National Academies Press: OpenBook

Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth (2012)

Chapter: 6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness

« Previous: 5 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Cardiorespiratory Endurance
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

6


Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness

KEY MESSAGES

Musculoskeletal fitness is a multidimensional construct comprising the integrated function of muscle strength, muscle endurance, and muscle power. The link between musculoskeletal fitness and health in adults has extended beyond low-back health to other outcomes, such as personal independence and quality of life, cardiovascular disease, risk of fracture, and cognitive and functional ability. Although the relationship between musculoskeletal fitness and these health outcomes in youth is not as extensively or specifically studied as that in adults, this chapter summarizes what is currently known about this relationship in youth.

A thorough review of the literature revealed a lack of high-quality studies supporting a strong link between any specific musculoskeletal fitness test item and health outcomes in youth. This lack of evidence precluded the identification of any specific musculoskeletal fitness test items for inclusion in a national fitness survey for the general population of youth. Nonetheless, based predominantly on evidence indicating a relationship between musculoskeletal fitness and health outcomes in adults, the committee concluded that musculoskeletal fitness should be assessed in a national youth fitness survey. The handgrip strength and standing long jump tests (to measure upper- and lower-body musculoskeletal strength, respectively) should be included in such a survey based on their limited link to health and their acceptable validity, reliability, and feasibility. These tests should not, however, be interpreted in a health context until their

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

relationships with health outcomes have been established more firmly in youth.

Limitations of the studies reviewed include that studies were not designed to answer questions about the relationship between the fitness tests studied and health, that interventions were inadequate, or that confounders were not considered. Although effects of age, gender, body composition, maturation status, and ethnicity on performance on the various tests have been suggested in the past, this review provided insufficient data for assessing the influence of such modifiers.

For school and other educational settings, administrators should consider the handgrip strength and standing long jump tests, as well as alternative tests that have not yet been shown to be related to health but are valid, reliable, and feasible. The modified pull-up and the push-up are possible alternatives for measuring upper-body musculoskeletal strength and power. The curl-up could also be considered for measuring an additional construct, core strength.

In the absence of criterion-referenced cut-points (cutoff scores) for youth or adults, interim cut-points corresponding to the lower percentile limit (20th percentile) should be used for tests of musculoskeletal fitness, analogous to the cut-points for cardiorespiratory endurance, until better evidence for criterion-referenced health-related cut-points is established by further research.

The functions and capacities of the neuromuscular and musculoskeletal systems play important roles in defining the physical fitness status of individuals and populations. Assessment of musculoskeletal fitness has traditionally included assessment of muscle strength, muscle endurance, flexibility, and bone health (Bouchard et al., 2007). With increasing interest in and study of the role of muscle power in the elderly, it is likely that muscle power will emerge as another important characteristic of musculoskeletal fitness worthy of inclusion in future youth fitness assessments (Ashe et al., 2008; Bonnefoy et al., 2007; Reid and Fielding, 2012).

This chapter addresses musculoskeletal fitness (muscle strength, endurance, and power) as it relates to health markers in youth; the flexibility component of musculoskeletal fitness is considered in Chapter 7. The committee’s recommendations for selection of musculoskeletal fitness tests are based primarily on an extensive review of the literature provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC search strategy and data extraction procedures are described in Chapter 3. To

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

make its recommendations on this fitness component, in addition to providing evidence for a relationship to health, the committee considered the scientific integrity (reliability and validity) of putative health-related test items, as well as the administrative feasibility of implementing these items. The committee also offers recommendations for setting cut-points (cutoff scores) for interpretation of performance on musculoskeletal fitness tests. Recommendations regarding specific tests for measuring musculoskeletal fitness for national surveys and in schools and other educational settings are presented in Chapter 8 and 9, respectively. Future research needs are addressed in Chapter 10.

DEFINITIONS

Musculoskeletal fitness is a multidimensional construct comprising the integrated function of muscle strength, muscle endurance, and muscle power to enable the performance of work against one’s own body weight or an external resistance. No single measure of any of these dimensions adequately describes an individual’s overall level of musculoskeletal fitness; rather, each of these dimensions must be assessed individually, compared with appropriate performance or health standards, and then interpreted in an integrated and unified assessment of overall musculoskeletal fitness.

Muscle strength is the ability of skeletal muscle (single or group) to produce measurable force, torque, or moment about a single or multiple joints, typically during a single maximal voluntary contraction and under a defined set of controlled conditions, which include specificity of movement pattern, muscle contraction type (concentric, isometric, or eccentric), and contraction velocity (Farpour-Lambert and Blimkie, 2008; Kell et al., 2001; Sale and Norman, 1982). In youth fitness assessments, this definition usually applies to the production of maximal muscle force during a single maximal voluntary effort on a particular strength test. Some musculoskeletal fitness tests, however (e.g., the pull-up test), allow the completion of more than one near-maximal effort (e.g., two to three repetitions) and have traditionally also been considered tests of muscle strength. Strength is typically measured as force registered by a dynamometer (e.g., handgrip dynamometer) or a measurable external load resisted or moved against (e.g., weight machine or external weight).

Muscle endurance is the ability of a muscle or group of muscles to perform repeated contractions against a constant external load for an extended period of time (Kell et al., 2001). The constant load can be either an absolute external resistance, which provides a measure of absolute endurance, or a relative load based on an individual’s maximal strength, which provides a measure of relative endurance. In youth fitness assessments, this definition applies to voluntary submaximal efforts of variable force production

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

and speed by a muscle or group of muscles during performance on a wide variety of tests. Muscle endurance is typically measured as elapsed time or number of paced or nonpaced repetitions of the muscle action within either a specified or unrestricted time period.

Muscle power is a physiological construct reflecting the rate at which work is performed (Knuttgen and Kraemer, 1987). It is derived from the product of the force production of a muscle or group of muscles and the velocity of the muscle contraction during a single- or multijoint action (Sale and Norman, 1982). Muscle power is a complex construct consisting of several subdomains, including average, peak, instantaneous, and contractile power (Moffroid and Kusiak, 1975). In youth fitness testing, different field tests probably assess different subdomains of muscle power, although the specific associations between individual fitness tests and the power subdomains are poorly defined. Peak muscle power is dependent on the velocity of the action and is inversely related to the external resistance against the action. Peak power is typically generated within the range of 40-90 percent of peak external resistance, or approximately 70 percent of an individual’s one repetition maximum (1RM) (Reid and Fielding, 2012), and at submaximal velocity. Muscle power then can be defined as the product of force and velocity during execution of a maximal voluntary effort against a submaximal external resistance, and it can be measured directly in two ways: by setting a series of constant-velocity efforts and measuring muscle force at each velocity, or by setting a series of constant loads and measuring the velocity at each load, with power expressed in watts (W) being the product of force and velocity for each series effort. In practice, in youth fitness testing the velocity is either controlled or uncontrolled, and the external resistance is either the body weight or a resistance that is set below the peak force-producing capacity of the muscles involved in the action.

Field tests of muscle power typically involve assessment of upper-body (throwing distance) or lower-body (vertical squat jumps, vertical countermovement jumps, or long jump) muscle function, and usually measure height or distance covered. Performance on these tests is directly related to the attained velocity, which is proportional to the force generated during the action and provides an indirect measure of muscle power. Field tests of muscle power have been included as a surrogate measure of muscle strength even though physiologically, this extrapolation is valid only if the action is performed at a constant velocity, which is rarely the case in the field. For this review, the committee considered only power tests that incorporate a single maximal effort at a submaximal velocity and load (e.g., vertical or horizontal jumping tests). These tests require a high degree of neuromechanical coordination and are less dependent on the biochemical endurance capacities of the muscles compared with one of the most com-

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

mon measures of anaerobic power, the Wingate Anaerobic Test. Because of its unique physiological and neuromechanical characteristics, muscle power is considered one of three dimensions of musculoskeletal fitness in youth fitness assessments.

MUSCULOSKELETAL FITNESS TESTS

A plethora of fitness test batteries and items have been used over the past 55 years to assess musculoskeletal fitness in youth (see Table 2-6 in Chapter 2) (Castro-Piñero et al., 2010). The tests vary in their specific protocols, some purportedly assessing the muscle fitness of specific body regions (upper and lower body, trunk, abdomen, lower back) and some measuring isolated muscular function (e.g., muscle strength, endurance, or power) or combined strength and endurance function.

Since the mid-1970s, there has been growing interest in and development of health-related musculoskeletal fitness test batteries that have been based largely on theoretical construct validity and on health data from the adult population (AAHPERD, 1984; Jackson, 2006; Morrow et al., 2009; Plowman, 2008). The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) Health Related Physical Fitness Test, the first of many subsequent international fitness test batteries to claim assessment of health-related fitness in youth, included the modified, timed (1-minute) sit-up as the sole measure of musculoskeletal fitness.

