Validity of 20 meter multi stage shuttle run test for prediction of maximum oxygen uptake in Indian female university students.

BACKGROUND The 20-meter multi stage shuttle run test (20-m MST) has not yet been used by Indian scientists and validity of the test has not been studied for use with any of the Indian population. AIMS The purpose of this study was to validate the applicability of the 20-m MST in Indian adult female. MATERIALS AND METHODS For application of direct method cross over design was followed. For validity of the results repeatability was used. METHODS AND MATERIAL 32 female university students (age range 20.4 approximately 24.8 years) from three different universities of West Bengal, India were recruited for the study. Direct estimation of VO2 max comprised treadmill exercise followed by expired gas analysis by scholander micro-gas analyzer whereas VO2 max was indirectly predicted by the 20-m MST. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Paired t-test, Pearson's product moment correlation, linear regression statistics and Bland and Altman approach for limit of agreement were adopted for statistical analysis of the data. RESULTS The difference between the mean (SD) VO2 max values of direct measurement (VO2 max = 32.84 +/- 2.92 ml/kg/min) and the 20-m MST (SPVO2 max = 32.60 +/- 3.40 ml/kg/min) was statistically insignificant (p>0.10). Limits of agreement analysis also suggest that the 20-m MST can be applied for use with the studied population. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that the application of the present form of the 20-m MST be justified in the studied population. For better prediction of VO2 max a new equation has been computed based on present data for use with Indian female university students.