The Benefits of Physically Active Kids

7

Ensure Sustained Aerobic Activity through Objective Measurement

While other attributes of a good activity program - strength, agility, coordination, teamwork, and sportsmanship - are important, sustained aerobic activity must predominate for children to receive the full physical benefit of exercise.⁴⁰

Effective programs use heart rate monitors to assess and ensure the aerobic activity of each child. This technology serves two unique purposes:

Provide an objective record of the effort expended by each individual during the course of the lesson
Enable participants to adjust their effort level to remain within the designated "heart rate training zone"

Whereas the "eyeball method" may indicate that a less-fit child is not physically working as hard as a more-fit child, the reverse may be the case when their heart rates are compared. The less-fit child may, in fact, be working very hard cardiovascularly, while the more-fit child may be expending little cardio effort.

Heart-rate monitoring ensures that all children perform within their capabilities and removes the stigma associated with "winning and losing." Using a heart-rate monitor allows children to assess their own progress rather than to make inappropriate comparisons against the performance of their classmates.

FIGURE 12: Children & Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). Almost two-thirds of our children are at risk for developing cardiovascular disease.

Source: CDC, 2003

A New Science-Based Protocol Impartially Assesses the Effectiveness of Physical Activity Programs

A study conducted in Spring 2003 at Silver Mesa Elementary School in Sandy, Utah, validated the effectiveness of a new physical activity program in 3rd and 6th grade students. The purposes of the study were:

Determine whether a PE program designed to maintain elevated heart rates (135-190 bpm for 50% or more of a class period) effects positive changes in bio-markers for ECD as established in the medical literature⁵³
Develop a standardized protocol to evaluate the effectiveness of PE programs based upon the use of medically recognized biomarkers for detection of ECD

To determine the effectiveness of the program in the Silver Mesa Study, baseline and post-test data were gathered on all subjects:⁵³

Total cholesterol, triglycerides, high and low density cholesterol levels, total cholesterol/HDL ratio, HbA1c (an indicator of elevated blood sugar, and diabetes), and CRP (a measure of CVD risk)
Electronic measurement of each student's weight, arm strength, and flexibility
Cardiovascular endurance which required students to run for 10 minutes

The study clearly indicates that a physical activity program can achieve elevated heart rates in excess of 50% of the lesson period in most children. The testing protocol was an impartial and direct indicator of the effectiveness of a PE program, including a program's ability to combat obesity and ECD.⁵³

In just five weeks children in the study realized the following benefits:⁵³

Exercised in the "heart rate training zone" 60-70% of the time (135-190 bpm)
Ran almost 700 yards further
Reduced total cholesterol (bad) 6x more
Raised HDL (good) cholesterol 8x more
Reduced HbA1c (diabetes indicator) readings by 2x
Reduced C-reactive protein (heart disease indicator) level by 3x

The Silver Mesa study shows that daily physical activity which maintains heart rates in a recognized training zone (135-190 bpm) improves both physical measurements and biomarkers for obesity and ECD. Within five weeks, positive results in cardiovascular endurance and blood chemistry profiles were measurable by the protocol.

This pilot study validates the program and proves conclusively that the biomarkers of obesity and ECD can be positively affected through aerobic exercise.⁵³

FIGURE 13: Heart Monitors & Measurement. Heart rate monitors provide an unbiased, objective measure of each childÕs rate of exertion over the course of an aerobic physical activity session.

Measure Success with Heart Rate Monitors

To ensure that heart rates are appropriately elevated and maintained, children must wear heart rate monitors and regulate their personal heart rate levels. This technology provides an unbiased, objective measure of each childÕs rate of exertion over the course of an aerobic physical activity session.