STRENGTH &

ENDURANCE TESTING
Prepared by
Ain Efahera Binti Ahmad Tajuddin
Physiotherapist
Objectives
• To be able to know the protocol and administration of each common
strength & endurance tests use
• To be able to analyse the data obtain according to normative
reference value
Why strength test ?
1) Systematically assess the common areas of body you will want to
objectively measure
2) Set the baselines
3) Measure progression of your treatment/training program over
time
4) Increase certainty of knowing where your patients/clients are in
their RTS and activity. NO MORE GUESSING !
 BODY PART MUSCLES TARGETED TEST

Upper Body Shoulder CKCUET

Deep Core Flexor Endurance

Side Bridge Endurance

Extensor Endurance

Lower Body Hamstring SLB

Quadricep SLS

Wall Squat

Calf Calf raise

CKCUET
• Subject assumes in a push up position on feet (male) or on knees
(female) with hand spaced at any position within 90 cm. Index finger
are parallel, back is in neutral position and feet are shoulder width
apart
• Then within the 15 seconds the subject need to move side to side
leaning on one hand as they do this maintaining good body form and
not collapsing through their back and if they are male must not touch
their knee on the ground
• The test is performed 3 times with 45 seconds rest in between sets
Normative Data Reference

Test Reference Value

CKCUET > 21 touch
Refer from MAT
Flexor Endurance
The starting position requires the client to be seated, with the hips and knees bent to 90 degrees,
aligning the hips, knees, and second toe, arm across the chest. Then, lean against a board
positioned at a 60-degree incline, and keep the head in a neutral position .
It is important to ask the client to press the shoulders into the board and maintain this “open”
position throughout the test after the board is removed.
Instruct the client to engage the abdominals to maintain a flat-to-neutral spine. The back should
never be allowed to arch during the test. Examiner can anchor the toes under a strap or manually
stabilize the feet if necessary.
The stopwatch is started as he or she moves the board about 4 inches (10 cm) back, while the client
maintains the 60-degree, suspended position.
Terminate the test when there is a noticeable change in the trunk position:
-Watch for a deviation from the neutral spine (i.e., the shoulders rounding forward) or an increase
in the low-back arch.
-No part of the back should touch the back rest
(McGill et al, 1999)
Side Bridge Endurance
• Subjects lie on an exercise mat on their side with legs extended.
• The top foot is placed in front on the lower foot, then subjects lift
their hips off the mat to maintain a straight line over their full body
length for as long as able.
• The test (time) ends when the hips return to the mat

(McGill et al, 1999)

Extensor Endurance
• The starting position requires the client to be prone, positioning the
iliac crests at the table edge while supporting the upper extremity on
the arms, which are placed on the floor or on a riser.
• While the client is supporting the weight of his or her upper body,
anchor the client’s lower legs to the table using a strap. If a strap is not
used, examiner will have to use his or her own body weight to stabilize
the client’s legs.
• When ready, the client lifts/extends the torso until it is parallel to the
floor with his or her arms crossed over the chest
• Start the stopwatch as soon as the client assumes this position.
• Terminate the test when the client can no longer maintain the position.
(McGill et al, 1999)
Normative Data Reference
Isolated Muscles
TEST
Flexor Endurance
Side Bridge Endurance
Extensor Endurance
Relationship between Muscles
TEST
Flexion - Extension
Side Bridge
Side Bridge - Extension
Reference Values
> 147 seconds ( 2 minutes + )
> 85 seconds ( 1 minute + )
> 171 seconds ( 2 minutes + )
Reference Value (ratio)
< 1.0
Side Difference < 0.5
< 0.75
(McGill et al, 1999)
Single Leg Bridge (SLB)
• Subjects lie supine on the floor with one heel on a box or plinth at 60cm high.
• The knee of the test leg is slightly bent at 20° and opposite leg is bent to 90°
hip and knee flexion with their arms crossed over chest.
• Subjects elevate the hips as high as possible and the assessor places a hand
at this height.
• Repeat this action as many times as possible touching the assessors hand
each time.
• The test concludes when the subject is unable to bridge to the original height
(assessors hand)

Single leg bridge test *variation (Freckleton et al, 2013)

Normative Data Reference

Test Reference Value

SLB > 25 reps

Hurdle requirement ;
= > 20 reps

Single leg bridge test *variation (Freckleton et al, 2013)

Single Leg Squat (SLS)
• Subjects sit on a chair (or a plinth) with test leg bent to 90deg,
and 10cm from edge of chair.

• With hands folded across the chest, the subject aims to stand
up from the sitting position, and sit down as many times as
possible.

Single Leg Rise Test (Culvenor et al., 2016 & Thorstensson et al., 2004
Normative Data Reference

Test Reference Value

SLS > 21 reps with < 10% side to side difference

Hurdle requirement ;
= > 10 reps each leg

Single Leg Rise Test (Culvenor et al., 2016 & Thorstensson et al., 2004)
Wall Squat Test
• Stand comfortably with feet approximately shoulder width apart, with
your back against a smooth vertical wall.
• Slowly slide your back down the wall to assume a position with both
your knees and hips at a 90° angle. Move the feet position if required.
• The timing starts when one foot is lifted off the ground (5 cm) and is
stopped when the subject cannot maintain the position and the foot
is returned to the ground.
• After a period of rest, the other leg is tested.

(Arnot and Gaines 1984)

Normative Data Reference
Test Wall Squat Test
Males ( seconds ) Females ( seconds)
Excellent > 102 > 60
Above Average 102 - 76 60 - 46
Average 75 - 58 45 - 36
Below Average 57 - 30 35 - 20
Very Poor < 30 < 20
(Arnot and Gaines 1984)
Calf Raise
• Subjects stand on one foot on the edge of the step and perform a calf
raise through full range of motion.
• Calf raises are performed at 1 repetition every 2 seconds.
• The test concludes when subjects are unable to move through full
range or slow below the cadence outlined above

Single leg calf raises (Hebert et al, 2017)

Normative Data Reference
Test Calf Raise
Age Males ( reps ) Females ( reps )
20 - 29 37 30
30 - 39 32 27
40 - 49 28 24
50 - 59 23 21
60 - 69 19 19
70 - 79 14 16
80 - 89 10 13

Hebert-Losier K, Wessman C, Alricsson M, Svantesson (2017)

MAT ; > 25 reps

Thank You