More than 11 different classes of fitness test items have since been used to assess the muscle strength, endurance, or power dimensions of musculoskeletal fitness, many of them evaluating similar dimensions (Table 6-1). For example, there are several variations on the pull-up test of differing durations (no time limit, 30- or 60-second limit), with different anatomical alignment of the body (full arm extension or right-angled pull-up), and with varying interpretations of what the test items actually measure (upper-body strength, upper-body endurance, combined upper-body strength and endurance, athletic ability, relative strength).

It is apparent that many of these test items do not satisfy the physiological definitions of the three dimensions of musculoskeletal fitness. Muscle endurance fitness test items arguably may be considered the most physiologically valid field tests in youth as opposed to those measuring muscle strength and power, which are more subject to velocity control, loads, and number of repetitions. Additionally, several of the currently used field-based fitness tests (e.g., curl-up and pull-up) purport to measure more than one musculoskeletal dimension concurrently. Because of their lower construct validity, results of muscle strength and power tests must be interpreted cautiously in youth.

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

TABLE 6-1 Summary of Muscle Strength, Endurance, and Power Fitness Test Items Used Historically to Assess Musculoskeletal Fitness in International Youth Fitness Test Batteries

Fitness Test Item Fitness Component Evaluated Variant Approaches
Flexed/Bent
  • Arm and shoulder endurance
Arm Hang
  • Functional strength
 
Pull-up
  • Upper-body strength and endurance
  • Upper-body endurance
  • Athletic ability
  • Relative strength
  • Regular with full arm extension
  • Modified with right-angle limited extension
  • Untimed performance
  • Timed performance (30 and 60 seconds)
Push-up
  • Upper-body strength and endurance
  • Regular with full arm flexion/extension
  • Modified with limited arm flexion/extension to 90 degrees
  • Isometric hold position
Dip
  • Upper-body endurance
 
Sit-up
  • Abdominal strength and endurance
  • Abdominal endurance
  • Straight-legged
  • Bent-legged
  • Timed performance (30 and 60 seconds)
Curl-up
  • Abdominal strength and endurance
  • Trunk strength
  • Full flexion/extension
  • Partial flexion/extension
  • Untimed
  • Timed (30 seconds)
  • Cadence based
Trunk Lift
  • Back extensor strength
  • Back flexibility
 
Handgrip
Strength Test
  • Static/isometric strength
 
Standing
  • Explosive power
  • Levels
Broad/Long
  • Lower-body strength
 
Jump
  • Athletic ability
 
Vertical
  • Explosive power
  • Jump with no countermovement
Jump
  • Lower-body strength
  • Athletic ability
  • Countermovement jump
Throwing
  • Upper-body explosive strength
  • Strength and endurance
  • Athletic ability
  • Softball throw
  • Handball throw
  • Basketball throw
  • Medicine ball throw
  • Shotput (variable weights)
 
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

MUSCULOSKELETAL FITNESS AND HEALTH IN ADULTS

There is increasing evidence of the importance of musculoskeletal fitness as a determinant of health outcomes both in healthy young, middle-aged, and elderly adults and in adults with disability or chronic disease. A review of the relationship of early test batteries to health outcomes revealed that the evidence was limited, even though there was sound anatomical logical validity for a link between abdominal and back health and musculoskeletal fitness (Plowman, 1992). More recent evidence lends additional support to the idea that tests of abdominal and back extensor muscle endurance relate to back health status, as assessed by history of low-back pain, in adults (Payne et al., 2000).

In recent years, the link between musculoskeletal fitness and health in adults has extended beyond the initial focus on low-back health. Recent reviews have established positive associations between muscle strength and personal independence and quality of life, and inverse associations with cardiometabolic risk factors, frequency of cardiovascular disease events, risk of general morbidity for nonfatal diseases (e.g., fracture risk and cognitive decline), and all-cause mortality in middle-aged and elderly adults (Bohannon, 2008; Cooper et al., 2011; Garber et al., 2011; Warburton et al., 2001; Williams et al., 2007). Likewise, muscle endurance has been positively associated with overall quality of life and negatively associated with likelihood of falling and associated skeletal and soft tissue injuries (Warburton et al., 2001). Muscle power appears to decline more rapidly than muscle strength with aging, and loss of muscle power is strongly associated with decreases in functional ability (e.g., reduced ability to stand from sitting in a chair), and it may be predictive of decreased mobility and premature mortality in adults (Reid and Fielding, 2012; Warburton et al., 2001).

Skeletal muscle and its functional capacities may also be related to more health-related outcomes than has previously been appreciated. Reductions in skeletal muscle mass associated with acute or chronic illness may negatively impact musculoskeletal fitness as assessed by muscle strength, endurance, and power tests. Reduced muscle strength and function with accompanying loss of muscle mass in acute or chronic illness are related to increased recovery times, impaired patient quality of life, and likelihood of institutionalization (Wolfe, 2006). Further, skeletal muscle is a major regulator of glucose and fat metabolism and may play an important role in the development of the metabolic syndrome and perhaps even obesity (Jurca et al., 2005). The degree to which musculoskeletal fitness tests are predictive of the development of these conditions and their responsiveness to clinical management in adults remains an interesting yet untested question. Lastly, skeletal muscle may be an important determinant of bone and joint health in middle-aged and older adults as a result of direct muscle

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

forces imparted to the skeleton during movement, as well as the effect of increased muscle mass on skeletal loading. While it is difficult to separate those two effects (Beck, 2009), suggestive evidence points to a positive association between measures of musculoskeletal fitness (especially muscle strength and power) and bone health in adults (Ashe et al., 2008; Cooper et al., 2011; von Stengel et al., 2005, 2007). Positive associations also have been reported between muscle strength and power and better quality of life, lower risk of falls and fractures, and reduced morbidity and mortality (Cooper et al., 2011; von Stengel et al., 2005, 2007). Likewise, muscle weakness has been identified as a risk factor for osteoarthritis in this population (Garber et al., 2011).

The validity of the relationships described above is further corroborated by evidence for the effect of resistance training programs on muscle strength, endurance, and power, along with changes in various health outcomes. Resistance training programs now are generally accepted as being effective at improving muscle strength, endurance, and power in both sexes, across all ages during adulthood, and for both healthy adults and those with chronic disease or disability (McCartney and Phillips, 2007; Reid and Fielding, 2012; Williams et al., 2007). These programs also have resulted in a multitude of adaptations that foster better health among adults, such as improved body composition, blood glucose and insulin regulation, systemic arterial blood pressure in prehypertensives, blood lipid and lipoprotein profiles, bone health and management of arthritic pain and disability, and prevention or improved management of the metabolic syndrome (Garber et al., 2011; McCartney and Phillips, 2007; Williams et al., 2007). Similarly, resistance training has resulted in enhanced exercise and functional capacity, improved balance, and decreased falls (Garber et al., 2011; McCartney and Phillips, 2007). Resistance training may also improve quality of life and self-efficacy and moderate levels of depression and anxiety among adults (Garber et al., 2011; McCartney and Phillips, 2007; Williams et al., 2007).

MUSCULOSKELETAL FITNESS AND HEALTH IN YOUTH

Literature Review Process

The CDC’s systematic review of the literature included muscle strength and muscle endurance, but not muscle power, as components of fitness because they are the dimensions of musculoskeletal fitness that have been used most frequently in fitness test batteries. The muscle strength search screened 2,642 reports, only 63 of which satisfied the CDC search criteria for further consideration and were abstracted. Of this subset of 63 studies, 23 were classified as experimental, 22 as experimental with no control, 12 as quasi-experimental, and 6 as longitudinal.

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

The muscle endurance search screened 6,563 reports, 38 of which were retained for further consideration and were abstracted. Of this subset, 12 studies were experimental, 15 experimental with no control, 6 quasi-experimental, and 5 longitudinal. The committee chose to review only the experimental (including those with no control and quasi-experimental) and longitudinal prospective studies in making its recommendations. In addition to the CDC search strategy, the committee reviewed the reference lists in the selected articles and relevant studies published before 2000 or after 2010.

The committee developed a set of criteria with which to assess the scientific quality of the studies (see Chapter 3). Each study was evaluated against those criteria and categorized as of low, moderate, or high quality. Only those of high quality were reviewed further; they are described in Table 6-2. The evidence for a link between a test item and a health marker in the top high-quality studies was categorized as direct or associational based on the strength of the study design and the rigor of the statistical analysis. The strength of the evidence was categorized as sufficient or insufficient based on the number of studies with direct or indirect evidence, the study designs, and the statistical significance of the association.

Review of the Scientific Literature

Chronic, hypokinetic-related diseases are manifestations of latent progressive poor health over a protracted period of time. Because these diseases are relatively less prevalent in youth, there is substantially less scientific evidence supporting the association of musculoskeletal fitness with health outcomes in youth than in adults.

