Iran Occupational Health

Background and aims: The maximum aerobic capacity or VO2max is a measure of the maximum volume of oxygen that can be absorbed by respiratory system and delivered to the acting muscles through blood flow. The aims of this study were to determine the correlation between the two methods of treadmill and step tests in estimating the maximum aerobic capacity and it's affecting factors among students of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences. 

Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted among the 68 students (47 males and 21 females) that participated voluntarily. First, the participants completed physical activity readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) and demographic characteristics, and if they were met inclusion criteria, step and treadmill tests were done according to ASCM by treadmill and step tests according to ACSM and Gerkin protocols respectability.

Results: The results showed that the mean and standard deviation of maximum aerobic capacity estimated from ACSM and Gerkin protocols were 2.86 ±0.66 and 1.86 ±0.32 respectively. Significant and Positive correlation were estimated between two test for maximum aerobic capacity via two protocols of ASCM and Gerkin (r=0.74 and p<0.001). Also, there were significant associations among maximum aerobic capacity with age, sex, weight, height, and BMI in both ACSM and Gerkin protocols.

Conclusion: According to the results of almost the same ACSM and Gerkin tests, can be used step test instead of the treadmill test to estimate the maximum aerobic capacity. In addition to Physiological characteristics of the human such as sex, age, height and weight have main roles in maximum aerobic capacity.