La. Kaminsky et al., EVALUATION OF A SHALLOW-WATER RUNNING TEST FOR THE ESTIMATION OF PEAKAEROBIC POWER, Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 25(11), 1993, pp. 1287-1292
The purpose of this investigation was to assess the validity of a 500-
yard shallow water run test to determine peak aerobic power (VO2peak)
and to compare it with the commonly used 1.5-mile run test. Subjects i
ncluded 15 men and 28 women who completed two trials each of a 500-yar
d shallow water run test and a 1.5-mile run and then completed a grade
d exercise test on a treadmill to determine VO2peak. Correlation coeff
icients with measured VO2peak were -0.89 and -0.80 for the 1.5-mile an
d 500-yard water runs, respectively. Multiple regression analyses reve
aled that prediction of VO2peak from 1.5-mile run time was significant
ly improved by including the 1.5-mile run peak HR (R2 = 0.82, SEE = 3.
52 ml.kg-1.min-1). Similarly, for the 500-yard water run test, percent
body fat and height were significant additional predictors of VO2peak
(R2 = 0.86, SEE = 3.19 ml.kg-1. min-1). We conclude that the 500-yard
shallow water run test, especially when used with the descriptive mea
sures of percent body fat and height, can provide a reasonable estimat
e of an individuals' cardiorespiratory fitness classification. However
. caution is advised when administering these tests in older populatio
ns or in those with multiple coronary risk factors.