Physical Fitness of Chinese Primary School Students across the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak: A Retrospective Repeated Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Social distancing measures against COVID-19 imposed restrictions on students that may have affected their physical health and fitness. The objective of this study was to investigate the change in physical fitness of primary school students across the coronavirus outbreaks from 2019 to 2021. This was a retrospective repeated cross-sectional study. We obtained the annual physical and fitness assessment data measured every November for all students at the same primary school in Guangzhou, China. There was a total of 6371 observations in the dataset for three years. The physical fitness of the students was evaluated with an overall physical fitness score, body mass index (BMI), lung vital capacity, physical flexibility (via a sit-and-reach test) and sports task performances (sprint, shuttle run, rope-jumping, and sit-up). Generalised estimating equations were used to determine any significant changes from 2019 to 2021, adjusted for confounders. After the COVID-19 outbreak in 2021, there was a significant elevation in BMI of 0.64 kg/m2 in 2020 and 0.39 kg/m2 in 2021 (p < 0.001). The overall physical fitness score was significantly increased by 2.1 and 4.1 points, respectively, in 2020 and 2021 (p < 0.001). Lung vital capacity and rope-jumping performance were significantly improved in both 2020 and 2021 compared with 2019, and sit-up performance was marginally significantly improved in 2020 and significantly improved in 2021. However, students demonstrated poorer flexibility and sprint and shuttle run performance in 2021 compared with 2019. A health promotion programme during and after COVID-19, including online physical education classes, television broadcasts, and a rope-jumping campaign, could account for these positive outcomes, along with the ease of administering rope-jumping and sit-ups at home.

Changes in Physical Fitness among Elementary and Middle School Students in Korea before and after COVID-19

“…Level of flexibility was assessed using a sit-and-reach test. The curve was measured in cm by bending the upper body based on the baseline, which left a forward curve measured in a seated state [ 15 ]. Obesity status was determined based on body mass index, which was calculated using each participant’s height and weight [ 16 ].…”

“…Specifically, a study on physical fitness changes in the midst of the COVID-19 situation was conducted on students in Japan, China, and Austria. Most students reported that their physical fitness levels were decreasing [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. Moreover, various studies have examined educational, in addition to physical, aspects that have changed because of the COVID-19 situation.…”

Developing the theoretical model of Chinese physical education teachers’ health communication competence: based on grounded theory

“…The professional development path for health communication practice should encompass areas such as sports health knowledge, sports injury prevention, sports rehabilitation, physical training, and fun fitness training ( 12 ). Additionally, physical education teachers need to recognize that the audience for health communication extends beyond just students in school ( 53 ). Therefore, the professional development path for health communication practice also emphasizes the active understanding of different target groups and acknowledging their specific needs in health promotion.…”