Vandoni Matteo, Gatti Alessandro, Pellino Vittoria Carnevale, Cavallo Caterina, Pirazzi Agnese, Giuriato Matteo, Lovecchio Nicola
Laboratory of Adapted Motor Activity (LAMA), Department of Public Health, Experimental Medicine and Forensic Science, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
National PhD Programme in One Health approaches to infectious diseases and life science research, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
J Hum Kinet. 2024 Dec 6;95:215-226. doi: 10.5114/jhk/189745. eCollection 2025 Jan.
Children tend to enjoy high-intensity activities that involve both linear speed (LS) and change of direction (COD), essential for sports performance. However, the results of trends in LS and COD have not been consistent over time. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the temporal trends in LS and COD performance among 11-13 year old Italian children/preadolescents over 25 years, while minimizing the effect of anthropometric characteristics. A total of 3884 students were recruited between 1990 and 2010 and performed 4 x 5-m shuttle run, 30-m sprint, and 60-m speed tests. A weighted linear regression was performed to analyze the overall temporal trends in BMI-adjusted speed tests. The results showed an increase in mean 4 x 5-m shuttle run time, indicating a decrease in COD ability, while LS performance remained relatively stable over time. These trends were consistent across genders and ages. Our study concludes that LS test performance remained steady over decades, while COD ability declined with sex-based variations despite participants' early age. Our results offer crucial data for interventions to improve children's physical fitness: in particular for COD performance. PE teachers and coaches should prioritize improving COD over LS to improve these abilities and prevent physical fitness decline.
儿童往往喜欢涉及直线速度（LS）和方向变化（COD）的高强度活动，这对运动表现至关重要。然而，LS和COD的趋势结果随时间并不一致。因此，我们的研究旨在调查25年来11至13岁意大利儿童/青少年的LS和COD表现的时间趋势，同时尽量减少人体测量特征的影响。1990年至2010年间共招募了3884名学生，他们进行了4×5米往返跑、30米短跑和60米速度测试。进行加权线性回归以分析体重指数调整后的速度测试的总体时间趋势。结果显示，4×5米往返跑的平均时间增加，表明COD能力下降，而LS表现随时间保持相对稳定。这些趋势在不同性别和年龄中是一致的。我们的研究得出结论，尽管参与者年龄较小，但LS测试表现几十年来保持稳定，而COD能力随性别差异而下降。我们的结果为改善儿童身体素质的干预措施提供了关键数据：特别是对于COD表现。体育教师和教练应优先提高COD而非LS，以提高这些能力并防止身体素质下降。
