Taking the Balke Fitness Test
If you want to take the Balke Fitness Test, follow these steps:
SELECT PROGRAM
Press the HRC button at any time to display the HRC programs selection screen. Scroll through the program
previews with center “+/-” keys and select the Balke Fitness Test by pressing NEXT. The display will now ask
you to enter your age.
ENTER YOUR AGE
Using the keypad or center “+/-” keys, select your age from 10-99 and press ENTER,
NEXT, or wait three seconds. This determines the test’s target pulse and the scaling of
the fitness assessment since it references the user’s demographics.
ENTER YOUR GENDER
Using the center “+” key, toggle between MALE and FEMALE to select your gender.
Once your gender is displayed on the center display, press ENTER, NEXT, or wait
three seconds. This affects the scaling of the fitness score since it references the
user’s demographics.
Note: Before pressing start, you will be prompted with the heart rate that the fitness test will target. This heart rate calculation is
derived from statistical heart rate capacity averages (see Heart Rate Monitoring). If you are uncomfortable with the target heart rate
displayed or feel discomfort during any point during the fitness test, stop the test.
Press the
button.
You must hold on to the contact heart
rate crossbar or wear your heart rate
transmitter strap during the entire test.
If the treadmill loses a heart rate signal
for more than 30 seconds, the test will
be invalidated and terminated.
This HRC fitness test is fully automated
and will increase in difficulty from
segment to segment until the user
achieves the target heart rate (80% of
maximum heart rate). Once you reach
the target pulse, a 30 second countdown
will follow and end the test. Any key-
strokes during the test besides NEXT will
invalidate and terminate the test.
As soon as you begin, the Heart Rate
Status screen becomes available. This
screen shows your Target Pulse, Time,
Heart Rate Status, and Time in Zone.
Upon completion, you will receive a
VO2 Max score and fitness assessment
based on your performance versus your
demographics.
START
START
EXAMPLE
If you were 25 years old, a female, and wanted to take the Balke Fitness
Test, you would…
1. Press the button.
2. Press center “-” key 1 time and then NEXT.
3. When asked to enter YOUR AGE, press “2”, “5”, ENTER on the keypad.
4. When asked to enter YOUR GENDER, press center “+” key once and
press NEXT.
5. Press to begin.
START
START
AGE
<20
>65
57-65
47-56
37-46
<37
20-29
>62
54-62
44-53
35-43
<35
30-39
>58
50-58
40-49
32-39
<32
40-49
>54
46-54
37-45
28-36
<28
50-59
>52
44-52
35-43
26-34
<26
60-69
>50
42-50
32-41
24-31
<24
>69
>48
40-48
30-39
22-29
<22
VO
2
Ma
x
Men
RATING
SUPERIOR
EXCELLENT
GOOD
AVERAGE
LOW
AGE
<20
>62
54-62
42-53
34-41
<34
20-29
>58
50-58
39-49
32-38
<32
30-39
>54
46-54
35-45
29-34
<29
40-49
>51
43-51
32-42
25-31
<25
50-59
>47
39-47
29-38
22-28
<22
60-69
>44
36-44
25-35
19-24
<19
>69
>42
34-42
23-33
15-22
<15
VO
2
Ma
x
Women
RATING
SUPERIOR
EXCELLENT
GOOD
AVERAGE
LOW
20
