title: Effects of a short-term interval training program on physical fitness in prepubertal children.
abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of a 7-week interval-training program on different aspects of physical fitness in children who were 8-11 years old. Forty-six boys and 54 girls (9.7 +/- 0.8 years) were divided into an experimental group and a control group. The 2 groups performed selected tests from the European physical fitness test battery before and after training. Training consisted of 2 specific 30-minute sessions per week of short high-intensity, intermittent-running aerobic exercises at velocities ranging from 100-130% of maximal aerobic speed. After training, the experimental group demonstrated a significant improvement in the standing broad jump (9.6%, p < 0.001, F = 12.9) and 20-meter shuttle run (5.4%, p < 0.001, F = 14.4), whereas for the control group, no significant changes were observed. It was concluded that a high-intensity, intermittent-running program improved children's aerobic performance and explosive strength.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for the Study of Human Motor Skills, Faculty of Sport and Physical Education Science, Université de Lille 2, France.
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baquet
authors.forename: Comlavi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guinhouya
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dupont
authors.forename: Cedric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nourry
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berthoin
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome