Damien Mack-Inocentio1,2, Mehdi Menai3, Eric Doré1,2, Bastien Doreau4, Camille Gaillard1,2, Julien Finaud5, Bruno Pereira6, Pascale Duché1,7. 1. Université Clermont Auvergne, Laboratoire des Adaptations Métaboliques à l'Exercice en conditions Physiologiques et Pathologiques (AME2P, EA 3533), Clermont-Ferrand, France. 2. Centre de Recherche en Nutrition Humaine d'Auvergne, Inra, Clermont-Ferrand, France. 3. Université Paris 13, Sorbonne Paris Cité - EREN (Equipe de Recherche en Epidémiologie Nutritionnelle), U1153 Inserm, Inra, Cnam, Centre de Recherche en Epidémiologie et Biostatistiques; CRNH IdF, Bobigny, France. 4. Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Informatique, de Modélisation et d'Optimisation des Systèmes, Clermont-Ferrand, France. 5. Association Sportive Montferrandaise, Clermont-Ferrand, France. 6. CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Unité de Biostatistiques (DRCI), Clermont-Ferrand, France. 7. Université de Toulon, Laboratoire Impact de l'Activité Physique sur la Santé (IAPS), Toulon, France.
Abstract
Objectives: This study aims to assess the validity, internal consistency, implementation, and feasibility of a sequence of tests, the Vitality Test Battery, designed to measure physical fitness, at a large scale in French older adults. Methods: A total of 528 volunteers (age ≥60 years) took the battery of 10 tests: 6-min walk, trunk strength, hand grip strength, medicine ball throwing, 30-s chair stand, flexibility, balance, plate tapping, ruler drop, and dual task. Results: Internal consistency was high, with the Cronbach alpha coefficients at around 0.77, explaining 64% of the variance. The test-retest correlations (0.3-0.6) between the items were acceptable and displayed an internal consistency property. Although five components explained 65% of the variance, all the items were kept because their eigenvalues were near to 0.9. External consistency was validated by a significant decrease in fitness scores (p < 0.001) with age and body mass index. Discussion: The Vitality Test Battery is a safe, valid tool for assessing physical fitness in persons aged over 60 years.
Objectives: This study aims to assess the validity, internal consistency, implementation, and feasibility of a sequence of tests, the Vitality Test Battery, designed to measure physical fitness, at a large scale in French older adults. Methods: A total of 528 volunteers (age ≥60 years) took the battery of 10 tests: 6-min walk, trunk strength, hand grip strength, medicine ball throwing, 30-s chair stand, flexibility, balance, plate tapping, ruler drop, and dual task. Results: Internal consistency was high, with the Cronbach alpha coefficients at around 0.77, explaining 64% of the variance. The test-retest correlations (0.3-0.6) between the items were acceptable and displayed an internal consistency property. Although five components explained 65% of the variance, all the items were kept because their eigenvalues were near to 0.9. External consistency was validated by a significant decrease in fitness scores (p < 0.001) with age and body mass index. Discussion: The Vitality Test Battery is a safe, valid tool for assessing physical fitness in persons aged over 60 years.
Authors: Robert P Wilder; Jill Amanda Greene; Kathryne L Winters; William B Long; K Gubler; Richard F Edlich Journal: J Long Term Eff Med Implants Date: 2006