Comparison of Maximal Aerobic Speed as Assessed with Laboratory and Field Measurements in Moderately Trained Subjects

Abstract

In order to compare the Maximal Aerobic Speed (MAS) evaluated with different methods, eleven male physical education students (22.2 +/- 3.0 years) were submitted to a maximal treadmill protocol and to the Université de Montréal Track Test (UMTT). Four methods were used to calculate MAS. After treadmill measurement of VO2max, MAS was calculated (MAS_calc) by the following formula: MAS_calc = (VO2max - 0.083)/C, where VO2max is the maximal oxygen uptake (ml.kg-1.s-1) and C the energy cost of running (ml.kg-1.m-1). The extrapolated MAS (MAS_ex) was obtained from the measured VO2max and by extrapolation of the VO2 versus speed relationship. The MAS for treadmill measurement (MAS_tr) and for UMTT (MAS_UMTT) were the velocities at the last completed stages. The average MAS_calc (4.71 +/- 0.48 m.s-1), MAS_ex (4.62 +/- 0.48 m.s-1), MAS-tr (4.75 +/- 0.57 m.s-1) and MAS_UMTT (4.64 +/- 0.35 m.s-1) were not significantly different and were significantly correlated, between 0.85 (MAS_ex vs MAS_UMTT) and 0.99 (MAS_calc vs MAS_tr), with p < 0.001 in both cases. MAS measurements were significantly correlated to measured VO2max but independent of C.