Golden Shoe Award
A Simple Field Test for the Assessment of Physical Fitness
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Name:
Lab Section Time:
I. Introduction
Background Information
It is not always practical to use all of the gas analysis equipment we have in the lab at SUNY Cortland to perform a VO2 max test. For that matter, it is pretty rare to even own that equipment, unless you are at college or a medical center. Even other tests that are used to estimate VO2 max are not always that good, because they may utilize other specialized equipment (such as treadmills or cycle ergometers). Thankfully, some folks have done the research to provide us with field tests that can be used to estimate VO2 max. These tests are fairly simple to administer, usually requiring a track (or some measured distance) and a stopwatch.
Laboratory conditions and the use of sophisticated scientific equipment allows for the continuous monitoring of circulatory and respiratory responses which are essential for the accurate determination of an individual's working capacity. Without "on-the-spot" physiological measurements, most tests involving physical exertion are too dependent on individual motivation and tolerance for pain and discomfort. Physiological measurements provide an objective assessment of whether an individual is performing within or beyond his/her physiological limitations.
Screening large groups relatively quickly, combined with restrictions in facilities, equipment and personnel, renders laboratory testing impractical and inadequate in some instances. A need existed for a "field test" of physical competence, necessitating the involvement of a famili ar exercise employing large muscle groups which would illicit functional responses within and up to the limits of one's capacity. Such a test has been conceived investigated and published and is known as the "Balke Field Test."
Running was selected as an exercise that closely approached the above criteria. It was experimentally established that comparison of the estimated O2 expenditures of best-effort field runs ranging between 12 and 20 minutes duration could be matched most clo sely with the results obtained from a standardized treadmill test eliciting maximal oxygen intake capacity. Only within the range of 12 to 20 minutes duration did individuals establish a pace that most accurately reflected their aerobic work capacity. Too short a running time results in a significant portion of the work being accomplished by anaerobic metabolism. If too long (exceeding20 minutes), fatigue and the duration of the run will necessitate a pace demanding less than maximal aerobic capacity.
By counting the number of laps one runs around a 400 meter track and through
some mathematical manipulations, the maximal oxygen uptake can be calculated
(relative to body weight). Once the maximal oxygen uptake(VO2) is determined, one can assess his/her physical fitness
according to the fitness standards set by the American Heart Association.
II. Procedures
2. We will jog over to the Track at a slow, easy pace; this will be our warm-up.
3. Standing heart rate will be taken for 10 seconds before the start of the run.
4. Start the run relatively slow. Settle, after 1-2 minutes, into the pace you can maintain for the entire 12 minutes.
5. Time and other signals will be given by means of a whistle. When the end of the twelve minute run is signaled, you will stop where you are on the track and palpate the carotid or radial pulse. On the second whistle, count your pulse beats for ten seconds (a third whistle will signal the end of the counting period). You will record the distance run by the number of laps you ran around the track (be as accurate as possible to the 1/4of a lap) and your heart rate in beats per minute (multiply your 10 second count by 6). It might be wise to bring a pencil in order to avoid the risk of forgetting all these numbers!
Note: It is important to maintain a steady pace throughout the 12 minutes following the minute or so of warm-up which will determine your pace. Know the lane number you run in and stay in that lane throughout the entire12 minutes.
Total Distance Run = laps x 400 meters (for lane #1) = meters
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Velocity (Meters/Minute) = (total distance run in meters)/ (total
time = 12 minutes) = meters/minute
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IV. Results
1. Calculation of Oxygen Uptake: 150 meters/minute requires 33.3 mlO2/kg body weight/minute. For each 1.0 meter increase in velocity above 150 meters/minute, you require 0.178 additional ml O2/kg/minute.
a) Speed in excess of 150 meters/minute = meters/ minute - 150 = difference2. Record standing recovery heart rate.
