A Pilot Comparison of Physical and Functional Conditions in 8–9-Year-Old Children Practicing Basketball, Football, Gymnastics, or Dance
Abstract
Background. Different sports affect children’s physical development in various ways. As the growth spurt begins around age 10, early assessment of 8–9-year-olds is important for injury prevention and safe development. However, there is limited research examining this age group’s physical and functional condition in relation to participation in specific sports.
Aim – to evaluate the physical and functional condition of 8–9-year-old children participating in different sports clubs.
Methods. The study involved 33 children aged 8–9 (both boys and girls), each attending only one sport (basketball, football, gymnastics, or dance) for at least one year. All participants were injury-free in the past six months and had signed parental consent forms. Physical condition was assessed using the Sit and Reach and Ely’s tests, and functional condition with the Flamingo, Timed Up and Go, and 10 × 5 m shuttle run tests.
Results. Children in the gymnastics group showed significantly better flexibility compared to other groups (p < 0.05). No significant flexibility differences were found among football, basketball, and dance groups (p > 0.05). Normative Sit and Reach test performance was achieved by 100% of the gymnastics group, 66.7% basketball, 62.5% football, and 37.5% dance. No statistically significant differences between groups were found in static and dynamic balance (p > 0.05). Most participants demonstrated poor static balance. Moreover, no significant differences between groups were found in agility (p > 0.05); however, only two children, from the football and gymnastics clubs, met the standard for agility.
Conclusions. Gymnastics is linked to greater flexibility in 8–9-year-old children, while basketball and football may contribute to rectus femoris muscle shortening. Balance showed no sport-specific differences and was generally poor, and agility seldom reached health-favourable levels.
Keywords: functional condition; physical fitness; children; sports clubs
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