Medical-Fitness Technician
Certification Course
Part C: Assessing Medical-Fitness (LM:25-34)
Certification Course
Part C: Assessing Medical-Fitness (LM:25-34)
Learning Module 33-A:
Arm Muscle Fitness - Extensors
Arm Muscle Fitness - Extensors
Study the Learning Module and take the Quiz.
Learning Objective:
- Properly conduct the Push-Up Test
- Calculate the Arm Extensor Muscle Fitness Score
The Arm Muscle Fitness Test is a 2-part test using a 1-minute Push-Up Test for the arm extensors and a 1-minute Inverted Row Test for the arm flexors. The two test scores are combined into a single averaged Arm Muscle Fitness Score. Only the combined Arm Muscle Fitness Score is used in the formula to calculate the participant's Total Fitness Score (aka: Med-Fit Score).
The Push-Up Test
The Push-Up Test for Arm Extensor Muscle Fitness is a 1-minute AMRAP (as many reps as possible) during which your client tries to perform as many push-ups as possible (to the best of their ability) until the time runs out.
The push-up exercise mainly targets the Pectoralis Major and Triceps Brachii muscles.
The Push-Up Test for Arm Extensor Muscle Fitness is a 1-minute AMRAP (as many reps as possible) during which your client tries to perform as many push-ups as possible (to the best of their 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.)
(Tap/Click the photo to watch the video on Youtube.)
Push-Up Instructions:
Test Instructions:
Test Protocol:
Scoring the Test Result:
Arm Extensor Fitness Score Interpretation:
- 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 point of almost touching the floor
- The body remains rigid
- The elbows move closer to the hips than the shoulders
- Return to the starting up position
- Complete at full arm extension
Test Instructions:
- Make sure the participant has a floor 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 up 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 (> 30 degrees) push-up at the starting (arms extended) up position.
- Observe the participant at all times and check their body movements.
- Especially note how close their body gets to the floor and how extended the arms get at the top.
- 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.
- Grade by degree of elbow flexion: 90+ = A (straight body and legs almost touch the floor), 75-90 = B, 45-75 = C, 30-45 = D, (< 30 = No Rep)
Scoring the Test Result:
- Divide the total number of Push-Ups by 30 and then multiply that number by 100.
- Round off to the first 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 (90+).
- -- B = More consistently lowered and raised their almost straight body through nearly the full range of motion (75-90).
- -- C = More consistently lowered and raised their body with significant bends upward or downward at the waist and/or significantly limited the range of motion (45-75). (Males who do their push-ups from their knees start the test with a C grade.)
- -- D = More consistently lowered and raised their body with significant bends upward or downward at the waist and/or greatly limited the range of motion (30-45), or more consistently lowered and raised their nearly flaccid body by worming their body and then their legs up, and then letting their legs and body down all the way onto the floor.
- Adjust the participant's Raw Rep Score by their Grade to get their Arm Extensor Fitness Score:
- -- A: Raw Rep Score = Arm Extensor Fitness Score (no deduction)
- -- B: Raw Rep Score - 10% = Arm Extensor Fitness Score (x0.90)
- -- C: Raw Rep Score - 25% = Arm Extensor Fitness Score (x0.75
- -- D: Raw Rep Score - 50% = Arm Extensor Fitness Score (x0.50)
- Example: 56.7 Raw Rep Score with a D Grade = 56.7 x 0.50 = 28.4 Arm Extensor Fitness Score
Arm Extensor Fitness Score Interpretation:
- An Arm Extensor Fitness Score of 100 (or more) indicates Very High Fitness in relation to the health benefit.
- Scores above 100 are admirable, but they do not necessarily confer an added health or longevity benefit.
- Since the fitness test is sub-maximal, scores above 120 are not necessarily comparable.
- An Arm Extensor 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. A score of 100+ is an appropriate goal for most otherwise healthy individuals.