WELL - Summer 2000 - Cooper Watch

Summer 2000

Volume II, Issue II

Cooper Watch

by Martin Collis, PhD

The Cooper Institute is a national treasure of fitness, wellness and lifestyle. The work of Dr. Kenneth Cooper and the top researchers that have been attracted to his research center in Dallas, have influenced the knowledge, philosophy and practice of health and fitness worldwide.

Among the many influential products to come out of The Cooper Institute is Fitnessgram, which is a measurement tool and exercise guide for youth. Last month I was in Santa Fe to meet with the Fitnessgram Board, who constantly improve and refine the instrument, and help people administer the Fitnessgram as effectively as possible. The Board is a virtual Who's Who of experts in test and measurement, physiology, epidemiology, anthropometry and child psychology, and I was impressed with their dedication to making Fitnessgram a reliable, easily to use and functional tool. Over 8 million children have been tested under the Fitnessgram format in North America so far, and it is rapidly becoming the standardized measure for assessing students in USA and Canada.

Herewith a brief description of the Fitnessgram package.

Fitnessgram

Fitnessgram is a timely break–through in the youth fitness field. Growing rapidly in popularity with students, teachers and parents alike, the program is much more than just an assessment of physical fitness. Students who participate in the health–related test receive personalized reports on their performance. They are also given valuable feedback on ways to establish positive exercise behavior geared to improving their level of physical fitness.

An assessment is the first step in a fitness education program. The Fitnessgram system recognizes that educating students about physical fitness—with an emphasis on the continuing benefits of exercising throughout life—is the most important objective.

Endorsed by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Fitnessgram works in partnership with the Physical Best education program. The You Stay Active! recognition system is the third partner in this complete physical fitness system. By recognizing regular exercise behavior, it helps students learn at a young age that regular exercise can pave the way for a lifetime of good health.

Here are the Fitnessgram's advantages:

Each of the test items was selected to assess important aspects of a student's health, not skill or agility.
Students are compared not to each other, but to fitness standards—carefully established for each age and sex—that indicate good health.
Participants receive objective feedback and positive reinforcement, which are vital to changing behavior and serve as a communication link with teachers and parents.

Key Elements of Fitnessgram

To accurately assess a student's health–related fitness, Fitnessgram, features a scientifically–developed series of simple tests that measure aerobic capacity; muscle strength, endurance and flexibility; and body composition. The program can be used for students in grades K through 12 and college.

After students are tested, their scores are entered into the school's computer (Macintosh, Windows 95, 98 or NT). Fitnessgram software then generates a personalized, printed report for each participant. The software can also produce a statistical overview of class or school results.

The user's manual explains how to interpret results and provides step–by–step instructions for using the software. Teachers can obtain technical support by calling Human Kinetics Publishers at 217-351-5076.

To administer this test, a teacher needs a stopwatch, a mat or other comfortable surface, a ruler, and an accurate scale that measures both height and weight. A suspended bar, sit and reach box, skinfold caliper and audio tape are required for certain optional test components.

Like any tool, Fitnessgram is only as good as the people who administer it, and there is an on–going effort to upgrade teacher testers so that results are reproducible and meaningful. Care is also taken to teach people how to use the results effectively and to get away from concepts of failure and comparison. Politicians, administrators and the mass media love to seize upon data to justify their positions, and at times their efforts are destructive rather than constructive.

All the board members are excited about the evolution of the Activitygram, which is having an overwhelmingly positive reception in the field. For people who are concerned about doing standardized measures on children, Activitygram is a natural. It also compliments Fitnessgram by helping students analyze their physical activity patterns both in and out of school. The advent of computers enables feedback to be fast and individualized, and provides teachers, parents and students with practical solutions to make informed activity decisions.

For more information about Activitygram and Fitnessgram, go to www.americanfitness.net or call 1-800-747-4457 extension 2407 (US) or 1-800-465-7301 (Canada).

I am looking forward to spending some time at The Cooper Institute in early November for the Physical Activity and Cancer Conference.

Contact Information

Phone: (250) 721-6997
Fax: (250) 721-6929
Email: mcollis@speakwell.com

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