Exercise and performance in the primary school setting

Exercise and Exercise and performance in the performance in the

primary school settingprimary school setting

Today’s lectureToday’s lecture

Comments of lab manualsComments of lab manuals ReferencingReferencing Adaptations to exerciseAdaptations to exercise Fitness “testing”Fitness “testing” ThermoregulationThermoregulation Special considerationsSpecial considerations

Lab manualsLab manuals

In general, very goodIn general, very good Effort was obviousEffort was obvious Need to be as specific as possibleNeed to be as specific as possible

Keep asking- and why does that happen?Keep asking- and why does that happen? Grammar- “their” / “there”Grammar- “their” / “there” ReferencingReferencing

ReferencingReferencing

Harvard- Harvard- author/date author/date systemsystem

Multiple authorsMultiple authors

Reference ListReference List

Common errorsCommon errors

Changing order of authors to be Changing order of authors to be alphabeticalalphabetical

Using journal name rather than Using journal name rather than author/dateauthor/date

Putting full reference in textPutting full reference in text Not referencing bold claimsNot referencing bold claims

Available from Available from front officefront office

Ex Phys in primary Ex Phys in primary schoolschool

How is all of this stuff relevant??How is all of this stuff relevant??

Adaptations to exerciseAdaptations to exercise

Increased endurance in children largely Increased endurance in children largely believed to be inherited rather than trainedbelieved to be inherited rather than trained

Same increases in lung volumes, plasma Same increases in lung volumes, plasma volume, left ventricular hypertrophy and volume, left ventricular hypertrophy and vo2 max as adults.vo2 max as adults.

However these things also increase However these things also increase naturally with age and growthnaturally with age and growth

Therefore measurable increases in fitness Therefore measurable increases in fitness may be a combination of bothmay be a combination of both

Gains in skill- neuromuscularGains in skill- neuromuscular

FearlessFearless Lower centre of gravityLower centre of gravity Means that they can more easily learn Means that they can more easily learn

skills such as tumbling, skiing, board skills such as tumbling, skiing, board sports etc sports etc

Also critical time to develop fundamental Also critical time to develop fundamental motor skillsmotor skills

Motor neuron pathwaysMotor neuron pathways

Muscle strengthMuscle strength

Number of muscle fibres is fixed at birthNumber of muscle fibres is fixed at birth 1 yr – adolescence = increases 3-fold through 1 yr – adolescence = increases 3-fold through

hypertrophyhypertrophy Increases in strength more likely than sizeIncreases in strength more likely than size Active muscles = greater increaseActive muscles = greater increase Doesn’t mean lifting weights!Doesn’t mean lifting weights! Means weight bearing exercise- running, Means weight bearing exercise- running,

aerobics anything out of wateraerobics anything out of water And resistance exercise using body weight- And resistance exercise using body weight-

push ups, sit ups, jumping etcpush ups, sit ups, jumping etc

Heart rateHeart rate

•Decrease in RHR with increased fitness same as in adults

•This activity allows kids to track the change in their hear rate, and you can explain what is happening as this occurs

•Left ventricle increases ability to pump blood around to the muscles

•Therefore it doesn’t have to pump as often to get the blood to go around

•So a decrease in RHR is a direct representation of your heart getting stronger!

Fitness Testing?Fitness Testing?

Don’t call it “fitness testing!!!”Don’t call it “fitness testing!!!” Focus on individual comparison and Focus on individual comparison and

improvementimprovement Gain a holistic understanding of fitness Gain a holistic understanding of fitness Experience feeling of improving fitnessExperience feeling of improving fitness Needs to be done correctlyNeeds to be done correctly

Self EsteemSelf Esteem Ensure privacy- secret!Ensure privacy- secret!

ACHPER AFEAACHPER AFEA Growth:Growth: Height and Weight, Height and Weight,

with Body Mass Index (BMI) with Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated by the computer calculated by the computer program. program.

CardiorespiratoryCardiorespiratory Endurance:Endurance: Multi-Stage Fitness Test and Multi-Stage Fitness Test and 1.6 km run/walk. 1.6 km run/walk.

Muscular Strength and Muscular Strength and Endurance:Endurance: The Curl-up and The Curl-up and the Basketball Throw. the Basketball Throw.

Muscle and Joint Flexibility:Muscle and Joint Flexibility: The Sit and Reach Tests and The Sit and Reach Tests and Shoulder Stretch. Shoulder Stretch.

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Vertical jump

ProgrammesProgrammes

Kids should be active for an Kids should be active for an hour a dayhour a day

Map out all school and after Map out all school and after school activities to see if you school activities to see if you are getting enoughare getting enough

Ensure that it is private Ensure that it is private Suggest FUN stuff that counts Suggest FUN stuff that counts

as activity!as activity!

