Abstract

Background

This study developed age- and sex-specific normative-referenced percentile values for five physical fitness tests across a wide age range of Canadians, using a nationally representative sample.

Data and methods

The data are from 5,188 Canadians (50.1% female) and were collected as part of cycle 5 of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (2016 to 2017).

Results

Males had slightly better cardiorespiratory fitness and substantially better grip strength, jumping height and jumping power scores than females, whereas females had better sit-and-reach flexibility. Among females, there were pronounced increases in jumping height (P50: 25%) and jumping power (P50: 58%) between ages 8 and 13, and in grip strength (P50: 193%) between ages 6 and 19. Performance gradually declined with age, beginning in adolescence for jumping ability and at approximately age 35 for grip strength. Among males, there were pronounced increases in jumping height (P50: 69%) and jumping power (P50: 233%) between ages 8 and 20, and in grip strength (P50: 365%) between ages 6 and 20. Performance gradually declined with age, beginning immediately after adolescence for jumping ability and at approximately age 30 for grip strength. Sit-and-reach flexibility remained relatively stable with age in both sexes. Cardiorespiratory fitness scores in both sexes declined steadily with age beginning (generally) at age 8, with a larger decline evident in females until age 18.

Interpretation

These normative-referenced values for physical fitness could be useful for screening in public health and clinical practice.

Keywords

norms, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, flexibility, jumping mechanography, health

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.25318/82-003-x201901000002-eng

Findings

Physical fitness consists of multiple components (i.e., cardiorespiratory fitness [CRF], musculoskeletal strength, endurance, flexibility, agility, balance) that, together, describe an individual’s ability to perform physical activity. Recent research has identified meaningful associations between physical fitness and health across the lifespan of Canadians, and aspects of physical fitness in childhood are predictive of health outcomes later in life. [Full article]

Authors

Matt D. Hoffmann and Justin J. Lang are with the Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research at the Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Justin J. Lang is also with the Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute. Rachel C. Colley is with the Health Analysis Division and Caroline Y. Doyon is with the Centre for Population Health Data at Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Suzy L. Wong is with the Centre for Health Promotion in the Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Branch at the Public Health Agency of Canada. Grant R. Tomkinson is with the Department of Education, Health and Behavior Studies at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States, and the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) at the School of Health Sciences and Sansom Institute for Health Research at the University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.

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