HOW DOES PARTICIPATION IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AFFECT PHYSICAL FITNESS ELEMENTS IN CHILDREN AGED 5-9?

This study was conducted to examine the effect of participation in physical activity on physical fitness parameters in children aged 5-9 years. A total of 83 children, 44 girls, and 39 boys, studying in a private primary school participated in the study voluntarily. The Eurofit Test Battery was used to evaluate the physical fitness levels of children. Within the scope of the Eurofit test battery; the body weight and height values of the children were measured. In the determination of motoric performances, flamingo balance, disc touch, sit-reach, standing long jump, sit-up, bent-arm hanging, and 5x10 meter sit-up tests were used. A personal information form prepared by the researchers was used to determine demographic characteristics. Whether the data is normally distributed or not was checked with kurtosis and skewness values. In the statistical analysis dimension; descriptive analysis (mean, standard deviation, median, min-max value, ratio, frequency), independent samples t test (Independent Samples t test) were used. In terms of children having an athlete license, a significant difference was found in their height, standing long jump test, sit-up test, bent-arm hanging test, 5x10 meter sit-up run test scores (p>0.05). A significant difference was found in the findings of height, body weight, standing long jump test, sit-up test, bent arm hanging test, 5x10 meter sit-up run test in terms of children's participation in traditional children's games (p>0.05). As a result, it has been determined that children's having an athlete's license increases their height, explosive strength, core strength endurance, upper extremity strength endurance, agility, and again, the students' participation in traditional children's games has positive effect on height, body weight, explosive strength, core strength endurance, upper extremity strength endurance and agility. i Correspondence: email ucanli@nku.edu.tr Aslihan Buksur, Umut Canli, Cüneyt Taskin HOW DOES PARTICIPATION IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AFFECT PHYSICAL FITNESS ELEMENTS IN CHILDREN AGED 5-9? European Journal of Fitness, Nutrition and Sport Medicine Studies Volume 2 │ Issue 1 │ 2021 58


Introduction
While physical activity is accepted as one of the main determinants of physical fitness, physical fitness is also considered as one of the most important indicators of health (Ortega, Ruiz, Castillo and Sjostrom, 2008). Although physical activity level is a determinant of cardiovascular risks in children, it has been reported that it is positively associated with the development of aerobic capacity (Lopes, Rodrigues, Maia and Malina, 2011) and low muscle strength and low cardiopulmonary fitness are associated with low bone density, metabolic risk factors, and cardiovascular diseases (Smith et al., 2014). It is reported that regular physical activity in children increases cardiovascular system endurance and muscular fitness, improves bone health, cardiovascular fitness, and body composition. From this, it has been proven that children who participate in physical activity regularly are more likely to be healthier in adulthood (Health and Services, 2008). However, as a result of the research; it has been determined that the physical activity levels of school-age children have decreased significantly in the last twenty years (Janssen, Katzmarzyk, Boyce, King and Pickett, 2004). At the same time, it has been observed that the physical fitness levels of children have deteriorated in recent years (Aydemir and Bayansalduz, 2019).
It is known that there are many factors that affect the physical fitness level of children. One of these factors is the rapid developments in today's technology. With the increasing technology addiction in children, they live a static and stable life. (Kandir and Tumer, 2013). In this process, it was determined that the number of children playing in the streets and playgrounds decreased, and children spent less time in free areas and site gardens. Therefore, it is thought that this situation affects children's movement development negatively (Taskin and Ozdemir, 2018).
The primary school period in children is considered the most important period in terms of motor development. It has been determined that there are studies examining the environmental factors affecting the physical fitness elements of children in this period and the level of their impact, but this number is insufficient. In addition, no research has been found that correlates children's physical fitness with parameters such as children's participation in traditional children's games and children's athlete licenses. Therefore, considering that the findings to be obtained here will contribute to the literature, the importance of the research increases. At the stage of interpretation of research results; it is thought that the determination of the factors affecting the physical fitness level of children can contribute to the development of processes such as suggestion and guidance. In addition, the fact that suggestions and opinions about the incentives for participation in physical activity, physical fitness, and measures for motor development processes can be put forward increases the importance of the research. In this direction, the purpose of the research is to reveal how children aged 5-9 who are studying in primary school have an athlete license and participate in traditional children's games, to what extent they affect the physical fitness factors of children.

