Reliability, Objectivity, Validity, and Reference Levels of the Austrian Pole Climbing Test (APCT)—A Novel Monitoring Tool for Assessing General Fitness in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults

Abstract

Climbing is an activity involving many major muscle groups and, therefore, it is suitable for assessing general physical fitness. The Austrian pole climbing test (APCT) was developed as a reliable and valid test for the assessment of general fitness levels in children, adolescents, and young adults. In this cross-sectional pilot study, 677 participants (aged 6 to 19 years) were assessed via the APCT. Subsequently, test quality criteria (reliability and objectivity) were assessed, and the test’s validity was evaluated through comparisons with other established fitness tests (hand grip strength, standing long jump, and pull- and push-ups). Additionally, age- and gender-specific reference values were generated. The reliability (ICC2.1 = 0.97, 95%CI 0.95 to 0.98) and objectivity (ICC2.1 = 0.99, 95%CI 0.99 to 0.99) of the APCT were found to be excellent. The APCT results correlated strongly with the hand strength per kilogram of body weight (right: r = 0.58; left: r = 0.53), number of pull-ups (with upper grip: r = 0.74; with lower grip: r = 0.69) and standing long jump (r = 0.61); a moderate correlation with the push-up test was observed (r = 0.44). The APCT is reliable, objective, and suitable for children, adolescents, and young adults with an affinity for sports. It offers a novel opportunity to assess fitness without time pressure, considering the anthropometric requirements.