This review aims to summarize the latest developments with regard to physical fitness and several health outcomes in young people. The literature reviewed suggests that (1) cardiorespiratory fitness levels are associated with total and abdominal adiposity; (2) both cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness are shown to be associated with established and emerging cardiovascular disease risk factors; (3) improvements in muscular fitness and speed/agility, rather than cardiorespiratory fitness, seem to have a positive effect on skeletal health; (4) both cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness enhancements are recommended in pediatric cancer patients/survivors in order to attenuate fatigue and improve their quality of life; and (5) improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness have positive effects on depression, anxiety, mood status and self-esteem, and seem also to be associated with a higher academic performance. In conclusion, health promotion policies and physical activity programs should be designed to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, but also two other physical fitness components such us muscular fitness and speed/agility. Schools may play an important role by identifying children with low physical fitness and by promoting positive health behaviors such as encouraging children to be active, with special emphasis on the intensity of the activity.

Physical fitness in childhood and adolescence: a powerful marker of health

ContextSome observational studies have found an association between television
viewing and child and adolescent adiposity.ObjectiveTo assess the effects of reducing television, videotape, and video game
use on changes in adiposity, physical activity, and dietary intake.DesignRandomized controlled school-based trial conducted from September 1996
to April 1997.SettingTwo sociodemographically and scholastically matched public elementary
schools in San Jose, Calif.ParticipantsOf 198 third- and fourth-grade students, who were given parental consent
to participate, 192 students (mean age, 8.9 years) completed the study.InterventionChildren in 1 elementary school received an 18-lesson, 6-month classroom
curriculum to reduce television, videotape, and video game use.Main Outcome MeasuresChanges in measures of height, weight, triceps skinfold thickness, waist
and hip circumferences, and cardiorespiratory fitness; self-reported media
use, physical activity, and dietary behaviors; and parental report of child
and family behaviors. The primary outcome measure was body mass index, calculated
as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters.ResultsCompared with controls, children in the intervention group had statistically
significant relative decreases in body mass index (intervention vs control
change: 18.38 to 18.67 kg/m2 vs 18.10 to 18.81 kg/m2,
respectively; adjusted difference −0.45 kg/m2 [95% confidence
interval {CI}, −0.73 to −0.17]; P=.002),
triceps skinfold thickness (intervention vs control change: 14.55 to 15.47
mm vs 13.97 to 16.46 mm, respectively; adjusted difference, −1.47 mm
[95% CI, −2.41 to −0.54]; P=.002), waist
circumference (intervention vs control change: 60.48 to 63.57 cm vs 59.51
to 64.73 cm, respectively; adjusted difference, −2.30 cm [95% CI, −3.27
to −1.33]; P<.001), and waist-to-hip ratio
(intervention vs control change: 0.83 to 0.83 vs 0.82 to 0.84, respectively;
adjusted difference, −0.02 [95% CI, −0.03 to −0.01]; P<.001). Relative to controls, intervention group changes
were accompanied by statistically significant decreases in children's reported
television viewing and meals eaten in front of the television. There were
no statistically significant differences between groups for changes in high-fat
food intake, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and cardiorespiratory
fitness.ConclusionsReducing television, videotape, and video game use may be a promising,
population-based approach to prevent childhood obesity.

/pdf/reducing-children-s-television-viewing-to-prevent-obesity-a-4dr2e2kxkw.pdf

Reducing Children's Television Viewing to Prevent Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The requirements for soccer play are multifactorial and distinguishing characteristics of elite players can be investigated using multivariate analysis. The aim of the present study was to apply a comprehensive test battery to young players with a view to distinguishing between elite and sub-elite groups on the basis of performance on test items. Thirty-one (16 elite, 15 sub-elite) young players matched for chronological age (15-16 years) and body size were studied. Test items included anthropometric ( n = 15), physiological ( n = 8), psychological ( n = 3) and soccer-specific skills ( n = 2) tests. Variables were split into separate groups according to somatotype, body composition, body size, speed, endurance, performance measures, technical skill, anticipation, anxiety and task and ego orientation for purposes of univariate and multivariate analysis of variance and stepwise discriminant function analysis.The most discriminating of the measures were agility, sprint time, ego orientation and anticipation ...

A multidisciplinary approach to talent identification in soccer.

