Seated Push-Up Test (Brockport)
The Seated Push-Up Test is part of the Brockport fitness testing battery in which participants are required to extend their arms and raise their body out of a chair, and hold this position for up to 20 seconds. This test protocol is summarized from The Brockport Physical Fitness Test Manual (Winnick & Short, 2014). For more details please see the official Brockport manual. See also a similar fitness test, the Plank Fitness Test and Side Ramp Tests. There are also several other push-up tests.
purpose: to measure upper body strength and endurance.
equipment required: a wheelchair, chair or blocks to push up off, stopwatch, recording sheets, pen.
pre-test: Explain the test procedures to the subject, and demonstrate the correct technique. 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. Perform an appropriate warm-up. See more details of pre-test procedures.
procedure: participants start by placing their hands on the handles of push-up blocks, the arms of a chair, or on the armrests (or wheels if there is no armrest) of a wheelchair. When ready, they fully extend their elbows (straighten the arms) to lift the body off the supporting surface. Participants maintain that position for as long as possible (up to a maximum of 20 seconds).
scoring: record the length of time the correct position was held, to the nearest second. The maximum score is 20 seconds.
target population: as part of the Brockport testing protocols, this test is designed for children with disabilities, but it would be suitable for all children, and with a longer maximum time period could be adapted for use with adults.
reference: Winnick, J. P. & Short, F.X. (2014). The Brockport Physical Fitness Test Manual. 2nd Ed. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Similar Tests
- Isometric push-up — hold a raised push-up position for up to 40 seconds.
- Isometric Push-Up Hold Test — hold the lowered 'down' push-up position for as long as possible.
- Plank Fitness Test — hold the plank position for as long as you can.
- Side Ramp Fitness Test — hold the side-ramp position for as long as you can.
- Trunk Stability Push-Up Test — push up from the ground while keeping the body straight with no sagging.
- Push Up (Chair) — easier option by raising the upper body using a chair
Related Pages
- About Push-Up Fitness Testing
- About the Brockport Test Battery — health-related tests of physical fitness for use with young people with disabilities.
- Other Strength Tests
- About the Push-Up Fitness Exercise
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