Determining Differences among Genders and Days of the Week in Adolescent Physical Activity Levels Using Pedometers in Northwestern Bohemia

Abstract

Introduction: Tracking motion activities through pedometer applications is one of the methods often mentioned for getting information about motion programs and for promoting a healthy lifestyle among adolescents. Similar problems are also addressed in the region of Northwestern Bohemia which is affected by certain structural characteristics. Aim of Study: This study strives to establish indicators of participation in physical activities among students in the second level of primary school (junior high school) and to evaluate them based on recommended criteria as well as from the point of view of the conclusions reached by other studies. Material and Methods: Physical activity was monitored concurrently and objectively by the Yamax SW-700 pedometer for seven consecutive days. Pedometers have proven themselves in a number of studies and are particularly suitable for assessing locomotive movement activities. Identification and recording sheets were used for the registration of the 358 boys and 330 girls from the second level of primary school (junior high school) in the Ústí nad Labem region who went through our survey. Pedometers were used during a period of favorable weather conditions and in the course of normal school attendance. Results: Groups of boys report different values throughout the second level of primary school (junior high school), where the average values of steps during weekdays is higher than 10,000 steps (Mmin=10,111; Mmax=10,961), which is the recommended number of steps, while the weekends record a decrease of values of steps to a number which is less than average (Mmin=8,547; Mmax=9,761). In regard to the results of the girls, the number of daily steps is lower than in the boys’ groups (Mmin=9,247; Mmax=10,598). Girls results show the lowest values of steps during the weekend. Conclusion: Boys achieve higher daily values than girls in all tracked pointers. The values of steps that are typical for weekdays are significantly higher than those typical for weekend days. The lowest levels are the median values characterizing the steps taken during the weekend days for boys and girls.