Skill-related Physical Fitness Research Articles

Health and skill-related physical fitness tests: An assessment in determining the students’ physical fitness level

The primary objective of this study is to comprehensively evaluate and implement health and skill-related physical fitness tests as pre-assessment tools to assess students' physical fitness levels in educational settings. This study employed a descriptive evaluation technique to identify research problems. There are eight faculties in the Visayas State University, the sampling was open to all students who wanted to participate in the study and 273 respondents were obtained. To establish a standard, people with disabilities, immunocompromised and with a history of cardiovascular diseases were exempted from participating in physical fitness tests, as they have a different way of catching up with their health status. The study findings contribute to understanding the relationships between body composition and various facets of physical fitness. The insights gained from physical fitness testing serve as crucial reference points for designing effective and personalized physical activity programs. The negative correlation between BMI, muscular endurance and balance implies that people with higher BMI may benefit from specific exercises to improve these areas. In contrast, the positive correlation with agility suggests that agility-focused activities help those with higher BMI. The findings underscore the need for specific interventions essential to improve overall fitness and well-being, emphasizing the importance of addressing specific strengths and weaknesses through nuanced fitness programs tailored to individual profiles. Keywords: health, ability, physical condition, evaluation, fitness level.

Health and skill-related physical fitness of physiotherapy students

Physiotherapy is a physically demanding profession. Health and skill-related physical fitness should be emphasized in physiotherapy students for both the personal benefit on their own health and injury prevention and for the sustainability of their ability to meet job demands. This study aims to assess levels of health and skill-related physical fitness in undergraduate physiotherapy students in Jordan. A cross sectional study of 109 physiotherapy students; 23 males aged 19.57 (1.44) years and 86 females aged 20.02 (2.61) years. The following health and skill-related physical fitness components were assessed: body mass index (BMI), modified sit and reach, partial curl-up, push-ups, vertical jump, 20-m shuttle run, handgrip strength, 4x10 shuttle run, and star excursion balance tests. Most of the students had normal BMI (65.1%) but levels of physical fitness were mainly poor and below average except for hamstring flexibility which was excellent. Lack of normative data on agility and dynamic balance in healthy adults who are not athletes limited determining their level in our students. The results mainly demonstrated poor levels of health-related physical fitness of Jordanian physiotherapy students, which could have a significant effect on their performance and increase their risk of injury. Dynamic balance and agility results are presented for the first time in healthy adults (not athletes) which could be used in future research. It is suggested to encourage commitment towards lifestyle modification and health behaviour and increase awareness of the physical demands of the profession.

Effects of plyometric training on skill-related physical fitness in badminton players: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Skill-related physical fitness significantly correlates with sports performance. Plyometric training (PT) is an effective method for improving physical fitness in athletes. However, its impact on skill-related physical fitness in badminton players remains uncertain. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of PT on skill-related physical fitness in badminton players. Five electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, SCOPUS, MEDLINE, and SPORTSDiscus) were searched until February 2024. A PICOS approach was used to identify inclusion criteria, (1) healthy badminton players, (2) a PT program, (3) an active control group, (4) a measure of skill-related physical fitness before and after PT, and (5) randomized controlled studies. The PEDro scale was used to assess the methodological quality of PT studies, while the level of evidence certainty was determined through the GRADE framework. The calculation of effect sizes (ESs) was based on mean values and standard deviations, and heterogeneity was measured with the I2 statistic. The extended Egger's test was employed to check for publication bias. Eleven studies comprising 445 badminton players were eligible for inclusion. The analysis revealed significant small-to-moderate effects of PT on power (ES = 0.60, p < 0.001), agility (ES = 0.96, p < 0.001), speed (ES = 0.63, p = 0.001), and balance (ES = 0.89; p = 0.013). However, no significant effect was observed for reaction time (ES = 0.56; p = 0.189). The certainty of evidence for outcomes was graded as either low or very low. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that PT improved power, agility, speed, and balance, but not reaction time in badminton players. However, the small number of studies and the very low to low certainty evidence mean that these results need to be interpreted with caution.

The effects of mindfulness enhanced Tai Chi Chuan training on mental and physical health among beginners: a randomized controlled trial.

Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is a traditional Chinese mind-body exercise widely adopted in Chinese communities and colleges. However, the mindful essence of TCC is rarely emphasized during popularization. This makes it difficult for beginners to benefit from it. The present study aimed to examine the effects of a Mindfulness-enhanced Tai Chi Chuan (MTCC) intervention, which enhances mindfulness components embedded within TCC, on mental and physical health among beginners. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 119 healthy college students new to Tai Chi Chuan training. Participants were assigned to either the MTCC group or the TCC group. Both interventions consisted of 10 weekly 90-min training sessions, with the MTCC group emphasizing and enhancing mindfulness components. Outcome measures included mindfulness, depression, anxiety, stress, and physical fitness, assessed at baseline and post-intervention. The results showed that the MTCC group had significantly greater improvements than the TCC group in mindfulness, anxiety, stress, and health-and skill-related physical fitness. There were no significant differences between the two groups in depression. The findings suggest that compared to TCC, MTCC can effectively promote individuals' physical fitness and provide additional benefits to mental well-being. MTCC can be recommended as an accessible and beneficial intervention for beginners to improve mental health and strengthen their bodies. https://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier ChiCTR2200058175.

Exploring the Relationship between Functional Movement, Skill-related Physical Fitness, Skill Performance, Competitive Anxiety, and Sport-confidence in College Footballers

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship among functional movement, skillrelated physical fitness, skill performance, competitive anxiety, and sport-confidence in college footballers.METHODS In this study, 76 college footballers were selected as research participants to investigate their body composition factors and general characteristics, and their functional movement, quickness, speed, agility, dribbling, competitive anxiety, and sport-confidence were measured. For analysis of study results, descriptive statistics, and Pearson’s product-moment coefficients of correlation were used. And then, multiple and simple linear regression were conducted to verify the influence of psychological, functional movement, skill-related physical fitness, and skill performance factors.RESULTS As a results of the analysis, correlation between functional movement factors, cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and state sport-confidence were significant considerably. In addition, deep squat, rotary stability, and shoulder mobility among the FMS sub-factors were found to have a significant effect on cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, state sport-confidence, and trait sport-confidence. Also, dribbling factor was found to have a significant effect on cognitive anxiety.CONCLUSIONS Functional movement and dribbling factors are related to competitive anxiety and sportconfidence of college footballers. follow-up studies are needed to verify the mechanism of the relationship between physical, skill-related physical fitness, skills, and psychological factors.

Secular trends in skill-related physical fitness among Slovenian children and adolescents from 1983 to 2014.

It is vital from the public health and educational perspective to be familiar with changes in the fitness levels of individuals and populations since fitness is associated with several health outcomes and cognition. Skill-related physical fitness refers to performance in sports or occupation and is associated with motor skill performance. The aim of the present study was to examine secular trends in skill-related physical fitness of 16 678 participants in four youth generations of Slovenian children and adolescents in years 1983 (n = 3128), 1993/94 (n = 3413), 2003/04 (n = 5497), and 2013/14 (n = 4640). Using repeated cross-sectional design, we observed fitness level of all participants divided into three age groups: 6-10, 11-14, and 15-19 years. Skill-related physical performance was measured with seven fitness tests for speed, coordination, balance, and flexibility. Analysis of covariance was used to compare differences in fitness performance between decades in each age and sex group, adjusted for body height, body weight, and body mass index. Overall, large but inconsistent changes in coordination, a small improvement in speed, and a decline in flexibility were seen. The trends over the whole examined period were not linear throughout decades. Generally, positive trends were noticed in periods 1983-1993 (range 1.4%-17.9%; except flexibility) and 2003/04-2013/14 (range 0.2%-36.4%; except age group 15-19 years) while in the period 1993/94-2003/04 there are some particularities in secular trends according to individual components as well as age groups. In general, the secular trend showed a positive direction for both genders (p < 0.05), except for gross motor coordination, which demonstrated positive trends in 1993 and 2013 compared with a decade earlier (p < 0.05) and from 1983 to 2013/14, except for the youngest boys in 2003 and the youngest girls from 1993 to 2003 (p < 0.05). Our findings call for exercise programs aimed at improving speed and gross motor coordination in both sexes and all age groups, especially in the group of 15-19 years old.