Compared with maximal exercise testing, submaximal exercise testing appears to have greater applicability to physical therapists in their role as clinical exercise specialists. This review contrasts maximal and submaximal exercise testing. Two major categories of submaximal tests (ie, predictive and performance tests) and their relative merits are described. Predictive tests are submaximal tests that are used to predict maximal aerobic capacity. Performance tests involve measuring the responses to standardized physical activities that are typically encountered in everyday life. To maximize the validity and reliability of data obtained from submaximal tests, physical therapists are cautioned to apply the tests selectively based on their indications; to adhere to methods, including the requisite number of practice sessions; and to use measurements such as heart rate, blood pressure, exertion, and pain to evaluate test performance and to safely monitor patients.

/pdf/submaximal-exercise-testing-clinical-application-and-1oiof3e7uv.pdf

Submaximal Exercise Testing: Clinical Application and Interpretation

The present study summarises the work developed by the ALPHA (Assessing Levels of Physical Activity) study and describes the procedures followed to select the tests included in the ALPHA health-related fitness test battery for children and adolescents. The authors reviewed physical fitness and health in youth findings from cross-sectional studies. The authors also performed three systematic reviews dealing with (1) the predictive validity of health-related fitness, (2) the criterion validity of field-based fitness tests and (3) the reliability of field-based fitness tests in youth. The authors also carried out 11-methodological studies to determine the criterion validity and the reliability of several field-based fitness tests for youth. Finally, the authors performed a study in the school setting to examine the reliability, feasibility and safety of the selected tests. The selected fitness tests were (1) the 20 m shuttle run test to assess cardiorespiratory fitness; (2) the handgrip strength and (3) standing broad jump to assess musculoskeletal fitness, and (4) body mass index, (5) skinfold thickness and (5) waist circumference to assess body composition. When there are time limits, the authors propose the high-priority ALPHA health-related fitness test battery, which comprises all the evidence-based fitness tests except the measurement of the skinfold thickness. The time required to administer this battery to a group of 20 youth by one physical education teacher is less than 2 h. In conclusion, the ALPHA fitness tests battery is valid, reliable, feasible and safe for the assessment of health-related physical fitness in children and adolescents to be used for health monitoring purposes at population level.

https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/bjsports/45/6/518.full.pdf

Field-based fitness assessment in young people: the ALPHA health-related fitness test battery for children and adolescents

A maximal multistage 20 m shuttle run test was designed to determine the maximal aerobic power of schoolchildren, healthy adults attending fitness class and athletes performing in sports with frequent stops and starts (e.g. basketball, fencing and so on). Subjects run back and forth on a 20 m course and must touch the 20 m line; at the same time a sound signal is emitted from a prerecorded tape. Frequency of the sound signals is increased 0.5 km h‐1 each minute from a starting speed of 8.5 km h‐1. When the subject can no longer follow the pace, the last stage number announced is used to predict maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) (Y, ml kg‐1 min‐1) from the speed (X, km h‐1) corresponding to that stage (speed = 8 + 0.5 stage no.) and age (A, year): Y=31.025 + 3.238 X ‐ 3.248A + 0.1536.AX, r = 0.71 with 188 boys and girls aged 8–19 years. To obtain this regression, the test was performed individually. Right upon termination VO2 was measured with four 20 s samples and VO2max was estimated by retroextrap...

The multistage 20 metre shuttle run test for aerobic fitness

The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of the 1 min stage version of the 20 m shuttle run multistage test to predict VO2max in adults (53 males and 24 females, 19 to 47 years old). The maximal shuttle run speed (S-MAS) was thus compared to the VO2max attained during a multistage treadmill test (TE-VO2max), the retroextrapolated VO2max at time zero of the O2 recovery curve of the shuttle run (SR-VO2max) and the VO2max predicted from a previously developed regression equation with children (Mercier et al., 1983) and putting 18 year olds in the regression equation for all adults which yielded (SP-VO2max = -27.4 + 6.0 S-MAS). The latter regression equation was very similar to the ones obtained with the two other criteria and was thus retained to ensure a smooth transition between children and adults in predicting VO2max. Correlations and standard errors of the estimate between S-MAS and TE-VO2max (r = 0.90 and Syx = 4.4) or SR-VO2max (r = 0.87 and Syx = 4.7) were quite good. TE-, SR- and SP-VO2max were also similar (mean +/- SD = 49.4 +/- 10.1, 48.8 +/- 9.3 and 47.1 +/- 8.3 mL.kg-1.min-1, respectively, p greater than 0.05). It was concluded that the 20 m shuttle run is a valid test to predict VO2max in adults.

C Gadoury

Papers

The multistage 20 metre shuttle run test for aerobic fitness

Validity of the 20 m shuttle run test with 1 min stages to predict VO2max in adults.