
- EXPLORE FURTHER: According to specialists, how many sit-ups should one be capable of performing at their age?
Curious about how robust your heart is compared to others of similar age?
There’s no need to undertake complex tests, such as sprinting on a treadmill at maximum speed while covered with various monitors.
Rather than focusing on distance, try running for 12 minutes and see how far you travel. This can be adapted to brisk walking or light jogging as well.
The official name of this scientific instrument is The Cooper Test, which is intended to assess the amount of oxygen your body consumes during physical activity, referred to as VO2 max.
The greater your VO2 max, the better your heart is reportedly pumping blood to your organs and tissues, suggesting that these organs are in good condition.
Research indicates that individuals who possess a high VO2 max relative to their age are at a reduced risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases compared to those with lower values.
The test was created by American physician Kenneth Cooper in 1968, with the initial purpose of assessing cardiovascular endurance within the U.S. military.
This can be performed on a treadmill, a running track, or on any solid and even surface.

You sprint, trot, or move at a brisk pace for 12 minutes continuously and use an app like Strava or Apple Health to monitor the distance you travel in meters.
A outcomes chart posted by the fitness site Very Well Fit discloses the ranges deemed as excellent, above average, average, below average, and poor.
The data is categorized by gender and age up to 50 years old.
Men in their thirties ought to complete a distance of 1.9 kilometers (1.1 miles) when running, whereas women of the same age should aim for about 1.7 kilometers, which is approximately one mile.
If a man can run 2.6 kilometers, which is about 1.6 miles, when he’s in his 30s, his VO2 max would be rated as ‘excellent’. Similarly, women in their 30s who complete 2.5 kilometers or roughly one and a half miles fall into this category too.
For those in their middle years, the standard is slightly less demanding. A typical man in his fifties should aim to walk nearly a mile, or 1.6 kilometers, within 12 minutes. Achieving a distance of 2.4 kilometers, which equates to a mile and a third, would be considered an excellent result for him.
For women in their 50s, covering an average of 0.8 miles or approximately 1.4 kilometers is typical, whereas achieving more than 2.2 kilometers or over one mile indicates exceptional performance.
Any value falling between 1.1K and 1.6K is seen as inadequate, varying according to different age groups.
AGE | EXCELLENT | ABOVE AVERAGE | AVERAGE | BELOW AVERAGE | POOR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Male 20-29 | over 2800 metres | 2400-2800 metres | 2200-2399 metres | 1600-2199 metres | under 1600 metres |
Females 20-29 | over 2700 metres | 2200-2700 metres | 1800-2199 metres | 1500-1799 metres | under 1500 metres |
Males 30-39 | over 2700 metres | 2300-2700 metres | 1900-2299 metres | 1500-1999 metres | under 1500 metres |
Females 30-39 | over 2500 metres | 2000-2500 metres | 1700-1999 metres | 1400-1699 metres | under 1400 metres |
Males 40-49 | over 2500 metres | 2100-2500 metres | 1700-2099 metres | 1400-1699 metres | under 1400 metres |
Females 40-49 | over 2300 metres | 1900-2300 metres | 1500-1899 metres | 1200-1499 metres | under 1200 metres |
Males 50 | over 2400 metres | 2000-2400 metres | 1600-1999 metres | 1300-1599 metres | under 1300 metres |
Females 50 | over 2200 metres | 1700-2200 metres | 1400-1699 metres | 1100-1399 metres | under 1100 metres |
Source: Verywell fit |

The test doesn’t incorporate scores for individuals over 50 years old; however, older adults may still utilize it. digital calculator to calculate their VO2 Max score.
Your VO2 Max score isn’t the sole straightforward metric that determines your health level relative to your age.
Experts additionally mention that the count of push-ups one can perform serves as a reliable marker for assessing strength and stamina; research indicates that this measure may reflect life expectancy.
This is due to the fact that the workout targets the majority of significant muscle groups across the whole body, encompassing the legs, abdominals, shoulders, back, and arms.
As per the guidelines from the Mayo Clinic, men should strive for doing 28 pushups, whereas women should target completing around 20.
In 10 years, when you reach 45, the Mayo Clinic recommends that women should manage 14 push-ups, whereas men should aim for 16.
For individuals aged 55, the number reduces to 10 push-ups for women and 12 for men.
For the most advanced age bracket as per the Mayo Clinic, both 65-year-old men and women should manage to perform push ups at a time.
Studies have indicated that elderly individuals capable of standing on one leg for over 10 seconds significantly decrease their likelihood of passing away in the following ten years.
This is due to the fact that a person's capacity for balancing reflects their overall physical strength and capability to avoid stumbling and falling, which is a major cause of death among older individuals.
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