Cardiologists use a variety of exercise testing protocols in a clinical setting, in order to determine your susceptibility to heart disease. Personal trainers, police officers and military personnel use cardiovascular, strength, endurance and coordination tests to assess overall fitness for a general exercise program, or, in the case of police officers and military recruits, fitness for duty.
Harverd Step Test
Many fitness centers use the Harvard Step test, developed in 1943, to assess the aerobic fitness levels of new members. The test uses a 45cm bench, on which the participant steps up and down for a five-minute period. The test administrator takes the participant's pulse rate one minute, two minutes and three minutes after completing the test. He then averages all three heart rates to calculate the step test score. The Harvard Step test measures recovery rate, which is a major indicator of aerobic fitness. When performed periodically, it allows you to see if your aerobic workouts effectively enhance your cardiovascular fitness level.
The Bruce Protocol
The challenging exercise involved in the Harvard Step test posed significant problems to sedentary people or people who already had heart disease. The advent of the electrocardiogram, which paralleled the invention of the motorized treadmill, inspired Dr. Robert A. Bruce to develop a standardized treadmill test for the diagnosis and evaluation of potential heart and lung disease. To perform the test, the cardiologist tapes the electrocardiograph electrodes onto the patient's chest. The patient stands on the machine, and begins walking at a speed of 1.7 mph. The treadmill speed and incline increases at three-minute intervals, while the cardiologists analyzes minute-by-minute changes to determine conditions such as aneurysm, angina and potential heart attack.
Illinois Agility Test
An athlete's agility determines her reaction time, speed and coordination when changing directions at a rapid pace. Some coaches use the Illinois Agility Test to determine whether the athlete is ready for competition. This test uses a 30-foot long and 15-foot wide course. The test administrator places traffic cones throughout the testing course. The athlete must run through the course without knocking over the cones, change directions, and then run back to the starting point. Fifteen seconds or less to complete the entire course is an optimal score, says National Strength and Conditioning Association certified trainer Stew Smith.
Sit and Reach
Flexibility describes your joints' ability to move through a full range of motion. The Sit and Reach test, created in 1952, tests the flexibility of your back muscles and hamstrings. This test requires the participant to sit in an upright position, with his legs extended in front of him. He then places hie hands on the sit and reach board, located on an elevated platform, and reaches toward his toes. The test administrator records the distance.
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