Jože Štihec

Analysis of Injuries Among Children in Kindergartens During Physical Activities

Abstract Objective. The aim of this study was to analyze the opinions of educators about the occurrence of injuries in children of different ages during organized and non-organized physical activities in kindergarten. Methods. Our sample included 322 teachers from 53 kindergartens in Slovenia. We calculated the frequencies and performed a chi-square test. Results. Most of the children have organized physical activity in kindergarten 1 to 2 times per week; for children in the first age group, it usually lasts for 20 minutes or less; for children in the second age group, it lasts for 20 to 30 minutes. Most physical activities take place in the playroom, where the majority of injuries also occur. Injuries most frequently occur when running and jumping and less frequently during other physical activities. During free play, children are often injured in the outer court between 9 and 12 a.m. Boys are more often injured than girls. Educators indicate unforeseen situations as the most common cause of injury. The most common injuries are bumps on the head, especially in younger children, who stay at home for a few days as a result of these injuries. Parents of younger children are not as satisfied with the actions of educators when injuries occur as parents of older preschool children. Educators rehabilitate the children’s injuries themselves and inform parents about it. Only one third of the educators make a record of injuries, and half of them only when a serious injury has occurred. Conclusions. The analysis results showed statistically significant differences between children of different ages according to the cause of injury, time of injury, the place where the child was injured during organized physical activity, type of activity at the time of injury, injured part of the body, and parental satisfaction with the action of the educator. Based on the results, we proposed some actions to reduce injuries in preschool children in kindergarten. Izvleček Izhodišča. Namen raziskave je bil analizirati mnenja vzgojiteljev o nastanku poškodbe pri organiziranih in neorganiziranih gibalnih dejavnostih otrok v vrtcih glede na starost otrok. Metode. Podatki so bili pridobljeni z anketiranjem 322 vzgojiteljev iz 53 vrtcev v Sloveniji. Izračunane so bile frekvence in izveden hi-kvadrat test. Rezultati. Večina otrok ima v vrtcu organizirane gibalne dejavnosti od 1-krat do 2-krat tedensko; pri otrocih prvega starostnega obdobja trajajo večinoma 20 minut in manj, v drugem starostnem obdobju pa od 20 do 30 minut. Dejavnosti potekajo največkrat v igralnici, v kateri se tudi poškoduje največ otrok. Poškodbe nastanejo najpogosteje pri teku in skokih, manj pri drugih gibalnih dejavnostih. Med prosto igro pa se otroci največkrat poškodujejo na zunanjem igrišču, in to med 9. in 12. uro. Večkrat se poškodujejo dečki kot deklice. Vzgojitelji kot najpogostejši vzrok za poškodbo navajajo nepredvidene situacije, najpogostejše poškodbe pa so udarci, in sicer v glavo, zlasti pri najmlajših otrocih, ki zaradi tega nekaj dni ostanejo doma. Starši najmlajših otrok so tudi manj zadovoljni z ukrepanjem vzgojitelja. Vzgojitelji največkrat sami sanirajo poškodbo in obvestijo starše. Le tretjina vzgojiteljev vedno naredi zapisnik o poškodbi, več kot polovica le pri hujših poškodbah. Zaključki. Analiza je pokazala statistično značilne razlike med različnimi starostnimi skupinami otrok glede vzrokov poškodb, časa nastanka poškodb, prostora, v katerem se otrok poškoduje med organizirano gibalno dejavnostjo, vrste dejavnosti med poškodbami, dela poškodovanega telesa in zadovoljstva staršev z ukrepanjem vzgojitelja ob poškodbi. Na podlagi dobljenih rezultatov so predlagani ukrepi za zmanjševanje poškodb pri predšolskih otrocih v vrtcu.

Recommendations for physical activity for pregnant women

Properly selected and prescribed physical activity during pregnancy has a favorable effects on the health of pregnant women and the fetus, and is excellent preparation for childbirth. Absolute and relative contraindications to exercise during pregnancy are well defined, as well as the warning signs to terminate exercise while pregnant. Knowledge of these is essential for physically active pregnant women and exercise professionals that work with pregnant women. Pregnant women should be moderately physically active every day of the week for at least 30 minutes. The term moderate is thoroughly and clearly defined in the guidelines. Resistance exercises during pregnancy are safe but it is advised to use light loads and a large number of repetitions (e.g. 15-20 repetitions). Strength exercises for the pelvic floor muscles deserves a special place during pregnancy. Appropriate forms of physical activity for pregnant women are walking and jogging, swimming and aquatic exercise, cycling, Pilates and yoga, aerobics, fitness and cross-country skiing. Certain forms of physical activity need special adjustments (alpine skiing, ice skating and rollerblading, racket sports, team ball games, horseback riding and scuba diving).

Relation between participation in sport activities and drug-taking among 14 year-old primary school pupils in Slovenia

Purpose/Objective: The aim of this research was to establish whether there is a correlation between sport activity and drug-taking among 680 14-year-old pupils, and to establish whether the drug-sports link depends on the type of sports. Methods: We used a questionnaire with 38 variables on sports activities and drugs. The probability relations among the variables were tested by chi-square. Results: The analysis has shown that 74.6 % male and 79.3 % female pupils practise sports in their leisure time. On average, they practise sports 2 to 3 times a week. The majority of male pupils practise sports competitively, while female pupils primarily practise unorganized recreational sports. 7.3 % male and 16.6 % female pupils smoke; the majority of male pupils had the first cigarette at the age of 13, female pupils at the age of 12. 87–4 % male and 85.5 % female pupils had tried an alcohol beverage. 21.6 % male and 29.3 % female pupils had tried drugs. We have ascertained that there is some statistically significant correlation between sports activities and taking licit and illicit drugs. A statistically characteristic correlation has been established for alcohol drinking with male pupils and for smoking with female pupils. We also observed a significant correlation between organized sports as the type of sports and drug use. Conclusion: We can conclude that persistent sports inactivity in adolescence may increase the risk of alcohol use among male, and smoking among female pupils. Participation in organized sports, as opposed to unorganized and competitive sports, may reduce illicit drug use.