The relationship between health and musculoskeletal fitness in youth has been reviewed recently in relation to the development of the Fitnessgram®/Activitygram® (Welk and Blair, 2008) and a new health-related physical fitness test battery for European youth—the Assessing Levels of Physical Activity (ALPHA) study (Castro-Piñero et al., 2010; Ortega et al., 2008b; Ruiz et al., 2009). In a recent review, Ortega and colleagues (2008b) report significant inverse associations of lower-limb explosive strength (i.e., power) and abdominal endurance with lower-abdominal obesity in youth (e.g., p < 0.001 between performance on the standing long jump and waist circumference in 8-year-old males) (Brunet et al., 2007). The same review also highlights inverse associations (p = 0.048) between a composite muscle fitness index score and a standardized composite measure of cardiovascular risk among adolescent girls (Garcia-Artero et al., 2007), and between putative cardiovascular inflammatory markers and muscle strength in normal-weight and overweight adolescents (for C-reactive protein, p = 0.02 and p = 0.09, respectively) (Ruiz et al., 2008). Additionally, positive associations were found between muscle

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

TABLE 6-2 Summary of Top-Quality Studies Providing Best Evidence for Muscular Strength/Power

Reference and Study Type Fitness Test(s) Body Composition Metabolic Health Cardiorespiratory Health Musculoskeletal Health Mental and Cognitive Health Age, Gender, Maturity, Weight Status, Population Study Summary, Quality, and Level of Evidence
Benson et al., 2008 Experimental Bench press (BP), leg press (LP) Waist circumference (WC), fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM), % body fat (BF), body mass index (BMI) Homeostatic model assessment—insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), glucose,b insulin,b triglycerides (TG),b cholesterol and subfractionsb       Ages 11-19, male and female (M and F), overweight, obese, New Zealand An 8-week strength-training intervention program resulted in significant gains in both bench press and leg press strength and differential positive training effects on WC, % BF, FM, and BMI but not on any of the metabolic health markers.

Level of evidence (LE): Direct

Janz et al., 2002 Longitudinal Handgrip strength test % BF, abdominal fat (AF)a TG,b lipids,b cholesterolb Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP)     Ages 10.5-15.5, M and F, normal weight A 5-year prospective nonintervention study found significant negative correlations between changes in handgrip strength and changes in SBP, BF, and AF between 10 and 15 years of age, with those with high handgrip strength scores at the outset having the best health marker profiles 4-5 years later.

LE:Associational

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Ingle et al., 2006 Experimental BP/LP, squat, standing long jump (SLJ), vertical jump (VJ) % BF,a LMa         Ages 11-12, M, normal weight A 12-week intervention program consisting of combined strength and plyometric training resulted in significant differential increases in BP, squat, and VJ, with a significant reduction in % BF and increase in LM, and then slight regression of these changes during detraining, while control values remained stable.

LE:Direct

Heinonen et al., 2000 Experimental SLJ/VJ/LJ, isometric leg extensor—90 degrees       Tibial bone mineral content (BMC),b femoral neck (FN) BMC,a lumbar spine (LS) BMC,a trochanter BMC,a tibia bone mineral density   F, pre- and postmenarcheal, normal weight A 9-month intervention study of high-impact exercises found significant increases in LJ in both pre-and postmenarcheal girls, with no changes in leg extension strength in either age group; concurrent significant increases in FN and LS BMC in premenarcheal girls; and a differential positive effect in premenarcheal versus postmenarcheal girls for
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Reference and Study Type Fitness Test(s) Body Composition Metabolic Health Cardiorespiratory Health Musculoskeletal Health Mental and Cognitive Health Age, Gender, Maturity, Weight Status, Population Study Summary, Quality, and Level of Evidence
    (BMD),b tibia bone areab and strengthb   FN and trochanter BMC but not in tibia peripheral qualitative computed tomography (PQCT) measures of BMD, bone area, or bone strength.

LE:Associational

Kontulainen et al., 2002 Longitudinal SLJ/VJ, isometric leg extension—90 degrees LS BMC,a FN BMC,b trochanter BMCb F, peri- and pubertal, normal weight A prospective follow-up study 9 months after a jump training intervention program found significantly higher standing LJ scores but not leg extension scores and significantly higher LS BMC (but not BMC at other sites) in the trained group versus controls.

LE: Associational

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
McGuigan et al., 2009 Quasi-experimental (no control) One repetition maximum (1RM) squat, countermovement jump (CMJ), static VJ % BF,a BMI,b LM,a FMb Tibial BMC b Ages 7-12, M and F, overweight, obese An 8-week strength-training intervention study resulted in significant increases in countermovement jump height and relative counter-movement peak power and significant favorable changes in absolute % BF and lean tissue mass, but not BMI, FM, or whole-body BMC.

Associational

Minck et al., 2000 Longitudinal SLJ/VJ, maximal arm pull % BFa         Ages 13-27, M and F, normal weight A 14-year prospective nonintervention study found significant negative univariate correlations between changes in arm pull and VJ and changes in absolute BF and % BF corrected for height and weight in both sexes between 13 and 27 years of age. The strongest association was between changes in BF after adjustment for confounders and standing high jump (VJ).

LE:Direct

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Reference and Study Type Fitness Test(s) Body Composition Metabolic Health Cardiorespiratory Health Musculoskeletal Health Mental and Cognitive Health Age, Gender, Maturity, Weight Status, Population Study Summary, Quality, and Level of Evidence
Morris et al., 1997 Experimental Isokinetic shoulder and knee flexor/extensor and handgrip LM,a FMa     Total body (TB), LS, FN, and proximal femur BMD,a multiple bone areasa   Age 9, F, premenarch, normal weight, Austrian A 10-month intervention (schools randomized) that included 10 weeks of strength training (plus mixed aerobic activities) resulted in significant differential effects on shoulder flexor/extensor strength, knee extensor strength, and nondominant handgrip strength, with positive differential increases in LM and TB, LS, FN, and proximal femur BMD, as well as multiple bone areas, and a significant reduction in FM in the trained group.

LE:Associational

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Lubans et al., 2010 Experimental BP/LP BMI (girls),a % BF (girls),a LM (boys),a FM (boys)a       Physical self-worth Ages 14-15, M and F, normal weight An 8-week intervention program of traditional strength-training exercises and elastic tube training resulted in significant differential effects on BP and LP strength, with a significant decrease in FM and an increase in LM and fat-free mass (FFM) in boys and improvements in BMI and % BF in girls. There were significant negative correlations between changes in strength and fat loss in sex-pooled data and positive correlations between strength and physical self-worth changes.

LE:Direct

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Reference and Study Type Fitness Test(s) Body Composition Metabolic Health Cardiorespiratory Health Musculoskeletal Health Mental and Cognitive Health Age, Gender, Maturity, Weight Status, Population Study Summary, Quality, and Level of Evidence
Naylor et al., 2008 Experimental Combined BP and LP LM,a % BFa   Myocardvelocity,a SBP,a left arterial pressurea     Ages 12-13, M and F, obese An 8-week strength-training intervention program resulted in significant increases in “combined” 1RM dual leg press and bench press (largest gains in leg press strength) and significant decreases in SBP and increases in LM and % BF. Additional positive effects were found on selected cardiac function health markers reflecting transmitral peak early velocity (E), early diastolic peak myocardial velocity (E1), and the E/E1 ratio (a measure of left atrial pressure).

LE:Associational

Nichols et al., 2001 Experimental BP/LP % BF,b FM,b FFM     Femoral neck BMCa/BMD,a whole-body BMC/BMD,b trochanter BMC/BMD,b LS BMC/   Ages 14-19, F, normal weight A 15-month strength training intervention program resulted in significant differential training effects on LP strength only and increases in FN BMC/BMD only in normal
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
          BMD,b Ward’s area BMC/BMD b     adolescent girls; however, only 5 subjects remained after 15 months in the trained group.

LE:Direct

Shaibi et al., 2006 Experimental BP/LP BMI,b FFM,a % BF,a total fat mass (TFMb) Insulin and glucose response/disposition index,b insulin sensitivitya       Age 15, M, overweight, Latino A 16-week strength-training intervention resulted in a significant differential increase in BP and leg strength, with differential favorable effects on insulin sensitivity, total LM, and % BF (although the change in % BF was not significantly different from that in controls), but not on BMI or TFM.

LE:Direct

Velez et al., 2010 Experimental BP, seated row, shoulder press, squat % BF,a FM,a LMa       Self-esteema Ages 14-18, M and F, normal weight, overweight, obese, Hispanic A 12-week strength-training intervention program resulted in significant increases in BP, seated row, shoulder press, and squat strength, with significant reductions in % BF and FM and improved LM and self-esteem.

LE:Associational

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
b LM,a % BF,b visceral fat,b BMI b
Hepatic insulin sensitivity,a peripheral insulin sensitivity,b blood lipids,b inflammatory markers,b TG,b hepatic glucose productiona   Tibial BMDa   Ages 13+, M and F, obese, Hispanic A 12-week strength-training intervention program resulted in increased strength for all strength measures in both sexes, with no changes in total or visceral fat mass, subcutaneous fat, or BMI but significant gains in FFM (LM) and tibial BMD and improvements in hepatic insulin sensitivity and glucose production rate and no changes in blood lipids, TG, inflammatory markers, or peripheral insulin sensitivity.

