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Comparison of VO2peak from the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) and treadmill in children
Corey Selland1, Matthew D Vukovich2, Jessica R Meendering2
1Department of Human Performance, Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN, USA.
Background/Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference in peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) during a graded treadmill test and the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) in a sample of 7-14 year old children.
Methods:
Forty-four participants (25 boys, 19 girls) had VO2 assessed during a peak treadmill test and the PACER by a portable indirect calorimeter on non-consecutive days. Exercise parameters were compared between exercise tests by paired t-tests.
Results:
The PACER elicited a greater measured VO2peak (49.4 ± 9.4 vs. 46.7 ± 7.5 ml. kg-1·min-1) and maximum respiratory exchange ratio (1.14 ± 0.08 vs. 1.07 ± 0.08) than the treadmill test (p < 0.05). Rating of perceived exertion was higher (8.1 ± 3.5 vs 7.6 ± 3.8) during the treadmill test compared to the PACER test (p < 0.05). There was no difference in maximum heart rate between treadmill test and PACER test (196.9 ± 9.3 vs. 198.6 ± 8.8, p > 0.05).
Conclusions:
The PACER provides an acceptable measure of cardiorespiratory fitness in children but the finding that children elicit a higher measured VO2peak during the PACER compared to a graded treadmill test warrants continual refinement in future aerobic fitness prediction equations from the PACER.
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