Translational and Rotational Postural Aberrations Are Related to Pulmonary Functions and Skill-Related Physical Fitness Components in Collegiate Athletes.

This study assessed the relationship between body posture displacements, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), and skill-related physical fitness tests. One hundred male (60%) and female collegiate athletes (22.2 ± 4 yrs) with normal body mass indexes (BMI up to 24.9) were assessed via the PostureScreen Mobile® app to quantify postural displacements such as head, thorax, and pelvis rotations and translations. CPET and physical performance tests, including the agility t-test, vertical jump test, stork static balance test (SSBT), and dynamic Y-balance test (YBT), were performed. Spearman correlation (r) and p-values are reported. The postural parameters were found to have moderate-to-high associations with the CPET and agility test, moderate correlations with the vertical jump test and SSBT (head and pelvic postures only), and weak correlations with the YBT. As the postural parameters were more asymmetric, both the CPET and performance skills scores were worse. For example: (1) a medium positive correlation was found between cranio-vertebral angle (CVA) and the vertical jump test (r = 0.54; p-value < 0.001) and SSBT (r = 0.57; p-value < 0.001), while a strong negative correlation was found between CVA and the agility test (r = -0.86; p-value < 0.001). (2) A strong positive correlation was found between CVA and oxygen uptake efficiency slope, load watts VO2 at VT, VO2/kg, and load watts at the respiratory compensation point (RCP) (r = 0.65 and r = 0.71; p < 0.001). Conversely, a significant negative correlation was found between CVA and VE/VO2 at VT (r = -0.61; p < 0.001). Postural rotations and translations of the head, thorax, and pelvis were statistically correlated with the physical performance skills and CPET in the young collegiate athletes. There were moderate-to-high associations with cardiopulmonary functions and the agility tests, moderate correlations with the vertical jump test, and weak correlations with the YBT. Postural alignment may be important for optimal physical performance and optimal cardiopulmonary function. Further research is necessary to elucidate the reasons for these correlations found in our sample of young and healthy athletes.

Conditioning Training towards the Development of Physical Fitness among Junior High School Athletes

The achievement of student-athletes in various sports is often linked to the rigor of training that prepares them for competitions and enhances their physical fitness. Thus, this study determined the relationship between the engagement in conditioning training of a random sample of 76 junior high school student-athletes to the development of their physical fitness along health-related and skill-related physical fitness components. The researcher employed a descriptive correlational study through the administration of a researcher-made questionnaire and a Revised Physical Fitness Test by the Department of Education. Collected data were gathered, tabulated, interpreted, and treated using frequency count, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson r. The study revealed that the student-athletes were mostly of normal Body Mass Index (BMI), engaged in team sports, had been athletes for 4 to 5 years, and participated in competitions within the division level. They were highly engaged in conditioning training which enhanced the development of their physical fitness as affirmed by the computed r-values when these variables were paired for correlation. This study calls for revitalized conditioning training through innovations and engagement in co-curricular and extra-curricular focusing on health-related and skill-related physical fitness. This revitalization can be incorporated into the athletic program to ensure continuous sports achievements and enhancement of the physical fitness of student-athletes. Keywords – conditioning training, physical fitness, sports, student-athletes.

Comparison of Sensorimotor Integration and Skill-Related Physical Fitness Components Between College Athletes With and Without Forward Head Posture.

