Curl-up Test Research Articles

Validity And Reliability Of The EMB Health-related Physical Fitness Test Battery On Primary School Students

PURPOSE Due to the recent educational reform, the Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB) of Hong Kong adopted an EMB health-related fitness battery to evaluate the fitness level of students. Limited studies are found to report the validity and reliability of the EMB protocol. This study was designed to investigate the validity and reliability of the EMB health-related physical fitness test battery on primary school students. METHODS In reliability study, 230 students grades 1 to 6 (114 boys, age=9.09±1.98; 116 girls, age=9.02±2.03) participated in the field fitness tests including: 6-min (for age ≤ 8 yrs.) or 9-min (for age ≥ 9 yrs.) distance run, triceps and calf skinfolds, 1-min sit-up, handgrips, and sit-and-reach tests, at schools' playground twice with 2 weeks apart. Age and gender specific test-retest reliabilities (Pearson r) were computed for each fitness test. In validity study, another 100 students were recruited to participate in both field fitness tests and laboratory criterion tests with 2 weeks apart. Criterion tests included directly measured VO2 from a maximal treadmill jog test (for age ≥ 9 yrs.) or a 5-min step test (for age ≤ 8 yrs.); leg raise test for hamstring flexibility; isometric curl-up test for abdominal endurance; total body isometric strength test; and % fat measured from bio-electrical impedance analysis. Age and gender specific criterion-related validities were computed. RESULTS Test-retest reliabilities for all tests were very high (r=0.85 to r=0.99 for boys; r=0.74 to r=0.99 for girls). For criterion-related validity, results were: for 9-min run, moderately high in both boys (r=0.78) and girls (r=0.71); for 6-min run, very low in boys (r=0.06) and fair in girls (r=0.41); for 1-min sit-up, fair in boys (r=0.60) but low in girls (r=0.28); for sit-and-reach test, low in boys (left leg: r=0.24; right leg: r=0.31) but moderately high in girls (left leg: r=0.71; right leg: r=0.66); for handgrips, moderately high associations with arm strength (r=0.79) and back strength (r=0.71) in boys, but low with leg strength (r=0.34), shoulder strength (r=0.04), and total strength (r=0.42), similar results were found in girls. CONCLUSIONS The EMB healthrelated fitness battery displayed very good reliability, and acceptable validity in most items. Validity of distance run test in lower grade students (age ≤ 8 yrs.) was difficult to establish, probably due to weak motivation in such a young age. Further studies are needed to develop more valid tests of aerobic fitness, muscular endurance and flexibility tests for young children. (Supported by the Education and Manpower Bureau research funding.)

Comparison Of Perceived And Measured Fitness In Adults

Increased disease risk is associated with low cardiovascular fitness levels and obesity, and low muscular fitness and flexibility can reduce mobility and limit daily activities. Adults are rarely fitness tested to assess these risks unless it is part of military training or heart disease diagnosis. Literature on perception of fitness has assessed many ways of predicting fitness, but the results do not agree on the accuracy of fitness perception. PURPOSE This study evaluated perception of fitness with a complete fitness model, including body composition. METHODS This study asked subjects to predict their fitness measurements in four components of fitness and overall fitness using a five part semantic scale. Participant fitness was then evaluated with a Cooper 12-minute run test, a seven-site skinfold test, a push-up test to exhaustion, a one-minute partial curl-up test, and a modified sit-and-reach test. RESULTS The results of the study found that subjects (N=58) overestimated cardiovascular fitness (p<.01) and flexibility (p<.01) while underestimating percent body fat (p<.05) and muscular fitness (p<.01). Furthermore, obese subjects had an inaccurate perception of body composition (p<.01), while nonobese subjects accurately predicted their body composition. Average overall fitness was perceived to be higher than any of the fitness component perceptions, suggesting it was not predicted based on the four fitness components. Also, a gender difference in the accuracy in perceived fitness was evident. Men (N=12) had more accurate perceptions than women (N=46) in this sample. CONCLUSIONS Fitness testing is recommended as a useful tool since perception of fitness is not a good measure of physical fitness. Emphasis in fitness testing should be placed on cardiovascular fitness and body composition because of the higher risks associated with low fitness, and the tendency for the high risk population to have an inaccurate fitness perception.