Model of the Research
The research was designed according to the descriptive survey model, which is one of the general survey designs. When we examine the general features of the scanning model; it is seen that there are models that aim to collect data to determine certain characteristics of a group, or that the views of the participants about a subject or event or their characteristics such as interests, skills, abilities and attitudes are determined (Buyukozturk et al., 2016).

Research Group
The research group consists of girls and boys who study in grades 1,2,3 and 4 in a private school. As the research group, it was aimed to reach all children who study in primary school. An informed volunteer and parent consent form containing the detailed research scope was sent to the parents. Children of parents who signed the form and agreed to participate in the research were included in the study. Accordingly, a total of 83 children, 44 girls and 39 boys, participated in the study voluntarily. Information on the age, gender and grade levels of the children is detailed in Table 1.

Data Collection Tools
In the study, the personal information form containing demographic information, Eurofit Test Battery was applied to the students. Information about the measuring battery in this research is explained below.

Eurofit Test Battery 2.4.1 Height Measurement
Height measurements of the participants were made while their feet were bare. During the measurements, attention was paid that the heads of the participants were upright, the soles of the feet were flat on the ground, the knees were tense, the heels were together, and their bodies were in an upright position. (Karakoc, 2009). Mesilife 13539 brand stadiometer with a portable, degree of accuracy of 0.1 cm was used to measure height.
The obtained values are placed as centimetre in the information formula.

Weight Measurement
The body weights of the participants were measured with a Tanita BC 545N Bioelectrical Impedance Analyzer with a sensitivity of 0.01 kg. The measurements of the participants were measured with bare feet and only shorts and t-shirts. Values were recorded on the measurement form in kg (Karakoc, 2009).

Flamingo Balance Test
It is a test used to determine the static balance property. Children try to maintain their position by using their dominant feet on the balance beam. In order to start the test process, the participants were asked to bend their non-dominant foot towards the hip and hold it with the hand on the same side. Participants were allowed to receive support from the researchers so that they could fully balance on the balance beam. The test starts when it is felt that the balance is achieved, and the aid phase is over. The aim of the participant is to maintain his balance within the framework of the rules set on the balance beam for one minute. If the participant releases his foot or touches the ground, the second is stopped. After the participant's balance is restored, the time continues. This process continues until it takes one minute. The participant's attempt to balance within one minute is recorded as the participant's score (Hazar and Tasmektepligil, 2008).

Disc Touch Test
The test equipment, which was prepared in accordance with the test protocol, was designed by the researchers on a cardboard floor with two discs in the right and left sections and a square section in the middle of the discs. The non-dominant hand of the participant is on the square. With his dominant hand, he was asked to touch the discs in the right and left sections twenty-five times. Disc touch test was made twice. The lowest time determined as a result of twenty-five touches was recorded in seconds as the participant's score (Opstoel et al., 2015).

Sit-Reach Test
It was used to determine the flexibility levels of children. In order to carry out the test, the athletes were asked to be ready either naked or wearing socks. Children sat in a long sitting position in front of the sitting bench, with the soles of their feet in contact with the flexibility bench. The children were asked not to bend their knees and to reach forward from their bodies, to drag the movable apparatus on the coffee table forward with their fingertips and to wait for 1-2 seconds at the last level they could reach. The measurer stood next to the athletes and prevented their knees from bending. The last position of the apparatus was recorded in centimeters. The measurement was applied twice. The highest value was evaluated as the flexibility score (Hazar and Tasmektepligil, 2008).

Standing Long Jump Test
The participant took his position behind the line determined for the application of the test. The participant was asked to take the test when he felt ready, without any commands. The distance from the starting point of the participant to the contact of the heels of the feet was measured. The standing long jump was performed twice. The longest distance from the two tests was recorded as the participant's score (Altinkok, 2006).

