Adult Fitness Test
Tue, 3 Nov 2009
Why take a fitness test?
If your response is, “Fit for
what?” you are asking the right question. Physical fitness means
different things to different people.
There are two types of fitness:
Performance-related fitness
is linked to athletic performance (for example: a 50-yard dash time or
the ability to maneuver around obstacles quickly) and is linked to
speed, reaction time, and coordination.
Health-related fitness
is linked to fitness components that may lower risks such as high blood
pressure, diabetes, or low back pain. Health-related physical fitness
includes the following components:
- Aerobic fitness - ability of the heart and lungs to deliver blood to muscles,
- Muscular strength and endurance - enough to do normal activities easily and protect the low back,
- Flexibility - ability to move your many joints through their proper range of motion, and
- Body composition - not too much body fat, especially around the waist.
The
activities featured on this adult fitness test are provided as a way
for you to get an estimate of your level of aerobic fitness, muscular
strength and endurance, flexibility and your body composition. The
results on each test provide you with a measure from which you can
track your progress in each area as you become more physically active.
Am I healthy enough for testing?
Use
the Preparticipation Screening Questionnaire provided by the American
Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine to figure
out if you are at high or low risk for cardiovascular events during
exercise testing. By completing this questionnaire you can decide if it
is safe to take these tests or if you should take additional steps
prior to completing the test. Find out if you are healthy enough for testing.
Is the test right for me?
The adult fitness test is for people aged 18 and older who are in good health.
