[Latest] Children & Women In Sports | Chapter 2 Notes 2025

Last updated on May 2nd, 2025 at 09:37 am

Children & Women In Sports

Children and women in sports are very important for any country’s sports development. For getting higher performance in the field of sports. Children and women need to be strong enough both physically and mentally. They need proper motor development.

Motor development is the development of a child’s bones, muscles, and ability to move around and manipulate his environment. Various motor movements are essential for children for everyday life activities such as sitting, walking, running, climbing, catching, holding, jumping, throwing, etc.

It refers to the changes in movement behavior. It is a development of physical fitness, along with large muscles, small muscles, bones, and nervous system of the body. It provides perfection in action and graceful movement.

Motor development in children takes place in two parts.

Gross Motor Development: It involves the development of large or big muscles in the body. Big muscles help them to stand, sit, run, jump, etc.

Fine Motor Development: It is the development of small muscles in the body. Small muscles help them to do fine work like catching, throwing, picking, kicking, dancing, writing, etc.

Factors Affecting Motor Development

Exercise Guidelines of  WHO for different age groups.

Physical activity is crucial for everyone’s health and well-being, regardless of age. Engaging in regular exercise helps prevent diseases, strengthens our bodies, improves mental health, and promotes overall fitness.

The World Health Organization (WHO) provides scientifically backed guidelines to help people understand how much and what kind of physical activity they need. These guidelines are important, especially when considering the specific needs of children and women in sports, as covered in our syllabus.  

1. Infants (Under 1 Year)

• Focus: Active play and movement exploration.  
• Recommendation:
  • Should be physically active several times a day in various ways, especially through interactive floor-based play. More is better!  
  • For those not yet mobile, include at least 30 minutes of ‘tummy time’ spread throughout the day while awake.  
  • Should not be restrained (e.g., in prams/strollers, high chairs, or strapped to a caregiver’s back) for more than 1 hour at a time.  
• Sedentary Time: Screen time (TV, tablets, phones) is not recommended. When sedentary, engaging in reading or storytelling with a caregiver is encouraged.
• Sleep: Need 14–17 hours (0–3 months) or 12–16 hours (4–11 months) of good quality sleep, including naps.

2. Children (1-4 Years)

• Focus: Developing movement skills through active play.
• Recommendation:
  • Spend at least 180 minutes (3 hours) in a variety of physical activities at any intensity, spread throughout the day. More is better!  
  • For children aged 3-4 years, at least 60 minutes of this should be moderate- to vigorous-intensity activity (makes them breathe a bit harder).
• Sedentary Time:
  • Not be restrained for more than 1 hour at a time or sit for extended periods.
  • Screen time: No screen time recommended for 1-year-olds. For those aged 2–4 years, sedentary screen time should be no more than 1 hour; less is better. Reading/storytelling is encouraged when sedentary.  
• Sleep: Need 11–14 hours (1-2 years) or 10–13 hours (3-4 years) of good quality sleep, including naps, with regular sleep and wake-up times.  

3. Children and Adolescents (5-17 Years)

• Focus: Building strong bones and muscles, cardiovascular fitness, and healthy habits.
• Recommendation:
  • Aerobic Activity: Should do at least an average of 60 minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity across the week. (Examples: Brisk walking, running, cycling, swimming, team sports).
  • Vigorous Activity: Include vigorous-intensity aerobic activities at least 3 days per week. (Makes you breathe hard and fast).
  • Muscle & Bone Strengthening: Include activities that strengthen muscle and bone at least 3 days per week. (Examples: Climbing, jumping, push-ups, lifting weights appropriate for age).
• Sedentary Time: Should limit the amount of time spent being sedentary, particularly recreational screen time.

4. Adults (18–64 Years)

• Focus: Maintaining cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and overall fitness; preventing chronic diseases.
• Recommendation:
  • Aerobic Activity: Should do at least 150–300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity OR at least 75–150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week (or an equivalent combination). (Spread throughout the week).  
  • Muscle Strengthening: Should also do muscle-strengthening activities involving major muscle groups on 2 or more days a week. (Examples: Lifting weights, resistance bands, bodyweight exercises like squats and push-ups).
• Extra Benefits: For additional health benefits, adults can increase moderate-intensity activity beyond 300 minutes or vigorous-intensity activity beyond 150 minutes per week.  
• Sedentary Time: Limit sedentary time. Replacing sedentary time with physical activity of any intensity provides health benefits.  

5. Older Adults (65 Years and Above)

• Focus: Maintaining functional ability, preventing falls, managing chronic conditions, maintaining cognitive health.
• Recommendation:
  • Aerobic & Muscle Strengthening: Same recommendations as adults (150–300 mins moderate OR 75–150 mins vigorous aerobic; muscle-strengthening 2+ days/week).
  • Balance & Functional Training: As part of their weekly activity, older adults should do varied multicomponent physical activity that emphasizes functional balance and strength training at moderate or greater intensity, on 3 or more days a week. This helps prevent falls. (Examples: Tai Chi, dancing, standing on one leg, heel-to-toe walking).  
• Adaptation: Activity levels should be adjusted based on individual fitness and health conditions. Those with chronic conditions should be as active as their abilities allow.
• Sedentary Time: Limit sedentary time and replace it with activity.