THE RELATION BETWEEN TRUNK STRENGTH MEASURES AND LUMBAR DISC DEFORMATION DURING STOOP TYPE LIFTING

Low-back pain and injury are responsible for a major portion of lost workdays and injury compensation claims. Strong well-conditioned trunk musculature has been forwarded as a counter measure towards reducing low-back injuries in the industrial setting. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine if strong well-conditioned trunk muscles relieve stresses encountered by the lumbar spine during stoop type lifting and thus reduce the risk of injury. METHODS Twelve male subjects (49.7+3.7 years) performed a session of stoop type lifting with a loaded milk crate (11.5 kg), at 4 repetitions per minute, for 15 minutes in accordance with the NIOSH lifting equation. Lateral fluoroscopic images of the lumbar spine were collected prior to and following the lifting session. Fluoroscopic images were collected with the subjects positioned at the initiation (flexed trunk), mid-range, and completion of the lift (erect standing). The initial series of images were collected under a no-load condition, while the second series were collected with the subjects holding the 11.5 kg milk crate. Images were imported into AutoCAD where lumbar disc deformation and joint angles were measured by calculating changes in position of adjacent vertebra (L3–4 and L4–5). A reduction of disc deformation was deemed indicative of reduced stress. Trunk extension and flexion strength were measured with a Kin Com isokinetic dynamometer. Trunk flexion endurance was measured via a 60 second curl-up test. Trunk strength and endurance were compared to disc deformation and joint angles to determine if any meaningful relationships existed. RESULTS A significant inverse relationship was detected (p < .05) between: abdominal strength and shear deformation (flexed trunk positions), abdominal endurance and shear deformation (erect trunk), and spinal erector strength and L4-L5 joint angle (erect trunk). CONCLUSIONS Strong well-conditioned trunk musculature is associated with reduced lumbar disc deformation and presumably less stress on the lumbar spine.

THE CURL-UP TEST SUGGESTED BY ACSM PRESENTS A LIMITED DISCRIMINATIVE POWER

In the curl-up test developed by Faulkner et al (1989) and suggested by ACSM, subjects (≥ 45 y) remain with arms at the side and knees at 90 and perform a valid curl-up only when fingertips reach 12 cm ahead. The main goal of this study was to verify the validity of such criteria in a sample of physically active subjects. For one month, we evaluated 92 men of 19 to 44 years of age (25 ± 7.5 y, mean ± sd) with weight and height of 72.9 ± 9.0 kg and 173.4 ± 6.6 cm, respectively. First, minimal (mRD) and maximum reach distance (MRD) were assessed when subjects curled-up lifting scapulas from the ground. According to MRD results, subjects were divided in two groups between those who were not able to achieve 12 cm (group 1, n = 36) and those who were able (group 2, n =56). Then, all subjects were evaluated in three curl-up procedures, each on a different day, with a week's interval, in a counter-balanced design. The procedures consisted of curling-up in an auto-selected rhythm, until volitional fatigue: just reaching the minimal distance necessary to lift scapulas from the ground (A); reaching the maximum distance without hip flexion (B); lifting scapulas from the ground with hands on ears (C). In order to guarantee a proper execution of the last procedure, the evaluator positioned his hand under the subjects' scapula inferior angle. Other variables assessed were time to fatigue for each procedure, trunk and hip flexibility, using the Flexitest (Araújo, 1986), BMI, umbilicus-level circumference, arm length, sitting height and height to sitting height ratio. Mann-Whitney test, used only for flexibility data analysis, and t test showed that group 1 differed from group 2 only in mRD (5.4 ± 1.3 versus 6.6 ± 1.4 cm, p = .002) and almost in sitting height (86.4 ± 4.9 versus 89.1 ± 5.1 cm, p = .052). The two groups also performed similar numbers of curl-ups in each procedure (A: 58 ± 36 versus 73 ± 45, p = .2; B:45 #61617; 28 versus 50 ± 23, p = .4; C:49 ± 28 versus 53 ± 24, p = .6). Thus, the differences in MRD seem to be more related to the range of motion necessary to lift scapula from the ground than to abdominal muscle endurance. To improve the discriminative power of curl-up tests the lifting of scapulas from the ground should be the criteria for curl-up movements instead of a fixed distance to be reached.