Sit-Up Test
It is a test to determine the core area endurance of the participants. The participants took their position lying on the floor with their knees at ninety degrees. Necessary precautions were taken by the researchers to prevent the participants' feet from losing contact with the ground during the sit-ups. The participants were asked to keep their hands on the back of the neck and the shoulders to touch the ground during the landing phase of the sit-up phase and the elbows to touch the knees during the take-off phase. The number of appropriate sit-ups for thirty seconds was recorded as the participant's score (Pekel, 2007).

Bent-Arm Hanging Test
On the platform prepared according to the height of the participants, the researchers showed the appropriate bar holding style and helped the participant until his chin was below the bar level. Students were asked to maintain their existing positions and the application was finished when their eyes fell below the bar. The time until now was recorded as the participant's score (Zahner et al., 2006).

10x5 Meter Running Test
An application area was created with a distance of five meters between two cones. One round trip of the participant between the two funnels is determined as one round trip. The participant was asked to do five laps in this way. After five laps, the running time was recorded and the test was terminated (Opstoel et al., 2015).

Data Collection
An application was made to Tekirdag Namik Kemal University Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Committee for ethics committee approval and the necessary ethics committee approval was obtained for the research (Protocol No: 2020.209.08.18). Test procedures were explained in detail to both students and parents by the researcher, both theoretically and practically. Personal information form was sent to parents. First of all, the height and body weight measurements of the students were made. Then, flamingo balance test, sit-reach flexibility test, disc touch test, standing long jump test, bent-arm hanging test, sit-up test and 10x5 meter sit-up run were applied respectively. Measurements and tests were applied to the participants in the same order by the same researchers. A standard warm-up of 5 minutes of jogging followed by 5 minutes of dynamic stretching was performed before all test sessions. All tests were performed at the same time of day (17:30-19:30) to avoid the influence of circadian rhythms on study results.

Analysis of Data
The data obtained in the research were transferred to the SPSS 18.0 program and the analyzes were made using this statistical program. In the analysis of the data, descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, median, min-max value, ratio, frequency, etc.) were used to define the characteristics of the research group and were expressed with the help of tables. Before the comparison of the variables, it was examined whether the assumptions of normality and homogeneity were met (Tabachnick and Fidell, 2013). As a result of this evaluation, it was determined that the variables showed normal distribution. Then, independent samples t test (Independent Samples t test) was used in comparison of two independent groups. Cohen's d statistics were used to calculate the strength of the relationship between the variables in the t-test analysis (Buyukozturk et al., 2016). p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The minimum age of the children participating in the study was 5 years, the maximum age was 9 years, and their average age was 7.25±1.06 years. The minimum height of the children was 115.0 cm, the maximum height was 150.0 cm, and the average height was 131.10±7.93 cm. The minimum body weight of the children was 17 kg, the maximum body weight was 50 kg, and the average body weight was 28.30±6.77 (Table 2). When the flamingo balance test values of the children participating in the study were examined, it was determined that a minimum of 2.0 n, a maximum of 28.0 n, and the average of the flamingo balance test were 13.22±6.85 points. When the disc touch test values of the children were examined, it was determined that the minimum 13.7 seconds, the maximum 36.7 seconds, the disc touch test averages were 25.14±5.29 seconds. When the sit-reach test values of the children were examined, it was determined that the minimum 16.0 cm, the maximum 43.0 cm, and the average of the sit-reach test were 29.14±4.70 cm. Considering the standing long jump test values of the children, it was determined that the minimum 40.0 cm, the maximum 165.0 cm, and the standing long jump test averages were 104.84±23.89 cm. The children's sit-up test values were determined as minimum 5.0 n, maximum 27.0 n, and the sit-up test averages were determined as 14.48±5.00 points. The children's bent-arm hanging test values were determined as minimum 1.0 sec, maximum 15.6 sec., and the bent-arm hanging test averages were 4.76±3.52 sec. It was determined that the 5x10 meter sit-up run test values of the children were determined as minimum 30.5 seconds, maximum 57.2 seconds, and 5x10 meter sit-up run test averages as 42.15±6.95 seconds (Table 3).  When the comparison of the physical fitness parameters of the children in terms of being licensed athletes is examined; there was no significant difference in body weight, flamingo balance test, disc touch test, sit-reach test values. (p>0.05). A significant difference was determined in height, standing long jump test, sit-up test, bent-arm hanging test, 5x10 meter sit-up run test (p<0.05). The effect sizes of the differences between the groups in the height, standing long jump and sit-up test values were determined as medium level (respectively; d = 0.58; 0.53; 0.65). The effect levels of the differences between the bent-arm hanging and 5x10 meter sit-up tests values between the groups were determined to be strong. (respectively; d = 0.85; 0.79) (Table 4). When the physical fitness parameters of children are compared in terms of participation in traditional children's games; no significant difference was detected in flamingo balance test, disc touch test, sit-reach test (p>0.05). There was a significant difference in height, body weight, standing long jump test, sit-up test, bent arm hanging test, 5x10 meter situp run test (p<0.05). The effect sizes of the differences between the groups in the values of height, body weight, standing long jump and sit-up tests were determined as medium level (respectively; d = 0.57; 0.47; 0.70; 0.74). The effect levels of the differences between the bent arm hanging and 5x10 meter sit-up tests values between the groups were determined to be strong (respectively; d = 0.79; 1.00) ( Table 5).

