International Standards for the 12-Minute Cooper Test on a Concept 2 Rowing Ergometer: Validity and Reliability of...

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Science
• Anthropometry

Background:

• Evaluating strength endurance is crucial for assessing physical fitness in young adults.
• Existing methods may lack standardized international benchmarks for rowing-based strength endurance.
• The 12-minute Cooper Test is a widely recognized endurance assessment tool.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop international standards for assessing strength endurance using the 12-minute Cooper Test on a rowing ergometer (12-MCTRE).
• To establish a uniform T-score scale for 12-MCTRE results.
• To validate the 12-MCTRE by comparing performance metrics between genders.

Main Methods:

• Collation of data from 1855 men and 2879 women (aged 19-25) across Poland and Hungary between 2004 and 2020.
• Application of a uniform T-score scale for 12-MCTRE results.
• Validation using a control group (28 males, 32 females) assessing power, energy expenditure, training intensity, and sexual dimorphism.

Main Results:

• Men covered a significantly longer distance (2691.5 m) than women (2116.1 m) in the 12-MCTRE control group.
• Men exhibited significantly better performance in power, energy expenditure, pace/500 m, and maximal heart rate (HRmax).
• Both genders spent the most time in the very high effort zone, with women spending more time in the high effort zone but less in maximal and very high zones.

Conclusions:

• The 12-minute Cooper Test on a rowing ergometer (12-MCTRE) is a valid and effective tool for evaluating strength endurance in young adults.
• International standards and a T-score scale were developed for the 12-MCTRE.
• Significant sex-based differences in strength endurance performance were observed, highlighting the need for gender-specific evaluations.