Module 515536: Exercise and Sports Science

Fitness Examination and Field Testing

K. M. Sheehy Senior Lecturer AUT University 2007

Acknowledgement
Images used in this presentation have been taken from the following text:
Bishop, B. & Hume, P. (2000).Guidelines for athletic assessment in New Zealand sport. Sport and Exercise Science New Zealand.

AUT University is eternally grateful to Sport and Exercise Science New Zealand for the use of these images.

Learning Outcomes
Principles of testing Understand the role of testing in strength and conditioning programmes Discuss the principles for selecting, administrating, terminating and interpreting appropriate test procedures Demonstrate the integration of testing into the overall training programme and ensuring reliability, accuracy and validity in testing procedures and results Select test protocols that are appropriate to a particular sport

Objectives of testing:

Introduction

To provide an objective profile of an athletes musculoskeletal fitness to engage in a sporting activity with minimum risk & injury, in addition maximum musculoskeletal performance. Negative information that provides or modifies performance must be considered: i.e. Disease, flu or unsolved injuries that continually cause niggles. Information is needed about physical deficiencies in strength, flexibility or endurance that may predispose an athlete to injury.
Correction of these deficiencies will decrease the risks & provide the optimum musculoskeletal base for athlete performance.

A reproducible record for sequent examinations, whether for the next season or after injury is needed. To use the deviations from optimal levels: i.e. The various aspects of athlete fitness to construct a sports specific programme to normalise any deficiencies discovered in the examination & testing.

Contents
What is a Fitness Test? Why Perform Fitness Testing? When Do We Perform Fitness Testing? Field versus Laboratory Selecting Appropriate Tests Testing Sequence Normative data Principles of Fitness Testing Evaluation / Statistics

What is a Fitness Test

A test designed to access the current state of a specific component of physical fitness Tests should be specific i.e. they should isolate a single
component of fitness

Tests should be valid & reliable reproduce results

consistently

Tests should be sensitive: i.e.. It should be accurate enough

to detect change in fitness

Tests should be objective

- they should measure something

Why Perform Fitness Testing?

Strength & weaknesses (physical profiling) Baseline data for exercise prescription Feedback on athletes progress (improvement since last test) Assess training effectiveness Monitor health (overtraining) Motivation to train Establish normative data Talent ID Team / crew selection

When Do We Perform Fitness Tests?

Depends on your reason for performing the testing.
To monitor fitness
Tests should be performed regularly Rule of thumb - tests should be performed every 6 8 weeks

During important training phases

Testing can be performed more regularly

Too often
No time for change (can be demoralising)

Too infrequently
No feedback on progress (hard to access training effectiveness)

When Do We Perform Fitness Tests?

Profiling athletes
Tests should be performed when athletes are at peak physical fitness

Exercise prescription
Depends on the phase of the season, i.e. general preparation, competition or taper

Talent ID
Tests should be performed prior to team selection taking place

Time of year

Fitness Assessments
Will
Precise programming for the individual Monitoring of training responses Incentive / motivation Aid with team selection Provide baseline data on athletes health status Provide an educational opportunity

Wont
Predict performance Select the best team Improve performance by itself

What Differs Between Field & Lab Tests?

Lab
Controlled environment to negate external factors

Field
Conducted in an environment which stimulates that encountered by the athlete during training and/or competition

Specificity
Neuromuscular pathways Peripheral adaptations Familiarity Comfort

Why Use Field Rather than Lab Testing

Less threatening environment No need to familiarise athlete with new equipment (if
doing a running test have to use a treadmill)

More people can be tested in a shorter period of time Introduce competition between athletes being tested Overcomes the need for expensive, sophisticated equipment Generally have similar degrees of reliability Often more specific to playing situation Easy to standardise tests

Key Point -

Disadvantages of Field Testing

Reliability / Validity Sensitivity Personal motivation Environmental influences Not sophisticated enough

Key Point -

Types of Tests
Submaximal Efforts Maximal Efforts Cadence Tests

Heart rate response

Time trials

Ability to maintain a prescribed cadence

Distance covered Distance covered Cumulative scoring Other physiological measures Performance decrements Heart rate or other measures

Selecting Appropriate Tests

To access the capabilities of an individual, or group of athletes
The Relevance
Tests should be sport specific & mimic actual sporting movement

Validity
The tests must measure what they claim to measure

Reliability
Tests must be consistent and reproducible

Acceptance
The tests should have a sound scientific base & be accepted by peers

Feasibility
It must be possible to effectively complete the number of tests within the selected protocol given the availability of time, resources & facilities

Validity
An appropriate test should always measure what it claims to measure - the test should be valid. Can be determined by close examination of its content or by comparison with another accepted measure of the same performance factor under scrutiny.
Example: A test of aerobic capacity must be of sufficient length (in time) to ensure that the aerobic energy system is the predominate contributor to performance in that test. Alternatively: A high correlation between a test that directly measures aerobic capacity, such as the Shuttle Run test, & direct measurement of VO2 max obtained using a graded exercise test to exhaustion on a treadmill in a lab would establish the validity of the Shuttle Run as a measure of running endurance.

