Are Physical Education Classes Intensive Enough For Pupils In Poland?

Introduction
There is a danger of growing overweight and obesity among children with poor motor fitness reported in numerous
research [1,3,5,6]. With decreasing time allowance and intensity of physical education the matter seems to be
worsening.
The aim of the research was to establish effectiveness of physical education classes on cardio-vascular fitness of pupils.

Methods
There were over 30 classes observed and monitored for intensity of the physical load, carried out in several secondary
schools in Poznań. Heart rates were monitored with the use of sport-testers Polar Si 601. Intensity load was divided into
5 zones basing on frequency of heart beats and energy expenditure. In the work there is an analysis of four types of
classes: truck and field, team sports, gymnastics, play and games class in girls (n=15) and boys (n=14).

Results
The most intensive appeared to be classes of truck and field with an average of 160 beats/min. and non-invasion team
games, where average of 152 beats/min.. The least effective were classes of volleyball (for boys - 130 b/min. and for
girls 136 b/min.).

Discussion / Conclusions
The most intensive appeared to be classes of truck and field with an average of 160 beats/min. and non-invasion team
games, where average of 152 beats/min.. The least effective were classes of volleyball (for boys - 130 b/min. and for
girls 136 b/min.).
The research supports earlier findings of other authors on decreasing intensity of physical education in school,
insufficient for maintaining biological development of growing children and youth, which results in poor motor
achievements, overweight and obesity in younger generations.

References
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old boys and girls: relationship to change in body mass index. 2003, Pediatrics,.111, 4, 836-843.
[2]. Baquet G., Berthoin S., Van Praagh E. Are intensified physical education sessions able to elicit heart rate at a
sufficient level to promote aerobic fitness in adolescents? Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 2002, 73, 3, 282-
288.
[3]. Bouchard C., Shephard R.J. Physical activity, fitness and health: the model and key concepts, [w:] Physical
activity, fitness and health, (eds.) C.Bouchard, R.J.Shephard, T.Stephens. Human Kinetics Publishers, Champaing, Il,
1994, 77-88.
[4]. Burton C. The heart rates of elementary children during physical education classes. M.S. Thesis, Ball State
University, USA 1996.
[5]. Hill J., Melanson E. Overview of the determinants of overweight and obesity: current evidence and research
issues. Medicine and science in sports and exercise. 1999, 31, (11), 515-521.
[6]. Osiński W. Analysis of relationship between morphological parameters and motor abilities as a description of
"real" course of the relationship and premise for forecast. Biol. of sp. 1989, 6, (2), 149-160.

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