physical activities contribute to a lack of preparation time for the development of movement skills and results in decreased physical fitness (Bouffard et aI., 1996:148). Problem statement Children, especially girls, are less active due to modern lifestyles. A decrease in physical activity results in fewer opportunities to acquire acceptable levels of motor proficiency abilities so as to aid them in successful sport participation and recreational activities. A decrease in physical activity levels also contribute to lower fitness levels leading to health problems. For this reason it would be advisable to determine strategies to facilitate girls to stay active and at the same time improve their motor proficiency abilities and health status. Aims To determine if there is a significant difference (P <0,05) between active and inactive girls aged 12 to 13 regarding motor proficiency. To determine if there is a significant difference (P <0,05) between active and inactive girls aged 12 to 13 regarding physical fitness. To determine if there is a significant difference between physical fitness performance (HFZ versus NTlZ) of active and inactive girls at different motor proficiency categories. Method The particpants were 12 to 13 years old girls and consisted of 50 girls who were identified as active by means of participation in various sports provided by the school and 50 girls who are inactive participating in cultural activities. Activity levels were measured by means of the Activity logging chart (The Cooper Institute,2005:1). There after, the BOTMP-Short Form was used to assess the girl's motor proficiency (skill-related fitness). The 8 subtests assess gross motor development, including running speed and agility, balance, bilateral coordination, and strength; gross and fine motor development, including upper limb coordination; and fine motor development, including response speed, visualmotor control, and upper-limb speed and dexterity (Bruininks, 1978:45). The Fitnessgram is a complete battery of health-related items such as cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength and muscular endurance, flexibility and body composition. To establish if the participants fell in the Healthy Fitness Zone the tests were scored through the Fitnessgram software programme (The Cooper Institute, 2005:3). Standards are age and gender related and are established on the basis of how fit children should be to enjoy good health. Data analyzis Data was analized using the SAS Version 9.1.3. Frequincies and percentages where calculated for categorical data. Medians and percentiles or means and standard deviations were calculated for numerical data. The Chi-square test was used to compare the results of the active and inactive group for categorical data. The Kruskal-Wallis test and t-test was used to compare the results of the active and inactive group for numerical data. A significance level of a = 0,05 was used to test significant differences between the groups. Summary According to the results hypothesis 1 is accepted regarding a significant difference in motor proficiency between active and inactive girls aged 12 to 13. Hypothesis 2 is partially accepted regarding a significant difference in physical fitness between active and inactive girls aged 12 to 13. This comparative study rejects hypothesis 3 and revealed that there was no significant difference between physical fitness performance (HFZ versus NTIZ) of active and inactive girls at different motor proficiency categories. The research clearly indicates the importance of improving activity levels among girls by means of motor development programs in order to establish fundamental movement skills at a young age. These basic skills will aid girl's in sport participation as well as recreational activities. New and exciting sports can be introduced in schools to attract girls. During sport participation an appropriate training program can improve health status overall.
Afrikaans: Inleiding Navorsing gedoen deur Spinks et al., (2007:161) meld duidelik dat 14,7% van die kinders nie aan die aanbevole minimum daaglikse fisiekeaktiwiteitsvereistes wat buite skoolure van hulle verwag is, voldoen het nie. Boonop het seuns in vergelyking met meisies aan aansienlik meer matig tot hoë intensiteit fisieke aktiwiteit en hoë intensiteit fisieke aktiwiteit deelgeneem (Pate et al., 2004:1258). Powers and Howley, (2007:321) meld dat fisieke aktiwiteit aan fisieke fiksheid verwant is. 