Aerobic capacity estimated from heart rate under submaximal load: an indicator of complaints, personality, personal activity and social status

Abstract

In 34 young females (mean: 21 years, range 18-30), working with VDTs, maximum aerobic capacity (MAC) was estimated by use of a cycle ergometer and Astrand's nomogram. MAC correlated with musculoskeletal complaints (-.29, p less than .05), eye complaints (-.36, p less than .05), personal activity (.38, p less than .05), personality dimensions: "Imperturbability" (.41, p less than .01), "Wellbeing" (.31, p less than .05), "Traditionalism" (-.45, p less than .01) and "Psychophysic constitution" (all evaluated by questionnaires), a body weight index (-.51, p less than .01) and systolic blood pressure after performance (-.51, p less than .01). MAC also distinguished significantly between a priori classified subgroups with seldom or frequent musculoskeletal complaints, the latter scoring higher (31 vs. 25 ml O2/kg X min), and subgroups with high or low EMG values of the trapezius muscle, measured at the workplace (25 vs. 33 ml O2/kg X min). A similarly ascertained MAC separated a comparable group of 55 young female university students (mean: 21 years, range 19 to 27) from the VDT users (38 vs. 27 ml O2/kg X min). It is concluded that the indirect estimation of MAC using Astrands nomogram is sensitive enough for certain practical uses and that MAC shows significantly plausible relations to a set of personality factors, social status, complaints and physiological variables to serve as a reliable indicator for personal fitness.