Indirect concurrent validity and training response of health- and skill-related physical fitness tests
摘要
Physical fitness (PF) is a health and performance indicator. Test batteries such as Diagnoform® assess PF, but despite increasing attention, the validity and training response of four Diagnoform® tests remain unverified. This cohort study aimed to evaluate the indirect concurrent validity and training response of four Diagnoform® tests: a 3-min shuttle run (3-MSR), a cross test, a modified plank test, and a modified unipedal stance test.
MethodsA total of 65 runners completed four Diagnoform® and four reference tests. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was assessed using the 3‑MSR and an incremental intermittent field test (45-15FIT). Agility was tested with the cross and hexagon agility tests. Muscular endurance (ME) was assessed with the modified plank and sport-specific endurance plank tests, and balance via modified and standard unipedal stance tests. Concurrent validity was examined using bivariate correlations. Training response was assessed by comparing within-test performance changes and by classifying individual responses using the smallest worthwhile change (SWC). Bowker’s test of symmetry compared the distribution of runners across response categories between the Diagnoform® and reference tests.
ResultsCorrelation was very high for CRF (r = 0.932), moderate for agility (r = 0.502), high for ME (r = 0.716), and significant but low for balance (p = 0.003, r = 0.376). No statistical differences in performance changes or response-category distributions were observed, except for CRF tests, where a difference in distribution was reported (p = 0.047).
ConclusionThese results suggest that the Diagnoform® tests may provide indicators of validity and training response in healthy adults.