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Fitness Assessment
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Why is there a new and improved fitness assessment (FA)?
What’s different in the new fitness assessment?
The new FA is more individualised than ever. It incorporates your height, weight and physical activity level, which gives you an accurate and sensitive fitness score. All tests have been included based on their known relation to your health. This is the main reason we have included a measure of strength, and why we have removed a few tests which are not good measures of your fitness.
The improved FA test consists of the following:
- Body composition - body fat % estimation
- Muscle strength - handgrip and 1-minute push-up
- Fitness tests - If you are pregnant or have an injury, you can do the 6-minute walking test or the arm ergometer test. Your health professional will choose the best-suited test for you. The preferred test is the step.
You can now also do an online fitness assessment.
The online fitness assessment test consists of the following:
- Body composition – Waist-to-height ratio
- Muscle strength – 1-minute push-up
- Cardiovascular fitness – 3-minute burpee test (The standard test is a 3-minute burpee test, but the health professional will choose an equivalent test best suited for you if you are injured or over 60 years of age.)
*Your best result will be used to calculate your fitness score.
Did you remove the peak flow measurement?
Yes, peak flow is not part of the enhanced fitness assessment protocol.
Why is flexibility not part of the enhanced fitness assessment?
We have only included tests which research has associated with morbidity or mortality. There is insufficient evidence to support the association between decreased flexibility and health outcomes. So, we have simplified the assessment and removed flexibility to create a score which better represents your health and fitness. Your health professional will advise if you need to improve your flexibility.
Why has the strength test been included?
Recent research has indicated that muscle strength is one of the most important measures when assessing cardiometabolic health. The difficulty in measuring musculoskeletal strength, as part of a fitness assessment, is that many of the traditional measures are technique-dependent, and penalise individuals on the basis of body size or length and are therefore less reliable and more difficult to interpret. For this reason, handgrip strength is the preferred measure used in research studies. We also know that handgrip strength correlates very well with overall body strength.
Why must I do a strength test and not crunches or push-ups, like Vitality?
A handgrip test more accurately estimates musculoskeletal strength than crunches or push-ups. We have included a 1-minute push-up test, as an alternative for our members, and the best of the two tests (handgrip and 1-minute push-up endurance test) will be used for the fitness assessment level.
Will Multiply change the fitness assessment again?
We want to be on top of the latest science when it comes to our members’ health and fitness. So, if new research proves that there are more accurate ways to determine fitness and strength, we will definitely upgrade the fitness assessment.
How is body fat percentage calculated?
Multiply body fat % gets calculated from your:
• Age
• Gender
• Height
• Weight
• Waist circumference.
Will Multiply accept other methods to test body fat percentage?
Yes, the 4 Site Durnin and Womersley caliper test done at one of our accredited health professionals will be accepted. The best of the 2 results will be used. There is a cost of R100.00 for the caliper test.
How much does the enhanced fitness assessment cost?
The in-person fitness assessment costs R440 and the online fitness assessment costs R230.
Can I claim the fitness assessment fee from my Momentum HealthSaver?
Yes, you can forward your invoice (with specifies that payment has been received) and proof of payment to [email protected], and the claim will be processed. Momentum Medical Scheme will then refund the member from the HealthSaver, provided there are sufficient savings in the account.
Can I use my Multiply Money card to pay for the fitness assessment, taken from my Momentum HealthSaver?
How long does the test take to complete?
Approximately 30 minutes.
How many times per year can I do the test?
You can go as many times as you want, but you will have to pay for every fitness assessment you complete.
How will the points work?
You will earn Multiply points for the level of fitness you achieve. If you improve your fitness assessment level, you will receive the difference of points for the improvement. We will not take away points if your fitness assessment level drops.
In-person fitness assessment
Online fitness assessment
I have a fitness assessment level and would like to redo the handgrip test only. Can I do single test within the fitness assessment?
No, the health professional needs to resubmit all the tests within the fitness assessment. So if you want to redo an element of the test, you will have to complete the entire fitness assessment again.
For how long is the fitness assessment valid?
The in-person fitness assessment will be valid for 12 months and the online fitness assessment will be valid for 6 months.
How can I improve my fitness assessment level?
Please consult with your health professional on how to improve your fitness assessment level. As experts in the field, they will best assist you with what to focus on from different aspects of the fitness assessment to improve their level.
Who certified the test? Who is your partner in the fitness assessment protocol?
We have partnered with the Sport Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA).
Do you accept the Vitality fitness assessment results?
No, we do not accept the Vitality fitness assessment results, as it does not follow the same protocols (tests) that are done and the outcome of the fitness assessment level is therefore not the same. If you belong to both Vitality and Multiply, you will need to do both tests to quality for the points for both rewards programs.
My fitness assessment level dropped from the previous test. I don’t trust the enhanced fitness assessment.
Can the enhanced fitness assessment be used to unlock more Active Dayz?
How can I find and make a booking for a fitness assessment at a health professional?
Follow these steps:
1. Go to our website: www.multiply.co.za
2. Go to the health tab
3. Scroll down to fitness assessment
4. Find a health professional
You can search a registered health professional by region and town. From there, you can contact the health professional directly (via cell or email) or, if the health professional is linked to RecoMed, you can click to make the booking on their calendar.
How will I receive my fitness assessment report?
Multiply will email your fitness assessment report to you after the assessment is submitted by the health professional. The health professional will be able to view your report for discussion purposes. You can download your report from the multiply.co.za website as well.
I have an injury. Can I do the fitness assessment?
How long before I can redo my fitness assessment?
After the submission of a fitness assessment, you will need to wait four (4) weeks before you can do another fitness assessment, as it takes time to improve.
How do I pay for the fitness assessment?
Please check with the health professional when you make the booking, as they have various accepted payment methods.
The health professional also took my blood pressure during the fitness assessment. Can I use this for my Healthy Heart Score?
No, any biometric measurements done in the fitness assessment will stay within the fitness assessment calculation.
Can I do the fitness assessment and health assessment together?
Can I do single health assessment measurements at the health professional?
To get your Healthy Heart Score, you will need to submit a full set of health readings (i.e. blood pressure, total cholesterol, glucose, height, weight, waist circumference and smoker status). You can try to improve on a single health reading a month after the initial health assessment. The updated measurement will be sent to Multiply automatically and could affect the Healthy Heart Score.
Why Sport Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA)?
Since 1994 SSISA, in collaboration with University of Cape Town (UCT) Division of Exercise Science and Sports medicine, has been the leading research institution in sports performance, sports injury prevention, and promoting healthy living. They have the latest, leading academic research in health, fitness and sport medicine in South Africa. We are the only wellness and rewards partner associated with SSISA. Through this partnership, Multiply brings you the best solution.
Need help?
For all queries, contact our support team. We’re happy to help. Our business hours are 07:00 to 19:00 weekdays, excluding public holidays.
International clients please call us on +27 12 675 3026