Conclusion The WHO guidelines provide a clear framework for necessary physical activity across the lifespan. From promoting active play in early childhood to incorporating balance exercises in older age, the core message is consistent: move regularly, include different types of activities (aerobic, strength, balance), and limit sedentary time. Following these guidelines is vital for the health and development of children and the continued well-being of adults, including women, contributing significantly to a healthier life.

Common Postural Deformities

Spinal Curvature

This type of deformity is related to the vertebral column. This deformity develops by carrying excessive weight beyond capacity or weak muscles cause curvature of spinal curvature.

There are three types of spinal deformities

Kyphosis (Hunch Back)

This is a problem of the thoracic cage and clavicle spine. So there is an abnormal curvature in the spine at the front. It causes a hump at the back of the body.

• Description: An excessive outward curve of the upper back (thoracic spine), leading to a rounded or hunched appearance.
• Corrective Measures:
  • Dhanurasana (Bow Pose): Strengthens back muscles and stretches the chest.
  • Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose): Helps strengthen the upper back extensors.
  • Regular Swimming: Especially breaststroke, can help strengthen back muscles.  
  • Reverse Sit-ups (Hyperextensions): Lying face down, lift the chest off the floor to strengthen back muscles (use caution).

Causes

Round Shoulders

• Description: The shoulders are slumped or pulled forward, giving a rounded appearance to the upper back and causing the head to jut forward. Often linked to slouching.  
• Corrective Measures:
  • Shoulder Retraction: Regularly pull your shoulders back and down, squeezing the shoulder blades together. Hold for a few seconds.  
  • Chakrasana (Wheel Pose): This yoga pose provides a good stretch for the chest and shoulders. Perform carefully.  
  • Dhanurasana (Bow Pose): This helps strengthen the upper back muscles and opens the chest.  
  • Holding a Horizontal Bar: Simply hanging from a pull-up bar can help stretch the chest and align the shoulders.

Lordosis (Sway Back)

It is the inward curvature of the spine. In this deformity, Lumber-Spine bends in front beyond the normal level. The abdomen is ahead of the body.

• Description: An excessive inward curve of the lower back (lumbar spine), making the buttocks appear more prominent and causing a “swayback” appearance.
• Corrective Measures:
  • Sit-Ups/Crunches: Strengthening the abdominal muscles helps to counterbalance the pull on the lower back.  
  • Halasana (Plough Pose): This yoga pose stretches the spine and strengthens core muscles.  
  • Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend): Helps stretch the lower back muscles.
  • Pelvic Tilts: Lying on your back with knees bent, flatten your lower back against the floor by tightening your abdominal muscles and tilting your pelvis.  

Causes

Imbalance diet, improper environment, improper development of muscles, obesity, and diseases affecting vertebra 

Scoliosis

It is the problem of the spine, where the vertebral column bends sideward. Scoliosis causes one shoulder down and another to rise up.  Body weight is shifted towards sideward and it causes a lot of pressure on one side of the foot.

• Description: A sideways curvature of the spine, often appearing as an “S” or “C” shape when viewed from the back. Shoulders or hips might appear uneven.  
• Corrective Measures: (Note: Severe scoliosis may require medical intervention like bracing or surgery. Exercises aim to improve muscle balance.)
  • Trikonasana (Triangle Pose): Perform bending towards the side opposite the main curve convexity.
  • Hanging from a Bar: Can help decompress the spine. Sometimes advised to use alternate hands if there’s a C-curve.
  • Swimming: Using strokes like crawl or backstroke can promote symmetrical muscle development.
  • Specific Physiotherapy Exercises: Often prescribed by a professional to target muscle imbalances.

Causes

Differences in leg length, , lifting weights towards one side, wrong standing postures.

Three lower extremity deformities:

Knock Knee (Genu Valgum)

In this deformity knees knock or touch each other while standing, walking and running. The gap between the ankles goes on increasing. 

• Description: When standing straight with feet together, the knees touch each other while the ankles remain apart. There is a noticeable gap between the ankles.
• Corrective Measures:
  • Horse Riding: This activity naturally widens the knees. Regular horse riding (or using specialised gym equipment simulating it) can be beneficial.  
  • Padmasana (Lotus Pose): Sitting in this yoga pose helps stretch the relevant muscles and ligaments.  
  • Walking on Outer Edges: Try walking short distances primarily on the outer edges of your feet.

Keep Pillow Between Knees: When lying down or sleeping on your side, placing a pillow between the knees can help maintain alignment. 

Causes

Lack of balanced diet especially vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorous. It may happen due to Rickets, Weak legs, Obesity during childhood, overweight, etc.

Bow Legs (Genu Varum)

In this deformity legs bend outward. The space between the knees widens up. Bow legs caused a lot of pressure over the lateral edges of feet.

• Description: When standing with feet and ankles together, the knees remain wide apart, creating a gap between them. The legs curve outwards.
• Corrective Measures:
  • Walking on Inner Edges: Try walking short distances primarily on the inner edges of your feet.
  • Ardha Matsyendrasana (Half Spinal Twist): This yoga pose can help with leg alignment.
  • Garudasana (Eagle Pose): Helps improve balance and alignment.
  • Proper Nutrition: Ensuring adequate Vitamin D and Calcium is crucial, especially in growing children, to prevent Rickets which can cause bow legs.

