Exercise in childhood

Specific Foundation

The course is also offered to exchange programme students.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: Knowledge Recognize the specific characteristics of child development. Understand the impact of exercise on the health of children and adolescents. Demonstrate knowledge of the adaptations to exercise in children. Skills Evaluate the benefits and risks of different types of exercise for children, taking into account age, maturity level and health characteristics. Suggest safe and appropriate exercise programs for children and adolescents, considering their unique needs. Collaborate to identify the most effective approaches for ensuring safe physical activity for children and present them using arguments supported by scientific literature. Competencies Critically analyze scientific literature related to exercise and children's health. Apply evidence-based guidelines to develop safe and effective exercise recommendations.

Course Aim and Description The aim of this course is to understand the impact of exercise on the development and health of children and adolescents. The course cultivates the ability to assess and implement exercise programs while taking into consideration the physiological, motor, and developmental characteristics of children. It examines the benefits of physical activity during childhood and adolescence, focusing on adaptations resulting from participation in various forms of physical activity. Topics covered include child development and maturation, improvement of motor skills, cardiorespiratory, neuromuscular, and skeletal adaptations, as well as fatigue, dynapenia, the female athlete triad, and exercise programs tailored for overweight and obese children. Course Objectives The course aims to: 1. Review the unique physiological and developmental characteristics of children and adolescents. 2. Explain the effects of exercise on various aspects of health and performance. 3. Provide knowledge enabling students to propose safe and effective forms of exercise tailored to children's and adolescents' age-specific needs. Week Content Learning Outcomes Week 1 Benefits of exercise in childhood To understand the multiple benefits of exercise in childhood. (Knowledge) Week 2 Child development and maturation To describe the basic principles of child development and maturation and take them into account when designing exercise programs. (Knowledge – Skill) Week 3 Development of motor skills To understand the mechanisms of motor skill development and develop skills to design activities that target specific motor skills in children of different ages. (Knowledge – Skill) Week 4 Cardiorespiratory adaptations to exercise To explain the physiological cardiorespiratory adaptations during development and exercise, and to suggest exercise forms that promote children's cardiorespiratory fitness. (Knowledge – Skill) Week 5 Fatigue in childhood To understand the causes of age-related differences in fatigue and propose strategies for its prevention. (Knowledge & Skill) Week 6 Dynapenia in childhood To define dynapenia in childhood, identify risk factors, and propose exercise interventions for its prevention and treatment. (Knowledge & Competence) Week 7 Effects of high-intensity exercise on health parameters in childhood To critically evaluate the impact of high-intensity exercise on various health parameters in children and identify potential benefits and risks, considering individual differences. (Competence – Knowledge) Week 8 Power development in children: Specificities and limitations To understand age-related limitations in power development and the specific considerations when designing exercise programs for children. (Knowledge) Week 9 Muscle architecture – Tendon adaptations to exercise To explain muscle and tendon architectural adaptations as a response to growth and exercise, and how these influence strength and athletic performance. (Knowledge) Week 10 Exercise and bone health in developmental ages To understand bone development during childhood and adolescence and to design exercise programs that promote bone health in children and adolescents. (Knowledge, Competence, Skill) Week 11 The “Female Athlete Triad” in adolescent girls To identify the symptoms of the “Female Athlete Triad” and propose appropriate prevention and treatment strategies in collaboration with other health professionals. (Knowledge, Competence) Week 12 Exercise for overweight and obese children and adolescents To modify exercise programs to meet the needs of overweight and obese children and adolescents, taking their specific characteristics into account. (Skill, Competence) Week 13 Final project presentations. Overall review of learning outcomes and assessment. Collaborate effectively to present and critically evaluate group assignments. (Skill & Competency)

child, adolescent, young athlete, maturation, dynapenia, overweight children, exercise, power, neuromuscular adaptations

25-06-2025