EVALUATION OF PHYSICAL FITNESS

A. Components of Health Related Physical Fitness

1. Cardio-respiratory endurance - aerobic power
2. Strength
3. Muscular Endurance
4. Flexibility
5. Body Composition
B. Objectives of Physical Fitness Testing
1. To assess the status of individuals entering a program.
2. To aid in prescribing or limiting activity of certain individuals.
3. To evaluate an individual's progress.
4. To increase individual motivation for entering and adhering to an exercise
program.
5. To evaluate the success of a program in achieving its objectives.
C. Medical Clearance and Human Rights
The subject's human rights are respected - Informed Consent Form. The
subject is given a thorough explanation of the purpose of the test, possible
risks, benefits, etc.

D. Characteristics of a Good Physical FitnessTest

Measurement error makes the observed value of a measure differ from the
true value.
1. Validity - a valid test is one that measures effectively what it is supposed
to measure.
Compare the test results to a criterion measure or reference standard - there
should be a high relationship
2. Reliability - are the results consistent and reproducible? A highly reliable
test yields the same or approximately the same scores when administered
twice to the same individuals, provided conditions and subjects are
essentially the same.
Error the deviation of a measurement, observation, or calculation from the
truth.
Random errors influence the results in a random (statistically unpredictable)
manner. They cause the results to spread in both directions (positive and
negative) about the true value.
If a result is not repeatable --> random errors --> repeat the measurement
several times and take the mean
There will always be a certain amount of random error - due to a combination
technical error and biological variation in performance.
Test administration should be rigidly controlled - standard instructions to the
subjects, standard practice or warm-up procedures, standard order of test
items and recovery times between items, standard environmental temperature
and humidity, and standard equipment and equipment calibration procedures.
Skills that require a high proficiency of coordination and reaction should be
tested before any tests that may cause fatigue and decrease performance.

3. Objectivity the level to which multiple testers agree on the scoring of

tests. To optimize objectivity, it is best to use trained testers, a
predetermined scoring system, and if possible, one designated tester.
4. Accuracy - A measure of how close a result is to the true value. The
accuracy with which things are measured, or with which differences are
perceived, depends first upon the precision of the measuring instruments.
All measuring instruments have their limitations.
Systematic errors - errors that systematically shift the measurements in one
direction away from the true value. They can be caused by instrumentation
errors or by the use of incorrect measurement techniques.
Systematic errors caused by a measuring instrument can be estimated by
comparison with a more accurate and reliable instrument - calibration of
instruments.
5. Norms - allow a relative rating or classification of the subject's
performance. They describe a persons position in a population.
If the only information available about a subject's test performance is the raw
score, interpreting it meaningfully can be difficult.
A norm describes a subject in relation to a large number of people who have
taken the test.
Norm charts should be evaluated to determine their quality. The following
questions should be asked:
a) Were the sampling procedures for the construction of the norms based on a
wide distribution of the population?
b) Was a large sample size used to construct the norms?
c) Are the norms being used for the specific groups for which they were
prepared?

Percentile a point or a position on a theoretical scale of 100 divisions such

that a certain fraction of the population of raw scores lies at or below that
point.
Median the 50th percentile, the score that divides a distribution so that 50%
of the scores are above this point and 50% fall below.
6. Economy - consider two factors:
a) money costs and
b) time required of subjects and testers
Other things being reasonably equal (validity, reliability, accuracy), choose a
test that meets your objectives and requires little in money and time.
Laboratory tests typically require specialized equipment and specialized
training for the test administrator. They are usually administered to only one
person at a time.
Field tests require no expensive equipment and little, if any, specialized
training. These tests can be administered to a group of individuals at the
same time, and they are usually less precise than laboratory tests.