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Step Test at Home

Push-Up | Sit-Up | Squat | Step | Vertical Jump | Sit & Reach

This simple test is designed to assess your cardiovascular endurance.

Equipment



Procedure

Step on and off the box for three minutes. Step up with one foot and then the other. Step down with one foot followed by the other foot. Try to maintain a steady four beat cycle. It's easy to maintain if you say "up, up, down, down". Go at a steady and consistent pace. This is a basic step test procedure - see also other step tests.

Step Test ImageMeasurement

At the end of three minutes, remain standing while you immediately check your heart rate. Take your pulse for one minute (e.g. count the total beats from 3 to 4 minutes after starting the test). Go here for more information about measuring your heart rate.

How did you go?

The lower your heart rate is after the test, the fitter you are. Compare your heart rate results to the table below. Remember, these scores are based on doing the tests as described, and may not be accurate if the test is modified at all. This home step test is based loosely on the Canadian Home Fitness Test and the results below are also based from data collected from performing this test. Don't worry too much about how you rate - just try and improve your own score.

3-Minute Step Test (Men) - Heart Rate

Age 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 65+
Excellent <79 <81 <83 <87 <86 <88
Good 79-89 81-89 83-96 87-97 86-97 88-96
Above Average 90-99 90-99 97-103 98-105 98-103 97-103
Average 100-105 100-107 104-112 106-116 104-112 104-113
Below Average 106-116 108-117 113-119 117-122 113-120 114-120
Poor 117-128 118-128 120-130 123-132 121-129 121-130
Very Poor >128 >128 >130 >132 >129 >130

3-Minute Step Test (Women) - Heart Rate

Age 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-65 65+
Excellent <85 <88 <90 <94 <95 <90
Good 85-98 88-99 90-102 94-104 95-104 90-102
Above Average 99-108 100-111 103-110 105-115 105-112 103-115
Average 109-117 112-119 111-118 116-120 113-118 116-122
Below Average 118-126 120-126 119-128 121-129 119-128 123-128
Poor 127-140 127-138 129-140 130-135 129-139 129-134
Very Poor >140 >138 >140 >135 >139 >134



home fitness testing manualHome Fitness Testing Manual

Download your free copy of the Home Fitness Testing Manual — a guide for you to plan, conduct, analyze and interpret fitness testing at home.


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Testing Extra

We have over 400 fitness tests listed, so it's not easy to choose the best one to use. You should consider the validity, reliability, costs and ease of use for each test. Use our testing guide to conducting, recording, and interpreting fitness tests. Any questions, please ask or search for your answer.

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