To evaluate sensorimotor integration and skill-related physical fitness components for participants with forward head posture (FHP) compared with strictly matched controls with normal head alignment. We measured FHP, sensorimotor processing, and skill-related physical fitness variables in 50 participants with FHP and in 50 participants matched for age, gender, and body mass index with normal FHP, defined as having a craniovertebral angle >55°. Sensorimotor processing and integration variables were: (1)amplitudes of the spinal N13, (2)brainstem P14, (3)parietal N20 and P27, and (4)frontal N30 potentials. The skill-related physical fitness variables selected for the study were (1)T-test agility, (2)leg power, (3)stork static balance test, and (4)Y-balance test. There was a statistically significant difference between the FHP group and control group for the sensorimotor integration variable: frontal N30 potentials (P < .05). Additionally, between-group differences were found for the sensorimotor processing variables: amplitudes of spinal N13, brainstem P14, and parietal N20, and P27 (P < .05). Statistically significant differences between groups for the skill-related physical fitness variables were also identified: T-test agility, leg power, stork static balance test, and Y-balance test (P < .05). The magnitude of the craniovertebral angle showed a correlation with all measured variables (P < .05). College athletes with FHP exhibited altered sensorimotor processing and integration measurements and less efficient skill-related physical fitness compared with athletes with normal sagittal head posture alignment.

Physical fitness, cognitive functioning and academic achievement in healthy adolescents

PurposeExamine the association between health-related physical fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular fitness) and skill-related physical fitness (speed-agility) and both cognitive functions and academic achievement in adolescents (12–15 years). MethodsData of 423 Dutch adolescents were analyzed (46.8% boys, age = 13.45 ± 0.43 years). Physical fitness was assessed using five subtests of the Eurofit test battery measuring cardiorespiratory fitness (20 m Shuttle Run Test), muscular fitness (Broad Jump and Sit-Ups) and speed-agility (10 × 5 m Shuttle Run Test and Plate Tapping Test). Cognitive functions were assessed by the Digit Span Task, the Grid Task and an adapted version of the Attention Network Test. Finally, academic achievement was assessed by two standardized tests assessing mathematic skills and language skills. Multilevel regression analyses were performed in MlWin to examine the relations of interest adjusting for sex and age. ResultsMultilevel regression analysis showed that speed-agility was significantly related to visuospatial working memory (β = 0.159; p = 0.014), information processing and control (β = 0.238; p < 0.001) and interference control (β = 0.156; p = 0.039), but not to the other cognitive or academic achievement outcomes. Cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular fitness were not related to any of the cognitive or academic achievement outcomes. ConclusionThe results suggest that skill-related physical fitness is related to cognitive functions and health-related physical fitness is not. Therefore it can be argued that improved levels of skill-related physical fitness may lead to improved cognitive functioning.

Ecological validity of the PERF-FIT: correlates of active play, motor performance and motor skill-related physical fitness

BackgroundActive games are important health enhancing physical activities in children with and without developmental disorders and will help children to develop fundamental motor skills, while inactivity exacerbates coordination difficulties and increases the risk of obesity. Regular engagement in active play promotes physical, social and cognitive development. It is therefore important to know if children have the capabilities for healthy behavior. Motor skills and muscular fitness are both important components to participate in play, sport and leisure. The Performance and Fitness (PERF-FIT) test battery integrates motor skills (running, jumping, hopping, catching, bouncing, throwing, balance) and muscular fitness (explosive power and muscular endurance) needed in many forms of active play. AimTo test the ecological validity of the PERF-FIT test battery; a field-based test integrating motor skill proficiency and muscular fitness. MethodsSeventy-five children were assessed on the PERF-FIT, Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC)-2 and performance in 6 active games was scored. Of these children, 52 children scored in the normal range and 23 (or 30.3%) below the 16th percentile of the MABC-2. Association between the outcomes of the two tests and the 6 games was calculated. ResultsHigh to moderate associations were found between game scores and PERF-FIT items; moderate to low associations between game scores and MABC-2 items. Principle axes factor analysis with oblique rotation revealed communalities between the explosive power and agility items of the PERF-FIT and the running and ball catching games but not between the games and the balance items. Conclusions and implicationsScores on the PERF-FIT are significantly related to performance in active play. The tool is able to measure aspects of motor skills, muscle endurance and explosive power needed in children's active games and could be used as an additional tool to measure requirements for participation in everyday physical activity in children with and without developmental disorders.

Chronological and Skeletal Age in Relation to Physical Fitness Performance in Preschool Children.

