Associations of fitness, motor competence, and adiposity with the indicators of physical activity intensity during different physical activities in children

• Published in: Scientific reports 2021-06, Vol.11 (1), p.12521-12521, Article 12521
• Main Authors: Haapala, Eero A., Gao, Ying, Hartikainen, Jani, Rantalainen, Timo, Finni, Taija
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/443; 692/308/174; Accelerometry; Adipose tissue; Adiposity - physiology; Body composition; Body Composition - physiology; Child; Child, Preschool; Children; Electromyography; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Exercise Test; Female; Fitness equipment; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Male; multidisciplinary; Muscle contraction; Muscle strength; Obesity - epidemiology; Obesity - physiopathology; Oxygen Consumption - physiology; Oxygen uptake; Physical activity; Physical fitness; Physical Fitness - physiology; Running; Running - physiology; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Walking; Walking - physiology
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92040-2

We investigated the associations of peak oxygen uptake (V̇O 2peak ), ventilatory threshold (VT), muscle strength, motor competence (MC), and adiposity with the indicators of PA intensity during different physical activities used to create absolute PA intensity cut-offs among 35 children 7–11-years-of-age. V̇O 2peak was defined as the highest V̇O 2 achieved in the maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) on a cycle ergometer, self-paced running, or running on a treadmill at 8 km/h. VT was defined from the CPET data. Peak isometric knee extensor and flexor strength was assessed by a dynamometer, MC by the Körperkoordination test für Kinder tests, and body composition by the bioelectrical impedance analysis. PA intensity was assessed using V̇O 2 as a % of V̇O 2reserve or V̇O 2 at VT, mean amplitude deviation (MAD) measured by accelerometry, metabolic equivalent of task (MET), and muscle activity measured by textile electromyography during walking or running on a treadmill at 4, 6, and 8 km/h, playing hopscotch, walking up and down the stairs, self-paced walking, and self-paced running. Children with lower V̇O 2peak , V̇O 2 at VT, and MC operated at higher intensity level during given physical task than their peers with higher fitness and MC when PA intensity was expressed using relative PA intensity using V̇O 2 as a % of V̇O 2reserve or V̇O 2 at VT ( p