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Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Health
- Tom's Guide
Think you're tough? Arnold Schwarzenegger has 4 fitness tests that might just predict your ‘expiration date'
You think 'bodybuilding' and Arnold Schwarzenegger immediately springs to mind — he's the kingpin of the sport, after all. Now you can test yourself against four fitness tests designed to predict longevity and overall health without expensive tests or kit. These tests are totally free of charge and available via Arnold's The Pump app. Yep, he's gone and put the tests in front of the app's paywall, the legend. During each test, you'll focus on a different area of health, which can indicate your overall potential longevity. Expect push-ups, sit-to-stand ability, grip strength and balance to all go under the microscope. Here's how you can take the tests, and what they mean for your health. 'The Arnold Fitness Tests are backed by published research,' Arnie's team writes. 'Each takes less than a minute. And they provide instant feedback to help you understand if you're in the danger zone — or in peak condition.' For example, the push-up test score may indicate your risk of heart disease, while the grip strength test is a 'powerful indicator of overall mortality.' Sit-to-stand testing checks in with your overall coordination, functional strength and mobility, then the one-leg balance test is 'associated with brain health and longevity.' Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. To take the tests, simply: Are you ready? According to the team, the one-minute push-up test 'could tell you more about your heart health and longevity than a treadmill stress test.' The aim is to do as many push-ups as you can without stopping in 60 seconds. If you pause, drop to your knees, or lose form, you must stop and record your score. This test is based on a Harvard study published in JAMA Network Open. Learn how to do a push-up step-by-step first, ensuring your hips stay aligned with your shoulders and your chest reaches the ground with every rep — no half or quarter reps. This will set you up for success while completing the fitness test. Looking to score high? Incredibly, the study found a 96% lower risk of heart disease in those completing 40 or more reps compared to those finishing with 10 or fewer. There's a fair whack of research that shows grip strength can predict longevity; those with weaker grip have shown across different ages and sexes to have a higher risk of mortality. For this one, you'll need a set of dumbbells — I recommend adjustable dumbbells so that you can scale the weights accordingly — or use kettlebells, or a grip dynamometer. Using a neutral grip (palms facing your sides), lift the heaviest weight you can using one hand, then hold it at your side. Squeeze the handle as hard as possible for five seconds. There should be no other body part helping you to maintain your grip at any time. Increase the weight to the heaviest possible you can hold without dropping the weight or losing control. Remember to give it a good squeeze and hold still. Balance can tell you a surprising amount about your health. One study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that a 10-second one-leg balance test could help predict longevity, and it remains one of the strongest mortality predictors around for older people. In theory, this test is simple: stand on one leg for as long as you can without wobbling, stepping your foot down, or hopping about. No holding on to anything for support or opening your eyes, either! Arnie's team recommends holding your phone in one hand and putting your free arm across your chest. Start a timer, then lift one leg so that your thigh is perpendicular to your torso, like you're marching. Close your eyes and try to hold. Once you fall, log your score, then repeat on the opposite leg. Sitting down and standing up seem easy, right? But it can tell you a lot about your functional strength and mobility. You just need a chair or a bench for this test. Sit in the chair and cross your arms over your chest. Next, start the timer, then stand up and sit back down as many times as possible in 30 seconds. Count your reps and record them at the end. Avoid using any assistance, which includes the arms of the chair. Keep your arms crossed and make sure you fully extend at your hips and knees as you stand, then fully touch the chair with your butt as you sit — avoid the 'touch-and-go' by fully sitting each rep. Although a dated study, a piece of research published in 2012 found this test to be a "significant predictor of mortality" in those over 50, and many medical institutions still use similar tests during health exams. Although these types of tests have been around for a while, now you can test yourself under the guidance of Arnie. All you need to do is download the app!
