Modification of Cooper’s 12-min Run Test for Valid Prediction of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Male and Female Boxers of India

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the authenticity for application of Cooper’s 12 min run test (CRT) to predict VO_2max in male and female boxers in India.Methods: Participants of both sexes (male=70, female=60) were recruited from different boxing clubs in India, and randomly allocated to the study group (male = 40, female = 30) and cross-validation group (male = 30, female = 30). VO_2max was directly estimated by bicycle exercise with progressive workload followed by expired gas analysis in a Scholander micro-gas analyzer. CRT method was used for indirect prediction of VO_2max.Results: Predicted VO_2max (PVO_2max) and directly measured VO_2max were found to be significantly (p<0.001) different in the study groups of both sexes, with wide range of limit of agreement between PVO_2max and VO_2max. This indicates the inapplicability of existing CRT protocol in the male and female boxers. Simple linear regression was computed owing to existence of significant positive correlation (r = 0.84 and 0.89 in males and females, respectively; p<0.001) between VO_2max and distance covered in the run test. These newly derived norms depicted insignificant variation between PVO_2max and VO_2max in the confirmatory group of both sexes.Conclusions: Modified equations computed in this study for the prediction of cardiorespiratory fitness in terms of VO_2max by CRT were recommended in male and female Indian boxers.