The Tecumseh step test is an exercise test that researchers use to determine a subject's
cardiovascular fitness level.
The Tecumseh step test is a modified version of the
Harvard Step Test
The Harvard step test, in scientific literature sometimes referred to as the Brouha Test, is a type of cardiac stress test for detecting and diagnosing cardiovascular disease. It is also a good measurement of fitness and a person's ability to r ...
developed by Professor Henry J. Montoye. The main differences from the original protocol were the lower step height (8 inches instead of 20), the more moderate stepping rate (24 steps/min instead of 30) and the shorter duration (3 minutes instead of 5 minutes). These alterations made this test easier to perform and suitable for epidemiological studies.
The Tecumseh step test was employed in the
Tecumseh
Tecumseh ( ; October 5, 1813) was a Shawnee chief and warrior who promoted resistance to the expansion of the United States onto Native American lands. A persuasive orator, Tecumseh traveled widely, forming a Native American confederacy an ...
Community Health Study run between the 1950s and 60s. During this
epidemiological
Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution (who, when, and where), patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in a defined population.
It is a cornerstone of public health, and shapes policy decisions and evide ...
study, around 5,488 people performed the Tecumseh step test. The number of heart beats from 30 seconds after the end of the 3-minute step test to 1 minute after the step test was used to assess cardiovascular fitness level.
[McARDLE, W.D. et al., 2nd ed. Essentials of Exercise Physiology, USA: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, p. 365, 2000]
References
Medical tests