New York Times
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Reebok returns to golf with The Pump and Allen Iverson's The Question
Reebok recently announced the launch of a new golf footwear and apparel collection that marks its return to the sport with a throwback to two classic basketball shoes: The Pump and The Question. Tal Short, Director of Product, Performance at Reebok says the return to golf shoes was something the company had been considering seriously since golfers began getting back to courses in big numbers during the pandemic. Advertisement '(Reebok) had John Daly, which obviously was quite the figure to have. Greg Norman was a part of Reebok,' Short said. 'We've got history in the sport. We had a good run there for a while and it was fun just to kind of study it. We have an archive here, and looking at all the old shoes, we just felt like it was the right space. So we started thinking about what we wanted to do.' Headlining Reebok Golf's new era are the two aforementioned basketball-inspired shoes, plus a third:the Nano Golf (retail: $130), which are currently being worn by Bryson DeChambeau and his LIV Golf team Crushers GC (featuring Paul Casey, Charles Howell III and Anirban Lahiri). The Nano Golf shoe is described as 'designed specifically for the performance and style needs of the next generation golfer.' The other two in this initial release would probably best be described as a blast from the past. The Question Golf shoe (retail: $180) pays homage to NBA Hall of Famer and former Philadelphia 76ers star guard Allen Iverson. While crossing someone over on the golf course is highly unlikely, these shoes bear an undeniable Iverson/basketball sneaker influence. Iverson announced the arrival of the Question Golf shoe on Instagram on Feb. 4. A post shared by Allen Iverson (@theofficialai3) Short says basketball brands, such as the Jordan Brand, are a growing trend in the golf marketplace and that Reebok wanted to capitalize on using some of its most well-known star power. 'The key (to the Question golf shoe) is the look. This kind of preppy toe. That works great. It stands out. Automatically you know what it is. So for us it was a no-brainer,' Short said. 'We're very protective of our retro basketball space. So we worked hand and hand with them, our CEO (Todd Krinsky) was big on pushing this shoe. He's good friends with Iverson. We obviously checked in with (Iverson). He's picking up golf now a days. He wasn't a traditional former athlete/golfer but as you've seen (on social media) he's out there hacking around like the rest of us. It just made sense. I think we can have some fun with this shoe. If you didn't know it was an Iverson shoe, it's still a great golf shoe. That age of golfer right now that was (a fan) when Iverson was popular (during his playing days) is really that golfing age right now. I think it's an easy win for us from a story standpoint but also the performance of the shoe.' The Question Golf shoe isn't the only retro style in the collection. You'll also be able to pump yourself up in the tee box. The most expensive offering among Reebok Golf's new trio of shoes is the OG Pump Golf (retail: $200). Designed to look like a classic saddle golf shoe, Reebok's 'The Pump' feature isn't on the tongue like it was for their classic basketball and cross training shoes of the late '80s and early '90s, but instead it's placed on the side. The location and the decision to not place it on the tongue of the shoe pays homage to Daly's original Reebok Pumps, but it is also backed by performance research according to Short. 'That was the best place for it to get the best performance out of it. The tongue (of the shoe) is obviously the normal spot (for the Pump). We really felt like when you looked at the performance of it … they did a ton of tests (on) where to put it for a golf shoe. They felt that (the side) was a great spot. Also, it makes it a little more visual as well when it's on the side. For us, this year, when we brought it back, we wanted to try to keep it tried and true to what it was. We definitely brought in a few with the tongue, just to see, but we felt like we better keep it correct and make sure that it had matched what we had done before.' Advertisement It's not just those who grew up watching Daly on the course who are into the return of The Pumps, though. Short says Reebok is surprised to see excitement from younger golfers too. 'If you're actually on the course and you go to all these country clubs, it's the younger high school, college aged kids that want to wear (The Pumps),' Short said. 'Which is funny to us because this was not how it was originally planned.' Short says the Nano, Question and OG Pump will make up the 'base' of Reebok Golf's offerings, but a shoe for DeChambeau is also in the works in collaboration with him. 'Definitely, those three will stay for a long time,' Short said. A spokesperson for Reebok told The Athletic that all three models of Reebok Golf shoes will be seen on tour, but DeChambeau's team will primarily wear the Nano Golf. Reebok Golf items go on sale online at Reebok's official website and select retailers on March 25. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission. (All photos: Reebok)
