title: Maximal aerobic power versus performance in two aerobic endurance tests among young and old adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aerobic fitness is of great value for reducing risk of mortality and cardiovascular diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the performance in and correlations between a new test (five-minute pyramid test, 5MPT), the six-minute walk-test (6MWT) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) among old and young adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four habitually active adults (females and males), 23 old (64-79 years) and 21 young (20-32 years) participated. In the 5MPT, the participants moved back and forth along a short walkway (5.5 m) over boxes (height: 'old people' 0.42 m, 'young people' 0.62 m) arranged like an elongated step pyramid for 5 min. Power in the pyramid test (5MPT(power)) was calculated as the product of numbers of laps, body weight, gravity and highest box level divided by time. A 6MWT and a maximal cycle ergometer test for direct measurements of VO2max were also performed. In all tests heart rate, with on-line electrocardiography, and perceived exertion were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a strong correlation between the 5MPT(power) and VO2max for the entire group studied (r = 0.98), and each of the four subgroups old and young females and males separately (r = 0.78-0.98). Contrary to several earlier studies, especially involving people with various diseases, the present data showed that 6MWT cannot be used to predict VO2max among old females and young adults. The correlation with VO2max was weaker for the 6MWT than for the 5MPT(power). The relative performance values for the old compared to the young (ratio old/young × 100) were considerably lower in 5MPT(power) and VO2max (47-55%) than in distance and 'work' in the 6MWT (82-86%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results, with age and gender variations, can be valuable information in health-fitness contexts, since measuring physical aerobic capacity is very significant in connection with risk evaluations of mortality and various diseases. The 5MPT is a rapid, functional, easy and inexpensive tool for predicting assessed maximal aerobic power.
authors.affiliation: The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Norway. eva.andersson@gih.se
authors.forename: Eva A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lundahl
authors.forename: Liliane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wecke
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lindblom
authors.forename: Johnny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nilsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010465:Perception; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult