Original scientific paper
A Fitness Intervention Program within a Physical Education Class on Selected Health-Related Fitness among Secondary School Students
Rengasamy Shabeshan
; Faculty of Education, University of Malaya
Raju Subramaniam
; Faculty of Education, University of Malaya
Wee Akina Sia Seng Lee
; Faculty of Education, University of Malaya
Rao Ramachandra
; Faculty of Education, University of Malaya
Abstract
The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of a physical fitness intervention program within a physical education class on selected health-related fitness components among Malaysian secondary school girls. A quasi-experimental design was adopted for the study. Two schools in a district were randomly selected. In each school, two classes were randomly assigned intact to the experimental group (n = 48), and the other was the control group (n = 38). Pretest data were collected on cardiovascular endurance, flexibility and muscular strength. The experimental and the control groups underwent regular physical education classes twice a week for ten weeks. Apart from the regular physical education classes, the experimental group underwent the treatment of four exercises in form of a circuit immediately after the warm-up session. After ten weeks, posttest data were collected. ANCOVA indicated that there was a main effect in cardiovascular endurance F (1, 83) = 44.69, p < .05 and for flexibility F(1,83) = 46.80, p < .05. As for muscular strength, the result was not significant F (1,83) = 3.54, p>.05. The results indicate that a ten-week physical fitness program within the physical education class was effective in enhancing cardiovascular endurance and flexibility among Malaysian secondary school girls.
Keywords
cardiovascular endurance; flexibility; muscle strength; physical inactivity; secondary school girls
Hrčak ID:
114969
URI
Publication date:
30.12.2013.
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