Ruffier Index Calculator
Written by Thierno Sadou Diallo, formula verified per our methodology • Last checked on 9/9/2026
The Ruffier index is calculated with (resting pulse + pulse after effort + pulse at 1 minute − 200) ÷ 10. An index of 6 corresponds to average cardiovascular adaptation on the standard classification grid.
Explanation
The Ruffier index is a classic cardiovascular fitness test, widely taught in physical training and physical education in France, which assesses the heart's ability to adapt to a standardized effort and then recover. The protocol relies on three pulse measurements: resting pulse before the effort (P0), pulse immediately after 30 squats performed in 45 seconds (P1), and pulse exactly 1 minute after that effort ends (P2). These three values feed into the formula IR = (P0 + P1 + P2 − 200) ÷ 10, whose result is classified on a standard grid: an index below 0 indicates excellent adaptation (rare, typically seen in highly trained athletes), between 0 and 5 good adaptation, between 5 and 10 average adaptation, between 10 and 15 relatively insufficient adaptation, and beyond 15 adaptation considered insufficient. This test differs from a related tool published on this site: our Ruffier-Dickson index calculator uses these same three pulse measurements in a different formula, weighting the recovery phase more heavily rather than simply summing all three values, and comes with its own separate classification grid. As with any field test, the Ruffier index remains an indicative estimate of cardiovascular fitness, not a medical diagnosis: an unusual result or a symptom felt during the test warrants medical advice rather than self-interpretation.
Example: P0=60, P1=120, P2=80
Inputs
Resting pulse: 60 bpm. Pulse after effort: 120 bpm. Pulse at 1 minute: 80 bpm.
Calculation
Ruffier index = (60 + 120 + 80 − 200) ÷ 10 = 60 ÷ 10 = 6.
Result
An index of 6 corresponds to average cardiovascular adaptation.
Frequently asked questions
How should the 30 squats of the test be performed correctly?
The 30 squats must be performed at a steady pace over exactly 45 seconds (legs bending then straightening, without jumping), after resting pulse has been measured calmly. Pulse must then be measured immediately when the effort stops (P1), then again very precisely 1 minute later (P2), with rigorous timing being essential for the result's reliability.
What does a negative Ruffier index mean?
A negative index (below 0) falls into the "excellent" category on the classification grid, a result that's fairly rare in practice and generally seen in people with a lot of endurance training, whose heart returns very quickly to a near-resting rate after the test's standardized effort.
Can this test replace medical advice if I have concerns about my cardiovascular health?
No, the Ruffier index remains an indicative field test, not a medical exam. Any symptom felt during the test (chest pain, unusual shortness of breath, dizziness) or a result far removed from what's expected for your activity level should be reported to a healthcare professional rather than interpreted alone from this calculator.