A NEW APPROACH TO THE INTERPRETATION OF CANADIAN HOME FITNESS TEST-SCORES

A modification of the Astrand (1960) nomogram procedure was applied to Canadian Home Fitness Test data obtained on 13,258 subjects, ages 15 to 69 years, during the 1981 Canada Fitness Survey. Norms were develop ed to allow an empirical five-level categorization of aerobic fitness, based on the attained rate of stepping and the recovery pulse count 5 to 15 s following exercise. Because of uncertainties regarding the ne t mechanical efficiency of stepping and the selective recruitment of f it older subjects, the apparent rate of aerobic fitness decrease with aging was no more than half of that seen in laboratory measurements, a nd the sex differential at any given age (about 25%) was larger than e xpected. The new approach thus does not claim a high level of accuracy for the predicted peak MET values. Nevertheless, it has an inherent a dvantage over the equation of Jette et al. (1976) in that it takes mor e direct account of variations in pulse count when categorizing fitnes s. Moreover, there is no artificial ceiling that limits scores for ver y fit subjects. Tests are now needed to assess the accuracy of the pro posed fitness categorizations relative to laboratory determinations of maximal oxygen intake.