Fitness Testing
Measures, Tests & Assessment — Valid, Reliable, and Actionable Data for Better Coaching
About this volume
Fitness Testing is Book C5 of The Performance & Human Physiology Encyclopedia — a 93-volume, university-level library on the science that decides whether training works. It is written for coaches, personal trainers and athletes who want reasons, not recipes: deep enough that a professional already trained in the field keeps learning, structured clearly enough that a motivated reader can follow every step.
How this book is written
- University level, without dilution. Exact scientific terminology, defined at first use — mechanisms, not just conclusions.
- Numbers, formulas, worked examples. Reference ranges, equations and solved calculations you can apply the same day.
- Myths tested against the evidence. Where a popular claim does not survive the evidence, the book says so — and shows why.
- References at the end of every chapter. Sources cited in APA 7 style, plus a master bibliography.
For general information and education only; not medical advice. Consult a qualified health professional before acting on its content.
Read an excerpt
From Chapter 1 — Why Measure? The Logic of Assessment
"Measurement is the difference between coaching and guessing. A good test turns vague impressions — 'they seem stronger,' 'that feels easier' — into objective data you can act on. But measurement is not an end in itself: a number is only worth collecting if it is trustworthy and it changes a decision. This book is about choosing tests that are valid, reliable, and actionable — and ignoring the ones that aren't."
Assessment is the bridge between science and the individual. Done well, it tells you where someone is, what to prioritize, and whether your program is working. Done badly — with invalid tests, sloppy protocols, or over-interpreted numbers — it wastes time, misleads, and can erode trust. This chapter sets the logic that the rest of the book operationalizes.
What is inside
The 13 chapters of this volume.
- 01
Why Measure? The Logic of Assessment
- 02
Validity, Reliability, and Measurement Error
- 03
Pre-Participation Screening and Readiness
- 04
Body Composition Assessment
- 05
Anthropometry and Posture
- 06
Muscular Strength Assessment
- 07
Muscular Power and Speed
- 08
Muscular Endurance and Local Capacity
- 09
Cardiorespiratory Fitness Assessment
- 10
Flexibility, Mobility, and Movement Screening
- 11
Sport-Specific and Field Testing
- 12
Monitoring, Wearables, and Autoregulation Data
- 13
Putting It Into Practice: Building an Assessment Battery
Volume details
Topics covered
- one rep max calculator and testing protocol
- body fat measurement methods accuracy
- vo2 max estimation field tests
- vertical jump and sprint testing
- pre-exercise health screening questionnaire
- how to track strength progress
- reliability and measurement error in training
Get this volume
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