Media Release
April 16 2008
Keeping kids active - a tailored approach
A
traditional, one size fits all approach to physical activity may not be
the best way to get kids active and keep them active and moving well in
their every day lives, according to researchers at UniSA.
A new study that tests this theory is about kick off at UniSA’s Nutritional Physiology Research Centre, the first of its kind focusing on children’s daily activity and physical function, to establish what key factors impact on children’s ability to move well and participate in life.
Research physiotherapist from UniSA’s Nutritional Physiology Research Centre, and the Australian Technology Network (ATN) Centre for Metabolic Fitness, Margarita Tsiros, says that while early research indicates that children who are overweight or obese find it harder to be active, often having movement or mobility issues, there are a whole range of factors other than weight that are likely to have an impact.
“We want to look at kids in certain weight ranges where levels of fitness, balance, muscle strength, make up of body tissue and musculoskeletal pain can all contribute to physical discomfort or movement difficulties for kids during their day to day activities.
“Many kids get musculoskeletal pain or muscle weakness at some stage during childhood. Often overweight or obese kids get it more, but what we want to find out is how much of an impact factors like these have on every day mobility and movement for kids.
“The emphasis is really on the daily activity that’s important to them; things like walking, running for the bus, helping Mum and Dad with jobs around the house or social activity with friends.”
Tsiros says that the type and intensity of activity is also a factor and the study findings will suggest alternatives toward a more tailored approach to activity based on the child’s physical capabilities.
“More intense activity may not be best for every child; some kids are ok with pushing themselves, while others avoid activity that’s hard for them or if they perceive it as hard,” she said.
“These kids may need to do less intense or high impact activity when starting out; they may be better suited to, or enjoy, walking or aquatic activity rather than high impact competitive sports or running around an oval.
“Depending on what our research findings indicate, there may be simple balance or strengthening exercises that kids could do to assist improvement of movement and activity.”
Tsiros says that early intervention with children is vital given the startling figures and impacts of obesity in adults.
“If we can find activity that is enjoyable and appropriate when children are young, we can get them into better and hopefully long term habits of ongoing daily physical activity.”
The study will involve an initial fitness test and telephone interviews over the course of a week.
UniSA is looking for 110 South Australian children between 10 to 13 years of age, from all weight ranges, to take part in the study.
The study is funded by the ATN Centre for Metabolic Fitness and involves an additional 100 children through partner universities, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and Melbourne’s RMIT University.
For more information or to register your child for the Physical Function study contact:
- Margarita Tsiros
(08) 8302 2348 or (08) 8302 2097
Email: margarita.tsiros@unisa.edu.au - Dr Alison Coates
(08) 8302 2097
Email: alison.coates@unisa.edu.au
Contact for interview
- Margarita Tsiros office (08) 8302 2097 email margarita.tsiros@unisa.edu.au
Media contact
- Linda Hein office (08) 8302 0965 mobile 0411 257 029 email linda.hein@unisa.edu.au