In the past and presently most fitness test batteries have an item (test) for arm and shoulder-girdle strength and endurance. Until 1990 the pull-up was the item for measuring arm and shoulder-girdle strength and endurance. By 1992 the pull-up had been dropped from the Fitnessgram in favor of the push-up test because so many students ages 6 to 21 were getting zero scores on the pull-up test. The up position for the push-up test is with the body supported on the arms and toes with the arms straight. Over the years the down position for the push-up test has been the nose touches the floor and the chest touches the floor. Presently the down position is a 90 degree angle at the elbows. With all versions of the push-up test the back is supposed to be kept straight (back straight) while executing push-ups. Many students don’t keep the back perfectly straight and it is hard to judge whether they have acceptable form to count a push-up
There are attributes that a test or measurement must have in order to be called a good test or good measurement. Reliability means the scores of students are consistent within a day or consistent between days which are relatively close together. If acceptable reliability is obtained then validity is estimated. The purpose of this study was to examine the number of zero scores and reliability for the revised push-up and bent-knee push-up tests for elementary school students.
Method:
A total of ninety-nine female and male third through fifth grade students were administered the bent-knee push-up and revised push-up tests twice and reliability for the test scores was estimated.
Analysis/Results:
Students improved in mean and median scores from the initial test to the retest on both push-up tests. Reliability coefficients were .68 for the bent-knee push-up and .75 for the revised push-up, which is minimally acceptable. There were no zero bent-knee push-up scores and one zero revised push-up score.
Conclusions:
Most elementary school students will be successful on each test. Since revised push-up scores are more reliable than bent-knee push-up scores and the revised push-up test is appropriate for most students, the revised push-up test is recommended for use with elementary school students.
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