Cardiorespiratory Fitness Testing
Cardiorespiratory Fitness (CRF) is defined
CRF assessments are useful:
- Determine functional capacity using
- Determine level of cardiorespiratory function (VO2 Max) (MET)
- Determine underlying
Risks can be reduced with appropriate pre-exercise screening and careful observation of clients during and following
exercise
Measures of CRF:
]THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT CARDIORESPIRATORY ASSESSMENTS. WE WILL ONLY BE DOING/LEARNING: 1 TREADMILL,
1 BIKE, 1 WALK TEST, 1 STEP TEST
Graded exercise Tests (GXT):
- usually use a
- typically performed to maximal exertion
o
- submaximal testing is safer and can provide reliable indicators of max effort
o
- ALWAYS monitor during GXT:
o Heart rate: monitor
o Blood pressure: measure and record during the last 45 seconds of each state
o Ratings or perceived exertion (RPE) :
o S/S: monitor continuously and record both personal observations and subjective comments from
client
 Terminate GXT: if chest pain, drop in SBP, or if client requests to stop.
Test: Bruce Submaximal Treadmill exercise Test
Facts: - most common in clinical setting
- Administered in 3 minute stages until client achieves 85% MHR
- Goal to achieve HRss (heart rate steady state), if HRss then speed and incline will increase at the end of
each 3 min interval
- Not appropriate for deconditioned individuals or the elderly
Equipment:
Treadmill
- RPE scale
- Stopwatch
- HR monitor (optional)
- Stethoscope
- medical tape
Pre-test procedure:
- Estimate target exercise HR using the Tanaka, Monahan and Seals formula:
- MHR
- Discuss RPE and remind client that exertion levels will be asked throughout the test
- Describe purpose/procedure of treadmill test
- Secure BP cuff with tape so it doesn’t slip during procedure
- Allow warm up: ≤1.7mph, avoid holding on hand rails
Test protocol and administration:
- Test begins
- Assess and record
- Assess and record
- 3 min stages: if difference in client’s exercise HR between the 2nd and 3rd minute is >6bpm, the HR has not
achieved HRss: client should continue for an additional minute at the same speed and incline
- Test performed until S/S develop or until HR response exceeds 85% of MHR (needs to exceed 115bpm for
at least 2 of the stages)
Post test:
- Cool down at moderate speed until breathing returns to normal and HR drops below 100bpm (3 to 5 min)
- Calculate VO2max and MET level using following conversions
- Men: 14.8 – (1.379 x time) + (0.451 x time2 ) – (0.012 x time3) = Vo2 max
- Women: 4.38(time) – 3.90 = VO2 max
- MET : divide VO2 max by 3.5 mL/kg/min
- Record values
- Continue to observe client
- Compare results from using Table 8-13
Test: Rockport Fitness Walking Test (1 mile)
Facts:
- Purpose:
- Walk
- Suitable for many individuals or groups of people
- Not suitable for highly conditioned clients
Equipment:
Track
- Stopwatch
- RPE chart
- HR monitor with chest strap (optional)
Pre-Test procedure:
Explain purpose and define the course
- Remind
- Discuss RPE, remind them they will be asked periodically throughout the test
Test protocol and administration:
Record the clients weight (in kg) and age
- On the trainer’s “go” the stopwatch is started and client begins
- The client’s 1 mile time, RPE and immediate post-exercise heart rate are recorded on the testing form.
Take HR for 15 sec then multiply by 4
- 3-5 min cool down
Post test: client’s information is plugged into one of the following formulas.
Females:
VO2 max= 132.853 – (0.1692 x weight inkg)-(0.3877 x age) – (3.265 x walk time in min to the nearest 100th ) – (0.1565 x HR)
Males:
Vo2 max = 139.168 – (0.1692xweight in kg) – (0.3877 x age) – (3.265 x walk time in min to nearest 100th )- (0.1565 x HR)
Evaluate client’s score using Table 8-13 and Table 8-18