The preparticipation fitness test.

A fitness evaluation for training prescription may include a number of types of tests. Most common is the measurement of maximal aerobic capacity, because it requires optimal functioning of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and neuromuscular systems. Age, health status, and prior activity level, in part, dictate what type of protocol is used for the evaluation. Regardless of the protocol, it is useful to obtain quantitative measures of both submaximal response and maximal capacity for the training prescription. This is especially true for athletes who are attempting to induce very specific physiologic adaptations.