Strength and Fitness in Homeschool Children
Strength and Fitness in Homeschool Children: Pediatric Exercise Science published research on 75 homeschooled children ages 8-11 years old comparing them to public school children with regards to muscular strength and cardiorespiratory fitness. Each participant completed the curl-up, 90° push-up, and Progressive Aerobic Capacity Endurance Run (PACER) portions of the FitnessGram® to assess abdominal and upper body strength and endurance as well as cardiorespiratory fitness. Data analysis revealed the following:
- homeschool children showed significantly lower abdominal and upper body strength and endurance.
- there was no significant differences between the homeschool and public school children in cardiorespiratory fitness by total PACER laps or estimated VO2max.
The researchers concluded that homeschool children showed significantly lower levels of both abdominal and upper body muscular fitness compared to their age and gender matched public school peers but no difference in cardiorespiratory fitness.
Reference: Kabiri, L. S., Mitchell, K., Brewer, W., & Ortiz, A. (2017). Muscular and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Homeschool versus Public School Children. Pediatric Exercise Science, 1-19.
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