Evaluating the Evidence for ‘Evidence Based’:

Development and evaluation of physical fitness

Sabine Eichberg &

Heinz Mechling

Strategies for Seniors and Sports, 27. – 28. 5. 2004, Berlin

Impact of physical activity

Mortality (Myers, 2002; Paffenbarger et al., 1986)

Cardiovascular disease and risk factors (Blair et al., 1995; Haapanan-Niemi et al., 2000; Kelley & Goodpaster, 1999; Kelley & Kelley, 2001; Lee & Paffenbarger, 2000; Stefanick, 1999)

Physical fitness (Cress et al., 1999; Häkkinen et al., 1998; King et al., 2000; Lan et al., 1998; Peel et al., 1999)

Cognitive function (Colcombe et al., 2003; Kramer et al., 2003Robinson et al., 2002)

Psychological health (e.g. depression, mood, anxiety, personality) (Greendale et al., 1993; Kaplan et al., 1993; Stephens, 1988)

Differences in endurance and strength

-5 0 15 20 25

Index Maximalkraft

Index Kraftausdauer

VO2m ax (l/m in)

0.2804

0.2732

23.7

-1.255

-0.9046

18.86

metabolische Syndromsubjektiv Gesunde

Strength

Men Men

Women Women

(Eichberg & Rott, 2004)

>

Physical active have higher fitness

(Rikli & Jones, 1999)

Enhancing physical fitness

Age

Fitness

Delayed decline in physical fitness?

Age

Fit

ness

loss of independence

Evaluating physical fitness

Components of physical fitness? Endurance Strength Flexibility Balance Reaction and movement time Activities of daily living ...

Demands on measuring instruments adaptive and comparable to different age groups, levels

of performance, health status, … differentiating kind and level of performance standardized methods ("golden standards") ...

Evaluating physical activity

Physical activity, physical exercise/training, or sports definition type frequency duration intensity …

Study design cross-sectional longitudinal intervention subjects …

Evaluating influencing factors

Age Gender Socio-economic status Health status Personality Health behaviour …