PP 37: Fitness Testing Paradox

[Guest guest]

Here is another of my earlier Puzzles & Paradoxes for further discussion:

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

For newcomers to this column, these Puzzles & Paradoxes (P & Ps) are

Propositions, not facts or dogmatic proclamations. They are intended to

stimulate interaction among users working in different fields, to re-examine

traditional concepts, foster distance education, question our beliefs and

suggest new lines of research or approaches to training. We look forward to

responses from anyone who has views or relevant information on the topics.

PP 37 Fitness Testing for novices may be redundant and sometimes harmful

Newcomers to fitness training are usually subjected to batteries of tests by

well-schooled doctors or fitness professionals in an effort to prescribe

exercise more safely and effectively. However, some of these tests are

stress tests which expose these novices prematurely to what for them is high

intensity loading. Standard ECG tests are renowned for not giving accurate

information about the individual's state of cardiac health; bodyfat

measurements often serve more as a motivational goal than a scientific

barometer of wellness; step tests can impose unnecessary stress on the

untrained cardiorespiratory system and the jarring associated with them may

damage the joints; blood pressure tests may reflect changes which have

nothing to do with pathology; 'aerobic' fitness does not correlate with

enhanced 'health'; and so forth.

Is it not better simply to assume that the novice is extremely unfit and that

any prior medical history offers a more sensible approach to assessing the

newcomer to exercise? Why stress the client with tests which may tell you

very little when you can simply presume that the client is very unfit at this

initial stage? Are tests being administered by fitness professionals simply

to appear more scientific to clients or do these tests play a vital role in

exercise prescription for beginners? Is it not preferable to prescribe a

very modest PRE-TESTING PHASE of adaptive exercise lasting about 3-6 weeks

before any tests are administered? Discuss these points.

----------------

Dr Mel C Siff

Denver, USA

Supertraining/