scholarly journals Is Self-Reported Physical Fitness Useful for Estimating Fitness Levels in Children and Adolescents? A Reliability and Validity Study

Medicina ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Augusto César Ferreira De Moraes ◽  
Regina Célia Vilanova-Campelo ◽  
Francisco Leonardo Torres-Leal ◽  
Heráclito Barbosa Carvalho

Background and objective: The assessment of physical fitness has become a necessary issue in epidemiological studies, since a reduction in fitness is directly associated with early mortality. Therefore, the development of simple, accurate, and inexpensive methods is necessary to measure physical fitness. This study aimed to determine the reliability and validity of the criteria and constructs of the International Fitness Scale (IFIS), Portuguese version, in Brazilian pediatric populations. Methods: A total of 190 children aged 3–10 years and 110 adolescents aged 11–17 years were enrolled in an observational study of reliability and validity. For reliability, the participants completed a questionnaire twice (with an interval of 15 days). To test the criterion validity, we analyzed the agreement between the questionnaire and physical tests (20-m shuttle run test, handgrip strength, standing long jump tests, 4 × 10-m shuttle run test, and back-saver sit and reach test), and the construct validity was estimated by agreement between the questionnaire and high blood pressure. The reliability was analyzed by kappa coefficients. The agreement between the testing and retesting of the questionnaire was evaluated by kappa coefficients. We applied a 2 × 2 table to estimate the specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy of the questionnaire. Results: The mean age of the children was 6.7 years (n = 190), and for the adolescents it was 14.6 years (n = 110). The questionnaire reliability showed an almost perfect score (κ ≥ 0.93 in children and κ ≥ 0.88 in adolescents). The questionnaire showed moderate criterion validity (κ ≥ 0.40 in children and adolescents) as well as moderate construct validity (κ ≥ 0.40) in the components of general conditioning, cardiorespiratory capacity, muscular strength, and speed/agility in children and in the components of cardiorespiratory capacity, muscle strength, and speed/agility in adolescents. The questionnaire was a sensitive method for measuring physical fitness. Conclusions: The Portuguese version of the IFIS is a reliable and valid method for measuring physical fitness in pediatric populations.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiyan Li ◽  
Tang Zhou ◽  
Menghao Sang ◽  
Yanhua Lu ◽  
Jiajia Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Inhibitory control develops rapidly during the preschool stage, and development of inhibitory control in this period is significant for the healthy growth of the future. However, most studies paid more attention to children and adolescents in recent years, but less focus on preschool children. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the association between the health-related physical fitness and inhibitory control in preschool children. Methods This study was a cross-sectional study, 128 preschool children in Yangpu District of Shanghai were recruited by convenient sampling. The health-related physical fitness T-score (HPFT) was obtained by adding standard scores of six indicators: body mass index, handgrip strength, standing long jump, one-leg balance, 2×10m shuttle run test, and 20m shuttle run test. Inhibitory control was assessed using the flanker task and reflected by reaction time and accuracy. Results A total of 120 preschoolers were included in the final statistical analysis. After adjusting the confounders, HPFT was associated with reaction time (β=-2.49ms, 95%CI: -4.22, -0.75). Similarly, a negative association was observed between one-leg balance and reaction time (β=-12.04ms, 95%CI: -18.94, -5.15), and between 20m shuttle run and reaction time (β=-23.28ms, 95%CI: -37.00, -9.56). Compared with the participants in the lowest tertile, HPFT (β=-158.74, 95%CI: -309.63, -7.84), one-leg balance(β=-267.25ms, 95%CI: -420.71, -113.79) and 20m shuttle run (β=-215.58ms, 95%CI: -374.67, -56.49) were all negatively associated with reaction time of those in the highest tertile. Conclusion In addition, there was a non-linear relationship between HPFT and reaction time (β=-3.46ms,95%CI: -5.39, -1.53) when HPFT > 249. In conclusion, in order to improve the inhibitory control, it’s suggested that HPFT of preschoolers should be at least 249.


Author(s):  
Boris Popović ◽  
Marko Gušić ◽  
Danilo Radanović ◽  
Slobodan Andrašić ◽  
Dejan M. Madić ◽  
...  

