Physical Fitness and Activity Assessment in Youth

HPER 3150Dr. Ayers

Physical Activity and Learning

Thomas Jefferson

“Exercise and recreation . . . are as necessary as reading. I will rather say

more necessary, because health is worth more than learning.”

Children are not “little adults”

Child’s score on aerobic fitness test does not predict endurance activity performance

Relationship BetweenPhysical Activity and Fitness

Skill-Related Fitness

Health-Related

Fitness

Agility

Coordination

Reaction time

Balance

Speed

Power

Aerobic fitness

Muscular strength/endurance

Flexibility

Body composition

National Fitness Studies

• Dr. Hans Kraus study (1954):• 42% of American children passed the assessment, while

• 92% of European school children passed the assessment

• President Eisenhower was shocked and established the President’s Council on Youth Fitness (1956)

• NCYFS I (1985)

• NCYFS II (1987)

Are American Children and Youth Fit?

Passing Rates on Youth Fitness Tests

Corbin & Pangrazi (RQES, 1992)

Strong et al. (2005)

AMA quotes

• “Inadequate physical education programs must be strengthened . . . .”

• “There is need . . . . to widen physical education offerings . . . . which contribute to . . . . well-being”

• “Every pupil should . . . . [be exposed] to physical education which promotes understanding of the significance of physical education in maintaining health.”

1967

Secretary of Health and Human Services

“Schools and universities need to reintroduce daily, quality physical activity as a key component of a

comprehensive education.”

1996

1996

Publication of

Physical Activity HealthA Report of the Surgeon General

Full Report - 278 PagesExecutive Summary

% Young People Reporting NO Vigorous or Moderate Activity During Any of the Past 7 Days

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

MalesFemales

AgeU.S. Surgeon General’s Report, 1996

%

Healthy People 2010

Shape of the Nation 2006

F as in Fat Report 2007

Other Prominent National Reports

63

25

52 56

28

010

2030

405060

7080

90100

Vigorous Moderate Strength Enrolled inPE

Daily PE

Perc

en

tFigure 12.2

Physical activity in grades 9 through 12in the United States

Grunbaum et al., MMWR, May 21, 2003

Why PA Decreases Over Time

Lack of time

Too competitive

Not fun anymore

Percent Overweight or ObeseGirls

05

101520253035404550

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

America

Sweden

Australia

Vincent, Pangrazi et al., MSSE, 2003

Percent Overweight or ObeseBoys

05

101520253035404550

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

America

Sweden

Australia

Vincent, Pangrazi et al., MSSE, 2003

Norm- Versus Criterion-Referenced Standards

• Norm-Referenced Standards (original PPFT)

Compare students to their peers

• Criterion-Referenced Standards (Fitnessgram)

Compare students to a health criterion

Review: Youth Fitness I• Relationship of fitness/activity to life

• Two types of fitness• Health-related Skill-related

• Relationship between age and physical activity

• Reasons for decreasing PA with age

• Norm- & Criterion-referenced standards

Youth Fitness Testing Batteries

FITNESSGRAM: http://www.fitnessgram.net/home/

The President's Challenge: www.fitness.gov

Eurofit

FITNESSGRAM

PACER

Skinfolds*

Curl-Up

Trunk Lift

Push-Ups

Printed with permission from the Cooper Institute, Dallas, Texas.

President’s Challenge

Physical Fitness Test Itemscurl-ups or partial curl-upsshuttle runendurance run/walkpull-ups or flexed arm hangV-sit

Health Fitness Testpartial curl-upsone-mile run/walkv-sit (or sit and reach)right angle push-ups (or pull-ups)Body Mass Index

Physical activity is a __________PROCESS

PHYSICAL FITNESS

Fill in the Blank

that leads to the product,

_______________________

Enhancing Reliable and Valid Fitness Test Results with Children

• Attain adequate knowledge of test descriptions

• Give proper demonstrations and instructions

• Develop good student and teacher preparation through adequate practice trials

• Conduct reliability studies

Special Children

Brockport Physical Fitness Test Items

See Table 12-12

Measuring Physical Activity in Youth

• Physical activity improves the overall health of children

• Physically inactive children tend to become inactive adults with higher risks for chronic diseases

• Physically active children tend to become active adults with lower risks for chronic diseases

Accelerometers

Pedometers

ACTIVITYGRAM Physical Activity Questions Based on the CDC’s Youth Risk Factor Behavior Survey

Aerobic Activity Question:On how many of the past 7 days did you participate in physical activityfor a total of 30-60 minutes, or more, over the course of a day?This includes moderate activities (walking, slow bicycling, or outdoor play)as well as vigorous activities (jogging, active games or active sports such asbasketball, tennis or soccer) (0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7 days) Strength Activity Question:On how many of the past 7 days did you do exercises to strengthenor tone your muscles? This includes exercises such as push-ups, sit-upsor weight lifting. (0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7 days)

Flexibility Activity Question:On how many of the past 7 days did you do stretching exercises toloosen up or relax your muscles? This includes exercises such astoe touches, knee bending, or leg stretching. (0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7 days)

Figure 12.10ACTIVITYGRAM logging chart

Printed with permission from the Cooper Institute, Dallas, Texas.

Printed with permission from the Cooper Institute, Dallas, Texas.

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