Why do the harvard step test

It is also a good measurement of fitness and a person's ability to recover after a strenuous exercise by checking the recovery rate. Lucien Brouha writes in his findings paper: "It is customary to assume that the resting pulse of a normal adult man is about 70 beats per minute.

The common belief is that when the resting pulse deviates much from this usual value, the heart is abnormal or there is a functional disturbance of the circulatory mechanism associated with some medical condition such as infection or hyperthyroidism A high resting pulse is more often regarded as a pathologic sign and pulses above are considered so abnormal that, according to some physicians, a man whose cardiac rate remains persistently over should be discarded from the combat service in the Army or Navy Though this was a Harvard MD's view in , even today, a high pulse rate is an indicator of heart health or the lack thereof.

In the days before sophisticated exercise tests were widely available, thoracic surgeons used the "5 flight of stairs" test to see if their patients were fit enough to undergo lung operations. The Harvard Step Test: But since the Harvard step test was created, the resting pulse rate is a fair enough indicator for doctors about the patient's heart health.

Simon, M. A warning before conducting the test: This test should only be performed under medical advice and supervision.

Explain the test procedures to the subject. The subject should try to maintain a steady four-beat cycle which is easy to maintain if you say up up down down. Go at a steady and constant pace. Once this is completed the subjects heart rate is measured at one minute intervals as below. Enter the results into the Pro Health Analytics Software or use our test calculator. Using the three pulse rates bpm to estimate the level of aerobic fitness can be determined as follows. The Harvard Step Test requires minimal equipment, this includes:.

See some videos of Harvard Step tests being performed. For example, if the total test time was seconds if completed the whole 5 minutes , and the number of heart beats between Note: you are using the total number of heart beats in the 30 second period, not the rate beats per minute during that time.

For example, considering that the step height is standard, taller people are at an advantage as it will take less energy to step up onto the step. Body weight has also been shown to be a factor. Testing large groups with this test will be time consuming.

Some sources suggest a 40 cm high bench, which is not the standard and original bench height. Since the original description of this test, there have been variations in the test procedure such as reducing the bench height for female subjects in some research studies.

Also be aware that I have noticed that some websites incorrectly list the formula for the long form without doubling the denominator. What is listed here has been confirmed as the correct formula. Share: Facebook Twitter.