'n Afname in fisiekeaktiwiteitsvlakke veroorsaak gesondheidsverwante fiksheidsrisiko's soos oorgewig en vetsug, hipertensie en diabetes, wat die fisiekefiksheidstatus van meisies beïnvloed (Pate et al., 2004:1258). Kinders moet die nodige fundamentele bewegingsvaardighede aanleer om in staat te wees om suksesvol aan fisieke aktiwiteite deel te neem (Hands, 2008:155). Dit is dus duidelik dat In afname in fisieke aktiwiteite bydra tot In gebrek aan voorbereidingstyd vir die ontwikkeling van bewegingsvaardighede en aanleiding gee tot verminderde fisieke fiksheid (Bouffard et aL, 1996:148). Probleemstelling Kinders, veral meisies, is minder aktief as gevolg van moderne lewenstyle. 'n Afname in fisieke aktiwiteit lei tot minder geleenthede vir die verkryging van aanvaarbare vlakke van motoriesevaardigheidsvermoëns om hulle te help met suksesvolle sportdeelname en rekreasieaktiwiteite. 'n Afname in fisiekeaktiwiteitsvlakke dra ook by tot laer fiksheidsvlakke, wat lei tot gesondheidsprobleme. Om hierdie rede sal dit raadsaam wees om strategieë te bepaal vir die fasilitering daarvan om meisies aktief te hou en om terselfdertyd hulle motoriesevaardigheidsvermoêns en gesondheidstatus te verbeter. Oogmerke Om vas te stelof daar 'n beduidende verskil (P < 0,05) tussen aktiewe en onaktiewe 12 tot 13 jarige meisies met betrekking tot motoriese vaardigheid is. Om vas te stelof daar 'n beduidende verskil (P < 0,05) tussen aktiewe en onaktiewe 12 tot 13 jarige meisies met betrekking tot fisieke fiksheid is. Om vas te stelof daar 'n beduidende verskil tussen fisiekefiksheidprestasie (HFZ versus NTIZ) van aktiewe en onaktiewe meisies by verskillende motoriesevaardigheidskategorieë is. Metode Die deelnemers was 12 tot 13 jarige meisies en het bestaan uit 50 meisies wat as aktief geïdentifiseer is deur middel van hul deelname aan verskeie sportsoorte wat deur die skool gebied word en 50 meisies wat onaktief is en aan kulturele aktiwiteite deelneem. Aktiwiteitsvlakke is deur middel van die aktiwiteitaantekeningskaart gemeet (The Cooper Institute, 2005:1). Daarna is die Bruininks-Oseretsky Toets van Motoriese Vaardigheid Kort Vorm gebruik om die meisies se motoriese vaardigheid (vaardigheidsverwante fiksheid) te bepaal. Die 8 subtoetse evalueer grootmotoriese ontwikkeling, waaronder hardloopspoed en ratsheid, balans, bilaterale koordinasie en krag; groot- en fynmotoriese ontwikkeling, waaronder boonsteledemaatkoordinasie;en fynmotoriese ontwikkeling, waaronder responsspoed, visuele-motoriese beheer en boonsteledemaatspoed en -behendigheid (Bruininks, 1978:45). Die Fitnessgram is 'n volledige battery van gesondheidsverwante items soos kardiovaskulêre fiksheid, spierkrag en spieruithouvermoë, soepelheid en liggaamsamestelling. Om te bepaal of die deelnemers in die sone van Gesonde Fiksheid geval het, is die toetsresultate aangeteken deur middel van die Fitnessgram sagteware (The Cooper Institute, 2005:3). Standaarde is ouderdom- en geslagsverwant en word vasgestel aan die hand van hoe fiks kinders behoort te wees om gesond te wees. Data-analise Data is geanaliseer met behulp van die SAS Weergawe 9.1.3. Frekwensies en persentasies is vir kategoriese data bereken. Mediane en persentiele of gemiddeldes en standaardafwykings is vir numeriese data bereken. Vir kategoriese data is die Chi-kwadraat toets gebruik om die resultate van die aktiewe en onaktiewe groep te vergelyk. Vir numeriese data is die Kruskal-Wallis toets en die t-toets gebruik om die resultate van die aktiewe en onaktiewe groep te vergelyk. 'n Beduidenheidsvlak van a = 0,05 is gebruik om beduidende verskille tussen die groepe te toets. Opsomming Volgens die uitslae word hipotese 1, rakende 'n beduidende verskil in motoriese vaardigheid tussen aktiewe en onaktiewe 12 tot 13 jarige meisies, aanvaar. Hipotese 2, rakende 'n beduidende verskil in fisieke fiksheid tussen aktiewe en onaktiewe 12 tot 13 jarige meisies, word gedeeltelik aanvaar. Hierdie vergelykende studie verwerp hipotese 3 en toon dat daar geen beduidende verskil tussen fisiekefiksheidprestasie (HFZ versus NTIZ) van aktiewe en onaktiewe meisies by verskillende motoriesevaardigheidskategorieê is nie. Die navorsing toon duidelik die belang daarvan om aktiwiteitsvlakke onder meisies deur middel van motorieseontwikkelingsprogramme te verbeter ten einde fundamentele bewegingsvaardighede op 'n jong ouderdom te vestig. Hierdie basiese vaardighede sal meisies help met sportdeelname sowel as rekreasieaktiwiteite. Nuwe en opwindende sportsoorte kan by skole ingevoer word om meisies te lok. Tydens sportdeelname kan 'n gepaste oefenprogram algehele gesondheidstatus verbeter.
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Keywords
Physical activity, Motor proficiency, Physical fitness, Healthy fitness zone, Health-related fitness, Skill-related fitness, Activitygram, Fitnessgram, Dissertation (M.A. (Human Movement Science))--University of the Free State, 2008, Bruininks-Oseretsky test battery - short form
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