Single and Especially Multisport Participation May Increase Physical Fitness in Younger Americans

Abstract

Background: We sought to examine the associations between sports participation and physical fitness in younger Americans. Methods: The analytic sample included 1108 Americans aged 6–15 years. Muscular fitness assessments included handgrip strength, leg extension strength, and plank position. Cardiorespiratory fitness was examined with graded treadmill tests. Results: Youth participating in any sports had increased physical fitness performance for each marker: 1.63 kg (CI: 0.91–2.35) for handgrip strength, 6.23 kg (CI: 3.15–9.32) for leg extension strength, 9.41 lbs. (CI: 4.51–14.31) for plank position held, and 3.02 mL/kg/min (CI: 1.23–4.80) for estimated maximal oxygen uptake. Participants engaging in a single sport had increased performance for most fitness markers: 1.52 kg (CI: 0.67–2.38) for handgrip strength, 5.16 kg (CI: 1.50–8.82) for leg extension strength, 5.98 s (CI: 0.17–11.78) for plank position held, and 2.67 mL/kg/min (CI: 0.58–4.77) for estimated maximal oxygen uptake. Youth engaging in multiple sports exhibited even steeper trends: 1.77 kg (CI: 0.83–2.70) for handgrip strength, 7.63 kg (CI: 3.62–11.65) for leg extension strength, 13.89 s (CI: 7.52–20.27) for plank position held, and 3.50 mL/kg/min (CI: 1.15–5.85) for estimated maximal oxygen uptake. Conclusions: Any sports participation, including single and multiple sports, is linked to increased physical fitness in American youth.