Assessing The Physical Fitness Level of Students in Senior High Schools

Emmanuel Osei Sarpong

doi:10.31686/ijier.vol10.iss8.3865

Authors

Emmanuel Osei Sarpong

University of Education, Winneba

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1316-4851

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31686/ijier.vol10.iss8.3865

Keywords:

Healthy Fitness Zone, Active lifestyle, Health Risk, Adolescent Students

Abstract

The adolescent school going individuals face challenges as they go through the phases of development and academic work. Literature on physical fitness levels among such students in the second cycle institutions in Ghana is scarce, hence this study. The study assessed the physical fitness levels of 15-17-year-old students of St. Peters SHS in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Descriptive design with quantitative approach was adopted for the study. 60 participants were sampled for the study using purposive and simple random sampling techniques. The fitnessgram (made up of battery of tests) with attached checklists was used for data collection. The findings revealed that only one-third (33.3%) of the participants in St. Peters SHS had a cardiovascular endurance rating in the Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ), with majority of them (66.7) in the “Needs Improvement” zone. Results further showed that majority of the participants had both muscular endurance and body mass composition ratings of (71.7% and 78.4%) with respect to Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) while only (28.3% and (21.6%) needed improvement. Results again affirm that, enjoyment and fun during physical education lessons (65%), attention given to injured students in a physical education class (93.3%), planned physical education classes (78.3%) and awareness of the importance of participation in physical education and sporting activities (71,6%) were relevant factors. Finally, results indicated that majority of the participants were in support of improving teaching and learning materials (TLMs) and facilities (86.7%) as well as making physical education a compulsory subject (71.7%). It was concluded that attention must be given to the cardiovascular health needs of the students in St. Peters SHS. Fun activities, injury prevention and treatment, appropriate planning of class sessions and provision of resources would promote and improve healthy active lifestyles amongst the student populace.

Author Biography

Emmanuel Osei Sarpong, University of Education, Winneba

Department of Hpers

References

Adirim, T., & Cheng T. (2003). Overview of injuries in the young athlete. Sport Med.;33, 75-81. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200333010-00006

American College of Sports Medicine. (2014). ACSM’s guidelines for exercise testing and prescription. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Beashel, P., Sibson, A., & Taylor, J. (2004). OCR Sport Examined. Nelson Thornes. Berryman, J. W. (2010). Exercise is medicine: a historical perspective. Current sports Medicine Reports, 9(4), 195-201.

Berryman, J. W. (2010). Exercise is medicine: a historical perspective. Current sports Medicine Reports, 9(4), 195-201. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1249/JSR.0b013e3181e7d86d

Black, K. (2010). Business statistics: Contemporary decision making (6th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.

Butt, J., Weinberg, R. S., Breckon, J. D., & Claytor, R. P. (2011). Adolescent physical activity participation and motivational determinants across gender, age, race. J Phys Act Health, 8(8), 1074–1083. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.8.8.1074

California Department of Education. (2019). Documentation of changes in FITNESSGRAM Healthy Fitness Zones, 1999-2014. Available at: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/pf/healthfitzones.asp. Accessed September 20, 2021.

Chen, W., Hammond-Bennett, A., Hypnar, A., & Mason, S. (2018). Health-related physical fitness and physical activity in elementary school students. BMC Public Health, 18(1), 1-12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5107-4

Fairclough, S. & Stratton, G. (2005). Physical education makes you fit and healthy: Physical education’s contribution to young people’s physical activity level. Health Education Research, 20(1), 14-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cyg101

Gabbe, B. J., Finch, C. F., Bennell, K. L., & Wajswelner, H. (2003). How valid is a self reported 12 month sports injury history? Br J Sports Med., 37, 545-547. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.37.6.545

Griban, G., Yahupov, V., Svystun, V., Dovgan, N., Yeromenko, E., Udych, Z., … & Bloshchynskyi, I. (2020). Dynamics of the students’ physical fitness while studying at higher institutions.

Gruber, K. J., & Haldeman, L. A. (2009). Peer reviewed: Using the family to combat childhood and adult obesity. Preventing Chronic Disease, 6(3).

