The Sustained Athlete Fitness Exam-Outcomes of U.S. National Senior Games Athletes

Physical fitness screening measures for older athletes are lacking in clinical and research arenas. This study aims to define the Sustained Athlete Fitness Exam (SAFE), a comprehensive tool developed using age and sex-based normative data from U.S. National Senior Games athletes, and to investigate any SAFE differences by age, sex, sport, or exercise volume.

This cross-sectional study engaged 4,659 U.S. National Senior Games athletes (Mage = 67.65, SD = 9.12, 59.1% female). Athletes completed health history questions and physical performance measures addressing cardiovascular, muscular, flexibility, and balance subscales. Scoring applied age and sex norms from the study population. Outcomes were compared by age group, sex, sport, and exercise volume.

All 22 National Senior Games sports were represented in the study population. Health histories revealed low rates of chronic conditions, with 28.5% reporting none. Median weekly cardiovascular and resistance exercise volumes were 240 and 30 min, respectively. Of the 20 points possible on the SAFE, scores ranged from 2 (0.2%) to 20 (0.8%), with a median of 13. SAFE scoring demonstrated minimal differences by age group or sex and aligned predictably by sport. Higher exercise volumes were associated with superior SAFE composite scores, with nearly all subscales following this trend.

The SAFE and associated norms offer population-specific comparisons previously unavailable for older athletes, with a tool able to address multiple domains of physical fitness while avoiding ceiling and floor effects. Significance/Implications: These findings provide the opportunity to improve assessment, treatment, preventative medicine, and training support for a growing demographic.