Introduction: Physical fitness is an adaptive state that varies with an individual's growth and maturity status. Considering that the difference in skeletal maturity already existed among preschool children, this study was designed to determine the influence of skeletal age and chronological age on preschoolers' physical fitness performance.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 945 healthy preschoolers (509 males, 436 females) aged between 3.0 and 6.0 years in Shanghai, China. We used the method of TW3-C RUS to determine skeletal age. Chronological age was measured by subtracting the date of birth from the test date. Sit and reach, 2 × 10 m shuttle run test, standing long jump, tennis ball throw, 5 m jump on both feet, and balance beam walk were considered for physical fitness performance. Correlation coefficients and partial correlations adjusting height and weight were used to determine the relationships among the variables of skeletal age/ relative skeletal age, chronological age/relative chronological age, and physical fitness items.Results: Skill-related physical fitness was weakly to moderately associated with skeletal age (the absolute value of r: 0.225–0.508, p < 0.01) and was moderately to strongly associated with chronological age (the absolute value of r: 0.405–0.659, p < 0.01). Health-related physical fitness items (BMI and sit and reach) showed a fairly weak to no correlation with skeletal age and chronological age. After adjusting the height and weight, an extremely weak to no correlation was observed between skeletal age and both health- and skill-related physical fitness, and weak-moderate correlations were noted between chronological age and skill-related physical fitness (the absolute value of r: 0.220–0.419, p < 0.01). In children in Grade 1, skill-related physical fitness (except for balance beam walk) showed a weak to moderate correlation with relative chronological age (the absolute value of r: 0.227–0.464, p < 0.05).Conclusion: (1) both skeletal age and chronological age are associated with skill-related rather than health-related physical fitness performance, and after adjusting height and weight, chronological age, rather than skeletal age, is associated with skill-related physical fitness performance; (2) for preschool children, skill-related physical fitness performance is influenced by relative chronological age rather than individual differences in skeletal maturation, especially in the lower grades.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE SKILL RELATED PHYSICAL FITNESS EVALUATION INDEX SYSTEM OF CHINESE YOUNG MALE TENNIS PLAYERS

The skill-related physical fitness evaluation index system is an important reference basis for evaluating the competitive level of tennis players. At present, there are few studies on the skill-related physical fitness evaluation index system of Chinese young male tennis players. Based on the characteristics of tennis events and the sensitive period of the development of young tennis players skill-related physical fitness variables, this study uses literature methods, Delphi method and other research methods to construct an evaluation index system for Chinese young male tennis players skills related physical fitness. The results show that: Chinese young male tennis players skill-related physical fitness includes six first-level indicators including speed, strength, endurance, agility, flexibility, and power, 11 second-level indicators such as aerobic endurance, anaerobic endurance, upper body power, and lower body power, etc. 16 third-level indicators such as the hexagon test, beep test, sit and reach, etc.

Inter-rater reliability and test-retest reliability of the Performance and Fitness (PERF-FIT) test battery for children: a test for motor skill related fitness

BackgroundThe Performance and Fitness (PERF-FIT) test battery for children is a recently developed, valid assessment tool for measuring motor skill-related physical fitness in 5 to 12-year-old children living in low-income settings. The aim of this study was to determine: (1) inter-rater reliability and (2) test-retest reliability of the PERF-FIT in children from 3 different countries (Ghana, South Africa and the Netherlands).MethodFor inter-rater reliability 29 children, (16 boys and 13 girls, 6–10 years) were scored by 2 raters simultaneously. For test–retest reliability 72 children, (33 boys and 39 girls, 5–12 years) performed the test twice, minimally 1 week and maximally 2 weeks apart. Relative and absolute reliability indices were calculated. ANOVA was used to examine differences between the three assessor teams in the three countries.ResultsThe PERF-FIT demonstrated excellent inter-rater reliability (ICC, 0.99) and good test-retest reliability (ICC, ≥ 0.80) for 11 of the 12 tasks, with a poor ICC for the Jumping item, due to low spread in values. A significant difference between first and second test occasion was present on half of the items, but the differences were small (Cohen’s d 0.01–0.17), except for Stepping, Side jump and Bouncing and Catching (Cohen’s d 0.34, 0.41 and 0.33, respectively). Overall, measurement error, Limits of Agreement and Coefficient of Variation had acceptable levels to support clinical use. No systematic dissimilarities in error were found between first and second measurement between the three countries but for one item (Overhead throw).ConclusionsThe PERF-FIT can reliably measure motor skill related fitness in 5 to 12-year-old children in different settings and help clinicians monitor levels of fundamental motor skills (throwing, bouncing, catching, jumping, hopping and balance), power and agility.

