Isometric Push-Up Test (Brockport)
The Isometric Push-Up Test is part of the Brockport fitness testing battery in which participants are required to hold a raised push-up position for as long as 40 seconds. It is different than the Isometric Push-Up Hold Test, which involves holding the lowered push-up position for as long as possible.
This test protocol, originally adapted from Johnson & Lavay (1989), is summarized from The Brockport Physical Fitness Test Manual (Winnick & Short, 2014). For more details please see the official Brockport manual. There are also related fitness tests, the Plank Fitness Test and Side Ramp Tests and several other push-up tests.
test purpose: to measure maximum strength endurance of the chest and arm muscles.
equipment required: flat and clean surface, stopwatch, recording sheets, pen.
pre-test: Explain the test procedures to the subject, and demonstrate the correct technique. Perform screening of health risks and obtain informed consent. Prepare forms and record basic information such as age, height, body weight, gender and test conditions. Perform a standard warm-up. See more details of pre-test procedures.
procedure: The subject assumes the standard starting position for a push-up — the hands directly below the shoulders, the arms extended, the whole body in a straight line, and the toes touching the floor or mat. The testing ends as soon as the subject is unable to maintain the correct position (any movements such as bending, sagging, or swaying), or when the maximum time of 40 seconds has elapsed.
scoring: record the length of time the correct position was held, to the nearest second. The maximum score is 40 seconds.
target population: as part of the Brockport testing protocols, this test is designed for children with disabilities, but it would be suitable for all children, and with a longer maximum time period could be adapted for use with adults.
references:
- Johnson, R.E., & Lavay, B. (1989). Fitness testing for children with special needs: An alternative approach. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, 60(6), 50–53.
- Winnick, J. P. & Short, F.X. (2014). The Brockport Physical Fitness Test Manual. 2nd Ed. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Similar Tests
- Isometric Push-Up Hold Test — hold the lowered 'down' push-up position for as long as possible.
- Plank Fitness Test — hold the plank position for as long as you can.
- Side Ramp Fitness Test — hold the side-ramp position for as long as you can.
- Wall Squat — hold squatting position against a wall for as long as you can.
- Isometric Back Strength
- Isometric Leg Strength
- Isometric Leg Extension (Groningen)
- Trunk Stability Push-Up Test — push up from the ground while keeping the body straight with no sagging.
- Seated Push-up — extend the arms and raise the body out of a chair, and hold this position for as long as possible.
Related Pages
- About Push-Up Fitness Testing
- About the Brockport Test Battery — health-related tests of physical fitness for use with young people with disabilities.
- Other Strength Tests
- About the Push-Up Fitness Exercise
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