Reliability
The reliability of a quantitative measure is a criterion for assessing its quality. Reliability refers to the consistency with which an instrument measure this attribute. An appropriate test should produce the same results on different testing occasions. Testers have to be diligent in ensuring the factors within both the subjects & the testing arena are held constant from one testing session to the next. To be reliable, the physical & psychological state of the subject must be known & controlled . The testing environment & protocols must be repeated exactly the same.

Recommended Tests & Testing Sequence

Baseline testing should always be performed prior to the initiation of any programme. The testing is valuable not only for assessing the athletes starting point Also for helping to identify any obvious or latent strengths & weaknesses the athletes may have. The data gathered forms the nucleus around which the training programme is designed. Table 1 shows recommended tests & testing sequence along with the rationale for the tests.

Recommended Tests & Testing Sequence NZ Squash

Anthropometric Measures 1. Body composition 2. Standing Height 3. Weight Flexibility 1. Sit & reach Aerobic Capacity 1. 3 km run / or Multistage Shuttle run or treadmill
1.

To evaluate lean body mass: goals are to decrease body fat and increase lean body mass. Aid in evaluation body composition and setting potential goals.

To identify flexibility deficits & improvement in the hamstring & lower back area. To measure cardiovascular endurance. To measure peripheral muscular endurance. To measure lower body power.

Repetitive Leg Power Standing, 4 hops plus jump

Localised Muscular Endurance 1. One minute sit-ups 2. One minute press-ups Speed & Agility 1. 20 meter sprint 2. T test * Both directions The Tests above are only a sampling of the tests that can be performed on a squash athlete

To quantify abdominal endurance. To quantify upper body endurance. To measure forward acceleration and speed. To measure multiple direction & reactivity time. Of primary importance, is the reliability & validity of the test & its administration.

Table 1

Testing Sequence
The order in which the battery is performed should be carefully considered
To ensure that the physical demands of one test do not compromise the results of subsequent evaluations Recovery intervals between tests should be planned to ensure that the risk of injury to athletes is kept to an absolute minimum One day: speed, strength, power before aerobic Two days: speed & aerobic day 1, strength, power on
day 2

Tests
The following tests contain some of the most commonly identified physiological parameters Examples of both laboratory & field tests used by conditioning specialists when assessing athletic abilities

Cardio-Respiratory Endurance
These tests should measure heart rate response to exercise Can only assess the efficiency & capacity for O2 extraction & utilisation (VO2max), given the ability of sophisticated gas analysis equipment:

Exercise Tests
Maximal Direct Tests
Metabolic cart measuring expired air Can use treadmill, cycle or swimming

Maximal Indirect Tests

Treadmill (walking or running), cycle, step tests

Submaximal (Indirect) Tests

Treadmill, cycle, step tests, rowing, swimming Also field tests such as distance runs/walks

Field Tests of CRE

Step Tests
Queens College Astrand-Ryhming Harvard Canadian Home Fitness Test

Distance Runs
20 m shuttle run Coopers 12 min run 15 min run 3 km run

Treadmill Tests
Astrand & Rodahl Balke Bruce Rockport Walking Test Ventilatory & Lactate Thresholds

Ergometers
Astrand PWC 170 Tri-level

Other Tests
12 min swim PACER Test

Anaerobic Endurance
The athletes ability to sustain high intensity activity is measured during this type of assessment:
Tri-level (lactic power 30 secs) Tri-level (alactic power 10 secs) Shuttle run Repeated speed tests (RHIET) Phosphate decrement
(10 x 40 m sprints per 30 sec 40 m jog recovery)

Muscular Strength
These tests can be used to highlight specific strengths, weaknesses or imbalances & relative improvements in response to training:
Isokinetic [Cybex, Kin Com, Biodex] 1-RM or 3-RM Dynamometer Kneeling overhead throw

Muscular Endurance
This type of test normally involves repetitive movements designed to stress a particular muscle group or group of muscles Typically uses the athletes own body weight as the major source of resistance:
Push ups Sit ups Pull ups (chins) Dips Prone bridge

Power

(Force x Velocity) Time

These tests are designed primarily to assess the athletes ability to utilise energy & strength to produce rapid & powerful movements:
Vertical jumps, triple jumps, broad jumps Margaria-Kalamen test Wingate Medicine ball throws Bench press throws Squat jumps

