{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,5]],"date-time":"2026-01-05T22:03:08Z","timestamp":1767650588510},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"2-3","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Br J Sports Med"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[1980,7]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>The current status of the Canadian Home Fitness Test is reviewed. This simple procedure was originally conceived for the mass testing of fitness levels and for home use as a motivational tool in exercise programmes. The test is carried out on a double 8 inch step (such as a domestic staircase) at an age and sex-specific rhythm set by a long-playing record. Fitness is assessed from a combination of test-duration and the radial or carotid pulse count immediately following exercise. Use of the procedure by upwards of 500,000 Canadians is reviewed in relaltion to its safety, validity and practicality. To date, there have been no serious complications. In home use, there is inevitably limited precision, although with practice subjects can learn to count their pulse rate and step in time to the music; further, the test seems well received, achieving its prime objective of stimulating an interest in physical activity and endurance fitness. When the procedure is carried out by a paramedical worker, with e.c.g. recording of the exercise heart rate, it provides at least as good an estimate of maximum oxygen intake as other sub-maximal procedure; the main area of current controversy is interpretation of abnormal stress e.c.g. records, and it is suggested this problem could be resolved by the appropriate training and certification of interested family physicans and paramedical workers.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsm.14.2-3.114","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2008,12,16]],"date-time":"2008-12-16T00:52:31Z","timestamp":1229388751000},"page":"114-125","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":17,"title":["The current status of the Canadian home fitness test."],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"R. J.","family":"Shephard","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[1980,7,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","article-title":"American College of Sports Medicine, 1975. Guidelines for graded exercise testing and exercise prescription","unstructured":"American College of Sports Medicine, 1975. Guidelines for graded exercise testing and exercise prescription"},{"issue":"169","key":"ref_2","first-page":"45","article-title":"Aerobic work capacity in men and women, with special reference to age.","volume":"49","author":"Astrand, I., 1960","unstructured":"Astrand, I., 1960. \"Aerobic work capacity in men and women, with special reference to age.\" Acta Physiol.Scand. 49: Suppl. 169: 45.","journal-title":"Acta Physiol. Scand"},{"key":"ref_3","article-title":"A children's test of fitness.","author":"Bailey, D.A.; Mirwald, R.L.","year":"1975","unstructured":"Bailey, D. A. and Mirwald, R. L, 1975. \"A children's test of fitness.\" Report to Action; British Columbia.","journal-title":"Report"},{"key":"ref_4","first-page":"67","article-title":"Validation of a self-administered home test of cardiorespiratory fitness.","volume":"1","author":"Bailey, D.A.; Shephard, R.J.; Mirwald, R.L.","year":"1976","unstructured":"Bailey, D. A., Shephard, R. J. and Mirwald, R. L., 1976. \"Validation of a self-administered home test of cardiorespiratory fitness.\" Canad.J.Appl.Sports Sci. 1: 67-78.","journal-title":"Canad. J. Appl. Sports Sci"},{"key":"ref_5","first-page":"25","article-title":"A current view of Canadian cardio-respiratory fitness.","volume":"111","author":"Bailey, D.A.; Shephard, R.J.; Mirwald, R.L.; Weese, C.","year":"1974","unstructured":"Bailey, D. A., Shephard, R. J., Mirwald, R. L. and Weese, C., 1974. \"A current view of Canadian cardio-respiratory fitness.\" Canad.Med.Assoc.J. 111: 25-30.","journal-title":"Canad. Med. Assoc. J"},{"key":"ref_6","first-page":"133","article-title":"An evaluation of the Canadian Home Fitness Test.","volume":"2","author":"Bonen, A.; Gardner, J.; Primrose, J.; Quigley, R.; Smith, D.","year":"1977","unstructured":"Bonen, A., Gardner, J., Primrose, J., Quigley, R. and Smith, D., 1977. \"An evaluation of the Canadian Home Fitness Test.\" Canad.J.Appl.Sports Sci. 2: 133-136.","journal-title":"Canad. J. Appl. Sports Sci"},{"key":"ref_7","first-page":"375","article-title":"Physical activity readiness.","volume":"(ii)","author":"Chisholm, D.M.; Collis, M.L.; Kulak, L.L.","year":"1975","unstructured":"Chisholm, D. M., Collis, M. L., Kulak, L. L. et al, 1975. \"Physical activity readiness.\" Brit.Col.Med.J. 17: (ii) 375-385.","journal-title":"Brit. Col. Med. J. 17"},{"key":"ref_8","article-title":"Aerobics","author":"Cooper, K. H., 1968","unstructured":"Cooper, K. H., 1968. Aerobics. Evans, New York."