THE PREDICTION OF FITNESS LEVELS OF UNITED-STATES-AIR-FORCE OFFICERS - VALIDATION OF CYCLE ERGOMETRY

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the accuracy of the United States Air Force cycle ergometer test (CET) to predict maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) of Air Force officers. The United States Air Fo rce is currently evaluating cardiovascular fitness by cycle ergometry. In order to validate the accuracy of the CET, 50 male Air Force offic ers who were attending professional military education at Maxwell AFB were evaluated by a maximal treadmill Bruce test and open circuit spir ometry. Characteristics of the subjects included the following mean va lues +/- SD: VO2max = 47.9 +/- 10.3 ml.kg-1.minute-1; age = 39.3 +/- 3 .9 years; weight = 76.9 +/- 9.5 kg; height = 176.4 +/- 8.8 cm; percent fat = 20 +/- 9%; heart rate max = 174 +/- 10 beats.minute-1; and resp iratory exchange ratio = 1.09 +/- 0.09. The predicted VO2max with the cycle ergometer test was 39.9 +/- 9.8 ml.kg-1.minute 1. The following product-moment correlation was derived between criterion VO2max (Maxim al treadmill test and the CET: r = 0.74 and standard error of estimate = 6.9 ml.kg-1.minute-1). A repeated measures analysis of variance bet ween the CET and maximal treadmill test found a significant mean diffe rence of 8.0 ml.kg-1.minute-1 (p < 0.0001). The CET significantly unde rpredicted fitness levels of Air Force officers. Based upon Air Force standards, the CET underpredicted oxygen uptake values by approximatel y one fitness category or 17%.