Causes

Rickets, Early childhood walking with weight, Obesity, Faulty shoes

Flat Foot (Pes Planus)

It is an abnormal condition of the foot in which the arch of the foot collapses, with the entire sole touching (complete or near complete) the ground. The children with flatfoot feel pain in their feet when they walk or run.

• Description: The arch on the inside of the foot is flattened or has collapsed, causing the entire sole of the foot to touch the ground when standing. This can sometimes cause foot or leg pain.  
• Corrective Measures:
  • Walking on Heels and Toes: Alternating walking on your heels and then on your toes helps strengthen the arch muscles.  
  • Picking up Objects with Toes: Try picking up small objects like marbles or pebbles using only your toes to strengthen foot muscles.  
  • Standing on Toes (Tadasana variation): Regularly stand up on your toes and hold for a few seconds, then lower.
  • Skipping Rope: This activity strengthens the muscles of the feet and legs.  

Causes

Weak muscles, Poor quality shoes, Overweight, Obesity, Prolonged standing

Women’s Participation In Sports- Physical, Psychological, and Social Benefits

Women are equally important in society, and take part in social activities. Today, modern society started accepting women’s participation in sports competitions.

The trend of women’s participation in sports has improved in Indian society and thus the number of women participating in sports has increased. 

In urban areas, female participation in sports is higher than in rural areas. 

Today, Indian society has recognized many Indian sportswomen like Mary Kom, Saina Nehwal, Sania Mirza, PV Sindhu, Jwala Datta, etc

Physical, Psychological, and Social benefits of women’s participation in sports

The participation of women in sports has seen a significant rise globally and in India. This is a positive trend, as playing sports offers numerous advantages that contribute to a woman’s overall well-being and development. Encouraging girls and women to engage in physical activities and sports is crucial for their health, confidence, and social integration. As discussed in our chapter on Children and Women in Sports, these benefits can be broadly categorized into physical, psychological, and social aspects. 

Physical Benefits

Engaging in sports and regular physical activity leads to direct improvements in a woman’s physical health:  

Increased Energy Levels: Contrary to feeling tired, regular activity often boosts overall energy levels.  

Improved Cardiovascular Health: Sports strengthen the heart and lungs, improve blood circulation, and help maintain healthy blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart disease.  

Healthy Weight Management: Physical activity burns calories and builds muscle mass, making it easier to maintain a healthy body weight and reducing risks associated with obesity.  

Stronger Bones: Weight-bearing activities and resistance exercises in sports increase bone density. This is particularly important for women to reduce the risk of osteoporosis (weak and brittle bones) later in life.  

Increased Muscle Strength and Endurance: Sports build stronger muscles, improving overall physical capability and stamina for daily activities.

Enhanced Flexibility and Coordination: Many sports improve flexibility, balance, and coordination, reducing the risk of injuries in daily life.

Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases: Regular participation lowers the risk of developing conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancer (like breast cancer).

Psychological Benefits

The positive impact of sports extends to mental and emotional well-being:

• Stress Reduction and Improved Mood: Physical activity acts as a natural stress reliever. Exercise releases endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain that act as natural mood lifters, helping to combat anxiety and depression.  
• Increased Self-Esteem and Confidence: Achieving fitness goals, mastering new skills, competing, and being part of a team boosts self-worth and confidence. Overcoming challenges in sports builds resilience.  
• Positive Body Image: Focusing on what the body can do rather than just how it looks helps women develop a healthier and more positive body image.
• Improved Concentration and Focus: Regular physical activity can enhance cognitive functions like concentration, memory, and alertness.  
• Development of Resilience: Sports teach individuals how to handle both winning and losing, building mental toughness and the ability to bounce back from setbacks.  
• Sense of Empowerment: Taking control of one’s physical health and achieving athletic goals can be incredibly empowering for women.

Social Benefits

Sports participation offers significant advantages in social development and interaction:

• Teamwork and Cooperation: Team sports teach valuable lessons about working together towards a common goal, cooperation, and supporting teammates.  
• Development of Leadership Skills: Sports provide opportunities to take on leadership roles, such as team captain, fostering decision-making and responsibility.  
• Improved Communication Skills: Interacting with coaches, teammates, and sometimes opponents enhances verbal and non-verbal communication skills.  
• Building Social Networks: Sports create opportunities to make new friends, build strong social bonds, and develop a sense of belonging within a team or community.  
• Breaking Gender Stereotypes: Women participating and excelling in sports challenges traditional gender roles and stereotypes, promoting gender equality and inspiring other girls and women.  
• Discipline and Time Management: Balancing training schedules, competitions, and other responsibilities (like studies or work) develops discipline and effective time management skills.  
• Learning Sportsmanship: Participants learn the importance of fair play, respecting rules, opponents, and officials.  

Conclusion The involvement of women in sports offers holistic benefits, positively impacting their physical health, mental well-being, and social skills. It contributes not only to individual development, fostering strength, confidence, and resilience, but also plays a vital role in promoting gender equality and building healthier communities. Providing adequate opportunities, support, and encouragement for girls and women to participate in sports is essential for their empowerment and overall societal progress.

