COMPARISON OF MEASURED AND ACSM-PREDICTED (V)OVER-DOT-O-2 IN OLDER WOMEN

The purpose of this study was to compare measured (V) over dot O-2 at specific stages with the American College of Sports Medicine-predicted (V) over dot O-2 at the same stage during treadmill walking in older women. Twenty-five women (age range = 56.6 to 78.1 years; mean +/- SD = 66.6 +/- 5.8 years) walked on a treadmill at a speed of 2.0 mph and 0% grade for the first stage and at increased grades for each subseque nt stage. The results showed considerable lack of agreement between th e measured and predicted (V) over dot O-2 values. Predicted (V) over d ot O-2 was lower than measured (V) over dot O-2 at 0% grade and higher than measured (V) over dot O-2 at 10.1% grade (p < .05 for both). How ever, predicted (V) over dot O-2 was not significantly different from measured (V) over dot O-2 at grades of 3.4% and 6.7%. These results ar e generalizable only to older women who can walk 2.0 mph on a treadmil l and do not use handrail support. Future research is needed to develo p more accurate equations for predicting (V) over dot O-2 for older wo men.