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1663","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.1970.03170100025004","article-title":"Guidelines in the management of the exercising patient.","volume":"211","author":"Cooper, K. H., 1970","unstructured":"Cooper, K. H., 1970. \"Guidelines in the management of the exercising patient.\" J.Amer.Med.Assoc. 211: 1663-1667.","journal-title":"J. Amer. Med. Assoc"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"554","DOI":"10.1152\/ajplegacy.1935.111.3.554","article-title":"On the relationship between the heart rate during exercise and that of the immediate post-exercise period.","volume":"111","author":"Cotton, F.; Dill, D. B., 1935","unstructured":"Cotton, F. and Dill, D. B., 1935. \"On the relationship between the heart rate during exercise and that of the immediate post-exercise period.\" Amer.J.Physiol. 111: 554-558.","journal-title":"Amer. J. Physiol"},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"105","article-title":"Employee fitness, absenteeism and job satisfaction.","volume":"11","author":"Cox, M.; Shephard, R.J.","year":"1979","unstructured":"Cox, M. and Shephard, R. J., 1979. \"Employee fitness, absenteeism and job satisfaction.\" Med.Sci.Sport 11: 105.","journal-title":"Med. Sci. Sport"},{"key":"ref_12","first-page":"346","article-title":"Evaluation of the Canadian Home Fitness Test in middle-aged men.","volume":"117","author":"Cumming, G.R.; Glenn, J.","year":"1977","unstructured":"Cumming, G. R. and Glenn, J., 1977. \"Evaluation of the Canadian Home Fitness Test in middle-aged men.\" Canad.Med. Assoc.J. 117: 346-349.","journal-title":"Canad. Med. Assoc. J"},{"issue":"8","key":"ref_13","article-title":"Heart rate monitoring as a guide to the intensity of an exercise programme.","volume":"10","author":"Gardner, G.W.","year":"1979","unstructured":"Duncan, W. R., Ross, W. D. and Banister, E. W., 1968. \"Heart rate monitoring as a guide to the intensity of an exercise programme.\" Brit.Columbia Med.J. 10 (8). Gardner, G. W., Danks, D. L. and Scharfsien, L., 1979. \"Use of carotid pulse for heart rate monitoring.\" Med.Sci.Sport","journal-title":"Brit. Columbia Med. J; Use of carotid pulse for heart rate monitoring"},{"key":"ref_14","article-title":"Standard Test of Occupational Fitness","author":"Health; Welfare, Canada","year":"1979","unstructured":"Health and Welfare, Canada, 1979. Standard Test of Occupational Fitness. Ottawa, Ontario."},{"key":"ref_15","article-title":"\"On the use of music in the learning and teaching of gymnastic exercises.\" Paper presented at the International Congress on Physical Education for Girls and Women","author":"Kudo, E.","year":"1974","unstructured":"Kudo, E., 1974. \"On the use of music in the learning and teaching of gymnastic exercises.\" Paper presented at the International Congress on Physical Education for Girls and Women. 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Halifax, Nova Scotia - Division of Family Medicine, Dalhousie University","author":"Sackett, D.L.","year":"1975","unstructured":"Sackett, D. L., 1975. Workshop lecture. Halifax, Nova Scotia - Division of Family Medicine, Dalhousie University. (Cited by Lauzon, 1978)."},{"key":"ref_21","first-page":"662","article-title":"Home testing of fitness of Canadians.","volume":"114","author":"Shephard, D.A.E.","year":"1976","unstructured":"Shephard, D. A. E., 1976. \"Home testing of fitness of Canadians.\" Canad.Med.Assoc.J. 114: 662-663.","journal-title":"Canad. Med. Assoc. J"},{"key":"ref_22","article-title":"\"The prediction of 'maximal' oxygen consumption using a new progressive step test","author":"Shephard, R.J.","year":"1967","unstructured":"Shephard, R. J., 1967. \"The prediction of 'maximal' oxygen consumption using a new progressive step test."},{"key":"ref_23","first-page":"206","article-title":"Computer programmes for solution of the Astrand nomogram.","volume":"10","author":"Shephard, R.J.","year":"1970","unstructured":"Shephard, R. J., 1970. \"Computer programmes for solution of the Astrand nomogram.\" J.Sports Med.Phys.Fitness 10: 206-210.","journal-title":"J. Sports Med. Phys. Fitness"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsm.8.2-3.101","article-title":"Sudden death - a significant hazard of exercise?","volume":"8","author":"Shephard, R.J.","year":"1974","unstructured":"Shephard, R. J., 1974. \"Sudden death - a significant hazard of exercise?\" Brit.J.Sports Med. 8: 101-110.","journal-title":"Brit. J. Sports Med"},{"key":"ref_25","article-title":"Endurance Fitness","author":"Shephard, R.J.","year":"1977","unstructured":"Shephard, R. J., 1977a. Endurance Fitness (2nd Ed.). University of Toronto Press, Toronto.","edition":"2nd Ed"},{"key":"ref_26","series-title":"Proceedings of International Symposium on Exercise and Coronary Artery","first-page":"1","article-title":"Coronary artery disease - the magnitude of the problem.","author":"Shephard, R.J.","year":"1976","unstructured":"Shephard, R. J., 1976. \"Coronary artery disease - the magnitude of the problem.