The following is a summary of “Reliability and validity of the modified shuttle test-paeds to measure cardiorespiratory fitness in children,” published in the May 2024 issue of Pediatrics by Aertssen et al.
The Modified Shuttle Test-Paeds (Paeds) is a newly developed 10-meter shuttle run test designed to assess aerobic capacity in children. This study evaluated its construct validity, known-group and convergent validity, and test-retest reliability for measuring cardiorespiratory fitness.
A total of 144 participants aged 6–12 years underwent the Paeds test, with 84 children also completing the 20-meter Shuttle Run test (20 m-SRT) to assess construct validity. Test-retest reliability was assessed in 46 children who underwent the Paeds test twice.
While no significant sex differences were observed, age had an evident effect on test performance. The Paeds test showed strong construct validity, as evidenced by a robust correlation with the 20 m-SRT (rs=0.78, p < 0.001). Test-retest reliability was also high (ICC 0.84; 95% CI 0.74–0.91).
The findings suggest that the Paeds test is a reliable and valid tool for estimating cardiorespiratory fitness in typically developing children aged 6–12 years. Its advantages include brevity, space efficiency, lack of pacing requirements, and self-motivational aspects. Future research should explore whether children achieve an aerobic steady state within the test’s duration and investigate the influence of agility components (such as turning or grasping objects) on test outcomes. Additionally, further studies in diverse populations, including those with conditions like ADHD, DCD, and intellectual disabilities, are warranted to establish its utility in clinical settings.
Source: bmcpediatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12887-024-04812-0