title: Validation of the 12-min swim as a field test of peak aerobic power in young men.
abstract: The purposes of this study were to validate the 12-min swim as a field test of VO2max and to compare its validity with that of the 12-min run. Thirty-six young men completed 12-min swim, 12-min run, tethered swimming (TS) VO2peak, and treadmill running (TR) VO2peak tests within 3 wk. Mean (+/- SD) 12-min swim and run distances were 581 +/- 88 and 2797 +/- 290 m, and mean TS and TR VO2peak values were 50.3 +/- 6.2 and 57.2 +/- 5.5 ml.kg BW-1.min-1, respectively. Correlation coefficients and standard errors of estimate for predictions of TS VO2peak from the 12-min swim (0.40 and 5.7 ml.kg BW-1.min-1) and run (0.74 and 4.2 ml.kg BW-1.min-1) and for predictions of TR VO2peak from the 12-min swim (0.38 and 5.1 ml.kg BW-1.min-1) and run (0.88 and 2.6 ml.kg BW-1.min-1) indicated that the 12-min run was a more accurate predictor of TS or TR VO2peak than the 12-min swim. We conclude that the 12-min swim has relatively low validity as a field test of peak aerobic power and that it should not be considered an equally valid alternative to the 12-min run in young male recreational swimmers. However, the accuracy of predicting VO2peak from the 12-min swim is as good as some other commonly used methods, and, therefore, it may be adequate for fitness classification in situations in which a high level of accuracy is not needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, University of Georgia, Athens 30602.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Conley
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Cureton
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Dengel
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Weyand
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D005082:Physical Exertion; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012420:Running; D013550:Swimming; D013997:Time Factors