ElderFIT just announced the launch of its fitness test for seniors in San Antonio. The provider of in-home personal training for seniors serves the fitness needs of older adults across Bexar County.
The Austin-based company launched the test because for many older adults in San Antonio, staying healthy means more than keeping up with doctor appointments and annual checkups. It also means maintaining the strength, balance, mobility, and endurance needed to remain independent and enjoy everyday life.
For seniors in San Antonio, that might mean strolling along the River Walk, spending time with grandchildren, volunteering in the community, gardening, traveling, or simply moving confidently through daily activities.
The question is:
How do you know if your current fitness level is helping you maintain the lifestyle you want to enjoy?
One way is through a Senior Fitness Test.
What Is Functional Fitness?
Functional fitness refers to the physical abilities required to perform everyday activities safely and independently.
Unlike traditional fitness programs that focus on athletic performance, functional fitness focuses on practical movements such as standing and sitting, climbing stairs, and maintaining balance.
These activities depend on several key components of fitness, including:
- Strength
- Flexibility
- Endurance
- Mobility
- Balance
Because changes in these areas often occur gradually, many people don’t recognize a decline until routine activities become more difficult.
What Is the Senior Fitness Test?
ElderFIT based its fitness test for seniors in San Antonio on a widely accepted test commonly known as the Fullerton Functional Fitness Test. The test was named after California State University, Fullerton, where it was developed by Dr. Roberta Rikli and Dr. Jessie Jones.
The Senior Fitness Test was specifically created to evaluate the physical abilities older adults need for independent living. The test measures areas such as:
- Lower-body strength
- Upper-body strength
- Aerobic endurance
- Flexibility
- Balance
- Agility
Today, the Senior Fitness Test framework is used by researchers, healthcare providers, rehabilitation professionals, and senior fitness specialists around the world.
Why Take a Senior Fitness Test?
Most people regularly monitor health indicators such as blood pressure, cholesterol, or blood sugar.
A Senior Fitness Test provides another valuable measurement because it evaluates physical abilities that directly affect everyday life.
Taking the test can help you:
- Establish a functional fitness baseline
- Identify strengths and weaknesses
- Track progress over time
- Set realistic fitness goals
- Better understand your current physical abilities
For older adults, understanding these factors can provide valuable insight into overall mobility, confidence, and independence.
Take the Senior Fitness Test Online
To help make functional fitness testing more accessible, Austin-based ElderFIT now offers an online Senior Fitness Test based on the established Senior Fitness Test framework developed by Dr. Roberta Rikli and Dr. Jessie Jones.
The test helps older adults evaluate important areas of fitness, including:
- Strength
- Balance
- Flexibility
- Endurance
- Mobility
The goal is to provide a convenient way to better understand your current fitness level and establish a baseline to track progress over time.
Discover Your Functional Fitness Baseline
Understanding your current fitness level is an important first step toward maintaining mobility, confidence, and independence.
If you’re curious about how your strength, balance, flexibility, endurance, and mobility compare to established benchmarks, learn more about ElderFIT’s Senior Fitness Test below.
References
Rikli, R.E., & Jones, C.J. (2013). Senior Fitness Test Manual (2nd Edition). Human Kinetics.
Jones, C.J., Rikli, R.E., & Beam, W.C. (1999). A 30-second chair stand test as a measure of lower body strength in community-residing older adults. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 70(2), 113–119.
Rikli, R.E., & Jones, C.J. (1999). Development and validation of criterion-referenced clinically relevant fitness standards for maintaining physical independence in later years. The Gerontologist, 39(3), 267–278.
Disclaimer
The ElderFIT Senior Fitness Test is based on the established Senior Fitness Test framework developed by Dr. Roberta Rikli and Dr. Jessie Jones at California State University, Fullerton. ElderFIT is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or the publisher of the official Senior Fitness Test or Fullerton Functional Fitness Test.