LE:Associational

Witzke and Snow, 2000 Experimental Isokinetic knee extensor—85-150 degrees LM,b FMb     Tibial BMC,b greater trochanter BMC a   Ages 14-19, F, menarcheal, normal weight A 9-month intervention study of plyometric jump training resulted in significant increases in knee extensor strength with a significant differential increase (with post hoc subgroup analysis but not with initial analysis of variance
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
                [ANOVA]) in trochanter BMC but not TB BMC and no changes in LM or FM.

LE:Direct

Blimkie et al., 1996 Experimental Biceps curl, triceps press, knee extensor/flex-or, squat, press % BFb       TB and LS BMD/BMCb Ages 14-18, F, menarcheal, normal weight A 26-week strength-training intervention resulted in significant increases in all strength outcome measures, with a trend toward improvements but no statistically significant effect on TB and LS BMC/BMD or % BF (from skinfolds). There were weak to moderate significant positive correlations between most criterion strength measures and measures of BMC and BMD at baseline for the trained and control groups combined, but no significant correlations between changes in strength outcomes and changes in bone mineral measures in the resistance training group over the course of the study.

LE:Direct

aPositive effect.

bNull effect.

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

strength and total and site-specific (e.g., lumbar spine) bone mineral status (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) among prepubertal and adolescent youth (Ginty et al., 2005). Less convincing evidence hints at a positive association between improved muscular fitness and functional mobility and quality of life in youth with cancer (Ortega et al., 2008b). Other sources have reported significant positive univariate associations between various measures of muscle strength and bone health in normal nonathletic and athletic adolescents, but the strength of these relationships varies by skeletal site, muscle strength, and bone health measure and usually weakens when adjusted for body size or other known confounders (e.g., Blimkie et al., 1996; Duncan et al., 2002; Rice et al., 1993). A recent systematic review (Ruiz et al., 2009) for the period January 1990 to July 2008 concludes that there is strong evidence of a link between changes in muscle strength and changes in overall adiposity, but less strong (often inconsistent or nonexisting) evidence of a link with changes in central obesity, systolic blood pressure, blood lipid profiles, low-back pain, or quality of life and well-being in youth.

Body Composition

Among the high-quality studies included in the committee’s review (Table 6-2), the relationships between measures of body composition and muscle strength/power were investigated most frequently. Six studies provide associational evidence supporting a link with an array of muscle strength/power fitness measures of the upper extremity (i.e., the handgrip, biceps curl, triceps press, shoulder press, shoulder flexion and extension), trunk (i.e., bench/chest press, seated row), and lower extremity (i.e., squat, leg press, knee/quadriceps extension, countermovement jump) (Janz et al., 2002; McGuigan et al., 2009; Morris et al., 1997; Naylor et al., 2008; van der Heijden et al., 2010; Velez et al., 2010). Body composition variables include body fat mass, percent body fat, abdominal fat, and lean or fat-free tissue mass, with most relationships observed in overweight/obese boys and girls within a rather narrow age range. Six high-quality studies provide direct evidence of a link between changes in muscle strength and power and favorable changes in health markers, including percent body fat, lean or fat-free mass, waist circumference, and body mass index (BMI) (Benson et al., 2008; Ingle et al., 2006; Lubans et al., 2010; Minck et al., 2000; Shaibi et al., 2006). Trunk (i.e., bench press) and lower-body (i.e., leg press, squat, and vertical jump) musculoskeletal measures are the most consistently related to these body composition outcomes, spanning the period from late childhood to adulthood in both normal-weight and overweight/obese youth of both sexes.

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

Bone Health

The second most frequently assessed relationship in the committee’s review was between muscle strength and power measures and bone health outcomes. Four studies provide indirect evidence of positive associations between measures of upper-body (i.e., the handgrip, shoulder flexion and extension, biceps curl, chest fly), trunk (i.e., chest press), and lower-body (i.e., knee-quadriceps extension, hamstring curl, squat, long jump) strength and power using a variety of skeletal measures (i.e., total-body, lumbar spine, femoral neck, and proximal femur bone mineral content [BMC] or bone mineral density [BMD]), mainly in normal pre- and pubertal/menarcheal girls of normal weight (Heinonen et al., 2000; Kontulainen et al., 2002; Morris et al., 1997). A single study by van der Heijden and colleagues (2010) was the only one to investigate this relationship in both sexes in obese peripubertal youth. Only two high-quality studies provide direct evidence of a relationship between musculoskeletal strength and bone health. Witzke and Snow (2000) demonstrated a positive link between changes in knee extensor isokinetic strength and changes in trochanter BMC in menarcheal adolescent girls. Nichols and colleagues (2001) report a positive link between measures of bench press and leg press strength and femoral neck BMC/BMD in a small sample of five menarcheal girls. Few studies have investigated this relationship in boys and youth in early to middle childhood.

Metabolic Health

Only four high-quality studies investigated the relationship between musculoskeletal fitness and markers of metabolic health in youth (Benson et al., 2008; Janz et al., 2002; Shaibi et al., 2006; van der Heijden et al., 2010). These studies involved exclusively overweigh/obese youth of both sexes ranging in age from late childhood to late adolescence. One of these studies provides associational evidence of a link between multiple measures of upper-body (i.e., biceps curl, fly), trunk (i.e., chest press), and lower-body (i.e., hamstring curl, quadriceps extension, squat) muscle strength and hepatic insulin sensitivity and glucose production (van der Heijden et al., 2010). Another provides more direct evidence of a link between bench press (i.e., trunk) and leg press (i.e., lower-body) strength and improved insulin sensitivity in overweight adolescent boys (Shaibi et al., 2006).

Cardiorespiratory Health

Two high-quality studies provide indirect evidence for a link between musculoskeletal fitness and cardiorespiratory health markers in youth (Janz

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

et al., 2002; Naylor et al., 2008). Increases in handgrip strength were associated with reductions in systolic blood pressure in normal-weight boys and girls aged 10-15 (Janz et al., 2002), and gains in a combined measure of bench press and leg press strength were associated with improvements in systolic blood pressure and markers of heart function (i.e., peak transmitral velocity of flow, diastolic myocardial velocity, and left atrial pressure) in obese boys and girls aged 12-13 (Naylor et al., 2008). Likewise, only two studies examined the relationship between muscle strength and power measures and measures of mental/cognitive health. Velez and colleagues (2010) report a positive association between measures of upper-body (i.e., shoulder press), trunk (i.e., bench press, seated row), and lower-body (i.e., squat) strength and power and self-esteem in normal-weight and overweight/obese adolescent boys and girls aged 14-18, whereas Lubans and colleagues (2010) provide direct evidence of a link between bench press and leg press strength and physical self-worth in normal-weight boys and girls aged 14-15.

Resistance Training Programs and Health Outcomes

Paralleling the adult literature, there is growing acceptance that appropriately prescribed and administered resistance training programs can improve muscle strength, endurance, and power in youth (Blimkie and Bar-Or, 2008; Faigenbaum et al., 2009; Malina, 2006). However, the health-related risks and benefits of this type of training and the relationship between improvements in musculoskeletal fitness and changes in health outcomes have not been as systematically investigated for youth. Effective resistance training programs may (1) reduce the risk of joint injury in adolescent athletes, (2) improve body composition specifically among children and adolescents who are obese or at risk of obesity, (3) improve insulin sensitivity in both normal-weight peripubertal children and obese adolescents, (4) reduce blood pressure in hypertensive adolescents, and (5) improve blood lipid profiles in both children and adolescents (Blimkie, 1993; Faigenbaum et al., 2009). The relationship between resistance training and improvements in musculoskeletal fitness and bone health in youth are controversial, mainly because of the complex manner and time frame in which bone responds to physical activities. In addition to very high forces on bone, bone adaptation may be regulated by other parameters of the activity (e.g., the loading rate) and muscle mass (Beck, 2009). Based on the limited number of good prospective controlled experimental studies, the link between improved musculoskeletal fitness and bone health remains tenuous in youth. Also paralleling the adult literature, the relationship between improved musculoskeletal fitness following resistance training and psychological health outcomes in youth is relatively weak (Faigenbaum et al., 2009).

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

Moderate- and high-intensity resistance training programs have been employed effectively, efficaciously, and safely with children as young as 8-10 years of age (Blimkie, 1993; Faigenbaum et al., 2009; Farpour-Lambert and Blimkie, 2008). Likewise, 1RM or relative repetition maximum (e.g., 10RM) strength testing has been employed safely with youth of this age. For younger youth, however, these forms of specialized training and testing have been used mainly in the research setting under the close supervision of experienced trainers and under closely controlled conditions. These activities are not risk-free, and age/developmental status should be considered carefully when they are being incorporated into youth fitness improvement/testing programs, especially those for preteen youth. Recommendations and guidelines for youth strength training and testing to mitigate risk were recently published by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (Faigenbaum et al., 2009) and the American Academy of Pediatrics and Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness (2008).

