Specific heart rate values of 10-12-year-old physical education students during physical activity

Students who participate in well-planned and structured physical education (PE) lessons engage in significantly higher levels of physical activity than children who do not. Heart rate monitoring a useful tool to help both students and teachers understand the efficiency of the physical activity. The purpose of this study was to analyze primary school children's body compositions and heart rates when performing different types of physical activities (gymnastics, mixed activities, ball games, athletics, and games). The sample included 10-12-year-old primary school boys (N=46) and girls (N=63) from the university's cooperating school. To estimate their body compositions, standard anthropometric techniques were used. Polar RS400 heart rate monitors were used to monitor the heart rate of each child during the main parts of different types of physical education lessons. There were no differences between the genders for the body composition or for the maximal heart rate values in the different PE content areas. The lowest heart rate was recorded during gymnastics (148 beat*min-1), and the highest values were detected during the game activities and athletics (164.60 and 163.83 beat*min-1. For the mixed activities and ball games, the heart rates ranged between 154.06 and 156.52 beat*min-1. Physical activities that result in higher heart rate values required a greater contribution and adaptation of the cardiovascular system. However, activities that elicit a lower heart rate likely focus more on skill learning and acquisition. This data can be used as a resource for physical education teachers when planning and structuring PE classes.