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Physical activity outside of organised sports is associated with functional performance
Author(s) -
Tocci Noah,
Howell David R.,
Sugimoto Dai,
Stracciolini Andrea,
Morse Jen,
Meehan William P.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.13776
Subject(s) - athletes , medicine , vertical jump , physical therapy , vo2 max , test (biology) , physical activity , jump , heart rate , paleontology , physics , quantum mechanics , blood pressure , biology
Aim The purpose of this study was to determine whether high levels of strenuous physical activity outside of organised sports are associated with better functional test performance. Methods Youth athletes (n = 445, mean = 14.2 ± 2.5 years) reported their frequency of strenuous physical activity outside of organised sports. The functional performance tests: vertical jump height, pro agility test time, estimated maximal oxygen uptake ( VO 2 max), front plank time and postural stability were measured and compared between groups. Results Athletes in the five or more times a week group demonstrated faster pro agility times (5.37 ± 0.43 seconds) than the never group (5.59 ± 0.56 seconds; p = 0.002) and the 1–4 times a week group (5.52 ± 0.47 seconds; p = 0.005). The five or more times a week group demonstrated higher mean vertical jump height (42.9 ± 13.3 vs. 40.3 ± 10.8 cm; p = 0.009) and higher estimated VO 2 max (48.1 vs. 45.6 mL/kg/minute; p = 0.001) than the 1–4 times a week group. Conclusion Youth athletes who engaged in strenuous physical activity outside of organised sports five or more times a week performed best on functional performance tests.