Limitations of the Scientific Literature

Most of the studies reviewed by the committee had limitations that precluded strong conclusions about the relationship between performance on musculoskeletal fitness tests and health outcomes or markers in youth. Many of the studies were not designed to answer questions about the relationship between the fitness tests employed and health. For example, primary study outcomes often were changes in diet, weight loss, or generalized physical activity rather than changes in musculoskeletal fitness characteristics. In many of the studies reviewed, either the nature of the intervention was not specific enough (e.g., a combination of endurance, strength, and power exercises without a focus on a particular dimension), or the dosage and duration of the exercise intervention were inadequate to elicit changes in musculoskeletal fitness, a requisite for establishing any relationships between a change in fitness and health.

Many of the reviewed studies were statistically underpowered to detect significant relationships, considered only very narrow gender-specific age ranges or discrete developmental groups, and often included unique subpopulations of overweight and obese youth. In addition, in many of the studies the analysis failed to consider the effects of potential confounders, and only indirect inferences could be drawn regarding the relationships between musculoskeletal fitness and health outcomes or markers. Quantifiable multivariate analyses, which were rarely conducted, would have permitted a more direct assessment of these relationships. Further, many studies related health outcome measures to the musculoskeletal fitness of isolated body regions, precluding generalization to whole-body musculoskeletal fitness status.

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

In summary, there is an insufficient body of high-quality literature to support a strong link between performance on any specific musculoskeletal fitness test by youth of either gender and across all ages and stages of development and any health outcomes or markers. The current literature in this area is too fragmented to permit identification of any specific musculoskeletal fitness test item that is unequivocally linked to health in the general population of healthy youth.

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF SELECTED TEST ITEMS

Despite the limitations of the literature discussed above, the growing evidence in youth and stronger evidence in adults is suggestive of a fundamental relationship between musculoskeletal fitness and health outcomes across the life span. The committee finds that handgrip strength test and the standing long jump are two tests that globally represent musculoskeletal strength and power in youth and demonstrate adequate validity, reliability, and feasibility of administration for inclusion in fitness test batteries for all youth. This section reviews the validity and reliability of these two tests, for which there is some, albeit limited, evidence for a relationship to health in the literature reviewed. It also looks at the integrity of the modified pull-up and isometric leg extension tests, which also may be useful for assessing musculoskeletal fitness; however, the literature review provided very limited high-quality evidence for a link to health outcomes in youth for these two tests.

While numerous fitness tests purportedly measure muscle strength, endurance, and power in youth, information about their validity and reliability is limited. Nevertheless, an increasing body of literature pertaining to the validity and reliability of a few musculoskeletal fitness tests provides reasonable justification for including these tests in a test battery for assessment of musculoskeletal fitness in youth. As mentioned above, the committee’s systematic literature review included muscle strength and endurance, but not muscle power, as components of fitness. Some of the tests reported, however, such as throwing and jumping tests, purportedly assess some aspects of muscle power (e.g., average, peak, instantaneous, and contractile power). Although the specific associations between individual fitness tests and aspects of muscle power are poorly defined, the committee’s discussion of the validity of the tests takes account of the fact that the selected tests of musculoskeletal fitness could measure either muscle strength, endurance, or power.

The handgrip strength test is used extensively in European youth fitness testing. Based on the available literature, the handgrip strength test has moderate to strong construct validity (r = 0.52-0.84) with established upper-body (i.e., 1RM bench press) and lower-body (i.e., leg press and isokinetic knee extensor torque) strength tests (Holm et al., 2008; Milliken et

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

al., 2008) and strong reliability (r = 0.71-0.90) in children and adolescents (Benefice et al., 1999; Brunet et al., 2007; Ruiz et al., 2006). It also has minimal test-retest learning and fatigue effects (Ortega et al., 2008a). Given differences in hand sizes among youth, optimal grip span adjustment, elbow angle, and device calibration are important for valid testing.

The standing long jump has been used extensively as a test of lower-body muscular strength, power, and explosive strength (see Table 2-6 in Chapter 2). Although not strictly a measure of power as that subdomain is defined, the standing long jump is the most widely used field-based test of muscle power/explosive strength. It demonstrates moderate to strong correlations with 1RM leg press/body weight (r = 0.39) (Milliken et al., 2008), isokinetic quadriceps torque (r = 0.50) (Holm et al., 2008), and total-body isometric strength (r = 0.77) (Castro-Piñero et al., 2010) in youth. In addition, the standing long jump correlates strongly (r = 0.70-0.91) with other lower- and upper-extremity field-based power tests (i.e., vertical jump, countermovement vertical jump, upper-body explosive throw) in youth (ages 6-17), controlling for age, gender, and BMI and/or weight (Castro-Piñero et al., 2010; Milliken et al., 2008). The standing long jump also has been found to have acceptable reliability in youth (r = 0.52-0.99) (Benefice et al., 1999; España-Romero et al., 2010; Malina et al., 2004; Pena Reyes et al., 2003; Safrit, 1995; Simons et al., 1990). In addition, the reliability of this test appears not to be affected by either systematic bias or sex differences among adolescents (Ortega et al., 2008a), although reliability estimates generally increase with age. Differences in gross motor coordination and experience with jumping across developmental time may influence the degree of test-retest reliability for the standing long jump. Controlling individually for anthropometric variables (i.e., height and body mass) provides a more valid assessment of lower-body strength and power for this test across ages (Castro-Piñero et al., 2010; Milliken et al., 2008).

The modified pull-up and isometric knee extension tests also are valid and reliable tests of upper- and lower-body musculoskeletal fitness, respectively; however, insufficient scientific evidence supports the link between these two tests and health outcomes in youth. The modified pull-up has demonstrated moderate to strong construct validity (r = 0.60-0.79) with other upper-body criterion strength measures (i.e., 1RM bench press, pull-down, arm curl) in boys and girls when measured per unit body weight (Pate et al., 1993). The highest correlation demonstrated (r = 0.75) comprises the sum of the multiple upper-extremity strength tests, which demonstrates strong construct validity for a composite measure of upper-body strength. The modified pull-up also is moderately to strongly correlated (r = 0.64-0.79) with push-ups, thus demonstrating a crossover effect with muscle strength and endurance. Moderate to high test-retest reliability (r = 0.52-0.99) (Engelman and Morrow, 1991; Erbaugh, 1990; Kollath et al.,

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

1991; Saint Romain and Mahar, 2001) and modified Kappa coefficients (0.87-0.94) (Saint Romain and Mahar, 2001) have been demonstrated for the modified pull-up.

The isometric knee extension test is a criterion measure of lower-extremity quadriceps strength (and a general measure of lower-extremity leg extension strength) used primarily in clinical or laboratory settings. Many different methods (e.g., supine and upright sitting) and instruments (e.g., hand-held dynomometer, Cybex isokinetic equipment) have been used to test knee extension strength, and an optimal knee angle is an important consideration for adequately measuring maximum torque at the knee. Optimal knee angle remains relatively untested in children; however, knee angles of 80-90 degrees may produce the highest torque levels in this population (Marginson and Eston, 2001). Validation of isometric knee extension tests with other criterion lower-body strength measures (e.g., leg press and bilateral squat exercises) in youth is limited. The strength of the relationship between isometric and isokinetic knee extension has been shown to decrease with increasing isokinetic angular speeds (Hill et al., 1996). The isometric knee extension test demonstrates strong reliability (r = 0.76-0.97) for single- and double-leg tests (Escolar et al., 2001; Hill et al., 1996; Mercer and Lewis, 2001; Teeple et al., 1975) in both normal and disabled children. As with other fitness tests, familiarization with the testing procedures is advisable to optimize the validity of the test results (Farpour-Lambert and Blimkie, 2008).

ADMINISTRATIVE FEASIBILITY

In addition to validity and reliability, the selection of musculoskeletal fitness test items for inclusion in a youth fitness survey will depend on their administrative feasibility and practicality in the field. Principles relating to administrative feasibility for fitness testing for all fitness components are discussed in general in Chapter 3 and more specifically for application in school settings in Chapter 9. Developers and administrators of fitness surveys should carefully consider the issues outlined in Box 3-2 in Chapter 3 and in Chapter 9 when selecting specific musculoskeletal fitness test items for inclusion in a youth fitness test battery. The two specific musculoskeletal fitness tests discussed in the previous section and highlighted for their potential relationship to health in youth (i.e., handgrip strength and standing long jump tests) are among the most practical and feasible of a plethora of muscle strength, endurance, and power tests for field-based physical fitness assessment in this population. These tests can be taught effectively and administered safely to most school-aged youth, with consistency and reliability likely improving with increasing age and maturity from age 5 until the onset of puberty.

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

Administrative considerations for musculoskeletal fitness tests applicable to schools and other educational settings are described in Chapter 9. These tests (modified pull-up, push-up, and curl-up) generally require more skill and coordination than the handgrip and standing long jump tests and are perhaps more susceptible to learning and other effects. Thus these tests may be taught to all school-aged youth; however, performance may be less reliable than is the case for the handgrip strength and standing long jump tests for younger ages, but as with those tests, may improve with advancing age and maturity.

