A Submaximal Field Test of Aerobic Capacity does not Accurately Reflect VO2max in Career Firefighters

Authors

Davis Hale‡, University of TulsaFollow
Roger O. Kollock, University of TulsaFollow
Jacob Thomas, University of TulsaFollow
Gabriel J. Sanders, Northern Kentucky UniversityFollow
Will Peveler, Liberty UniversityFollow
Andrew Mangan, The University of Arkansas Medical SciencesFollow
Blake Landon, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences at Cherokee NationFollow

Abstract

International Journal of Exercise Science 15(4): 221-230, 2022. Adequate aerobic capacity is crucial to maintaining firefighter safety. The purpose of this study was to compare predicted VO_2max scores from a submaximal and maximal step test. Eighteen career male firefighters from a medium sized urban municipality completed both a submaximal Forestry step test and a maximal laboratory WFI step test. A lack of association (p = .017) and low level of agreement (p = .015) was determined between step test protocols producing a mean bias of ± 5.61 mL.kg-1/min-1 with most scores being overestimated. Use of the Forestry step test to predict true VO_2max in firefighters should be used with caution when classifying firefighter fitness.

Recommended Citation

Hale‡, Davis; Kollock, Roger O.; Thomas, Jacob; Sanders, Gabriel J.; Peveler, Will; Mangan, Andrew; and Landon, Blake (2022) "A Submaximal Field Test of Aerobic Capacity does not Accurately Reflect VO2max in Career Firefighters," International Journal of Exercise Science: Vol. 15 : Iss. 4, Pages 221 - 230.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijes/vol15/iss4/5