Estimation of Maximal Oxygen Uptake without Exercise Testing in Korean Healthy Adult Workers

Abstract

Maximal oxygen uptake is generally accepted as the most valid and reliable index of cardiorespiratory fitness and functional aerobic capacity. The exercise test for measuring maximal oxygen uptake is unsuitable for screening tests in public heath examinations, because of the potential risks of exercise exertion and time demands. We designed this study to determine whether work-related physical activity is a potential predictor of maximal oxygen uptake, and to develop a maximal oxygen uptake equation using a non-exercise regression model for the cardiorespiratory fitness test in Korean adult workers. Study subjects were adult workers of small-sized companies in Korea. Subjects with history of disease such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma and angina were excluded. In total, 217 adult subjects (113 men of 21-55 years old and 104 women of 20-64 years old) were included. Self-report questionnaire survey was conducted on study subjects, and maximal oxygen uptake of each subject was measured with the exercise test. The statistical analysis was carried out to develop an equation for estimating maximal oxygen uptake. The predictors for estimating maximal oxygen uptake included age, gender, body mass index, smoking, leisure-time physical activity and the factors representing work-related physical activity. The work-related physical activity was identified to be a predictor of maximal oxygen uptake. Moreover, the equation showed high validity according to the statistical analysis. The equation for estimating maximal oxygen uptake developed in the present study could be used as a screening test for assessing cardiorespiratory fitness in Korean adult workers.

Association of Occupational and Leisure-Time Physical Activity with Aerobic Capacity in a Working Population

“…[34] and Jang et al . [12] suggested that OPA could have a significant effect on VO 2max . Hirai et al .…”

“…With regards to LTPA, Ong & Sothy [11] found that regularly exercising men in sedentary occupations had a significantly higher mean VO 2max than non-regularly exercising counterparts. In contrast, the potential positive effects of OPA on VO 2max are less well investigated [12]. However, available data suggest that OPA, independent of formal exercise programs, may positively affect VO 2max [13].…”

Validity of Cooper’s 12-minute run test for estimation of maximum oxygen uptake in male university students

“…Oxygen uptake is one of the reliable predictors of metabolic indices [ 17 ]. A study in Korean workers indicated that the use of a non-exercise regression model can predict the work-related physical activity in terms of cardiorespiratory fitness [ 18 ]. It was also hypothesized that the particular form of work load not only represents the physical work load quite accurately but also contributes to increases in VO 2 max [ 19 ].…”

Low total physical activity, high total sitting time and high sitting time on a work day are correlated with low fitness in male working adults: a cross sectional study

“…12,13,17 Other studies claimed that workplace habits, where the employees spend most of their waking time, havestrong correlations with health outcomes. [18][19][20][21] Our study was designed to determine the relationship between each kind of domain-specific physical activity and sitting time with cardiorespiratory fitness among male workers.…”