This study assessed the physical development, physical fitness (muscular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, agility, power, balance), and basal metabolic rate (BMR) in a total of 4410 children aged six (73–84 months) residing in Korea. Their physical fitness was visually classified according to the physical fitness factor and—considering that children showed great variations in the physical fitness criteria depending on their physique and body composition—the study aimed to assess characteristics such as physique and BMR, the precursor for fat-free mass, based on the physical health clusters selected through a multivariate approach. As a result, the physical health clusters could be subdivided into four clusters: balance (1), muscular strength (2), low agility (3), and low physical fitness (3) cluster. Cluster 1 showed a high ratio of slim and slightly slim children, while cluster 2 had a high proportion of children that were obese, tall, or heavy, and had the highest BMR. We consider such results as important primary data for constituting physical fitness management programs customized to each cluster. It seems that it is necessary to have a multidirectional approach toward physical fitness evaluation and analysis methodologies that involve various physical fitness factors of children.
[Purpose] This study was designed to test the effects of the Assistant Chair-Desk System
(ACDS), which can reduce the forward tilt of the neck and trunk and the level of fatigue
during long lasting study in the sitting position. [Subjects] Fourteen middle school
students and 14 college students of mixed gender participated in this study. [Methods]
Fatigue level, the trapezius muscle, and the forward tilt angle of the head and trunk as
well as distance factors were assessed before after using a normal chair-desk system
(NCDS) and the ACDS for 120 minutes. [Results] There was an interaction effect in the
angle and length of the neck from the sitting posture changes after 2 hours of studying
using the NCDS and ACDS. There were also significant differences in the fatigue levels,
hip joint angles and the lengths from the head according to the main effects of the
chair-systems. [Conclusion] The studying position while using the ACDS was determined to
prevent significant fatigue levels of the muscle and body, provide support to the head, by
limiting the forward movement of the neck, and prevent forward tilt of the neck and trunk,
by enabling the target point and gaze to be closer to the horizontal direction.
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