Test-Retest Reliability of Student-Administered Health-Related Fitness Tests in School Settings

Test-Retest Reliability of a Physical Activity Behavior, Health and Wellbeing Questionnaire in Adolescents

Background

The aim of this study was to examine the test-retest reliability of the physical activity behavior, health and wellbeing questionnaire, in adolescent populations, administered by teachers in school settings, in the Republic of Ireland.

Methods

A cross-sectional, mixed sample of 55 participants (45.5% males: Age, 13.94 (±.40) years) were included. The participants completed the questionnaire on two occasions (T1 and T2), on the same day and time, one week apart following identical procedures. Variables for testing included physical activity behavior (n=13), health (n=11) and wellbeing (n=2). Test-retest reliability of the questionnaire's covariates, including family affluence and physical impairments were also examined.

Results

Systematic error (Bland-Altman plots) was found to be near to zero for each of the physical activity behavior, health and wellbeing variables. The combined mean coefficient of variation was lower for females (10.19%) in comparison to males (13.01%). The combined mean intraclass correlation coefficients were higher for females (0.901) than males (0.822). Similarly, the combined mean Cronbach alpha coefficient were higher for girls (0.908) than boys (0.821).

Conclusions

This study found the physical activity behavior, health and wellbeing questionnaire to be reliable for use in adolescent populations.

Cross-country adaptation and feasibility of an evidence-based resistance training intervention in the school setting

Background

Physical activity that strengthens muscles and bones at least three times per week are recommended, but few adolescents meet this target. The aim of our study was to adapt and evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the Resistance Training for Teens (RT4T) program in Danish lower secondary schools.

Methods

Developed and evaluated in Australia, the aim of RT4T is to provide adolescents with competence, confidence, knowledge, and motivation to participate in resistance training. Translation and adaptation were based on the PRACTIS-guide and involved workshops with physical education teachers. Three 7th-grade classes and three 9th-grade classes were recruited for the feasibility study and followed the program over eight weeks. Participants completed a push-up test, a standing long jump test, and a beep-test before and after the intervention. In addition, they completed a survey about their self-efficacy, motivation, and resistance training competency. Four qualitative interviews were performed with participants and their physical education teachers.

Results

The participating teachers were motivated for the program, but they had difficulties providing students with appropriate feedback. Students were motivated by the equipment, games, and their improvements in fitness, but motivation declined during the program. A total of 57 students completed the physical tests and answered the survey. Resistance training self-efficacy improved significantly, while most other measures improved over time, without reaching significance.

Conclusion

Overall, the RT4T was acceptable and feasible in lower secondary schools in Denmark, but adjustments need to be made to increase the reach and efficacy of the program.

Trends in means and distributional characteristics of cardiorespiratory endurance performance for Italian children (1984-2010)

Cardiorespiratory endurance (CRE) is an important health marker. The aim of this study was to examine temporal trends of CRE performance for Italian children between 1984 and 2010. Using a repeated cross-sectional study design, 5303 CRE test results were available for 2520 children aged 11-13 years from a single Northern Italian middle-high school between 1984 and 2010. CRE was measured as 1000-m and 12-min run test performance. With adjustments for BMI, temporal trends in means were estimated using linear regression, with trends in distributional characteristics described visually and estimated as the ratio of coefficients of variation (CVs). There was a significant small increase in BMI (effect size (ES) [95%CI]: 0.40 [0.32, 0.48]) over the entire period. When adjusted for BMI, there were significant small to moderate declines in mean running speed (ES [95%CI]: 1000-m, - 0.34 [-0.39, - 0.29]); 12-min, - 0.65 [-0.70, - 0.60]). Declines were larger for boys compared to girls. Variability substantially increased over time (ratio of CVs: range, 1.7-2.9), with larger declines in children with low running speed compared to children with average or high running speed. Our findings may be important to public health because low CRE is significantly related to current and future health.

The Penn Vet Working Dog Center Fit to Work Program: A Formalized Method for Assessing and Developing Foundational Canine Physical Fitness

Fit to Work is a formalized working dog foundational physical fitness assessment and development program. The Penn Vet Working Dog Center developed this program to address the needs of working dog handlers, trainers, and programs for simple, effective, and efficient methods to develop and assess working dog physical fitness. Fit to Work focuses on the foundational fitness modalities of strength, stability, mobility, and proprioception. The Penn Vet Working Dog Center piloted and refined this program over 3 months in a closed population of 31 working dogs in training. Fit to Work consists of posture development and maintenance, warm-up and cool-down routines, training exercises, and assessment methods. To simplify implementation for dogs and personnel, the foundational training program incorporates a discrete number of exercises, standardized progression steps, defined criteria for progression, and a reduced emphasis on learned behaviors. Fit to Work also enables safe and progressive assessment of foundational fitness through a tiered and inexpensive process. Future research will focus on validation of training and assessment methods, development of assessment standards, and correlation of physical fitness with operational performance.

Profiling the health-related physical fitness of Irish adolescents: A school-level sociodemographic divide

Background and aims

Examining factors that may explain disparities in fitness levels among youth is a critical step in youth fitness promotion. The purpose of this study was twofold; 1) to examine the influence of school-level characteristics on fitness test performance; 2) to compare Irish adolescents’ physical fitness to European norms.

Methods

Adolescents (n = 1215, girls = 609) aged 13.4 years (SD .41) from a randomised sample of 20 secondary schools, stratified for gender, location and educational (dis)advantage, completed a series of field-based tests to measure the components of health-related physical fitness. Tests included: body mass index; 20 metre shuttle run test (20 m SRT); handgrip strength; standing broad jump (SBJ); 4 x 10 metre shuttle run; and back-saver sit-and-reach (BSR).

Results

Overall, boys outperformed girls in all tests, aside from the BSR (p < 0.005, t-test, Bonferroni correction). Participants in designated disadvantaged schools had significantly higher body mass index levels (p < 0.001), and significantly lower cardiorespiratory endurance (20 m SRT) (p < 0.001) and muscular strength (handgrip strength) (p = 0.018) levels compared to participants in non-disadvantaged schools. When compared to European norms, girls in this study scored significantly higher in the 20 m SRT, 4 x 10 metre shuttle run and SBJ tests, while boys scored significantly higher in the BSR test (Cohen’s d 0.2 to 0.6, p < 0.001). However, European adolescents had significantly higher handgrip strength scores (Cohen’s d 0.6 to 0.8, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Irish adolescents compared favourably to European normative values across most components of HRPF, with the exception of muscular strength. School socioeconomic status was a strong determinant of performance among Irish adolescents. The contrasting findings for different fitness components reiterate the need for multi-component testing batteries for monitoring fitness in youth.