ESSA's Student Manual for Health, Exercise and Sport assessment is an essential text for students and exercise clinicians wishing to accredit with ESSA as exercise scientists.



Written by former ESSA President Jeff Coombes and clinical exercise physiologist Tina Skinner, this book provides everything students need to achieve competency in ESSA Standard 7, Health Exercise and Sport Assessment. It contains in-depth and well-articulated methodology for all tests, data recording tables and normative values, and case study analyses.



Each of the 21 chapters addresses key health and fitness assessments used to evaluate health, fitness and performance. With easy-to-follow practicals throughout, this book has been updated to reflect current best practice and recent advances such as wearable devices and smartphone apps.


New to this edition
New Static and Dynamic Posture practical

New Test Accuracy, Reliability and Validity practical
New activities reflecting recent advances in the field
Increased focus on the interpretation, feedback and discussion of the data collected during the assessment with the participant

Key Features
Endorsed by Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA)
Aligned with National University Course Accreditation Program criteria
Practical data recording tables
Australian-specific population normative data tables
End of chapter discussion questions to apply knowledge to different case scenarios
Traditional and contemporary gold standard tests that are valid and reliable
Detailed, easy to follow step-by-step protocols
An eBook included in all print purchases


Additional resources on Evolve

eBook on VitalSource


Instructor resources:

Image Collection
Testbank


Student resources:

Case studies
Additional Laboratory Assignments
Criteria Sheets
Data recording template


Author Information
By Jeff S. Coombes, BEd(Hons), BAppSc, MEd, PhD, ESSAM, AES, AEP, FACSM, FESSA, Professor of Exercise Science, School of Human Movement Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia and Tina Skinner, BAppSc (HMS ExSci) (Hons), GCHigherEd, PhD, AEP, Lecturer in Clinical Exercise Physiology, Course Convenor, Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science, School of Human Movement Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia



1. Test accuracy, reliability and validity
2. Blood analysis
3. Cardiovascular health
4. Physique assessment
5. Physical activity
6. Pre-exercise health screening
7. Neuromuscular strength, power and strength endurance
8. Static and dynamic posture
9. Flexibility
10. VO2max
11. Submaximal testing for cardiorespiratory fitness
12. Lactate threshold
13. High-intensity exercise
14. Nutrition
15. Functional measures
16. Exercise capacity
17. Pulmonary function
18. Resting and exercise electrocardiography (ECG)
19. Data analysis