Nine Months of a Structured Multisport Program Improve Physical Fitness in Preschool Children

A Quasi-Experimental Study

Datos Bibliográficos

ID15515813
AutoresBoris Popović (0000-0002-5062-2591, University of Novi Sad), Milan Cvetković (0000-0002-5912-0483, University of Novi Sad), Draženka Mačak (0000-0001-6846-896X, University of Novi Sad), Tijana Šćepanović (0000-0001-8751-3316, University of Novi Sad), Nebojša Čokorilo (0000-0001-8767-7839, University of Novi Sad), Aleksandra Belić (University of Novi Sad), Nebojša Trajković (0000-0001-6276-3052, University of Novi Sad), Slobodan Andrašić (0000-0002-2662-0019, University of Novi Sad), Špela Bogataj (0000-0003-1784-208X, University of Ljubljana, autor de correspondencia)
Año2020
Volumen17
Número14
Páginas4935-4935
Fecha de publicación2020-07-08
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
EditorialMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph17144935
PMID32650604
OpenAlexW3042124159
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas11
Referencias citadas4

Research in preschool children that investigates the impact of different exercise interventions on physical fitness is limited. This pre-post study was aimed at determining if participation in a nine-month structured multisport program (MSG; n = 38) could enhance physical fitness components compared to a formal exercise program (control group (CG); n = 36) among preschool children. Physical fitness was assessed using standardized tests (the standing long jump, sit and reach, 20 m sprint, sit-ups for 30 s, bent-arm hang, medicine ball throw (MBT), grip strength, 4 × 10 m shuttle run, and 20 m shuttle run tests). The structured multisport program involved fundamental/gross and fine motor skills and ball game-based exercises twice a week. The control group was free of any programmed exercise except for the obligatory program in kindergartens. A mixed ANOVA demonstrated significant group-by-time interaction effects for the 4 × 10 m shuttle run, standing long jump, sit-ups, bent-arm hang, grip strength, and sit and reach tests ( p p = 0.794) or for the 20 m shuttle run test ( p = 0.549). Moreover, the MSG and CG performance in the MBT and 20 m shuttle run tests improved to a similar extent from pre- to post-test. Our results indicate that compared to the formal plan, the structured multisport program led to a sustained improvement in physical fitness in healthy 5-to-6-year old children

Jumping · Multi-stage fitness test · Physical fitness · Physical medicine and rehabilitation · Physical therapy · Sprint · Test (biology · Children's Physical and Motor Development · Medicine · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Psychology · Sports Performance and Training