Physical Fitness of Children and Adolescents in the Western Balkans: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis with Comparison to European Normative Values
Year: 2026
Type: study-registration
Abstract: Full protocol of a systematic review and meta-analysis of the physical fitness of children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, measured with Eurofit tests or identical tests from other batteries. The original registration (10 November 2026) archives version 1.6; the update of 11 November 2026 describes version 1.8, which is deposited with the signed PRESS 2015 form and the search strategies (version 1.7) in the associated project (doi:10.17605/OSF.IO/F8ZP7). Sex-specific and age-specific estimates will be pooled with random-effects models and compared with the FitBack European reference values (20 m shuttle run, handgrip, standing long jump; ages 6 to 18) and with the reference values of Tomkinson and colleagues (other Eurofit tests; ages 9 to 17). The review is registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261565709, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261565709). The final searches have not been run, and study selection and data extraction have not started. Any further amendment made before the searches will be added as an update to this registration. Review team: Florian Miftari (guarantor), Gentiana Beqa Ahmeti, Malsor Gjonbalaj, Besnik Morina, Bahri Gjinovci (Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, University of Prishtina) and Arben Kaçurri (Sports University of Tirana).
Source: Open Science Framework
Language: English
Topic: Physical Activity and Health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7225720707