Harvard Step Test
Encyclopedia
The Harvard Step Test is a type of cardiac stress test
for detecting and/or diagnosing cardiovascular disease
.
It also is a good measurement of fitness, and your ability to recover after a strenuous exercise. The more quickly your heart rate returns to resting, the better shape you are in.
It is a kind of cardiovascular endurance test. The test computes the capability to exercise continuously for extended intervals of time without tiring. The subject (person who is taking the test) steps up and down on a platform at a height of about 45 cm. at a rate of 30 steps per minute for 5 minutes or until exhaustion. Exhaustion is the point at which the subject cannot maintain the stepping rate for 15 seconds. The subject immediately sits down on completion of the test, and the heartbeats are counted for 1 to 1.5, 2 to 2.5, and 3 to 3.5 minutes.
The test was created for the Forest Service in the early 1900's at the University of Montana in Missoula.
Cardiac stress test
Cardiac stress test is a test used in medicine and cardiology to measure the heart's ability to respond to external stress in a controlled clinical environment....
for detecting and/or diagnosing cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease
Heart disease or cardiovascular disease are the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels . While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system , it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis...
.
It also is a good measurement of fitness, and your ability to recover after a strenuous exercise. The more quickly your heart rate returns to resting, the better shape you are in.
It is a kind of cardiovascular endurance test. The test computes the capability to exercise continuously for extended intervals of time without tiring. The subject (person who is taking the test) steps up and down on a platform at a height of about 45 cm. at a rate of 30 steps per minute for 5 minutes or until exhaustion. Exhaustion is the point at which the subject cannot maintain the stepping rate for 15 seconds. The subject immediately sits down on completion of the test, and the heartbeats are counted for 1 to 1.5, 2 to 2.5, and 3 to 3.5 minutes.
The test was created for the Forest Service in the early 1900's at the University of Montana in Missoula.
In popular culture
- In the 1980's, WWF professional wrestler Bob BacklundBob BacklundRobert Lee "Bob" Backlund is an American professional wrestler with an in ring career that spanned over 30 years. Over that time, he went on to become a two-time WWWF/WWF Champion...
performed the Harvard step test to demonstrate his exceptional conditioning. In 1983, Sgt. Slaughter challenged Backlund to break his own fictitious Harvard step test record. When Backlund was attempting this feat, Sgt. Slaughter attacked Backlund’s manager, Arnold SkaalandArnold SkaalandArnold Skaaland was an American professional wrestler and professional wrestling manager.-Career:Skaaland served in the U.S. Marines during World War II. After a short-lived attempt to make a living through boxing, he became a professional wrestler and debuted in 1946 as "Arnold Skaaland"...
. Backlund stopped the test to help Skaaland and then confronted Slaughter in the ring. Slaughter was victorious, whipping Backlund repeatedly with his riding crop.
See also
- Multi-stage fitnessMulti-stage fitness testThe multi-stage fitness test, also known as the bleep test, beep test, pacer test, Leger-test or 20-m shuttle run test, is used by sports coaches and trainers to estimate an athlete's VO2 max...
- CardiologyCardiologyCardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...
- Cardiology diagnostic tests and proceduresCardiology diagnostic tests and proceduresThe diagnostic tests in cardiology are methods of identifying heart conditions associated with healthy vs. unhealthy, pathologic, heart function.-History:...
- ElectrocardiogramElectrocardiogramElectrocardiography is a transthoracic interpretation of the electrical activity of the heart over a period of time, as detected by electrodes attached to the outer surface of the skin and recorded by a device external to the body...
- Physical FitnessPhysical fitnessPhysical fitness comprises two related concepts: general fitness , and specific fitness...
External links
- Topendsports Description of the Harvard Step Test