Effects of three-weekly jogging on twenty-meter shuttle run performance in elementary students

Physical Fitness in Children

The effects of a 2-minute jog 3 times per week on 20 meter shuttle run scores in elementary age students

The connection between physical activity, proper diet and nutrition, and a growing trend towards children who are overweight is well established. Obesity in children leads to the development of diseases that were once thought to only affect adults. When diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease began in childhood it is often a precursor to the continuation and worsening of these diseases as an adult. Schools can play an important role in preventing or stopping the progress of lifelong illness by providing an atmosphere that promotes physical well-being and that teaches and instills the basics of a healthy lifestyle. At present, research as to what is the best approach remains controversial. The proposed research will explore the effects of one intervention technique in its ability to improve physical fitness scores among elementary students.

Background

Physical activities in the schools are designed to reinforce patterns associated with a healthy lifestyle. Several factors are recognized as necessary in regards to policies that promote increased physical activity among students. These factors include daily physical activity and physical education, extracurricular physical activity programs, proper training of activity leaders, active transportation to and from school, adequate facilities to house the program, and community outreach (Lagarde & LeBlanc, 2010). Studies in areas unrelated to physical fitness have found that increasing the available options increases consumption and participation. For instance, increasing food choices led to increases in food consumption. Increasing the number purchasing options increases purchases in adults. It was found that altering the variety of exercise options increased exercise participation as well. (Barkley, Ryan, & Bellar et al.). The ability to provide all of these essential elements has been a popular topic among academic researchers.

Research in the area of physical fitness among youth contains several basic tenets that are widely accepted and supported by numerous research studies. It is an established tenant that obesity among children is on the rise. Obesity among children is accepted as a precursor to adult lifestyle patterns that can lead to disability or a shortened life span. Obesity among children is a drain on an already taxed medical system and costs the American public billions of dollars to care for these children. These expenses are further multiplied when one considers the expenses that they will incur as adults due to illnesses that could have been prevented. It is recognized that lifestyle changes that include a healthy diet and physical activity play a key role in preventing the development of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and the complications of these diseases. The goal of current research efforts is to discover the best means to promote health and physical fitness among school age children so that they can lead a healthy, happy, and productive life.

Summary of Literature

Research on the problem of obesity in children has been well funded by academic community, private organizations, and the government. It is recognized that this is a high priority research topic with significant consequences for the future of the nation. Research in this area has progressed from the general knowledge that a problem exists and the consequences associated with childhood obesity to specific ways to address the issue. At present, research focuses on specific methods and interventions that will have the greatest impact on preventing childhood obesity and diminished physical fitness. This research will add to the body of knowledge in this area.

Problem Statement

The 20 meter shuttle run to be used in this study is part of the Presidential Physical Fitness Test. National figures on pass and failure rates for this test could not be located, but it is estimated that due to the high percentage of obese children in the United States, the numbers of those that could not pass the test are high. This research will address the problem of whether adding a 2-minute jog, three times a week to the physical fitness program of elementary children will increase their performance on 20 meter shuttle run scores as a means of measuring physical fitness.

Literature Review

Literature on childhood obesity and physical fitness is abundant. Primary sources of information include government reports, clinical trials, and academic journals. These sources agree on the severity of the problem and the need to find solutions. Sources agree on the effects of obesity in children, but they do not agree on what represents the best solution to the problem. Furthermore, sources do not agree on what represents the most accurate measurement method for establishing levels of physical fitness in children and adolescents. This literature review will examine academic studies that related to interventions associated with increased physical fitness, as well as topics specific to this academic study

Physical Fitness and Bone Density

In the past, children and adolescents were treated the same as adults in terms of exercise and physical fitness regimes. We now know that the growing bodies of children and adolescents are different and that they require different treatment at different stages in their growth. Medical evidence suggests that physical activity increases bone density. It is not known if increased bone density in children prevents the development of osteoporosis in later life, but it is known that it prevents the development of osteoporosis in children. Increased bone density sets children up for an active and healthy lifestyle.

Osteoporosis was once thought to only be a disease of old age, but it is being increasingly accepted that osteoporosis is also a pediatric issue. Physical activity promotes the development of strong bones and it is been found that it is not necessary to perform high amounts of exercise, to obtain the maximum bone density. Activity should be continued through the entirety of the pre-pubertal growth years (Vicente-Rodriguez, 2006).

