Push Up
Push-Up Beep Test
The push up beep test measures upper body strength and endurance. In this test, the
maximum number of push up are performed at a rate of 25 per minute.
Equipment required:
floor mat, metronome (if a metronome is not available, you can call out at the set cadence
using a stopwatch, or create an audio track using the Team Beep Test software.
Procedure:
Athletes are required to perform 25 push-ups a minute (though set the
metronome at 50 so that each click signals both the up and down movement). Start in the up
position, with the hands positioned under the shoulders and the fingers pointing forward,
elbows fully straightened, the body straight with the feet together. For one complete
repetition, the athlete lowers the torso so that the elbows reach a 90 degree angle, then
returns to the starting position.
Scoring: Record the number of correctly completed push-ups that were performed in time
to the rhythm.
Target population:
This test is part of the NHL pre-draft fitness assessment, though it
would be suitable for any sports in which upper body strength is important.
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Comments:
The subjects should be instructed to spend as little time in the starting
position beforehand in order to reduce fatigue and increase the number of repetitions. The
test is also sometimes called the press-up testPush Up Test
The push-up fitness test
(also called the press up test) measures upper body strength and endurance. There are
many variations of the test, such as different placement of the hands, how far to dip, the
length of the test and the method of counting.
Possible equipment required:
depending on which protocol you use, you will need a floor mat, metronome (or audio tape,
clapping, drums), stopwatch, wall, chair.
procedure:
A standard push up begins with the hands and toes touching the floor, the body and legs in
a straight line, feet slightly apart, the arms at shoulder width apart, extended and at a right
angles to the body. Keeping the back and knees straight, the subject lowers the body to a
predetermined point, to touch some other object, or until there is a 90-degree angle at the
elbows, then returns back to the starting position with the arms extended. This action is
repeated, and test continues until exhaustion, or until they can do no more in rhythm or have
reached the target number of push-ups.
Scoring: Record the number of correctly completed push-ups.
Variations: Here are just some of the variations as described on this site:
Technique: Some variations of the push up test are designed to make it easier for certain
populations, which may be required when testing people with weak upper body strength
such as children, females and the elderly. The traditional female push-up technique is with
the knees resting on the ground, which is an option on the Home Push Up Test. The test can
also be made easier by raising the upper body such as in the chair push up test. How far to
go down? In the President's Challenge version, an assistant places their hand at the point of
90 degree flexion to indicate the depth of the push up. The Army and Navy also require the
upper arms are at least parallel to the ground in the lower position.
Timed Test:
A common version of the push up test is to measure the maximum number of push up in a
set time, such as one or two minutes. The Army Push Up Test is conducted over two
minutes, and the Navy Push Up Test over one minute. The Chair Push Up variation
measures the maximum number in 30 seconds.
Tempo test: like the running beep test, there are push up beep tests where the push-ups are
required to be done in time to an audio beep recording or following the rhythm of a
metronome. For example, the tempo push up test used in the FitnessGram, President's
Challenge Fitness Awards and the Connecticut Physical Fitness Test measures the
maximum number of push ups performed at a rate of one every three seconds.
Alternative fitness tests to measure upper body strength are the pull up or chin up and flexed
arm hang.
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Push Up Test (Men)
Age
17-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-65
Excellent
> 56
> 47
> 41
> 34
> 31
> 30
Good
47-56
39-47
34-41
28-34
25-31
24-30
Above average
35-46
30-39
25-33
21-28
18-24
17-23
Average
19-34
17-29
13-24
11-20
9-17
6-16
Below average
11-18
10-16
8-12
6-10
5-8
3-5
Poor
4-10
4-9
2-7
1-5
1-4
1-2
Very Poor
<4
<4
<2
0
0
0
Push Up Test (Women)
Age
17-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-65
Excellent
> 35
> 36
> 37
> 31
> 25
> 23
Good
27-35
30-36
30-37
25-31
21-25
19-23
Above
21-27
23-29
22-30
18-24
15-20
13-18
Average
11-20
12-22
10-21
8-17
7-14
5-12
Below average
6-10
7-11
5-9
4-7
3-6
2-4
Poor
2-5
2-6
1-4
1-3
1-2
1
Very Poor
0-1
0-1
0
0
0
0
Average