Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Meta-Analysis
. 2021 Jul;26(3):e1904.
doi: 10.1002/pri.1904. Epub 2021 Mar 27.

Reliability and validity of physical fitness tests in people with mental disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Vagner Deuel de Oliveira Tavares  1 , Davy Vancampfort  2 , Mats Hallgren  3 , Andreas Heissel  4 , Camilo German Alberto Pérez Chaparro  5 , Marco Solmi  6   7 , Gavin D Tempest  8 , Leônidas de Oliveira Neto  9 , Nicole Leite Galvão-Coelho  1 , Joseph Firth  10 , Felipe Barreto Schuch  11
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Reliability and validity of physical fitness tests in people with mental disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Vagner Deuel de Oliveira Tavares et al. Physiother Res Int. 2021 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Several tests are available to assess the different components of physical fitness, including cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, and flexibility. However, the reliability and validity of physical fitness tests in people with mental disorders has not been meta-analyzed.

Aims: To examine the reliability, concurrent, and convergent validity of physical fitness tests in people with mental disorders.

Methods: Studies evaluating the reliability, concurrent, and convergent validity of physical fitness tests in people with mental disorders were searched from major databases until January 20, 2020. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed pooling (1) reliability: test-retest correlations at two-time points, (2) convergent validity between submaximal tests and maximal protocols, or (3) concurrent validity between two submaximal tests. Associations are presented using r values and 95% confidence intervals. Methodological quality was assessed using the Quality Appraisal of Reliability Studies and the Critical Appraisal Tool.

Results: A total of 11 studies (N = 504; 34% females) were included. Reliability of the fitness tests, produced r values ranging from moderate (balance test-EUROFIT; [r = 0.75 (0.60-0.85); p = 0.0001]) to very strong (explosive leg power EUROFIT; [r = 0.96 (0.93-0.97); p = 0.0001]). Convergent validity between the 6-min walk test (6MWT) and submaximal cardiorespiratory tests was moderate (0.57 [0.26-0.77]; p = 0.0001). Concurrent validity between the 2-min walk test and 6MWT (r = 0.86 [0.39-0.97]; p = 0.0004) was strong.

Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that physical fitness tests are reliable and valid in people with mental disorders.

Keywords: exercise test; mental disorders; physical fitness.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

REFERENCES

    1. Batelaan, N. M., Seldenrijk, A., Bot, M., Van Balkom, A. J. L. M., & Penninx, B. W. J. H. (2016). Anxiety and new onset of cardiovascular disease: Critical review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Psychiatry, 208, 223-231. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.114.156554
    1. Bennett, H., Parfitt, G., Davison, K., & Eston, R. (2016). Validity of submaximal step tests to estimate maximal oxygen uptake in healthy adults. Sports Medicine, 46, 737-750. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-015-0445-1
    1. Borenstein, Michael, Hedges, Larry V., Higgins, Julian P.T., & Rothstein, Hannah. (2013). Comprehensive meta-analysis version 3. Biostat.
    1. Brink, Y., & Louw, Q. A. (2011). Clinical instruments: Reliability and validity critical appraisal. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 18, 1126-1132. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2753.2011.01707.x
    1. Caspersen, C. J., Powell, K. E., & Christenson, G. M. (1985). Physical activity, exercise, and physical fitness: Definitions and distinctions for health-related research. Public Health Reports, 100, 126-131.

LinkOut - more resources