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Hydrostatic Weighing (Body Composition) Tester takes subject's height, weight, and residual lung capacity. Subject gets in water, wipes off bubbles on body, blows 80% of air out in the water then the other 20% submerged. Subject holds as still as possible. Tester hits on side of tank to signal subject weight has been taken. Inaccurate with power athletes with high bone density since formulas assume fixed bone density. Football players have been measured with negative percent body fat. Possibly inaccurate with individuals with low bone density. Waist Circumference Fat located inside the abdominal wall (visceral fat) contributes more to risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes than does fat located in other areas (Björntorp 1992). Some experts suggest waist circumference may be a better predictor of visceral fat than widely used waist-to-hip ratio (Pouliot, et al 1994). Waist circumference may overestimate health risk in tall individuals and underestimate health risk in short individuals (Welborn, et al 2003) and weight trained individuals, or those with thicker waist musculature (See study). Also see Waist Hip Ratio Calculator. Björntorp P (1992). Abdominal fat distribution and the metabolic syndrome. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol : 20 Supp 8: S26-S28. Pouliot M-C, Després JP, Lemieux S, Moorjani S, Bouchard C, Tremblay A, Nadeau A, Lupien PJ. (1994). Waist circumference and abdominal sagittal diameter: best simple anthropometric indexes of abdominal visceral adipose tissue accumulation and related cardiovascular risk in men and women. Am J Cardio. 73: 460-468. Welborn TA, Satvinder S Dhaliwal and Stanley A Bennett (2003). Waist–hip ratio is the dominant risk factor predicting cardiovascular death in Australia. The Medical Journal of Australia; 179 (11/12): 580-585. Standards are as follows: Men: no greater than 102 cm (40 inches) Women: no greater than 88 cm (34.6 inches) Post-menopause women: no greater than 110 cm (43.3 inches)   Men Women Risk cm inches cm inches Very High >120 >47 >110 >43.5 High 100 - 120 39.5 - 47 90 - 109 35.5 - 43 Low 80 - 99 31.5 - 39 70 - 89 28.5 - 35 Very Low  <80 <31.5 <70 < 28.5 ACSM (2005) ACSM guidelines for exercise testing and prescription, 7th ed. Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins, 61 Shigematsu R (2004). Cutoff values of Intra-abdominal fat area for the prevention of metabolic disorders in women. 36(5). Bone Density Bone mineral density accurately measures bone strength and risk of osteoporosis (Bouxsein, 1993) Dual Energy X-ray Absorptionmetry (DXA) Amount of x-ray transmitted through bone is proportional to mineral density Ultrasound Soundwaves estimates bone density by measuring wave attenuation as it is applied to skeletal site. Attenuation affected by material and geometric properties of bone Heel, shine bone, and kneecap Used as screening tool Diagnostic ability is questionable Poor at retesting due to poor precision errors (5-10%) poor at monitoring efficacy of treatment poor at detecting rates of loss Advantages over DXA no radiation easier to administer less cost Measuring Joint Angles Measures angles and range of motion of joints. Technique must be standardized Goniometer Most common Yardstick and protractor Protractor diagram drawn on wall Speeds up testing large numbers Not as precise Inclinometer Track arc of motion Acceptable for complex movements Similar in principle to a carpenter's level Two inclinometers may be used May be purchased at a hardware store and are quite inexpensive. Sit & Reach Box? Liemohn et al (1997) found performance on the sit-and-reach was significantly better with the ankle in a passive plantar flexion as opposed to the fixed dorsiflexion posture required when the test is administered using a sit-and-reach box (See Sit and Reach Calculator). Dorsal flexion may negatively effect hip flexion since the stretched gastrocnemius can pull the hamstrings behind the knee. The newest YMCA sit-and-reach protocol no longer uses a sit-and-reach box allowing the ankle to planter flex. The YMCA Fitness Testing and Assessment Manual (2000) states: "A recent study by Golding showed a significant difference in the scores obtained in the YMCA Flexibility Test and a different version of the sit-and-reach test used in some other test batteries. To use the (newer) YMCA’s norms the test must be performed as just described." Interestingly, in a bent over standing position, the ankle would be in a neutral position, only slighty more planter flexed than 90°. Liemohn W, Martin SB, Pariser G (1997). The effect of ankle posture on sit-and-reach test performance in young adults. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 11, 239-241. YMCA of the USA (2000), YMCA Fitness Testing and Assessment Manual, 4th Edition, 158-160. 15 minute Run Balke B (1963) A simple field test for the assessment of physical fitness. Civil Aeromedical Research Institute Report, 63-18. Oklahoma City: Federal Aviation Agency. Yo-Yo Test (Beep test) Subjects run back and forth between markers 20 meters apart at speeds controlled by a cassette. The speed is progressively increased. When the subject can no longer maintain the speed, the test is terminated. VO2 max can be determined from the distance covered during the test Developed by: Jens Bangsbo, August Krogh Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark Produced by: HO + Storm, Copenhagen, Denmark and Tiocano Music A/S, Smorum, Denmark Purchase: Helle Thomson, August Krogh Institute, Universitetsparken 13, DK-2100 Copenhagen 0, Denmark, Fax: Int+45 35 32 15 67, Tel: Int+45 35 323 1622 The 20-m shuttle run (Beep Test) is a poor predictor of VO2 max in male college soccer players. A correlation of r=0.35 was found between the predicted VO2 max scores from the Beep Test and the Vo2 max scores measured during the treadmill test. Kendrick KH, Titlow LW, Sherwwod N (2004). Concurrent Validity of the Beep Test in Male College Soccer Players. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport. 75(1) Supl, A-39-40.

