Chest
Volume 103, Issue 4, April 1993, Pages 1135-1141
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Clinical Investigations
Cardiorespiratory Fitness Evaluation by the Shuttle Test in Asthmatic Subjects During Aerobic Training

https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.103.4.1135Get rights and content

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of the 20-m shuttle test with 1-min stages (20-MST) to estimate maximal oxygen uptake ( V˙o2 max) and its ability to register cardiorespiratory modifications over the course of an individualized aerobic training program for mild to moderately asthmatic children acclimatized to moderate altitude.

Methods:

Forty-eight asthmatic subjects aged 12 to 17 years performed both a maximal incremental exercise test on a cycle ergometer and the 20-MST. Ten of the subjects were then randomly chosen and trained three times per week at their ventilatory threshold (Vth) intensity level for three months. Another group of ten asthmatic subjects served as control subjects. Training intensity was adjusted monthly; heart rate values at Vth were increased by the same proportion as the increase in V˙o2 max as measured by the 20-MST. At the end of training, both groups were again evaluated with the two tests. The Vo, max values by direct measurement and by the 20-MST were not significantly different for the entire population (46.5 ± 1.6 vs 47.2 ± 2.1 ml•min−1•kg−1)· In addition, the two test results were in close agreement (r = 0.84; p<0.01). After training, a sharp improvement in the direct Vo, max (44.1 ± 2.4 to 51.2 ± 1.9 ml•min−1•kg−1) was noted in the training group as well as an increase in the Vth (25.6 ± 1.9 to 32.1 ± 3.4 ml•min−1•kg−1), the maximal power (152 ± 7.1 to 185 ± 3.8 W), and the maximal oxygen pulse (0.24 ± 0.007 to 0.27 ± 0.008 ml•beat−1•kg−1).

Conclusion:

The indirect measure confirmed these results: a simultaneous increase in V˙o2 max (43.7 ± 2.5 to 53.8 ± 2.1 ml•min−1•kg−1), maximal oxygen pulse (0.22 ± 0.004 to 0.27 ± 0.006 ml•beat−1•kg−1), and the number of stages completed (7 ± 1.4 to 10.1 ± 1.3) was observed. It was concluded that the 20-MST has sufficient validity to assess V˙o2 max and to register cardiorespiratory modifications over the course of individualized aerobic training programs in mild and moderately asthmatic children. It thus may be used to adjust training intensities during these programs.

Section snippets

Subjects

Forty-eight subjects who had mild to moderate asthma, 28 boys and 20 girls aged 12 to 17 years, participated in this study after they and their parents gave informed consent. All the subjects had been acclimatized to moderate altitude (1,300 m) for four months prior to testing. Their anthropometric characteristics and spirometric values are listed in Tables 1 and 2. All were relatively inactive; though not released from physical education at school, leisure physical activity was limited. None

RESULTS

Table 3 presents the values of V˙o2 max and maximum HR obtained by both direct measurement and the 20-MST for the entire population. The values of maximum HR were significantly higher for the 20-MST (t = 5.25, p<0.01). However, no significant differences were noted in the V˙o2 max values (t = 1.10, p = 0.30). A significant correlation (r = 0.84, p<0.01) was obtained between the two tests for V˙o2 max assessment (Fig 1). The standard error of the estimate presents a lower value (S

DISCUSSION

This study shows that the 20-MST is valid for the determination of V˙o2 max and for the assessment of cardiorespiratory adaptations over the course of an individualized aerobic training program for mild to moderately asthmatic children acclimatized to moderate altitude.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

The authors wish to express their sincere appreciation to M. Sanchez and M. Bauloz, staff members of the rehabilitation center, for their very kind help and their expert technical assistance. We also wish to thank the subjects for their cooperative attitude and dedicated performance.

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    Manuscript received March 6; revision accepted August 11.

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