Physical

Active Tests:

Tests which measure the body's performance during an activity fall under this category. While general fitness is determined by the inactive tests, the more specific forms of fitness can be measured with examinations that monitor performance in specific physical tasks.

The details on how to execute many of the tests can be found at http://www.brianmac.demon.co.uk/eval.htm. The site also contains many more specific or comprehensive tests as well as normative data.

Stamina:

• Timed or Distance Runs - Evaluates cardiovascular ability.
• Sit-Ups - Assesses abdominal endurance through doing as many sit-ups as possible.
• Push-Ups - Evaluates upper body endurance through executing as many push-ups as possible.
• Chin-Ups - Measures arm and back endurance.
• Squats - Evaluates leg endurance.

Strength:

• Vertical Jump - Evaluates strength and power.
• Long Jump - Measures leg strength performance during a standing jump.
• Bench Press - Evaluates upper body strength by determining maximum weight able to be pressed.
• Leg Press - Evaluates lower body strength through a one rep max.
• Grip Test - Measures one's hand and forearm strength.

Agility:

• Shuttle Run - Evaluates stamina and agility by sprinting back and forth between two markers.
• Illinois Agility Run - Evaluates agility over running a ten meter course with many directional changes.

Flexibility:

• Sit & Reach - Evaluates flexibility of trunk.
• Shoulder Rotation - Assesses flexibility of shoulders.

Balance:

• Standing Stork Test - Evaluates overall static balance.

Reactions:

• Ruler Drop - Measures reaction time by measuring how quickly someone can catch a falling object.

Speed:

• Sprints - Evaluates maximal effort, anaerobic abilities.

Lung Capacity:

• Can be measured with a plethysmograph or more simply through water displacement or with a balloon. A person with greater lung capacity can take in more oxygen. This correlate to how much work they can potentially do and also their fitness levels.