Physical performance capacity of children in Norway. Part IV. The rate of growth in maximal aerobic power and the influence of improved physical education of children in a rural community - population parameters in a rural community.

During a period of 4 years the annual increase of the physical performance of 31 boys and 34 girls was examined in a longitudinal study. In spite of the expected mean increase of the physical performance unsystematic annual variations of the increase of the maximal oxygen uptake related to body weight were observed. These variations can only be explained by the variations of the daily physical activity. The fact that in the longitudinal study a clear better performance over the years was observed than in a cross sectional study which was performed in the first year of the longitudinal study confirms this tendency. This can partly be explained by the improvement of the possibilities for physical activities in the community since the begin of the longitudinal study.