Effects of folk dances of Trabzon Region training on some physical and physiological characteristics of children

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of 12-week-long folk dances of Trabzon region training on some physical and physiological characteristics of children. In the 2018-2019 academic year, 40 healthy high school students (Male=20, Female=20; avarage age =15,78±0,86), who receive education in the high school at Araklı District of Trabzon province and did not participate in the folk dances training before, voluntarily participated in the study. The participants were randomly divided into two groups, with an equal number as experiment and control group. The experiment group (Male=10, Female=10) took folk dances of Trabzon region training 3 days a week for 12 weeks and the control group (Male=10, Female=10) did not took any training. Prior to folk dances training, students' height, body weight, body mass index, static balance, dynamic balance, vertical jump, horizontal jump, sprint, agility, and anaerobic strength characteristics were measured (pretest) and the same measurements were repeated after 12 weeks of folk dances training (posttest). In the evaluation of the data obtained, descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon test and Mann Whitney U test were used. According to the results of statistical analysis; there are statistically significant differences in the balance, strength, speed, agility and anaerobic strength characteristics in experimental group pre-test final-test measurements of males; and in the body weight, body mass index, balance, strength, speed, agility, anaerobic strength characteristics of females (p<0,05). As a result, it was concluded that the 12-week-long folk dances of Trabzon region training can improve balance, strength, speed, agility and anaerobic strength characteristics in males and females, as well as the effect of reducing body weight in females.