The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of regular participation in school swimming lessons on anthropometric variables and postural defect occurrence in junior high school students. An intervention group (n = 116) and a control group (n = 114) of boys and girls aged 13.4 ± 0.3 years had an equal physical education obligatory course requirement at school, with the intervention group additionally participating in swimming class once a week for 2 years. Anthropometric variables were recorded in both groups 3 times between autumn 2006 and 2008, and a clinical examination was conducted twice during this same period of time. Students from the intervention group had lower body mass than their peers in the control group at the end of the course (ANOVA, P < 0.05). The differences in body height and body mass index between the groups were insignificant. In swimming students, the correction in scoliosis was more distinct than in the control group (P < 0.05 by chi-squared test). The groups did not differ significantly in occurrence of other postural defects. Regular participation in standard swimming education at school did not have much effect on postural defects in adolescents. A special program of corrective water exercises should be applied to the school physical education syllabus.

Objective. The COVID-19 pandemic led to restricted access to sports and recreation facilities, resulting in a general decrease in physical activity. Many studies present the results of on-line questionnaires conducted during the pandemic, but there are few reports of objectively measured indicators of physical condition. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the changes in physical work capacity, body composition, and physical activity behaviors in university students during 14 weeks of lockdown. Material and Methods. Twenty students of Tourism and Recreation (13 female and 7 male) participated in the study. The first examination was conducted in November 2020, and the second in March 2021. Body composition was assessed with a Tanita 418 MA device. The students performed the PWC 170 cycling test and completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (short version) on-line. Results. Neither physical work capacity nor body composition parameters changed substantially during the analyzed period. In the female students, vigorous physical activity decreased significantly, but no substantial changes occurred in weekly metabolic equivalent of task. In male students, walking days and metabolic equivalent of task decreased, but the changes were not significant. Conclusions. Fourteen weeks of COVID-19 lockdown had little effect on the body composition, physical work capacity level, and physical activity habits of Tourism and Recreation students. Studies with larger groups of participants should verify the current conclusions, and care should be taken when extrapolating to other populations.

Students of both intervention groups improved their BLS knowledge after the training. Teaching methods used in the current study seemed to be ineffective in terms of practical CPR skills. Access to greater number of modern manikins should improve the BLS training in physical education students. Moreover, permanent consultation on instructional methods with emergency medicine experts is recommended for university teachers.

Streszczenie Wprowadzenie. Ilość i jakość pokarmów spożywanych przez dziecko mają duży wpływ na jego rozwój biologiczny. Nawyki żywieniowe dzieci często odbiegają od standardów, propagowanych przez instytucje zdrowotne i szkołę. Dieta dziecka, zajmującego się sportem powinna być racjonalnie zaplanowana i przestrzegana. Cel. Ocena i porównanie nawyków żywieniowych dzieci z klas sportowych o profilu pływanie i dzieci z klas ogólnych. Materiał i metody. Grupę badawczą stanowiły dzieci 11-12-letnie uczęszczające do tej samej publicznej szkoły podstawowej. Przebadano 46 dzieci z klas sportowych i 42 dzieci z klas ogólnych. Dokonano pomiarów wysokości i masy ciała, oceniono procentową zawartość tkanki tłuszczowej i wartość wskaźnika BMI. Nawyki żywieniowe dzieci zbadano za pomocą kwestionariusza ankiety, stworzonej w oparciu o narzędzia dostępne w literaturze. Wyniki. Dzieci z obu grup różniły się istotnie pod względem procentowej zawartości tłuszczu, ale ich wskaźniki antropometryczne mieściły się w normach referencyjnych. Nie stwierdzono wielu różnic w sposobie odżywiania się dzieci trenujących pływanie i dzieci nietrenujących. Młodzi pływacy częściej spożywali obiady w szkole w porównaniu do nietrenujących rówieśników. Ponadto uczniowie klas sportowych istotnie częściej spożywali produkty nabiałowe, ale także rzadziej spożywali ryby. Dzieci z klas ogólnych wyraźnie częściej deklarowały jedzenie słodyczy w porównaniu do pływaków. Wnioski. Wyniki badań ujawniły niedostateczną ilość konsumowanych porcji żywieniowych w obu grupach badawczych. Konieczna jest stała edukacja żywieniowa dzieci, prowadzona przez rodziców, nauczycieli w szkole i trenerów w klubie sportowym. Słowa kluczowe żywienie, dzieci, pływanie, szkoła, trening

Background: Relations between anthropometric parameters and sports results in swimming are well documented, but only few studies concern young athletes. Scientific evidence do not indicate definitely, which anthropometric variables determine swimming performance among pubertal athletes. Material and methods: Forty one swimmers at the mean age of 12.2 years (including 15 females) were examined. Body composition was assessed by Tanita BC 545N device. Body height, hand length, hand width and arm span were also determined. Anthropometric data were compared to results of 50 m freestyle and 200 m individual medley. Results: Calculations made by Pearson's coefficient revealed significant liaisons between body height, arm span and hand length towards freestyle results. Relationships between anthropometric measurements and 200 m individual medley results were essential only in boys. The other variables showed week and insignificant correlations with sports results.Conclusions: Results of our study suggest that in early adolescence body height and upper limb dimensions affect swimming performance much more than body composition.