Effect of Endurance Training on Cardiorespiratory Functions of 5-Year-Old Children

Fifty-seven 5-year-old kindergarten children were divided into three groups (5/week, 1/week, and control). They trained in running 750 to 1500 m for 14 months either five times per week or one time per week. The total number of actual training sessions was 98 and 27, respectively. The effect of training was examined with submaximal and maximal running tests performed before, during, and after the training period. Although submaximal and maximal oxygen uptake was not altered by training, significant improvement in the 5/week group over the control group was observed as the increase in maximal running speed and as the decrease in submaximal heart rate. For the 1/week group, however, no effect of training was observed. It was concluded that it would probably be impossible to increase the aerobic capacity of preschool children but that maximal running speed and submaximal heart rate response to exercise may be improved by the frequent endurance running.