2010 年 16 巻 1 号 p. 1-7
The influence of physical growth of boys aged 6-14 years on their development of physical fitness was analyzed using a relative growth (or development) approach. Data were extracted from a series of “Physical fitness and Motor Fitness Surveys” reported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology for fiscal years 1998 through 2008 in which the “New Physical Fitness Test” was used. Age-associated changes in the relative growth coefficients of weight against height and those of sitting height against height were graphically compared to age-associated changes in relative development coefficients of physical fitness against height. The influence of physical growth on physical fitness development was examined by focusing on times of growth spurts in height and in weight (maturation) and the balance of growth between lower limb length and height, identified by the age-associated changes in relative growth coefficients.
The age-associated changes in relative growth coefficients of weight against height indicated a height growth trend before age 6-7 years followed by a maturation period between age 7-12 years, and a growth spurt in height at age 12-13 years followed by a maturing period. The age-associated changes in the relative growth coefficients of sitting height against height showed faster lower limb growth than height growth at age 9-10 years. By comparing these results to the age-associated changes in the relative development coefficients of physical fitness, three patterns of physical fitness development were identified.
Pattern 1: For the physical fitness items of grip strength and sit-and-reach, the relative development coefficients gradually increase independently of the relative growth coefficients of weight and sitting height against height.
Pattern 2: For the physical fitness items of sit up, side step, 20m shuttle run and running speed (50m sprint), their development is influenced by a growth spurt in height and times of maturation, and is predictable from the relative growth coefficient of weight against height.
Pattern 3: The physical fitness item standing long jump develops slowly in a fast growing period of the lower limbs.
