A Systematic Analysis of Temporal Trends in the Handgrip Strength of 2,216,320 Children and Adolescents Between 1967 and 2017

Dooley, Faith L.; Kaster, Tori; Fitzgerald, John S.; Walch, Tanis J.; Annandale, Madison; Ferrar, Katia; Lang, Justin J.; Smith, Jordan J.; Tomkinson, Grant R.

doi:10.1007/s40279-020-01265-0

Cited by 43 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…Our update provided information on secular trends in relative muscle strength indicating a general trend towards a small increase in fitness related to relative muscle strength. In this respect, our systematic review also complements a recently published analysis conducted by Dooley et al [18] about secular trends in absolute muscle strength using handgrip data. They showed that the international rate of improvement in handgrip strength progressively increased between 1967 and 2017 in 2,000,000 children and adolescents aged 9-17 years living in 19 countries.…”

Section: Secular Trends and Effects Of Sex For Components Of Physicalsupporting

confidence: 53%

“…According to their results, the international rate of cardiorespiratory endurance decline has slowed and stabilized since the turn of the century [17]. Furthermore, a recently published systematic analysis of secular trends on handgrip strength including data for 2,000,000 children and adolescents aged 9-17 years living in 19 countries showed that the international rate of improvement in handgrip strength progressively increased between 1967 and 2017 [18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given the effort of the WHO over the past years to promote PA and physical fitness in children and adolescents [19], it appears important to regularly update these secular trend analyses. Considering that those updates are available only for cardiorespiratory endurance using estimated V O 2peak from the 20-m shuttle run test [17] and absolute muscle strength data from handgrip dynamometry [18], it is timely to re-analyze the literature and examine secular trends for other components of physical fitness such as relative muscle strength, proxies of muscle power, and speed. It is also important to broaden the perspective on cardiorespiratory endurance, i.e., to include also tests other than the 20-m shuttle run test in the analyses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The aim of this systematic review was 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. With reference to recent studies [17,18] and due to ongoing public health efforts to promote PA and fitness [19], we hypothesized a positive trend in physical fitness development of children and adolescents over time. We additionally expected that the reported secular trends are heterogeneous both in direction and magnitude and specific to the respective physical fitness component under consideration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2020

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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.

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Section: Secular Trends and Effects Of Sex For Components Of Physicalsupporting

confidence: 53%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2020

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“…Despite the growing body of literature supporting the health benefits of muscular fitness [ 3 , 4 , 5 ], it is often an overlooked element of the physical activity guidelines, with much of the focus towards averaging at least 60 min of daily, aerobic-based, moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity over the week [ 6 , 7 ]. Throughout the last 50 years, muscular fitness levels have declined across most developed countries, including the UK [ 8 ]. Low muscular fitness contributes to the development of non-communicable disease risk in adolescents, leading to poor health in adulthood, including cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and type 2 diabetes [ 9 , 10 , 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“It’s Just Not Something We Do at School”. Adolescent Boys’ Understanding, Perceptions, and Experiences of Muscular Fitness Activity

Cox

Fairclough

Noonan

2021

IJERPH

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Background: English youth typically do not sufficiently engage in the types and intensities of physical activity that develop muscular fitness. The aim of this study was to use a combination of qualitative techniques to explore adolescent boys’ understanding, perceptions, and experiences of physical activity and the role muscular fitness plays within boys’ physically active lifestyles. Methods: Focus group interviews with a write, draw, show, and tell activity were conducted with 32 adolescent boys aged 14–16 years from 3 secondary schools. Three separate sources of data (frequency counts, verbatim transcripts, and visual data) were generated and were pooled together and triangulated. Data were analysed deductively, first using the Youth Physical Activity Promotion model as a thematic framework, and then inductively. Results: Physical activity was frequently associated with organised sport, and most boys were unaware of current UK physical activity guidelines. Co-participation was frequently reported as a reinforcing factor to physical activity. Conclusions: There was a perceived lack of opportunity to participate in muscular fitness activities, particularly in school, and knowledge of how to conduct muscular fitness activities was limited. The contribution of physical education was highlighted as being key to facilitating exposure to muscular fitness activities.

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Mediation effects of lean mass and fat mass on the relationship between body mass index and handgrip strength

Bim,

de Pinto,

Claumann

et al. 2023

American J Hum Biol

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ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the mediation effects of lean mass and fat mass on the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and handgrip strength (HGS) in adolescents.MethodThe sample included 118 adolescents (60 girls) aged 10–14 years. Body composition, determined from lean mass (LM) and fat mass (FM), was measured by dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry. HGS was measured using a digital dynamometer. Moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity and sexual maturation, treated as covariates, were evaluated by accelerometry and pubic hair development, respectively. Spearman correlation and simple mediation analysis were used for statistical analysis.ResultsA positive relationship was observed between BMI and HGS (rho = .364, p < .001), BMI and LM (rho = .466, p < .001), LM and HGS (rho = .784, p < .001), BMI and FM (rho = .907, p < .001), and FM and HGS (rho = .291, p = .001). LM was the only significant mediator of the relationship between BMI and HGS.ConclusionOnly LM mediated the association between BMI and HGS, almost entirely explaining the relationship. The findings reinforce the need to include LM measurements in routine strength testing. Furthermore, strategies focused on LM development may be promising in preventing low muscle strength in adolescents.

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A Systematic Analysis of Temporal Trends in the Handgrip Strength of 2,216,320 Children and Adolescents Between 1967 and 2017

Cited by 43 publications

References 73 publications

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

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

“It’s Just Not Something We Do at School”. Adolescent Boys’ Understanding, Perceptions, and Experiences of Muscular Fitness Activity

Mediation effects of lean mass and fat mass on the relationship between body mass index and handgrip strength

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