Effects of a 6-Month Gymnastics Program on Somatotype and Motor Performance in Children Across Age Groups

Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University144 enrolled

Overview

The study adopted a controlled 6-month study design to compare the gymnastics group (n= 56) with the inactive control group (n=88). Anthropometric profiling, somatotype assessment, and motor performance tests were conducted pre- and post-intervention

The study design for the present investigation was prospective, controlled, and observational with a duration of 6 months. The repeated measures design approach has been used to assess the neuromuscular and morphological adaptations (Pre-test vs. Post-test) for the gymnastics and inactive groups. The intervention and observation period for the study was 2 days x 24 weeks. To ensure high internal validity and to minimize the effects of circadian rhythm changes, all pre- and post-test assessments were conducted during the morning hours, between 09:00 and 11:30 AM, under similar environmental conditions (temperature and humidity). Prior to the pre-test, standardized pre-test procedures were clearly explained to the participants and their parents. Children were instructed to adhere to their routine sleeping habits (minimum 8 hours of sleep) and abstain from any strenuous physical activity and sports for at least 24 hours prior to the pre- and post-test assessments. With regard to the standardized nutritional conditions, the participants were instructed to adhere to their routine diet but abstain from heavy meals for at least 2 hours prior to the pre- and post-test assessments. Participants were allowed to drink water ad libitum up to 30 minutes prior to the assessments. On the assessment days, a logical and non-fatiguing sequence of the pre- and post-test assessments was strictly followed. Non-invasive anthropometric assessments such as stature, body mass, skinfolds, girths, and breadths were conducted for all the participants, while they were in a rested and non-sweated condition. After the anthropometric assessments, the participants were administered a standardized 10-minute dynamic warm-up procedure by a certified strength and conditioning specialist. Subsequently, the motor performance tests were conducted. To prevent the participants from fatigue, the physical tests were conducted from the least to the most fatiguing, from flexibility to muscular endurance and sprint capacity, with strict adherence to the intervening time of 3-5 minutes between the assessments .

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

144

Conditions

Gymnastics Injury, Motor Learning, Balance

Interventions

Gymnastic ExerciseOTHER

Gymnastic Training for six month

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 4 YearsMax age: 12 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * For Experimental Group: Active and continuous participation in a gymnastics program during the entire 6-month period. * Inactive control group : comprised participants who did not practice any form of sports, athletics, and physical training outside their usual physical education classes at school. Exclusion Criteria: * the presence of any chronic metabolic, cardiovascular, and endocrine disorders; * a history of severe musculoskeletal injuries and orthopedic surgeries within the past year; * the use of medications known to have a significant impact on body composition and physical performance; and * an attendance rate of less than 85% for the gymnastics sessions (only for the intervention group).

Locations (1)

Kazakh National University of Sports

Astana, Kazakhstan

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Circumferences (Girths) Measurements

Girth measurements were taken to the nearest 0.1 cm using a flexible, non-stretchable anthropometric tape measure (Lufkin W606PM, Apex Tool Group). The measured girths included the head, neck, shoulder, chest, waist, hip, relaxed arm, forearm, thigh, maximum calf, and ankle circumferences. Care was taken to ensure the tape measure was at a right angle to the long axis of the body segment and did not compress the subcutaneous tissue.

Time frame: 6 month

Skinfold Thickness Measurements

Skinfold thicknesses were measured to the nearest 0.1 mm using a Harpenden skinfold caliper (Baty International, West Sussex, UK). Measurements were taken in duplicate at nine standardized sites: triceps, subscapular, biceps, chest, axillary, abdominal, suprailiac, anterior thigh, and medial calf. If the difference between the first two measurements exceeded 5%, a third measurement was taken, and the median value was recorded for analysis. Furthermore, to obtain a comprehensive and robust quantification of total subcutaneous adiposity, the sum of all nine measured skinfolds (Σ9SF) was calculated. In pediatric kinanthropometry, the absolute sum of multiple skinfold sites is widely recognized as a highly reliable proxy for total body fatness, as it circumvents the inherent biological maturation errors and prediction biases associated with population-specific body density and body fat percentage equations.

Time frame: 6 month

Waist-to-Height Ratio

Calculated by dividing waist circumference (cm) by standing height (cm). This ratio serves as a highly validated, age-independent proxy for central adiposity and health risk in pediatric populations.

Time frame: Six Month

Segment Lengths and Bone Breadths Measurements

Segment lengths (arm span, total arm, forearm, total leg, thigh, tibia, and foot lengths) were measured using a segmometer and anthropometric tape to the nearest 0.1 cm. Skeletal breadths were measured to the nearest 0.1 cm using a sliding spreading caliper. The breadth measurements included the shoulder, biacromial, biiliac, bitrochanteric, knee (biepicondylar femur), elbow (biepicondylar humerus), and wrist.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.