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A researcher from the Public University of Navarre is proposing the use of three tools for a much simple, cost-effective, and accurate method to determine how physical fit a person is. The method proposed is already used by professional sportspeople and the researcher hopes to extend the use to the rest of the population.

Ibai Garcia-Tabar, writing in his thesis paper, details the development of three new tools to assess aerobic fitness. The first tool is a heart monitor that measures the aerobic fitness of a person through the rate associated with 90 percent maximum heart rate. According to Garcia-Tabar, this tool is the most practical as aerobic fitness can be monitored without the need of a specialist or a healthcare professional.

The second tool is also a heart monitor that measures the heart rate variability. With the second tool, a fitness coach or trainer is necessary during monitoring as a special mathematical process is involved in assessing aerobic fitness and needs more exhaustive control.

The last tool in Ibai Garcia-Tabar's proposal is to measure aerobic fitness by checking for the blood lactate threshold. A lactate analyzer is used to check the lactate concentration in the blood sample taken from the individual. A lactate analyzer is the same as the device used by diabetics to measure the glucose concentration in the blood.

According to Ibai Garcia-Tabar, his proposal could help in accurately monitoring aerobic fitness in an individual. It would also help in adjusting the intensities of the training regimen and continued adjustment that will help evolve the fitness level of the individual.

Currently, there are two popular methods used to measure aerobic fitness. The methods are either the use of electronic, automated gas analyzers and the other is the use of the lactate analyzer. Although the use of the electronic automated gas analyzers is more widespread, it is prone to systematic errors when it involves the measurement of the maximum consumption of oxygen.

This is why Garcia-Tabar proposes the use of lactate analyzers compared to the electronic automated analyzers. The lactate analyzers can get more accurate measurements of aerobic fitness and more accessible to the rest of the population. In addition, the use of lactate analyzers in measuring aerobic fitness in the elderly or sickly patients can prevent unnecessary risks as the lactate analyzer does not need the user to perform a physical activity so to assess fitness.