Resistance training has found to be effective for increasing bone development in children. However, the impact of age and maturity on trainability of muscle strength remains poorly understood. It was found that the ability to gain muscular strength increases with age and maturational status, but that it does not exhibit a boost during puberty. The duration and number of performed sets were found to have an affect on the outcome of the training (Behringer, Vom Heede, & Yue et al., 2010). Prepubescent children receive the most benefit from daily physical activity and physical loading from activities such as jump rope and strength training. Increases in bone density among children who were involved in these activities demonstrated no gender-based differences (Meyer, Romann, & Zahner et al., 2011).

Anaerobic Capacity

Oxygen consumption rate is one of the oldest measures of cardiorespiratory fitness and performance. Low anaerobic performance is often associated with a sedentary lifestyle, which is associated with the development of obesity and the development of Type 2 diabetes. Methods for teaching students to monitor their own oxygen consumption rate were met with positive results (Tarnus, Catan, & Verkindt, 2011).

Gender differences were found to be a factor in anaerobic endurance. Men achieved significantly higher performance indices on anaerobic endurance tests than women. These differences were attributed to lower muscle mass in women. All of the subjects in this test were untrained. The test took place over multiple trials. The differences became more pronounced in each successive trial (Sienkiewicz-Dianzenza, Tomaszewski, & Iwa-skaet al.,2009).

In addition to gender differences, physical illness or specific disabilities can also have a negative affect on anaerobic endurance. In a progressive respiratory test on children with cerebral palsy it was found that they experienced significantly lower aerobic capacity than normally developing children in the same age category (Verschuren & Takken, 2010).

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) affects a children's coordination and ability to participate in activities (Rivilis, Hay, & Cariney et al., 2011). Physical activities are essential for the proper development of fitness and overall health. In the course of daily activity Most children engage in running, walking, jumping and other physical activities. However, when children find these activities challenging due to a disability, negative associations between body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, endurance, anaerobic capacity, power, and overall physical activity were found (Rivilis, Hay, & Cariney et al., 2011). In addition, the study found that it was more difficult to measure fitness levels in children who suffered from DCD as they were not able to perform the motor functions necessary for the test.

Measurement and Intervention

The literature review revealed that what constitutes the best measurement methods for determining proper physical fitness levels of children is controversial. There are many methods available, few of which produce consistent results. In terms of measuring anaerobic endurance, those that involve prolonged, or short burst intensity activities such as running were found to be the most consistent in distinguishing levels of physical fitness. The following summarizes some of the most recent findings in this area.

Measuring fitness levels in high school students is important to make sure that they a retaining the proper level of physical fitness. However, developing a test that is equitable in that yields meaningful results who is difficult. Rowe, Mars, & Schuldeheisz, (2004) conducted a study to evaluate and validate the System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time (SOFIT). The results of the study found that this test was able to accurately discriminate between sedentary behaviors, and moderate to vigorous levels of physical activity. The study indicated that this tool is a valuable resource for teachers and researchers in the measurement of physical activity.

The National Association for Sports and Physical Education (NASPE) has guidelines that recommend 120 minutes of physical activity for preschoolers per day. However, several issues have arisen in regards to estimates in the prevalence rates of inactive preschoolers. The first problem is that the guidelines of the NASPE have been interpreted in many different ways. The second difficulty is that accelerometry is considered to be the most widely accepted method for measuring the physical activity level of preschoolers. Despite it's acceptance as the standard in measurement, it has been found to provide widely varied estimates a physical activity. It has been recommended that the NASPE guidelines be updated to reflect measurement methods that are more consistent (Beets, Bornstein, & Dowda, et al., 2011). Studies at address specific interventions were often combined with the goal of refining measurement techniques as well.

Plyometric training (plyo-play), was found to increase physical fitness performance in children. The study consisted of two groups, one of which received the standard physical education format, the other received the standard physical education format combined with a plyo-play program specifically designed for the children's age group. Those that participated in the plyo-play program exhibit in increased levels of physical fitness over the study period (Fagenbaum, Farrel, & Radner et al., 2009). This study represents one of many studies in academic literature that examine a specific intervention and its effects on increased physical fitness. The proposed research will add to the existing body of research in this area.

Procedure

Design

This research will address the problem of whether adding a 2-minute jog, three times a week to the physical fitness program of elementary children will increase their performance on 20 meter shuttle run scores as a means of measuring physical fitness. This study will be a qualitative empirical study. A group of elementary students will be chosen and divided into two groups. Both groups will receive the standard physical education program of the school district's elected. One group will receive an additional 2-minute jog three times a week. A baseline score for each 20 m shuttle run test will be derived before the treatment is begun. The scores will be compared to 20 m shuttle run test scores at the end of the test period.

