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Validity and reference values for the 3-minute shuttle run test in spanish preschoolers
Miguel Adriano Sanchez-Lastra1, José Carlos Diz Gómez1,2, Rodolfo Iván Martínez-Lemos1,2
1Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Didácticas Especiais, Facultade de Ciencias da Educación e do Deporte - Vigo, Spain.
Revista Da Associacao Medica Brasileira (1992)
|October 28, 2021
Summary
The three-minute shuttle run test offers valid cardiorespiratory fitness assessment for Spanish preschoolers. It provides age- and sex-specific norms, proving useful even with limited resources.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Exercise Science
- Cardiorespiratory Fitness Assessment
- Preschool Physical Activity
Background:
- Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is crucial for children's health.
- Assessing CRF in preschoolers can be challenging due to resource limitations.
- The three-minute shuttle run test (3MST) is a potential tool for CRF measurement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate the three-minute shuttle run test in Spanish preschoolers.
- To establish age- and sex-specific normative values for the 3MST in this population.
- To explore the relationship between 3MST performance and anthropometric/physiological measures.
Main Methods:
- 497 Spanish preschoolers (mean age 4.83 years) performed the 3MST.
- Body mass index (BMI) and heart rate (HR) were measured post-test.
- Internal validity was assessed through correlations with BMI and HR.
Main Results:
- Age- and sex-specific percentile data for CRF were generated.
- Boys demonstrated superior performance compared to girls.
- A significant correlation was found between distance covered and HR (p=0.002).
- No significant correlation between BMI and 3MST score, but obese children covered less distance (p=0.013).
Conclusions:
- The 3MST provides valid, age- and sex-specific CRF normative values for Spanish preschoolers.
- The test is a practical and accessible option for CRF assessment in preschool settings with limited resources.
- Findings support the use of the 3MST for evaluating CRF in young children.
