{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T00:54:10Z","timestamp":1760057650619,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,17]],"date-time":"2025-02-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1739750400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Youth with disabilities (YWD) often exhibit deficits in physical fitness, but much of the literature is limited by small, non-representative samples. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in musculoskeletal fitness between youth with and without disabilities from the 2012 National Youth Fitness Survey (NYFS). Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted with cross-sectional data from the 2012 NYFS of youth, 6 to 15 years of age. Fitness measures included plank, modified pull-ups, and grip strength. Disability was identified by multiple parent report items. Logistic regression with sampling weights was employed to examine group differences and associated factors. Results: A total of 1177 youth were analyzed, including 173 YWD. A significantly greater proportion of YWD demonstrated low fitness in all three measures compared to youth without disabilities. Factors associated with low fitness included sex, engagement in physical activity, and the body mass index category. Age was not a significant factor for any fitness measure. Conclusions: This secondary analysis provides additional evidence for lower musculoskeletal fitness among YWD, in particular for females and youth with obesity. Physical fitness continues to be an area in need of intervention to improve overall health among YWD.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph22020302","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,17]],"date-time":"2025-02-17T10:26:12Z","timestamp":1739787972000},"page":"302","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Lower Musculoskeletal Fitness Among Youth with Disabilities, Ages 6 to 15 Years"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"22","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8945-8194","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"E. Andrew","family":"Pitchford","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Exercise, Sport, and Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4866-5381","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Willie","family":"Leung","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Sciences and Human Performance, University of Tampa, Tampa, FL 33606, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.ijo.0803774","article-title":"Physical Fitness in Childhood and Adolescence: A Powerful Marker of Health","volume":"32","author":"Ortega","year":"2008","journal-title":"Int. J. Obes."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2577","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-018-0974-5","article-title":"Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Childhood and Adolescence Affects Future Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies","volume":"48","author":"Mintjens","year":"2018","journal-title":"Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"909","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsm.2008.056499","article-title":"Predictive Validity of Health-Related Fitness in Youth: A Systematic Review","volume":"43","author":"Ruiz","year":"2009","journal-title":"Br. J. Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"127","DOI":"10.1186\/s12955-021-01766-0","article-title":"Relationship between Both Cardiorespiratory and Muscular Fitness and Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies","volume":"19","year":"2021","journal-title":"Health Qual. Life Outcomes"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"952","DOI":"10.1001\/jamapediatrics.2020.2400","article-title":"Association of Cardiorespiratory Fitness Levels During Youth With Health Risk Later in Life: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis","volume":"174","author":"Izquierdo","year":"2020","journal-title":"JAMA Pediatr."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1079","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-019-01098-6","article-title":"Is Muscular Fitness Associated with Future Health Benefits in Children and Adolescents? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies","volume":"49","author":"Izquierdo","year":"2019","journal-title":"Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"90","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2012-091907","article-title":"Muscle Strength in Youth and Cardiovascular Risk in Young Adulthood (the European Youth Heart Study)","volume":"49","author":"Kristensen","year":"2015","journal-title":"Br. J. Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1209","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-014-0196-4","article-title":"The Health Benefits of Muscular Fitness for Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis","volume":"44","author":"Smith","year":"2014","journal-title":"Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"530","DOI":"10.1249\/JSR.0000000000000784","article-title":"Making a Strong Case for Prioritizing Muscular Fitness in Youth Physical Activity Guidelines","volume":"19","author":"Faigenbaum","year":"2020","journal-title":"Curr. Sports Med. Rep."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1451","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2020-102955","article-title":"World Health Organization 2020 Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour","volume":"54","author":"Bull","year":"2020","journal-title":"Br. J. Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"439","DOI":"10.1111\/jir.12142","article-title":"Development of Physical Fitness in Children with Intellectual Disabilities","volume":"59","author":"Hartman","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Intellect. Disabil. Res."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"231","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1468-3148.2012.00659.x","article-title":"Physical Fitness and Fatness in Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities","volume":"25","author":"Salaun","year":"2012","journal-title":"Res. Intellect. Disabil."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2542","DOI":"10.1080\/09638288.2019.1573932","article-title":"Physical Fitness of Children and Adolescents with Moderate to Severe Intellectual Disabilities","volume":"42","author":"Wouters","year":"2020","journal-title":"Disabil. Rehabil."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"861","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.ijo.0803196","article-title":"Relationship between BMI, Physical Fitness, and Motor Skills in Youth with Mild Intellectual Disabilities","volume":"30","author":"Frey","year":"2006","journal-title":"Int. J. Obes."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"125","DOI":"10.1123\/apaq.24.2.125","article-title":"Physical Performance of Individuals with Intellectual Disability: A 30-Year Follow-Up","volume":"24","author":"Lahtinen","year":"2007","journal-title":"Adapt Phys. Activ. Q."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3301","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ridd.2013.07.005","article-title":"Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities\u2014A Review","volume":"34","author":"Oppewal","year":"2013","journal-title":"Res. Dev. Disabil."},{"key":"ref_17","first-page":"1","article-title":"National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey: National Youth Fitness Survey Plan, Operations, and Analysis, 2012","volume":"163","author":"Borrud","year":"2014","journal-title":"Vital Health Stat 2"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"390","DOI":"10.1123\/jmld.2022-0073","article-title":"Associations of Monitor-Independent Movement Summary and Health-Related Fitness With Gross Motor Skills in Young Children","volume":"11","author":"Burns","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Mot. Learn. Dev."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bai, Y., Chen, S., Laurson, K.R., Kim, Y., Saint-Maurice, P.F., and Welk, G.J. (2016). The Associations of Youth Physical Activity and Screen Time with Fatness and Fitness: The 2012 NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey. PLoS ONE, 11.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0148038"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Edelson, L.R., Mathias, K.C., Fulgoni, V.L., and Karagounis, L.G. (2015). Screen-Based Sedentary Behavior and Associations with Functional Strength in 6\u201315 Year-Old Children in the United States. BMC Public Health, 16.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-016-2791-9"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2075","DOI":"10.1519\/JSC.0000000000001678","article-title":"Reference Curves for Field Tests of Musculoskeletal Fitness in U.S. Children and Adolescents: The 2012 NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey","volume":"31","author":"Laurson","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Strength Cond. Res."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"534","DOI":"10.1080\/02640414.2020.1713688","article-title":"Socioeconomic Status and Physical Fitness in Youth: Findings from the NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey","volume":"38","author":"Wolfe","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Sports Sci."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Guseman, E.H., Tanda, R., and Haile, Z.T. (2020). Disparities in Physical Fitness of 6\u201311-Year-Old Children: The 2012 NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey. BMC Public Health, 20.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-020-09510-x"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1003","DOI":"10.1007\/s10995-019-02753-0","article-title":"Association Between Motor Skills and Musculoskeletal Physical Fitness Among Preschoolers","volume":"23","author":"Frith","year":"2019","journal-title":"Matern. Child Health J."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pitchford, E.A., Leung, W., and Webster, E.K. (2022). Associations of Fundamental Motor Skill Competence, Isometric Plank, and Modified Pull-Ups in 5-Year Old Children: An Observational Analysis of 2012 NHANES NYFS. PLoS ONE, 17.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0276842"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.1123\/pes.2021-0190","article-title":"Association of Recess Provision With Elementary School-Aged Children\u2019s Physical Activity, Adiposity, and Cardiorespiratory and Muscular Fitness","volume":"35","author":"Clevenger","year":"2023","journal-title":"Pediatr. Exerc. Sci."},{"key":"ref_27","unstructured":"National Center for Health Statistics (2020, October 21). National Youth Fitness Survey (NYFS): Plank Exercise Procedures Manual, Available online: https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/data\/nnyfs\/plank.pdf."