Reliability of Physical Fitness Assessment for Children Aged 4-6 Years

Abstract

PURPOSE: Physical fitness is a powerful health marker for the well-being of children and adolescence as well as a vital predictor of health later in life. In this regard, the assessment of physical fitness in young people is important from a clinical and public health point of view. The purpose of this study was to examine the test-retest reliability of a National Fitness Award Battery for preschool children.METHODS:A total of 141 preschoolers aged 4-6 years participated in this study. Anthropometry, muscle strength, endurance, flexibility, cardiorespiratory fitness, balance, speed, agility and coordination were assessed by measuring or testing their height and weight, handgrip, curl-up, sit and reach, 10 m shuttle run, one leg stand, standing long jump, 5 m×4 shuttle run, ball throw, ball kick and button-pushing respectively. Each test was performed twice with a two-week interval and test-retest reliability was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Bland-Altman plots were used to measure agreement.RESULTS:The results indicated that the test items were excellently reliable (height, weight, handgrip, curl-up, sit and reach, 10 m shuttle run, standing long jump, 5 m×4 shuttle run and button-pushing) except for one leg stand, ball throw and ball kick tests.CONCLUSIONS: National Fitness Award Battery for preschool children is a reliable tool to assess their physical fitness yet one leg stand, and ball throw, ball kick tests showed poor reliability. In order to find substitute items, further study will be required.