International standards for the 3-Minute Burpee Test: high-intensity motor performance

The aim of this study was to develop international standards for evaluating strength endurance with the use of the 3-Minute Burpee Test. The results of 3862 women (Poland – 2502, Great Britain – 500, Hungary – 412, Serbia – 448) and 5971 men (Poland – 4517, Great Britain – 500, Hungary – 451, Serbia – 503) aged 18-25 (mean age of 20.36 ± 0.94 and 20.05 ± 1.25 y, respectively) were collated between 2004 and 2018. The students’ strength endurance was evaluated in the 3-Minute Burpee Test. The results were expressed on a uniform scale with the 3-sigma rule which was used to develop the T-score scale for the 3-Minute Burpee Test. Men completed 56.69 cycles/3 min and women – 48.84/3 min on average. The best male participant completed 82 burpees, and the best female participant – 73 burpees. The majority of male and female participants (66.71% and 68.18%, respectively) were characterized by average strength endurance in the 3-Minute Burpee Test (range of scores: 47-66 and 37-60 cycles/3 min, respectively). Very good strength endurance (76-85 and 72-83 cycles/3 min, respectively) was noted in the smallest percentage of male and female participants (0.52% and 0.26%, respectively). Similar studies should be carried out in other countries and in different age groups to develop objective international classification standards for variously-aged individuals.