Walk Tests as Indicators of aerobic Capacity
Abstract
Military physical fitness tests (PFTs) use distance runs to assess aerobic fitness. Walk tests are alternatives to this practice. This meta-analysis summarized 39 studies (1,927 participants)-relating walk test-performance to laboratory measures of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). The laboratory measures are the accepted gold standard for assessing aerobic fitness. For adults, the average walk test performance-VO2max correlation was r = .56 for a 6-min walk, r = .74 for a 12-min walk, r = .57 for a 1-km walk, r = .64 for a 1-mile walk, and r = .64 for a 2-km walk. Each average value was highly significant (p < 10 to the minus 6th power). All of the averages were lower than would be obtained with run tests (r > .74), so the review was extended to consider multivariate equations combining walk test performance with age, weight, gender, and exercise heart rate to predict VO2max. These equations have predicted VO2max accurately and cross-validate well. The standard error of estimate (SEE) for VO2max predictions from these equations was only 0.32 to 0.40 ml.kg(-1)1.min(-1) larger than that for equivalent statistic for run tests. Walk tests are valid and are comparable tq run tests as indicators of VO2max when the multivariate approach is Used.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA421217
Entities
People
- Ross R. Vickers
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center