Discussion
In the study, it was aimed to determine the extent to which physical activity characteristics such as 5-9-year-old children doing sports licensed in any sports branch and participating in traditional children's games affect physical fitness factors.
In the study, in the comparison of children's physical fitness elements in terms of having or not having an athlete license; a significant difference was found in favour of students who have an athlete license in the values of height, standing long jump test, situp test, bent-arm hanging test, 5x10 meters sit-up run test. No significant difference was found in the comparison of other physical fitness parameters between groups. In the comparison of motoric field tests measurements made by Simsek (2018) to student groups participating and not participating in school sports; it was reported that there was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of 20 meters running, standing medicine ball throwing, sitting medicine ball throwing, vertical jumping, horizontal jumping and flexibility values, and students participating in school sports had higher values. Bilim, Cetinkaya and Dayi (2016), in their study on 271 high school students from three different age groups who do and do not do sports, it was shown that men who do sports are significantly more successful in agility, speed and coordination tests in all age groups than men who do not participate in school sports. In the study conducted by Aydos and Kurkcu (1997), in which 123 students between the ages of 13-18 participated, it was revealed that the averages of horizontal jump, vertical jump and flexibility of the group that do sports are significantly different from the group that does not do sports. The fact that children do a branch under license is related to the economic level of the family. It is thought that the higher the education level of the family, the higher the economic income. In a study conducted by Caglayan and et. al (2004), it was stated that the education level of the families of children who do sports is higher than the families of children who do not do sports. Although the age groups are different in the studies conducted in the literature, the results show similarity. Based on these similarities, it is thought that physical fitness tests at a young age will be useful in directing children to sports and in choosing athletes for club coaches.
In the study, when the physical fitness elements of the students were compared in terms of children's participation in traditional children's games, it was determined that there was a significant difference in favour of the students who participated in the traditional children's games in the height, body weight, standing long jump test, sit-up test, bent-arm hanging test, 5x10 meter sit-up run tests. When the literature is examined; no research has been found related to traditional children's games and the subject of our research. However, in a study conducted by Sirin (2009), when the physical performance scores of the 14-year-olds who have been playing sports for at least 3 years in the infrastructure of the professional football team and the 14-year-olds who do not participate in school sports, the average height, body weight, meter running values, horizontal jump, vertical jump values and flexibility measurement values were found to be higher than the averages of the young people who did not participate in school sports. In this part of our study, within the scope of traditional children's games, inter-school competitions are organized under school sports and teams are formed by selecting students at each grade level for these competitions. At this point, bringing this information to the literature increases the importance of the research.
As a result, it has been revealed that the physical fitness factors such as height, strength and agility of the students who do sports and participate in traditional children's