Psychological Testing, Physical Examination and Fitness Testing of Primary-School Students for Participation in Gymnastic Activities

Abstract

The authors highlight significance of fitness testing, psychological and physical examinations for primary-school students, who wish to participate in gymnastic activities. The main purpose of pre-participation examination is safety of potential gymnasts, team members, coaches and staff. The prime function of end-of- term evaluation is performance assessment and possible improvement from the last term. Taking the example of a girl, who is participating in gymnastics, this work illustrates use of Growth-and- Obesity Roadmap in determining suitability for inclusion in gymnastic team, focusing on nutritional status, estimated-adult height and build of student. Build is computed using scaled percentiles adapted for the Pakistani children, which are generated from CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, United States) percentiles by fitting a parabolic curve. Mathematical-statistical definitions of normal, early, delayed, excessively delayed and precarious puberty are proposed. Approximate Tanner scores have been assigned to prepubertal, peripubertal, pubertal, adolescent and adult stages.