Causes of Less Participation Of Indian Women In Sports

• Gender inequality & social attitude
• No parental encouragement
• Traditional society
• Less motivation and inspiration
• Women constraining other women
• Lack of plans and initiatives for sports for women by the Government
• Male dominant culture
• Less availability of women coaches
• No independent games facilities for women
• More emphasis on study
• Less competition
• Economic Factors
• Social Customs and Rights
• Low Health Consciousness
• Less Media Coverage
• Fewer spectators interest
• Lack of Incentives & Career

Special consideration (Menarche and menstrual dysfunction)

Women undergo many physiological and psychological changes in their life which have to be accepted in a positive way.

Menarche (Onset of Menstruation)

What it is: Menarche simply means the first menstrual period a girl experiences. It marks the beginning of her reproductive years.  

Typical Age: It usually occurs between the ages of 9 and 16, but the exact timing varies greatly among individuals due to genetics, nutrition, body weight, and overall health. Intense physical training might slightly delay menarche in some athletes, but this isn’t always the case.  

Impact on Sports Participation:

Menarche itself is not a reason to stop participating in sports or physical activity.  

Some girls might experience mild discomfort, cramps, or fatigue initially, which could temporarily affect how they feel during training.  

There might be psychological adjustments or anxiety about managing periods during sports activities.  

Considerations and Support:

Education: Provide clear information about menstruation, emphasizing that it’s normal and healthy.  

Reassurance: Assure young athletes that menstruation doesn’t typically hinder long-term performance. Many top athletes compete successfully during their periods.

Support System: Coaches and parents should be understanding and supportive, allowing flexibility if the athlete feels unwell.

Hygiene Management: Educate athletes on proper hygiene practices (using pads, tampons, or menstrual cups) during training and competition.  

Menarche is the beginning of the menstrual cycle or first menstrual bleeding in females, which is considered the central event of female puberty.

After the onset of menarche female experiences many Physiological and anatomical changes like increased body mass, secretion of estrogen, gain in height, widening of pelvic region, etc.

It occurs between 12 to 14 years of age. It varies due to biological, genetical, environmental, and nutritional factors.

Women with delayed menarche may get more success in some sports like gymnastics. Those who have early menarche may have an advantage in sports like swimming and rowing.

Nutrition: Ensure adequate nutrition, especially iron intake, as blood is lost during menstruation.  

Menstrual Dysfunction

What it is: This refers to abnormalities or irregularities in the menstrual cycle. In athletes, this often relates to changes caused by intense training, diet, or stress.  

Common Types in Athletes:

Amenorrhea: The absence of periods.

Primary Amenorrhea: When a girl hasn’t had her first period by age 15/16.

Secondary Amenorrhea: When a woman who previously had regular periods stops menstruating for 3 months or more. This is more commonly seen in athletes due to training factors.  

Oligomenorrhea: Infrequent periods (cycles longer than 35 days) or irregular cycles.  

Dysmenorrhea: Painful periods (cramps). While common, severe pain affecting performance should be evaluated.  

Causes in Athletes:

Low Energy Availability: This is a primary cause. It means the athlete isn’t consuming enough calories to support their training demands and basic body functions, including reproduction. This can happen with or without an eating disorder.

Intense Exercise/Overtraining: Very high volumes or intensity of training without adequate recovery.

Low Body Fat: While not a direct cause, very low body fat is often associated with low energy availability and intense training.

Stress: Physical and psychological stress from training, competition, and life can affect hormones regulating the cycle.  

Female Athlete Triad

It is the syndrome of females which includes Osteoporosis, Amenorrhea, and Eating disorders. which is known as Triad. These traid can be serious with lifelong health consequences.

The symptoms of traid are fatigue, low body weight than required, frequent injuries, loss of fitness, low self-esteem, cessation of menstruation, etc.

Osteoporosis

It is the weakening of bone due to loss of bone mineral density. Low levels of estrogen and poor nutrition especially lower calcium intake lead to Osteoporosis.

Causes

• Insufficient calcium and vitamin D in the diet
• Hormone level decrease
• Menstrual dysfunction for more than six months
• Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia.

Amenorrhea

Amenorrhea is the absence of the menstruation cycle. It is often defined as missing one or more menstrual periods.
Amenorrhea also refers to the absence of menstruation in someone who has not had a period by age 15.

Causes

The main causes of primary amenorrhea relate to hormone levels, although anatomical problems also can cause amenorrhea.

Female Athlete Triad / RED-S:

• Menstrual dysfunction (especially amenorrhea) is a key component of what was known as the Female Athlete Triad (along with low energy availability and low bone density/osteoporosis).  
• The broader, more current term is RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport). This recognizes that low energy availability affects many body systems (metabolism, immunity, cardiovascular health, psychological health, bone health, menstruation) and impairs performance.  

