1000M. RUN TEST PERFORMANCE DURING YEARS: FOURTEEN URBAN STUDENTS RESULTS

Introduction During adolescence (A) individuals experiment a great number of changes in their own body. At the same time, physical activity represents an important element for health and physical efficiency. Unfortunatly, PA practice often ceases at the start of high school. The purpose of this study was to investigate the performance of 14 y old students during their first week in high school. Data were collected for 7 consecutive years (2005-2011). Material and methods Every year in September the students of an high school (Milano city) performed the 1000m run test. All students followed the same path and were assessed by the same teacher. Over than 500 students (228 M and 280 F) were tested during the first lesson of Physical Education (PE). Thus, every year 72 students (on average) were tested about physical efficacy during the transition from middle to high school. Thus a useful baseline could use to set the educational programs. All students lived in the city (1) since their birth. Results These tests show a different trend between boys and girls. In particular, boys increased the performance during years while girls are fluctuating. Boys students run the test in 293sec ± 34 (data pooled within years) while girls in 338sec ± 32. The best performances were 210 and 251 sec (M and F respectively) while the worst 416 and 445 sec. In 2005, male run the test in 318 sec while during September 2011 the 14y old students took only 285 sec. Indeed boys decrease, every years, the time spent to run the test of about 5,5 sec. Girls were not constant or regular following a decreasing or increasing trend. Their were, always, more slow than their same age mates: from 5 sec (in 2005) to 71 sec (in 2006) of difference. The best years for girls was 2005: mean speed about 3,1 m/sec. Girls shown a minor variability (each years) while boys group obtained variation close to 45 sec. Discussion The use of motor fields tests allows a valuable monitoring about physical skills. The repetition of 1000m run test during years shown a general decreasing (boys) or a fluctuating performances (girls).Other factors could influence the physical practice: i.e. world events of national team for boys and a cultural drop-out during A for girls. The PE course (2) that are compulsory throughout the country are the only common element that could improve the physical efficiency especially in an urban environment where play sport is not always easy. References 1. Chillón et al. J Sci Med Sport. 2011; 14(5):417. 2. Starc & Strel. BMC Public Health. 2012;12(1):61.