Prediction of VO2max from a new field test based on portable indirect calorimetry

We assessed the validity and reliability of the new 15m square shuttle run test (SST) for predicting laboratory treadmill test (TT) maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2 max)) compared to the 20 m multistage shuttle run test (MST) in 45 adult males. Thirty participants performed a TT and a SST once to develop a VO( 2max) prediction model. The remaining 15 participants performed the TT and MST once and the SST twice for cross-validation purposes. Throughout testing V O(2max) was determined via portable indirect calorimetry while blood lactate concentration was assessed at the fifth recovery minute. Comparisons of TT V O(2 max) (51.3+/-3.1 ml kg(-1)min(-1)) with SST measured (51.2+/-3.2 ml kg(-1)min(-1)) and predicted (50.9+/-3.3 ml kg(-1)min(-1)) V O(2 max) showed no differences while TT blood lactate was higher compared to SST (10.3+/-1.7 mmol vs. 9.7+/-1.7 mmol, respectively). In contrast, MST measured (53.4+/-3.5 ml kg(-1)min(-1)) and predicted (57.0+/-4.5 ml kg(-1)min(-1)) V O(2 max) and blood lactate (11.2+/-2.0 mmol) were significantly higher compared to TT. No test-retest differences were detected for SST measured and predicted V O(2 max) and blood lactate. It is concluded that the SST is a highly valid and reliable predictive test for V O(2 max).