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| Kids between the ages of 10 to 13 were recruited to take part in pogo fitness sessions. (Nick Pearce Photo) |
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If you鈥檝e been hearing a springing sound coming from the Studley gymnasium over the past couple of months, don鈥檛 blame the AV俱乐部 Tigers. The elementary school kids who have been fitness training at the gym are more akin to Tigger 鈥� bouncy, trouncy, flouncy and pouncy.
For the past six weeks, almost a dozen kids have been taking part in an after-school pogo stick fitness regimen, a workout and sports routine with a little extra bounce. The sessions are being led by Nichelle Hubley, a fourth-year kinesiology student at AV俱乐部 who is studying the health benefits of the familiar childhood toy for her honours project.
鈥淲e鈥檙e testing cardiovascular fitness, leg power and balance 鈥� all things we think it鈥檚 reasonable to presume would improve through these sessions,鈥� she explains.聽 鈥淢y research interests are in kids and physical activity, but not necessarily in traditional organized sports. This is an opportunity for a very different kind of physical activity.鈥�
SEE VIDEO: Pogo a go go
The project came about when Jo Welch, assistant professor in the School of Health and Human Performance, made contact with Flybar, a California-based company that produces pogo sticks. The company was interested in researching the health benefits of pogo stick workouts, which have become increasingly popular in school gyms and youth fitness centres in the United States. Flybar donated 32 pogo sticks for Ms. Hubley to use in the study.
鈥淲ith obesity rising among youth and children, we need ways of exercise that seem like fun but burn a lot of calories in a short period of time,鈥� says Dr. Welch. 鈥淭here鈥檚 potential here for a surprisingly vigorous workout for kids.鈥�
Eleven聽students, ages 10-13, were recruited from local schools to take part in pogo fitness sessions twice a week. 鈥淎nything that the kids wanted to try, we worked to accommodate,鈥� explains Ms. Hubley. 鈥淲e鈥檝e played tag, variations of football, basketball, volleyball鈥ll with different kids of equipment.鈥�
The sport of choice? A pogo-centric edition of dodgeball, where players are only allowed off their pogo sticks for a brief moment to pick up dropped balls. The game was the main attraction at the final training session last Thursday, along with relay races and jumping competitions. This week, the students will visit Ms. Hubley to measure they鈥檙e progress. She鈥檚 expecting that they鈥檒l show a significant increase in their health.
The kids feel the same way. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great exercise,鈥� said Sofia Sandblom, one of the participating students. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really fun to bounce with your friends and play games.鈥�
It's their enthusiasm that excites Ms. Hubley about the potential for pogo-stick workouts. 鈥淭he kids really like it, which is the most important thing,鈥� she says. 鈥淚f they鈥檒l actually do it, then it鈥檚 the best activity for them. That鈥檚 what matters most.鈥�
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