Validity of Ruffier Test in Evaluation of Resistance to the Physical Effort

摘要

The Ruffier test is used to evaluate the resistance of a heart to physical effort and is intended for adults. The aim of the research in this paper was to create a model of the Ruffier test adapted to school sport and physical education, i.e., for 6-16-year-old pupils. It was shown that two well-known models of correction of the Ruffier test to the age of young patients were in conflict and thus not reliable in the practice of physical education. Mathematical modeling and computer simulation were used in this research. Inter- and extrapolations of the assessment scales based on the Ruffier index were employed. Calculations were done using MS Excel~® and MathCAD~®. Two methods of the adaptation of the Ruffier test assessment for the health status of young patients were proposed. In one of the methods, the value of the Ruffier index was corrected, and in another, the scale of assessment was likewise. A normal value of the heart rate at rest was accepted as a parameter of correction in both models. In general, the proposed model of correction of the test assessment courses a statistically significant difference with a corresponding result determined according to the original model (p < 0.001). The results of this correction showed a considerable increase in a basic group of physical education (normal physical activity) and a decrease in a preparation course group (decreased physical activity) and a special group (poor physical activity). This age correction increased the test score validity for children and adolescents to a level of the originally test score validity for adults.