Reliability of Health related Fitnessgram Tests for Aerobic Capacity and Strength in Greek Schoolchildren Ages 10-12

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the reliability of a set of health-related physical fitness tests of
Fitnessgram, designed to assess the aerobic capacity and strength among Greek school children 10-12 years of
age. A set of physical fitness tests was performed by the same researchers twice, 3 weeks apart, in the study
sample. Aerobic capacity was assessed using the 1 mile run-walk test, abdominal strength/endurance was
assessed using the curl up test and upper arm and shoulder strength/endurance was assessed using the 90
push-up test. A total of 259 school children (124 males and 135 females) randomly selected participated in the
study. The reliability of the 1 mile run-walk test, the curl up test and the 90 push-up test was determined by the
intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Also the paired sample t-test was used to examine the differences between groups for all depended variables (p< .05). Results revealed that reliability in 1 mile run-walk test, was ranged
from excellent to very good, in 90ο push up test reliability was ranged from very good to low and in the curl up
test from excellent to low. Results also revealed, that there were no significant differences (p<0.50), between the
initial and the remeasurement in both sexes and all ages. In conclusion our findings suggest that there is
acceptable reliability in 1mile run-walk test, curl up test and 90ο push up test, which can be used to evaluate the
physical fitness levels in students of these ages.