Gutin, B., Yin, Z., Humphries, M. C., & Barbeau, P. (2005). Relations of moderate and vigorous physical activity to fitness and fatness in adolescents. Am J Clin Nutr;81746- 750 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/81.4.746

Jago, R., Brockman, R., Fox, K. R., Cartwright, K., Page, A. S., & Thompson, J. L. (2009). Friendship groups and physical activity: qualitative findings on how physical activity is initiated and maintained among 10-11 year old children. Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, 6(1), 1-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-6-4

Keeley, Jade H. T. & Fox, R. K. (2009). The impact of physical activity and fitness on academic achievement and cognitive performance in children. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2(2), 198-214. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17509840903233822

Kolimechkov, S. (2017). Physical fitness assessment in children and adolescents: A systematic review. European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science, 11.

Lee, H. L. (2015). The effect of physical activities on the growth indices in adolescents. J. Pediatr. Korean Med. 29, 16–25. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7778/jpkm.2015.29.2.016

Léger, L. A., & Lambert, J. (1982). A maximal multistage 20m shuttle run test to predict vo2max. European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, 49, 1-12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428958

Lok, S., Lok, N. & Tasgin, E. (2016). Physical activity prevalence of high school students. Science, Movement and Health, 1, 532-536.

Lubans, D. R., Morgan, P. J., Cliff, D. P. Barnett, L. M., Oakley, A. D. (2010). Fundamental movement skills in children and adolescents: Review of associated health benefits. Sports Medicine, 40(12), 1019–1035 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/11536850-000000000-00000

Maffulli, N., & Caine, D. (2005). The epidemiology of children’s team sports injuries. Med Sport Sci., 49, 1-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1159/000085330

Maffulli, N., & Caine, D. J. (2005). Epidemiology of pediatric sports injuries: Team Sports Sci. Basel, Karger, 49, I-VI (DOI:10.1159/000085328). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1159/isbn.978-3-318-01180-7

Merkel, D. L., Molony, J. T. Jr. (2012). Recognition and management of traumatic sports injuries in the skeletally immature athlete. Int J Sports Phys Ther., 7(6), 691-704.

Ministry of Education & Human Resources Development (2005). Student fitness measurement result report. School Physical Education Health Food Division, Ministry of Education; Seoul, Korea.

Ministry of Science, Education and Sport. (2016). National curriculum of physical education. Zagreb: Ministry of Science, Education and Sport.

National Association for Sport and Physical Education. (2004). Moving into the future: National Standards for physical education (2nd ed.). Reston, VA: Author.

Newman, T. (2017). What does being physically fit mean? Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7181

Norkin, C. C., & White, D. J. (2016). Measurement of joint motion: a guide to goniometry. FA Davis.

Ocansey, R., Aryeetey, R., Sofo, S., Nazzar, A., Badasu, M., Pambo, P., Nyawornota, V., Nartey, J., & Sarkwa, R. (2016). Results from Ghana’s 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 13, 45-48 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2016-0272

Ruiz-Montero, P. J., & Castillo-Rodriguez, A. (2016). Body Composition, physical fitness and exercise activities of the elderly. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 16(3), 860.

Salmon, J., Brown, H., Hume, C. (2009). Effects of strategies to promote children’s physical activity on potential mediators. Int J Obes., 33(1), S66–S73. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2009.21

Salvy, S. J., de la Haye, K., Bowker, J. C., & Hermans, R. C. (2012). Influence of peers and friends on children’s and adolescents’ eating and activity behaviors. Physiology & Behavior, 106(3), 369-378. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2012.03.022

Santana, C. C. A., Azevedo, L. B., Cattuzzo, M. T., Hill, J. O., Andrade, L. P., & Prado, W. L. (2017). Physical fitness and academic performance in youth: A systematic review. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 27(6), 579-603. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12773

Sarpong, E. O. (2022). Physical Activity Participation Variables as Predictors of Cardiorespiratory Fitness of Greater Accra Fitness Club Members. International Journal of Physical Education, Sports and Health. 9, 1: 361-367 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/kheljournal.2022.v9.ilf.2398 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/kheljournal.2022.v9.i1f.2398

Simonton, K. L., Mercier, K., & Garn, A. C. (2019). Do fitness test performances predict students’ attitudes and emotions toward physical education? Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 24(6), 549-564. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17408989.2019.1628932

US Department of Health and Human Services. (2008). Physical activity guidelines for Americans: be active, healthy, and happy! http://www.health.gov./paguidelines/guidelines/default.aspx,2008.

WHO. (2010). Health topics; Non-communicable diseases. Retrieved from WHO website: www.who.int/topics/n

Yin, R (2014). Case study research: Design and methods (5th ed.) Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.