Validation of Cardiorespiratory Fitness Measurements in Adolescents

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is an important indicator of adolescent cardiovascular well-being and future cardiometabolic health but not always feasible to measure. The purpose of this study was to estimate the concurrent validity of the non-exercise test (NET) for adolescents against the Progressive Aerobic Capacity Endurance Run (PACER ？) and direct measures of VO 2max as well as to examine the concurrent validity of the PACER ？ with a portable metabolic system (K4b 2？). Forty-six adolescents (12–17 years) completed the NET prior to performing the PACER ？ while wearing the K4b 2？. The obtained VO 2max values were compared using linear regression, intra-class correlation (ICC), and Bland–Altman plots, and α was set at 0.05. The VO 2max acquired directly from the K4b 2？ was significantly correlated to the VO 2max indirectly estimated from the NET ( r = 0.73, p < 0.001, r 2 = 0.53, ICC = 0.67). PACER ？ results were significantly related to the VO 2max estimates from the NET ( r = 0.81, p < 0.001, r 2 = 0.65, ICC = 0.72). Direct measures from the K4b 2？ were significantly correlated to the VO 2max estimates from the PACER ？ ( r = 0.87, p < 0.001, r 2 = 0.75, ICC = 0.93). The NET is a valid measure of CRF in adolescents and can be used when an exercise test is not feasible. View Full-Tex