A TEST TO ESTIMATE VO2 MAX IN FEMALES USING AEROBIC DANCE, HEART-RATE, BMI, AND AGE

Objective. The purpose of this investigation was to develop a sub-maxi mal exercise test for estimating VO(2)max utilizing aerobic dance. Exp erimental Design. One hundred females between the ages 18 to 40 yr ser ved as the subjects for test validation, The subjects completed a trea dmill test to determine VO(2)max and were assessed for heart rate (HR) response to a bout of aerobic dance, The data associated with respons es to treadmill exercise and the aerobic dance test, in conjunction wi th descriptive variables (e.g., age, BMI) were utilized in the validat ion of the multiple regression model. Measures. Reliability was determ ined by correlation and paired ''t''-tests of the aerobic dance routin e test and retest trials, The construction of the multiple regression equation, via forward entry analysis, and the cross-validation of the regression equation were completed to ensure the validity and reliabil ity of the protocol in accurately estimating VO(2)max. Results. Test, retest reliability for the dance-exercise routine was demonstrated (r= 0.98). Moreover, no significant differences were shown between the HR responses for the test and retest trials, The multiple regression anal ysis yielded a three variable multiple prediction equation for estimat ing VO(2)max (R=0.84; SEE, 5.5 ml . kg(-1). min(-1)). The three variab les were the HR response to four min of aerobic dance (HR4), body mass index (BMI), and age (years), Cross-validation of the aerobic dance t est was determined with a second group of 50 female subjects (R=0.83; SEE, 5.5 ml . kg(-1). min(-1)). Additionally, the application of the v alidation group regression equation to the cross-validation group yiel ded a comparable R of 0.82. Comparison of the predicted values for VO( 2)max from both equations also yielded a highly significant invariance coefficient of 0.96. Finally, the results of ''t''-tests between the observed and predicted mean values for VO(2)max revealed no significan t difference (p>0.05). Therefore, the final prediction equation, based on collapsing the means associated with the validation and cross vali dation samples (n=150), was: VO(2)max (ml . kg(-1). min(-1))=130.18-(0 .38 HR4)-(0.81 * BMI)-(0.27 * Age); R=0.84, SEE=5.5 ml . kg(-1). min (-1). Conclusions. These results indicate that a four minute aerobic d ance test provides a valid and reliable sub-maximal protocol for estim ating VO(2)max and providing an index of aerobic fitness in apparently healthy 18 to 40 yr old females.