Muscle strength in Brazilian children and adolescents from 2020 to 2024: an updating systematic review of the Brazilian Report Card Project

Abstract The present study aimed to identify and summarize evidence regarding muscle strength in Brazilian children and adolescents (aged ≤19 years), in order to update the 2018 and 2019 data previously published by the Brazilian Report Card Project. A systematic search was conducted across seven databases, with a focus on studies published between January 2020 and December 2024. Thirty-six studies, originating from the five major regions of Brazil, were included. Handgrip strength was the most frequently adopted test across the included studies (29 out of 58 measurements – 50%). The prevalence of children and adolescents with adequate levels of muscle strength was 44.1% (40.1% for males and 47.8% for females). Compared to the results of the previous review (2018–2019), an increase was observed in the prevalence of youth with adequate muscle strength levels (from 29.8% to 44.1%). However, upon analyzing the totality of the Brazilian Report Card Project data (which includes 17,379 participants since 2010), the combined prevalence of adequate muscle strength was 56.1% (58.8% for boys; 53.0% for girls), suggesting a declining trend over the years. Despite the punctual increase in the 2020–2024 period, the majority of young Brazilians still do not reach adequate levels of muscle strength, which reinforces the need for public health strategies to promote muscle-strengthening activities.