Effect of a six-month training programme on the physical capacities of Romanian schoolchildren.

AIM: To analyze the effects of a training programme on the motor performance of Romanian schoolchildren. METHODS: A total of 178 boys (9.5+/-0.8 y, 34+/-9 kg, 137.6+/-8 cm) and 192 girls (9.6+/-0.4 y, 32.7+/-7.6 kg, 136.9+/-7.5 cm) were randomly selected for the training group (TG) (n=198, 109 girls, 89 boys) and control group (CG) (n=172, 83 girls, 89 boys). The TG completed a 6-mo extracurricular training programme (two 50-min sessions per week) involving moderate-intensity impact exercises. At baseline and at follow-up, the EUROFIT tests were administered, and body composition, skeletal maturation and BMI were calculated. RESULTS: At baseline there were no differences in physical characteristics between TG and CG. With the exception of cardiorespiratory endurance, both groups improved motor performances at follow-up. However, for TG boys the improvement was greater than for CG boys in the plate-tapping (+37.2%), sit-up (+20.4%), standing broad-jump (+13%) and shuttle-run tests (+3.8%). TG girls improved more than CG girls only in the standing broad-jump (+18.8%) and shuttle-run (+8.5%) tests. CONCLUSION: Boys and girls in trained groups demonstrated greater increases in some tests of motor performance compared to their untrained peers. Two extra sessions of physical education per week were sufficient to elicit improvements in a number of components of motor fitness.

Effects of an exercise program and a calcium supplementation on bone in children: a randomized control trial.

We investigated the effects of calcium supplementation and physical practice on the bone ultrasound properties and trabecular microarchitecture in children. 160 children aged 8-11 were randomly allocated to active or nonactive groups and to receive either a calcium-phosphate or a placebo powder for 6 months. Skeletal status was assessed using an ultrasound technique, which measures the speed of sound (Ad-SoS, m/s) at the phalanx. Bone microarchitecture was characterized by fractal analysis measured on calcaneus radiographs and the result expressed as the Hmean parameter, that has been shown to a good reliability of the bone texture quality. After 6 months, the calcium group had significantly gained Ad-SoS compared to the placebo group (P = 0.01) and Hmean increase was greater in the active than the nonactive group (P < 0.05). Exercise and calcium supplementation had a differential effect on the bone tissue, calcium being rather linked to a systemic effect whereas exercise has acted better onto the skeletal stressed site.