A
physical fitness test is a test designed to measure
physical strengthPhysical strength is the ability of a person to exert force on physical objects using muscles. Increasing physical strength is the goal of strength training.-Overview:...
,
agilityAgility is the ability to change the body's position efficiently, and requires the integration of isolated movement skills using a combination of balance, coordination, speed, reflexes, strength, endurance,and stamina....
, and
enduranceEndurance is the ability for an animal to exert itself for a long period of time. In humans, it is usually used in aerobic or anaerobic exercise. The definition of 'long' varies according to the type of exertion - minutes for high intensity anaerobic exercise, hours or days for low intensity...
. They are commonly employed in educational institutions as part of the
physical educationPhysical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting...
curriculum, in medicine as part of diagnostic testing, and as eligibility requirements in fields that focus on physical ability such as
militaryA military is an organization authorized by its nation to use force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. As an adjective the term "military" is also used to refer to any property or aspect of a military...
or
policeA police service is a public force empowered to enforce the law and provide security through the legitimized use of force.The term is most commonly associated with police services of a state that are authorized to exercise the police power of that state within a defined legal or territorial area of...
. Throughout the 20th century, scientific evidence emerged demonstrating the usefulness of
strength trainingStrength training is the use of resistance to muscular contraction to build the strength, anaerobic endurance and size of skeletal muscles. There are many different methods of strength training, the most common being the use of gravity or elastic/hydraulic forces to oppose muscle contraction...
and
aerobic exerciseAerobic exercise is exercise that involves or improves oxygen consumption by the body. Aerobic means "with oxygen", and refers to the use of oxygen in the body's metabolic or energy-generating process...
in maintaining overall health, and more agencies began to incorporate standardized fitness testing.
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A
physical fitness test is a test designed to measure
physical strengthPhysical strength is the ability of a person to exert force on physical objects using muscles. Increasing physical strength is the goal of strength training.-Overview:...
,
agilityAgility is the ability to change the body's position efficiently, and requires the integration of isolated movement skills using a combination of balance, coordination, speed, reflexes, strength, endurance,and stamina....
, and
enduranceEndurance is the ability for an animal to exert itself for a long period of time. In humans, it is usually used in aerobic or anaerobic exercise. The definition of 'long' varies according to the type of exertion - minutes for high intensity anaerobic exercise, hours or days for low intensity...
. They are commonly employed in educational institutions as part of the
physical educationPhysical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting...
curriculum, in medicine as part of diagnostic testing, and as eligibility requirements in fields that focus on physical ability such as
militaryA military is an organization authorized by its nation to use force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. As an adjective the term "military" is also used to refer to any property or aspect of a military...
or
policeA police service is a public force empowered to enforce the law and provide security through the legitimized use of force.The term is most commonly associated with police services of a state that are authorized to exercise the police power of that state within a defined legal or territorial area of...
. Throughout the 20th century, scientific evidence emerged demonstrating the usefulness of
strength trainingStrength training is the use of resistance to muscular contraction to build the strength, anaerobic endurance and size of skeletal muscles. There are many different methods of strength training, the most common being the use of gravity or elastic/hydraulic forces to oppose muscle contraction...
and
aerobic exerciseAerobic exercise is exercise that involves or improves oxygen consumption by the body. Aerobic means "with oxygen", and refers to the use of oxygen in the body's metabolic or energy-generating process...
in maintaining overall health, and more agencies began to incorporate standardized fitness testing. In the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the
President's Council on Youth FitnessThe President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is an American government organization that aims to "promote, encourage and motivate Americans of all ages to become physically active and participate in sports"...
was established in 1956 as a way to encourage and monitor fitness in schoolchildren.
Notable tests
- Singapore's NAPFA; see National Physical Fitness Award
The National Physical Fitness Award Scheme is a test of physical fitness for Singaporeans as part of Singapore's Sports For Life programme...
- United States military
- Army Physical Fitness Test, a test in the U.S. Army
- United States Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test
The United States Marine Corps requires that all Marines perform a Physical Fitness Test and a Combat Fitness Test once per fiscal year. Each test must have an interval of 6 months . The PFT ensures that Marines are keeping physically fit and in a state of physical readiness. It consists of...
, a test in the U.S. Marine Corps
- Physical Readiness Test
A Physical Readiness Test, also known as a Physical Fitness Assessment, or PFA, is conducted by United States military organizations to determine the physical fitness of their service members...
, a test in the U.S. Navy
- United States Air Force Fitness Test
***This data is not current - the charts have changed - still awaiting updated charts to post****The United States Air Force Fitness Test is designed to test the body composition, muscular strength/endurance and cardiovascular respiratory fitness of airmen in the United States Air Force...
, a test in the U.S. Air Force
- Work Capacity Test
The pack test, also known more officially as the Work Capacity Test , is a U.S. Forest Service physical test for wildland firefighters. The pack test is intentionally stressful as it tests the capacity of muscular strength and aerobic endurance of the firefighter. There are three tests known as...
, a test for firefighters
See also
- Harvard Step Test
The Harvard Step Test is a type of cardiac stress test for detecting and/or diagnosing cardiovascular disease.It also is a good measurement of fitness, and your ability to recover after a strenuous exercise. The more quickly your heart rate returns to resting, the better shape you are in.It is a...
, a cardiovascular test
- Multi-stage fitness test
The multi-stage fitness test, also known as the bleep test, beep test, pacer test, or 20-m shuttle run test, is used by sports coaches and trainers to estimate an athlete's VO2 max...
- aka beep test or shuttle run
- Cooper Test
The Cooper test is a test of physical fitness. It was designed by Kenneth H. Cooper in 1968 for US military use. In the original form, the point of the test is to run as far as possible within 12 minutes...
, Used by Law, Military and Fire
- Vertical Jump
Vertical Jump is the ability to raise one's center of gravity higher in the vertical plane solely with the use of one's own muscles. It is a measure of how high an individual or athlete can elevate off the ground from a standstill....
, a leg power test
External links