The effect of performance feedback on cardiorespiratory fitness field tests

SummaryWe investigated the effects of performance feedback (PF) on predicting maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O2max) using the 20 m Multistage Shuttle Run Test (MST) and 20 m Square Shuttle Test (SST). The agreement between these two field tests in relation to laboratory V˙O2max was also examined. Forty healthy males (age: 21.5 ± 2.3; BMI: 23.7 ± 2.0) randomly performed four indirect V˙O2max tests; that is the MST and SST, as well as a modified version of MST (MSTMD) and SST (SSTMD). During MST and SST subjects received PF with respect to both test stage and running pace. In contrast, MSTMD and SSTMD incorporated auditory feedback which solely emitted signals regulating the running pace. Participants also performed a laboratory V˙O2max treadmill test (TT). ANOVA demonstrated significant mean predicted V˙O2max decrements in both MSTMD (p < 0.001) and SSTMD (p < 0.05) compared to MST and SST, respectively. In predicting TTV˙O2max, the‘95% limits of agreement’ analysis indicated errors equal to 3.6 ± 9.6 and 1.4 ± 10.3 ml kg−1 min−1 with coefficients of variation of ±10.0% and ±10.9%, for MST and MSTMD, respectively. The corresponding ‘95% limits of agreement’ values for SST and SSTMD were 0.1 ± 5.0 and −1.1 ± 6.1 ml kg−1 min−1 with coefficients of variation of ±5.4% and ±6.7%, respectively. It is concluded that the application of PF leads to superior field testing performances.