Chapter 9Chapter 9

MeasuringMeasuring

Physical FitnessPhysical Fitness

Physical Fitness DefinedPhysical Fitness Defined

• A state of health that allows a person to do A state of health that allows a person to do daily tasks with a reserve of energy to daily tasks with a reserve of energy to easily participate in physically demanding easily participate in physically demanding activity. activity.

• A measure of a person’s ability to perform A measure of a person’s ability to perform physical activities that require an elevated physical activities that require an elevated rate of aerobic energy expenditure, rate of aerobic energy expenditure, endurance, strength, and flexibility (range endurance, strength, and flexibility (range of motion). of motion).

Physical Fitness DefinitionsPhysical Fitness Definitionsand Measurementsand Measurements

• How we measure fitness depends How we measure fitness depends on how we define it.on how we define it.

• In most definitions, multiple In most definitions, multiple components comprise physical components comprise physical fitness.fitness.

• Test battery: Combination of Test battery: Combination of different subtests of physical fitness.different subtests of physical fitness.

Different Measurements Different Measurements of Fitnessof Fitness

• Body compositionBody composition• Cardiorespiratory Cardiorespiratory

fitnessfitness• Muscular enduranceMuscular endurance• Muscular strengthMuscular strength• Range of motionRange of motion• Fitness tests for the Fitness tests for the

elderlyelderly

• Fitness tests for Fitness tests for childrenchildren

• Fitness tests for Fitness tests for individuals with individuals with disabilitiesdisabilities

• Fitness tests for Fitness tests for those in training and those in training and in physical therapyin physical therapy

Direct Measures Direct Measures of Body Compositionof Body Composition

• Underwater weighingUnderwater weighing

• Measuring skinfoldsMeasuring skinfolds

• Bioelectrical impedance analysis Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)(BIA)

• BodPodBodPod

• Dual X-ray absorptiometryDual X-ray absorptiometry

Measuring SkinfoldsMeasuring Skinfolds

• Calipers: Calipers: – Gauge the folded-over (double-fold) Gauge the folded-over (double-fold)

thickness of the skin, together with the fat thickness of the skin, together with the fat layer just below the skin.layer just below the skin.

• Seven different skinfold sitesSeven different skinfold sites• Skinfold equations: Skinfold equations:

– Jackson and Pollock (for males)Jackson and Pollock (for males)– Jackson, Pollock, and Ward (for females)Jackson, Pollock, and Ward (for females)– Others, for different populationsOthers, for different populations

Jackson and Pollock (1985) Jackson and Pollock (1985) Skinfold EquationsSkinfold Equations

Using Skinfold MeasurementsUsing Skinfold Measurements

• Problem:Problem:– Measurements can be done very reliably, Measurements can be done very reliably,

but errors arise when one tries to convert but errors arise when one tries to convert skinfolds into body fatness estimates.skinfolds into body fatness estimates.

• Solution: Solution: – Measure and record the skinfold thickness, Measure and record the skinfold thickness,

but don’t convert to body fat percentage. but don’t convert to body fat percentage. Compare later skinfold measurements to Compare later skinfold measurements to the first one to get a feel for whether the the first one to get a feel for whether the measurement is increasing or decreasing.measurement is increasing or decreasing.

Indirect Estimates Indirect Estimates of Body Compositionof Body Composition

• HeightHeight–weight tables–weight tables

• Body mass indexBody mass index

• Waist-to-hip ratioWaist-to-hip ratio

• Measurements of waist Measurements of waist circumferencecircumference

• ObservationObservation

MeasuringMeasuringCardiorespiratory FitnessCardiorespiratory Fitness

• Criterion measurement:Criterion measurement:– Graded continuous maximal oxygen uptake Graded continuous maximal oxygen uptake

test (VOtest (VO22max)max)

• Simpler field tests:Simpler field tests:– 12-minute run/walk test12-minute run/walk test– Harvard Step TestHarvard Step Test– Rockport Fitness Walking TestRockport Fitness Walking Test

Norm Table for VONorm Table for VO22max max (ml (ml • kg body weight• kg body weight–1–1 • min• min–1–1))

(ACSM, 2005)(ACSM, 2005)

Muscular Strength Muscular Strength and Muscular Enduranceand Muscular Endurance

• Muscular strength:Muscular strength:– The maximal force one can exertThe maximal force one can exert

