Med-Fit Tech Assistant

Medical-Fitness Assessment - Learning Module #8

Muscle Fitness

Part C
Part C: Arm Muscle Fitness

Learning Objective:
  • Properly conduct the Push-Up Test
  • Calculate the Arm Fitness Score
The Push-Up Test for Arm Muscle Fitness is a 1-minute AMRAP (as many reps as possible) during which the participant tries to perform as many push-ups as possible (to the best of his/her ability) until the time runs out.

The push-up exercise mainly targets the Pectoralis Major and Triceps Brachii muscles
Know how to do a Push-Up.
​(Tap/Click the photo to watch the video on Youtube.)
Push-Up Instructions:
  • Hands on the ground shoulder-width apart
  • Body and legs straight with only the balls of the feet (males) or the knees (females) on the floor
  • Start with the arms extended
  • Lower the chest and thighs to the floor
  • The body remains rigid
  • The elbows move closer to the hips than the shoulders
  • Complete at full arm extension
Test Instructions:
  • Make sure the participant has a full-length mat and plenty of space.
  • Demonstrate how to perform a push-up by doing several reps, but pausing to explain the body movement.
  • Have the participant perform a push-up to the best of his/her ability.
  • The participant should lower his/her body only as low as it is comfortable for them and still be able to raise their body back to the starting position.
  • Explain that they should try to not lay down on the floor, but to get as close as possible.
  • Explain that if they do lay on the floor or if they do not raise their body all the a way back up that they should continue with the next rep.
  • Explain that they can stop and rest if needed, but if they do, the clock keeps running.
  • Let the participant practice a few push-ups as a warm-up.
  • Explain that you will start the clock when he/she is ready to start the test.
Test Protocol:
  • Stand or sit several feet away from the participant so that you can observe the complete push-up movement.
  • Confirm that the participant understands the push-up movement and the test procedure.
  • After the participant has warmed up, ask him/her to indicate when he/she is ready to begin.
  • Start a hand-held 1-minute timer when the participant begins doing his/her first push-up.
  • Count out loud each completed push-up at the starting (arms extended) position.
  • Observe the participant at all times and check their body movements.
  • Especially note how close their body is gets to the floor and how extended the arms get at the end.
  • Also note how straight the body and legs remain throughout the movement of the push-up.
  • Do not inform the participant how much time is remaining on the clock.
  • At the end of the last push-up at the 1-minute mark, say out loud: "Stop."
  • Record the total number of completed push-ups during the 1-minute test.
Scoring the Test Result:
  • Divide the total number of push-Ups by 30 and then multiply that number by 100.
  • Round off to the nearest 0.1 decimal point.
  • Example: Total Reps = 17 push-ups.   (17 / 30) x 100 = 56.7 (Raw Rep Score)
  • Grade the participants ability to perform the standard push-up for males or females:
  • --  A = Consistently lowered and raised their straight body through the full range of motion.
  • --  B = More consistently lowered and raised their almost straight through nearly the full range of motion.
  • --  C = More consistently lowered and raised their body with significant bends upward or downward at the waist and/or significantly limiting the range of motion. (Males who do their push-ups from their knees start the test with a C grade.)
  • --  D = More consistently lowered and raised their nearly flaccid body by worming their body and then legs up and then letting their legs and body down all the way on to the floor.
  • Adjust the participant's Raw Rep Score by their Grade to get their Arm Fitness Score:
  • -- A: Raw Rep Score = Arm Fitness Score (no grade adjustment)
  • -- B: Raw Rep Score - 10% = Arm Fitness Score
  • -- C: Raw Rep Score - 25% = Arm Fitness Score
  • -- D: Raw Rep Score - 50% = Arm Fitness Score
  • Example: 56.7 Raw Rep Score with a D Grade = 56.7 - 50% (56.7 x 0.50 = 28.4) = 56.7 - 28.4 = 28.3 Arm Fitness Score
Core Fitness Score Interpretation:​
  • An Arm Fitness Score of 100 (or more) indicates a Very High Fitness Level
  • Scores above 100 are admirable, but they do not necessarily confer a health or longevity benefit.
  • Since the fitness test is sub-maximal, scores above 120 are not necessarily comparable.
  • An Arm Fitness Score below 100 indicates "room for improvement," depending on the age of the participant.
Note:  An “average” fitness level among an unfit and unhealthy population that is at increased risk for sedentary-related chronic disease resulting in premature disability and death is not satisfactory.