Abstract:
Physical fitness, encompassing cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, and body composition, is
vital for health and well-being. Muscular fitness, in particular, is associated with decreased risks of
depression, cognitive disorders, and metabolic disease. Despite various available tests to measure muscle
strength, there is no consensus on the most effective test or combination of tests, and direct comparisons
are scarce. This study evaluated the muscular fitness of 484 children aged 9-12 years (225 girls and 259
boys) through multiple tests, including standing broad jump (SBJ), push-ups, bent-arm hang (BAH), sit-ups,
handgrip strength, back-leg dynamometry (back-leg), and medicine ball throw (MBT), to assess their
correlation with anthropometric data. Our correlation analysis revealed strong relationships (r > 0.6) between
handgrip and MBT, handgrip and back-leg, and MBT and back-leg. However, most correlations were weak
or very weak, indicating that different aspects of muscle strength, as assessed by these tests, are largely
independent and cannot be substituted for one another. This underscores the necessity of employing a
variety of tests in the comprehensive assessment of muscular fitness, taking into account the unique
predictive value of each.
