Percentile values for running sprint field tests in children ages 6-17 years: influence of weight status

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Exercise Science
• Sports Medicine
• Human Movement Studies

Background:

• Sprint performance is a key indicator of physical fitness in children and adolescents.
• Understanding age- and gender-specific sprint norms is crucial for evaluating performance.
• The impact of weight status on pediatric sprint performance requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish percentile values for six sprint tests in a large sample of Spanish children aged 6-17.9 years.
• To analyze the influence of weight status (underweight, normal, overweight, obese) on sprint performance.
• To compare sprint performance between genders across different age groups.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 20-m, 30-m, and 50-m sprint tests (standing and running starts) on 2,708 Spanish children.
• Calculated Body Mass Index (BMI) and categorized participants into weight status groups.
• Performed statistical analyses to compare sprint performance based on age, gender, and weight status.

Main Results:

• Boys generally achieved better sprint scores than girls, with notable exceptions in younger age groups.
• Sprint performance varied significantly by age and gender.
• The underweight group performed better than the obese group; normal weight outperformed overweight and obese groups.

Conclusions:

• Sprint test percentile values are influenced by age and gender in Spanish children.
• Underweight children did not exhibit poorer sprint performance; obese children demonstrated lower scores than leaner counterparts.
• Weight status, particularly obesity, negatively impacts sprint performance in youth.