Validation of a 20-Minute Steady-State Jog as an Estimate of Peak Oxygen Uptake in Adolescents

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Abstract
Distance run tests are often used to estimate peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2) in children. This study examined the concurrent validity of a 20-min steady-state jog (20MSSJ). The sample consisted of 43 boys and 32 girls who performed a 20MSSJ and completed a maximal treadmill test 1 week later. Peak VO2 was measured by indirect calorimetry. Subject characteristics were as follows: boys, mean age = 15.1 ∓ 1.0 years, mean peak VO2 = 46.4 ∓ 7.7 ml·kg−1·min−1, mean 20MSSJ = 2.3 ∓ 0.5 miles; girls, mean age = 15.3 ∓ 1.1 years, mean peak VO2 = 40.4 ∓ 5.1 ml·kg−1·min−1, mean 20MSSJ = 2.1 ∓ 0.5 miles. The correlation between 20MSSJ and peak VO2 was. 68 across boys and girls. The regression slopes of the boys and girls were common, but the intercepts differed, F (1, 72) = 10.9, p < .05. The influence of weight and skinfold fat was examined. Separate models were developed, and the R for each was increased to .79 (SEE = 4.45 ml·kg−1·min−1) for the model using weight and .80 (SEE = 4.36 ml·kg−1·min−1) for the model using sum of skinfolds. The regression equations are as follows: peak VO2 = 35.10 + 6.19 (Run) + 2.96 (Gender) − 0.26 (Skinfold fat) peak VO2 = 33.94 + 7.64 (Run) + 5.84 (Gender) − 0.18 (Weight) (Run = 20MSSJ performance in miles; Gender, females = 0, males = 1; Skinfold fat = sum of two-site skinfolds in mm; Weight = body weight in kg). These data demonstrate that the 20MSSJ is a valid index of peak VO2 in adolescents and can be used to estimate the peak VO2 of boys and girls with accuracy similar to that which is obtained with other prediction models.