Invalid Cycle Ergometry Assessment Outcomes at Five Air Force Bases.
Abstract
'Invalid' outcomes of the US Air Force's (AF) cycle ergometry assessment were analyzed from data collected at five AF bases. An AF member can receive one of three results from the assessment: Pass, Fail, or Invalid. Analysis revealed that 1548 of 9437 tests resulted in an Invalid outcome (16.4%; 74.0% passed, 9.6% failed). Excessive heart rate (HR; >85% of predicted HR maximum) accounted for most (39.7%) of the Invalid outcomes. It was assumed that the high HR responses were due to too high of a workload (WL). The current software logic prompts a 0.5 or 1.0 kilopond (Kp) increase (or no increase) in resistance, depending on HR response to the WL progression phase of the assessment (minutes 3, 4 and 5). We hypothesized that by lowering the HR range required for an increase in the WL, the HR may stay below 85% of predicted maximum, and allow a score to be assessed. Even though Invalid results due to excessive HR comprise the greatest percentage of Invalid assessments, it was predicted that a 10-beats per minute adjustment in minutes 3 and 4 would potentially reduce the Invalid rate at most by 3.6%, to 12.8% of all assessments.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA325355
Entities
People
- Dean Richardson
- Gerald De Wolfe
- Pete Flatten
- Stefan Constable
- Susan Chao
Organizations
- Armstrong Laboratory