VALIDATION OF A ONE-MINUTE CRUNCH TEST

Abdominal muscular endurance tests are common in fitness assessments. The purpose of this study was to validate a one-minute abdominal crunch test by comparison to the Canadian Curl-up Test (CCT). The SEMO crunch test was designed to evaluate muscular endurance via a one-minute all-out effort. The CCT is a widely used test which insures that an equal amount of work is being performed with each repetition. The advantage of the SEMO crunch test is the time efficiency when testing large groups of people. 179 Ss (82 females, 97 males) volunteered to participate. Mean age (M = 21.6 yrs., F = 21.4 yrs.), height (M = 180.6 cm, F = 165.8 cm), weight (M = 79.7 kg, F = 61.1 kg), and hours of activity per week (M = 8.1, F = 6.8) were reported for the Ss. Ss were given specific instructions for each test prior to administration. The order of testing was counterbalanced and a five minute resting period between the two tests was required. The pearson product correlation coefficient for the CCT and the SEMO crunch test demonstrated a weak but significant relationship (r = 0.185, p < 0.01). The correlation coefficient for females was significant (r = 0.312, p < 0.01), however, the correlation coefficient for males (r = 0.052, p > 0.05) was not. The results indicate that the SEMO crunch test is valid, however, the practical significance of the test is questionable since a poor relationship exists between this test of abdominal endurance and the CCT. The CCT requires the following of a rhythm set by a metronome and also has a learning component which may have affected the outcome.

The Validity of Recent Curl-up Tests in Young Adults

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The Validity of Recent Curl-up Tests in Young Adults

The validity of 2 field tests of abdominal endurance was examined in a sample of 22 male and 22 female college students. Scores on the modified trunk-curl (7) and the 90-second bench trunk-curl (22) were correlated with isometric trunk flexor strength and endurance measured on a Cybex TEF machine. There were no significant correlations (-0.21 < r < 0.36) between the field tests and abdominal strength. Only the bench trunk-curl was significantly correlated (rmale = 0.50 and rfemale = 0.46, p < 0.05) with abdominal muscular endurance. The nonsignificant association with the modified curl-up was likely due to a ceiling effect created by the ease of the test. The weak correlations between field tests of abdominal endurance and isometric abdominal endurance (about 25% common variance) and a recent longitudinal study (17) suggest that the curl-ups scores and their hypothesized health-related fitness standards should be interpreted with caution.

A COMPARISON OF TRUNK STRENGTH BETWEEN THOSE WITH AND WITHOUT CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN

1393 The purpose of this study was to compare trunk strength and endurance between individuals with and without complaints of chronic low back pain. Twenty-six subjects, aged 18 to 45 years, participated in this initial study. Of these subjects, 10 suffered from chronic low-back pain(LBP) and 16 reported no history of low-back pain(NLBP). Isometric abdominal and lumbar erector spinae strength was evaluated using a Jamar dynamometer. Abdominal endurance was assessed using a one minute, partial curl-up test, while erector spinae endurance was assessed using a modified Sorenson test. Mean abdominal strength was 242.1±91.1N for the LBP group and 267.5±74.5 N for the NLBP group. Mean back extensor strength was 242.1±74.5 N and 376.3±138.2 N respectively for the LBP and NLBP groups. The LBP group completed an average of 45.2±18.4 reps and 52.2±21.9 reps for the abdominal and back endurance tests, respectively. The NLBP group completed and average of 51.7±8.7 reps for abdominal endurance and 59.3±13.6 reps for back endurance. Only the lumbar extensor strength was significantly different between the two groups (p<0.01), although there was a trend towards significance between the other variables. A covariate analysis using height and weight yielded no difference in results. The mean extensor/flexor strength ratio was 1.00 for the LBP group and 1.40 for the NLBP group, which was significantly different at the 0.05 level of probability. These findings support other research which has identified a difference between those with and without LBP for using other measures of trunk strength.

