Effect of Outdoor Activities on Physical fitness of Adolescent Children
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60081/SSHA.3.1.2025.382-388Keywords:
Physical Fitness, school-based sports, endurance, speed, strength, flexibilityAbstract
Purpose: this study aimed to examine the impact of school-based sports activities on the physical fitness of adolescents over a 12-week period. Methods: total no. of 33 students (17 boys and 16 girls) participated in regular sports sessions integrated into their school outdoor activities. Physical fitness was assessed before and after the intervention using standardized tests to measure endurance, speed, shoulder strength, and flexibility. Results: significant improvements were observed across all measured fitness components. Statistical analysis confirmed meaningful progress (p < 0.05), and effect size calculations indicated substantial practical significance, especially in speed and flexibility. Conclusion: Regular participation in school sports activities positively influences the physical fitness of adolescents. These findings support the integration of structured physical activity into school programs to promote health and fitness among students.
References
Bailey, R., Hillman, C., Arent, S., & Petitpas, A. (2019). Physical activity: An underestimated investment in human capital? Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 22(12), 1233-1240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2019.05.013
Barbosa, J., Vieira, F., & Sousa, M. (2019). Effectsof Extracurricular Physical Activity on the Physical Fitness Levels of Youngsters in School Environments. Journal of Sports Sciences, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.17265/2332-7839/2019.02.002
Buchan, D. S., Ollis, S., Young, J. D., Cooper, S. M., Shield, J. P., & Baker, J. S. (2019). High-intensity interval running enhances measures of physical fitness but not metabolic measures in healthy adolescents. Journal of Sports Sciences, 37(3), 225-232. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1493577
Christiana, R. W., Davis, M., & Freeman, M. (2014). I’d Rather Dance Outside: A Phenomenological Examination of Youth Experiences in Outdoor, Noncompetitive Physical Activity. The Qualitative Report, 19(46), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2014.1132
Faigenbaum, A. D., Lloyd, R. S., MacDonald, J., & Myer, G. D. (2018). Citius, Altius, Fortius: Beneficial effects of resistance training for young athletes: Narrative review. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50(1), 3-7. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-094621
Feil Pinho, C. D., Bagatini, N. C., Chedid Lisboa, S. D., Mello, J. B., & Cunha, G. dos S. (2024). Effects of different supervised and structured physical exercise on the physical fitness trainability of children and adolescents: a meta-analysis and meta-regression. BMC Pediatrics, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-024-04929-2
Fromel, K., Kudláček, M., Groffik, D., Svozil, Z., Simunek, A., & Garbaciak, W. (2017). Promoting Healthy Lifestyle and Well-Being in Adolescents through Outdoor Physical Activity. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(5), 533. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJERPH14050533
Gray, C. E., Gibbons, R., Larouche, R., Sandseter, E. B. H., Bienenstock, A., Brussoni, M., Chabot, G., Herrington, S., Janssen, I., Pickett, W., Power, M., Stanger, N. R. G., Sampson, M., Tremblay, M. S., & Tremblay, M. S. (2015). What Is the Relationship between Outdoor Time and Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, and Physical Fitness in Children? A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12(6), 6455–6474. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJERPH120606455
Kparev, T., Umar, D., Ikpato, T. V., Agba, S. D., Duenya, J., Ihum, J. T., & Tyoakaa, A. A. (2022). Effect of recreational physical activities on health-related components of physical fitness of adolescents in secondary schools in Gboko local government area of Benue state, Nigeria. Journal of Educational Research in Developing Areas, 3(1), 49–64. https://doi.org/10.47434/jereda.3.1.2022.49
Kumar, D., Nara, K., & Dhull, S. (2023). The advantage and disadvantage of body composition on athletic success: A kabaddi player perspective. Methods, 1, 19. https://doi.org/10.22271/yogic.2023.v8.i2c.1448