Treadmill Rockport Walk Test The Rockport Walk Test was originally designed to be administered on a track. The field test can also be adapted to be perfomed on a treadmill. The most valid results can be obtained using treadmills that can detect and display a chest strap heart rate monitor. However some testers my only have access to treadmill with only the heart rate monitor built into the treadmills hand rail. If this method is used, hands should only be placed on the handrails momentarily without supporting any weight onto handrailes, just long enough to obtain stable reading. Consider having sweat towel and water available during test. Warmup and review instructions with participant Reset machine to begin 1 mile Challenge participant to reach fastest walking speed in which they can substain for remaining duration of test with fewest speed adjustments possible. No speed adjustment should be made last half of test to substain a steady state hear rate Take heart rate two seperate times just before end of 1 mile Use last measurement if heart rates are similar Record time a 1 mile mark If heart rates are significantly different take additional heart rate immediate after completion of 1 mile at same speed. Reduce speed to slow walk for cool down Also see post-exercise palpation of pulse rate study. Step Tests A five minute step test was first developed during World War II at the Harvard University Fatigue Laboratory. The Harvard Step Test varies in validity from 0.20 to 0.50, probably because the initial pulse rates are sometimes unreliable. The step test was originally validated by comparing heart performance with muscular endurance. In retrospect, we now know the correlation between heart rate and muscular endurance is actually very low. In 1951, Taddonio and Karpovoch found a correlation of 0.63 between the step test and the order in which college men finished a cross-country race. The primary appeal of the step test remains its ability to simultaneously test many subjects indoors without the use of a track or equipment, such as a cycle ergometer or treadmill. Willgoose, C.E., Evaluation in Health Education and Physical Education, McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. 1961. Wheelchair VO2max Test Level of aerobic fitness based on 12 minute wheelchair performance test and VO2max (ml/kg/min) Miles Kilometers  VO2  Fitness Level  <0.63  <1.01  <7.7  poor  0.63-0.86  1.01-1.38   7.7-14.5 below average  0.87-1.35  1.39-2.17   14.6-29.1 fair   1.36-1.59 2.18-2.56 29.2-36.2  good  >1.59 >2.57  >=36.3   excellent  Wheelchair propulsion (miles) = 0.370 + 0.0337 (VO2max, ml.kg-1.min-1) R = 0.84 (p less than .001); SEE = 0.13 Franklin BA, Swantek KI, Grais SL, Johnstone KS, Gordon S, Timmis GC. Field test estimation of maximal oxygen consumption in wheelchair users. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1990;71:574-578. VO2 Norms Gettman LR: Personal Fitness Profile Database. National Health Enhancement Systems. Phoenix, AZ, 1987. Strength The Bench Press and Leg Press one repetition maximum standards published in numerous fitness testing publication including the ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription were developed by The Institute for Aerobic Research (1994). The Cooper Institute warns "Since the norms were established using the Universal DVR machine, no other weight training machine will be accurate" Likewise the leg press norms were also derived from data using the Universal DVR leg press machine. The Cooper Institute also explains one problem in using the leg press is the considerable variability among leg press machines. The varying angles of the hip, knee, and ankle make it difficult to standardized the leg press one rep max test. Also see One Rep Max Calculator and Strength Standands. American College of Sports Medicine, (2000) ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, Sixth Edition, 84-85. The Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research (1999). Common questions regarding physical fitness tests, standards, and programs in law enforcement. Dallas Texas, 5-6. Isometric Dynamometry Assess strength or muscular endurance Handgrip Upright posture, arm at side, squeeze Leg Truck erect, knees flexed 130° to 140°, bar across thighs, exend legs Back Erect posture, knees extended, alternated grip bar, upward lift Strength assessment Best of 3 maximal attempts Expressed as absolute or relative strength in kg Endurance assessments Choice o f two protocols Initial load based on results of strength test Option A: Measure percentage decline in strength over 1 minute duration Option B: Measure time subject can maintain 50% of maximal initial load Data standardized to average adult >50 years of age, reduced normative scores by 10% Isokinetic Dynametry Assesseses Strength or muscular endurance at constant speed Site-specific as allowable by device Strength protocol Speed set to 30° to 60° per second 2 to 3 submaximal trials 3-5 maximal attempts until performance decrease is noted best score recorded Endurance protocol Speed set to 120° to 180° per second Successive maximum attempts until torque decreases to 50% of initial value Record number of repetition completed Norms provided by manufacturer May vary by instrument, speed, etc. Anaerobic Power Tests Muscular power tests include: Wingate Anaerobic Power test, Isokinetic dynamometry, vertical jump, and stair sprint. Also see: Vandewalle, H., Pérès, G., Monod, H. (1987) Standard Anaerobic Exercise Test, Sports Medicine 4: 268-289. Wingate Anaerobic Power Test Warm-up: 5-10 minute warm-up against light resistance to HR of 150-160 bpm Test: Subject pedals maximally against low resistance to optimum cadence (~90 rpm) Full load applied (30 second test begins) Load applied dependent on individual (see chart) Count maximal revolutions in 30 seconds usually done by computer and translated to Watts Cool- down: 3-5 minute cool-down of light cycling required! HR return to ~120 bpm Age and Gender specific norms (Inbar, et al, 1996) 120 Yard Dash (Speed) Timer at yards: 40 , 80, 120 or use single timer far away with split timer stop watch. Stationary 40 = 0 - 40 Flying 40 = 40 - 80 Speed endurance score = (0 - 40) - (80 - 120) < 0.1 second Flying 40 - Stationary 40 < 0.7 Sec Number of strides during flying timed 40-yard dash time. Champion male sprinters: 5 steps per second Champion female sprinters: 4.48 steps per second Source: Sports Speed