Results of the 2025 Move! measurements in Tuusula – increasing physical activity in everyday life promotes well-being
The autumn results of the Move! measurements carried out as part of physical education in schools are now in. Nationally, the results of pupils in Tuusula are very similar to those elsewhere in Finland. Particular attention should be paid to the decline in physical functioning by focusing on preventive measures that begin in early childhood.
The results of the national Move! measurements carried out in autumn 2025 were published on 11 December 2025. Move! is a national physical activity measurement system for 5th and 8th graders in basic education, designed to encourage pupils to take care of their physical condition.
Move! measurements consist of nine sections that test different aspects of physical fitness: endurance, muscle strength, mobility and motor skills. The measurements are carried out as part of physical education in schools. The data is collected during physical education classes in the autumn. In Tuusula, a total of 984 pupils participated in the measurements in 2025.
Over a third have reduced physical functioning
36.6% of pupils in grades 5 and 8 in Tuusula have physical functioning that may be detrimental to their health and well-being, taking into account all areas of physical functioning. This means that more than a third of pupils in these age groups may have difficulty coping with everyday activities without becoming tired.
Compared to last year’s results, however, there are slightly fewer children and young people at risk of impaired functional capacity than in the previous year for the entire data set. In particular, the physical functional capacity results for 5th graders are better than last year.
The physical functional capacity of 8th graders in Tuusula is at a worrying level in terms of well-being; 42.1% of boys and 40.5% of girls have an overall result that indicates impaired functional capacity. The results for 8th grade boys are weaker than last year, and there are more boys with reduced functional capacity in Tuusula than nationally (37.4%) and in the Central Uusimaa well-being area (35.6%).
Fifth-grade boys in Tuusula are in better physical condition than the national average.
A positive finding in this year’s results is that the overall physical performance of fifth-grade boys is significantly better than last year; only 28.2% of fifth-grade boys had impaired physical performance, compared to 34.8% last year. This is an exceptionally good result both nationally and compared to other municipalities in the Central Uusimaa welfare region, as nationally approximately 35% of fifth-grade boys had potentially impaired functional capacity.
When comparing different areas of functional capacity, upper body strength, i.e. abdominal muscle strength, has declined in Tuusula in all age groups and among both girls and boys compared to the previous year and age groups. Mobility, on the other hand, is better in this year’s results than in the previous year for all except 8th grade boys.
An active lifestyle should be encouraged from early childhood in order to maintain functional capacity and well-being.
Compared nationally, Tuusula’s results are generally very similar to those elsewhere in Finland; there have been no major changes compared to previous years, and the physical fitness of 8th graders is lower than that of younger primary school children.
In early childhood and among primary school children, it is therefore necessary to focus even more on preventive measures to combat the decline in physical activity and functional capacity, for example by increasing everyday physical activity in different environments and by moving from place to place under one’s own steam. The younger you are when you learn movement skills and habits, the easier it is to maintain them later in life.
Measurement results are widely utilised
The results of the Move! assessment can be utilised in many ways to support the wellbeing of children and young people.
Pupils receive information and feedback on their own physical functional capacity, as well as encouragement and tips for improving it. Guardians also receive information about their child’s results and what they should pay attention to. With the parent’s consent, school nurses and doctors receive information about the pupil’s physical functional capacity, which they can use as part of comprehensive health examinations to discuss the child’s coping, well-being and factors that support or hinder learning.
Teachers and schools, in turn, receive information on which areas of physical functioning to focus on when planning lessons. A
broad review of the results also supports the goal of Tuusula’s Child-Friendly Municipality initiative to make diverse use of information concerning children.
Tuusula offers support for mobility
Tuusula offers a wide range of support for pupils who need assistance with physical activity, including the School Personal Trainer (KouluPT) programme, which provides children and young people with individual guidance and encouragement to try different forms of exercise. Above all, the aim of the programme is to help participants discover the joy of physical activity. The intention is to make wider use of Move! measurement results in guiding the programme in the future. However, any schoolchild in Tuusula can participate if they feel it would be beneficial for them.
The Tuusula Finnish hobby model offers a variety of free sports clubs throughout Tuusula in connection with the school day. The hobby activities are organised in cooperation with schools and hobby organisers, taking into account the hobby wishes of children and young people. There are almost 30 groups offering physical activities. The activities are funded by the state.
From 1 August 2026, pre-primary and primary education must promote an active lifestyle among children and young people in accordance with the law. This obligation is based on an amendment to the Basic Education Act. Tuusula’s comprehensive schools have been promoting a culture of physical activity for years through the Active School programme. Plans to implement the amendment are already underway in Tuusula. Among other things, training and workshops are planned in collaboration with management and teachers.
Increasing physical activity is important for maintaining physical functioning. Increasing physical activity during school days and leisure time also has a positive effect on pupils’ well-being, learning and coping.
You can view the results in more detail at the national or municipal level on the National Board of Education website.
This content has been translated using AI