• Health and Performance Implications:
  • Missed periods are not a sign of peak fitness; they often indicate the body is under too much stress or lacks sufficient energy.
  • It can lead to poor bone health (increased risk of stress fractures and osteoporosis later).
  • It can negatively impact performance, muscle function, and recovery.
  • Long-term health risks can include infertility and cardiovascular problems.
• Management and Considerations:
  • Seek Medical Advice: Athletes experiencing menstrual irregularities should consult a doctor to rule out other medical causes and get proper guidance.
  • Address Energy Intake: Often involves increasing calorie intake with the help of a sports nutritionist to match energy expenditure.
  • Modify Training: Sometimes, adjusting the training load (intensity or volume) under professional guidance is needed.
  • Monitor Bone Health: Especially if periods have been absent for a while.
  • Open Communication: Athletes should feel comfortable discussing menstrual health with coaches, parents, or healthcare providers.

Conclusion While menarche is a normal developmental milestone requiring sensitivity and support, menstrual dysfunction, particularly absent or infrequent periods in athletes, should be taken seriously. It’s often linked to low energy availability (RED-S) and can compromise both current performance and long-term health, especially bone health. Recognizing these issues, promoting open communication, ensuring adequate nutrition, and seeking professional help when needed are crucial considerations for supporting the well-being of women in sports.

Eating Disorder

Many girls or women try to lose weight in an unethical way in order to improve their performance or look good, which leads to serious health problems.

There are two types of eating disorders.

Anorexia Nervosa

It is an eating disorder that causes people to obsess about weight and what they eat. Anorexia is characterized by a distorted body structure, with an unwanted fear of being overweight.

People trying to maintain a below-normal weight through starvation or too much exercise.

Bulimia Nervosa

In this disorder, female athletes eat excessive amounts of food and vomit intentionally in order to not gain weight.

It is a serious eating disorder marked by bingeing. Bulimia is a potentially life-threatening eating disorder.
People take dangerous steps to avoid weight gain like vomiting (purging), excessive exercising, or fasting.

Children and women in sports chapter 5 CBSE, class 12 Physical Education notes. This cbse Physical Education class 12 notes has a brief explanation of every topic that NCERT  syllabus has.

You will also get ncert solutions, cbse class 12 Physical Education sample paper, cbse Physical Education class 12 previous year paper.

Frequently Asked Questions

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Lordosis is –

a. Inward curvature

b. Outward curvature

c. Sideward curvature

2. There are ——- types of motor development

a. 3

b. 4

c. 2

d. 5

3. Which is not a factor affecting Motor development

a. Biological factor

b. Social factor

c. Nutrition

d. Physical activities

4. Childhood stage starts from

a. 3 to 10 years

b. 2 to 9 years

c. 3 to 12 years

d. 3 to 11 years

5. Which one is not a deformity related to lower extremity

a. Scoliosis

b. Flat Foot

c. Bow leg

d. Knock knee

Short And Long Questions And Answers

1. Suggest physical exercises for childhood and adulthood.    (2020) 

Ans. Physical exercises for children and adults can be simple activities that are correlated to age, sex, weight and body structure. 

All children and adults can indulge in simple activities like brisk walking or running and play sports, both outdoors and indoors, like badminton, volleyball, and cricket, or go for a swim.

More athletic persons can undertake adventure sports such as mountain climbing and rafting, etc.

2. Give your outlook on the participation of Indian women in sports. (2020) 

Ans. Participation of women in sports in India may be a new phenomenon but is a very desirable development.

While in most countries and sports, males have been more active, the increasing participation of women in sports helps remove gender inequality. 

Over the last few decades, female Indian sportspersons have brought laurels to our country ranging from badminton, tennis, and cricket to athletics and shooting. 

We now have women champions such as Saina Nehwal and P.V. Sindhu in badminton, Heena Sindhu in shooting, and Geeta Phogat in wrestling. 

In cricket also, Indian women are doing very well and with increasing support from the government and the public, it will get even better. 

More scholarships, more funding, and better spectator participation will help encourage more participation of Indian women in sports.

3. Which type of deformity is “Kyphosis”?    (2019)

Ans. Kyphosis is a spinal disorder in which an excessive outward curve of the spine results in an abnormal rounding of the upper back. The condition is sometimes known as “roundback” or, in the case of a severe curve, as “hunchback” 

4. What is motor development?    (2019)

Ans. Motor development is the process of learning how to use muscles in the body to move. This is also defined as the development of movement.

5. Among females, what type of Menstrual Dysfunction is called Amenorrhoea?    (2019) 

Ans. Amenorrhoea is the absence of a menstrual period in a woman of reproductive age.

6. What do you mean by “Bulimia”?    (2019)

Ans. Bulimia is an eating disorder in which a person has regular episodes of eating a very large amount of food (bingeing) during which the person feels a loss of control over eating.

The person then uses different ways, such as vomiting or laxatives (purging), to prevent weight gain.

7. On the basis of physiological parameters, mention any two gender differences. (2019) 

Ans. The prominent physiological gender differences are that in females, there is the occurrence of menarche and menstruation.

8. What is Anorexia nervosa?          (2019)

Ans. Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder, characterized by low weight, food restriction, fear of gaining weight, and a strong desire to be thin.

9. What is a flat foot?    (2019)

Ans. A flat foot is a condition when the normal curvature of the feet is missing and the feet fall flat fully on the ground.

