Purpose: Joint mobility is a fundamental part in physical activity program for children, but a scientific characterization of the methods to improve the articular mobility in healthy children is still poor. The aim of this study was to investigate whether joint mobility/muscular elasticity were related to a merely active lifestyle or could be significantly improved in the presence of a collective, easy-to-perform, but specifically designed and professionally guided program. Methods: Specific functional and anthropometric parameters were single-blind tested on 277 children (aged 9–11 years). 148 were randomly assigned to a physical education program specifically designed to increase elasticity and supervised by professionals (treated group), while 129 (control group) continued their usual physical activity at school, with no specific program. Results: Specific tests were performed and showed a significant improvement of joint mobility compared to non-specific physical activity in 9- to 11-year children. As a secondary end-point, this program was effective also in children of overweight/obese BMI category. Conclusions: These results, building on those from this and other groups, should orientate decision-makers in the area of physical exercise for primary school children towards specifically designed programs based on demographic and anthropometric data.
Joint mobility/muscular chain elasticity in a cohort of 9- to 11-year school children exposed to a specifically designed professionally guided training / Volta, Elio; Canali, Vincenzo; Gobbi, Giuliana; Martini, Silvia; Albanese, Cristina; Vaccarezza, Mauro; Vitale, Marco; Mirandola, Prisco; Galli, Daniela. - In: SPORT SCIENCES FOR HEALTH. - ISSN 1824-7490. - 12:3(2016), pp. 347-352. [10.1007/s11332-016-0294-9]
Joint mobility/muscular chain elasticity in a cohort of 9- to 11-year school children exposed to a specifically designed professionally guided training
GOBBI, Giuliana;MARTINI, Silvia;VITALE, Marco;MIRANDOLA, Prisco
;GALLI, Daniela
2016-01-01
Abstract
Purpose: Joint mobility is a fundamental part in physical activity program for children, but a scientific characterization of the methods to improve the articular mobility in healthy children is still poor. The aim of this study was to investigate whether joint mobility/muscular elasticity were related to a merely active lifestyle or could be significantly improved in the presence of a collective, easy-to-perform, but specifically designed and professionally guided program. Methods: Specific functional and anthropometric parameters were single-blind tested on 277 children (aged 9–11 years). 148 were randomly assigned to a physical education program specifically designed to increase elasticity and supervised by professionals (treated group), while 129 (control group) continued their usual physical activity at school, with no specific program. Results: Specific tests were performed and showed a significant improvement of joint mobility compared to non-specific physical activity in 9- to 11-year children. As a secondary end-point, this program was effective also in children of overweight/obese BMI category. Conclusions: These results, building on those from this and other groups, should orientate decision-makers in the area of physical exercise for primary school children towards specifically designed programs based on demographic and anthropometric data.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.