Horizontal Pull-Up Test
The Horizontal Pull-Up Fitness Test is a variation of the hanging pull-up or chin-up test, made easier as the whole body weight does not need to be pulled up. There is a similar Modified Pull-Up Test in which the legs are kept straight. A test measuring a similar action and muscle groups is the Bench Pull Test, which has the advantage as you have more control over the resistance used.
purpose: This test measures upper body pulling strength and endurance.
equipment required: Horizontal weight bar, adjustable rack so the bar can be set at an appropriate height.
pre-test: Explain the test procedures to the subject. Perform screening of health risks and obtain informed consent. Prepare forms and record basic information such as age, height, body weight, gender and test conditions. Measure and record the height of the bar. Perform a standard warm-up. See more details of pre-test procedures.
procedure: Set up the horizontal bar on the rack, ensuring that the bar is high enough so that when the participant's arms are fully extended their upper body is just off the ground. The subject grasps the bar slightly wider than shoulder width using an overhand grip. The feet are placed flat on the ground so that the knees are bent at approximately right angles, and the hips are lifted so that the body is straight and the arms fully extended with the elbows locked. They then pull their body up towards the bar until the shoulders are above the elbows and then lower themselves back down until their arms are fully extended. Repeat as many times as possible, ensuring that the shoulders raise above the elbows for each repetition.
scoring: The maximum number of correctly performed pull ups is recorded.
Similar Tests
- Modified Pull-Up — with the body horizontal, grasp a bar set just out of reach, and pull up towards the bar.
- Bench Pull Test
- Flexed-Arm Hang Test from the PFT
- Pull-up procedure from the PFT
- NAPFA pull up
- General testing procedure for the Pull Up Test
Related Pages
- Where to buy pull-up or chin-up bars.
- POLL: Do you call it a chin-up or pull-up?
- chin up test videos
- Overhand or underhand - a description of each of the grip types
- Other strength tests
- Description of the chin up fitness exercise
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