{"id":13330,"date":"2023-02-21T09:58:41","date_gmt":"2023-02-21T08:58:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.physiotutors.com\/?post_type=wiki&amp;p=13330"},"modified":"2023-02-21T09:58:41","modified_gmt":"2023-02-21T08:58:41","slug":"harvard-step-test","status":"publish","type":"wiki","link":"https:\/\/www.physiotutors.com\/wiki\/harvard-step-test\/","title":{"rendered":"Harvard Step Test"},"featured_media":14742,"template":"","class_list":["post-13330","wiki","type-wiki","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"sections":[{"acf_fc_layout":"page-header-detail-page","background":{"background_image":14742,"background_image_alt_text":"Harvard Step Test"},"heading":"Harvard Step Test | Maximal aerobic capacity \/ VO2max calculation","subheading":"Clinimetrics","content_editor":"","button_type":"internal_link","button_label":"Check our shop","button_style":"button-five","button_internal_link":4646,"button_anchor":"","button_url":"","button_file":"","label":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"submenu","links":[{"button_type":"anchor","button_label":"Learn","button_internal_link":null,"button_anchor":"section-number-3","button_url":"","button_file":null},{"button_type":"anchor","button_label":"Assessment E-Book","button_internal_link":null,"button_anchor":"section-number-4","button_url":"","button_file":null},{"button_type":"anchor","button_label":"Reviews","button_internal_link":null,"button_anchor":"section-number-5","button_url":"","button_file":null}],"dropdown_label":"Go to","button_right":{"button_type":"internal_link","button_label":"Become a member","button_style":"button-three","button_internal_link":16662,"button_anchor":"","button_url":"","button_file":""},"button_description":"Find this wiki on the Physiotutors platform"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content-content","section_options":{"vertical_alignment":"top","column_right_box":false,"column_left_width":"col-12 col-lg-4 offset"},"column_left":{"content_editor":"<h4>Learn<\/h4>"},"column_right":{"content_editor":"<h6>Harvard Step Test | Maximal aerobic capacity \/ VO2max calculation<\/h2>\nMaximal aerobic capacity, also called VO2 max, is the maximum rate of oxygen consumption during exercise and is expressed in liters per minute. Aerobic capacity is a good indicator of physical fitness and a reduction can be the first sign of disease. Ideally, it is measured in a lab with very expensive equipment, but this is rarely applied in practice as it is a very complicated process.\n\nThe Harvard Step Test correlates submaximal heart rate to Vo2 Max.\nYou might want to choose the Harvard step test over the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.physiotutors.com\/wiki\/astrand-bike-test\/\">Astrand bike test<\/a> if you don't have access to a stationary bike for example.\n<div class=\"embed-container\">\n\n[embed]https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UoDUoW_YKm4[\/embed]\n\n<\/div>\n<em><strong>Execution<\/strong><\/em>\n\nFor this test you will need a body weight scale, a step of 30 and 40 centimeters of height, a metronome a stopwatch, and a heart rate monitor to record the patient's weight and resting heart rate. Use the 30-centimeter high step for women and the 40-centimeter high step for men.\n\n1. Record the patient\u2019s body weight and resting heart rate\n2. Start the metronome with a frequency of 45 beats per minute. The patient will have to step up on one count and step down on the second count\n3. Start the stopwatch and have your patient step on a box of a height of 40cm for females and 30cm for females\n4. Record your patient\u2019s heart rate each minute for a total of 6 minutes\n5. After the 6 minutes, a short cool down can be performed by the patient\n\n<em><strong>Outcome calculation<\/strong><\/em>\n\n1. Calculate the mean heart rate of the fifth and sixth minute2. Connect this HR average with the patient\u2019s body weight by a straight line in the nomogram\n\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13230\" src=\"https:\/\/www.physiotutors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Nomogram-astrand-bike-test.jpg\" alt=\"Nomogram astrand bike test\" width=\"543\" height=\"826\" \/>\n\n3. The predicted VO2max is read from the middle scale by looking at the intersection with your drawn line\n4. Adjust your results by multiplying your outcome with the age factor provided below:\n\nIf the patient is younger than 17 or older than 35 years old, you have to apply a correction factor to the VO2max, so you're going to multiply the VO2max by this factor:\n\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13234\" src=\"https:\/\/www.physiotutors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/age-correction-factors-vo2max.jpg\" alt=\"Age correction factors vo2max\" width=\"1057\" height=\"434\" \/>\n\n5. Compare your results (corrected for age) with the following standard values:\n\n<em><strong>Females<\/strong><\/em>\n\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13228\" src=\"https:\/\/www.physiotutors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Female-norm-values-for-vo2max.jpg\" alt=\"Female norm values for vo2max\" width=\"793\" height=\"253\" \/>\n\n<em><strong>Males<\/strong><\/em>\n\n<img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13229\" src=\"https:\/\/www.physiotutors.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/male-norm-values-vo2max.jpg\" alt=\"Male norm values vo2max\" width=\"793\" height=\"253\" \/>\n\n[cta]\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/4014128\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Siconolfi et al. (1985)<\/a> report that step tests have shown approximately 10% higher VO2max values than bike ergometer tests. In their study VO2max during the step tests was 12%higher than the directly measured VO2max.\n\nAnother way to calculate the VO2max using a submaximal test is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.physiotutors.com\/wiki\/astrand-bike-test\/\">Astrand Bike Test<\/a>.\n\n&nbsp;\n"}},{"acf_fc_layout":"content-content","section_options":{"vertical_alignment":"top","column_right_box":false,"column_left_width":"col-12 col-lg-4 offset"},"column_left":{"content_editor":"<h4>References<\/h4>"},"column_right":{"content_editor":"<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/22488138\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Burnstein, B. D., Steele, R. J., &amp; Shrier, I. (2011). Reliability of fitness tests using methods and time periods common in sport and occupational management.\u00a0Journal of athletic training,\u00a046(5), 505-513.<\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/5255578\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Meyers, C. R. (1969). A study of the reliability of the Harvard step test.\u00a0Research Quarterly. American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation,\u00a040(2), 423-423.<\/a>\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/4014128\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Siconolfi, S. F., Garber, C. E., Lasater, T. M., &amp; Carleton, R. A. (1985). A simple, valid step test for estimating maximal oxygen uptake in epidemiologic studies.\u00a0American journal of epidemiology,\u00a0121(3), 382-390.<\/a>"}},{"acf_fc_layout":"cta-image-v2","layout":"","background":"transparent","heading":"","content_editor":"<p class=\"subheading\">Like what you\u2019re learning?<\/p>\n<p class=\"heading-two\">BUY THE FULL PHYSIOTUTORS <strong>ASSESSMENT BOOK<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<ul>\n \t<li>600+ Pages e-Book<\/li>\n \t<li>Interactive Content (Direct Video Demonstration, PubMed articles)<\/li>\n \t<li>Statistical Values for all Special Tests from the latest research<\/li>\n \t<li>Available in \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 \ud83c\udde9\ud83c\uddea \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7 \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf9 \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf9 \ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddf7<\/li>\n \t<li>And much more!<\/li>\n<\/ul>","button_type":"internal_link","button_label":"Check out our 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