Abstract
A comparison of American with European school children as to physical fitness was made in 1953 by applying the six basic Kraus-Weber tests to 4,458 children in this country and about 3,000 children in Italy and Austria. These tests evaluate the strength of the psoas, the lower abdominal muscles, and the lower and upper back muscles, as well as flexibility of the back. The results showed the physical inferiority of American children in physical performance, and subsequent findings indicate that the fitness level of the general public has been falling steadily even while the performance of selected star athletes has improved. The tendency has been for the number of active participants in athletics to decrease while the number of people watching by television and applauding comfortably from armchairs has increased. The pediatrician can do much to remedy this, for he is the family's best friend. He should help the child realize early in life that a flexible, strong body is vitally important.
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