Construction of the skill related physical fitness evaluation index system of Chinese Young male tennis players

The skill-related physical fitness evaluation index system is an important reference basis for evaluating the competitive level of tennis players. At present, there are few studies on the skill-related physical fitness evaluation index system of Chinese young male tennis players. Based on the characteristics of tennis events and the sensitive period of the development of young tennis players skill-related physical fitness variables, this study uses literature methods, Delphi method and other research methods to construct an evaluation index system for Chinese young male tennis players skills related physical fitness. The results show that: Chinese young male tennis players skill-related physical fitness includes six first-level indicators including speed, strength, endurance, agility, flexibility, and power, 11 second-level indicators such as aerobic endurance, anaerobic endurance, upper body power, and lower body power, etc., 16 third-level indicators such as the hexagon test, beep test, sit and reach, etc.

Investigating the Effect of Skill Related Physical Fitness on the Development of Technical Ability in the Case of Debre Markos University under -17 Male Football Project Players

This study aims to investigate the effect of skill related physical fitness on the development of technical ability: in the case of Debre Markos University under-17male Football project players. Explosive leg power, speed, agility physical fitness components and distance accurate shooting and speed dribbling technical components of Football project players were the main target of the study. They were 25 in number but due to injuries 2 players excluded whereas the remaining all 23 players were selected by using purposive sampling method. The average age of the participants’ was 16±0.756 years. To assess the level of physical and technical components of the player’s field test was used. The data was analyzed through multivariate and simple linear regression statistics method. The finding of the study showed that most of the players had very poor level of power performance, excellent level of speed and agility performance when we compared with the international standard of physical fitness level. On average, accurate shooting increased by 3.241 times significantly when explosive leg power increased by 1 meter, On average, speed dribbling was increased by 6.847 second times significantly when speed increased by one second and On average, speed dribbling was increased by 1.628 second times significantly when agility increased by one second. Therefore skill related physical fitness (explosive leg power, speed and agility) had their own effect on the development of technical ability in football. Keywords: - Development, physical fitness, techniques ability and skill related DOI: 10.7176/JTHS/53-01 Publication date: January 31 st 2021

장기간 축구훈련이 청소년의 자세안정성과 기술체력에 미치는 영향

본 연구는 장기간 축구훈련이 청소년의 자세안정성과 기술체력에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 실시하였으며, 연구 대상자는 초등학교때부터 축구를 시작한 고등학교 축구선수 33명(1학년 11명, 2학년 11명, 3학년 11명)을 선정하였다. 자료처리는 통계프로그램 SPSS Version 24.0을 이용하여 기술통계를 산출하였으며, 집단 간 비교를 위해 일원변량분석 (one-way ANOVA)를 실시하였으며, 각 변인들의 관계를 규명하기 위하여 Pearson‘s Correlation을 실시하였다. 통계적 유의수준은 α = .05로 설정하였다. 본 연구결과는 자세안정성에서 HG3이 HG1과 HG2 보다 우측 정적(p<.05), 동적(p<.01)자세균형이 높게 나타났다. Triple hop에서 HG3이 HG1보다 우측(p<.01)과 좌측(p<.05)에서 높게, T-test에서는 HG3이 HG2 보다 빠르게(p<.05), Agility & skill test에서는 HG3이 HG1보다 빠른 것으로(p<.05) 나타 났다. 정적자세균형에서 HG1은 20m sprint(p<.01)와 정적상관, T-test(p<.05)에서는 부적상관, HG2는 T-test(p<.05), Illinois change of direction(p<.01)와 HG3은 Height(p<.05)와 부적상관이 나타났다. 결론적으로 장기간의 축구훈련은 성장기 청소년에게 자세안정성과 기술체력 향상에 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다.

