Feasibility and reliability of the Brockport physical fitness test among visually impaired adolescents in China / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To investigate the feasibility and reliability of the Brockport physical fitness test in visually impaired adolescents in China to determine its applicability in clinical practice and research.@*Methods@#A total of 41 visually impaired adolescents 10-17 years of age were included. Body mass index (BMI), dominant grip strength, modified curl up, trunk lift, shoulder stretch, back saver sit and reach and PACER were tested twice with a 1 week interval by the same tester using the same instrument.@*Results@#Each item in the Brockport physical fitness test was completed. The intraclass correlation coefficients for height, weight, BMI, dominant grip strength, modified curl up, trunk lift, back saver sit and reach (left/right leg straight), and PACER in all subjects were 1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 0.94, 0.75, 0.78, 0.90, 0.87, 0.89, respectively. In blind subjects, the corresponding values were 1.00, 1.00, 1.00, 0.97, 0.80, 0.92, 0.89, 0.87, 0.87, respectively. In low vision subjects, the corresponding values were 1.00 , 1.00, 1.00, 0.90, 0.71, 0.40, 0.89, 0.85, 0.85, respectively. The Cohen kappa values for shoulder stretch (left/right hand on top) were 0.79 and 0.78 in all subjects, 0.72 and 0.64 in blind subjects, and 0.87 and 1.00 in low vision subjects.@*Conclusion@#The Brockport physical fitness test is a feasible and reliable physical fitness test for visually impaired adolescents in China, however, trunk lift is not recommended for adolescents with low vision.