Assessing General Endurance (VO2Max) with Astrand Treadmill Test

Assessing General Endurance (VO2Max) with Astrand Treadmill Test. This article will discuss how to assess or measure a general endurance level using astrand treadmill test. The objective of this Astrand Treadmill Test is to monitor the development of the athlete's general endurance (VO2max).

Required resources

To undertake this test you will require:

• Treadmill where the speed can be set at 5 mph (8.05 km/hr) and grade of slope can be adjusted
• Stopwatch
• Assistant.

How to conduct the test?

• The treadmill is set up at the start with a speed of 8.05km/hr (5 mph) and a grade of slope of 0%
• The athlete commences the test
• After 3 minutes the grade is set to 2.5% and then every 2 minutes the grade is increased by 2.5%
• The assistant starts the stopwatch at the start of the test and stops it when the athlete is unable to continue.

Analysis

Analysis of the result is by comparing it with the results of previous tests. It b expected that, with appropriate training between each test, the analysis would indicate an improvement.

From the total running time an estimate of the athlete's VO2max can be calculated as follows:

• VO2max = (Time x 1.444) + 14.99
• "Time" is the total time of the test expressed in minutes and fractions of a minute.

Example:

The athlete stopped the test after 13 minutes 15 seconds of running (13.25
minutes).

• VO2max = (13.25 x 1.444) + 14.99
• VO2max = 34.123 mls/kg/min.

Target group

This test is suitable for endurance athletes and players of endurance sports (eg football,  rugby)  but not  for individuals where the test  would be contraindicated.

Reliability

Reliability would depend upon how strict the test is conducted and the individual's level of motivation to perform the test.

Validity

There are published VO2max tables and the correlation to actual VO2max is high.

Reference
Mackenzie, Brian. 2005. 101 Performance Evaluation Test. Electric World Plc. London.

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