The early detection and continuous monitoring of children’s motor competence levels and physical fitness is very important. The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in motor coordination of children enrolled in soccer and multisport activities. The participants of this study included 147 boys and girls (mean age 7.60 ± 0.85 years). The total sample of subjects was composed of two subgroups: children who were enrolled in organized exercise programs—multisports (n = 77), and children who were engaged in soccer training (n = 70). Motor coordination was evaluated with the Kiphard–Schilling body coordination test (KTK). Physical fitness was assessed with a 20 m shuttle run test, 4 × 10 m shuttle run test, standing long jump, and handgrip strength. The ANCOVA showed significant differences (p < 0.05) with large effect size between groups for tests hopping for height (d = 0.93), total motor quotient (d = 1.31), jumping sideways (d = 1.32), and moving sideways (d = 1.59), after adjusting for age and gender. There were no significant differences between groups in the physical fitness tests. It can be concluded that children enrolled in multisport activities have higher levels of motor coordination than children who are enrolled only in soccer. Therefore, multiple sport training programs should be considered and encouraged by parents, educators, and other training professionals.


Author(s):  
Nikki Milne ◽  
Michael Simmonds ◽  
Wayne Hing

With accumulating evidence that exercise capacity decreases all-cause mortality independent of adiposity, benefits may be gained by developing cardiorespiratory fitness measures that are specifically and sensitively designed for use with pediatric populations when cardiorespiratory fitness may be a contributing factor for obesity. This study aimed to examine the criterion validity of the Modified Shuttle Test-Paeds (MSTP) as a measure of cardiorespiratory fitness in children, against the gold-standard reference; VO2peak, compared to the commonly used field-test; 20-m Multi-Stage-Shuttle-Run-Test (20-m MSRT). A cross-sectional pilot study, with 25 school-aged children (age: 6–16 year; male/female: 19/5; BMI: 21 ± 9 kg/m2) was employed. Physical measures included: Bruininks-Oseretsky-Test-of-Motor-Proficiency-2nd Edition (BOT2), VO2peak, 20-m MSRT, MSTP, body composition/anthropometry. The mean cardiorespiratory fitness of participants was: VO2peak: 43.8 ± 11.2 (mL/kg/min); 20-m MSRT: 5.48 ± 2.96 (level); MSTP: 22.10 ± 3.05 (no.). A strong predictive relationship was found between the 20-m MSRT and VO2peak (r2 = 0.486, p < 0.001) whereas a very strong predictive relationship existed between the newly designed MSTP and VO2peak (r2 = 0.749, p < 0.001). Whilst further research with larger study cohorts is needed, this pilot study found the MSTP to have a very high predictive validity for estimating VO2peak in children, suggesting it may be a valid child-specific indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness requiring only a simple equation that is clinically relevant.


2020 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofía María MARTÍNEZ-SÁNCHEZ ◽  
Tomás Eugenio MARTÍNEZ-GARCÍA ◽  
Diego MUNGUÍA-IZQUIERDO

ABSTRACT Objective This study aimed to determine whether physical fitness is related to nutritional status in a sample of female adolescents with anorexia nervosa, to contrast the nourished and undernourished patients, and to compare the physical fitness in these patients with normative data of healthy subjects stratified by age and gender. Methods Nutritional status was determined using the body mass index Z-score, fat mass, fat-free mass (bioelectrical impedance analysis), and the Controlling Nutritional Status score in 15 anorexic adolescents with 14.3±1.6 years. Physical fitness was assessed using the ALPHA-Fitness Battery (handgrip strength, standing broad jump, 4x10m shuttle run, and 20m shuttle run tests). Results Handgrip strength was significantly associated with all variables of nutritional status, except with the three blood components of the Controlling Nutritional Status score. The undernourished anorexic patients showed significantly worse physical fitness than the nourished anorexic patients in all tests, except in the standing broad jump and the 4x10m shuttle run tests. The physical fitness tests of the female anorexic adolescents showed scores significantly worse than those of the normative European female adolescent population. Conclusion The observation of female adolescents with anorexia nervosa showed associations between higher physical fitness levels and better nutritional statuses. Handgrip strength and 20m shuttle run tests may be options of additional indicators of undernutrition in anorexic female adolescents. The undernourished anorexic patients showed worse physical fitness than the nourished ones. According to normative data for healthy sex- and agematched adolescents, physical fitness is severely impaired in anorexic female adolescents.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. e974
Author(s):  
Marilena Panagiotou ◽  
Maria Charalampopoulou ◽  
Flora Bacopoulou ◽  
Ioanna Maria Velegraki ◽  
Ioulia Kokka ◽  
...  