GUIDANCE FOR INTERPRETATION OF TEST RESULTS

Chapter 3 recommends several strategies that developers of fitness test batteries can employ to ensure accurate interpretation of health-fitness relationships in youth. The most robust approach requires establishing a strong link between some fitness parameter and one or several putative health markers in a broad population of youth and identifying health-related cut-points. However, the literature contains no recent (within the past 10 years) national normative data for the muscle strength, endurance, and power tests discussed in this chapter for U.S. youth, and there is scant evidence of any link between these tests and possible health markers for this population. At present, therefore, empirically determined health-related cut-points cannot be established for these tests. In the absence of criterion-referenced cut-points in youth or adults, interim cut-points corresponding to the 20th percentile should be used for tests of musculoskeletal fitness, analogous to the cut-points for cardiorespiratory endurance, until better evidence for criterion-referenced health-related cut-points is established by further research. Experts who will establish cut-points for musculoskeletal fitness tests in youth should follow the guidance in this report (Chapter 3) and base the cut-points on the unique purposes of the testing (e.g., cut-points for special populations such as athletes or people with disabilities).

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the CDC literature and the supplemental literature reviewed for this report, the committee concludes that there currently is sufficient evidence affirming that musculoskeletal fitness is related to health in humans. This conclusion is based mainly on increasing evidence for the importance of musculoskeletal fitness, especially muscle strength and power, to health outcomes in adults. There is some, albeit much more limited, support for this link among youth. At this time, however, there is insufficient high-quality evidence supporting an association between any single musculoskeletal fitness test item and health markers in youth. Studies reviewed also provide insuf-

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

ficient data for assessing the influence of several potential modifiers—age, gender, race/ethnicity, body composition, maturation status—on performance on musculoskeletal fitness tests.

The committee found growing evidence supporting the handgrip and standing long jump tests as putative health-related (i.e., bone health and body composition) musculoskeletal fitness test items in youth. The handgrip strength test demonstrates moderate to strong validity with both upper- and lower-body criterion strength measures. The standing long jump, although not strictly a measure of pure muscle strength, demonstrates acceptable concurrent validity with lower- and upper-body criterion strength measures and lower-body power measures in youth. The handgrip strength and standing long jump tests demonstrate strong and moderate reliability, respectively. Both are applicable across a broad age range, in both sexes, and in both normal and special pediatric subpopulations. These two tests also are currently included in the ALPHA test battery for musculoskeletal fitness assessment in European youth. Test administrators may wish to include these tests in a national youth fitness survey based on their integrity and feasibility; however, the results of these tests should not be interpreted in a health context until such relationships are more firmly established. The committee found no evidence of adverse events associated with the administration of these tests in the studies reviewed.

Other tests, such as the modified pull-up and isometric knee extension, also are being used as measures of muscular strength in current fitness test batteries in the United States but are linked only weakly with health markers in youth at this time. Therefore, despite their acceptable validity, reliability, and feasibility, the committee does not recommend these tests for a national youth fitness survey until such health links are more firmly established. In addition, although the bench press and leg press tests are viewed as standard criterion measures of strength or endurance (based on the number of repetitions demanded) in adults, they cannot be recommended for inclusion in a national youth fitness survey at this time because of the limited quality and level of the scientific evidence for the relationship of these tests to health outcomes in youth; the paucity of information on their reliability across childhood; and concerns regarding their administrative feasibility, practicality, and safety.

For schools and other educational settings, administrators should consider the hand grip strength and standing long jump tests as well as alternative tests that have not yet been shown to be related to health, but are valid, reliable, and feasible. The modified pull-up and push-up tests are possible alternatives for measuring upper-body musculoskeletal strength. The curl-up could also be considered for measuring an additional construct, core strength. The committee found no evidence of adverse events associated with the administration of these tests in the studies reviewed. The com-

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

mittee’s full recommendations on musculoskeletal fitness tests for use in national youth fitness surveys and in schools and other educational settings are presented in Chapters 8 and 9, respectively.

Moderate to strong tracking of selected measures of muscle strength and power both during adolescence (Maia et al., 2001; Malina, 1996; Pate et al., 1999) and from adolescence into adulthood (Beunen et al., 1992; Malina, 1996; Mikkelsson et al., 2006; Twisk et al., 2000) suggests that measures of musculoskeletal fitness in youth may prove to be useful predictors of future adult health. Tracking relationships appear to be weaker during the preadolescent years and more stable for lower- versus upper-body strength/power measures (Malina et al., 2004). Tracking variability in youth may be explained by age-related differences in the development of inter- and intramuscular coordination and differing levels of experience with specific fitness tests. Further, there is increasing evidence of moderate tracking of biologic health markers, especially for coronary heart disease, from childhood/adolescence into adulthood that in the future may be shown to be related to musculoskeletal fitness in youth (Bao et al., 1995; Froberg and Andersen, 2005; Malina et al., 2004; Twisk et al., 1995, 1997). Whether changes in muscle strength, endurance, and power during youth are predictive of adult health outcomes in later life, however, remains to be determined.

REFERENCES

AAHPERD (American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance). 1984. Health related physical fitness test: Technical manual. Reston, VA: AAHPERD.

American Academy of Pediatrics, and Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness. 2008. Strength training by children and adolescents. Pediatrics 121(4):835-840.

Ashe, M. C., T. Y. L. Liu-Ambrose, D. M. L. Cooper, K. M. Khan, and H. A. McKay. 2008. Muscle power is related to tibial bone strength in older women. Osteoporosis International 19(12):1725-1732.

Bao, W., S. A. Threefoot, S. R. Srinivasan, and G. S. Berenson. 1995. Essential hypertension predicted by tracking of elevated blood pressure from childhood to adulthood: The Bogalusa Heart Study. American Journal of Hypertension 8(7):657-665.

Beck, B. R. 2009. Muscle forces or gravity—what predominates mechanical loading on bone? Introduction. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 41(11):2033-2036.

Benefice, E., T. Fouere, and R. M. Malina. 1999. Early nutritional history and motor performance of Senegalese children, 4-6 years of age. Annals of Human Biology 26(5):443-455.

Benson, A. C., M. E. Torode, and M. A. Fiatarone Singh. 2008. The effect of high-intensity progressive resistance training on adiposity in children: A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Obesity 32(6):1016-1027.

Beunen, G., J. Lefevre, A. L. Claessens, R. Lysens, H. Maes, R. Renson, J. Simons, B. Vanden Eynde, B. Vanreusel, and C. Van den Bossche. 1992. Age-specific correlation analysis of longitudinal physical fitness levels in men. European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology 64(6):538-545.

Blimkie, C. J. R. 1993. Benefits and risks of resistance training in children. In Intensive participation in children’s sports, edited by B. R. Cahill and A. J. Pearl. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers. Pp. 133-165.

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

Blimkie, C. J. R., and O. Bar-Or. 2008. Muscle strength, endurance, and power: Trainability during childhood. In The young athlete, edited by H. Heibestret and O. Bar-Or. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing, Ltd.

Blimkie, C. J., S. Rice, C. E. Webber, J. Martin, D. Levy, and C. L. Gordon. 1996. Effects of resistance training on bone mineral content and density in adolescent females. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 74(9):1025-1033.

Bohannon, R. W. 2008. Hand-grip dynamometry predicts future outcomes in aging adults. Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy 31(1):3-10.

Bonnefoy, M., M. Jauffret, and J. F. Jusot. 2007. Muscle power of lower extremities in relation to functional ability and nutritional status in very elderly people. Journal of Nutrition Health & Aging 11(3):223-228.

Bouchard, C., S. N. Blair, and W. L. Haskell. 2007. Why study physical activity and health? In Physical activity and health, edited by C. Bouchard, S. N. Blair, and W. L. Haskell. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers. Pp. 3-19.

Brunet, M., J. P. Chaput, and A. Tremblay. 2007. The association between low physical fitness and high body mass index or waist circumference is increasing with age in children: The ‘Quebec en Forme’ Project. International Journal of Obesity 31(4):637-643.

Castro-Piñero, J., E. G. Artero, V. España-Romero, F. B. Ortega, M. Sjostrom, J. Suni, and J. R. Ruiz. 2010. Criterion-related validity of field-based fitness tests in youth: A systematic review. British Journal of Sports Medicine 44(13):934-943.

Cooper, R., D. Kuh, C. Cooper, C. R. Gale, D. A. Lawlor, F. Matthews, R. Hardy, and the FALCon and HALCyon Study Teams. 2011. Objective measures of physical capability and subsequent health: A systematic review. Age Ageing 40(1):14-23.

Duncan, C. S., C. J. Blimkie, C. T. Cowell, S. T. Burke, J. N. Briody, and R. Howman-Giles. 2002. Bone mineral density in adolescent female athletes: Relationship to exercise type and muscle strength. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 34(2):286-294.

Engelman, M. E., and J. R. Morrow, Jr. 1991. Reliability and skinfold correlates for traditional and modified pull-ups in children grades 3-5. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport 62(1):88-91.

Erbaugh, S. J. 1990. Reliability of physical fitness tests administered to young children. Perceptual and Motor Skills 71(3, Pt. 2):1123-1128.