\" pp. 1-14. In: Proceedings of International Symposium on Exercise and Coronary Artery Disease. Ed. T. Kavanagh. Toronto: Toronto Rehabilitation Centre."},{"key":"ref_27","first-page":"55","article-title":"Do risks of exercise justify costly caution?","author":"Shephard, R.J.","year":"1977","unstructured":"Shephard, R. J., 1977b. \"Do risks of exercise justify costly caution?\" Physician and Sports Med. 5 (2): 55-65.","journal-title":"Physician and Sports Med"},{"key":"ref_28","article-title":"Letter to Editor.","volume":"117","author":"Shephard, R. J., 1977c","unstructured":"Shephard, R. J., 1977c. \"Letter to Editor.\" Canad.Med.Assoc.J. 117.","journal-title":"Canad. Med. Assoc. J"},{"key":"ref_29","first-page":"757","article-title":"The maximum oxygen intake - an international reference standard of cardio-respiratory fitness.","volume":"38","unstructured":"Shephard, R. J., Allen, C., Benade, A. J., Davies, C. T. M., diPrampero, P. E., Hedman, R., Merriman, J. E., Myhre, K. and Simmons, R., 1968. \"The maximum oxygen intake - an international reference standard of cardio-respiratory fitness.\" Bull.W.H.O. 38: 757-764.","journal-title":"Bull. W. H. O"},{"key":"ref_30","first-page":"675","volume":"114","author":"Shephard, R.J.; Bailey, D.A.; Mirwald, R.L.","year":"1976","unstructured":"Shephard, R. J., Bailey, D. A. and Mirwald, R. L., 1976. Development of the Canadian Home Fitness Test. Canad.Med. Assoc.J. 114: 675-679.","journal-title":"Development of the Canadian Home Fitness Test. Canad. Med. Assoc. J"},{"key":"ref_31","article-title":"Some factors affecting the accuracy of Canadian Home Fitness Test Scores.","unstructured":"Shephard, R. J., Cox, M., Corey, P. and Smyth, R., 1979a. \"Some factors affecting the accuracy of Canadian Home Fitness Test Scores.\" Canad.J.Appl.Sports Sci. In Press.","journal-title":"Canad. J. Appl. Sports Sci. In"},{"key":"ref_32","article-title":"An analysis of PAR-Q responses in an office population.","author":"Shephard, R.J.; Cox, M.; Simpner, K.","year":"1979","unstructured":"Shephard, R. J., Cox, M. and Simpner, K., 1979b. \"An analysis of PAR-Q responses in an office population.\" Canad.J. Appl.Sports Sci. In Press.","journal-title":"Canad. J. Appl. Sports Sci. In"},{"key":"ref_33","article-title":"Changes of Canadian Home Fitness Test Scores over an employee fitness programme.","author":"Shephard, R. J.; Cox, 1980","unstructured":"Shephard, R. J. and Cox, 1980. \"Changes of Canadian Home Fitness Test Scores over an employee fitness programme.\" Canad.J.Appl.Sports Sci. In Press.","journal-title":"Canad. J. Appl. Sports Sci. In"},{"key":"ref_34","first-page":"246","article-title":"\"Attitudes towards health and physical activity in the elderly.\" Effects of a physical training programme","volume":"8","author":"Sidney, K.H.; Shephard, R.J.","year":"1976","unstructured":"Sidney, K. H. and Shephard, R. J., 1976. \"Attitudes towards health and physical activity in the elderly.\" Effects of a physical training programme. Med.Sci.Sports 8: 246-252.","journal-title":"Med. Sci. Sports"},{"key":"ref_35","article-title":"A project to study the relationship between questions about physical activity and fitness levels on the Canadian Home Fitness Test.","author":"Thacker, J., 1977","unstructured":"Thacker, J., 1977. \"A project to study the relationship between questions about physical activity and fitness levels on the Canadian Home Fitness Test.\" MSc Thesis, Temple University, Philadelphia."},{"key":"ref_36","article-title":"Human Biology. A guide to field methods","author":"Weiner, J. S.; Lourie, J. A., 1969","unstructured":"Weiner, J. S. and Lourie, J. A., 1969. Human Biology. A guide to field methods. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford and Edinburgh."},{"key":"ref_37","article-title":"Principles and Practice of Screening for Disease","volume":"34","author":"Wilson, J. M. G.; Junder, G., 1968","unstructured":"Wilson, J. M. G. and Junder, G., 1968. Principles and Practice of Screening for Disease. Public Health Papers No. 34.","journal-title":"Public Health Papers"}],"container-title":["British Journal of Sports Medicine"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/bjsm.14.2-3.114","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,13]],"date-time":"2024-05-13T17:36:00Z","timestamp":1715621760000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/bjsm.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/bjsm.14.2-3.114"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[1980,7]]},"references-count":37,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2-3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[1980,7,1]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[1980,7]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/bjsm.14.2-3.114"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bjsm.14.2-3.114","relation":{},"ISSN":["0306-3674","1473-0480"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0306-3674","type":"print"},{"value":"1473-0480","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[1980,7]]}}}