What does the 12 Minute Cooper Run test evaluate?

The 12 Minute Cooper Run test evaluates cardiovascular fitness (CV fitness), which is a measure of the efficiency of the heart, lungs, and muscles during prolonged physical activity. This test involves running continuously for 12 minutes, with the primary aim being to cover as much distance as possible within that time frame. The distance covered is indicative of an individual's aerobic capacity and endurance.

Cardiovascular fitness is crucial for overall health and performance in many sports and physical activities, as it reflects how well the body can deliver oxygen to muscle tissues during sustained exercise. By assessing the performance in the 12-minute run, one can gain insights into the individual's aerobic fitness levels and their ability to maintain effort over time.

In contrast, the other choices focus on different aspects of physical fitness: agility refers to the ability to change direction quickly, speed measures how fast one can move over a distance, and strength relates to the ability to exert force against resistance. These components of fitness are important, but they are not the primary focus of the 12 Minute Cooper Run test, which is specifically geared towards assessing cardiovascular endurance.