A Simple Test for the Assessment of Aerobic Fitness

SummaryThe relationship between physical fitness, anthropometric measures, and the scores in three submaximal step tests have been evaluated in a group of 30 male subjects. Physical fitness was assessed as VO2max measured directly during uphill treadmill running. Each submaximal exercise test was of six minutes duration and the heart rate recorded during the last minute (fH6) constituted the test score. Significant negative correlation coefficients were found between VO2max and each test score while lean body mass, gross body weight and body surface area were allpositively correlated with VO2max (1/min). The score in the least severe step test was included with anthropometric measures in multiple linear regression analysis for the prediction of VO2max and a number of prediction equations were derived. It was found that when lean body mass is calculated from skinfold measurements and weight, VO2max can be calculated from the equation:VO2max(1/min) = 1.470 + 0.0614 × Lean Body mass −0.0131 × fH6This equation accounts for 73% of the total variation of VO2max. If lean body mass cannot be calculated, a combination of gross body weight and age plus fH6 gives the equation:VO2max = 3.614 + 0.0349 × Weight – 0.0177 × fH6−0.0161 × Ageaccounting for 66% of the variance. The test has the following advantages over those currently employed:It is simple to administer requiring 6 minutes of stepping onto a 32 cm platform—the height of a gymnasium bench—20 times per minute.Although ideally an assessment oflean body mass is required, gross body weight plus age is a good second best.It is submaximal, minimising the stress on the individual (mean heart rate achieved 121 beats per minute).Its accuracy in terms of its ability to predict maximal aerobic power is better than either the Ohio or Harvard University tests.It is suggested that this test could be used where maximal testing is contraindicated or where currently used tests are insufficiently accurate.