Data collected for this study will consist of the baseline and post treatment 20 minute shuttle run scores. This will serve as a primary research data. In addition to the primary data information about the child's gender, height, and weight will also be collected to provide greater insight into the data and to help detect the presence of sample bias in the population.

The treatment will consist of jogging for 2 minutes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The jogging will take place around the perimeter of the school gymnasium. This will help to eliminate variables associated with varying weather conditions that may occur outside and could affect the quality of the jogging activity. Students will be instructed not to cut corners and to continue jogging at a moderate pace of approximately 120 steps per minute. The coach or instructor will ensure that the proper steps per minute are being maintained and will provide verbal prompts to encourage proper pace. It is possible that some students may have to walk after a certain time because their physical fitness level does not allow them to jog for the entire time. It is expected that as the students continue, their endurance will build. The coach or instructor will be asked to note students that are not able to complete the entire 2-minute jog at the beginning of the research study.

This study procedures will consist of gathering initial data prior to the treatment condition. Permission to participate in the study will be sent home to parents. Data will only be collected on children whose parents agree for them to participate in the study. Data on the students' gender, height and weight will be gathered at the beginning of the study. An initial 20m shuttle run test will be administered and recorded. The students will then be divided into two groups by random assignment using a drawing. Those selected for group A will be considered the test group. They will receive the standard physical education program administered by the school and they will receive an additional 2-minute jog on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for a period of six weeks. Group B. will only receive the standard physical education program administered by the school. At the end of the study, both groups will take the 20m shuttle run test. In addition, their height and weight will be recorded again as well. Once the second set of data is collected, the data will be analyzed by the researcher.

Sample Population

The sample population for this study will consist of all students in the fifth and sixth grades of a local school district. The sample size will be determined by the number of students in attendance in the classes selected. It is expected that a minimal population of 100 students will participate in the study. The gender of the study population will be random, in accordance with that of the natural classroom setting. Gender differences will be addressed via statistical methods. The age of the students will be from 10-12 years old. The ethnicity and socioeconomic background of the students will not be addressed as part of the study, as this information is not considered pertinent.

Instruments

The key research instrument for this study consists of demographic data, which will be recorded in a tabular form. The 20m shuttle run test has been a part of standardized physical fitness testing for many years. It is considered a valid and reliable measure physical fitness for children and adults in many demographic groups (Leger & Gadbury, 1989; Leger, Mercier, & Gadbury et al., 1988; Strickland, Petersen, & Bouffard, 2003).

Data Analysis

Data will be analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques to describe patterns and trends in the groups. Cross tabulation of genders will be used to explore the differences associated with gender. A p-value of 0.05 will be used for the acceptance of the hypothesis. The t-test will be used for independent samples. The data will be presented in graphically and in tabular form in the final report.

Calendar

Task

Completion

Send out Permission for the study to parents

December 1, 2011

Deadline to receive permission from parents to participate

December 15, 2011

Collect Initial Data

January 16, 2012

Begin 5-week 2-minute jog program

February 17, 2012

Conduct Second 20 m shuttle run, collect second set of height and weight

February 20, 2012

Analyze Data

April 1, 2012

Write and Edit Final Report

June 1, 2012

Potential Implications

This study has potential implications for the design of physical education programs that are more effective in promoting the general health and physical fitness of children. It will explore the potential that even small amounts of additional activity can have an affect on increasing physical fitness levels. This study will target fifth and sixth graders, but it will lead to further research on the effects of small amounts of exercise on other demographic groups as well. One of the key gaps in the literature is that no one knows for certain how much additional exercise is needed to reduce the risks of childhood disease, and later adult disease that can be prevented through proper diet and exercise. The information derived from the study will play an important role in promoting the health not only school children, but also that of adults as well.

Reference

Barkley, J., Ryan, E. & Bellar, D. et al. (n.d.) The Variety of Exercise Equipment

and Physical Activity Participation in Children. Journal of Sport Behavior, 34 (2); 137-149.

Beets, M., Bornstein, D., & Dowda, M. et al. (2011) Compliance with national guidelines for physical activity in U.S. preschoolers: measurement and interpretation. Pediatrics. 127(4): 658-64. PMID: 21422082 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Behringer, Vom Heede, & Yue et al. (2010). Effects of resistance training in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis. Pediatrics. 126:e1199.