István Karsai

Teacher, peer and parent autonomy support in physical education and leisure-time physical activity: A trans-contextual model of motivation in four nations

An extended trans-contextual model of motivation for health-related physical activity was tested in samples from four nations. The model proposes a motivational sequence in which perceived autonomy support from teachers in a physical education (PE) context and from peers and parents in a leisure-time physical activity context predict autonomous motivation, intentions and physical activity behaviour in a leisure-time context. A three-wave prospective correlational design was employed. High-school pupils from Britain, Estonia, Finland and Hungary completed measures of perceived autonomy support from PE teachers, autonomous motivation in both contexts, perceived autonomy support from peers and parents, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and intentions from the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), and measures of behaviour and past behaviour in a leisure-time context. Path-analyses controlling for past behaviour supported trans-contextual model hypotheses across all samples. Effects of perceived autonomy support from peers and parents on leisure-time autonomous motivation were small and inconsistent, while effects on TPB variables were stronger. There was a unique effect of perceived autonomy support from PE teachers on leisure-time autonomous motivation. Findings support the model, which provides an explanation of the processes by which perceived autonomy support from different sources affects health-related physical activity motivation across these contexts.

Short-Term High Intensity Plyometric Training Program Improves Strength, Power and Agility in Male Soccer Players

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a short-term in-season plyometric training program on power, agility and knee extensor strength. Male soccer players from a third league team were assigned into an experimental and a control group. The experimental group, beside its regular soccer training sessions, performed a periodized plyometric training program for six weeks. The program included two training sessions per week, and maximal intensity unilateral and bilateral plyometric exercises (total of 40 - 100 foot contacts/session) were executed. Controls participated only in the same soccer training routine, and did not perform plyometrics. Depth vertical jump height, agility (Illinois Agility Test, T Agility Test) and maximal voluntary isometric torque in knee extensors using Multicont II dynamometer were evaluated before and after the experiment. In the experimental group small but significant improvements were found in both agility tests, while depth jump height and isometric torque increments were greater. The control group did not improve in any of the measures. Results of the study indicate that plyometric training consisting of high impact unilateral and bilateral exercises induced remarkable improvements in lower extremity power and maximal knee extensor strength, and smaller improvements in soccer-specific agility. Therefore, it is concluded that short-term plyometric training should be incorporated in the in-season preparation of lower level players to improve specific performance in soccer.

Physical activity and sedentary behaviours in youth: Data from three Central-Eastern European countries

Abstract Limited data are available on the active and sedentary behaviours of young people in Eastern Europe. Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia are relatively new members of the European Union. The socioeconomic status of the people of these countries differs from that of their Western European counterparts. These three countries are understudied in respect of physical activity and sedentary behaviour patterns in youth. Ecological momentary assessment was employed for data collection among 13- to 18-year-old students (n=623). A 3 (socioeconomic status)×3 (country)×2 (gender) multivariate analysis of variance, with physical activity, technological sedentary behaviour, and sedentary socializing behaviour as dependent variables, showed that for weekday behaviours there were significant multivariate main effects for country (P<0.001) and gender (P<0.001), but not for socioeconomic status (P>0.05). Slovakia showed greater technological sedentary behaviours than the other two countries. Romania and Slovakia had higher physical activity levels than Hungary. Boys spent more time than girls on technological sedentary behaviours, while girls spent more time than boys on socializing sedentary behaviours on weekdays and weekends (P<0.001). For weekend behaviours, the country×gender interaction was significant (P<0.046), with the highest rates of technological sedentary behaviours for males in Slovakia and Hungary, with lower figures for girls in these countries and particularly for boys and girls in Romania. There was a significant multivariate main effect for country (P<0.001), with fewer technological sedentary behaviours in Romania than the other two countries. Hungarian youth were less active than Romanian youth. These three Eastern European countries show quite high levels of sedentary behaviours but these co-exist with varying physical activity patterns. Values differ by country and gender.

Establishing Normative Reference Values for Handgrip Among Hungarian Youth.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine age- and sex-related variation in handgrip strength and to determine reference values for the Hungarian population. Method: A sample of 1,086 Hungary youth (aged 11–18 years old; 654 boys and 432 girls) completed a handgrip strength assessment using a handheld dynamometer. Quantile regression was used to compute separate models for boys and girls and included a linear, cubic, and quadratic term for age to account for nonlinear patterns. These terms were tested for statistical significance using the Wald statistical test with p < .05. Age- and sex-specific centiles were generated and the 50th percentile was used to describe the overall patterns in handgrip strength. Results: The linear, cubic, and quadratic terms for age fitted the data well for boys (p < .05), while both linear and quadratic terms for age were statistically significant for girls (p < .05). The 50th percentile values resulted in 21.4 kg, 21.7 kg, 25.0 kg, 30.0 kg, 35.4 kg, 40.0 kg, 42.6 kg, and 42.0 kg for boys aged 11 to 18 years old, respectively. The same percentile resulted in 20.0 kg, 19.5 kg, 19.6 kg, 20.3 kg, 21.6 kg, 23.5 kg, 26.1 kg, and 29.2 kg for girls aged 11 to 18 years old, respectively. Conclusions: Muscle strength as determined by handgrip has distinct age-related patterns in boys and girls. We have accounted for biological age differences and developed norm-referenced values that can be used to interpret handgrip assessment scores obtained from school-aged children in Hungary.