Kumar, D., Kumar, S., Kumar, N., & Sagre, S. (2023). Effects of circuit training on selected physical fitness components of kabaddi players. Sports Science & Health Advances, 1(2), 143-148. https://doi.org/10.60081/ssha.1.2.2023.143-148
Kumar, S., & Ahlawat, R. P. (2025). The Impact of Physiological Parameters on Defense Aspirant’s Performance: Exploring Key Factors and Implications. International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR), 2, 133–120. https://www.ijssr.com/wp-content/uploads/journal/published_paper/volume-2/issue-1/IJSSR30264.pdf https://doi.org/10.70558/ijssr.2025.v2.i1.30264
Kumar, S., Ahlawat, R. P., & Kumar, D. (2023). Training Adaptations and Seasonal Health: Their Cumulative Effect on the Physical Fitness Profile of All India Inter-University Athletes. Sports Science & Health Advances, 1(2), 156–161. https://doi.org/10.60081/ssha.1.2.2023.156-161
Larouche, R., Garriguet, D., Gunnell, K. E., Goldfield, G. S., & Tremblay, M. S. (2016). Outdoor time, physical activity, sedentary time, and health indicators at ages 7 to 14: 2012/2013 Canadian Health Measures Survey. Health Reports, 27(9), 3–13. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27655167/ https://doi.org/10.17269/cjph.107.5700
Nugraha, H., Hernawan, H., Ali, M., Rahmat, A., Septianto, I., Aryati, A., & Suryadi, D. (2024). Outdoor activities and outdoor environments for fitness and mental health: a systematic review. Retos: Nuevas Tendencias En Educación Física, Deportes y Recreación, 59, 642–648. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v59.108730
Oreskovic, N. M., Perrin, J. M., Robinson, A. I., Locascio, J. J., Blossom, J., Chen, M. L., Winickoff, J. P., Field, A. E., Field, A. E., Green, C., & Goodman, E. (2015). Adolescents’ use of the built environment for physical activity. BMC Public Health, 15(1), 251. https://doi.org/10.1186/S12889-015-1596-6
Ortega, F. B., Ruiz, J. R., & Castillo, M. J. (2013). Physical activity, physical fitness, and overweight in children and adolescents: evidence from epidemiologic studies. Endocrinología y Nutrición : Órgano de La Sociedad Española de Endocrinología y Nutrición, 60(8), 458–469. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENDOEN.2013.10.007
Pagels, P. (2017). Impact of school outdoor environment upon pupils’ physical activity and sun exposure across ages and seasons. https://openarchive.ki.se/xmlui/handle/10616/46040
Preeti, Kumar, S., Ahalawat, R. P., & Chaudhary, S. (2025). Effect of six-week physical training on telic and paratelic judo players: A comparative analysis of speed, agility, and explosive power. International Journal of Physical Education Sports and Health, 12(3), 107–111. https://doi.org/10.22271/kheljournal.2025.v12.i3b.3784
Sampasa-Kanyinga, H., Colman, I., Hamilton, H., & Chaput, J.-P. (2020). Outdoor physical activity, compliance with the physical activity, screen time, and sleep duration recommendations, and excess weight among adolescents. Obesity Science & Practice, 6(2), 196–206. https://doi.org/10.1002/OSP4.389
Singh, A., Uijtdewilligen, L., Twisk, J. W. R., van Mechelen, W., & Chinapaw, M. J. M. (2021). Physical activity and performance at school: A systematic review of the literature including a methodological quality assessment. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 166(1), 49-55. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpediatrics.2021.990
Sun, J., Kong, J., Tian, X., Wang, L., Wang, Q., & Xu, J. (2024). Regular meta-analysis of the impact of sports activities intervention on some items of the national student physical health standards for adolescents. Frontiers in Physiology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2024.1419441
Wu, C., Xu, Y., Chen, Z., Cao, Y., Yu, K., Huang, C., & Huang, C. (2021). The Effect of Intensity, Frequency, Duration and Volume of Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents on Skeletal Muscle Fitness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(18), 9640. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJERPH18189640

Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Sandeep Kumar, Jai Prakash, Ravinder Pal Ahalawat, Jaiprakash Bhukar

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.