Influence of Combined Fitness Classes on Physical Preparedness and Posture Formation in Primary School Children

• Published in: Journal of learning theory and methodology (Online) 2023-07, Vol.4 (2), p.50-56
• Main Authors: Mykhailo Protas, Olha Ivashchenko, Tetiana Kravchuk
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: aerobics; fitness; physical abilities; posture; primary school children
• ISSN: 2708-7573; 2708-7581
• DOI: 10.17309/jltm.2023.2.02

The aim of the study was to reveal the effectiveness of combined fitness classes for primary school children, organized considering their physical preparedness level and peculiarities of posture formation. Materials and methods.  The research involved 56 children who were 8-9 years old at the beginning of the experiment, among them 32 girls and 24 boys. Four groups were formed: two experimental EG1 (13) and EG2 (16) and two control CG1 (11) and CG2 (16). Participants of the experimental groups attended fitness classes, and children in the control groups exercised only during physical education classes. The following methods were used in the study: study and analysis of literature; analysis of video recordings of fitness programs; pedagogical testing; visual screening of biogeometric posture profile; pedagogical experiment, and mathematical statistics. Results. Measurement of physical ability development at the end of the experiment showed significant improvement in groups where children attended specially organized combined fitness classes in addition to main physical education classes at school. The most positive results of the study were changes in the level of the biogeometric posture profile of the studied EG1. Thus, if at the beginning of the experiment in EG1 there were 2 children with low level and 11 children with medium level, at the end of the experiment 6 children had medium level and 7 children improved their posture to high level. Conclusions. It has been experimentally proved that for children with posture defects and low level of physical preparedness, fitness classes should be filled mainly with low-impact strength exercises that have a corrective effect. High-impact aerobic exercises should be included in the combined classes for children with normal posture and organized according to the classical scheme: warm-up, aerobic peak, hitch, power block, and stretching.