Abstract:

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of 14 weeks of regular exercise and mini tennis activities on the respiratory volumes of 8-12 year-old male children. The study group comprised of 14 healthy young male subjects with the average age of 9,9±1,2 years; the average height of 138,7±8,1cm; the average weight of 34,4±10,3kg and the BMI of 17,9±3,5 kg/m2. Upon permission by parents, the medical committee and Kafkas University Sarıkamış School of Physical Education and Sports, each exercise was practised for 2 hours throughout 14 weeks Saturday and Sunday . The respiratory volumes were measured with Pony spirometers. Forced Expiratory Volume FEV1 , Forced Vital Capacity FVC , Maximal Voluntary Ventilation MVV and Vital Capacity VC of the subjects were tested. The measurements were conducted before and after 14 weeks of activities, in resting condition. Within the scope of the training programmes, there were 20 mins. of warm-up and gymnastics, 20 mins. of aerobic step with music to improve coordination and rhythmic skills, 20 mins. of educational games including various sports branches basketball, football, volleyball, handball , and finally 60 mins. of mini tennis activities. Each week, avoiding routine exercises, the activities were conducted in different forms. The analysis of the data was performed by using SPSS for Windows 11.0 with Wilcoxon test at the level of 0.01 and 0.05. Consequently, as a result of the 14 weeks of regular training and mini tennis activities and of the comparison between the parameters of FVC, FEV1, VC and MVV before and after the programme, it has been established that there is a 0,01 level of significant difference.

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