<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><italic>Study aim</italic>: To assess the generation changes in somatic and motor variables in menstruating and non-menstruating girls from Eastern Poland.<italic>Material and methods</italic>: Two cohorts of girls aged 10 - 15 years from Eastern regions of Poland were studied in 1986 (n = 2554) and in 2006 (n = 5563). The age at menarche was determined in girls by probit method employing the <italic>status quo</italic> technique. The girls were subjected to the International Physical Fitness Test battery and the results were classified into two categories: those of girls who already menstruated (M) or who have not yet (N).<italic>Results</italic>: Mean menarcheal age significantly (p>0.001) decreased in 2006 compared with 1986 (12.77 and 13.41, respectively). This was accompanied by marked, significant increases in body height, significant changes in body mass and significant increases in the slimness. Physical fitness generally decreased, especially in girls aged over 12 years, but in the handgrip and in sit-ups significant improvements were noted in both groups of girls.<italic>Conclusions</italic>: The results seem to support the view that the secular advancement of somatic traits was associated with decreasing physical fitness.</abstract>

Study aim: To assess the generation changes in somatic and motor variables in menstruating and non-menstruating girls from Eastern Poland.Material and methods: Two cohorts of girls aged 10 - 15 years from Eastern regions of Poland were studied in 1986 (n = 2554) and in 2006 (n = 5563). The age at menarche was determined in girls by probit method employing the status quo technique. The girls were subjected to the International Physical Fitness Test battery and the results were classified into two categories: those of girls who already menstruated (M) or who have not yet (N).Results: Mean menarcheal age significantly (p>0.001) decreased in 2006 compared with 1986 (12.77 and 13.41, respectively). This was accompanied by marked, significant increases in body height, significant changes in body mass and significant increases in the slimness. Physical fitness generally decreased, especially in girls aged over 12 years, but in the handgrip and in sit-ups significant improvements were noted in both groups of girls.Conclusions: The results seem to support the view that the secular advancement of somatic traits was associated with decreasing physical fitness.

Changes in the somatic and fitness variables in girls over two decades

University of Physical Education, Warsaw, Biała Podlaska Branch, Poland

Biomedical Human Kinetics

{"article-title":"Changes in the somatic and fitness variables in girls over two decades"}

Study aim: To assess the generation changes in somatic and motor variables in menstruating and non-menstruating girls from Eastern Poland.Material and methods:...

Changes in the somatic and fitness variables in girls over two decades

Published Online: Dec 20, 2010

Page range: 102 - 105

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10101-010-0025-7

Keywords
Girls, Physical fitness, Generation changes, Biological maturity

This content is open access.

Changes in the somatic and fitness variables in girls over two decades

Published Online: Dec 20, 2010

Page range: 102 - 105

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10101-010-0025-7

KeywordsGirls, Physical fitness, Generation changes, Biological maturity

This content is open access.

Keywords
Girls, Physical fitness, Generation changes, Biological maturity