Maximum Oxygen Consumption: Validity of the Run Test of 20 Meters and Proposal of Equations for Prediction in Young People.

The purpose of this study was: (a) to verify the validity of a 20 m round trip run test for young athletes; and (b) to propose regression equations for predicting VO₂ max in young athletes. The sample for this study consisted of 31 young university students. Age ranged from 18 to 24 yrs old. The absolute (L·min^-1) and relative (mL·kg^-1·min^-1) VO₂ max values were measured with a test in the laboratory and in the field (20 m round trip run test). Weight, standing height, body fat percentage (BF%), fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM), and maximum expiratory flow (MEF) were also measured. No differences were found between the laboratory and the field run tests in absolute terms (criterion X = 49.3 ± 9.8 L·min-1, field X = 49.3 ± 9.8 L·min^-1) and relative (criterion X = 3.3 ± 0.8 mL·kg^-1·min^-1 field X = 3.4 ± 0.8 mL·kg-1·min^-1). The coefficient of concordance index (CCI) varied from 0.89 to 0.95. Three equations were created for the absolute VO₂ max: (R² = 90 to 94%), and three other equations for the relative VO₂ max: (R² = 73 to 76%). The six equations demonstrated high values for Desirable Reproducibility Indexes (DRI) (precision 0.85 to 0.97) and (accuracy 0.94 to 0.99). The 20 m Back and Forth Run Test is valid for estimating absolute and relative VO₂ max in young athletes. Furthermore, the six equations developed for both sexes provide a reasonable alternative for evaluating aerobic fitness in the health and sport sciences context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]