Background: While there is evidence on the validity and reliability of field-based physical fitness tests in children, adolescents and adults, there is limited evidence to provide feasibility and safety data on the application and performance of the existing field-based physical fitness tests. Objectives: (i) To examine the feasibility and safety of existing field-based physical fitness tests used in people of all ages and (ii) to establish a comprehensive view of criterion-related validity, reliability, feasibility and safety based on scientific evidence for the existing field-based physical fitness tests in adults. Methods: The search was conducted through the electronic databases MEDLINE (via PubMed) and Web of Science (all databases) for published studies from inception to 31 January 2023. This systematic review was developed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies were classified as very low quality, low quality or high quality, based on the criteria of appropriate number of participants, appropriate description of the study population, and appropriate number of items reported to assess feasibility/safety. Three evidence levels were constructed (strong, moderate and limited or inconclusive evidence) according to the number of studies and the consistency of the findings. Results: We identified a total of 19 (14 of high quality) and 13 (11 high quality) original studies examining the feasibility and safety of field-based physical fitness tests, respectively. Strong evidence indicated that (a) the 2-km walk and 20-m shuttle run tests were feasible in adults and, children and adolescents, respectively; (b) the handgrip strength test was feasible in children and adolescents; and (c) the standing long jump test was feasible in children and adolescents. Only the 2-km walk test has shown strong evidence on safety in adults. Finally, combining the levels of evidence of criterion-related validity, reliability, feasibility and safety in adults, all the field-based physical fitness tests show limited evidence. Conclusion: There is a need for more studies and consensus to establish homogeneous methodological criteria to assess the feasibility and safety of field-based fitness tests. The combined evidence on criterion-related validity, reliability, feasibility and safety of field-based tests was found to be limited in adults. PROSPERO reference number CRD42022298276.

To analyze the criterion-related validity and the reliability of fitness field tests for evaluating cardiorespiratory fitness in adults, by sex, age, and physical activity level. Cross-sectional. During 3 weeks, sociodemographic, anthropometric measurements, a treadmill maximal test, the 2-km walk test, and the 20-m SRT were performed in 410 adults aged 18-64 years. Measured and estimated VO_2max (by Oja's and Leger's equations) were analyzed. Measured VO_2max was associated with estimated VO_2max by the 2-km walk test and 20-m SRT (r = 0.784 and r = 0.875, respectively; both p < 0.01). Bland-Altman analysis showed a mean difference of -0.30 ml* kg^-1 * min^-1 (p < 0.001, d = -0.141) in the 2-km walk test, and 0.86 ml* kg^-1 * min^-1 (p = 0.051) in the 20-m SRT. Significant mean differences between test and retest were found in the time to complete the 2-km walk test (-1.48 ± 0.51 s, p = 0.004, d = -0.014) and in the final stage reached in the 20-m SRT (0.04 ± 0.01, p = 0.002, d = 0.015). Non-significant differences were found between test and retest in the estimated VO_2max by Oja's (-0.29 ± 0.20 ml* kg^-1 * min^-1, p > 0.05) and Leger's eqs. (0.03 ± 0.04 ml* kg^-1 * min^-1, p > 0.05). Moreover, both test results and estimated VO_2max equations showed a high test-retest reliability. Both tests were valid and reliable for evaluating cardiorespiratory fitness in adults aged 18-64 years, regardless of sex, age, and physical activity level.

To determine the effectiveness of multidisciplinary interventions including exercise in improving health outcomes for patients with non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) across different regions. The search for studies was not restricted to a specific time period but was conducted based on the availability of existing literature within the selected databases. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in four databases: EBSCOhost (from 1995), PubMed (from 1996), Web of Science (from 1964), and Scopus (from 2004), up to November 3, 2021. After applying exclusion criteria, 31 studies published between 1998 and 2021 were selected for final inclusion. The methodological approach included both qualitative and quantitative analyses, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of the available evidence. Multidisciplinary interventions including exercise aimed at relieving symptoms of NSCLBP were included. Outcomes analyzed were disability, pain, fear avoidance, quality of life, perceived change, depression, anxiety and stress. The Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software was used for statistical analyses. Thirty-one studies were included in the qualitative analysis and 29 in the meta-analysis. The qualitative analysis showed improvements in favor of the intervention group (IG) in pain, fear avoidance, quality of life and perceived change. The meta-analysis reported significant pooled effect size (ES) in favor of the IGs in disability, pain, fear avoidance, quality of life, and perceived change among patients with NSCLBP. Multidisciplinary approaches including exercise appear to be effective in reducing disability, pain, fear avoidance, quality of life and perceived change, but not depression, anxiety or stress in patients with NSCLBP. The findings should be interpreted cautiously in light of substantial heterogeneity and the limited quality of the available evidence.

