Analele Universităţii din Oradea: Fascicula Educaţie Fizică şi Sport (Feb 2018)
FENCING TRAINING EFFECT ON MUSCULOSKELETAL FITNESS IN CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER
Abstract
The present research intends to examine the effect of a fencing training program on Musculoskeletal fitness of youth population diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Musculoskeletal fitness (Mf) is a multidimensional design comprising the integrated function of muscle strength, muscle endurance, and flexibility constructed to enable the performance of work against one's own body weight or external resistance. One of the suggested tests for Mf evaluation is the Eurofit Test Battery. The study population (N=40) children, mean age of 10 at the beginning of the study diagnosed with ADHD divided into two groups: one is the experimental fencing training group (N=20, 10 boys and 10 girls) applying fencing training program combined with general physical activity program and specifically fencing physical activity program; compared to the second group, the Physical Activity (PA) control group (N=20, 10 boys and 10 girls) about the same age and characteristics undergoing only a Physical Education (PE) training program. The duration of the research was 9 months, twice a week, 90 minute each time. The end results as reflected from the Eurofit Physical Fitness Test Battery indicate superiority of the fencing program over the PA program. The control group undergoing PA program achieved definitive higher results only for the Flamingo Balance test and for the muscular upper body development as reflected by the Arm Bent while all other test where in favor of Fencing Training program. Fencing Training program was found to yield higher impact on Physical Fitness than the control group undergoing PA training program as reflected from the Eurofit Physical Fitness Test Battery, supporting the presumption of Fencing Training program superiority on improving the Mf of ADHD diagnosed children over plain PA program.
