Assistant C2

Knowledge and skills in medical-fitness testing is important for the Sports Med-Tech Assistant, because over 80% of the adult population in the U.S. do not meet the recommendation for regular physical activity. Being able to identify and measure low levels of fitness, along with its co-determinant of obesity, is also important, because diminishing fitness levels lead to an increase of various chronic sedentary-related diseases, including: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugars, diabetes, heart disease, and many forms of cancer. In fact, inactivity with obesity has become the #1 cause of premature disease, disability, and death in America.

As a Sports Med-Tech Assistant, you will be working closely with a Sports Medicine Technician at a medical-fitness facility, such as a Med-Fit Clinic hosted by a local gym. Your supervising Sports Medicine Technician will orient you to the specific testing areas that are used at the clinic and in the field to test their clients' levels of Muscular (Legs-Abs-Arms) Fitness.

These muscular fitness tests focus on muscle stamina in relation to body weight and as an indicator of functional fitness and potential disability. Testing muscle strength and power is beyond the scope of expertise for the Sports Med-Tech Assistant, and therefore not included in this course. The following instructions are generic guidelines that will prepare you for your hands-on laboratory assignments in Muscular Fitness Testing.

1. Leg Muscles Fitness Test

The standardized Leg Muscles Fitness Test uses "Air" (unweighted) Squats as the exercise of choice. Your supervising Sports Medicine Technician may substitute or modify this exercise for particular clients. In those cases, the Technician will conduct the test or train you accordingly. The following test can be used in both a clinical and community setting.

Participants should sign an Informed Consent, be screened for Medical Clearance, and be dressed for moderate physical activity.
A designated area for the test should be specified and well marked.
Have the participant warm-up briefly before starting the test.
Demonstrate a few Air Squats, and check to see if the participant can do at least one.
Use a timer (stop-watch) to conduct the test.
Instruct the participant that for the first part they are to do "as many squats as possible in a row" (without stopping).
Also instruct the participant that they can start whenever they are ready and then stop whenever they get tired or sore.
Start the timer when the participant starts their squats.
Count the participant's FULL squats out loud. (Partial squats do NOT count.)
You may give technical instructions, but do not encourage the participant to continue.
Interrupt the exercise if/when the participant does 30 consecutive air squats or at 1 minute, whichever occurs first.
Record the count and time for their consecutive reps of full air squats.
If the participant completes 30 squats within 1 minute, explain that they qualified to continue with the second part of the test.
Re-set the timer for a 1-minute Air Squat AMRAP (As Many Reps As Possible).
Start the timer and count out loud the number of full reps that the participant does in 1 minute.
The participant is allowed to rest during the 1-minute AMRAP while the timer continues.
Record the number of full reps that the participant completes for their 1-minute AMRAP.
Use the chart below to score the participant's Leg Muscles Fitness Test.

2. Abdominal Muscles Fitness Test

The standardized Abdominal Muscles Fitness Test uses Leg Raises as the exercise of choice. Your supervising Sports Medicine Technician may substitute or modify this exercise for particular clients. In those cases, the Technician will conduct the test or train you accordingly. The following test can be used in both a clinical and community setting.

Participants should sign an Informed Consent, be screened for Medical Clearance, and be dressed for moderate physical activity.
A designated area for the test should be specified and well marked.
A thin exercise pad may be used, but is not necessary.
Have the participant warm-up briefly before starting the test.
Demonstrate a few leg raises, and check to see if the participant can do at least one.
Use a timer (stop-watch) to conduct the test.
Instruct the participant that for the first part they are to do "as many leg raises as possible in a row" (without stopping).
Also instruct the participant that they can start whenever they are ready and then stop whenever they get tired or sore.
Start the timer when the participant starts their leg raises.
Count the participant's FULL leg raises out loud. (Partial leg raises do NOT count.)
You may give technical instructions, but do not encourage the participant to continue.
Interrupt the exercise if/when the participant does 24 consecutive leg raises or at 1 minute, whichever occurs first.
Record the count and time for their consecutive reps of full leg raises.
If the participant completes 24 leg raises within 1 minute, explain that they qualified to continue with the second part of the test.
Re-set the timer for a 1-minute Leg Raise AMRAP (As Many Reps As Possible).
Start the timer and count out loud the number of full reps that the participant does in 1 minute.
The participant is allowed to rest during the 1-minute AMRAP while the timer continues.
Record the number of full reps that the participant completes for their 1-minute AMRAP.
Use the chart below to score the participant's Abdominal Muscles Fitness Test.

3. Arm Muscles Fitness Test

The standardized Arm Muscles Fitness Test uses Push-Ups as the exercise of choice. Men pivot on their toes, and women pivot on their knees. Your supervising Sports Medicine Technician may substitute or modify this exercise for particular clients. In those cases, the Technician will conduct the test or train you accordingly. The following test can be used in both a clinical and community setting.

Participants should sign an Informed Consent, be screened for Medical Clearance, and be dressed for moderate physical activity.
A designated area for the test should be specified and well marked.
A thin exercise pad may be used, but is not necessary.
Have the participant warm-up briefly before starting the test.
Demonstrate a few gender-specific push-ups, and check to see if the participant can do at least one.
Use a timer (stop-watch) to conduct the test.
Instruct the participant that for the first part they are to do "as many push-ups as possible in a row" (without stopping).
Also instruct the participant that they can start whenever they are ready and then stop whenever they get tired or sore.
Start the timer when the participant starts their push-ups.
Count the participant's FULL push-ups out loud. (Partial push-ups do NOT count.)
You may give technical instructions, but do not encourage the participant to continue.
Interrupt the exercise if/when the participant does 24 consecutive push-ups or at 1 minute, whichever occurs first.
Record the count and time for their consecutive reps of full push-ups.
If the participant completes 24 push-ups within 1 minute, explain that they qualified to continue with the second part of the test.
Re-set the timer for a 1-minute Push-Up AMRAP (As Many Reps As Possible).
Start the timer and count out loud the number of full reps that the participant does in 1 minute.
The participant is allowed to rest during the 1-minute AMRAP while the timer continues.
Record the number of full reps that the participant completes for their 1-minute AMRAP.
Use the chart below to score the participant's Arm Muscles Fitness Test.

Testing Medical-Fitness