PHYSICAL FITNESS CHANGES IN CHILDREN AFTER ATTENDING A SPORTS SUMMER DAY CAMP PROGRAM 2015 AT COLLEGE OF SPORTS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MAHIDOL UNIVESITY FOR 3 WEEKS

Abstract

The  aim  of  this  study  was to  investigate  physical  fitness  of  children  after participating a sports summer  day  camp 2558 at college of sports science, Mahidol  Univesity for 3 weeks. A total of 146 boys  (n=81)  and  girls  (n=65),  aged 6 to 12, were  participated in this study. The physical fitness parameters in this study  composed of 1) the body compositions, including the body weight (in kilogram; kg),  body mass index (BMI, in kg/m²),  and waist circumference (in centimeter; cm),  2) upper and lower muscle strength, including bicep curls in 30 second test (times),  standing  board  jump (in cm),  and  grip  strength (in kg),  3) flexibility (in cm),  using sit  and  reach  test,  and  4) cardiorespiratoty function (ml/kg/min) using an endurance shuttle run test. Results showed that the significant changes in physical fitness parameters after 3 weeks of summer camping (p <0.001) were found in waist circumference  (decresed from 63.05 + 9.59 cm to  56.38+ 9.51  cm in the boys and  from 62.89 + 10.34 cm to  56.69+ 8.80  cm in the girls),  the trunk flexibility (decresed from 2.45+4.57 cm to -0.29+6.19 cm in the boys),  the  bicep curls of elbow  flexion  (incresed from 27+ 11 times to 32+ 12 times in the boys), grip strength  ( increased from 12.29+4.42 kg to 13.78+4.37 kg in the girls) and   the  standing  board  jump ( increased from 110.13 + 20.21 cm to 118.27+ 16.27 cm in the girls). From the results can be concluded that children who participating a sports summer  day  camp for 3 weeks had improved their physical fitness by reducing waist circumference as well as increasing upper and lower muscle strength and power. However, there were no changes in body weight and BMI in both boys and girls indicated healthy recipes for snacks and lunch meal should be concerned for the next year’s camping program. Moreover, adding the physical activity program to increase trunk flexibility and endurance are also recommenced.

(Journal of Sports Science and Technology 2015;15(1): 213-222 )