10. Define osteoporosis.    (2019)

Ans. Osteoporosis is a disease in which the density and quality of bone are reduced. As bones become more porous and fragile, the risk of fracture is greatly increased.

11. What are the causes of osteoporosis?    (2019) 

Ans. The causes of osteoporosis are:

• Dietary deficiency of calcium and vitamin D, besides other vitamins and minerals like magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin K, vitamin B and vitamin B12, leads to osteoporosis.

• Lack of exercise also leads to osteoporosis.

• When women reach menopause, their estrogen levels drop significantly which leads to osteoporosis

• Medical conditions that can lead to osteoporosis include intestinal problems like celiac disease and

• Certain medications may cause osteoporosis including steroids.

• The chemicals found in cigarettes make it more difficult for the body to use calcium. They also impact estrogen’s ability to protect the bones. Excessive alcohol consumption also negatively impacts the

12. Write briefly about the prevention and management of “Anorexia”. (2019) 

Ans. Anorexia is an eating disorder characterized by an abnormally low body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of weight. 

Sufferers of this condition focus on controlling their weight and shape mostly by taking extreme steps that tend to significantly interfere with their lives.

People with Anorexia usually severely restrict the amount of food they eat. They may also try to exercise excessively.

This often leads to emotional and behavioral issues involving an unrealistic perception of body weight and an extremely strong fear of gaining weight or becoming fat. Most sufferers appear extremely thin.

Physical symptoms of this eating disorder include extreme weight loss, lack of sleep, frequent fainting, thin hair and absence of menstruation. Constipation and abdominal pain are common. 

Emotional and behavioral symptoms include attempts to lose weight by severely restricting food intake through dieting, fasting or exercising excessively.

Other symptoms include preoccupation with food, frequently skipping meals or refusing to eat and eating only a few food items and denial of hunger or making excuses for not eating. 

Treatment includes psychological counseling, medication and sometimes hospitalization along with nutritional counseling.

13. Explain ‘Flat Foot’ and ‘Knock Knees’ and also suggest corrective measures for both postural deformities.                 (2019)

Ans. Flat Foot is when the normal curvature of the feet is missing and the feet fall flat fully on the ground. Weight distribution is altered and causes premature tiring of feet. 

Also there is strain on knees, hip and spine. Flat foot can be corrected by exercises like toe jumping and rope skipping. Standing on uneven balls and half balls is also recommended. 

Pushing the toes against the wall forcefully and then relaxing helps as does use of an arch support in footwear.  

Knock Knees are when the knees touch each other before the feet can close together in an erect posture. The knees strike each other while running and walking fast. Knock knees can hamper participative sports. 

Prevention of knock knees is easier than correction. Since this deformity is skeletal in origin, in most cases correction is difficult with increasing age. 

Horse riding is suggested as a good corrective exercise. Side raises and plank exercises are also helpful. Use of corrective calipers is also recommended especially at the pre-puberty stage. Yoga asanas such as Padmasana and Gomukhasana are recommended.

14. Write in detail the symptoms and causes of amenorrhoea. (2019) 

Ans. Amenorrhoea is the absence of menstruation—one or more missed menstrual periods. Besides stopped periods, one can have pelvic pain, headaches, vision changes and acne. 

Amenorrhoea can occur for a variety of reasons. It can be caused by natural reasons, such as pregnancy, breast-feeding and menopause.

Medications for various health issues can also cause this condition. Sometimes lifestyle factors contribute to amenorrhoea like low body weight, excessive exercise, stress and hormonal imbalance in diseases like thyroid, etc. Problems with the reproductive organs like structural abnormalities also lead to amenorrhoea.

15. How can physical activities be corrective measures for common postural deformities?    (2019) 

Ans. There are several deformities that give rise to abnormal curvature in the vertebral column or any other part of the body. 

These deformities include Kyphosis, Lordosis, Scoliosis, Round Shoulders, Knock Knees’ Bow Legs and Flat Feet. Many of these deformities are amenable to correction with the help of supervised physical exercises. 

To correct Kyphosis, the sufferer has to be conscious about the posture they have while sitting, standing, or walking. A few corrective yoga exercises are Halasana, Paschimottanasana or slowly stretching the body parts so that the hollow back problem can be removed. Abdominal muscle strengthening exercises also help. 

For improving flat foot toes it is recommended to walk on toes, pick up objects with toes, make alphabets in sand with toes, and stretch Flat Foot may also need shoes with arc.   

For knock knees, horse riding and sometimes use of calipers is done. Bruegger’s exercises and bench press help with rounded shoulders. For bow legs, yoga recommends Garudasana, Ardhamatsyendrasana and Ardha Chakrasana.                         (2017)

16. What is Lordosis? Explain.

Ans. Lordosis is the inward curvature of the lumbar and cervical regions of the human spine.

17. Define motor development.    (2017) 

Ans. Motor development refers to the development of a child’s bones, muscles and the ability to move around. Motor development can be divided into two sections: gross motor development and fine motor development.

18. What is menopause?    (2017) 

Ans. Menopause is the time when a woman’s menstrual periods stop permanently.

