| Abstract: | For the purpose of investigating differences in terms of gender and methodology, a group of 80 healthy children engaged in leisure-time sport activities (male: n = 50; 10.9 +/- 1.1 years; female: n = 30; 11.5 +/- 1.1 years) was divided into 3 groups, which were then subjected to different ergometric procedures. In group I, boys and girls were compared in a bicycle ergometry in an upright seated position. In group II, a bicycle ergometry in upright seated position was compared with a bicycle ergometry in a supine position. In group III, a bicycle ergometry in upright seated position was compared with a treadmill exercise. Bicycle ergometry was started at 25 W; workload was increased in steps of 25 W every 3 min until the children felt exhausted. Results: No differences with respect to gender were found for maximum oxygen uptake, maximum heart rate and maximum lactate. The relevant parameters were also similar on submaximal levels of exercise intensity. All children reached a degree of thorough physical exhaustion at heart rates close to 200 X min-1. As in adults, maximum oxygen uptake decreased in the following order: treadmill exercise greater than bicycle ergometry in upright seated position greater than bicycle in supine position. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure on the various levels of exercise were lower than among adults.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) |
