Lab 6: Queens College Step Test

The Queens College _•Step Test was designed to provide quick, easy, and accurate predictions of VO₂ max for college-age men ¹ and women. ^{1, 2} This test involves only three minutes of stair stepping. Upon completion of the Queens College Step Test, the subject’s heart rate is recorded, and this measurement is referred to as the recovery heart rate. In theory, individuals’ recovery heart rate will be lower after the Queens College Step Test if they are in better shape (i.e., higher VO₂ max), and individuals who exhibit poor fitness levels (i.e., lower VO₂ max) will have a higher recovery heart rate after the step test. A higher recovery heart rate usually reflects a greater amount of exercise- induced stress as a result of the same submaximal stair-stepping task for all participants. Overall, the lower the post-exercise recovery heart rate, the higher the predicted VO₂ max.