RELIABILITY AND SKINFOLD CORRELATES FOR TRADITIONAL AND MODIFIED PULL-UPS IN CHILDREN GRADES 3-5

Recent changes in youth fitness tests have resulted in discussion regarding the inclusion of an upper body strength measure in test batteries of health related fitness for school-age children. It has been argued that upper body strength measures are not truly “health related” and should not be included in health-related fitness test batteries. Nonetheless, three nationally available youth fitness tests—Fitnessgram, Physical best, and President’s challenge— contain an item that tests upper body musculoskeletal strength (AAHPERD,1988; Institute for Aerobics Research, 1988; PCPFS, 1987). An upper body strength/endurance measure has generally been included because of its perceived importance for functioning in daily activities (i.e., “functional health”) and not from a health-related perspective. Some have asserted, however, that exercise performance is related to bone mineral density, which is a health-related concept (Smith 8c Gilligan, 1987). © 1991 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.