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.