title: Percentile Values of Physical Fitness Levels among Polish Children Aged 7 to 19 Years--a Population-Based Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to report gender and age-specific percentile values for fourteen commonly used field-based physical fitness tests among a national representative sample of Polish children aged 7 to 19 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive cross-sectional and population-based study examines the physical fitness among a random and large national representative sample of schoolchildren aged 7 to 19 years in Poland. A sample of 49,281 children and adolescents (25,687 boys and 23,594 girls) was assessed by the EUROFIT fitness test battery, the International Committee on the Standardization of Physical Fitness Tests and Cooper Test of physical fitness. The LMS statistical method was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Smoothed gender and age-specific percentiles for the physical fitness tests in boys and girls aged 7 to 19 years are reported and expressed as both tabulated and curves values (2.3rd, 9th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 91st, and 97.7th). Figures showed greater physical fitness levels in boys, except for the flamingo balance, sit-and-reach, and stand-and-reach tests, in which girls performed slightly better. There was also a trend towards increased physical fitness levels as the age increased in both boys and girls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The percentile values provided will enable the correct interpretation and monitoring of fitness status of Polish children.
authors: Department of Physical Education, Józef Piłsudski Academy of Physical Education in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors: Janusz
authors: J
authors: Dobosz
authors: Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Mayorga-Vega
authors: Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors: Jesús
authors: J
authors: Viciana
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011044:Poland; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: adolescent; children; fitness testing; physical fitness; young