• Muscular endurance:Muscular endurance:– The ability to exert a force repeatedlyThe ability to exert a force repeatedly– The fitness component needed for many The fitness component needed for many

daily tasks and jobsdaily tasks and jobs

Measuring Muscular EnduranceMeasuring Muscular Endurance

• Endurance vs. dynamic testsEndurance vs. dynamic tests• Push-upsPush-ups• Pull-ups/chin-upsPull-ups/chin-ups• CrunchesCrunches• Wall-sitsWall-sits• Bar dipsBar dips• Chair standsChair stands

Measuring Muscular StrengthMeasuring Muscular Strength

• Weight liftingWeight lifting

• Isometric devices:Isometric devices:– TensiometerTensiometer– Load-cellLoad-cell

• Isokinetic devicesIsokinetic devices

• Measurements of concentric and Measurements of concentric and eccentric strengtheccentric strength

Measuring Range of Motion Measuring Range of Motion (Flexibility)(Flexibility)

• Shoulder back reachShoulder back reach

• Sit-and-reach testSit-and-reach test

Sit-and-Reach TestSit-and-Reach Testwith a Sit-and-Reach Boxwith a Sit-and-Reach Box

Fitness Tests for the ElderlyFitness Tests for the Elderly

• Concerns:Concerns:– DiseaseDisease– Poor strength and Poor strength and

enduranceendurance– Slips, falls, and Slips, falls, and

other balance other balance issuesissues

• Tests:Tests:– 30-second chair 30-second chair

standstand– Two-minute step-Two-minute step-

in-placein-place– Timed-up-and-goTimed-up-and-go

Fitness Tests for ChildrenFitness Tests for Children

• AAHPERD Health-Related Physical AAHPERD Health-Related Physical Fitness Test BatteryFitness Test Battery

• Cooper FITNESSGRAMCooper FITNESSGRAM

• AAHPERD Physical Best ProgramAAHPERD Physical Best Program

• For more information, see For more information, see www.fitnessgram.net/home/www.fitnessgram.net/home/

Testing for Testing for Individuals with DisabilitiesIndividuals with Disabilities

• For individuals 10For individuals 10––17 years of age: Brockport 17 years of age: Brockport Health-Related Physical Fitness testHealth-Related Physical Fitness test

• Many procedures (i.e., skinfold test, range of Many procedures (i.e., skinfold test, range of motion test), can be done with almost any motion test), can be done with almost any group.group.

• In other cases:In other cases:– Modify some testsModify some tests– Allow special considerations in scoring/gradingAllow special considerations in scoring/grading– Use tests designed for the elderlyUse tests designed for the elderly

Measuring Physical Fitness inMeasuring Physical Fitness inAthletic Training and Physical TherapyAthletic Training and Physical Therapy

• To see how much progress is being To see how much progress is being made in recovery from illness and made in recovery from illness and injury.injury.

• To prevent further injuries from To prevent further injuries from occurring.occurring.

• To diagnose injuries.To diagnose injuries.

Your ViewpointYour Viewpoint

• Your 70-year-old grandfather wants to Your 70-year-old grandfather wants to know if he’s healthy enough to start an know if he’s healthy enough to start an exercise regime. How do you help him find exercise regime. How do you help him find out?out?

• Your 47-year-old mother has recently had Your 47-year-old mother has recently had back surgery and wants to get back to back surgery and wants to get back to gardening and playing tennis. How do you gardening and playing tennis. How do you help her find out if she’s sufficiently help her find out if she’s sufficiently recovered?recovered?

Considerations When Considerations When Administering Fitness TestsAdministering Fitness Tests

• SafetySafety

• TimeTime

• EquipmentEquipment

• Trained Trained personnelpersonnel

• FacilitiesFacilities

• EnvironmentEnvironment

• Data Data managementmanagement

• Combinations of Combinations of different different measuresmeasures

Your ViewpointYour Viewpoint

You have just devised a new physical fitness You have just devised a new physical fitness test. test.

• What subtests have you included?What subtests have you included?• Have you deliberately decided Have you deliberately decided notnot to include to include

certain tests? Why?certain tests? Why?• How can you prove it’s valid?How can you prove it’s valid?