Selected trials of the EUROFIT test as a measure of the physical fitness of children with recurrent respiratory diseases : a preliminary report ; Wybrane próby testu EUROFIT jako miara sprawności fizycznej dzieci z nawracającymi schorzeniami układu oddechowego : doniesienie wstępne

Introduction: The study assessed the usefulness of selected trials from the European Physical Fitness Test as a tool for measuring the physical fitness of children with recurrent respiratory diseases treated in subterraneotherapy conditions. Research project: Before-after study. Materials and methods: The assessment was conducted in the first and last day of a rehabilitation stay at the ‘Wieliczka’ Salt Mine Health Resort with the participation of 58 children, comprising 25 girls and 33 boys aged 5 to 10 years old, who had been performing daily breathing exercises, general rehabilitation exercises, some form of dancing and running with time measurement. To assess the physical fitness of the children, the 3 trials of the European Physical Fitness Test - EUROFIT were used, evaluating the flexibility, speed and explosive strength of the lower limbs and also the value for a standardized, standing long jump was calculated. Results: The mean distance of the sit-and-reach test increased after the rehabilitation program to 1.78 cm for the 7-10 year-old girls (p ≤ 0.05). The average distance of the standardized, standing long jump increased from 0.7 cm in the 5-6 year-old girls, up to 6.6 cm in the 7-10 year-old girls. In the boys group, these results were higher in the older children and amounted to 3.6 cm, than in the younger - 2.7 cm. Statistically significant differences were noted in children aged 7-10 years old (Figure 3). Analyzing the parameter which takes into account the standing long jump and body height, similar relationships was observed. Conclusions: The proposed trials of the European Physical Fitness Test seem to be a good tool for assessing the physical fitness of children with recurrent respiratory diseases. The results are encouraging and indicate the need to engage in comprehensive rehabilitation proceedings with regard to kinetic therapy, music therapy and choreotherapy. Further research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of a rehabilitation programme carried out under subterraneotherapy. ...