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Open Access 01-02-2021 | Systematic Review

An Update on Secular Trends in Physical Fitness of Children and Adolescents from 1972 to 2015: A Systematic Review

Authors: Thea Fühner, Reinhold Kliegl, Fabian Arntz, Susi Kriemler, Urs Granacher

Published in: Sports Medicine | Issue 2/2021

Abstract

Background

There is evidence that physical fitness of children and adolescents (particularly cardiorespiratory endurance) has declined globally over the past decades. Ever since the first reports on negative trends in physical fitness, efforts have been undertaken by for instance the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents. Therefore, it is timely to re-analyze the literature to examine whether previous reports on secular declines in physical fitness are still detectable or whether they need to be updated.

Objectives

The objective of this systematic review is to provide an ‘update’ on secular trends in selected components of physical fitness (i.e., cardiorespiratory endurance, relative muscle strength, proxies of muscle power, speed) in children and adolescents aged 6–18 years.

Data Sources

A systematic computerized literature search was conducted in the electronic databases PubMed and Web of Science to locate studies that explicitly reported secular trends in physical fitness of children and adolescents.

Study Eligibility Criteria

Studies were included in this systematic review if they examined secular trends between at least two time points across a minimum of 5 years. In addition, they had to document secular trends in any measure of cardiorespiratory endurance, relative muscle strength, proxies of muscle power or speed in apparently healthy children and adolescents aged 6–18 years.

Study Appraisal and Synthesis Methods

The included studies were coded for the following criteria: nation, physical fitness component (cardiorespiratory endurance, relative muscle strength, proxies of muscle power, speed), chronological age, sex (boys vs. girls), and year of assessment. Scores were standardized (i.e., converted to z scores) with sample-weighted means and standard deviations, pooled across sex and year of assessment within cells defined by study, test, and children’s age.

Results

The original search identified 524 hits. In the end, 22 studies met the inclusion criteria for review. The observation period was between 1972 and 2015. Fifteen of the 22 studies used tests for cardiorespiratory endurance, eight for relative muscle strength, eleven for proxies of muscle power, and eight for speed. Measures of cardiorespiratory endurance exhibited a large initial increase and an equally large subsequent decrease, but the decrease appears to have reached a floor for all children between 2010 and 2015. Measures of relative muscle strength showed a general trend towards a small increase. Measures of proxies of muscle power indicated an overall small negative quadratic trend. For measures of speed, a small-to-medium increase was observed in recent years.

Limitations

Biological maturity was not considered in the analysis because biological maturity was not reported in most included studies.

Conclusions

Negative secular trends were particularly found for cardiorespiratory endurance between 1986 and 2010–12, irrespective of sex. Relative muscle strength and speed showed small increases while proxies of muscle power declined. Although the negative trend in cardiorespiratory endurance appears to have reached a floor in recent years, because of its association with markers of health, we recommend further initiatives in PA and fitness promotion for children and adolescents. More specifically, public health efforts should focus on exercise that increases cardiorespiratory endurance to prevent adverse health effects (i.e., overweight and obesity) and muscle strength to lay a foundation for motor skill learning.

Available only for authorised users

Fixed effects were not considered and not even inspected during selection of the random-effects structure supported by the data.

These relations derive from the power rule of differentiation; of relevance here are:

f(x) = x—> f’(x) = constant, f(x) = x²—> f’(x) = 2x, and f(x) = x³—> f’(x) = 3x².

Values are variances expressed as standard deviations (i.e., the square-root of the estimated VC).

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Title: An Update on Secular Trends in Physical Fitness of Children and Adolescents from 1972 to 2015: A Systematic Review
Authors: Thea Fühner
Reinhold Kliegl
Fabian Arntz
Susi Kriemler
Urs Granacher
Publication date: 01-02-2021
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Published in: Sports Medicine / Issue 2/2021
Print ISSN: 0112-1642
Electronic ISSN: 1179-2035
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-020-01373-x

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

An Update on Secular Trends in Physical Fitness of Children and Adolescents from 1972 to 2015: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background

Objectives

Data Sources

Study Eligibility Criteria

Study Appraisal and Synthesis Methods

Results

Limitations

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Objectives

Data Sources

Study Eligibility Criteria

Study Appraisal and Synthesis Methods

Results

Limitations

Conclusions

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