The effect of performance feedback on cardiorespiratory fitness field tests

Abstract

We investigated the effects of performance feedback (PF) on predicting maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) using the 20 m Multistage Shuttle Run Test (MST) and 20 m Square Shuttle Test (SST). The agreement between these two field tests in relation to laboratory VO2max was also examined. Forty healthy mates (age: 21.5 +/- 2.3; BMI: 23.7 +/- 2.0) randomly performed four indirect VO2max tests; that is the MST and SST, as we[I. as a modified version of MST (MSTMD) and SST (SSTMD). During MST and SST subjects received PF with respect to both test stage and running pace. In contrast, MSTMD and SSTMD incorporated auditory feedback which solely emitted signals regulating the running pace. Participants also performed a laboratory VO2max treadmill test (TT). ANOVA demonstrated significant mean predicted VO2max decrements in both MSTMD (p < 0.001) and SSTMD (p < 0.05) compared to MST and SST, respectively. In predicting TTO2max, the '95% limits of agreement' analysis indicated errors equal to 3.6 +/- 9.6 and 1.4 +/- 10.3 ml kg(-1) min(-1) with coefficients of variation of +/- 10.0% and 10.9%, for MST and MSTMD, respectively. The corresponding '95% limits of agreement' values for SST and SSTMD were 0.1 +/- 5.0 and -1.1 +/- 6.1 ml kg(-1) min(-1) with coefficients of variation of +/- 5.4% and +/- 6.7%, respectively. It is concluded that the application Of PF leads to superior field testing performances. (c) 2006 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.