Laboratory of Adapted Motor Activity (LAMA), Department of Public Health, Experimental Medicine and Forensic Science, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2023 Sep;63(9):995-1002. doi: 10.23736/S0022-4707.23.14943-7. Epub 2023 May 31.
Physical fitness (PF) is a marker of health in children. Muscular strength and speed-agility PF components play a crucial role in musculoskeletal development and bone health. The outbreaks of COVID-19 pandemic changed the daily and sports activities in younger increasing sedentary habits with a detrimental effect on PF. We aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on PF in Italian school-aged children.
We recruited 286 elementary school children, and they were tested through an internationally validated battery test, which evaluate muscular strength and speed-agility (as a multifactorial performance) prior (2018) and after the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic (2021).
Our results showed a reduction in the lower limb strength (SBJ in boys mean difference (MD) -0.42 m; SBJ in girls MD=-0.20 m; P<0.05) and in the speed-agility ability (10x5 m in boys MD=14.1 s; 10x5 m in girls MD=11.2 s; P<0.05), while the upper limb strength remained steady before and after the restrictions. Specifically, for boys of all ages there was a reduction in lower limb strength and in speed-agility but not in upper limb strength. For girls of all ages there was not a recurrent trend, while for 6-8 girls there was a reduction only speed-agility, for 9-11 girls there was a reduction in lower limb and speed-agility.
Our results could be useful to help teachers and sport specialists to evaluate and improve strength and speed-agility in children. We encourage trainers and sport specialists to implement programs to help children to become more active and healthier during their lifespan.
体能（PF）是儿童健康的标志。肌肉力量和速度敏捷性 PF 成分在骨骼肌肉发育和骨骼健康中起着至关重要的作用。COVID-19 大流行的爆发改变了儿童的日常和体育活动，增加了久坐习惯，对 PF 产生了不利影响。我们旨在研究 COVID-19 限制对意大利学龄儿童 PF 的影响。
我们招募了 286 名小学生，他们通过国际上验证的电池测试进行测试，该测试评估肌肉力量和速度敏捷性（作为多因素表现）在 COVID-19 大流行爆发之前（2018 年）和之后（2021 年）。
我们的结果表明，下肢力量（男孩 SBJ 平均差异（MD）-0.42 m；女孩 SBJ MD=-0.20 m；P<0.05）和速度敏捷能力（男孩 10x5 m MD=14.1 s；女孩 10x5 m MD=11.2 s；P<0.05）下降，而上肢力量在限制前后保持稳定。具体来说，所有年龄段的男孩下肢力量和速度敏捷性都有所下降，但上肢力量没有下降。对于所有年龄段的女孩，没有反复出现的趋势，而 6-8 岁的女孩只有速度敏捷性下降，9-11 岁的女孩下肢和速度敏捷性下降。
我们的研究结果可能有助于帮助教师和运动专家评估和提高儿童的力量和速度敏捷性。我们鼓励培训师和运动专家实施帮助儿童在其一生中变得更加活跃和健康的计划。