Cross-Validation of FITNESSGRAM® Health-Related Fitness Standards in Hungarian Youth

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to cross-validate FITNESSGRAM® aerobic and body composition standards in a representative sample of Hungarian youth. Method: A nationally representative sample (N = 405) of Hungarian adolescents from the Hungarian National Youth Fitness Study (ages 12–18.9 years) participated in an aerobic capacity assessment via treadmill test to maximum to determine peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) and a bioelectrical impedance assessment to estimate percent body fat (%BF). Additionally, metabolic syndrome status was assessed via finger-stick blood sample. Youth were categorized into Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) and Needs Improvement (NI) groups based on Fitnessgram standards. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was calculated and logistic regression was used to estimate odds of metabolic syndrome. Results: Hungarian youth were generally fit with a low prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Approximately 69% to 77% of boys and 55% to 57% of girls were classified into the HFZ based on %BF and VO2peak. Youth in the NI health risk zones for VO2peak and %BF were 4 times to 5 and 2 times to 3 times more likely to have metabolic syndrome than children in the lower-risk groups, respectively. Conclusions: Fitnessgram standards for aerobic capacity and body composition were associated with metabolic syndrome status, though odds ratios were larger for VO2peak than for %BF and varied by sex. Even though these standards were developed in U.S. youth, they can be applied in Hungary and still provide a criterion-referenced indication of fitness.

Changes in metabolic and muscle damage indicators following a single bout of jump training on stair versus at level

UNLABELLED We hypothesized that stair-jump exercise would induce less muscle damage and greater acute metabolic responses than level-jumps. METHODS Trained males executed 100 unilateral jumps on stairs with one leg, and at level with the other leg, with two weeks hiatus. Maximal isometric voluntary torque (MVC) and rate of torque development (RTD)in the quadriceps, and unilateral vertical jump height (VJ) were determined in the trained leg at pre-exercise,immediately at post- (IP), 24 h and 48 h after exercise. Serum creatine kinase (CK) level and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) were evaluated at pre-exercise, 24 h and 48 h. Acute lactate and heart rate responses were also measured. RESULTS Lactate and heart rate at IP increased similarly under the two conditions. CK was elevated and MVC was depressed while RTD and VJ remained unchanged at 24 h in both types of training. MVC recovered at 48 h only after stair-jump exercise. DOMS developed only after level-jumps. Except DOMS, no effects of condition were found in any other variables. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that vigorous stair-jump exercise highly stresses the aerobic and the anaerobic energy system, and it preserves power and rapid torque generating ability 24 h after exercise. Stair-jump could be one alternative exercise to prevent muscle soreness.

Overview of the Hungarian National Youth Fitness Study

The 2012 Public Act on Education in Hungary made daily physical education (PE) a mandatory part of the school day starting in the 2012–2013 school year. This directive was linked to a significant reorganization of the Hungarian education system including a new National Core Curriculum that regulates the objectives and contents of PE. The Hungarian School Sport Federation (HSSF) recognized the opportunity and created the Strategic Actions for Health-Enhancing Physical Education or Testnevelés az Egészségfejlesztésben Stratégiai Intézkedések (TESI) project. Physical fitness assessments have been a traditional part of the Hungarian PE program; however, the TESI plan called for the use of a new health-related battery and assessment system to usher in a new era of fitness education in the country. The HSSF enlisted the Cooper Institute to assist in building an infrastructure for full deployment of a national student fitness assessment program based on the FITNESSGRAM® in Hungarian schools. The result is a new software-supported test battery, namely the Hungarian National Student Fitness Test (NETFIT), which uses health-related, criterion-referenced youth fitness standards. The NETFIT system now serves as a compulsory fitness assessment for all Hungarian schools. This article details the development process for the test battery and summarizes the aims and methods of the Hungarian National Youth Fitness Study.

Characteristics of cardiorespiratory output determining factors among 11-19-year-old boys at rest and during maximal load: Its impact on systolic hypertension.

As consequence of the expansion of sedentary lifestyle among schoolchildren the prevalence of particular symptoms related to decreased cardiorespiratory fitness increases. The purpose of this study was twofolds, on one hand to compare boys in three developmental groups: second childhood (G1), puberty (G2), young adult (G3) and on the other hand to compare groups classified on resting systolic blood pressure (RSBP) to differentiate cardiorespiratory output determining factors both at rest and at maximal load. Randomly selected apparently healthy boys were assessed, all subjects (n = 282) performed an incremental treadmill test until fatigue. Heart rate (HR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), and oxygen consumption were measured. Resting HR was higher and resting SBP and DBP were lower in the G1 as compared to G2 and G3 (p < 0.05) but not differed at maximal loads. However indicators of cardiovascular load differed between groups. The oxygen pulse and Q were the lowest in the G1 and increased significantly between groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion based on our data we can suggest that there is an observable development of hypertension associated with maturation and cardiac output determining factors.