A Comparative Study on The Physical Fitness Level Using The Harvard, Sharkey, and Kash Step Test
Gusbakti Rusip Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine Islamic University of North Sumatra, Medan
Abstract: Step test is one of the indexes used to evaluate the physical fitness of subjects. However, there are three methods of step tests that can be used, each varying in step height: Harvard step test with a bench height of 45 cm for male and 43 cm for female; Sharkey step test with a height of 40 cm for male and 33 cm for female and Kash step test with a height of 30 cm for both male and female. The purpose of this study was to do a comparative evaluation among the three types of step test and to determine the optimal test in our subjects. Twenty-six medical students (male and female, 19-24 years in age) participated in all the three types of step tests in random order. The rhythm of the stepping was maintained with the help of a metronome for 5min, after which the recovery heart rate was measured according to the respective step test method. The data was analyzed using t-test and correlation analysis. The results indicate that Sharkey step test correlated significantly with Kash step tests (p>0.05). In conclusion, the Sharkey step test was easier and optimal in evaluating the level of physical fitness and the recovery of the cardiovascular system. Keywords: step test methods, metronome and cardiovascular endurance
Abstrak: Step test merupakan salah satu jenis pengukuran tingkat kebugaran seseorang. Diketahui terdapat tiga metode step test yang berbeda dalam tingginya antara lain metode Harvard dengan menggunakan tinggi bangku bagi laki-laki 45 cm, wanita 43 cm; metode Sharkey untuk laki-laki 40 cm dan wanita 33 cm sedangkan metode Kash menggunakan tinggi yang sama baik laki maupun wanita 30 cm. Tujuan penelitian ini membandingkan ketiga metode ini dengan mendapat hasil yang optimal. Penelitian ini melibatkan 24 mahasiswa/i baik laki maupun wanita yang berumur 1924 tahun. Kesemua naracoba diikut sertakan dalam menjalan ketiga metode ini yang dilakukan secara acak. Naik turun tangga ini dilakukan dengan mengikuti irama yang teratur dari metronom selama 5 menit (150 kali naik turun), pengukuran denyut nadi dilakukan pada masa pemulihan bagi setiap naracoba. Data yang didapat dianalisa secara statistik dengan uji-t dan analisa korelasi. Dari hasil penelitian ini didapati suatu korelasi yang signifikan pengukuran tingkat kebugaran dengan metode Sharkey dibandingkan dengan metode Kash (p < 0.01), dengan metode Harvard (p < 0.01). Sedangkan, bila dibandingkan metode Harvard dengan metode Kash tidak ada korelasi yang signifikan (p> 0.05). Dapat disimpulkan bahwa dengan metode Sharkey lebih mudah dilakukan yang menghasilkan pengukuran tingkat kebugaran yang optimal. Kata kunci: metode naik turun tangga, metronom dan kebugaran
INTRODUCTION Step test is one of the indexes used to evaluate the physical fitness of subjects. The level of physical fitness is one of parameters to improve individuals and societys health. 1,2
Regular exercises can improve physical fitness. The measurement of physical fitness is aimed to know the endurance of cardiovascular. This component of cardiovascular is important to measure someones physical fitness. According to the previous study, the recovery of cardiovascular system. Pulse measurement at the recovery by step test tends to be effective to dedicate that the physical fitness in aerobic. 3,4 In other researchers have reported that the step test in the direct examination of physical fitness can not measure VO 2max . 5 The measurement of the endurance of cardiovascular surely applies some methods, such as Running test of 2.4 km, Running/walking test for 12 minutes, Fast walking test and step tests. From some tests mentioned, the research is interested to study of step test which has got some methods, such as Harvard, Sharkey, and Kash. 6 Froelicher (1983), said that measure of endurance with step test in filed have many advantage for example of which is cheap relative, did not need electrics and calibrate appliance. 7
Karangan Asli
Majalah Kedokteran Nusantara Volume 39 No. 3 September 2006 152 Purpose This study was to do a comparative evaluation among the three types of step tests and to determine the optimal test in our subjects.
MATERIAL AND METHODS Twenty-six medical students (male and female, 19-24 years in age) participated an all the three types of step tests in random order.
