In order to compare the Maximal Aerobic Speed (MAS) evaluated with different methods, eleven male physical education students (22.2 ±3.0 years) were submitted to a maximal treadmill protocol and to the Université de Montreal Track Test (UMTT). Four methods were used to calculate MAS. After treadmill measurement of VO2max, MAS was calculated (MAS_calc) by the following formula: MAS_calc = (VO2max - 0.083)/C, where VO2max is the maximal oxygen uptake (ml · kg-1 · s-1) and C the energy cost of running (ml kg-1 · m-1). The extrapolated MAS (MAS_ex) was obtained from the measured VO2max and by extrapolation of the VO2 versus speed relationship. The MAS for treadmill measurement (MAS_tr) and for UMTT (MAS-UMTT) were the velocities at the last completed stages. The average MAS_calc (4.71 ± 0.48 m · s-1), MAS_ex (4.62 ± 0.48 m · s-1), MAS_tr (4.75 ± 0.57 m · s-1) and MAS-UMTT (4.64 ± 0.35 m · s-1) were not significantly different and were significantly correlated, between 0.85 (MAS_ex vs MAS-UMTT) and 0.99 (MAS_calc vs MAS_tr), with p < 0.001 in both cases. MAS measurements were significantly correlated to measured VO2max but independent of C.
Key words
The Université de Montreal track test - maximal aerobic speed - field testing - treadmill testing - comparison
