VALIDITY OF THE MAXIMAL AEROBIC CAPACITY ESTIMATED FROM SUBMAXIMAL CYCLING EXERCISE AND FIELD PERFORMANCE TESTS IN THE ELDERLY

Although maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) or oxygen uptake corresponding to lactate threshold (VO2@LT) is considered the single best determinant of one's cardio-respiratory endurance or aerobic capacity, the direct measurement of these attributes requires elaborate equipment, trained personnel, special knowledge, and/or a maximal effort on the part of the subject who is tested. In addition, the measurement is time consuming. The current investigation was designed to examine the validity of aerobic capacity estimated from submaximal cycling exercise and field performance tests in the elderly. The subjects tested were 18 sedentary men and women aged 63 to 75 years (69.7±3.4) . Indirect VO2max tests were selected from those proposed by Astrand and Ryhming, Siconolfi et al., and Margaria et al. (step test), and YMCA. The VO2max values estimated by these methods, with the exception of the Siconolfi method, were found to have large errors when compared to the errors obtained in previous studies for younger subjects. There were no significant correlations between step test scores and VO2max and VO2@LT in the elderly. Correlations of 12-min distance walk with VO2max (r=.711) and VO2@LT (r=.714) were significant. Our findings suggest that 12min distance walk be a better aerobic capacity test than other indirect VO2max tests including Astrand and Ryhming test.