Associations between physical fitness, physical activity behaviours, cardiovascular health and back health in 6 to 8 year old children of Basel-Stadt

Background
Insufficient physical activity and physical fitness are associated with cardiovascular diseases and back pain in adults. But cardiovascular risk factors and risk factors for back pain can be detected earlier in life.
Aims
Therefore, the aim of this dissertation study was to examine associations between physical fitness, physical activity behaviour, anthropometrics and retinal vessel diameters, as a risk factor of cardiovascular disease, and spinal flexibility or spinal posture, as risk factors for back pain, in a cohort of Swiss children aged 6 to 8 years. Further, the influence of parental education, household income and nationality on physical fitness, retinal vessel diameters and risk factors for back pain was analysed. Additionally, through the Sportcheck project the physical fitness skills of all first-graders of the canton Basel-Stadt could be classified in order to arrange performance-linked additional physical education lessons. The goal was to increase children’s physical activity, knowing that the motivation is higher when children are having a similar level in physical education classes.
Methods
Therefore, 1314 children conducted a 20 m shuttle run test, a 20 m sprint, a jumping sidewards and a balancing backwards test. Also height and weight were measured and the body mass index (BMI) calculated. The optional measurements of retinal vessel diameters, using a Static Retinal Vessel Analyzer, were completely conducted in 391 children. Measurements of spinal flexibility and spinal posture, using a hand-held computer-assisted electromechanical device, the MediMouse, were performed in 395 children. Additional proxy-reported questionnaires about physical activity behaviour, parental education, household income and nationality were completed by 340 children.
Results
It was found that cardiorespiratory fitness and indoor activity had a positive influence on retinal vessel health. Physically fit children had a more flexible spinal inclination and pelvic tilt than their peers. Boys with a high level of cardiorespiratory fitness had additionally more often a normal spinal posture. Parental education level, household income and migrant background were negatively related to the physical fitness levels and anthropometrics of the schoolchildren. Moreover, children from less educated parents and with a migrant background were spending more time in front of a screen than their peers. By the use of the physical fitness tests 351 (27%) children were recommended for the movement promotion class and 140 (11%) first-graders for the talent promotion program Talent Eye. The remaining 823 (62%) children were recommended for an additional physical sports lesson. Compared to the year before 43 more children registered for movement promotion classes (2012/2013: 11 children, 2013/2014: 54).
Conclusions
In conclusion physical fitness showed a beneficial association with cardiovascular and back health and is related to parental education level, household income and migrant background of first-graders. On the basis of the Sportcheck study the physical fitness level of first-graders of Basel-Stadt could be classified for additional physical education lessons. Besides, more children registered for movement promotion classes. Future follow-ups will analyse whether on the basis of the Sportcheck children will be more active in the long-term.