First-graders fitter than expected

"Contrary to the mostly negative tone of previous studies, we were able to demonstrate that the motor performance of first-year students has not deteriorated overall over the past ten years," explained Filip Mess, Professor for Didactics in Sport and Health at TUM. Previous studies should therefore be called into question.

Mess and his colleague Dr. Sarah Spengler analyzed a data set of fitness tests with a total of 5,001 first graders. Between 2006 and 2015, approximately 500 first-year students were tested every year in the Baden-Baden area. All of the region's 18 primary schools took part in the project, which was funded by the Baden-Badener Sportstiftung Kurt Henn.

In addition to endurance (6-minute run), their strength (push-ups), speed (20-meter sprint), and balance (balance exercise) were examined. "These four tests only showed a measurable decline in the endurance performance of boys. For girls, on the other hand, it remained constant. Overall speed and balance even improved for both sexes," Spengler summed up.

Special Feature of the Study Design: Data Was Collected Annually

Compared to previous research projects, the study design has a special quality: "The studies were carried out in each of the ten years, whereas previous projects mostly only used two measuring points, with an interval of ten years for example. The problem is that this type of research design is prone to bias," said Mess. For example, a less athletically inclined class may be examined in a given year and a more athletic class in the next -- the result would therefore be wrongly generalized.

The second special feature is the fact that all of the 18 primary schools in the region took part in the study. This eliminates bias caused by a too large share of urban or rural participants. "The data is representative for the Baden-Baden region," said Mess.

However, the regional selection bias also implies a restriction of the results' applicability. "The study is certainly more significant in terms of long-term conclusions than previous research. However, the data cannot simply be applied to the whole of Germany. The more prosperous and rural region of Baden-Baden may differ from other regions in Germany," said the Professor for Didactic Methods in Sport and Health.

For Professor Mess the results should therefore provide an impetus to use similar research designs for future assessments of long-term developments in children's motor performance. In Hessen, for example, sport-motor examinations are to be introduced for every elementary school student.

Spengler emphasized: "We were able to show that in the four tests only the boys deteriorated significantly with regard to aerobic fitness. Nevertheless, this shouldn't be seen as a reason to pat ourselves on the back. The data doesn't say that the children's performance is actually good. It just hasn't gotten any worse." Especially with regard to exercise, there are still great challenges ahead, said Spengler. To help children become healthy adults.