ANAEROBIC POWER PERFORMANCE OF UPPER AND LOWER LIMBS OF SELECTED NIGERIAN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

 The purpose of this investigation was to determine the differences between Nigerian children and adolescents aged 10-16 years in the Anaerobic Power Performance of their upper and lower limbs. To achieve the purpose of this study, 420 subjects were randomly selected from primary and secondary schools in Zaria to serve as subjects. Out of these subjects were 120 male children, 117 female children, 90 male adolescents and 90 female adolescents. All the subjects were tested for their anaerobic power, anaerobic capacity and fatigue index using Wingate Anaerobic Power Test and Arm Cranking Test. Similarly, 10 male and 11 female subjects were randomly selected from these subjects for serum lactate dehydrogenase activity analysis. Out of these were 9 children and 12 adolescents. The data obtained from these subjects were statistically analyzed to test the hypotheses of the study.

The major findings of the study revealed 1) Significant higher values of male subjects over female subjects in all the anaerobic power performance components, and significantly higher anaerobic power performance of adolescents than the children both in upper and lower limbs capacities. 2) Significant difference between male and female adolescents in anaerobic power performance of lower limbs. 3) Insignificant differences between male and female children in anaerobic power performance. 4) Significant effect of the interaction of age and sex on anaerobic power performance exists. 5) Insignificant effect of either age or sex on lactate dehydrogenase activity before or after exercise. 6) Insignificant difference between different categories of subjects both in pre-test and post-test lactatehydrogenase activity. 7) Significant relationship between anaerobic power performance and body height and weight.