Abstract
Aims: Physical fitness has the potential to be used as a key health determinant in youth. The aim of this study was to establish age- and sex-stratified reference values for health-related physical fitness in Latvian school-age children and to identify notable sex differences. Methods: Physical fitness was assessed using the EUROFIT test battery. Data were gathered from schoolchildren aged between 6 and 17 years (n = 10,464) by a medical team using standardised methods (EUROFIT battery). Fitness levels, stratified by chronological age and sex, were computed as mean ± SD. Each test was also analysed for differences between males and females in each age group. Results: Boys performed better than girls in muscular endurance and strength, cardiorespiratory endurance, and speed—agility fitness tests. Girls had better flexibility than boys (p < 0.001). There was also a more pronounced improvement in physical fitness scores with age in boys compared with girls. Conclusions: Physical fitness reference values were developed for Latvian children and adolescents. These reference values will permit comparisons between students during physical education lessons and provide a baseline against which progress in physical fitness among northern European youths can be compared.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 35-43 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Scandinavian Journal of Public Health |
Volume | 39 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Feb 2011 |
Keywords*
- Cardiorespiratory endurance
- EUROFIT
- flexibility
- muscular endurance
Field of Science*
- 3.3 Health sciences
Publication Type*
- 1.1. Scientific article indexed in Web of Science and/or Scopus database