ABSTRACT
The objectives of this study were a] to develop a physical activity program for nursery schools, and b] to evaluate the effects of this program on fundamental movement skills of preschool age children in Iran. In this quasi-experimental study 147 children from five nursery schools in five different cities in Iran were enrolled. A physical activity program was developed for nursery children. Trained nursery physical activity instructors conducted the program for 10 weeks for all subjects. The levels of gross motor development of all subjects were measured before intervention and after 10 weeks physical activity program employing the Test of Gross Motor Development edition 2 [TGMD-2]. The participants in this study had a mean [SD] age of 4.95 [0.83] years. At the end of the study, scores of subjects at all components of TGMD-2 [including locomotor, object control, sum of standard scores and gross motor quotient] were significantly improved compared to the baseline scores [P<0.001]. Based on descriptive rating of the "Gross Motor Quotient" in the base line, 11.5% of subjects were superior/very superior [GMQ >120] and after 10 weeks intervention this rate was increased to 49.7% of all subjects. It seems that the developed physical activity program conducted by trained nursery physical activity instructors could be an effective and practical way of increasing levels of fundamental movement skills of preschool children in Iran
ABSTRACT
Muslim athletes may continue training and competing while they are fasting. There is a concern about negative effects of fasting on sports performance. This study aimed to investigate the influence of two training time frames on athletes' body composition and performance during Ramadan fasting. An observational study was conducted and thirty four male volunteer athletes from different sports including volleyball, karate, taekwondo and football were assigned in two groups. The first group included 14 elite athletes who during Ramadan voluntarily participated in training sessions at 1 hour before Iftar [BI] and the second group of 20 elite athletes who during Ramadan participated in training sessions at 3 hours after Iftar [AI]. Testing was performed one week before; in the first and fourth weeks of Ramadan and one week after Ramadan. Weights, heights and skinfold thickness were assessed at each time point and body mass index was calculated. Each player was assessed for agility and explosive strength as well. The mean weight and body mass index of both groups decreased significantly during Ramadan [P<0.001]. Performance variables were not negatively affected by fasting in BI or AI group athletes. Weight reduction might come with either BI or AI training schedules in Ramadan. Daytime or evening training did not inversely affect the agility and power performances in a group of elite athletes during Ramadan fasting