19. What is Osteoporosis? Explain factors that lead to Osteoporosis in women. (2017) 

Ans. Osteoporosis, which literally means porous bone, is a disease in which the density and quality of bone are reduced. 

The leading cause of osteoporosis is a lack of certain hormones, particularly estrogen, in women especially those older than 60 years of age. Lower estrogen levels increase the risk of osteoporosis in women.

20. What are the causes of ‘Flat Foot’ and ‘Knock Knees’? Suggest physical activities as corrective measures for these deformities.    (2017) 

Ans. A flat foot is a deformity when the arches on the inside of the feet are flattened. Knock knees are angular deformities at the knee in which while standing the knees touch but the ankles do not.

Flat feet need treatment only if they cause discomfort. The most common symptom of flat feet is pain in the feet. This also results in shoes wearing down unevenly or more quickly than usual, especially on one side, which can lead to further injuries. 

Exercises suggested to improve flat feet include walking barefoot on uneven ground or wet sand. If it becomes very troublesome, correction pads inside the footwear can be used.

Measures to prevent knock knees include taking care of the nutritional needs of the growing child and ensuring adequate calcium and vitamin D in the diet and exposure to sunlight. 

Once the knock knee is established, surgical correction may be warranted in later ages. Yoga recommends Padmasana and Gomukhasana regularly for knocking knees.

21. Exercises have numerous physiological and physical benefits for children. Explain in detail.    (2017) 

Ans. Besides enjoying the health benefits of regular exercise, fit children study and sleep better.

The Physical advantages active children have include stronger muscles and bones, leaner bodies, less risk of becoming overweight, a lower chance of getting type 2 diabetes and lower blood pressure. 

The Physiological advantages include improved energy levels, allowing them to be more active and enhanced emotional well-being during childhood as well as during adulthood. Exercise induces a sense of calmness and well-being.

22. State the common postural deformities.    (2017) 

Ans. There are three basic types of postural deformities. These are kyphosis, lordosis and scoliosis. Kyphosis is an exaggerated curve of the thoracic region whereas Lordosis is an increased curve of the lumbar spine. Scoliosis is an increased sideways curve of the spine.

22. How can women’s participation in sports and games be encouraged in India? Explain. (2017)

Ans. To encourage the participation of women in sports, we need to include a few specific measures. These include

Promoting role models and giving them enhanced recognition. Social Discrimination against women has to be removed to make sporting activities acceptable to them. 

Fitness levels have to be enhanced as well and adequate safety for women has to be provided. Trained coaches that empathize with women athletes are needed as well as encouraging spectator interest by providing media coverage of female events and sponsorship of championships. 

This will improve awareness in families and parents so that they encourage their female children to pursue sports.

24. What do you mean by correct posture? Explain the standing and sitting postures. What are the causes of bad posture? (2017) 

Ans. Posture is the position in which we hold our body while standing, sitting, or lying down. Good posture involves training the body to stand, walk, sit and lie so as to place the least strain on muscles and ligaments while moving or performing weight-bearing activities. 

The correct sitting position is to sit up with your back straight and your shoulders back. Your buttocks should touch the back of your chair. All three normal back curves should be present while sitting. 

You can use a small, rolled-up towel or a lumbar roll to help maintain the normal curves in your back.

Poor posture may be caused by many factors, including previous injuries, disease, poor muscle tone or emotional stress. 

A sedentary lifestyle can reduce muscle tone and strength and lead to bad posture. Sore, aching feet too have a negative effect on posture. In fact, one may encounter numerous factors in life that can get in the way of good posture. 

Bad posture could be due to an injury, a disease or because of genetics or a combination of these factors.

25. What are the motor development stages in children? (2017) 

Ans. Motor development means the physical growth and strengthening of a child’s bones, muscles and ability to move and touch their surroundings.

A child’s motor development falls into two categories: fine motor and gross motor development. It is further divided into three stages: the cognitive stage, the associative stage, and the autonomous stage.

26. Explain the term ‘Menarche’.    (2016) 

Ans. Menarche is the occurrence of the first menstrual period in the female adolescent.

27. What are the causes of bad postures? Write in brief. (2016) 

Ans. Poor posture may be caused due to many factors, including previous injuries, disease, poor muscle tone, or emotional stress. 

A sedentary lifestyle can reduce muscle tone and strength and lead to bad posture. Sore, aching feet too have a negative effect on posture. 

In fact, one may encounter numerous factors in life that can get in the way of good posture. Bad posture could be due to an injury, a disease, genetics, or a combination of these factors.

28. Discuss in detail about Female Athlete Triad.    (2016)  

Ans. Female athlete triad is a syndrome that consists of osteoporosis (weak bones), amenorrhoea (no menstrual periods) and eating disorders.

Symptoms and signs of this disorder include weight loss, no periods or irregular periods, fatigue and decreased ability to concentrate and stress fractures.

The treatment includes eating a nutrient-rich, well-balanced diet, exercising in moderate amounts, getting plenty of rest and finding ways to reduce stress.

The prevention includes educating athletes, coaches, trainers, and parents. Athletes should be educated about basic nutrition concepts, burnout and overtraining, rest and recovery, healthy weight management energy levels, and bone health.

