Date of Graduation

1996

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to monitor physiological responses of children in grades 4 and 5 during incremental tests on slide board and bicycle exercise and to determine whether children enjoy the slide board as a fitness activity. Twenty healthy subjects (10M, 10F; 10.1 {dollar}\\pm{dollar}.72 yrs) completed maximum continuous tests in 3 minute stages on the slide board, beginning at 40 slides/min, increasing by 10 slides/min each stage; and on the bicycle beginning at 25 watts, increasing by 25 watts each stage. Heart rate (HR), blood pressure, VO{dollar}\\sb2{dollar}, and rating of perceived exertion (CERT) were measured at each stage. Percent body fat was measured and a median split dichotomization for body composition was used during statistical analysis. True maximum VO{dollar}\\sb2{dollar} values achieved on the bicycle were compared to peak physiological responses on the slide board. A questionnaire rated subject enjoyment on the slide board and ranked it with other fitness activities. Significant high correlations of maximum VO{dollar}\\sb2{dollar} and HR were found between the two tests with HR, r (18) =.88 and VO{dollar}\\sb2{dollar} max, r (18) =.87, p {dollar}<{dollar}.001. No significant difference was found between tests for VO{dollar}\\sb2{dollar} max, t (17) = 1.39, p {dollar}<{dollar}.18. A significant difference was found between tests for maximum HR, t (18) = {dollar}-2.08{dollar}, p {dollar}<{dollar}.05. Heart rates on the slide board were significantly higher. Regression slopes for VO{dollar}\\sb2{dollar} vs. HR for the bicycle and slide board were not significantly different. CERT values for the slide board was significantly lower. No significant differences were found between genders for maximum values in HR, VO{dollar}\\sb2{dollar}, CERT or regression slopes. No significant differences were found for HR between body composition subsets, however a difference was found for VO{dollar}\\sb2{dollar} between body composition. The higher percent body fat group had a significantly lower VO{dollar}\\sb2{dollar}. The slide board was rated with the highest enjoyment by 80% of subjects and was ranked the number one fitness activity by 90% of subjects. In conclusion, the slide board was found to provide a sufficient stimulus for developing and maintaining aerobic fitness in children (9-11 years old). Subjects enjoyed slide board exercise, not perceiving it to be physically difficult.

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