Fitness Assessments

Abdominal Strength & Endurance
Aerobic Capacity
Body Composition
Flexibility
Upper Body Strength & Endurance

Shaded area represents healthy fitness zone:
Abdominal Strength and Endurance Standards for Boys (Meredith et al, 2004)
Abdominal Strength and Endurance Standards for Girls (Meredith et al, 2004)
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Aerobic Capacity
The Pacer Test. Why? Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is the greatest single cause of death in the US. Risk factors are associated with sedentary lifesyles along with stress, smoking, consumption of fat, and heredity. Research shows that regular physical activity at detemined levels of intensity can reduce risk factors of CHD. The objective is to run back and forth across a 20 meter space at a specified pace that gets faster each minute. The test is progressive in intensity and continues until students are unable to keep pace. One error is allowed. To be in the Healthy Fitness Zone, the student should reach the standard listed:

Shaded area represents healthy fitness zone:
Aerobic Capacity Standards for Boys (Meredith et al, 2004)
Aerobic Capacity Standards for Girls (Meredith et al, 2004)
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Body Composition
Body Mass Index (BMI). For good health, the body should maintain an appropriate ratio of fat and lean weight. Obesity is associated with many risk factors of CHD, stroke, and diabetes. Exercise and good nutritional habits are lifestyle choices. In clinical use of the BMI, the objective is to determine the appropriateness of a student's body weight relative to height. This is not a measure of body composition (fat/lean wieght), because it does not estimate the percentage of body fat.

The BMI score is valid for both men and women but it does have some limits. The limits are: 1) It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build; 2) It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle mass.

To be in the Health Fitness Zone, students should reach the standard listed:
Body Composition Standards for Boys (Meredith et al, 2004)
Body Composition Standards for Girls (Meredith et al, 2004)

• CDC BMI Calculator
• keepkidshealthy.com's BMI Calculator
  
  
  Additional Information and other ways to calculate body composition can be found at:
• Fatfreekitchen.com - Caring For Your Health

Flexibility
Back Saver Sit and Reach. Most Americans will at one time or another encounter back problems. About 80% of these are due to weak and/or tense muscles. Physical inactivity can contribute to loss of flexibility. This supports the value of stretching to prevent the development of lower back problems. The objective is to assess hamstring flexibility on the right and left sides of the body. This is done by a seated stretch over an extended leg, measuring reach in inches on a measurement strip. To be in the Healthy Fitness Zone, the student should reach the standard on both the right and left sides:

Flexibility Standards for Boys (Meredith et al, 2004)
Flexibility Standards for Girls (Meredith et al, 2004)
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Upper Body Strength and Endurance
90° Push Up. Upper body strength is important for individuals to perform many daily task and chores. In emergencies, upper body strength can make the difference between seroius injury and escaping harm. The objective is to do as many 90° pushups as possible at a rhythmic pace.Students assume prone postion with hands under or slightly wider than shoulders, legs straight and slightly apart, and toes tucked under. The back is kept straight throughout the test as the student pushes up off the mat to straight arm height, and then continues by lowering to 90° (upper arm parallel to floor) and raising to straight arm height. This continues until rhythm is broken, body position is lost, or full extension or 90° flex do not occur. Students may have one form error, and stop on the second. To be in the Healthy Fitness Zone students should reach the standard listed:

Shaded area represents healthy fitness zone:
Upper Body Strength & Endurance Standards for Boys (Meredith et al, 2004)
Upper Body Strength & Endurance Standards for Girls (Meredith et al, 2004)
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Meredith, M., & Welk, G. (Eds.). (2004). Fitnessgram. Activitygram. Test Administration Manual. 3rd ed. Dallas, TX: The Cooper Institute.