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Abstract

International Journal of Exercise Science 9(3): 306-317, 2016. Examining the correlates of muscular strength and endurance in children from low-income families will provide evidence for interventions to improve these parameters. The purpose of this study was to determine the predictors and trends of muscular strength and endurance in at-risk school-aged children. The sample included 1,232 children (Mean age = 8.8 ± 1.6 years; 625 girls, 607 boys; 60% Hispanic) recruited from three U.S. low-income schools. Children performed health-related fitness testing and wore pedometers for one school week. A stratified random subsample (n = 533) also wore accelerometers to record sedentary behaviors, MVPA, and vigorous physical activity. Generalized linear mixed models were employed to calculate odds ratios (OR) for achieving FITNESSGRAM’s push-up and curl-up standards (met standard = HFZ) from various predictors and to determine odds of achievement across grade levels. A student who achieved the HFZ for VO2 Peak had an OR = 1.66 (p < 0.001) for achieving the HFZ for pushups and an OR = 1.99 (p < 0.01) for achieving the HFZ for curl-ups. Additionally, students whose vigorous physical activity was 1% higher had an OR = 3.25 (p < 0.05) for achieving the HFZ for curl-ups. For cohorts of students separated by one grade level, the OR = 0.48 (p < 0.01) for achieving the HFZ for pushups and OR = 0.71 (p < 0.01) for achieving the HFZ for curl-ups. The results suggest that VO2 Peak, vigorous physical activity, and grade level are significant predictors of muscular strength and endurance in at-risk children.

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