Enhancing Physical Fitness in Primary School Children Through Inclusive Sports Activities

(1) Background: The aim of this study is to investigate whether the application of adaptive sports programs, initially designed for children with disabilities, can have a positive effect on physical fitness and body composition in healthy primary school children; (2) Methods: The sample comprised 80 participants, equally divided by gender (50% male, 50% female), with a mean age of 11.5 (SD = 0.03). They were divided into two groups, an experimental and a control group, with an even gender distribution. The research lasted 12 weeks, with additional classes allocated for the initial and the final measurements. The Eurofit test battery assessed physical fitness; (3) Results: ANCOVA revealed significant group differences in body composition variables within the total sample and gender distribution (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Significant differences were observed in handgrip strength (HGR), flamingo balance test (FBL), shuttle run 10 × 5 m (SHR) (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and also hand tapping (HTP) (<i>p</i> = 0.01). Participants in the experimental group outperformed the control group, highlighting the effectiveness of the intervention program. Specifically, boys in the experimental group showed significant improvements in HGR and SHR (<i>p</i> < 0.001), while girls improved significantly in HGR, FBL, and SHR (<i>p</i> < 0.001); (4) Conclusions: The experimental program, which incorporates sports elements for disabled individuals, led to significant improvements in the physical fitness parameters of children.

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Publication Details

Journal
Children
Published
2025-06-11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/children12060758
Primary Topic
Children's Physical and Motor Development
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Enhancing Physical Fitness in Primary School Children Through Inclusive Sports Activities

Bogdan Antohe, Nikola Aksović, M Anghel, Bojan Bjelica et al.
Children
Children's Physical and Motor Development
article

Enhancing Physical Fitness in Primary School Children Through Inclusive Sports Activities

Bogdan Antohe, Nikola Aksović, M Anghel, Bojan Bjelica, Vasile Cătălin Ciocan, Tatiana Dobrescu, Stanimir Stojiljković, Lucian Voinea, Nikola Utvić, Saša Bubanj, Daniel-Lucian Dobreci, Gabriela Raveica, Lidija Marković, Radenko Arsenijević
article en

Abstract

(1) Background: The aim of this study is to investigate whether the application of adaptive sports programs, initially designed for children with disabilities, can have a positive effect on physical fitness and body composition in healthy primary school children; (2) Methods: The sample comprised 80 participants, equally divided by gender (50% male, 50% female), with a mean age of 11.5 (SD = 0.03). They were divided into two groups, an experimental and a control group, with an even gender distribution. The research lasted 12 weeks, with additional classes allocated for the initial and the final measurements. The Eurofit test battery assessed physical fitness; (3) Results: ANCOVA revealed significant group differences in body composition variables within the total sample and gender distribution (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Significant differences were observed in handgrip strength (HGR), flamingo balance test (FBL), shuttle run 10 × 5 m (SHR) (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and also hand tapping (HTP) (<i>p</i> = 0.01). Participants in the experimental group outperformed the control group, highlighting the effectiveness of the intervention program. Specifically, boys in the experimental group showed significant improvements in HGR and SHR (<i>p</i> < 0.001), while girls improved significantly in HGR, FBL, and SHR (<i>p</i> < 0.001); (4) Conclusions: The experimental program, which incorporates sports elements for disabled individuals, led to significant improvements in the physical fitness parameters of children.

ChildrenVol. 12(6)
University of Nis (RS), University of Novi Sad (RS), University of East Sarajevo (BA), University of Belgrade (RS), University of Bacău (RO)
Openalex Percentile: Top 87%
Children's Physical and Motor Development
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