Estimated power output for a distance run and maximal oxygen uptake in young adults
Gen‐Min Lin, Kun‐Zhe Tsai, Xuemei Sui, Carl J. Lavie
Abstract
Background: Both cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and run field tests are recommended by the American Heart Association for assessing the maximal oxygen uptake (VO 2 max) of youth. Power output was highly correlated with VO 2 max in CPET. However, it is unclear regarding the correlations of time and estimated power output (EPO) for a run field test with VO 2 max obtained from CPET in young adults. Methods: This study included 45 participants, aged 20–40 years, from a sample of 1,120 military personnel who completed a 3,000-m run field test in Taiwan in 2020. The participants subsequently received CPET using the Bruce protocol to assess VO 2 max in the same year. According to the physics rule, EPO (watts) for the run field test was defined as the product of half body mass (kg) and [distance (3000-m)/time (s) for a run field test]. Pearson product–moment correlation analyses were performed. Results: The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) of time against EPO for the run field test was estimated to be 0.708 ( p <0.001). The correlation coefficient between the time for the run field test and VO 2 max (L/min) in CPET was estimated to be 0.462 ( p = 0.001). In contrast, the correlation coefficient between time for the run field test and VO 2 max scaled to body mass in CPET was estimated to be 0.729 ( p <0.001). The correlation coefficient of EPO for the run field test against VO 2 max in CPET was estimated to be 0.813 ( p <0.001). Conclusion: In young adults, although the time for a run field test was a reliable estimate of VO 2 max scaled to body mass, EPO proportional to the mean square velocity was found as a superior estimate of VO 2 max.