Abstract

SHIGAKI, Gabriela Blasquez et al. Secular trend of physical fitness indicators related to health in children. J. Hum. Growth Dev. [online]. 2019, vol.29, n.3, pp.381-389. ISSN 0104-1282.  https://doi.org/10.7322/jhgd.v29.9537.

INTRODUCTION: Health-related physical fitness (HRPF) demonstratesan inverse association with several cardiovascular risk factors in young people; however, few studies have investigated the alterationsin HRPF indicators throughout a determined period. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the secular trend of HRPF indicators in children of seven to 10 years of age. METHODS: In total, 1,136 subjects were analyzed, seven to 10 years of age, in three-time periods (2002, 2005, 2010-2011). The HRPF tests were: sit-and-reach (SR), abdominal resistance (AB), 9 min walk/run test (9min), and body adiposity by the skinfold sum (∑SF). Classification of the HRPF indicators was carried out by the Physical Best cut-off point. The ANCOVA test (controlled by BMI, height and ∑SF) was used to compare the differencesin HRPF indicators betweenthe three-time periods. RESULTS: Boys presented a 6% decrease in flexibility between the 2010 and 2002 periods; no significance was found in the AB test; children of both sexes presented higher values in the 9min test in the 2005 period. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that there was a negative secular trend for HRPF, in that the individuals studied in 2010 presented inferior results to their peers (2002-2005) for HRPF, in both sexes, except for abdominal strength and endurance.

Keywords : physical fitness; muscle strength; flexibility; children.

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