Health- and skill-related physical fitness profile of Brazilian children and adolescents: a systematic review

Since 1994, the Projeto Esporte Brasil (PROESP-Br) battery tests has been used to evaluate health- and skill-related physical fitness among aged 6-17 Brazilian schoolchildren. The aim of this study was to delineate the Brazilian children and youth’s physical fitness profile from a systematic review over studies that used the PROESP-Br proposal. The search was carried at PubMed, ScienceDirect, Lilacs, SciELO and Google Scholar. Original studies published between 1994 and 2017 about physical fitness (health and/or motor performance) with schoolchildren (children and/or adolescents) that used the PROESP-Br battery test were included. A total of 13.582 participants were evaluated to health-related fitness and 276 to skill-related fitness from 18 included studies. The methodological quality was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale adapted version. The results show that 27-30% of youngsters are at health “risk zone” for Body Mass Index (BMI), 70% for cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), 50% and 65% for flexibility (FLEX) and muscular strength (MST), respectively. The data concerning skill-related fitness were inconsistent. In summary, the results suggest that Brazilian children and adolescents have low cardiovascular health level (BMI/CRF), mainly regarding CRF, and low muscle health level (FLEX/MST). We emphasize that the lack of studies regarding skill-related fitness, make it impossible to describe the profile of the components of this construct.

Feasibility and content validity of the PERF-FIT test battery to assess movement skills, agility and power among children in low-resource settings

BackgroundNumerous movement skills and physical fitness tests have been developed for children in high-income countries. However, adaptation of these tests to low-resource settings has been slow and norms are still unavailable for children living in low-income communities. The aim of this paper was to describe the development and validation of the Performance and Fitness (PERF-FIT) test battery, a new test to assess motor skill-related physical fitness in children in low-resource settings.MethodThe PERF-FIT test was developed in a stepwise manner. This involved defining the relevant domains of the construct of interest and selecting and evaluating test items. The Content Validity Index (CVI) was used to estimate content validity. Following development of the PERF-FIT test, a preliminary study was performed to validate items and to examine the feasibility of implementing the test in a low-resource community. Structural validity was also determined based on data from eighty (n = 80) children (aged 7–12 years) using principal component analysis.ResultsThe CVI for the throw and catch item was 0.86 and 1.00 for the other nine items, leading to a total CVI score of 0.99. The hierarchical sequence of the item series was demonstrated by highly significant (p < 0.001) linear trends, confirming the increase in difficulty of subsequent items. Principal component analysis revealed three factors; the first component is represented by locomotor skills that require static and dynamic balance, the second component by throwing and catching items and the third component by agility and power items. These findings suggest that it is feasible to implement the PERF-FIT in low-resource settings.ConclusionThe PERF-FIT test battery is easy to administer and may be suitable for measuring skill-related physical fitness in in low-resource settings. It has excellent content validity and good structural validity. After minor adaptions, further studies should be conducted to establish normative values, evaluate reliability, and document criterion and cross-cultural validity of this test.

Interactive Improvements of Visual and Auditory Function for Enhancing Performance in Youth Soccer Players.

We analyzed the effects of a regular training program on the health- and skill-related physical fitness (PF) of talented soccer players aged < 12 years; visual reaction time (VRT) and auditory reaction time (ART) were also assessed. In this single-group interventional study, 78 talented male youth soccer players (mean age, 9.54 years) were critically selected by the Korean Educational Development Institute and underwent a 22-week training program consisting of 16 weeks of PF and basic skill training (90 min/week) and 6 weeks of intensive training (3, 150-min sessions/week). We assessed the pre- and post-training body composition, cardiovascular endurance, muscle strength and endurance, and flexibility. We also measured power, agility, coordination and speed, passing ability, VRT, and ART. All variables improved after training. Post-training VRT correlated with ART, muscle mass, power, cardiovascular endurance, 10-m dribble time, 10-m ball touch count, and 10-m successful pass count. ART only correlated with muscle mass. ART and 10-m ball-touch count influenced VRT, and VRT influenced ART. In conclusion, the training program enhanced the PF and visual- and auditory-related reactions in talented youth soccer players. This study suggests the importance of the assessed relationships, indicating that a training program that improves these parameters enhances the players’ performance.