Maximal Aerobic Velocity Measured by the 5-min Running Field Test on Two Different Fitness Level Groups

Abstract

The aim of the study was to verify the validity and the accuracy of the 5-min running field test (5 RFT) relatively to the classical treadmill test. Two groups of subjects were tested, the first one being made of sub-elite runners (G1, n = 18) and the second one of athletes of other individual or collective disciplines (G2, n = 23). To check the field technique, maximal aerobic velocity (v amax) and an approached V̇O 2max calculated from v amax during the 5 RFT were compared with the corresponding values directly determined during a treadmill test. v amax obtained on treadmill (v amax(t)) or during a 5 RFT (v amax(5)) were significantly higher in G1 than in G2 (+ 3.7 km.h -1 and + 3.6 km.h -1 among the test). In each group, the difference between v amax(t) and v amax(5) was not significant (19.4 ± 1.0 vs 19.5 ± 0.9 km.h -1 in G1; 15.7 ± 2.2 vs 15.9 ± 1.2 km.h -1 in G2). A significant correlation was found between v amax(t) and v amax(5) (slope = 0.92; r = 0.86 in G1; slope = 0.71; r = 0.84 in G2). In each group, the approached V̇O 2max(5) was significantly higher than V̇O 2max(t) (respectively 67.8 ± 2.9 vs 63.7 ± 3.5 in G1; 54.8 ± 3.9 vs 52.0 ± 3.2 ml.min -1.kg -1 in G2. Weak but significant correlations were found between V̇O 2(t) and v amax(5) (r = 0.69 and r = 0.56 respectively in G1 and G2). In conclusion, the 5 RFT allows to measure v amax accurately whatever the physical fitness of the subjects but more closely in runners than in non-runners. The low correlation between V̇O 2max(t) and v amax(5) for both groups indicates that a v amax running field test is specific and cannot evaluate V̇O 2max with reasonable accuracy whatever the group, runners or non-runners.