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1123\/pes.2018-0272","article-title":"Are Movement Behaviors and Fundamental Motor Skills Associated With Fitness and Fatness in Early Childhood? Findings From the 2012 NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey","volume":"32","author":"Zhang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Pediatr. Exerc. Sci."},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"National Center for Health Statistics (2020, October 21). National Youth Fitness Survey (NYFS): Modified Pull-up Exercise Procedures Manual, Available online: https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/data\/nnyfs\/Modified_Pullup.pdf."},{"key":"ref_30","unstructured":"National Center for Health Statistics (2020, October 21). National Youth Fitness Survey (NYFS): Muscle Strength (Grip) Procedures Manual, Available online: https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/data\/nnyfs\/Handgrip_Muscle_Strength.pdf."},{"key":"ref_31","first-page":"467","article-title":"Normalizing Physical Performance Tests for Body Size: A Proposal for Standardization","volume":"19","author":"Jaric","year":"2005","journal-title":"J. Strength Cond. Res."},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"National Center for Health Statistics (2020, October 21). National Youth Fitness Survey (NYFS): Body Measures Procedures Manual, Available online: https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/data\/nnyfs\/body_measures.pdf."},{"key":"ref_33","first-page":"1","article-title":"CDC Growth Charts: United States","volume":"314","author":"Kuczmarski","year":"2000","journal-title":"Adv Data"},{"key":"ref_34","unstructured":"National Center for Health Statistics (2020, October 21). National Youth Fitness Survey (NYFS): Physical Functioning Questionnaire, Available online: https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/data\/nnyfs\/PFQ.pdf."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pitchford, E.A., Leung, W., and Webster, E.K. (2021). Fundamental Motor Skill Delays in Preschool Children With Disabilities: 2012 National Youth Fitness Survey. Front. Public Health, 9.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2021.758321"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"14","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dhjo.2017.04.004","article-title":"Impact of Enjoyment on Physical Activity and Health among Children with Disabilities in Schools","volume":"11","author":"Jin","year":"2018","journal-title":"Disabil Health J."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"284","DOI":"10.1177\/0890117120954597","article-title":"Impact of School-Based Fitness Testing Awards on Physical Activity Guidelines for Children With Disabilities: NHANES 2013\u20132016","volume":"35","author":"Leung","year":"2021","journal-title":"Am J Health Promot."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e12595","DOI":"10.1111\/ijpo.12595","article-title":"Prevalence of Overweight among Youth with Chronic Conditions in the United States: An Update from the 2016 National Survey of Children\u2019s Health","volume":"15","author":"Haegele","year":"2020","journal-title":"Pediatr Obes."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.1016\/bs.irrdd.2015.04.002","article-title":"Expanding Public Health Surveillance for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the United States","volume":"48","author":"Fox","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int. Rev. Res. Dev. Disabil."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"148","DOI":"10.1037\/a0031691","article-title":"Disability Identity: Exploring Narrative Accounts of Disability","volume":"58","author":"Dunn","year":"2013","journal-title":"Rehabil. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_41","unstructured":"Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004). 20 U.S.C. \u00a7 1400 et seq, IDEA."},{"key":"ref_42","unstructured":"U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (2024, October 16). Letter to Tymeson, 62 IDELR 123, Available online: https:\/\/sites.ed.gov\/idea\/files\/idea\/policy\/speced\/guid\/idea\/memosdcltrs\/13-004807r-wi-tymeson-apefinal-7-31-13.pdf."},{"key":"ref_43","unstructured":"(2024, October 16). U.S. Department of Education 36th Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Available online: https:\/\/files.eric.ed.gov\/fulltext\/ED557419.pdf."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Winnick, J.P., and Short, F.X. (2014). The Brockport Physical Fitness Test, Human Kinetics. [2nd ed.].","DOI":"10.5040\/9781718209282"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"221","DOI":"10.1249\/01.mss.0000761624.16875.b9","article-title":"Lower Musculoskeletal Fitness Among Children with Disabilities, Ages 6 to 15 Years: 2012 NYFS","volume":"53","author":"Pitchford","year":"2021","journal-title":"Med. Sci. Sports Exerc."}],"container-title":["International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/22\/2\/302\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T16:36:27Z","timestamp":1760027787000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/22\/2\/302"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,17]]},"references-count":45,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2]]}},"alternative-id":["ijerph22020302"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph22020302","relation":{},"ISSN":["1660-4601"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"1660-4601"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,17]]}}}