Criterion Validity of Selected Cardiovascular Field Based Test Among Healthy Male Adults

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the criterion validity of selected cardiovascular field-based tests in estimating VO_2max among healthy male adults. A sample of 20 male adults [(mean ± SD), age 21.4 years (±2.4), height 165.9 cm (±5.9), weight 66.6 kg (±6.6), and BMI 24.2 kg/m² (±2.1)] was willing to participate in this study. Subjects were required to perform 20-m multistage shuttle run (MST) and Cooper’s 12-min run (12MR) as a test and treadmill-graded Bruce protocol as a criterion test in different weeks. VO_2max level and last heart rates were recorded during the test. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 with the significance level set at p ≤ 0.05. The agreement for both tests was analyzed using the Bland–Altman method. This study found that the difference between the mean (±SD) VO_2max values of direct measurement (VO_2max = 40.42 ± 4.49 ml/kg/min) and both direct measurement tests (MST = 37.52 ± 4.62 ml/kg/min; 12MR = 41.27 ± 4.2 ml/kg/min) was statistically significant. Both tests showed a strong relationship with the criterion test (MST, r = 0.83, p = 0.01, p < 0.05; 12MR, r = 0.95, p = 0.01, p < 0.05). However, the 12MR test showed a good limit of agreement (−3.59 and 1.88) with a small bias value (−0.86). In conclusion, both tests are valid and can be used to measure aerobic capacity, but the Cooper’s 12-min run test is more suitable in measuring VO_2max among healthy male adults.