Physical Fitness and Activity Assessment in Youth HPER 3150 Dr. 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 Between Physical 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

Publication of Physical Activity Health A Report of the Surgeon General

Full Report Pages Executive Summary Executive Summary

% Young People Reporting NO Vigorous or Moderate Activity During Any of the Past 7 Days Age U.S. Surgeon General’s Report, 1996 %

Healthy People 2010 Shape of the Nation 2006 F as in Fat Report 2007 Other Prominent National Reports

Figure 12.2 Physical activity in grades 9 through 12 in 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 Obese Girls Vincent, Pangrazi et al., MSSE, 2003

Percent Overweight or Obese Boys 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-relatedSkill-related Relationship between age and physical activity Reasons for decreasing PA with age Norm- & Criterion-referenced standards

Youth Fitness Testing Batteries FITNESSGRAM: The President's Challenge: 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 Items curl-ups or partial curl-ups shuttle run endurance run/walk pull-ups or flexed arm hang V-sit Health Fitness Test partial curl-ups one-mile run/walk v-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 activity for a total of 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 as basketball, 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 strengthen or tone your muscles? This includes exercises such as push-ups, sit-ups or 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 to loosen up or relax your muscles? This includes exercises such as toe touches, knee bending, or leg stretching. (0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7 days)

Figure ACTIVITYGRAM logging chart

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

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