29. How does participation in physical activities enhance self-esteem among children?          (2016)

Ans. Exercise can significantly increase our self-esteem. In the short term, exercise enhances the mood and puts the mind in a more positive state. 

In the long term, exercise makes us feel good about our physical abilities and physique, physical activity improves strength, flexibility and cardiovascular health. 

Regular exercise can help prevent obesity as well as other related diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Healthy students can feel positive about their body image and overall health, increasing self-esteem.

30. What are the advantages of maintaining a correct posture? (2016)

Ans. The advantages of maintaining a correct posture are:

• Keeps bones and joints in the correct alignment so that muscles are used properly.
• Helps decrease the abnormal wearing of joint surfaces.
• Decreases stress on ligaments holding the joints of the spine together. 
• Prevents the spine from becoming fixed in abnormal positions.
• Prevents fatigue because muscles are being used more efficiently, allowing the body to use less energy.
• Prevents backache and muscular pain.  
• It contributes to a good appearance.

31. Write about the deformities of spinal curvature.    (2016) 

Ans. There are three main types of spine curvature disorders. These are:

Lordosis — Also called swayback, the spine of a person with lordosis curves significantly inward at the lower back.

Kyphosis — Kyphosis is characterized by an abnormally rounded upper back (more than 50 degrees of curvature).

Scoliosis— A person with scoliosis has a sideways curve to the spine. The curve is often S-shaped or C-shaped.

32. Keeping in view the Indian ideology, critically analyze the sociological aspects of women athletes in sports participation. (2016)

Ans. Sports in India was a male bastion for a long time. Sports was, and still is, a field where gender inequality persists. From award money to media exposure, women’s sports has a long way to go. 

Considerable strides have been made in the last few decades and it is getting better with each passing day. 

Women were expected to look after domestic affairs and competitiveness was not encouraged. 

With changing times, things became better for women. The twentieth century saw rapid progress in women’s participation in sports which further improved in the 21st century.

Today, women participate in almost all sports at all levels of competition but they get little recognition and praise. Most of the time men get preference over women. 

Facilities for coaching, hostels and funded programs are not adequate enough for women. Men get more and better scholarships and sponsorships than women do. However, all this is changing to the advantage of female athletes.

33. What is “an abnormal curvature of the spine at front” termed as? (Al 2015) 

Ans. Abnormal curvature of spine at the front is called Kyphosis.

Case-based/Source-based Integrated Questions

1. Asked to encourage the new students in your school to enroll in regular physical education classes the PE teacher, you are to motivate them and encourage them by explaining to them the of sports.

(a) How would you say the students will benefit from sports?

Ans. Sports lead to overall development in children. They develop a better vision, maintain a healthy weight. tone up their muscles and develop self-confidence.

Sports also aid in developing motor besides being a great source of fun and enjoyment.

(b) What is implied by sportsman spirit?

Ans. Sportsman spirit is the ability to accept success with grace and conduct oneself with the same grace  one loses.

Understanding that wins and losses are part of sports and behaving equitably in the face both is the sportsman spirit that sports teaches.

(c) What is the role of sports in developing social skills?     

Ans. Learning to interact with new sports partners and other children from different strata of society is a great aid for children to understand the composite nature of sports and consequently life as well.

Making new friends and dealing with the different natures of other children is also an asset sports offer.

2. The visiting Child Specialist at the school clinic was educating the students about the various stages of childhood and how with every age the development was different. She remarked how with the growth in age there were specific landmarks that became obvious.

(a) What different ages did she divide the childhood into?

Ans. The paediatrician divided childhood into early childhood from 2-6 years of age, middle childhood from 7-10 years and late childhood as 11-12 years.

(b) How did she differentiate between skill development with age?

Ans. In the talk, the pediatrician explained the progression of skills from simple to complex. Thus, in the early ages, there is the development of gross motor skills such as sitting, walking and running. As the skills progress, fine skills are developed such as learning to draw, holding pencils and bats, etc.

(c) What according to her was the most remarkable feature of late childhood?

Ans. The most remarkable feature of late childhood is that males and females start to behave differently. More complex sports and games are learnt and played. The competitive spirit develops and weight and height increase noticeably.

3. One of your classmates has a very noticeable forward bend at his spine. This acts as a handicap for him in sports and movement. Curious to know why, you learn that there are many different types of deformities of the spine, one of which your classmate has.

(a) How many types of deformities of the spine are known?

Ans. There are three distinct types of deformities in the spine. These are Kyphosis, where the spine is bent on itself; Scoliosis, where there is a side-to-side increase of the spinal curvature; and Lordosis, where the spine protrudes forward so the hips are very prominent.

(b) Which deformity is your classmate most likely to have?

Ans. The classmate suffers from Kyphosis and his back is bent forward with chin pointing downwards. This causes him to have poor musculature and difficulty in breathing, causing him to fall sick quite often. 

(c) What could be the causes of this deformity?

Ans. The causes of Kyphosis include spine infection in early childhood, injury to the spine, malnutrition and  bone diseases such as rickets and osteomalacia.

Final Words

From the above article you must have learnt about ncert cbse class 12 Physical Education notes of chapter 4 children and women in sports. We hope that this crisp and latest Physical Education class 12 notes will definitely help you in your exam.