Physical Fitness and Anthropometric Values Among Lithuanian Primary School Children: Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Emeljanovas, A, Mieziene, B, Cesnaitiene, VJ, Fjortoft, I, and Kjønniksen, L. Physical fitness and anthropometric values among Lithuanian primary school children: population-based cross-sectional study. J Strength Cond Res 34(2): 414-421, 2020-The purpose of the current study was to derive representative reference scores on anthropometric measures and test scores for the musculoskeletal, motor, and cardiorespiratory fitness of Lithuanian primary school children according to age and sex. This cross-sectional design study included 3,456 Lithuanian first- to fourth-grade children from age 6 to 10 years. Physical fitness was measured using a nine-item test battery developed by Fjørtoft et al. The test battery included the following tests: standing broad jump (explosive strength), jumping a distance of 7 m on 2 feet, jumping a distance of 7 m on 1 foot (both tests indicate leg muscle strength), throwing a tennis ball with one hand, and pushing a medicine ball with 2 hands (both tests indicate arm muscle strength). These tests measured musculoskeletal fitness. In addition, there were measures of a 10 × 5-m shuttle run (agility), running 20 m as fast as possible (speed), and climbing wall bars (coordination)-general tests of motor fitness. Reduced 6-minute Cooper test (endurance) measured cardiorespiratory fitness. A Student's t test and analysis of variance were performed to indicate differences between sexes and across age, respectively. The significant differences in mean scores in anthropometric and fitness means indicated that boys had higher scores than girls, and older children scored higher than younger children (p < 0.05). Data on normative sex- and age-specific percentile values (3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 97th) for physical fitness tests in Lithuanian primary school children are provided. These data are useful for educational settings, parents, clinicians, sports organizations, and sports clubs in identifying problems or outstanding performance and providing sports programs that develop children's athletic performance.

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