Chapter 15
Physical Fitness
Chapter Objectives
After completing this chapter, you should be able to
1. Define and measure health-related physical
fitness and skill-related physical fitness.
2. State why physical fitness should be measured.
3. List six guidelines for the administration and use
of physical fitness tests.
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Chapter Objectives
4. Contrast norm-referenced and criterionreferenced fitness standards and state how
both may be used appropriately in testing for
physical fitness.
5. Describe responsibilities after the
measurement of physical fitness and prescribe
activities and exercises for the development
of physical fitness.
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Fitness and Physical Fitness
Terms fitness and physical fitness are often used
interchangeably. Both involve quality of life, but
do not mean same thing.
Fitness - includes emotional, mental, spiritual, and
social fitness, as well as physical fitness; the term
wellness often used to mean same thing.
When defining physical fitness, it may be best to
describe two types of physical fitness: healthrelated and skill-related.
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Health-Related Physical Fitness
Health-related physical fitness includes
cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength,
muscular endurance, flexibility, and body
composition (lean/fatness).
Means:
1. Organic systems of body are healthy and
function efficiently.
2. Individual is able to engage in vigorous tasks
and leisure activities.
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Health-Related Physical Fitness
Health-related physical fitness exerts a positive
influence on several risks factors associated with
cardiovascular disease.
It is effective in reducing the risk of back pain,
diabetes, osteoporosis, and obesity.
It is an effective way to manage emotional stress.
It enables you to look better, feel better, and enjoy
a healthy, happy, and full life.
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Skill-Related Physical Fitness
Skill-related physical fitness includes the five
components of health-related fitness
(cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength,
muscular endurance, flexibility, and body
composition) and the components of agility,
balance, coordination, power, reaction time, and
speed.
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Skill-Related Physical Fitness
Sometimes referred to as athleticperformance-related fitness.
Exercise programs for the development and
maintenance of health-related fitness are
usually different from those programs for
skill-related fitness.
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Why Measure Physical Fitness?
Relationship of good health and cardiorespiratory
fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance,
flexibility, and body composition has been described
previously.
Development of these components should be a
primary objective in all school physical education
programs and in all health promotion programs.
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Why Measure Physical Fitness?
Tests results can be used to teach the concepts of
fitness, to motivate for self-improvement, and to
help individuals plan fitness programs.
Testing for skill-related fitness can serve to
motivate high-ability individuals to perform at even
higher levels.
Diagnostic testing will enable you to prescribe
appropriate activities to develop components of
skill-related fitness; help individuals succeed in
sports and daily activities.
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Guidelines for the Administration and
Use of Fitness Tests
1. Measure fitness components that the public and
research experts agree are the most important.
Focus on health and self-improvement rather than
comparison to others.
2. In the school environment, fitness tests should be
a part of the total educational program. Attention
should be given to the knowledge and
understanding of fitness concepts.
3. Fitness test results should be kept confidential; do
not embarrass individual self-image.
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Guidelines for the Administration and
Use of Fitness Tests
4. Teach individuals how to take fitness tests.
5. Fitness awards should encourage lifetime
activity rather than a one-time performance.
6. Take care to provide necessary, adequate,
sufficient, and valid information regarding test
results to individuals.
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Norm-Referenced Standards Versus
Criterion-Referenced Standards
Norm-referenced tests are well suited for
measurement of skill-related fitness if the goal is to
motivate individuals to achieve a high level of fitness.
May be inadvisable to use of norm-referenced fitness
standards with physically inactive and low-fit
individuals. .
If percentiles are used without consideration of the
absolute score, improvements in student performance
may not be noted; individuals may be discouraged.
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Norm-Referenced Standards Versus
Criterion-Referenced Standards
Criterion-referenced standards are used when
individual differences are unimportant and
performance is judged relative to some standard that
reflects a satisfactory level of the attribute being
measured.
CR standards for health-related fitness tests
purportedly represent the minimum level of an
attribute or function that is consistent with good
health. A score higher than the standard score is not
necessarily better.
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Norm-Referenced Standards Versus
Criterion-Referenced Standards
Standards are used as goals for low-fit
individuals, and unless limited physically, most
individuals are capable of attaining the standards.
