Final - Exercise and Youth

Question 1

what is childhood defined as?

Answer 1

• that period which ends with adulthood, inclusive of preadolescence and adolescence
• adolescence cut off: 18-21
• Physiologically: post puberty = adult physiology

Question 2

Spontaneous activity in pre-adolescents usually is:

Answer 2

1. short term
2. intermittent
3. can go on for hours

Question 3

pre-adolescents prefer activities with:

Answer 3

1. high recreational component

2. variety in intensity

Question 4

pre-adolescents rarely choose what type of activities?

Answer 4

• prolonged, repetitive endurance type activities

- long distance running, cycling

Question 5

Is maximal aerobic capacity impaired in youth?

Answer 5

VO2 is expressed as L/min less in children due to effect of body size
- if VO2 is expressed per kg BW, VO2max is similar to adults

Question 6

What is the oxygen cost of moment in children?

Answer 6

• greater in preadolescents and decreases with maturation
• greater reliance on stride frequency than stride length with running
• differences in body mechanics
• no difference with cycling

Question 7

what does improvement in movement economy contribute to?

Answer 7

• improvement in endurance performance during adolescence

Question 8

what does children’s lower exercise economy result in?

Answer 8

20-30% greater VO2 at any absolute submax workout (heat production is higher in children)

Question 9

Anaerobic capacity in youth

Answer 9

• lower in young children compared to older children and adults
• decreased ability for intense anaerobic activity (lasts 10-90 secs)

Question 10

why is anaerobic capacity decreased in youth?

Answer 10

• not due to lower concentrations of CP or ATP in muscle (no age related difference in rate of utilization)
• major difference: muscle glycogen stores utilization rate due to lower PFK activity
• reduced maximal glycolytic rate reflected as a much lower rate of lactate production in young children

Question 11

what is the transition from rest to steady state VO2 in children?

Answer 11

• Faster transition
• less dependence on anaerobic mechanisms
• less development of acidosis
• implies faster recovery from typical short-bout of intense activity

Question 12

Cardiopulmonary responses to exercise in children

Answer 12

• CO is lower at max and somewhat lower at given VO2
• max HR is higher
• SVmax is lower
• higher HR at any given % VO2max
• A-v o2 difference somewhat higher at submax but not max
• less efficient ventilatory response
• VE to VO2 ratio higher in preadolescents

Question 13

in order to increase VE, what do children depend on?

Answer 13

increasing frequency rather than tidal volume

results in greater oxygen cost of respiration

Question 14

Are children more vulnerable to heat injury at a relative workload?

Answer 14

• nope
  there are no differences in children and adults ability to maintain thermal balance or endurance
  Performance in the heat is not compromised in preadolescent children

Question 15

At given absolute exercise intensity, what is the difference between thermoregulatory responses in children compared to adults?

Answer 15

children have a greater metabolic heat load

major contributing factor is lower economy of movement

Question 16

Sweating in children

Answer 16

1. greater population of active sweat glands but each gland produces far less sweat
2. sweating threshold is higher in children
3. osmolality of sweat is lower (more hypotonic)

Question 17

what are some special considerations when testing or prescribing exercise for youth?

Answer 17

• physiologic and morphologic differences
• chronologic age vs developmental (maturational) age
• must adapt protocols and methodologies to body size, level of cognitive development, emotional maturity
• appropriately sized equipment

Question 18

do pre or post pubescent children have “adult” physiologic response to exercise?

Answer 18

post pubescent

Question 19

what types of exercise testing are typically used for children?

Answer 19

• treadmill: typically adjust grade leaving speed constant
• cycle ergometry: disadvantages include requiring greater attention span bc it is self directed and more likely to be limited by local leg fatigue

Question 20

OMNI RPE scales for kids

Answer 20

children may need several practice trials before being capable of reproducing a given exercise intensity using RPE

Question 21

Activity Recommendations for Children and Adolescents

Answer 21

• Daily
• moderate to vigorous (vigorous at least 3 days/week)
• greater than 60 mins accumulated activity/day
• enjoyable and developmental appropriate
• provided by active role models
• organized activities with emphasis on motor and sport skill acquisition
• no need to set HR ranges

Question 22

Strength and training in children:

Answer 22

younger children can increase:

• voluntary muscular strength
• endurance
• with minimal injury rates
• with a properly administered resistance training program

Question 23

Strength training recommendations for children

Answer 23

1. avoid maximal lifts and explosive lifts against high resistance (supervision and form!)
2. use moderate intensity; 60-80% 1 RM or 8-15 RM weight (to MODERATE fatigue with good form)
3. include muscle and bone strengthening at least 3 d/week