Abstract:

Lack of physical activity is a negative civilization factor, weakening the health of today's schoolchildren. It reduces functional ability, physical or mental performance, resistance of the organism, but also the posture itself.

The aim of the research was to provide information on the longitudinal monitoring of somatic changes, on indicators of physical ability, physical performance, and posture in the school population of younger school age.

The monitored sample consisted of n=534 pupils of primary school in region of Banská Bystrica, whose decimal age was 10.43±0.76 years in the observed periods of 1991, 2001, 2011 and 2021.

In terms of data acquisition methods, standardized methods for physical education practice were used. To evaluate physical ability, we included the standardized Ruffier test, and physical performance we evaluated with a standard battery of physical tests (standing long jump test, running 4x10 m, sit up test in 1 min., shuttle run – beep test). The posture we evaluated by the Klein -Thomas test, modified by Mayer.

Our findings indicate a significant (p<0.1%) increase in body weight in the monitored sample. We also noticed a significant decrease in physical ability and endurance abilities in pupils (p<0.1%) between individual years. In the area of posture, we also noticed a significant deterioration (p<0.1%).

In conclusion, we can state significant negative changes between the indicators of physical development, physical ability, physical performance, and posture in pupils.

The listed study is the part of research project VEGA no. “1/0519/19 Physical activity as prevention of health of school population in Slovakia”.

Keywords:

Health, Physical ability, Physical performance, Posture, Pupils.