Fitness Testing

Fitness Testing > Tests > Aerobic Endurance > Astrand

Astrand-Rhyming Cycle Ergometer Test

The Astrand Test is a submaximal cycle ergometer aerobic fitness test. There are many other aerobic fitness tests.

• equipment required: cycle ergometer, clock or stopwatch, heart rate monitor, ECG monitor (optional)
• description: Athletes pedal on a cycle ergometer at a constant workload for 7 minutes. Heart rate is measured every minute, and the steady state heart rate is determined.
• scoring: Generally the lower the heart beat the better your fitness. The steady state heart rate is looked up on published tables (nomogram) to determine an estimation of VO_2max. Here is also the formula (Buono et al. 1989) that the nomogram is based on, where predicted VO2max is in L/min, HRss is the steady heart rate after 6 min of exercise, and the workload in kg.m/min. To convert a load in watts to kg.m/min, multiply the watts by 6.12.

females: VO2max = (0.00193 x workload + 0.326) / (0.769 x HRss - 56.1) x 100
males: VO2max = (0.00212 x workload + 0.299) / (0.769 x HRss - 48.5) x 100

• validity: the correlation to VO_2max approximately 0.85 - 0.90.
• advantages: simple test to administer, reasonably accurate and appropriate for ECG monitoring during exercise.

• disadvantages: the test score would be influenced by the variability in maximum heart rate in individuals. It would underestimate the fitness of those with a high maximum heart rate, and overestimate fitness with advancing age (as max HR reduces with age). As it is performed on a cycle ergometer, it would favor cyclists.
• references:
  • Astrand, I. (1960). Aerobic work capacity in men and women with special reference to age. Acta Physiol. Scand. 49(suppl. 169).
  • Astrand PO, Rodahl K. Text Book of Work Physiology: Physiological basis of exercise. New York: McGraw Hill, 1986.
  • Buono MJ, Roby JJ, Micale FG, Sallis JF. Predicting maximal oxygen uptake in children: modification of the Astrand-Ryhming test. Pediatric Exercise Science 1989;1:278-283.
  • RE Cink and TR Thomas, Validity of the Astrand-Ryhming nomogram for predicting maximal oxygen intake. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 1981, Vol 15, Issue 3 182-185.
  • Legge and Banister, The Astrand-Rhyming nomogram revisited J Appl Physiol.1986; 61: 1203-1209.

Related Pages

• other aerobic fitness tests
• more information on measuring heart rate
• profile of Per-Olof Åstrand