Up till now, most physical fitness tests have been geared to younger audiences. The senior citizen fitness test is an answer to the need for a simple, easy to use battery of test items that assess the functional fitness of older adults. Actual norms are based between the ages of 60 and 94 for men and women. Older adults require adequate strength, flexibility and endurance to accomplish even ordinary, everyday tasks. Dr. Roberta E. Rikli has done extensive work in physical performance assessment with a particular focus on senior citizen fitness.
C. Jessie Jones is internationally known for her research, program designs, curriculum development and instructor training in the field of science and aging. This is the reason this test is named as Rikli and Jones-senior Citizen Fitness Test. This test was developed as part of life span wellness program at California State University, Fullerton.
