The adaptability coefficient (AC)--an ergometric test in evaluation of the general functional capacity

The AC test, based on the relation between the heart rate (fh) and triangular submaximal exercise intensity, was applied for 4 years on over 2000 healthy persons, and patients with cardiac and respiratory disorders. In this work there are presented the results of a reference group, made up of 20 male healthy students. The fh increased on an average with 5.32 beats/min for every 10 W step. The recovery of fh was obtained in 201 +/- 82 s, and the hemirecovery time in 38.5 +/- 15 s. We found the AC using the formula: (see text). The average value of the AC was 131 +/- 26. Together with the AC test, the Vo2 max, was also estimated during submaximum exercise--Astrand test; the average value was 35 +/- 6 ml/kg.min, with a semnificative linear correlation. This pleads, together with other data, for the value of AC test in clinical ergometric investigation.