Effects of Physiological Differences between Children and Adults on Exercise Assessments

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A child’s physiology and anatomy significantly differ from that of an adult. While both of their bodies are built on similar principles, the anatomical structure details and functioning differentiates an adult from a child in several ways and, as a result, affect exercise assessment and program design.
One of the differences is in large body surface area. Children have a significantly larger body surface area compared to adults, whereby the smaller the body, the greater the surface area. Hence, children are highly likely to lose excess heat and fluids and easily and quickly suffer from skin-absorbed toxins. Thinner skin is another difference, whereby children have thinner skin compared to adults, which puts them a risk of skin-absorbed toxins. Another difference is in rapidly dividing cells. Children’s cells divide quicker than grown-ups to aid in their rapid growth.
Children’s heart and respiratory rates differ from that of adults. According to Kosif and Kecialan (2020, pp. 355-357), the respiratory rate in children is higher than in adults. The higher velocity leads to high minute volumes, predisposing children to higher rates of pulmonary-absorbed agents compared to adults and, subsequently, a faster speed in developing symptoms.
Children and adults differ in the immature blood-brain barrier. According to the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, children present with immaturity, blood-brain barriers, and heightened central nervous system receptivity. These immature barriers cause them to present with increased neurological symptoms. Also, children have a higher metabolic rate and immature immune system compared to adults, making them more predisposed to infections and contaminants.
These physiological differences affect exercise assessment and program design in the following ways. These differences influence exercise assessment by ensuring age is factored in the evaluation. An individual’s age is crucial in conducting an exercise assessment, as it gives a fitness coach the idea of ...