Læknablaðið - 01.06.2022, Síða 18

286 L ÆKNABL AÐIÐ 2022/108
R A N N S Ó K N
E N G L I S H S U M M A R Y
Linda Björk Valbjörnsdóttir1,2
Þórarinn Sveinsson1
Árni Árnason1,3
1Research Centre of Movement Science,
Department of Physiotherapy, School of Health
Sciences, University of Iceland, 2The Health Care
Institution of North Iceland in Sauðárkrókur, 3Gáski
Physiotherapy, Reykjavík.
Correspondence: Linda Björk Valbjörnsdóttir,
lindabjork@skybox.is
Key words: children, adolescents, physique, physical
development, secular changes, public health
Physique of children and adolescents in Northern Iceland then and now
INTRODUCTION: In the first half of the 20th century, Icelandic doctors and teachers began documenting
the health of school children, believing that physical measurements were important to monitoring physical
development. The measurements could also be used for comparison in other areas and for reasearch. At
the Reginonal Archives of Skagafjordur, rare data about the physique of children in Saudarkrokur in 1912–
1953, measured by Jon Th. Bjornsson, is preserved.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Height, weight, grip strenght, thorax expansion and tidal volume were measured
twice in 2018–2019 on 7–15-year-old children in elementary schools in Saudarkrokur and Varmahlid. These
measurements were compared with similar measurements from 1912–1953.
RESULTS: Children in 2018–2019 at ages 7–15 years were significantly taller, heavier, with greater thorax
expansion and tidal volume than their peers in 1912–1953 (p<0,001–0,037). Children in 2018–2019 at ages
7–14 years had significantly higher body mass index than their peers in 1912–1953 (p<0,001–0,027). If
adjusted for height and weight in thorax expansion and tidal volume measurements, similar results were
found. Children in 2018–2019 had significantly less grip strength than their peers in 1912–1953 at ages 7 and
9–12-years when adjusted for height and weight (p<0,001–0,025). There was significant development in the
physique of children over the years 1912–1953 in most measurements and age groups (p<0,001–0,040).
CONCLUSIONS: A significant increase in measured factors in 2018–2019 compared to 1912–1953 can
possibly be attributed to improved quality of life.
doi 10.17992/lbl.2022.06.694
Heimildir
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Greinin barst til blaðsins 10. desember 2021,
samþykkt til birtingar 22. apríl 2022.
Þakkir
Sérstakar þakkir fá Sólborg Una Pálsdóttir, héraðsskjalavörður á
Hérðasskjalasafni Skagfirðinga, Örn Ragnarsson, heimilislæknir
og framkvæmdastjóri lækninga á Heilbrigðisstofnun Norðurlands
á Sauðárkróki, Jón Ormar Ormsson, þátttakendur, foreldrar/for-
ráðamenn og starfsfólk Árskóla á Sauðárkróki og í Varmahlíðar-
skóla. Vísindasjóður Félags sjúkraþjálfara og Rannsóknasjóður
Háskóla Íslands styrktu rannsóknina og eru þeim færðar kærar
þakkir fyrir stuðninginn.