Curl-Up (FitnessGram)

Page updated: Evidence reviewed: What this means

The FitnessGram curl-up is a partial curl-up performed to a slow cadence. These peer percentiles come from Santos et al. (2014), a nationally representative 2008 sample of 22,048 Portuguese youth aged 10-18. The study states that it used FITNESSGRAM Test Battery v8.0 procedures and fitted weighted, smoothed percentile curves with the LMS method. The published upper centiles exceed the current official 75-repetition cap, so use these as source-specific normative curves rather than current FitnessGram score limits.

How to Perform This Test (Protocol)

Equipment
  • Exercise mat
  • 4.5-inch (11.4 cm) measuring strip for ages 10 and older
  • FitnessGram curl-up cadence recording at 20 curl-ups per minute
Protocol Steps
  1. Participant lies on their back on a mat, knees bent at approximately 140°, feet flat on the floor.
  2. Arms are straight beside the body, palms on the mat, with fingertips touching the near edge of the measuring strip.
  3. On the cadence, curl forward while sliding the fingers across the strip until they reach its far edge, then return until the shoulder blades and head touch the mat.
  4. Movement is performed to a cadence of 20 complete curl-ups per minute (one curl-up every 3 seconds).
  5. Count the first form correction, but stop at the second correction, when cadence can no longer be maintained, or at 75 completed repetitions.
  6. Record the number of correctly completed curl-ups, with 75 as the current FitnessGram maximum.
Scoring

Total complete curl-ups at the prescribed cadence. Higher scores indicate better abdominal muscular endurance.

Notes

This describes current FitnessGram administration. Santos et al. state that version 8.0 procedures were used, but their smoothed table includes P95 values of 76-86 repetitions. The paper does not explain whether this reflects research administration, the smoothing model, or a scoring-policy difference. Do not treat those upper centiles as attainable scores under the current 75-repetition cap.

Data source: Santos et al. 2014 (FitnessGram) (2014) · n=22K About this study

Reference population: Portuguese children and adolescents aged 10-18 years (n=22,048; 11,373 girls), nationally representative sample collected in 2008

Curl-Up (FitnessGram) Strength

Curl-Up (FitnessGram) Norms Chart by Age and Sex (reps)

Age Sex Percentile
5th 25th 50th 75th 95th
10 Male 5 14 22 34 57
Female 4 11 18 28 47
11 Male 6 16 26 39 63
Female 5 13 22 33 55
12 Male 8 20 31 45 70
Female 6 16 26 38 62
13 Male 9 23 36 51 76
Female 7 17 28 42 67
14 Male 11 27 41 56 81
Female 7 19 30 45 69
15 Male 13 31 45 61 85
Female 8 20 32 47 71
16 Male 15 34 48 64 86
Female 9 22 34 48 73
17 Male 17 37 51 65 86
Female 10 24 36 50 74
18 Male 19 39 53 66 86
Female 11 25 38 52 75

What to expect by age group

Typical range (25th to 75th percentile) by age group (reps)
Age MalesFemales
10 14 to 3411 to 28
11 16 to 3913 to 33
12 20 to 4516 to 38
13 23 to 5117 to 42
14 27 to 5619 to 45
15 31 to 6120 to 47
16 34 to 6422 to 48
17 37 to 6524 to 50
18 39 to 6625 to 52

Detailed Breakdowns

Select an age group and sex below for detailed percentile charts, tables, and ratings.

Males
101112131415161718
Females
101112131415161718
Age trend (percentiles)

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the FitnessGram curl-up different from a sit-up?

The FitnessGram curl-up uses 20 repetitions per minute, a 4.5-inch finger-travel distance for ages 10 and older, and arms at the sides. Eurofit and Cooper tests use different movement and time rules. Scores from those protocols are not interchangeable with these curl-up percentiles.

Why do some percentiles exceed the current 75-repetition maximum?

Santos et al. report smoothed P95 values above 75 even though current FitnessGram guidance stops scoring at 75. The paper does not explain the discrepancy. It may reflect a difference in research administration, scoring policy, or the LMS smoothing model. The table is reproduced as published, but values above 75 should not be interpreted as current official FitnessGram scores.

Are these norms applicable outside Portugal?

These curves describe Portuguese school-age youth measured in 2008. They may not represent another country, a later cohort, or youth assessed with a different curl-up implementation. Biological maturation was not measured, and the cross-sectional study cannot describe individual development over time.

Are these Healthy Fitness Zone standards?

No. These values rank a score within the Santos Portuguese reference distribution. FitnessGram Healthy Fitness Zones are separate criterion-referenced standards. A percentile position does not by itself determine whether a score meets a health-related standard.

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