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Fitness Testing Newsletter: Environmental Conditions
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In this newsletter:
- FEATURE ARTICLE: How important to fitness testing are the
environmental conditions?
- Poll results
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
How much does the environmental condition affect the reliability of
our test results?
We are always concerned about the reliability and validity of the
tests we perform. For testing done indoors, such as the multitude of
laboratory tests, this is not of concern. The laboratory should be
kept at a constant moderate temperature and humidity, often around 21-23 degrees Celsius, and 30-50% humidity. However, for tests performed
outdoors, such as the many field tests performed for sports, the
environment can have a big impact on the results.
For those who live in a hot environment like myself, it is clear that
the heat and humidity can significantly affect field testing results,
reducing the reliability and validity of the tests, and therefore
making comparisons of test results difficult. Equally, the cold
temperature conditions that some of you live in would also affect the
field test results.
The purpose of testing is to determine whether improvements have been
made in the aspects of fitness being measured by the test. In order
to truly determine this, we should be considering moving fitness
testing session indoors and/or changing the time it is conducted to
avoid any adverse conditions. This will not always be possible,
especially if you have a sport-specific test that needs to be
conducted on the surface and in the conditions that they play.
I have been involved with some research on this matter. A study was
conducted which looked at the effect of the hot environment on field
testing items such as speed, power, agility, and aerobic fitness,
comparing the tests performed outdoors in 31 degrees Celsius and 78%
humidity to indoors in 25 degrees Celsius and 51% humidity. For the
aerobic test, the 20m shuttle run test was used, and a mean
difference of nearly half a stage was found. For the tests of speed,
power and agility, there was no difference. Also, his study found the
higher thermal stress while testing outdoors caused an increase in
body temperature and greater sweat losses, and higher blood lactates
and heart rates in some tests. As can be seen, the reliability of
test results would be compromised with these effects.
So, if possible, you should avoid these adverse conditions. If they
are unavoidable, the environmental conditions should be recorded, and
their possible effect should be part of the considerations when you
interpret the test results.
POLL RESULTS
In reply to the poll question about who you would rather have in your basketball team, someone who could block everything or someone who could shoot and score from anywhere, the results came out in favour
of the shooter, 583 votes (29%) to 243 votes (71%).
The comments to this mind boggling poll were very interesting. Check out the Poll Comments.
Thank you for your support of my site.
Rob Wood,
Rob's Home of Fitness Testing
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