Validity of the Université de Montréal Track Test to assess the velocity associated with peak oxygen uptake for adolescents.

Abstract

International audienceThe purpose of the study was to test the ability to determine the velocity associated with peak oxygen uptake for adolescents by means of a simple field test, the Université de Montréal Track Test (UMTT). Fifteen adolescents, 13.4 +/- 1.0 years, performed two maximal field tests where oxygen uptake and heart rate were continuously monitored. The first test (graded field test, first stage 8 km.h-1, increment 1.5 km.h-1, duration 3 min) allowed the subjects to reach a steady-state oxygen uptake. Then, the velocity associated with peak oxygen uptake was calculated from the ratio between peak oxygen uptake above resting level to energy cost of running. The calculated velocity was kept as the criterion velocity. For the second test (UMTT, first stage 8 km.h-1; increment 1 km.h-1; duration 2 min), the velocity measured at the last completed stage was retained. The measured peak oxygen uptake for the graded field test (51.8 +/- 6.5 ml.kg-1.min-1) and for the UMTT (51.0 +/- 7.9 ml.kg-1.min-1) were not significantly different. The calculated velocity (12.9 +/- 1.0 km.h-1) and the measured velocity (12.7 +/- 0.9 km.h-1) were not significantly different and were significantly correlated (r = 0.80, p < 0.001). It was concluded that, for adolescents, the velocity measured at the last completed stage of the UMTT allows a valid estimation of the velocity associated with peak oxygen uptake