Speed (Displacement / Time)

Tests in this category are designed to measure the athletes ability to accelerate to maximum velocity in the shortest possible time frame To be able to maintain the speed over a preset distance
Stationary start 10 100m Flying start 40 100m Stride length Stride frequency Throwing, kicking, serving velocity

Agility / Reaction Time / Balance

These tests reveal the athletes ability to perform a series of rapid movements in opposing directions
T-test 5:0:5 Illinois agility run Wobble board

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Body Composition kinantropometric

assessment

Measurement of body fat and assessments of lean body mass can be a guide to the success of specifically designed weight loss/gain programmes
Hydrostatic weighing Skinfolds Body weight Circumferences Ultra sound

Flexibility
Tests of range of motion at the various joints recruited during the performance of particular sports specific activities can provide the coach with an insight into muscle rigidity, length imbalance & injury susceptibility
Shoulder extension test Sit & reach Thomas test The gastrocnemius test The soleus test Hamstring: active & passive

Video Analysis for Skill

Video analysis aims to provide feedback to coaches & athletes with a goal of increasing the desired performance. The athletes technique can be studied usually at slow speed or frame by frame. Qualitative (subjective assessment non numerical evaluation) & qualitative (measurement based provide kinematics & kinetics) feedback can provide a description of the movement in detail. Two dimensional or three dimensional analysis can be chosen depending on the type of movement patterns.

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Normative Data
Mens & Womens Aerobics Fitness Classifications

Principles of Fitness Testing

Validity & Reliability of Test Results

Testers

Group / Individual

Test Administration

Environment

Instructions

Order of Tests

Planning for the Testing Session

Planning
Know the test Key Point Pre-test planning Develop directions Prepare athletes Plan warm-up & number of trials Equipment & boundaries Recording sheets Time needed to administer the testing

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Administration of the Test

Success will be governed by preparation Ensure medical consent forms have been read, understood & signed where applicable Ensure pre-screening questionnaire has been read, understood, followed & completed Provide for athlete privacy where necessary, i.e., during anthropometric testing

Administration of the Test

Ensure the athlete is prepared & dressed for the particular exercise Prepare athletes on test day by following all pre-org to ensure they are fully conversant with test procedures Motivate athletes: all athletes should be given the same degree of motivation Ensure safety during the entire session, be prepared for the unexpected & remain alert

Test Termination indications for

Stopping a Test

Key Points

Onset of angina Failure of HR to increase as intensity increases Change to heart rhythm SBP either 260 mmHg, drops 10 mmHg OR fails to rise DBP 115 mmHg Severe fatigue, faintness, confusion, nausea, lightheadedness, shortness of breath Subject asks to stop Failure of test equipment

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Post Test Procedure

Analyze test scores
Complete as soon as possible after the testing Report as soon as possible after the testing period Necessary modifications to individual / team programmes File test scores
Add to data bank / group norms

Evaluation / Statistics
The analysis of data collected provides the results of the testing. These results need to be evaluated & interpreted which is often a challenging task. The interpretation should take into consideration the aim of the testing, its theoretical underpinnings & the existing body of related research knowledge & the limitations of the adopted testing methods. The interpretive task involves consideration of the following aspects:
The credibility & accuracy of results The meaning of the results The importance of the results The extent that the results can be generalised The implications for practice, theory or research

Summary
Testing need not be time consuming & with the availability of portable equipment can easily be done in the field. To minimise disruption of training, reassessments should be scheduled to coincide with low intensity, low volume periods in the normal training cycle. Testing may be used to motivate athletes, to this end, test days should be scheduled as special events. This in no way precludes the use of test procedures as regular training drills.

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Readings and Review Tasks

List the advantages of using field testing over lab testing. List the disadvantages of using field testing over lab testing. List 6 factors to consider when planning for a testing session. List 6 indications for stopping a test.

References
Bishop, B. & Hume, P. (2000).Guidelines for athletic assessment in New Zealand sport. Sport and Exercise Science New Zealand. Gibbins, D. (1993). Fitness testing and assessment of the athlete a review. Strength and Conditioning Coach, 1 (4), 22 23. Sheehy, K. (1994). New Zealand squash high performance programme testing and re-testing. Squash Institute of New Zealand, New Zealand Squash Inc. Toomey, M. J. (1994). Field testing seminar: beambreaker timing. School of Physical Education, University of Otago, Road Show.

Glossary
Specificity the test is designed to access an athletes fitness for the activity in question Validity it tests what it purports to test Reliability the test is capable of consistent repetition Objectivity it can produce a consistent result irrespective of
the tester

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