Criticism of such standards, however, is that
because they represent desired minimum levels
of fitness, they do not serve to motivate
individuals to seek a higher level of fitness.
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Responsibilities after Measurement
• Develop program for individuals who need to
improve status in one or more components of
physical fitness
• One particular activity will not develop all
components of physical fitness; use variety of
activities
• In school environment may develop program
for use outside of school; journals may be
used
• Promote active lifestyle
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Tests of Health-Related Physical Fitness
Difficult to establish a single test battery that
measures all components of health-related or skillrelated fitness.
No one item that measures total-body muscular
strength, muscular endurance, or flexibility; must
decide which parts of the body are to be measured
for these components.
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Tests of Health-Related Physical Fitness
Many tests include items that measure arm and
shoulder girdle strength and endurance, strength
and endurance of the abdominal region, and lowback-posterior-thigh flexibility.
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Tests of Health-Related Physical Fitness
Should be aware of the following facts when
reviewing physical fitness tests in chapter.
1. Some tests have similar items that may not be
administered in the same way (i.e. sit-up and
sit and reach).
2. Some of the criterion-reference standards
vary for the health-related physical fitness
standards.
3. Tests currently not promoted are included
because of uniqueness of a component or
components.
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Tests of Health-Related Physical Fitness
Discussions about the possibility of a national
youth fitness test have been held among
representatives of various groups.
Agreement about components of health-related
fitness tests and the various items that can be used
to measure the components. No agreement about
the standards, however.
Also, some groups feel that a fitness test should
include both health-related and skill-related fitness
items.
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The FITNESSGRAM/ACTIVITYGRAM
Developed by the Cooper Institute for Aerobics
Research, the FITNESSGRAM provides criterionrelated standards that classifies individuals in two
general areas: “Needs Improvement” and “Healthy
Fitness Zone (HFZ)”. ACTIVITYGRAM is a
detailed three-day assessment of physical activity.
Table 15.1 provides the lower end (good) standards
for the HFZ.
Age level. Five through seventeen-plus
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The FITNESSGRAM
Test Components
1. Aerobic capacity:
The Pacer
1-mile run (alternative)
Walk test (alternative)
2. Body composition:
Sum of triceps and medial-calf skinfold
measurements for grades 4-12.
Sum of triceps, medial-calf, and adominal
skinfold measurements for college students.
Body mass index used if skinfold measurements
are not provided.
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The FITNESSGRAM
3. Abdominal strength and endurance: Curl-up
(performed at specified cadence)
4. Trunk extensor strength and flexibility: Trunk
lift
5. Upper body strength and endurance:
Push-up
Modified pull-up
Pull-up
Flexed arm-hang
6. Flexibility:
Back-saver sit and reach
Shoulder stretch
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AAHPERD Health-Related Physical
Fitness Test for College Students
Although AAHPERD no longer promote this
test, it is useful as college-student norms are
provided with the test.
Table 15.2 includes percentile norms.
Age level. College-age
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AAHPERD Health-Related Physical Fitness
Test Components
1. Cardiorespiratory functional capacity and
endurance: 1-mile run or 9-minute run
2. Body composition: Sum of triceps and
subscapular skinfold measurements.
3. Abdominal muscular strength and endurance:
Modified sit-ups
4. Flexibility: Sit and reach
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South Carolina Physical Fitness Test
This test includes both criterion- and normreferenced standards for students and criterionreferenced standards for adults.
Table 15.3 includes criterion-referenced standards
for ages nine through fifty-nine.
Age level. Nine through adult
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South Carolina Physical Fitness Test
Test Components
1. Cardiorespiratory function: 1-mile run or 9minute run
2. Muscular strength and muscular endurance of
the abdominal musculature: 1-minute bent-knee
sit-ups
3. Low-back/hamstring muscle flexibility: sit and
reach
4. Body composition: Sum of triceps and
abdominal skinfold measurements
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Fit Youth Today
Fit Youth Today (FYT) currently is not promoted.
The aerobic fitness and cardiorespiratory
endurance test is unique.
Table 15.4 includes criterion-referenced standards
for grades K-12.