Young kidsYoung kids

Older kidsOlder kids

ThermoregulationThermoregulation

Kids are at greater risk of overheating or Kids are at greater risk of overheating or overcoolingovercooling

Implications- Implications- Appropriate sportswearAppropriate sportswear Drink breaksDrink breaks Avoid exercise in direct sunAvoid exercise in direct sun Look for signs hyper/hypo-thermiaLook for signs hyper/hypo-thermia

Hypothermia- BT<35 degreesHypothermia- BT<35 degrees Feeling cold Feeling cold Cool, pale skin Cool, pale skin Shivering Shivering Loss of concentration, poor judgment Loss of concentration, poor judgment Loss of control over fine motor coordination – for example, the muscles of the fingers Loss of control over fine motor coordination – for example, the muscles of the fingers Drowsiness Drowsiness Lethargy Lethargy Confusion, irritability Confusion, irritability Dizziness Dizziness Difficulty breathing Difficulty breathing Loss of physical coordination, unsteady on feet Loss of physical coordination, unsteady on feet Stops shivering eventually Stops shivering eventually Slurred speech, speech difficulty Slurred speech, speech difficulty Slowed breathing Slowed breathing Dilated pupils Dilated pupils Coma Coma Death.Death.

First aid for hypothermiaFirst aid for hypothermia

Don’t massage or rub the personDon’t massage or rub the person. . Move the person out of the coldMove the person out of the cold Remove wet clothingRemove wet clothing Try to warm the personTry to warm the person Share body heat Share body heat Don’t give alcohol Don’t give alcohol Do not leave the person alone Do not leave the person alone Continually monitor breathing Continually monitor breathing Don’t assume the person is deadDon’t assume the person is dead

Hyperthermia- BT > 39Hyperthermia- BT > 39

Very high body temperature Very high body temperature Red, hot, dry skin (no sweating) Red, hot, dry skin (no sweating) Dry swollen tongue Dry swollen tongue Rapid pulse Rapid pulse Throbbing headache Throbbing headache Dizziness, confusion, nausea Dizziness, confusion, nausea Eventual unconsciousness.Eventual unconsciousness.

Preventing heat stressPreventing heat stress FitnessFitness - - AcclimatisationAcclimatisation – – Avoid the hottest part of the dayAvoid the hottest part of the day - start sporting activities before - start sporting activities before

9am or after 6pm during summer, avoid sport or exercise between 9am or after 6pm during summer, avoid sport or exercise between 11am and 3pm. 11am and 3pm.

ClothingClothing - - FluidsFluids - drink at least half a litre of fluids in the two hours before - drink at least half a litre of fluids in the two hours before

exercising. During your sport, aim to drink about 200ml every 20 exercising. During your sport, aim to drink about 200ml every 20 minutes or so. Choose a specially formulated sports drink if your minutes or so. Choose a specially formulated sports drink if your sporting event goes for more than an hour. After the game, drink sporting event goes for more than an hour. After the game, drink around half a litre of water. around half a litre of water.

Rest breaksRest breaks - frequent breaks in the shade allow the body to cool - frequent breaks in the shade allow the body to cool down. down.

Check for symptomsCheck for symptoms - be alert for the symptoms of heat stress or - be alert for the symptoms of heat stress or dehydration. dehydration.

First aid for hyperthermiaFirst aid for hyperthermia

Call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. Call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. Try to cool them down- move to cool area, Try to cool them down- move to cool area,

remove clothing, wet skin (not with ice)remove clothing, wet skin (not with ice) Do not give the person fluids to drink. Do not give the person fluids to drink. Position an unconscious person on their Position an unconscious person on their

side and clear their airway. side and clear their airway. Monitor the body temperature and Monitor the body temperature and

continue cooling efforts until the body continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops below 38°C. temperature drops below 38°C.

Recommendations for normal Recommendations for normal weatherweather

Children may get overheated even in normal Children may get overheated even in normal conditionsconditions

Exercise periods = 15-20 minsExercise periods = 15-20 mins Drink breaks - 75-100ml of water Drink breaks - 75-100ml of water Check anyone who looks over-heated Check anyone who looks over-heated

should be checked. should be checked.

DiabeticsDiabetics

Blood Glucose levelsBlood Glucose levels <4 mmol/L – Too low- give jelly beans/ <4 mmol/L – Too low- give jelly beans/

juice etcjuice etc 4-6 mmol/L- Average4-6 mmol/L- Average 12 mmol/L – Too high, but doesn’t require 12 mmol/L – Too high, but doesn’t require

insulin yetinsulin yet 15 mmol/L- Too high- requires insulin15 mmol/L- Too high- requires insulin

IssuesIssues

Hypoglycaemia- To prevent, consume CHO Hypoglycaemia- To prevent, consume CHO within 30 min exercisewithin 30 min exercise

Post exercise late onset hypoglycaemiaPost exercise late onset hypoglycaemia DehydrationDehydration Exercise 60-90 minutes after insulin injectionExercise 60-90 minutes after insulin injection Watch for signs of hypoglycaemia (lethargy, Watch for signs of hypoglycaemia (lethargy,

slurring words etc)slurring words etc) Keep some glucose on hand- jelly beans or fruit Keep some glucose on hand- jelly beans or fruit

juicejuice

Bigger kidsBigger kids Don’t assume they are unfit or unhealthyDon’t assume they are unfit or unhealthy Discourage all forms of comparison between kidsDiscourage all forms of comparison between kids Vo2 maxVo2 max Psychological/ motivational factorsPsychological/ motivational factors PREPRE ThermoregulationThermoregulation Avoid biasAvoid bias Increase chances of success in all studentsIncrease chances of success in all students

PedometersPedometers StrengthStrength

SummarySummary

Exercise physiology is relevant throughout Exercise physiology is relevant throughout the syllabusthe syllabus

Cross curricularCross curricular Use your discretionUse your discretion There are some special considerations for There are some special considerations for

kidskids And special populationsAnd special populations