Health-Related Field-Based Fitness Tests: Normative Values for Italian Primary School Children

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> conducting fitness tests in educational settings can lead to advantages for both individuals and groups, beyond just enhancing fitness. With the aim of appropriately interpreting performance, this study was conducted to establish sex- and age-specific percen...

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Main Authors: Christel Galvani, Fabio Togni, Mariangela Valentina Puci, Matteo Vandoni, Luca Correale, Roberto Codella, Claudio Orizio, Cristina Montomoli, Antonio La Torre, Fabio D’Angelo, Francesco Casolo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/9/4/190
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author Christel Galvani
Fabio Togni
Mariangela Valentina Puci
Matteo Vandoni
Luca Correale
Roberto Codella
Claudio Orizio
Cristina Montomoli
Antonio La Torre
Fabio D’Angelo
Francesco Casolo
author_facet Christel Galvani
Fabio Togni
Mariangela Valentina Puci
Matteo Vandoni
Luca Correale
Roberto Codella
Claudio Orizio
Cristina Montomoli
Antonio La Torre
Fabio D’Angelo
Francesco Casolo
author_sort Christel Galvani
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives:</b> conducting fitness tests in educational settings can lead to advantages for both individuals and groups, beyond just enhancing fitness. With the aim of appropriately interpreting performance, this study was conducted to establish sex- and age-specific percentile normative data for a physical fitness (PF) protocol and to define a compound measure of physical performance. <b>Methods:</b> In this cross-sectional study, a short, feasible, and easy-to-administer test battery was performed for 5106 school children, aged 6–10 years. Gender- and age-specific percentiles for the PF tests were constructed, and a Physical Fitness–Motor Competence Performance Index (PF-MC PI) was calculated according to the percentiles. <b>Results:</b> Boys scored higher in all the PF tests when compared to girls (<i>p</i> < 0.001). There was also a trend towards increased PF levels as the age increased in both genders (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). Correlations between scores on individual test items were moderate to high (r from 0.549 to 0.700), and all individual test item scores significantly correlated with the PF-MC PI (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). <b>Conclusions:</b> the provided percentile values will enable the correct interpretation and monitoring of the fitness status of children and the PF-MC PI can be used for easily rating children’s health-related fitness qualities.
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spelling doaj-art-d7f16e60035e49ebab7abae986589bbc2025-08-20T02:53:44ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology2411-51422024-10-019419010.3390/jfmk9040190Health-Related Field-Based Fitness Tests: Normative Values for Italian Primary School ChildrenChristel Galvani0Fabio Togni1Mariangela Valentina Puci2Matteo Vandoni3Luca Correale4Roberto Codella5Claudio Orizio6Cristina Montomoli7Antonio La Torre8Fabio D’Angelo9Francesco Casolo10Exercise & Sport Science Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Exercise and Sport Science Degree Course, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20162 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Educational Studies, Foreign Literacy and Psychology (FORLILPSI), University of Florence, 50121 Florence, ItalyUnit of Biostatistics and Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, ItalyLaboratory of Adapted Motor Activity (LAMA), Department of Public Health, Experimental Medicine & Forensic Science, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, ItalyLaboratory of Adapted Motor Activity (LAMA), Department of Public Health, Experimental Medicine & Forensic Science, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, ItalyUnit of Biostatistics and Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, ItalyDepartment of Pedagogy, Exercise and Sport Science Degree Course, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy<b>Background/Objectives:</b> conducting fitness tests in educational settings can lead to advantages for both individuals and groups, beyond just enhancing fitness. With the aim of appropriately interpreting performance, this study was conducted to establish sex- and age-specific percentile normative data for a physical fitness (PF) protocol and to define a compound measure of physical performance. <b>Methods:</b> In this cross-sectional study, a short, feasible, and easy-to-administer test battery was performed for 5106 school children, aged 6–10 years. Gender- and age-specific percentiles for the PF tests were constructed, and a Physical Fitness–Motor Competence Performance Index (PF-MC PI) was calculated according to the percentiles. <b>Results:</b> Boys scored higher in all the PF tests when compared to girls (<i>p</i> < 0.001). There was also a trend towards increased PF levels as the age increased in both genders (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). Correlations between scores on individual test items were moderate to high (r from 0.549 to 0.700), and all individual test item scores significantly correlated with the PF-MC PI (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). <b>Conclusions:</b> the provided percentile values will enable the correct interpretation and monitoring of the fitness status of children and the PF-MC PI can be used for easily rating children’s health-related fitness qualities.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/9/4/190health-related physical fitness testsnormative valuesphysical fitness–motor competence performance indexprimary school
spellingShingle Christel Galvani
Fabio Togni
Mariangela Valentina Puci
Matteo Vandoni
Luca Correale
Roberto Codella
Claudio Orizio
Cristina Montomoli
Antonio La Torre
Fabio D’Angelo
Francesco Casolo
Health-Related Field-Based Fitness Tests: Normative Values for Italian Primary School Children
Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
health-related physical fitness tests
normative values
physical fitness–motor competence performance index
primary school
title Health-Related Field-Based Fitness Tests: Normative Values for Italian Primary School Children
title_full Health-Related Field-Based Fitness Tests: Normative Values for Italian Primary School Children
title_fullStr Health-Related Field-Based Fitness Tests: Normative Values for Italian Primary School Children
title_full_unstemmed Health-Related Field-Based Fitness Tests: Normative Values for Italian Primary School Children
title_short Health-Related Field-Based Fitness Tests: Normative Values for Italian Primary School Children
title_sort health related field based fitness tests normative values for italian primary school children
topic health-related physical fitness tests
normative values
physical fitness–motor competence performance index
primary school
url https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/9/4/190
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