Age level. Grades K through 12
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Fit Youth Today
Test Components
1. Aerobic fitness and cardiorespiratory
endurance:
Grades K-1 – jog or move continuously for 12
minutes
Grades 2-3 – jog or move continuously for 15
minutes
Grades 4-12 – jog at steady pace for 20 minutes
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Fit Youth Today
Test Components
2. Abdominal muscular strength and endurance:
2-minute bent-knee curl-up
3. Trunk flexion: Sit and reach.
4. Body composition: Sum of triceps and medialcalf skinfold measurements.
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YMCA Physical Fitness Test
The YMCA Physical Fitness Test is administered
as part of a health-related physical fitness program.
A medical examination is required before the test
is administered.
Table 15.5 includes norms from the range of “Very
Poor” to “Excellent.”
Age level. Eighteen through sixty-five plus
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YMCA Physical Fitness Test
Test Components
1. Body composition: Both men and women use the
sum of four skinfolds – abdomen, ilium, triceps,
and thigh.
2. Cardiorespiratory endurance: Maximal physical
working capacity (PWC) and maximum oxygen
uptake (VO2max) are predicted from the
response to a submaximal workload on a bicycle
ergometer. A 3-minute step test may be used as a
substitute for the bicycle ergometer test.
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YMCA Physical Fitness Test
Test Components
3. Trunk flexion: Sit and reach.
4. Muscular strength and endurance:
Bench press
1-minute bent-knee sit-ups
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ACSM Fitness Test
Table 15.6 includes the average standards for the
push-up and sit and reach tests.
Age level. Twenty through adulthood.
Test Components
1. Aerobic fitness: Rockport 1-mile walk
Performance standards are found in figure
11.2.
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ACSM Fitness Test
Test Components
2. Muscular fitness: Push-ups. Table 15.6
includes average standards.
3. Flexibility: Sit and reach. Table 15.6 includes
average standards.
4. Body composition: Body mass index (BMI). A
BMI of 19 to 25 is desirable.
5. Waist-to-hip ratio (W/H). Table 14.11 provides
standards for ratio.
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The Canadian Physical Activity, Fitness &
Lifestyle Appraisal: CSEP’s Guide to Healthy
Living – Health Related Fitness Appraisal
The Canadian Physical Activity, Fitness &
Lifestyle Appraisal manual covers the topics of
understanding behavior change, helping people
change, healthy physical activity participation,
healthy lifestyle, basic exercise physiology, and
health-related fitness.
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The Canadian Physical Activity, Fitness &
Lifestyle Appraisal: CSEP’s Guide to Healthy
Living – Health Related Fitness Appraisal
Preappraisal screening procedures include
measurement of resting heart rate, blood
pressure, and utilization of the Physical
Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)
found in figure 11.1.
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The Canadian Physical Activity, Fitness
& Lifestyle Appraisal
Age level. Fifteen through sixty-nine.
Test Components
1. Body composition:
Standing height and waist girth
Triceps, biceps, subscapular, iliac crest, and
medial-calf skinfold measurements
Table 15.7 and Table 15.8 are used to interpret
the body composition values.
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The Canadian Physical Activity, Fitness
& Lifestyle Appraisal
Test Components
2. Aerobic fitness: The Modified Canadian Aerobic
Fitness Test (mCAFT), a step test, is used.
Figure 15.1 shows the ergometer steps that are
used to administer the mCAFT. The aerobic
fitness score is determined by using the oxygen
cost of the test and the performer’s weight and
age in the equation provided in text.
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The Canadian Physical Activity, Fitness
& Lifestyle Appraisal
Test Components
2. Aerobic fitness
Table 15.9 provides the stages and cadence for
the step test.
Table 15.10 includes the oxygen cost of test.
Table 15.11 includes the health benefit zone for
the score.
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The Canadian Physical Activity, Fitness
& Lifestyle Appraisal
Test Components
3. Musculoskeletal fitness: Five components of
musculoskeltal fitness are appraise. Table
15.12 includes the “Good” health benefits zone
for the components.
*Grip Strength
*Push-ups
*Trunk Forward Flexion
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The Canadian Physical Activity, Fitness
& Lifestyle Appraisal
Test Components
3. Musculoskeletal fitness:
*Partial Curl-up (required cadence)
*Vertical Jump – Scored as a straight
height jump and leg power.