b) Additional O2 requirement = difference (a) x 0.178 =
c) Total oxygen uptake = 33.3 + additional O2 requirement(b) = ml/O2/kg/min
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V. Fitness Standards as set by the SWEDISH and American Heart Association
FEMALES
| AGE | LOW | FAIR | AVERAGE | GOOD | HIGH |
| 20-29 | 20 | 20-25 | 26-31 | 32-41 | 42-50 |
| 28 | 29-34 | 35-43 | 44-48 | >49 | |
| 30-39 | 17 | 17-23 | 24-28 | 29-37 | 38-46 |
| ; | 27 | 28-33 | 34-41 | 42-47 | >48 |
| 40-49 | 14 | 14-20 | 21-26 | 27-35 | 36-44 |
| 25 | 26-31 | 32-40 | 41-45 | >46 | |
| 50-59 | 13 | 14-17 | 18-23 | 24-31 | 32-40 |
| 21 | 22-28 | 29-36 | 37-41 | >42 | |
| 60-69 | 11 | 12-14 | 15-20 | 20-29 | 30-38 |
MALES
| AGE | LOW | FAIR | AVERAGE | GOOD | HIGH |
| 20-29 | 21 | 22-28 | 29-36 | 37-44 | 45-52 |
| 38 | 39-43 | 44-51 | 52-56 | >57 | |
| 30-39 | 20 | 21-26 | 27-32 | 33-41 | 42-49 |
| 34 | 35-39 | 40-47 | 48-51 | >52 | |
| 40-49 | >17 | 18-22 | 23-30 | 31-37 | 38-45 |
| 30 | 31-35 | 36-43 | 44-47 | >48 | |
| 50-59 | 15 | 16-20 | 21-28 | 29-36 | 3 7-44 |
| 25 | 26-31 | 32-39 | 40-43 | >44 | |
| 60-69 | 14 | 15-19 | 20-26 | 27-34 | 35-42 |
| 21 | 22-24 | 27-35 | 36-39 | >40 |
Approximately 70-80% of the American male population attain cardio-respiratory limitation at energy expenditures of 10-11 METS.
1. Define METS.
2. Calculate your maximum METS. Show all of your calculations.
3. Assess (quantitative) your aerobic work capacity in relation to the
average American standard and to the Swedish standard.
For Example: If you ran 4 laps, 4 laps x 400 meters = 1600 meters in12 minutes, then you ran at a speed of 1600/12 = 133.3 meters/min.
Thus, VO2 = (0.20) (133.3) + 3.5 = 30.16 ml O2/kg/min
2.0 66.7 16.84
2.25 75.0 18.5
2.50 83.3 20.16
2.75 91.7 21.84
3.0 100.0 23.5
3.25 108.3 25.16
3.50 116.7 26.84
3.75 125.0 28.5
4.0 1 33.3 30.16
4.25
141.7
31.84
c = 2a + 2b = 200 m + (2_r) m
EF = equivalency factor required to compute true time for running same
number of laps in lane 1 of a 440 yard track. [conversion factor for yards
to meters: x 0.9144)
| LANE 1 | LANE 2 | LANE 3 | LANE 4 |
| c = 400.0 m (437.82yd) | c = 407.66 m (445.82y) | c = 415.32 m (454.20yd) | c = 422.98 m (462.58yd) |
| r = 31.831 m | r = 33.050 m | r = 34.269 m | r = 35.488 m |
| EF = 1.0058 1 mile = 4.02 |
EF = 0.9869 1 mile = 3.95 laps |
EF = 0.9687 1 mile = 3.87 laps |
EF = 0.9512 1 mile = 3.80 laps |
| LANE 5 | LANE 6 | LANE 7 | LANE 8 |
| c = 430.64 m (470.95yd) | c = 438.30 m (479.33y) | c = 445.96 m (487.71 y) | c = 453.61 m (496.07yd) |
| r = 36.707 m | r = 37.926 m | r = 39.145 | r = 40.364 m |
| EF = 0.9343 | r = 37.926 | EF = 0.9022 | EF = 0.8870 |
| 1 mile = 3.74 laps | 1 mile = 3.67 laps | 1 mile = 3.61 laps | 1 mile = 3.55 laps |
Each subject should walk as fast as possible, without running (you aren’twalking) or ‘race-walking’ (you aren’t walking, and you look kinda silly)for 1 mile. For our class, we will use 1600 meters, because it is veryeasy to walk that distance (our outdoor track is 400 meters in length,and our indoor track is 200 meters in length).
Immediately at the end of the walk, find your pulse rate by palpationfor
15 seconds. Multiply by 4 to find your ‘terminal heart rate.’ Pleasenote that
your walk time should be reported in minutes only, so be sure to convert any
seconds into minutes by dividing by 60. Additionally, you will need to know
your age (in years) and your weight (in pounds, not kilograms)
Enter you results here:
Time: __________ Age: __________ Weight: __________
15 second count: __________ Terminal HR: __________
Enter your values into the following formula to find VO2 max (inmL/kg/min):
[Note that for sex, males enter 1, females enter 0]
VO2max = 132.853—(.0769)(wt.)—(.3877)(age) + (6.315)(sex)—(3.2649)(time)—(.1565)(HR)
VO2max = 132.853 — ________ — ________ + ________ — ________ — ________
(Weight) (Age) (Sex) (Time) (HR)
VO 2max = __________ mL/kg/min
Record your fitness category: __________
X. Reference
1. Balke, B. A Simple Field Test for the Assessment of Physical Fitness.Federal Aviation Agency, Publ. 63-6, Oklahoma City, OK, 1963.
XI. Directions
1. Perform the Balke 12 min. run test.
2. Show all of your calculations to estimate VO2max.