Hygiena 2012, 57(4):135-143

Comparison of Physical Fitness Examinations Measured on Bicycle Ergometer and Treadmill for the Purpose of Primary Preventive Examination

Pavel Řimák^1,2, Jindřich Fiala^1,2, Šárka Kunzová^1,2, Petr Kaňovský

¹ Ústav preventivního lékařství, Lékařská fakulta, Masarykova univerzita, Brno

² Mezinárodní centrum klinického výzkumu, Cardio 6, Fakultní nemocnice u sv. Anny v Brně, Brno

The aim of this pilot study was to compare the results of two commonly used indirect methods of assessing maximum oxygen uptake (VO₂max estimation) and to assess the applicability of these two methods for physical fitness assessment of an individual as part of primary preventive examination. For this comparison we selected the Cooper run/walk test (CT 12) on a treadmill and an incremental maximum test on a bicycle ergometer (BE). Our results showed significantly lower VO₂max estimations gained from CT 12 on a treadmill in comparison to incremental maximum testing on a BE in the population groups examined. In total the results were lower by about 8.6% on average (p<0.001). The differences varied in the groups according to how trained the subjects were and according to the prevailing type of their physical activity. The highest differences between the two tests appeared in the group of cyclists (-12.0%), medical students (-10.9%) and in the group of subjects without a preferred type of physical activity. In these groups the differences were also statistically significant (p<0.01). They were less substantial in the group of runners (-4.6%, statistically insignificant), and in the group of triathletes there were practically no differences. This suggests that a CT 12 on a treadmill is much more susceptible to influences such as training experience, prevailing type of physical activity and motivation compared with an incremental maximum test on a BE. Evaluation of results leads us to consider incremental maximal testing on a BE a more suitable tool for assessing physical fitness in the averagely trained and slightly above-averagely trained population.

Keywords: physical fitness, endurance tests, Cooper walk/run test, bicycle ergometry

Received: March 2012; Accepted: July 3, 2012; Published: December 1, 2012  Show citation