Ocena aktywności fizycznej w badaniach epidemiologicznych jest poważnym wyzwaniem dla badaczy. Celem nadrzędnym jest pozyskanie dokładnych, prawdziwych i rzetelnych danych dotyczących poziomu aktywności fizycznej różnych populacji. Obecnie, wykorzystywane są zarówno obiektywne jak i subiektywne metody pomiarowe. Narzędziami w badaniach obiektywnych są najczęściej pedometry oraz akcelerometry, natomiast w subiektywnych różnego rodzaju kwestionariusze prowadzone samodzielnie lub przez przeszkolonego ankietera. Pod koniec lat 90. XX wieku, eksperci zajmujący się epidemiologią aktywności fizycznej rozpoczęli opracowywanie znormalizowanych i wystandaryzowanych narzędzi do subiektywnej oceny wysiłków fizycznych. Po kilkunastu latach doświadczeń wiemy, że dobrze dobrane i prawidłowo zwalidowane narzędzia oraz przeprowadzenie procesu badawczego zgodnie z zalecanymi standardami, jest niezbędnym warunkiem do pozyskania dokładnych, prawdziwych i rzetelnych danych. Chociaż istnieje ponad 90 różnych kwestionariuszy aktywności fizycznej, najczęściej wykorzystywane są dwa: Międzynarodowy Kwestionariusz Aktywności Fizycznej (IPAQ) oraz Globalny Kwestionariusz Aktywności Fizycznej (GPAQ). W badaniach kohortowych i eksperymentalnych ale także coraz częściej w badaniach populacyjnych są wykorzystywane narzędzia obiektywne w postaci pedometrów lub akcelerometrów. W artykule dokonano przeglądu piśmiennictwa na temat kryteriów wyboru i zasad korzystania z tych popularnych narzędzi. Omówiono zalety i wady każdego z nich oraz zamieszczono wyniki najważniejszych porównawczych badań walidacyjnych.

(1) Background: Physical fitness during childhood is an important indicator of current and future health status. Defining physical fitness levels is a key element of talent identification in the training of children and adolescents. It is also crucial in developing a sports career path. This study sought to validate a physical fitness test (OSF test) and to determine fitness norms for children and adolescents with a special focus on talent identification within its particular sub-tests of endurance, speed, strength and power. (2) Methods: A total of 27,187 athletes who participated in the ‘Athletics for all’ (AFA) programme were included in the analysis. Physical fitness was assessed using a validated OSF test (3 × 10 shuttle run, standing broad jump, 1 kg medicine ball overhead throw, 4-min run). (3) Results: Four key motor abilities (speed, power, strength and endurance) were assessed in children and adolescents. The OSF test was normalised, i.e., a reference frame in the form of centile charts was developed. (4) Conclusions: The centile charts developed for particular parts of the OSF test make it possible to interpret scores in particular motor sub-tests and, first and foremost, enable users to compare a given score with results obtained by their peers.

This study attempts to analyse physical fitness and basic anthropometric parameters of children and adolescents participating in the nationwide physical activity promotion programme “Athletics for All!” (AFA). The programme aims to establish a national system for diagnosing, selecting, recruiting, and identifying talents in youth training. It also aims to build a career development path for athletics, forming the basis of a new structure for youth training in Poland. The primary goal of this study was to assess physical fitness of AFA participants over the years of its implementation (2015–2022) and to identify the leading motor ability with consideration for age, gender, and body build parameters determined with Body Mass Index and Ponderal Index. Nationwide measurements of basic anthropometric parameters as well as physical fitness tests were conducted among 31,790 girls (F) and 22,260 boys (M) participating in the AFA programme. Physical fitness assessments were performed using the OSF test (3 × 10 m shuttle run, standing broad jump, 1 kg medicine ball throw, 4-minute run). Comparative analysis of OSF test results, considering gender, was conducted using the independent samples T-test. The strength and direction of correlations between variables were calculated using the rho-Spearman coefficient. OSF test results were converted into points, considering age and gender. Gender was found to be a significantly differentiating factor in physical fitness of AFA participants. Among twelve- and fifteen-year-olds, statistically significant differences were observed in all analysed variables, i.e. in each of the four tests and the overall score. It was noted that the examined girls aged 11 to 17 exhibited higher levels of strength compared to their male counterparts. Statistical analysis revealed significant correlations between OSF test results and the age and body build indicators, with the strength of the correlations being negligible in most cases. Participants of the nationwide programme “Athletics for All!” demonstrate a high level of physical fitness, with endurance being a fundamental motor ability. Physical fitness levels show significant correlations with the anthropometric parameters of children and adolescents. The study results confirm the need and justification for implementing physical activity promotion programmes for the younger generation.

Background: Currently, there is a limited amount of objective data concerning university students from the Visegrad Group (V4) countries. The aim of the present study was to analyze the level of physical activity assessed using accelerometers, along with an examination of its associations with selected health indicators. Material and methods: The study involved 197 students from V4 countries, who wore accelerometers for seven consecutive days. The recorded data were processed using established cut-off points for different intensities of physical activity. Results: The findings indicated that most students met the latest WHO guidelines for physical activity. Within the structure of daily physical activity, moderate-intensity activity predominated (Mdn = 41 min/day), while the proportion of vigorous-intensity efforts was small (Mdn = 1 min/day). Comparative analysis revealed statistically significant differences between countries (p<0.05), indicating diverse activity patterns among the studied youth. Correlations between physical activity levels and self-rated health and BMI were weak or moderate. Conclusions: The results suggest that the mere number of minutes spent in MVPA does not fully reflect the health-promoting potential of students’ physical activity. The study also highlights the need for longitudinal research to determine whether the observed movement behavior profiles persist into later adulthood and how they impact health.