Estimation of maximum oxygen uptake by evaluating cooper 12-min run test in female students of West Bengal, India

Abstract

The main purpose of the study is to assess and compare the fitness in terms of maximum aerobic capacity ( VO 2 max ) by cooper 12 min run among the urban female students and rural female students of West Bengal. Thirty young female students from each of the urban as well as rural sectors (age range, 16 – 21 years) of West Bengal were recruited by simple random sampling. Indirect estimation of VO 2 max was done with help of 12 min running (Cooper test) of each group of subjects. This study also try to find whether there is any correlation and coefficient between VO 2 max and age, weight, stature of the female students of urban sector and rural sector. The rural female young students do have a statistical significantly higher value of predicted maximum aerobic capacity (VO 2 max ) than the urban female young students with a probability of P <0.001. BMI is mainly known as the best predictor of VO 2 max. BMI of the both group of subjects has positive correlation [Urban (r = 0.10); rural (r = 0.39)] with predicted VO 2 max. This study conclude that the rural female students has a higher cardio respiratory fitness due to significantly high VO 2 max value in 12 min run Cooper test. The regression coefficient between VO 2 max and 12 min run distance in the present study was 1.00 incase of both urban and rural female students.