BASIC STUDIES ON THE PHYSICAL FITNESS OF KOREAN SCHOOL BOYS AND GIRLS

한국(韓國) 어린이 및 청소년(靑少年)의 체력(體力)에 관(關)한 기초연구(基礎硏究)

As physical fitness measured was muscle strength (hand grips, leg extention, back lift, and arm pull and thrust), skinfold thickness (5 different sites), circulatory function (resting heart rate and blood pressure), speed (kinesiological analysis during 100m sprint, record, maximal and final speed), motor function (50 meter dash, ball throwing, standing broad jump, and pull-ups), maximal aerobic power (maximum oxygen intake by field running method), muscle power (leg and arm by inertia ergometer), and general endurance (maximum endurance running time on the treadmill at the speed of 5 MPH and grade of 15.5%) of 1131 Korean children (boys 572, girls 559) aged of 6 to 17 years, who were randomly sampled from 24 primary, middle and high schools at the two districts of Seoul and KyungKi. The results are summarized as follows: 1) The status (height and weight) of the children was almost same as that of the previously reported Korean and Japanese children of same ages. 2) Muscle strength was a gained linearly with geting age in the boys and girls but there was a little improvement in girls aged of 13 years or more. 3) The mean skin fold thickness was increased linearly with geting ages in both sexes, but the girls from 12 to 17 years of age were increased rapidly, and maximum value was 17mm, while boys was 7.0 mm. 4) In the circulatory function, the resting heart rate was decreased, but the blood pressure was increased with ages in both sexes within the normal limits. 5) The maximum and final speed during 100 meter sprint increases with age in boys but girls who are 12 years old or older, were not improved any mere. The patterns of running were same in both sexes, and maximum speed reached at about 30 meters from starting line. 6) The motor function was increased with age in both sexes, but there was no improvement in 12 years of age or older girls. More over records of all functions except standing broad jump was less than those of Japanese in the same age, respectively. 7) The maximum oxygen intake (MOI) was increased considerably with ages and maximum values were 2.93 L/min (boys) and 2.09 L/min (girls) at the age of 17years. This result was almost same as that of the Japanese and Easter Island population, but the value was lower than that of Europe. The average of the maximum oxygen intake per kg body weight per minute from 9 to 17 years of age were around 53 ml in the boys and 42 ml in the girls. 8) Muscle power was increased linearly with ages in boys while there was relatively a little increment in girls. The maximum values of leg muscle in boys and girls at the 17 years of age were 0.168 and 0.088 horse power, respectively. 9) The maximum endurance running time was increased considerably from the age of 9 in boys, while there was no improvement in girls. The maximum values were 6.0 min and 1.8 min, respectively.