Selection of a maximal test protocol to validate the Canadian Aerobic Fitness Test

The purpose of this study was to select a maximal aerobic power test protocol with which to validate a submaximal step test prediction equation. Subjects (N = 129), males and females 15 to 69 years of age, performed one maximal step test and one maximal treadmill test. The maximal treadmill protocol yielded higher peak VO2, ventilation, heart rate, and RER values. An age-predicted maximum heart rate was achieved by 35% of subjects on the step test and 55% on the treadmill. An RER of 1.15 was attained by 22% of the subjects on the step test and 53% on the treadmill. Regression analysis indicated that the submaximal test was more predictive of VO2max when the maximum was attained using the treadmill rather than the maximal step protocol. Peak VO2 values obtained from subjects tested on the treadmill will be used to develop a new prediction equation for the Canadian Aerobic Fitness Test.