An Analysis over Physical and Physiological Parameters of Elementary School Children Taking Part in a Sport Climbing Exercise.

Abstract

This study is intended to analyze any improvement in flexibility, balance, strength (hand, grip, arm, torso, leg) and physiological (body weight, body mass index, body fat percentage) parameters for elementary school children with no background of sport climbing in a sport climbing training they attend. The physical and physiological parameters of the subjects were measured at the outset of the study and at the end of month two. Height (H), body weight (W), body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BFP), Flamingo Balance Test (FBT) for balance, Sit and Reach Test (SRT) for flexibility, Standing Broad Jump (SBJ) for explosive leg power, Sit-Ups Test (SUT) to be performed in 30 seconds for abdominal strength, Bent Arm Hang (BAH) test for endurance, hand grip strength (HGS) test for grip, and 10 x 5 meter shuttle run (SR) tests for sprint speed were conducted as a part of preliminary and posttests. The subjects took part in a 90-minute sport climbing exercise on a daily basis. The results of the preliminary and posttests pointed to a significant difference of p<.001 in body weight, body mass index, balance, flexibility, torso strength, arm strength, grip strength and sprint speed, and of p<.005 in body fat percentage. There was no significant difference between preliminary and post test results of the students who did not take part in any sport climbing exercise. In conclusion, physical and physiological parameters of students who take up sport climbing as early as in an elementary school do improve.