EXCEL International Journal of Multidisciplinary Management Studies
Year : 2013, Volume : 3, Issue : 8
First page : ( 1) Last page : ( 12)
Online ISSN : 2249-8834.

Low-back flexibility and abdominal muscular strength and endurance status of pupils in central Uganda

Nsibambi Constance Adron Nakayiza

Lecturer, Department of Sportscience, Kyambogo University Kyambogo, Kampala, Uganda

Online published on 16 April, 2014.

Abstract

Data about the fitness status of children on Uganda is scanty yet this is important in predicting the health status. This study examined low-back flexibility and abdominal muscular strength/endurance of 1929 pupils in central Uganda using a sit-and-reach test and a one-minute sit-up test respectively. AAHPERD (1980) percentiles were used to determine the status of the pupils. The results showed that 79% of the pupils had poor low-back flexibility. Although there were no significant differences in the flexibility of pupils in day and boarding schools, the girls were significantly more flexible than boys. The findings also indicated that 84% of pupils had weak abdominal muscles with pupils in day schools having significantly weaker abdominal muscles than those in boarding schools. And the boys had significantly stronger abdominal muscles than girls. Therefore there is need to engage pupils in adequate physical activities to develop and maintain such fitness.

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Keywords

AAPHERD (1980), abdominal muscle strength/endurance, low-back flexibility, pupils.

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