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submaximal exercise tests and that person’s heart rate response to a fixed
workload is found to decrease over time, it is reasonably safe to conclude that
the individual has made improvements in aerobic (cardiorespiratory) fitness,
irrespective of the accuracy of the VO
2 max
prediction.
Pretest Screening
Prior to any exercise test (maximal or submaximal), participants should
complete a brief health/medical questionnaire, have their resting blood
pressure and heart rate measured, and provide an informed consent form.
The Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) is an example of a valid
health/medical questionnaire for screening individuals prior to submaximal
exercise testing. Canadian health and fitness practitioners have extensively
(and quite successfully) used the PAR-Q to determine whether individuals
should be given an exercise test. A “yes” answer to any of the following seven
questions taken from the PAR-Q would disqualify a participant from taking part
in an exercise test until appropriate medical clearance was obtained.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY READINESS QUESTIONNAIRE (PAR-Q)
1. Has your doctor ever said you have a heart condition and recom-
mended only medically supervised physical activity?
2. Do you have chest pain brought on by physical activity?
3. Have you developed chest pain within the past month?
4. Do you tend to lose consciousness or fall over as a result of dizziness?
5. Do you have a bone or joint problem that could be aggravated by the
proposed physical activity?
6. Has a doctor ever recommended medication for your blood pressure
or a heart condition?
7. Are you aware, through your own experience or a doctor’s advice, of
any other physical reason against your exercising without medical
supervision?
The StairMaster Submaximal Fit Test
The StairMaster branching protocol is a series of 3-minute stages of
continuous exercise at increasing intensity. The first stage is a warmup at
approximately 4 METs. The intensity of the remaining stages is based on the
heart rate response to the warmup. The test is designed to raise the steady-
FREECLIMBER 4400/4600 PT/CL CONSOLE