Impact of a Didactic Unit Based on WHO Recommendations on Physical Fitness in Secondary School Students
Abstract
This study evaluated the impact of a didactic unit implemented during Physical Education classes in seventh-grade students at a public educational institution in the department of Norte de Santander, Colombia. The pedagogical proposal, structured through a methodological guide covering 12 weeks, aimed to enhance the development of conditional physical abilities: explosive strength, speed, agility, flexibility, and endurance through well-planned sessions integrated into the school curriculum. The research followed a quantitative approach, using a quasi-experimental design with pretest and posttest measurements in both experimental and control groups. Several validated tests from the EUROFIT battery were applied: standing broad jump (explosive strength), Course Navette (endurance), deep flexion (flexibility), and 10x5 shuttle run (speed and agility). Data analysis was performed using SPSS v25, applying Shapiro-Wilk normality test, Student’s t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Wilcoxon test. The results showed statistically significant improvements in the experimental group in variables such as explosive strength (p=0.001), flexibility (p=0.005), endurance (p=0.012), and speed-agility (p=0.009), whereas the control group did not show significant changes. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the applied didactic unit as a methodological strategy to improve students’ physical performance within the school context. This research highlights the importance of planning Physical Education classes based on scientific and curricular criteria and reinforces physical activity as a key tool for the integral development of adolescents within the Colombian educational system.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Emmanuel Vanegas Acosta,Diego Fernando Polanco Bustos,Andrés Aubin Portilla Florez,Nicolas Miguel Mariño Santafé,Julio Manuel Maza Méndez
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