The Chester Step Test (CST) is a progressive, submaximal step assessment developed by Professor Kevin Sykes. It estimates aerobic capacity from heart-rate responses to increasing stepping workloads. It does not directly measure oxygen uptake.
Protocol at a glance
| Stage | Time | Stepping rate | Elapsed time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 min | 15 steps/min | 2 min |
| 2 | 2 min | 20 steps/min | 4 min |
| 3 | 2 min | 25 steps/min | 6 min |
| 4 | 2 min | 30 steps/min | 8 min |
| 5 | 2 min | 35 steps/min | 10 min |
Follow the audio’s complete stepping pattern rather than trying to infer individual footfall timing from the table. The pace changes every two minutes; the participant is not expected to complete every stage. Choose and record the step height supported by the version of the protocol and calculation used. Current Chester equipment/software supports 15, 20, 25 and 30 cm options; workload changes with height.
Administering the test
- Use an appropriate pre-exercise screening and supervision process for the setting. Check that the step is stable, the height is known, the heart-rate monitor works, and the correct Chester pacing audio and Borg 6–20 RPE scale are ready.
- Explain and practise the stepping movement. Start at the audio’s 15 steps per minute and follow the audio through successive two-minute stages.
- Record heart rate and RPE at the points specified by the protocol. Continue only while the participant meets its criteria. The classic published validation used 80% of age-predicted maximum heart rate as a submaximal stopping point; participant request, inability to maintain cadence, concerning signs or other setting-specific termination criteria also require attention.
- Record height, audio/software version, each completed stage, heart rate, RPE and stopping reason. Use the matching Chester calculation method for an estimated aerobic capacity and keep the raw record for later comparison.
The age-predicted heart-rate limit is a protocol convention, not an individual diagnosis or guarantee of safety. Screening and exercise termination remain professional responsibilities. Compare repeat assessments only when height, pacing, recording and calculation method are consistent.
What validation shows
In Sykes and Roberts’ 2004 study, 68 participants completed a maximal treadmill test and two Chester assessments on separate days, using a 30 cm step. Estimated versus directly measured oxygen uptake correlated at r = 0.92, with a standard error of estimate of 3.9 mL/kg/min in that group. Correlation does not make an individual estimate interchangeable with a laboratory result, and the figures should not be assumed to apply unchanged to every step height, clinical group or newer software version.
See the Chester Step Test overview, use the free Chester Step Test Calculator for an individual protocol-based estimate, or view the Chester Step Test kit and CST2 software for professional testing. A required occupational threshold belongs to the relevant organisation’s standard, not a universal CST pass score.
Reference
Sykes K, Roberts A. The Chester step test—a simple yet effective tool for the prediction of aerobic capacity. Physiotherapy. 2004;90:183–188. doi:10.1016/j.physio.2004.03.008. Official Chester Step software and protocol information.
