Explorative Study on Physical Fitness among Adolescent Bharatanatyam Dancers and Sedentary School Children

Physical inactivity is a global issue and a major risk factor for obesity and illness among adolescent group. This study aims to analyze the influence of Bharatanatyam dance on selected health related and motor related fitness parameters in adolescents, compared to those who are not participating in any type of physical training.25 female Bharatanatyam dancers and 25 female sedentary school children aged from 12 years to 18 years were recruited by convenient sampling. Flexibility (sit and reach test), upper body muscle endurance (push up test), lower body muscle endurance (sit to stand test), hand grip strength (hand held dynamometry) lower limb explosive strength (standing long jump test), balance (stork stand test) and agility (T-test) were measured to evaluate physical fitness parameters. The data was statistically analyzed using unpaired t test using SPSS software and it was found that Bharatanatyam dancers significantly improved their physical fitness parameters when compared with others. It is concluded that regular physical activity improves physical fitness parameters and their health.