CATEGORIZING AEROBIC CAPACITY USING THE 1-MILE TRACK JOG TEST.

Abstract

1867 The purpose of this study was to determine how well the 1-mile track jog test categorized aerobic capacity (VO2max) in 89 college aged white males (n=50) and females (n=39). VO2max was measured during a graded exercise test to volitional fatigue on a motor driven treadmill. Estimates of VO2max were obtained from a “tester” administered (TTJ) and“self” administered (STJ) track jog. A repeated measures ANOVA indicated that the TTJ estimates of VO2max in males (49.7±3.9) and females (41.5±4.1) were not significantly different from their measured VO2max (48.1±6.7, 38.8±5.0) values. The STJ estimates of VO2max in males (52.9±6.0) and females(43.7±4.7) significantly (p<.05) over estimated the measured VO2max due to erroneous palpation of exercise heart rate (p<.05) following the track jog test. Measured and estimated VO2max values were classified into the American Heart Association's fitness categories. Agreement between the three test's ability to categorize aerobic capacity into one of the five fitness categories was evaluated using the kappa statistic. The TTJ and STJ estimates of VO2max categorized 48(54%) and 45(50%) of the subjects respectively in the same fitness category as did the measured VO2max. The Kappa statistic was not significant (p<.05) for either the TTJ or STJ in males or females indicating that the existing agreement was by chance alone. Further evaluation of the data indicated that 19 subjects were categorized incorrectly by the TTJ even though their estimated VO2max was within ± 5 ml·kg-1·min-1 of their measured VO2max. We conclude that the 1-mile track jog test accurately estimates VO2max when it is administered correctly but fails to categorize subject's fitness levels appropriately.