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AFT Calculator — Aerobic Fitness Test (VO₂max Step Test)

The Queens College Step Test is a validated 3-minute submaximal step test for estimating aerobic capacity (VO₂max) without a lab. Step onto a 16.25-inch bench, count your pulse for 15 seconds after the test, and this calculator estimates your VO₂max and fitness category.

Pohlavie

beats

Count your pulse for exactly 15 seconds immediately after the 3-minute step test
Estimated VO₂max
44,1mL/kg/min

Aerobic fitness category: Good

Heart rate (bpm)
160 bpm
Fitness category
Good
METs equivalent
12,6 METs
Test sex norm
Male norms
VO₂max aerobic fitness spectrum (mL/kg/min): Good
Step by step
  1. 1

    Heart rate (bpm)

    40 × 4 = 160
    Scales the 15-second pulse count to beats per minute.
  2. 2

    Estimated VO₂max

    111,33 − 0,42 × 160 = 44,1
Výsledky sú odhady určené len na všeobecné informačné účely a nepredstavujú odborné poradenstvo — dôležité výsledky si vždy nezávisle overte, kým sa na ne spoľahnete. Toto nie je lekárske, zdravotné ani fitness poradenstvo; poraďte sa s kvalifikovaným zdravotníckym odborníkom. Prečítať si celé vylúčenie zodpovednosti.
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Ako táto kalkulačka funguje?

The Queens College Step Test estimates VO₂max from a 3-minute step test: VO₂max = 111.33 − (0.42 × HR) for men, or 65.81 − (0.1847 × HR) for women, where HR = 15-second pulse count × 4. A lower post-exercise heart rate indicates better aerobic fitness. Results are classified as Poor, Below average, Average, Good, or Excellent using ACSM reference ranges.

Vzorec
VO₂max (mL/kg/min) = 111.33 − (0.42 × HR_bpm) [men] • 65.81 − (0.1847 × HR_bpm) [women] — HR_bpm = 15-sec pulse × 4
How this is calculated

The Queens College Step Test (McArdle et al., 1972) is one of the most widely validated submaximal aerobic fitness tests. The protocol is simple: step up and down a 16.25-inch (41.3 cm) bench at a metronome pace of 24 steps per minute for men or 22 steps per minute for women, for exactly 3 minutes. Immediately after stopping, count your pulse (carotid or radial) for exactly 15 seconds. Multiply by 4 to get heart rate in beats per minute.

The regression equations were derived by correlating step-test heart rate with directly measured VO₂max in college-aged adults. A lower post-exercise heart rate means the heart pumped more blood per beat (greater stroke volume), reflecting a more efficient cardiovascular system and a higher aerobic capacity. VO₂max is expressed in millilitres of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute (mL/kg/min) — the gold-standard measure of cardiorespiratory fitness.

Fitness categories use ACSM reference ranges for adults. The equations were validated on college-aged populations, so estimates lose accuracy for very deconditioned individuals or those over 55. For clinical or competitive use, a laboratory graded exercise test with direct gas analysis is the gold standard. METs (metabolic equivalents, where 1 MET ≈ 3.5 mL/kg/min) provide an everyday interpretation: a VO₂max of 35 mL/kg/min corresponds to about 10 METs.

Často kladené otázky

VO₂max is the maximum rate at which your body can use oxygen during intense exercise, expressed in mL/kg/min. It is the best single predictor of cardiovascular health and endurance performance. Higher VO₂max is associated with lower risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and all-cause mortality.

The test has a standard error of about 2.5–3.5 mL/kg/min relative to a treadmill VO₂max test. It is adequate for population screening and fitness tracking over time but not for precise clinical or elite athletic assessment. Anxiety, recent exercise, caffeine, and ambient temperature can all affect heart rate.

The validated protocol uses exactly 16.25 inches (41.3 cm). Using a different bench height will alter the workload and make the regression equation inaccurate. Standard gym step boxes are typically 12 inches; the test bench is closer to the height of a typical stair step plus one riser.

Známe aj ako

aerobic fitness test
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APA

TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). AFT Calculator — Aerobic Fitness Test (VO₂max Step Test) [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/sk/calculator/aft-calculator

Chicago

TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "AFT Calculator — Aerobic Fitness Test (VO₂max Step Test)." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/sk/calculator/aft-calculator.

IEEE

TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "AFT Calculator — Aerobic Fitness Test (VO₂max Step Test)," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/sk/calculator/aft-calculator

BibTeX

@misc{wecalculate_aft_calculator, title = {AFT Calculator — Aerobic Fitness Test (VO₂max Step Test)}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/sk/calculator/aft-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }

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