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Cardiorespiratory functions in children with high and low performances in endurance running
Insights
Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) significantly impacts endurance running in 6-year-olds. Cardiorespiratory function and motivation are key to their performance, though less correlated than in adults.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
- Child Development
Background:
- Understanding cardiorespiratory function in children is crucial for assessing exercise capacity.
- Endurance performance in young children is influenced by various physiological and psychological factors.
- Limited research exists on the specific relationship between maximal oxygen uptake and endurance running in 6-year-olds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cardiorespiratory function characteristics during exercise in young children.
- To correlate these functions with their performance in endurance running events.
- To compare these relationships with those observed in adult populations.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-six 6-year-old children participated, divided into 'fast' and 'slow' groups based on performance in 1,500m, 4,000m, and 8,850m runs.
- Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) was measured for each child.
- Endurance running performances were statistically analyzed against VO2max and heart rate patterns.
Main Results:
- The 'fast' group exhibited significantly higher VO2max (45.3 ml x kg-1 x min-1) compared to the 'slow' group (39.8 ml x kg-1 x min-1).
- Significant differences in endurance running performance were observed between the groups (p < 0.01).
- A significant correlation between VO2max and endurance performance was found in 6-year-olds, albeit weaker than in adults.
Conclusions:
- VO2max is a significant determinant of endurance performance in 6-year-old children.
- Consistent cardiorespiratory function during running, potentially linked to high motivation, also influences performance.
- The findings suggest that both physiological capacity and sustained effort are important for pediatric endurance running success.
Abstract:
To elucidate the characteristics of cardiorespiratory functions during exercise in young children in relation to their performances in endurance running. Twenty six 6-hear-old children participated in the present study. They were divided into two groups (fast and slow) from the results of three endurance performances (1,500 m, 4,000 m, and 8,850 m). Maximal oxygen uptake VO2max) in the fast group (X +/- SD; 45.3 +/- 5.5 ml x kg-1 x min-1) was significantly greater (p less than 0.05) than the slow group (39.8 +/- 5.9 ml x kg-1 x min-1). The performances in endurance running were also significantly different between the two groups (p less than 0.01). There was, therefore, a significant correlation between VO2max and endurance performance in 6-year-old children (p less than 0.05 or p less than 0.01), but the relationship was less than that of adults. During endurance running, the heart rate of the best performer stayed constant, while that of the worst performer decreased. This may indicate that the worst performer used a smaller percentage of VO2max, which might be derived from a lower motivation for running. In conclusion, endurance performances in 6-year-old children was influenced by VO2max as well as by the constant mobilization of cardiorespiratory functions throughout endurance running, probably due to high motivation.