Background: the validity and reliability of the front plank test (FPT) have been studied in young adults but not in adults aged 34 to 60 years. The aim of this study was to analyze the criterion-related validity and reliability of the front plank test (FPT) for evaluating trunk musculature in adults according to sex and age groups. Methods: a repeated measures design was used to study the reliability of the FPT. A total of 84 adults aged 18–62 years performed trunk muscular force tests and the FPT. Criterion-related validity was assessed using repeated measures ANOVA. Reliability was examined by ICC, error measurements, and Bland–Altman analysis across sex and age groups. Results: significant differences in the activation of the rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles were found compared with the erector spinae and multifidus muscles (p < 0.001). No correlations were found between FPT time and physical activity or rate of perceived exertion at the end (p > 0.05). Low and moderate correlations were found with body fat percentage, trunk fat mass percentage, and external oblique, regardless of sex and age groups (p < 0.05). Extremely high reliability was found regardless of sex and age groups (ICC > 0.98), with low error measurements (RMSE = 11.93–18.73; %CV = 4.91–6.33; SEE = 11.45–16.84). MDC90 values indicated no real change between T1 and T2. Conclusion: FPT is a valid and reliable test for assessing trunk musculature in adults regardless of sex and age groups.

Introduction: We aimed to analyze the cross‐sectional and longitudinal association of physical activity (PA) levels and PA patterns with metabolic syndrome score (MetS) in children and adolescents.Methods: A total of 175 children (82 females) and 188 adolescents (95 females) were included. Objective PA levels and patterns were determined by accelerometry. MetS was computed from waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and glucose levels. Different linear regression models were implemented to examine the associations of PA with MetS.Results: Vigorous PA, moderate‐vigorous PA, number of bouts per day in 10 min (N10), and total time in bouts per day in 10 min (T10) were negatively associated with MetS in male children and adolescents at cross‐sectional level (β ranging from −0.005 to −0.164, all p < 0.05). Total time in bouts per day in 20 min in male children, and vigorous PA and N10 in female children were longitudinally and negatively associated with MetS (β ranging from −0.011 to −0.247, all p < 0.05).Conclusions: Associations of PA and MetS were observed at cross‐sectional level in males and longitudinally in female children. The associations in PA patterns were found when patterns were grouped into bouts of 10 min. Therefore, for future studies of PA with health markers in the pediatric population, it would be advisable to choose bouts of shorter duration.

The aim of the present study was to determine the responsiveness of health-related field-based physical fitness tests in adults. A total of 62 non-active participants aged 18–64 years were randomized into the intervention (n = 31) and control (n = 31) groups. The exercise program included three sessions/wk (60 min per session) of multicomponent exercise training for 12 weeks. The control group continued with their usual routines. Pre–post differences were explored with pairwise comparison analysis of variance for each group. The proportion of responders/non-responders and the percentage of the population that was expected to respond to the intervention were calculated. None of the tests changed pre–post in the control group (all p > 0.05 and Cohen’s d ≤ 0.2). In the intervention group, overall, all tests were found to be responsive (all p < 0.01) after the exercise program with an effects size improvement of moderate to large (all Cohen’s d > 0.50), except the body weight, waist circumference, and handgrip (Cohen’s d ≤ 0.1). In absolute terms, the pre- and post-test differences in the intervention group were –0.94 kg in body weight, –0.84 cm in waist circumference, 1.30 stages in the 20-m shuttle run test, –82.62 s in the 2-km walk test, 62.50 m in the 6-min walk test, –0.33 s in the 6-m gait speed test, –0.71 s in the timed up & go test, –1.23 s in the 4 x 10-m shuttle run test, 1.35 kg in the handgrip test, 17.25 cm in the standing long jump test, 3.62 repetitions in the 30-s sit to stand test and 44.11 s in the prone bridging test. The proportion of individual responders was >46%, while the proportion of the population expected to respond was >85% in most of the tests evaluated, except for the anthropometric and handgrip tests. The proportion of individual responders was>46%, while the proportion of the population expected to respond was>85% in most of the tests evaluated. All the health-related field-based physical fitness tests were found to be responsive following a 12-week multicomponent exercise training program, except the anthropometric and handgrip tests, which were less responsive than the others and might require specifically targeted interventions to respond further.