Development of a Cadence Curl-Up Test for College Students

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a cadence curl-up test in a college population as compared to the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) 1-min sit-up test (Association for Research and Professional Councils and Societies, 1985) and the Robertson 1-min curl-up test (Robertson & Magnusdottir, 1987). A cadence curl-up test, referred to as the GT curl-up test, was set at 25 repetitions per minute. A total of 205 college students completed three trials consisting of one AAHPERD sit-up trial and two GT curl-up trials. A subsample (h = 85) completed the Robertson curl-up test as a fourth trial. Trials were counterbalanced with 7 days rest between each test. To evaluate content validity, electromyography signals from selected muscle sites were measured on 6 participants for each of the three tests. Mean scores and standard deviations for the GT curl-up test, AAHPERD sit-up test, and Robertson curl-up test were M = 46.2, SD = 17.8; M = 46.4, SD = 10.2; and M = 69.7, SD = 14.1), respectively. Pearson product moment correlations among the three tests were low to moderate (r ≥ .50). The intraclass correlation reliability estimate for the GT curl-up test was 0.92. In 1-min speed tests, repeated rapid trunk flexion can adversely affect technique and has raised safety concerns (Jette, Sidney & Cicutti, 1984; Faulkner, Sprigings, McQuarrie, & Bell, 1989; Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research, 1994). The Robertson test also requires the use of a curl-up frame. In the GT cadence test these drawbacks are minimized due to a slower, more controlled movement with an objective endpoint that is not dependent on special equipment. Moreover, our EMG findings supported previous reports that curl-up exercise with feet unanchored minimizes rectus femoris involvement. Based on the results of this study, the GT curl-up test was found to be a reliable field test with logical validity supporting its relevance as an index of abdominal muscular endurance among college students.

Curl-Up Test: A New Abdominal Muscular Endurance Test

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in Chinese; abstract in English only.Sit-up is a popular exercise for both athletes and health fitness participants. It is almost universally accepted as an effective training method of abdominal strength and endurance. The 1-minute timed sit-up (modified sit-up) test, modified from the straight-legged sit-up with hands locked behind the head, is widely used in the health fitness testing such as Physical Best of AAHPERD, National Children and Youth Fitness Study (NCYFS &amp; NCYFS II) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and Survey of Health Related Fitness &amp; Lifestyle of Working Population Aged 20-39 in Hong Kong conducted by Hong Kong Physical Fitness Association etc. Although the modified sit-up was assumed to be a safer test than the straight-legged sit-up, researchers are still not satisfied with it. Are there any problems with sit-up test? Is the curl-up test developed by Robertson and Magnusdottir (1987) safer and more valid and reliable than the modified sit-up test? All such queries are being discussed in this article.

Validity and Reliability of a Bench Trunk-Curl Test of Abdominal Endurance

A 2-min bench trunk-curl (BTC) was proposed for testing abdominal muscular endurance in college-age persons. Validity of the BTC was examined by correlating Cybex isokinetic (30° · sec−1) peak torque and endurance ratio measures of trunk flexion with the BTC in a sample of 20 subjects. Test-retest reliability of the BTC was examined with the intraclass correlation between two test administrations from 103 subjects. BTC scores were not correlated (R = 0.08) with isokinetic peak torque and were weakly correlated with isokinetic endurance ratio (R = 0.38, p = 0.07). The BTC test was highly reliable for the women (R = 0.94) and men studied (R = 0.88). The logical validity and practicality of the BTC were compared to previous curl-up tests.

Evaluation of Criteria Associated with Abdominal Fitness Testing

Abstract The continued use of the timed sit-up as a measure of abdominal fitness has been challenged. This study complements earlier work by evaluating a new modified curl-up test (CUT) against a standardized modified sit-up test (SUT). Results show that there is almost 60% unexplained variance between SUT and CUT scores for young, active adults. The lack of association between SUT and CUT is attributed to predetermined differences in dynamic abdominal and hip flexor muscle activity and active range of motion differences in trunk flexion between each test. In addition, angular displacement of the trunk is greater for women than men in CUT. Evidence from this study provides further support for the use of CUT as an alternative to SUT in abdominal fitness testing.