Abstract des Autors

The aim of this study was to examine Klaipeda city sixth grades pupils’ health-related physical fitness and to ascertain its alternation. The research was pursued by two stages: May 2009 and May 2013. The four Klaipeda city comprehensive schools were chosen by the manner of criterion selection. The pupils of same schools participated in both research stages: overall 651 pupils of sixth grades. 295 six-graders participated in the research of 2009 (51.2% girls), 356 – in 2013 (48.0% girls). The most part of the researched were 13 years old. The pupils of sixth grades fulfilled five tests of health-related physical fitness: 1 mile run/walk (cardiorespiratory endurance), Flexed-arm hang (upper body muscular strength and endurance), Sit-ups (N/30 s) (abdominal muscular strength and endurance), Standing long jump (explosive leg power), Sit and reach (flexibility) and the body mass index ( b MI) was calculated. Descriptive statistics were calculated (including means, standard deviations) for each fitness component. Comparing the received results with the country average values, the One-Sample T test was invoked. Independent t test was used to compare the results of year 2009 and 2013. One-Sample T test shows that in 2009 the indices of upper body muscular strength and endurance (girls p = 0.035, boys p = 0.000) and explosive leg power (girls p = 0.002, boys p = 0.000) were worse, though girls flexibility indices were better (p = 0.000) than average values of six-graders in Lithuania. In 2013 the indices of girls upper body muscular strength and endurance (p = 0.000) and abdominal muscular strength and endurance (p = 0.020), whereas boys upper body muscular strength and endurance (p = 0.040) did not reach country averages. The b MI indices of girls (p = 0.001) and boys (p = 0.000) and also girls flexibility (p = 0.004) were higher than country average values of contemporaries. Independent t test revealed that in 2013 the results of girls abdominal muscular strength and endurance (p = 0.015) were worse and boys explosive leg power (p = 0.000) were better than in 2009. Other indices did not differ significantly, p>0.05. The comparative analysis of Lithuanian (2002) and Klaipeda city (2009 and 2013) sixth grades pupils health-related physical fitness indices revealed the tendencies of upper body muscular strength and endurance deterioration and body mass index growth. The indices of girls’ flexibility are better than country averages designated in 2002. In the period of four years the girls’ abdominal muscular strength and endurance significantly deteriorated and the boys explosive leg power increased.