Experimental procedure Every subjects takes an exercise by step test according 3 methods, and detect a pulse at the recovery. However, there are three methods of step tests that can be used, each varying in step height: Harvard step test with a bench height of 45 cm for male and 43 cm for female; Sharkey step test with a height of 40 cm for male and 33 cm for female and Kash step test with a height of 30 cm for both male and female. Harvard method, Subject is asked go up and down a bench rhythmically 120 time/ minutes regularly with a metronome for 5 min (150 steps). The subjects raises his right leg and put it on a bench after being commanded go (start stopwatch), and then raised left leg beside the right one, afterwards drops right leg and followed by the left one. Before 5 min subjects feel tired the detection is stopped and write down the time. The subjects sits soon after stopping, after 1 minute rest count pulse rate for 30 second.
Assessment formula: time in second x 100 2 x (pulse1+pulse2+pulse3)
Score level of physical fitness: Criteria Score value Excellent 5 > 90 Above average 4 80-89 Average 3 65-79 Below average 2 50-64 Poor 1 <50
Sharkey method, The body weight of the subjects is weighed. Subject is asked go up and down a bench rhythmically 90 time/ minutes regularly with a metronome for 5 min. The subjects raises his right leg and put it on a bench after being commanded go (start stopwatch), and then raised left leg beside the right one, afterwards drops right leg and followed by the left one. Before 5 min subjects feel tired the detection is stopped and write down the time. The subjects sits soon after stopping, after an hour rest subjects sit 15 seconds, a pulse counted for 15 seconds. The result made (indexes see Table 1 and 2). They must match the body weight of a subject with a pulse produced. The level of physical fitness of the subjects can be seen from the assessment criteria.
Score level of physical fitness A g e Criteria Score 25 35 45 55 65 M F M F M F M F M F Excellent 5 45 42 43 40 41 3838 39 36 37 34 Above average 4 40 37 38 35 36 33 33 31 32 29 Average 3 35 32 33 30 31 28 29 26 27 24 Below average 2 30 27 28 25 26 23 24 21 22 20 Poor 1 25 22 23 20 21 18 19 16 17 15 Note: M: Male; F: Female
Kash method, The Subject is asked go up and down a bench with rhythmically 96 time/ minutes regularly with a metronome for 3 min. The subjects raises his right leg and put it on a bench after being commanded go (start stopwatch), and then raised left leg beside the right one, afterwards drops right leg and followed by the left one. Before 3 min subjects feel tired the detection is stopped and write down the time. The subjects sits soon after stopping, after an hour rest subjects sits for 5 second, a pulse counted for 60 seconds.
Score level of physical fitness Criteria Score Pulse/minutes Male Female Excellent 5 71 96 Above average 4 72 -102 97 - 127 Average 3 103 - 117 128 - 142 Below average 2 118 - 147 143 - 171 Poor 1 > 148 > 178
Gusbakti Rusip A Comparative Study on The Physical
Majalah Kedokteran Nusantara Volume 39 No. 3 September 2006 153 Statistical analysis The data was analyzed using t-test and correlation analysis. Considered to have significant difference (p<0.05).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The mayor finding of the present was that level of fitness. Previous many research indicate that to burn 2000 calorie one week in physical fitness, including three methods seen to be its influence fitness. The exercise can make backside muscle, calf and thigh strive harder than walking in flat place. Therefore, exercise steps test influence performance.
Exercise step test by Harvard methods The results of step test shows that 5 min are 17 persons (65%), and les than 5 min are 9 persons (34.6%). The level of physical fitness of excellent are 2 persons (7.7%), above average are 3 persons (11.5%), average are 12 persons (46.1%), below average are 2 persons (7.7%), and poor are 7 persons (26.9%).
Exercise step test by Sharkey methods The results of step test shows that 5 min are 24 persons (92.3%), and les than 5 min are 2 persons (7.7%). The level of physical fitness of excellent are 13 persons (50%), above average are 10 persons (38.5%), average are 2 persons (7.7%), below average are 1 persons (3.8%), and of less none.
Exercise step test by Kash methods The results of step test shows that 3 min are 26 persons (100%). The level of physical fitness of excellent none, above average are 4 persons (15.4%), average are 8 persons (30.8%), below average are 11 persons (42.3%), and poor are 3 persons (11.5%). The results indicate that Sharkey step test correlated significantly with Kash step test (p<0.01) and Harvard step test (p<0.01). However, there was no significant correlation between Harvard and Kash step tests (p>0.05). In this case, its step height size of this three methods directly influence physiological response especially cardiovascular.
CONCLUSION The comparative three methods, the Sharkey step-test was easier and optimal in evaluating the level of physical fitness and the recovery of the cardiovascular system. The step height size influences the result of physical level of fitness.
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