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Sustained Athlete Fitness Exam (SAFE)

Sustained Athlete Fitness Exam (SAFE)

The Only Fitness Evaluation Designed Specifically for Senior Athletes

Designed for older athletes, the Sustained Athlete Fitness Exam (SAFE) helps you train smarter, move better and reach peak performance. You’ll unlock new athletic opportunities and tap into the latest research-backed training methods built for your body.

Why the SAFE is Different

The SAFE is built for athletes. It is NOT your standard fitness exam for older adults. It is NOT about falls. Developed by a physical therapist testing National Senior Games athletes, the SAFE raises the bar, giving you a challenging fitness screen to boost your athletic competitive edge.

  • Total-Body Testing: Evaluate your cardiovascular, muscular, flexibility and balance capacity using standards designed specifically for senior athletes.
  • Powered by Athlete Data: Benchmark your results with over a decade of performance metrics collected from thousands of National Senior Games competitors.
  • Personalized & Proven: Compare your performance to athletes your age and sex to optimize your training. 100% of participants found the SAFE valuable, and 95% discovered new insights about their physical capacity.

Personalized Results and Targeted Feedback

At the end of your SAFE assessment, a physical therapy professional will review your individual results. They’ll explain your subscores for each area, alongside your overall SAFE score — benchmarked against research for your sex and 5-year age bracket. You'll receive educational resources to help you target key areas for optimal health and athletic performance. Wherever you are on your fitness journey, the SAFE team is here to support you and leave you motivated to keep pushing forward.

SAFE Tests and Report Cards: What They Measure

The SAFE measures performance across four key pillars of health and fitness:

Cardiovascular fitness: measures cardiovascular health factors and predicts aerobic potential.

Muscular power and strength: evaluates sports-related power potential and lean muscle preservation.

Joint flexibility and mobility: checks tissue pliability and joint range of motion.

Balance and agility: assesses balance and stability.

Try the SAFE at the Senior Games

The SAFE is offered FREE to registered athletes at the National Senior Games and select State Senior Games.

Train Like an Athlete

Apply the science of SAFE to your daily routine.

Changing How We View Aging

The SAFE disrupts an outdated approach to aging, replacing fear with motivation to sustain sport no matter your age.

Read: Why Standard Medicine Fails Senior Athletes: The Story Behind SAFE

What the SAFE Tells Us About Active Aging

SAFE data tells a compelling story about how physical activity impacts fitness in older adults. Based on data from 4,600 Senior Games athletes, a SAFE study led by Dr. Jordre found that these athletes demonstrate fitness levels comparable to average individuals 10 to 20+ years younger:

  • Sit-to-Stand Speed, Gait & Walking Speed, and Grip Strength: Senior Games athletes perform as if they were two decades younger.
  • Single-Leg Balance (Eyes Closed): They balance as if they were one decade younger.

In other words: The SAFE reminds us that age is just a number and fitness can unleash function for years to come.

Testimonials: A Win-Win for Athletes & Clinicians

The SAFE is a game-changer for both participants and the volunteer clinicians providing the exam.

An athlete balances on one leg with eyes closed as part of the Sustained Athlete Fitness Exam. A physical therapist stands next to him.

100% of athletes report the information given to them during the SAFE was valuable to them as an athlete, and 95% report they learned something new about their fitness.

  • “Not only as an athlete, but also as a human being, I believe this SAFE program is helping me a lot to know where I am lagging and what I can work on.” — SAFE Participant
  • "I have encountered many in the medical profession who question why I continue to compete at 64. They just don't get it. I am glad there are professionals who understand our desire and need to continue competing at a high level." — SAFE Participant


99% of SAFE volunteer clinicians agree that interacting with senior athletes during the SAFE improved their perception of aging.

  • “This was an enlightening experience. I learned a lot about working with healthy older adults and the things that I can do to help as a physical therapist.” — SAFE volunteer clinician

SAFE in the Media

SAFE Research Publications

SAFE Sport-Specific Research

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