Lab Based Fitness Testing

The Astrand Test is a submaximal cycle ergometer aerobic fitness test, based on the relationship between heart rate during work and percentage of maximal aerobic capacity. The original test method and nomogram (Åstrand, P.-O. & Ryhming, I., 1954) was later expanded and modified (Åstrand, I., 1960) with a nomogram accounting for men and women of different ages.

The Wingate test is a cycle test of anaerobic leg power, conducted over 30 seconds. The test is also known as the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WANT), and was developed at the Wingate Institute in Israel during the 1970's

The Bruce protocol treadmill test was designed by cardiologist Robert A. Bruce in 1963 as a non-invasive test to assess patients with suspected heart disease. In this capacity, is perhaps more widely known as a stress test or exercise tolerance test.

Now, the Bruce protocol test is commonly used to help identify a person's level of aerobic endurance. It does this by providing an estimated maximal oxygen uptake or VO2 max. V02 max is a measure of an athlete's capacity to perform sustained exercise and is linked to aerobic endurance.

Considered as the ‘gold-standard’ test for measuring maximum strength or explosive strength in non-laboratory environments, the 1RM test can be conducted on a large variety of populations, from children aged 6+ years, to middle-aged patients with coronary heart disease. Moreover, the 1RM test has been proven as a valid and reliable measure of performance

The purpose of this test is to measure the maximum isometric strength of the hand and forearm muscles. Handgrip strength is important for any sport in which the hands are used for catching, throwing or lifting. Also, as a general rule people with strong hands tend to be strong elsewhere, so this test is often used as a general test of strength.

BMI stands for Body Mass Index. It is a measure of body composition. BMI is calculated by taking a person's weight and dividing by their height squared. For instance, if your height is 1.82 meters, the divisor of the calculation will be (1.82 * 1.82) = 3.3124. If your weight is 70.5 kilograms, then your BMI is 21.3 (70.5 / 3.3124) (see calculator links below).

The higher the figure the more overweight you are. Like any of these types of measures it is only an indication and other issues such as body type and shape have a bearing as well. Remember, BMI is just a guide - it does not accurately apply to elderly populations, pregnant women or very muscular athletes such as weight lifters.

Bioelectric impedance is a method to measure the resistance of body tissues to the flow of a small electrical signal, and from that calculate the proportion of body fat. A Bioelectric Impedance Analyser is a sophisticated scientific instrument, used in research and analysis. On a budget level, many bathroom type weighing scales are also available with a Bioelectric Impedance Analyser, which is two built-in footpad electrodes on the base of the scale which the person stands on.

The sit and reach test is a common measure of flexibility, and specifically measures the flexibility of the lower back and hamstring muscles. This test is important as because tightness in this area is implicated in lumbar lordosis, forward pelvic tilt and lower back pain. This test was first described by Wells and Dillon (1952) and is now widely used as a general test of flexibility.

A goniometer is a tool for measuring the range of motion of various joints around the body. Another instrument that can be used to measure flexibility is the flexometer.

The push-up fitness test (also called the press-up test) measures upper body strength and endurance. There are many variations of the push-up test, with differences in the placement of the hands, how far to dip, the duration of the test and the method of counting the number of completed push-ups. Here we discuss the general method for the push-up test, and link to specific push-up fitness tests.

The vertical jump test is a test of lower body power. The test was first described nearly 100 years ago (Sargent, 1921). The procedure below describes the method used for directly measuring the vertical jump height jumped. There are other methods such as using timing systems that measure the time of the jump and from that calculate the vertical jump height.