Estimation of &OV0312;O2max from a one-mile track walk, gender, age, and body weight

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to explore an alternative field test to estimate maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O_2max) using a one-mile walk test. V̇O_2max was determined in 343 healthy adult (males = 165, females = 178) subjects 30 to 69 yr using a treadmill protocol (mean ± SD: V̇O_2max = 37.0 ± 10.7 ml · kg⁻¹ · min⁻¹). Each subject performed a minimum of two, one-mile track walks as fast as possible. The two fastest walks (T1, T2) with elapsed times within 30s were used for subsequent analyses. Heart rates were monitored continuously and recorded every one-quarter mile. Multiple regression analysis (best sub-sets) to estimate V̇O_2max (l · min⁻¹) yielded the following predictor variables: tract walk-1 time (T1); fourth quarter heart rate for track walk-1 (HR1–4); age (yr); weight (lb); and sex (1 = male, 0 = female). The best equation (N = 174) was: V̇O_2max = 6.9652 + (0.0091·WT) – (0.0257·AGE) + (0.5955·SEX) – (0.2240·T1) – (0.0115·HR1–4); r = 0.93, SEE = 0.325 1 · min⁻¹. Comparing observed and estimated V̇O_2max values in a cross-validation group (N = 169) resulted in r = 0.92, SEE = 0.355 1·min⁻¹. Generalized and sex-specific equations to estimate V̇O_2max (ml·kg⁻¹ · min⁻¹) were also generated. The accuracy of estimation as expressed by SEE was similar among the equations. The results indicate that this one-mile walk test protocol provides a valid sub-maximum assessment for V̇O_2max estimation