Health-Related Physical Fitness Measures: Reference Values and Reference Equations for Use in Clinical Practice

Abstract

ObjectiveTo provide reference values and reference equations for frequently used clinical field tests of health-related physical fitness for use in clinical practice. DesignCross-sectional design. SettingGeneral community. ParticipantsConvenience sample of volunteers (N=370) between 18 and 90 years of age were recruited from a wide range of settings (ie, work sites, schools, community centers for older adults) and different geographic locations (ie, urban, suburban, rural) in southeastern Norway. InterventionsNot applicable. Main Outcome MeasuresThe participants conducted 5 clinical field tests (6-minute walk test, stair test, 30-second sit-to-stand test, handgrip test, fingertip-to-floor test). ResultsThe results of the field tests showed that performance remained unchanged until approximately 50 years of age; after that, performance deteriorated with increasing age. Grip strength (79%), meters walked in 6 minutes (60%), and seconds used on the stair test (59%) could be well predicted by age, sex, height, and weight in participants ≥50 years of age, whereas the performance on all tests was less well predicted in participants <50 years of age. ConclusionsThe reference values and reference equations provided in this study may increase the applicability and interpretability of the 6-minute walk test, stair test, 30-second sit-to-stand test, handgrip test, and fingertip-to-floor test in clinical practice.