Leg power is determined with the
formula found in text.
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Tests of Skill-Related Physical Fitness
Rarely does a single test battery include all
components of skill-related physical fitness.
May use items of several tests to measure
additional components.
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AAU Physical Fitness Test
The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) no longer
promotes this test. The test has unique items and
test standards are available.
Table 15.13 includes the criteria for Outstanding
Achievement and Attainment standards.
Age level. Six through seventeen
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AAU Physical Fitness Test
Test Components
1. Cardiorespiratory endurance: Two options are
provided.
Distance run: ¼ mile for ages six and seven; ½
mile for ages eight and nine; ¾ mile for ages
ten and eleven; and 1 mile for ages twelve
through seventeen.
Hoosier endurance shuttle run
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AAU Physical Fitness Test
Test Components
2. Trunk strength and endurance: 1-minute bentknee sit-ups
3. Flexibility of hamstrings and lower back: Sit
and reach test
4. Upper-body strength and endurance: Pull-ups
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AAU Physical Fitness Test
Test Components
The following items are optional test items:
1. Explosive leg strength and efficiency of body
mass in space: standing long jump
2. Upper body static endurance (males): Isometric
push-ups
3. Upper-body strength and endurance (females):
Modified push-ups with 30-second time limit
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AAU Physical Fitness Test
Test Components (Optional Items)
4. Static leg endurance: Isometric leg squat
(phantom chair)
5. Agility and quickness: Shuttle run
6. Speed, quickness, and anaerobic capacity:
Sprint. 50 yards for ages nine through twelve;
100 yards for ages thirteen through seventeen
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The President’s Challenge
Participants in the President’s Challenge can strive
for one of three awards.
Presidential Physical Fitness Award: Must score at
or above the eighty-fifth percentile on all five test
items.
National Physical Fitness Award: Score at or above
the fiftieth percentile, but less than the eighty-fifth
percentile.
Participant Physical Fitness Award: Attempt all
five items but scores fall below the fiftieth
percentile on one or more items.
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The President’s Challenge
Table 15.14 includes the standard for the
Presidential Fitness Award and the National
Physical Fitness Award.
The President’s Challenge also provides a healthcriterion-referenced award as an alternative to the
traditional awards. The Health Fitness Award
(HFA) can be earned by students whose test
scores meet or exceed the specified health criteria
on each of the five items constituting the
President’s Challenge Health Test. (See text for
the items).
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The President’s Challenge
Age level. Six through seventeen.
Test Components
1. Abdominal strength/endurance: Curl-ups
2. Speed and agility: Shuttle run
3. Heart/lung endurance: 1-mile run/walk. The ¼
mile run is an option for six to seven years old,
and the ½ mile run an option for eight to nine
years old.
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The President’s Challenge
Test Components
4. Upper body strength/endurance: Maximum
number of pull-ups; right angle push-ups may
be used as an option to pull-ups. The flexed-arm
hang may be used as an alternative to pull-ups
for the National and Participant Physical Fitness
Awards.
5. Flexibility of lower back and hamstrings: V-sit
reach. The sit and reach test may be used as an
option.
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AAHPERD Youth Fitness Test
The AAHPERD Youth Fitness Test was last
published in 1976. It is included because norms
are available for all test items.
Age level. Nine through seventeen-plus
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AAHPERD Youth Fitness Test
Test components
1. Arm and shoulder girdle strength and
endurance: Pull-up test for males and flexedarm hang for females. Tables 13.10 and 13.12
report norms.
2. Abdominal strength and endurance: 1-minute
bent-knee sit-ups. Table 15.15 reports
percentile norms.
3. Agility in running and changing direction:
Shuttle run. Table 9.3 reports norms.
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AAHPERD Youth Fitness Test
4. Leg power: Standing long jump. Table 13.16
reports norms.
5. Speed: 50-yard dash. Table 15.16 reports
norms.
6. Cardiorespiratory function: 600-yard run. Table
15.17 provides percentile norms. Optional longdistance runs include the 1-mile or 9-minute run
for ages ten through twelve, and the 1.5-mile or
12-minute run for ages thirteen or older.
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