ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana - Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2021 July-August;180(7-8):370-3

DOI: 10.23736/S0393-3660.20.04378-8

Copyright © 2020 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Health-related physical fitness in Slovak youth

Róbert KANDRÁČ ¹, Marek KOKINDA ¹, Pavel RUŽBARSKÝ ¹, Milan TUREK ¹, Mário JANČOŠEK ¹, Martin ZVONAŘ ², Gheorghe BALINT ³ ✉

¹ Faculty of Sports, University of Prešov, Prešov, Slovakia; ² Faculty of Sports Studies, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; ³ Faculty of Movement, Sports and Health Sciences, Vasile Alecsandri University, Bacău, Romania

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to determine health-related physical fitness profile of male adolescents living in Slovakia.
METHODS: A sample of 197 Slovak youth (mean age 17.15±0.99 years) completed 6 physical fitness field tests selected from the Fitnessgram test battery: push-ups and flexed arm hang (upper-body strength and endurance), curl-ups (abdominal strength and endurance), trunk lift (trunk extensor strength and flexibility), and back-saver sit and reach (flexibility) complemented by 20-meter endurance shuttle run (aerobic capacity). Physical fitness test scores were classified using Fitnessgram criterion-referenced health standards and standards for 20-meter endurance shuttle run.
RESULTS: The results showed that mean test scores of Slovak youth for push-ups, curl-ups, flexed arm hang, trunk lift and back-saver sit and reach test exceeded Fitnessgram performance standards for the achievement of Health Fitness Zone. However, the 20-meter endurance shuttle run scores revealed low aerobic capacity level of male adolescents.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides data about health-related physical fitness profiles of Slovak male adolescents. The results have shown superior level of upper-body strength, endurance and flexibility, but low level of aerobic capacity.

KEY WORDS: Health; Physical fitness; Obesity; Adolescent; Slovakia