Development of a Field Test for Evaluating Aerobic Fitness

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the reproducibility and utility of a standardised and externally paced field test (15-m Incremental Shuttle Walk and Run Test [15 mISWRT]) to assess aerobic fitness in middle-aged adults. 14 middle-aged participants performed the 15-m ISWRT 3 times within one week (Test 1, Test 2, Test 3). Reproducibility of the 15-m ISWRT was tested by comparing 15-m ISWRT performance (distance completed), HR_max, and V˙O_2max for each test. The utility of the 15-m ISWRT for evaluating V˙O_2max over a wide range in middle-aged adults was tested by comparing the range of V˙O_2max obtained from the portable expired gas analyzer with the V˙O_2max reference values and ranges for health promotion published by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. A multiple comparison of distance completed in the 15-m ISWRT Test 1, Test 2, and Test 3 found no significant difference between Test 2 and Test 3. The ICC was 0.99 for Test 2 vs. Test 3. V˙O_2max measured from the 15-m ISWRT in Test 3 had a minimum value of 22.8 ml/kg/min and a maximum value of 38.7 ml/kg/min. In conclusion, the 15-m ISWRT is reliable and useful for evaluating V˙O_2max in middle-aged adults.

Key words

maximal oxygen uptake - portable expired gas ­analyzer - reproducibility - utility - shuttle walking test - middle-aged adults

• References

• 1 American College of Sports Medicine . Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. 5th ed. Philadelphia: Williams and Wilkins; 1995
• 2 Blair SN, Kohl H, Paffebarger RS, Clark DG, Cooper KH, Gibbons LW. Physical fitness and all-cause mortality: A prospective study of healthy men and women. JAMA 1989; 262: 2395-2401
• 3 Blair SN, Goodyear NN, Gibbons LW. Physical fitness and incidence of hypertension in healthy normotensive men and women. JAMA 1984; 252: 487-490
• 4 Boreham CA, Paliczka VJ, Nichols AK. A comparison of the PWC170 and 20-MST tests of aerobic fitness in adolescent schoolchildren. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 1990; 30: 19-23
• 5 Farrell PA, Wilmore JH, Coyle EM, Billing JE, Costill DL. Plasma lactate accumulation and distance running performance. Med Sci Sports 1979; 11: 338-344
• 6 Farrel SW, Cheng YJ, Blair SN. Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome across cardiorespiratory fitness level in women. Obes Res 2004; 12: 824-830
• 7 Finly CE, LaMonte MJ, Waslin CI, Barlow CE, Blair SN, Nichaman MZ. Cardiorespiratory fitness, macronutrient intake, and the metabolic syndrome: the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study. J Am Diet Assoc 2006; 106: 673-679
• 8 Ford ES. Risks for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes associated with the metabolic syndrome: a summary of the evidence. Diabetes Care 2005; 28: 1769-1778
• 9 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. Update – Ethical standards in sport and exercise science research. Int J Sports Med 2011; 32: 819-821
• 10 Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology . A new test of physical strength for significant application. Tokyo: Gyousei; 2000: 191-202 (in Japanese)
• 11 Japan’s Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare Exercise and physical activity reference for health promotion 2006. Available at: http://www.nih.go.jp/eiken/programs/pdf/epar2006.pdf Accessed 13 June 2011
• 12 LaCroix AZ, Guralnik JM, Berkman LF, Wallace RB, Satterfield S. Maintaining mobility in late life: Smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and body mass index. Am J Epidemiol 1993; 137: 858-869
• 13 Leger LA, Lambert J. A maximal multistage 20m Shuttle Run Test to predict VO_2max . Eur J Appl Physiol 1982; 49: 1-12
• 14 McArdle WD, Katch FI, Katch VL. Training for anaerobic and aerobic power. In: Exercise Physiology, Energy, Nutrition, and Human Performance. Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger; 1981: 266-285
• 15 McNnaughton L, Hall P, Cooley D. Validation of several methods of estimating maximal oxygen uptake in young men. Percept Mot Skills 1988; 87: 575-584
• 16 Mikawa K, Kitagawa C, Tanaka T, Nakanose Y, Tadokoro K, Ishino T, Tanaka K, Sumimoto K, Senjyu H. A new exercise testing: Trial of 15-metre Shuttle Walking/Running Test for assessment of exercise capacity. Rigakuryohokagaku 2005; 20: 7-12
• 17 Ramsbottom R, Brewer J, Williams C. A progressive shuttle run test to estimate maximal oxygen uptake. Br J Sports Med 1988; 22: 141-144
• 18 Revill SM, Morgan MD, Singh SJ, Williams J, Hardman AE. The endurance shuttle walk: a new field test for the assessment of endurance capacity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Thorax 1999; 54: 213-222
• 19 Singh SJ, Morgan MD, Hardman AE. Comparison of oxygen uptake during a conventional treadmill test and the shuttle walking test in chronic airflow limitation. Eur Respir J 1994; 7: 2016-2020
• 20 Singh SJ, Morgan MD, Scott S, Walters D, Hardman AE. Development of a shuttle walking test of disability in patients with chronic airways obstruction. Thorax 1992; 47: 1019-1024
• 21 Slatter ML. Physical fitness and cardiovascular disease mortality: The U.S. Railroad Study. Am J Epidemiol 1988; 127: 571-580
• 22 Takeuchi H, Saitoh S, Takagi S, Ohnishi H, Ohhata J, Isobe T, Shimamoto K. Metabolic syndrome and cardiac disease in Japanese men: applicability of the concept of metabolic syndrome defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III to Japanese men – the Tanno and Sobetsu Study. Hypertens Res 2005; 28: 203-208
• 23 Tallot LA, Morrell CH, Meter EJ, Fleg JL. Comparison of cardiorespiratory fitness versus leisure time physical activity as predictors of coronary events in men aged<or=65 years and>65 years. Am J Cardiol 2002; 89: 1187-1192
• 24 Taylor HL, Buskirk E, Henschel A. Maximal oxygen intake as an objective measure of cardiorespiratory performance. J Appl Physiol 1955; 8: 73-80
• 25 Twisk JWR, Kemper HCG, van Mechelen W. Tracking of activity and the relationship with cardiovascular disease risk factors. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2000; 32: 1455-1461