Escolar, D. M., E. K. Henricson, J. Mayhew, J. Florence, R. Leshner, K. M. Patel, and P. R. Clemens. 2001. Clinical evaluator reliability for quantitative and manual muscle testing measures of strength in children. Muscle & Nerve 24(6):787-793.

España-Romero, V., E. G. Artero, D. Jimenez-Pavon, M. Cuenca-Garcia, F. B. Ortega, J. Castro-Piñero, M. Sjostrom, M. J. Castillo-Garzon, and J. R. Ruiz. 2010. Assessing health-related fitness tests in the school setting: Reliability, feasibility and safety; the ALPHA Study. International Journal of Sports Medicine 31(7):490-497.

Faigenbaum, A. D., W. J. Kraemer, C. J. Blimkie, I. Jeffreys, L. J. Micheli, M. Nitka, and T. W. Rowland. 2009. Youth resistance training: Updated position statement paper from the national strength and conditioning association. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 23(5):S60-S79.

Farpour-Lambert, N. J., and C. J. R. Blimkie. 2008. Muscle strength. In Paediatric exercise science and medicine. 2nd ed., edited by N. Armstrong and W. van Mechelen. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Pp. 37-53.

Froberg, K., and L. B. Andersen. 2005. Mini review: Physical activity and fitness and its relations to cardiovascular disease risk factors in children. International Journal of Obesity 29(Suppl. 2):S34-S39.

Garber, C. E., B. Blissmer, M. R. Deschenes, B. A. Franklin, M. J. Lamonte, I. M. Lee, D. C. Nieman, D. P. Swain, and American College of Sports Medicine. 2011. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Quantity and quality of exercise for developing and

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults: Guidance for prescribing exercise. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 43(7):1334-1359.

Garcia-Artero, E., F. B. Ortega, J. R. Ruiz, J. L. Mesa, M. Delgado, M. Gonzalez-Gross, M. Garcia-Fuentes, G. Vicente-Rodriguez, A. Gutierrez, and M. J. Castillo. 2007. Lipid and metabolic profiles in adolescents are affected more by physical fitness than physical activity (AVENA Study). Revista Espanola De Cardiologia 60(6):581-588.

Ginty, F., K. L. Rennie, L. Mills, S. Stear, S. Jones, and A. Prentice. 2005. Positive, site-specific associations between bone mineral status, fitness, and time spent at high-impact activities in 16- to 18-year-old boys. Bone 36(1):101-110.

Heinonen, A., H. Sievanen, P. Kannus, P. Oja, M. Pasanen, and I. Vuori. 2000. High-impact exercise and bones of growing girls: A 9-month controlled trial. Osteoporosis International 11 (12):1010-1017.

Hill, C., R. Croce, J. Miller, and F. Cleland. 1996. Muscle torque relationships between hand-held dynamometry and isokinetic measurements in children ages 9 to 11. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 10(2):77-82.

Holm, I., P. Fredriksen, M. Fosdahl, and N. Vollestad. 2008. A normative sample of isotonic and isokinetic muscle strength measurements in children 7 to 12 years of age. Acta Paediatrica 97(5):602-607.

Ingle, L., M. Sleap, and K. Tolfrey. 2006. The effect of a complex training and detraining programme on selected strength and power variables in early pubertal boys. Journal of Sports Sciences 24(9):987-997.

Jackson, A. S. 2006. The evolution and validity of health-related fitness. Quest 58(1):160-175.

Janz, K. F., J. D. Dawson, and L. T. Mahoney. 2002. Increases in physical fitness during childhood improve cardiovascular health during adolescence: The Muscatine Study. International Journal of Sports Medicine 23(Suppl. 1):S15-S21.

Jurca, R., M. J. Lamonte, C. E. Barlow, J. B. Kampert, T. S. Church, and S. N. Blair. 2005. Association of muscular strength with incidence of metabolic syndrome in men. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 37(11):1849-1855.

Kell, R. T., G. Bell, and A. Quinney. 2001. Musculoskeletal fitness, health outcomes and quality of life. Sports Medicine 31(12):863-873.

Knuttgen, H. G., and W. J. Kraemer. 1987. Terminology and measurement in exercise performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 1(1):1-10.

Kollath, J. A., M. J. Safrit, W. Zhu, and L. G. Gao. 1991. Measurement errors in modified pull-ups testing. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport 62(4):432-435.

Kontulainen, S. A., P. A. Kannus, M. E. Pasanen, H. T. Sievanen, A. O. Heinonen, P. Oja, and I. Vuori. 2002. Does previous participation in high-impact training result in residual bone gain in growing girls? One year follow-up of a 9-month jumping intervention. International Journal of Sports Medicine 23(8):575-581.

Lubans, D. R., E. J. Aguiar, and R. Callister. 2010. The effects of free weights and elastic tubing resistance training on physical self-perception in adolescents. Psychology of Sport and Exercise 11(6):497-504.

Maia, J. A., J. Lefevre, A. Claessens, R. Renson, B. Vanreusel, and G. Beunen. 2001. Tracking of physical fitness during adolescence: A panel study in boys. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 33(5):765-771.

Malina, R. M. 1996. Tracking of physical activity and physical fitness across the lifespan. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport 67(Suppl. 3):48-57.

Malina, R. M. 2006. Weight training in youth-growth, maturation, and safety: An evidence-based review. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine 16(6):478-487.

Malina, R., C. Bouchard, and O. Bar-Or. 2004. Growth, maturation, and physical activity. 2nd ed. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers.

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

Marginson, V., and R. Eston. 2001. The relationship between torque and joint angle during knee extension in boys and men. Journal of Sports Sciences 19(11):875-880.

McCartney, N., and S. Phillips. 2007. Physical activity, muscular fitness, and health. In Physical activity and health, edited by C. Bouchard, S. N. Blair and W. L. Haskell. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers. Pp. 231-246.

McGuigan, M. R., M. Tatasciore, R. U. Newton, and S. Pettigrew. 2009. Eight weeks of resistance training can significantly alter body composition in children who are overweight or obese. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 23(1):80-85.

Mercer, V. S., and C. L. Lewis. 2001. Hip abductor and knee extensor muscle strength of children with and without down syndrome. Pediatric Physical Therapy 13(1):18-26.

Mikkelsson, L., J. Kaprio, H. Kautlainen, U. Kujala, M. Mikkelsson, and H. Nupponen. 2006. School fitness tests as predictors of adult health-related fitness. American Journal of Human Biology 18(3):342-349.

Milliken, L. A., A. D. Faigenbaum, R. L. Loud, and W. L. Westcott. 2008. Correlates of upper and lower body muscular strength in children. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 22(4):1339-1346.

Minck, M. R., L. M. Ruiter, W. Van Mechelen, H. C. G. Kemper, and J. W. R. Twisk. 2000. Physical fitness, body fatness, and physical activity: The Amsterdam Growth and Health Study. American Journal of Human Biology 12(5):593-599.

Moffroid, M. T., and E. T. Kusiak. 1975. The power struggle: Definition and evaluation of power of muscular performance. Journal of Physical Therapy 55(10):1098-1104.

Morris, F. L., G. A. Naughton, J. L. Gibbs, J. S. Carlson, and J. D. Wark. 1997. Prospective ten-month exercise intervention in premenarcheal girls: Positive effects on bone and lean mass. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 12(9):1453-1462.

Morrow, J. R., W. Zhu, B. D. Franks, M. D. Meredith, and C. Spain. 2009. 1958-2008: 50 years of youth fitness tests in the United States. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport 80(1):1-11.

Naylor, L. H., K. Watts, J. A. Sharpe, T. W. Jones, E. A. Davis, A. Thompson, K. George, J. M. Ramsay, G. O’Driscoll, and D. J. Green. 2008. Resistance training and diastolic myocardial tissue velocities in obese children. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 40(12):2027-2032.

Nichols, D. L., C. F. Sanborn, and A. M. Love. 2001. Resistance training and bone mineral density in adolescent females. Journal of Pediatrics 139(4):494-500.

Ortega, F. B., E. G. Artero, J. R. Ruiz, G. Vicente-Rodriguez, P. Bergman, M. Hagstromer, C. Ottevaere, E. Nagy, O. Konsta, J. P. Rey-Lopez, A. Polito, S. Dietrich, M. Plada, L. Beghin, Y. Manios, M. Sjostrom, M. J. Castillo, and HELENA Study Group. 2008a. Reliability of health-related physical fitness tests in European adolescents. The HELANA Study. International Journal of Obesity 32(Suppl. 5):S49-S57.

Ortega, F. B., J. R. Ruiz, M. J. Castillo, and M. Sjostrom. 2008b. Physical fitness in childhood and adolescence: A powerful marker of health. International Journal of Obesity 32(1):1-11.

Pate, R. R., M. L. Burgess, J. A. Woods, J. G. Ross, and T. Baumgartner. 1993. Validity of field-tests of upper-body muscular strength. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport 64(1):17-24.

