Physical Fitness Normative Values Among School Going Children

Overview

Physical fitness is state of health and wellbeing, it determines ability of body to perform sports or daily physical activities. Physical fitness is related to our cardiorespiratory fitness level, as cardiorespiratory fitness levels used for decreasing chronic diseases, promoting overall cardiovascular and general body health, decreasing the chance of developing disorders due to poor physical fitness. Different tests will be used for the measurement of physical fitness in school going children such as 1. height and weight, 2.waist circumference, 3.triceps skinfold thickness, 4.subscapular skinfold thickness, 5.standing long jump test, 6.handgrip strength test, 7. 20 m shuttle run test, 8. 4x10 m shuttle run test. This study will be Cross-sectional study and will be conducted in schools in order to determine physical fitness level in school going children and adolescents between age 10-17-year-old. Data will be collected by non-probability convenience sampling technique. Early determination of physical fitness level in school going children will be helpful, to promote their health status and to prevent the incidence of cardiovascular disorders.

Evidence shows that low physical fitness level and cardiorespiratory level are strongly and independently associated with high risk of cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, mental health, stroke other risk factors and comorbidities. In children and adolescents, peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) is the most researched physiological variable in pediatric exercise physiology for its association with cardio-metabolic risk factors and other health-related variables . Children's health and well-being is highly correlated with their physical fitness. Recently published studies indicate that low levels of physical fitness (e.g., cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular endurance/power) are associated with an elevated risk of developing adverse physiological events (e.g., unbalanced body mass index, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, plasma glucose, lipoprotein cholesterol, insulin resistance) in school-aged students. Physical fitness is usually determined in school-aged children using health-related physical fitness batteries (i.e., field tests). Compared to more sophisticated laboratory-based test equipment, field tests are easy-to-administer, involve minimal equipment and personnel, demonstrate good validity and reliability and a large number of subjects can be tested in a relatively small amount of time. Normative data derived from field tests have previously been used to identify subjects for health/talent promotion or to provide current objective recommendations for the assessment of physical fitness during physical education. In this study investigator will determine physical fitness normative values in school going children, in order to determine present health status which will reduce the incidence of future occurrence of cardiovascular disorders. Present health status is strong predictor of future cardiovascular disorders.