Relationship Between Middle School Students Functional Squat and Fitness Levels

Background: Functional movement patterns, such as the squat, are used on a daily basis and are the foundation for movement in activities of daily living and fitness. If teens do not have good functional movement, this can induce injury, pain, and/or lack of confidence in movement, which can lead to less physical activity. Aims and Objectives: The objective of this research is to investigate the relationship of the functional movement pattern of the deep squat in middle school students with the fitness variables: broad jump, push-up, PACER test, and BMI. Materials and Methods: Students from a Midwest school district in the United States (N = 161, 42.2% male) in grades 7-9 (32.9%, 27.3%, 39.8%) completed a functional movement squat screener. The screener has three levels of performance: (1) limited, (2) proficient, and (3) advanced. Students also performed the broad jump, 1-minute push-up test, PACER test, and a BMI assessment. Results: The squat screen indicated that 37.3% of students were limited, 39.8% proficient, and 23.0% advanced. Correlational data indicated the squat screen correlated with all measures; broad jump (r = .288, p < .001), push-up (r = .436, p < .001), PACER (r = .279, p < .001), and negatively correlated with BMI (r = -.264, p < .001). Conclusions: Roughly 60% of students could perform the deep squat correctly; however, almost 40% of students were unable. Data showed the squat screener correlated positively with all fitness measures which is concerning for the 40% of students that did not achieve proficiency in the squat, as this indicates that other fitness variables are also lower with students who performed poorly on the squat screen. Physical educators and health professionals should work to improve functional movement and fitness levels in students to better prepare them to be active and fit into adulthood.