Key numbers
7286
People examined at baseline, 1982 to 1987
6.1 years
Average follow-up per person
155
Deaths reported during follow-up
Who was studied
The study followed 7286 people examined at seven health-promotion centers across Japan between 1982 and 1987. By January 1992, 6259 of them (85.9 percent) had been reached by questionnaire.
The analyzed group was 3117 men, average age 53.6 at the start (range 40-84 years), and 3142 women, average age 54.5 (range 40-85 years). Follow-up averaged 6.1 years, a total of 38253 person-years, and 155 deaths were reported.
What was measured
At the start, everyone did five physical-strength tests: grip strength, side step, vertical jump, standing trunk flexion and sit-ups. The centers also recorded skinfold thickness, blood sugar, total serum cholesterol, percent vital lung capacity and blood pressure, and asked about smoking. The aim was to see how physical-strength level related to death from all causes, cancer and cardiovascular disease.
What it found in men and women
In men, lower values were associated with a higher risk of death from any cause for side step (relative risk 2.43), vertical jump (2.37), sit-ups (1.93) and grip strength (1.92). Men with lower vertical jump heights also had a higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease (relative risk 5.51).
After adjustment for skinfold thickness, blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, lung capacity and smoking, the link with death from any cause remained for side step, vertical jump and grip strength in men. In women, no relationship was seen between physical-strength level and risk of death, or between the clinical tests and risk of death. The authors concluded that low physical strength might be significantly correlated with later health outcomes in men.
What it does not show
This is an association in one group of people, not proof that low strength causes death, and it did not test any Systematic test. Vertical jump is not the standing broad jump, so these results do not support a Systematic broad jump score directly.
The evidence
Each cited source is labeled according to how it supports the particular claim on this page. Direct test evidence, underlying-capacity findings and population reference values are distinguished from Systematic-defined protocols and standards. Historical development notes are retained internally rather than presented as public evidence. A study of an underlying capacity is never presented as validation of the Systematic test itself.
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Underlying-capacity evidence New source
Fujita et al. (1995). Physical-strength tests and mortality among visitors to health-promotion centers in Japan. Journal of clinical epidemiology.
What it found. In 3117 men followed for an average of 6.1 years, lower side step, vertical jump and grip strength were linked to higher risk of death from any cause, and the links remained after adjusting for clinical tests and smoking. No such relationship was seen in women.
What it does not show. It does not show cause, it did not test a Systematic test, and vertical jump is not the standing broad jump.
The Systematic Healthspan Assessment is a physical baseline. It is not a diagnosis, and it does not estimate a biological age, a disease risk or a lifespan.