Bullying among children and adolescents can have detrimental effects on their physical and mental health. The first step in the identification of bullying is the detection of relevant signs and behaviours, with the use of appropriate instruments. The widely used Peer Relation Questionnaire (PRQ)has been developed to measure bullying behaviour in children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to translate and validate this instrument in the Greek language in a school sample of children and adolescents. Α sample of 193 students (mean age ± SD 11.44 ± 1.26 years, girls 49.7%), was recruited from elementary and junior high schools of the public and private sector, in the capital of Athens, Greece. Along with the Peer Relation Questionnaire, the Stress in Children questionnaire and a structured inquiry regarding satisfaction from various aspects of life were used to assess the criterion validity of the Peer Relation Questionnaire. Results revealed good psychometric properties of the questionnaire in the Greek language. The principal component analysis resulted in two subscales that demonstrated an adequate internal consistency and a significant correlation with stress and satisfaction parameters, suggesting satisfying criterion validity. Meaningful associations between demographic characteristics and the subscales were also found. The Greek version of the Peer Relation Questionnaire-short form can be used as a valid tool to measure bullying behaviour in children and adolescents.


Medicina ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Smelt ◽  
Pouwels ◽  
Celik ◽  
Gupta ◽  
Smulders

: Background: Several studies showed that there is a relationship between vitamin and mineral status and muscle strength. In particular this is the case for handgrip strength (HS) and vitamin D deficiency. In bariatric surgery there is a risk of decrease in muscle strength after surgery and also vitamin and mineral deficiencies are not uncommon. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of low vitamin 25 (OH) cholecalciferol levels, high dose cholecalciferol supplementation regime and protein intake on physical fitness, measured using handgrip strength (HS) and the shuttle walk run test (SWRT). Methods: For this retrospective study, 100 patients who have had bariatric surgery were included. Group A (n = 50) used 800 IU oral cholecalciferol per day. Group B (n = 50) used 800 IU oral cholecalciferol daily and 50,000 IU liquid cholecalciferol monthly lifelong. Both groups were matched on common variables. To measure physical fitness, we used the HS manometer of Jamar and the Shuttle Walk Run Test (SWRT) to assess physical capacity. Results: No significant differences in HS and SWRT outcomes were found between patients with serum 25 (OH) cholecalciferol < 75 nmol/L or >75 nmol/L. The postoperative HS is significantly influenced by protein intake (p = 0.017) and no significant influence was seen in outcomes of the SWRT (p = 0.447). Conclusion: We have found that serum 25 (OH) cholecalciferol and different cholecalciferol supplementation regimes do not have a significant effect on HS and SWRT before, three and 6 months after surgery. It seems that protein intake plays a more important role in maintaining adequate muscle strength.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco José de Menezes Júnior ◽  
Íncare Correa de Jesus ◽  
Neiva Leite

ABSTRACT Objective: To systematically review the literature as for the level of evidence of predictive equations of VO2peak through the 20-meter shuttle run test (20m-SRT) in children and adolescents. Data sources: Searches were conducted independently by two researchers, according to the procedures adopted by PRISMA, in the electronic databases MEDLINE via PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, LILACS and SciELO, for articles published until September 2017 in English and Portuguese. The inclusion criteria were: original studies, abstract available, using predictive equations of VO2peak through 20m-SRT, conducted with adolescents and/or children, non-athletes, and mentioning correlation analysis between predicted and measured VO2peak. The level of evidence of equations was based on the risk of bias of the studies using the following criteria: sample number, sample characteristics, and statistical analysis. Data synthesis: Eighteen studies were selected, in which fifteen equations were found and analyzed. The studies had been conducted with samples composed of subjects of both sexes, aged 8 to 19 years. Equations of Léger and Matsuzaka had their level of evidence classified as high, and estimation ranged between r=0.54-0.90 and r=0.65-0.90. Equations by Ruiz, Barnett and Matsuzaka had their level of evidence classified as moderate, and estimation ranged between r=0.75-0.96, r=0.66-0.84 and r=0.66-0.89, respectively. Conclusions: Matsuzaka’s equation presented satisfactory parameters for estimates of VO2peak in children and adolescents. Although not explored in equations, body adiposity and pubertal stage are significantly associated with cardiorespiratory fitness in children and adolescents.


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