Pate, R. R., S. G. Trost, M. Dowda, A. E. Ott, D. S. Ward, R. Saunders, and G. Felton. 1999. Tracking of physical activity, physical inactivity, and health-related physical fitness in rural youth. Pediatric Exercise Science 11(4):364-376.

Payne, N., N. Gledhill, P. T. Katzmarzyk, and V. Jamnik. 2000. Health-related fitness, physical activity, and history of back pain. Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology 25(4): 236-249.

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

Pena Reyes, M. E., S. K. Tan, and R. M. Malina. 2003. Urban-rural contrasts in the physical fitness of school children in Oaxaca, Mexico. American Journal of Human Biology 15(6):800-813.

Plowman, S. A. 1992. Physical activity, physical fitness, and low back pain. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews 20:221-242.

Plowman, S. A. 2008. Muscular strength, endurance, and flexibility assessments. In Fitnessgram/Activitygram reference guide, edited by G. J. Welk and M. D. Meredith. Dallas, TX: Cooper Institute. Pp. 11.11-11.40.

Reid, K. F., and R. A. Fielding. 2012. Skeletal muscle power: A critical determinant of physical functioning in older adults. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews 40(1):4-12.

Rice, S., C. J. Blimkie, C. E. Webber, D. Levy, J. Martin, D. Parker, and C. L. Gordon. 1993. Correlates and determinants of bone mineral content and density in healthy adolescent girls. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 71(12):923-930.

Ruiz, J. R., F. B. Ortega, A. M. Gutierrez, D., M. Sjöström, and M. J. Castillo. 2006. Health-related fitness assessment in childhood and adolescence: A European approach based on the AVENA, EYHS and HELENA studies. Journal of Public Health 14(5):269-277.

Ruiz, J. R., F. B. Ortega, J. Warnberg, L. A. Moreno, J. J. Carrero, M. Gonzalez-Gross, A. Marcos, A. Gutierrez, and M. Sjöström. 2008. Inflammatory proteins and muscle strength in adolescents. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine 162(5):462-468.

Ruiz, J. R., J. Castro-Piñero, E. G. Artero, F. B. Ortega, M. Sjöström, J. Suni, and M. J. Castillo. 2009. Predictive validity of health-related fitness in youth: A systematic review. British Journal of Sports Medicine 43(12):909-923.

Safrit, M. J. 1995. Complete guide to youth fitness testing. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers.

Saint Romain, B., and M. T. Mahar. 2001. Norm-referenced and criterion-referenced reliability of the push-up and modified pull-up. Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science 5(2):67-80.

Sale, D. G., and R. W. Norman. 1982. Testing strength and power. In Physiological testing of the elite athlete, edited by J. D. Macdougall, H. A. Wenger and H. J. Green. Canada: Mutual Press. Pp. 7-37.

Shaibi, G. Q., M. L. Cruz, G. D. C. Ball, M. J. Weigensberg, G. J. Salem, N. C. Crespo, and M. I. Goran. 2006. Effects of resistance training on insulin sensitivity in overweight Latino adolescent males. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 38(7):1208-1215.

Simons, J., G. P. Beunen, R. Renson, A. L. M. Claessens, B. Vanreusel, and J. Lefevre, eds. 1990. Growth and fitness of Flemish girls: The Leuven Growth Study. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers.

Teeple, J. B., T. G. Lohman, J. E. Misner, R. A. Boileau, and B. H. Massey. 1975. Contribution of physical development and muscular strength to the motor performance capacity of 7 to 12 year old boys. British Journal of Sports Medicine 9(3):122-129.

Twisk, J. W., H. C. G. Kemper, and J. Snel. 1995. Tracking of cardiovascular risk factors in relation to lifestyle. In The Amsterdam Growth Study: A longitudinal analysis of health, fitness, and lifestyle, edited by H. C. G. Kemper. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Publishers. Pp. 203-224.

Twisk, J. W., H. C. Kemper, W. van Mechelen, and G. B. Post. 1997. Tracking of risk factors for coronary heart disease over a 14-year period: A comparison between lifestyle and biologic risk factors with data from the Amsterdam Growth and Health Study. American Journal of Epidemiology 145(10):888-898.

Twisk, J. W., H. C. Kemper, and W. van Mechelen. 2000. Tracking of activity and fitness and the relationship with cardiovascular disease risk factors. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 32(8):1455-1461.

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×

van der Heijden, G. J., Z. Y. J. Wang, Z. L. Chu, G. Toffolo, E. Manesso, P. J. J. Sauer, and A. L. Sunehag. 2010. Strength exercise improves muscle mass and hepatic insulin sensitivity in obese youth. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 42(11):1973-1980.

Velez, A., D. L. Golem, and S. M. Arent. 2010. The impact of a 12-week resistance training program on strength, body composition, and self-concept of Hispanic adolescents. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 24(4):1065-1073.

von Stengel, S., W. Kemmler, R. Pintag, C. Beeskow, J. Weineck, D. Lauber, W. A. Kalender, and K. Engelke. 2005. Power training is more effective than strength training for maintaining bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. Journal of Applied Physiology 99(1):181-188.

von Stengel, S., W. Kemmler, W. A. Kalender, K. Engelke, and D. Lauber. 2007. Differential effects of strength versus power training on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: A 2-year longitudinal study. British Journal of Sports Medicine 41(10):649-655; discussion 655.

Warburton, D. E., N. Gledhill, and A. Quinney. 2001. Musculoskeletal fitness and health. Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology 26(2):217-237.

Welk, G. J., and S. N. Blair. 2008. Health benefits of physical activity and fitness in children. In Fitnessgram/Activitygram reference guide, edited by G. J. Welk and D. M. Meredith. Dallas, TX: Cooper Institute. http://www.cooperinstitute.org/vault/2440/web/files/662.pdf (accessed June 13, 2012).

Williams, M. A., W. L. Haskell, P. A. Ades, E. A. Amsterdam, V. Bittner, B. A. Franklin, M. Gulanick, S. T. Laing, K. J. Stewart, American Heart Association Council on Clinical Cardiology, American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, and Physical Activity, and Metabolism. 2007. Resistance exercise in individuals with and without cardiovascular disease: 2007 update: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association Council on Clinical Cardiology and Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism. Circulation 116(5):572-584.

Witzke, K. A., and C. M. Snow. 2000. Effects of plyometric jump training on bone mass in adolescent girls. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 32(6):1051-1057.

Wolfe, R. R. 2006. The underappreciated role of muscle in health and disease. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 84(3):475-482.

Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 153
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 154
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 155
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 156
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 157
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 158
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 159
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 160
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 161
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 162
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 163
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 164
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 165
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 166
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 167
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 168
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 169
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 170
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 171
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 172
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 173
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 174
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 175
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 176
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 177
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 178
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 179
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 180
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 181
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 182
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 183
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 184
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 185
Suggested Citation:"6 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Musculoskeletal Fitness." Institute of Medicine. 2012. Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13483.
×
Page 186
Next: 7 Health-Related Fitness Measures for Youth: Flexibility »
Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth Get This Book
×
Buy Paperback | $53.00 Buy Ebook | $42.99
MyNAP members save 10% online.
Login or Register to save!
Download Free PDF

Physical fitness affects our ability to function and be active. At poor levels, it is associated with such health outcomes as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Physical fitness testing in American youth was established on a large scale in the 1950s with an early focus on performance-related fitness that gradually gave way to an emphasis on health-related fitness. Using appropriately selected measures to collected fitness data in youth will advance our understanding of how fitness among youth translates into better health.

In Fitness Measures and Health Outcomes in Youth, the IOM assesses the relationship between youth fitness test items and health outcomes, recommends the best fitness test items, provides guidance for interpreting fitness scores, and provides an agenda for needed research.

The report concludes that selected cardiorespiratory endurance, musculoskeletal fitness, and body composition measures should be in fitness surveys and in schools. Collecting fitness data nationally and in schools helps with setting and achieving fitness goals and priorities for public health at an individual and national level.

  1. ×

    Welcome to OpenBook!

    You're looking at OpenBook, NAP.edu's online reading room since 1999. Based on feedback from you, our users, we've made some improvements that make it easier than ever to read thousands of publications on our website.

    Do you want to take a quick tour of the OpenBook's features?

    No Thanks Take a Tour »
  2. ×

    Show this book's table of contents, where you can jump to any chapter by name.

    « Back Next »
  3. ×

    ...or use these buttons to go back to the previous chapter or skip to the next one.

    « Back Next »
  4. ×

    Jump up to the previous page or down to the next one. Also, you can type in a page number and press Enter to go directly to that page in the book.

    « Back Next »
  5. ×

    Switch between the Original Pages, where you can read the report as it appeared in print, and Text Pages for the web version, where you can highlight and search the text.

    « Back Next »
  6. ×

    To search the entire text of this book, type in your search term here and press Enter.

    « Back Next »
  7. ×

    Share a link to this book page on your preferred social network or via email.

    « Back Next »
  8. ×

    View our suggested citation for this chapter.

    « Back Next »
  9. ×

    Ready to take your reading offline? Click here to buy this book in print or download it as a free PDF, if available.

    « Back Next »
Stay Connected!