Changes in Physical Fitness during Summer Months and the School Year in Austrian Elementary School Children—A 4-Year Longitudinal Study

Clemens Drenowatz, Gerson Ferrari and Klaus Greier
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Clemens Drenowatz: Division of Sport, Physical Activity and Health, University of Education Upper Austria, 4020 Linz, Austria
Gerson Ferrari: Escuela de Ciencias de la Actividad Física, el Deporte y la Salud, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Santiago 7500618, Chile
Klaus Greier: Division of Physical Education, Private Educational College (KPH-ES), 6422 Stams, Austria

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 13, 1-10

Abstract: Even though physical fitness is an important component in children’s health and well-being, there has been a decline in physical fitness over the last several decades. The present study examined potential differences in the development of physical fitness during the academic year and summer vacation in Austrian elementary-school children. A total of 214 children (52.3% boys) completed the German motor test in the fall (after summer vacation) and spring (prior to summer vacation) of every grade throughout their elementary school years. This resulted in eight assessments of cardio-respiratory endurance, muscular fitness, flexibility, speed, agility, and balance over a 4-year period. As expected, physical fitness increased with age but the improvement in cardio-respiratory endurance and muscular fitness was more pronounced during summer vacation ( p < 0.01), while the improvement in speed was more pronounced during the academic year ( p < 0.01). These results indicate an influence of weather conditions on health-enhancing physical activity in addition to structural and social support. Particularly in geographical regions with cold winters and shorter days, health-enhancing physical activity may be limited. Accordingly, schools need to provide additional opportunities to ensure an adequate amount of physical activity that stimulates the development of physical fitness.

Keywords: season; academic year; cardio-respiratory endurance; muscular strength; speed; agility; balance; flexibility; body weight (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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