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Body Mass Index (BMI) is a dated, biased measure that doesn’t account for several factors, such as body composition, ethnicity, race, gender, and age. Despite being a flawed measure, BMI is widely used today in the medical community because it is an inexpensive and quick method for analyzing potential health status and outcomes. Cardiovascular Endurance TestingCardiovascular endurance testing, also known as stress testing, measures how efficiently your heart and lungs work to supply oxygen and energy to your body during physical activity. Among the three most common tests used:
Some trainers will incorporate exercises such as sit-ups or push-ups to get a qualitative measurement of how you respond to specific exercises. These baseline results can be used at a later date to see if your health and fitness levels have improved. Strength and Endurance TestingStrength testing measures the maximal amount of force a muscle group can exert at one time. Muscle endurance testing, by comparison, measures the length of time a muscle group can contract and release before it fatigues. The exercises used include the push-up test and core strength and stability test. In some cases, a trainer will use a metronome to see how long can you keep up with the rhythm. The results are then compared to people of the same age group and sex to establish your baseline levels. Strength and endurance tests are valuable as they help the trainer pinpoint which muscle groups are stronger and which are vulnerable and in need of focused attention. Flexibility TestingMeasuring the flexibility of your joints is vital in determining whether you have postural imbalances, foot instability, or limitations in your range of motion. There are a variety of tests used to measure flexibility including:
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By Elizabeth Quinn, MS Thanks for your feedback! Which of the following physical fitness tests measures cardiovascular endurance?When it comes to measuring cardiovascular endurance, the 'gold standard' test is obtaining a reading of maximal aerobic power, also referred to as VO2 max. This measurement is typically taken in a laboratory while the person is running continuously on a treadmill, or cycling on an ergometer.
Which of the following physical fitness test measures the ability of the body to move in different directions quickly *?Agility – is the ability to move in different directions quickly using a combination of balance, coordination, speed, strength and endurance.
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