Validity of a squash-specific fitness test

This study examined the validity of a squash-specific test designed to assess endurance capability and aerobic power.

Eight squash players and eight runners performed, in a counterbalanced order, incremental treadmill (TT) and squash-specific (ST) tests to volitional exhaustion. Breath-by-breath oxygen uptake was determined by a portable analyzer and heart rate was assessed telemetrically. Time to exhaustion was recorded.

Independent t tests revealed longer time to exhaustion for squash players on the ST than runners (775 +/- 103 vs. 607 +/- 81 s; P = .003) but no difference between squash players and runners in maximal oxygen uptake (Vo2max) or maximum heart rate (HRmax). Runners exercised longer on the TT (521 +/- 135 vs. 343 +/- 115 s; P = .01) and achieved higher Vo2max than squash players (58.6 +/- 7.5 vs. 49.6 +/- 7.3 mL.kg-1.min-1; P = .03), with no group difference in HRmax. Paired t tests showed squash players achieved higher Vo2max on the ST than the TT (52.2 +/- 7.1 vs. 49.6 +/- 7.3 mL.kg-1.min-1; P = .02). The Vo2max and HRmax of runners did not differ between tests, nor did the HRmax of squash players. ST and TT Vo2max correlated highly in squash players and runners (r = .94, P < .001; r = .88, P = .003).

The ST discriminated endurance performance between squash players and runners and elicited higher Vo2max in squash players than a nonspecific test. The results suggest that the ST is a valid assessment of Vo2max and endurance capability in squash players.