Prediction of maximal oxygen uptake from a modified Canadian aerobic fitness test

The purpose of the present study was to increase the accuracy of prediction of VO2max from the Canadian Aerobic Fitness Test (CAFT) by modifying the protocol and developing a new equation. Males and females between the ages of 15 and 69 years (n = 129) were tested on four occasions. Each subject performed four submaximal step tests (modified CAFT protocol) and a maximal treadmill test. The modification of the protocol consisted of allowing each subject to complete the number of stages needed to reach a target heart rate of 85% of age-predicted maximum. This required adding a new Stage 8 for men and Stages 7 and 8 for women. The prediction equation resulting from regression analysis was, VO2max (ml.kg-1 x min-1) = 32.0 + 16.0 VO2 - 0.24 Age - 0.17 Wt (R2 - 0.77; delta 2 - 26.6), where VO2 = oxygen cost of stepping at the final level (L.min-1), Age = age (yrs), and Wt = body mass (kg).