Abstract
Being physically fit in younger years prevents several diseases in the presence as well as in the life course. Therefore, monitoring physical fitness and motor competence through motor testing is essential for determining developmental status and identifying health-related risks. The main objectives of this systematic review were (1) to identify currently available health-related criterion-referenced standards and cut-off points for physical fitness and motor competence test items, (2) to frame the methodological background on setting health-related criterion-referenced standards and (3) to give implications for a health-related evaluation system for physical fitness and motor competence tests. The electronic data base search (PubMed, Web of Science and SURF) yielded 2062 records in total and identified six empirical studies reporting cut-off points of motor test items for children (7–10 years), as well as 30 methodological papers discussing determination approaches to health-related criterion-referenced standards. Data collection, selection and analyses followed the PRISMA guidelines. Health-related motor test standards need to be gender- and age-specific but should refer to an absolute cut-off point rather than to relative performance in the reference group. Due to the lack of data on health-related criterion referenced standards, receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) curves provide a tool for the determination of cut-off points and criterion referenced standards for physical fitness and motor competence tests. A standardized approach forms the fundamental base for a globally applicable evaluation of health-related fitness tests.
Highlights
Insufficient physical activity (PA) together with lack of physical fitness (PF) and motor competence (MC) seem to be the new epidemic of the 21st century
A single cut-off point for each Fitnessgram test item embodied the minimum performance level needed for health or minimal disease risk, independent of the performance in the reference population [30]
Receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) analysis, a method for setting cut-off points which is described in detail in Section 3.3, was used to define the optimal cut-off point distinguishing between healthy children and children with higher risk for metabolic syndrome disease [30]
Summary
Insufficient physical activity (PA) together with lack of physical fitness (PF) and motor competence (MC) seem to be the new epidemic of the 21st century. PF is represented by the overall performance in various strength, speed, and endurance tasks in a specified physical, social, and psychological environment [1]. Motor competence (MC) summarizes the degree of proficiency in a wide range of motor tasks, as well as the movement quality, coordination, and control leading to a particular motor performance [3,4]. PF as well as MC are key factors of PA, of well-being, and of physical, psychological, and social health in short and long-term development [5,6,7]. Stodden et al [7] identified MC and the mediators PF and perceived MC in their conceptual model as key factors enhancing or lowering the PA levels of children, which directly influences the risk of obesity and healthy development of children
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