Endurance tests capture complementary dimensions of physical performance

Commonly used endurance tests are often treated as interchangeable, although the extent to which they capture shared and distinct dimensions of physical performance remains unclear. This study examined the informational value of commonly used endurance tests and identified a reduced battery that preserved multidimensional performance information.

A total of 157 men (20.9 ± 1.2 years) and 29 women (20.7 ± 1.0 years) completed six endurance tests alongside assessments of strength, power, agility, and body composition. Correlation analysis, principal component analysis, and multiple regression were used to evaluate shared and unique information across tests.

Running tests were strongly interrelated, as were rowing tests. A general endurance component explained 59.4% and 70.5% of variance in men and women, respectively, while additional components distinguished running, rowing, and physical work capacity. Women exhibited stronger relationships among endurance and other physical performance characteristics. A four-test battery reconstructed 67.6% and 73.5% of the information contained in the full battery in men and women, respectively.

Common endurance tests provide complementary rather than interchangeable information, and a reduced battery can efficiently characterize multidimensional physical performance while substantially reducing testing demands.