Validation of the 1600-m run as a predictor of VO2MAX in Singapore children aged 10 to 12 years

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to determine the validities of the 1600-m run and several anthropometric variables for predicting maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) in Singapore children aged 10-12 years. Fourteen untrained subjects, 12 boys and 2 girls, performed the 1600-m run on a synthetic track and had VO2max determined in the laboratory. A weak correlation of -0.398 (p > 0.10) was found between VO2max and the 1600-m run time. In fact, subscapular thickness alone has the highest correlation coefficient with VO2max in this group (r = -0.863, p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis (best-subsets) was conducted and the best predictor variables were height, weight, triceps thickness, subscapular thickness and suprailiac thickness resulting in two prediction equations: (1) VO2max (ml.kg-1.min-1) = 79.9 - 16.6 (height, m) - 0.443 (triceps thickness, mm) -0.902 (subscapular thickness, mm)+ -0.358 (suprailiac thickness, mm), with R2 = 0.864, SEE= 2.189 (p < 0.05). and (2) VO2max (ml.ki1.min-1) = 61.8 - 0.212 (weight, kg) -0.425 (triceps thickness, mm) -0.667 (subscapular thickness, mm) + 0.315 (suprailiac thickness, mm) with R2 = 0.857, SEE = 2.248 (p < 0.05). This study thus suggests that three skinfold sites (triceps, subscapular and suprailiac), height and weight are better predictors ofVO2max than the 1600-m run.