A comparison of two different shuttle run tests for the estimation of VO2max

The aims of this experiment were twofold. The first was to determine whether there was a significant difference between two types of 20-m shuttle run test used to estimate VO2max, these being the Canadian version (CT) and the European versione (ET). The second aim was to determine which of the two tests best estimated direct VO2 measurement in our laboratory. To accomplish the first aim, 500 schoolchildren aged 12 to 16 years were randomly chosen from schools within Tasmania to undertake the two tests within seven days of each other. On the day of testing the children were assigned to one of the two tests and had no knowledge as to which test was being undertaken. Half of the children underwent the CT test first while the other half undertook the ET test first. Seven days after the first test was completed the appropriate second test was undertaken. The instructions to each child centred around the necessity to complete as many shuttles as possible staying in time with a pre-recorded signal. A relationship between the two sets of shuttle run data indicated that there was a significant correlation between the ET and CT, r = 0.834 (p < 0.0001). A Student's "t" test revealed that when the estimates of VO2max were compared however, there was a significant difference between the two tests (p < 0.0001). The ET estimated (Mean +/- SEM) VO2max at 34.9 +/- 0.45 ml.kg-1.min-1 whereas the CT estimated VO2max at 43.3 +/- 0.40 ml.kg-1.min-1. When this data was correlated, the co-efficient dropped to r = 0.761 which was still significant (p < 0.001). In order to accomplish the second aim, fifty children were chosen at random to undertake a VO2max test (DM) which was conducted via standard open circuit spirometry using a Quinton Metabolic Cart (QMC). The highest correlation was DM:ET being r = 0.93 whereas DM:CT was r = 0.87, both being significant at p < 0.001. When the data was compared there was a significant (p < 0.05) difference between DM and ET. DM measured VO2max as 37.6 +/- 0.37 ml.kg-1.min-1 whereas ET underestimated DM and measured VO2max at 34.7 +/- 0.56 ml.kg-1.min-1. The CT (41.9 +/- 0.62 ml.kg-1.min-1) over estimated DM by 11.4% however, the difference here also being significant (p < 0.01). This results of this study would suggest that teachers and coaches should use either one test or the other in the estimation of VO2max as the two tests differ significantly in their estimation. Of these two test versions, the ET underestimates direct VO2max measurement but is more accurate than the CT, so we feel this is the test of choice.