A Comparative Study of Physical Fitness among Egyptian and German Children Aged Between 6 and 10 Years

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to compare the physical fitness of Egyptian (n = 403) and German (n = 1712) volunteer children aged between 6 and 10 years. The German motor test (DMT), height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) were measured. ANOVA showed that the results of the motor performance ability (MPA) were affected by the ethnicity with higher performance for German children (p < 0.05). German children’s superiority in strength is present from the age of 6 years (p < 0.001 for the Push-Ups and p < 0.05 for the Long Jumping), to the age of 10 years (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). However, their superiority in coordination ability was observed only in school aged children (p < 0.05 and p > 0.05, respect to 6 and 10 years old). With maturation from six to ten years, the achievement level for both populations show a positive improvement in the coordination and strength, and reduction in the flexibility (p < 0.001), with a higher rate of increase for the German children, except boys in the Push-Ups. Therefore, more strength-oriented physical activities before the age of 6 years and coordination-oriented activities between 6 and 8 years are recommended for Egyptian PE curriculum.