A study to validate the Canadian Aerobic Fitness Test

Our purpose was to assess the validity of VO2 max values predicted from The Canadian Aerobic Fitness Test (CAFT) by comparing them with peak VO2 values measured during a maximal treadmill protocol. Male and female subjects, 15-69 yr (n = 129), performed two submaximal exercise tests (CAFT protocol), and one maximal treadmill test. There was no significant heart rate habituation between the first two CAFT protocols. Peak VO2 values measured during the treadmill test (TM) were significantly higher than those predicted from the CAFT whether the sample was analyzed overall or categorized by sex. When the sample was categorized by age group, all but groups 1 (15-19) and 6 (60-69) had treadmill peak VO2 values significantly higher than those predicted using Jetté's equation. Using treadmill measured peak VO2 scores as the gold standard, VO2 max predictions using the CAFT protocol and Jetté equation placed individuals of lower fitness levels more accurately than highly fit individuals, into one of five fitness categories.