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Br J Sp Med 1993; 27(2)
Validity of 20-MST for predicting VO2max of adult
Singaporean athletes
John Sproule MSc, C. Kunalan MSc, Michael McNeill MSc and Helen Wright MSc
School of Physical Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
This investigation compared the results of direct and
indirect measurements of maximum oxygen uptake
(VO2max) of an Asian population. Twenty subjects (16
male, 4 female), all of whom were physical education
students, were assessed directly using laboratory treadmill
running to determine VO2max. The indirect estimation of
Vo2 max was obtained using a modified form of the Leger
and Lambert 20-m multistage shuttle run test (20-MST).
Heart rates were recorded throughout both tests. Pearson
product moment correlations confirmed test-retest reliability for both direct and indirect measurements (r = 0.90
and r = 0.91 respectively). Differences for test-retest were
found to be not significant. No differences were found
between the maximal heart rate responses of the subjects
for the direct and indirect tests. Of the subjects 75% had a
lower predicted VO2max value (P < 0.01) compared with
results gained by direct measurements when the Ramsbottom norms for the 20-MST were used. The reasons for this
difference could be due to the different racial groups used
as subjects, the climatic conditions in Singapore, or the
small sample size. In order for the 20-MST test to be
considered a valid measure of aerobic fitness in Singapore
with an Asian population further study is recommended.
development of schoolchildren. The test was modified by Ramsbottom et al.3 (r = 0.92, P < 0.01) for use
by active adult sportsmen and sportswomen. Further, research has focused on validity testing4'5 by
comparing physical working capacity and 20-MST
tests of aerobic fitness in adolescent schoolchildren6
and investigating the 20-MST as a predictor of
running performance and VO2max in adults7.
The 20-MST has not been validated using an Asian
population. It has been well documented that
VO2max, as measured during laboratory treadmill
testing, is not impaired in a hot environment with
acclimatized subjects8. The purpose of this present
study was to investigate the validity of predicting the
VO2max of Asian adult subjects from performance on
the 20-MST in a hot and humid environment. This
study was undertaken to examine the suitability of
the 20-MST for use with the secondary school
population in Singapore.
VO2max, fitness, environment,
Sixteen men and four women students (15 Chinese,
three Malay and two Indian) from the School of
Physical Education, Singapore, volunteered to participate in this study. Physical characteristics of the
subjects are presented in Tables 1 and 2.
Keywords: Eurofit, 20-MST,
active Asian adults
Aerobic fitness is a major component of fitness for
good health as well as for optimal performance in
many sports. Aerobic fitness is best described as the
maximum oxygen uptake (Vo2max) of an individual.
However, laboratory tests are both expensive and
impractical in many cases. There is a need for
inexpensive, reliable and valid field tests to determine an estimate of Vo2max that are simple to
administer and suitable for use with large groups of
subjects.
Following the research of Leger and Lambert' the
20-m multistage fitness test (20-MST) was adopted by
the Council of Europe2 as one of its cardiorespiratory
and motor fitness tests for assessing the physical
Address for correspondence: John Sproule, School of Physical
Education, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Evans Road,
Singapore 1025.
(© 1993 Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd
0306-3674/93/030202-03
202 Br J Sp Med 1993; 27(3)
Subjects and methods
Table 1. Physical characteristics of men subjects (n = 16)
Age (years)
Height (cm)
Weight (kg)
Fat (%)
23.6(3.4) 21-35
173.6(6.9) 157-183
62.6(7.5) 49-73.5
11.9(4.1) 7-22
Values are mean(s.d.) range. Body fat assessed according to
Durnin and Womersley (1974)9.
Table 2. Physical characteristics of women subjects (n = 4)
Age (years)
Height (cm)
Weight (kg)
Fat (%)
20.5(0.6) 20-21
160.3(3.7)156-165
53.5(4.2) 49-58
20(2.9)16-23
Values are mean(s.d.) range. Body fat assessed according to
Durnin and Womersley (1974)9.
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Aerobic fitness of Singaporean PE students: J. Sproule et al.
Procedures
All subjects undertook a familiarization protocol for
laboratory treadmill running (Quinton model 18-60,
Getz Corp., Singapore 0511) and outdoor 20-mr
shuttle running on a flat, unshaded plexipave
surface. After familiarization the subjects performed
two maximal laboratory tests using the Taylor
protocol'0 and two 20-MST3. All testing was administered randomly over a 4-week period between 09.00
hours and 11.00 hours, with at least 3 days between
each test for each subject.
Heart rates were recorded throughout testing using
short range telemetry (Sport Tester PE-3000, BMEC,
Singapore) heart rate monitors. A metabolic measurement cart (SensorMedics 2900, General Scientific,
Singapore) provided analysis of respiratory gases to
determine VO2max. A portable cassette player (National: model WA-190N) with an audio cassette
(Ramsbottom et al.3) set the running pace for the
20-MST. Standard calibration procedures were followed immediately pretesting on the metabolic
measurement cart and the cassette player.
Temperature and humidity levels were recorded
with the aid of a whirling hygrometer (Brannan
model, Hai-Ou Co., Singapore) during all data
collection periods.
Physical characteristics were recorded at the first
data collection session for each subject, with the
exception of body fat and body weight. The
percentage body fat was determined by a state
registered nurse from the Singapore Sports Council
Research Centre, using the estimation methods of
Durnin and Womersley9. Body weight was recorded
on each test day and no significant differences were
found.
Temperature and percentage relative humidity
ranges were recorded during indoor treadmill running and outdoor shuttle running. These are presented in Table 3.
Results
Statistical analyses were carried out using SYSTAT
(Evanston, Illinois, USA). Pearson product moment
correlations confirmed test-retest reliability for both
direct measurement of and predicted VO2max (n = 20),
with r-values of 0.90 and 0.91, respectively. A t test
for correlated data was employed and indicated
significant differences between directly measured
and predicted values of VO2max (P < 0.01, r = 0.86).
The direct (test one) and predicted (test one) values of
VO2max are summarized and presented in Table 4.
No differences were found between the maximal
heart rate responses of the subjects during the laboratory direct determination of Vo2max and those
during the 20-MST. These results are summarized in
Table 5.
Table 3. Temperature and relative humidity ranges
Temperature (QC)
Dry bulb Wet bulb
Indoor (treadmill)
Outdoor (20-MST)
The population in this pilot study provides information on the aerobic fitness of some Singaporean
physical education students (n = 20; 16 men, four
women) which may be useful on a comparative basis.
23-24
30-32.5
56-58
62-70
17.5-18
25-26.5
Table 4. Direct and predicted values of V02max
VO2 max
(ml kg-' min-')
Direct
Predicted
51.5(6.04) 44-64
49.1(6.55) 38-61
Values are mean(s.d.) range; t = 3.13, P < 0.01
Table 5. Maximal heart rate (beats min-')
Treadmill
20-MST
191(10) 173-206
194(8) 181-205
Values are mean(s.d.) range; t = 1.47, not significant
Singapore is a multiracial society and this was
reflected in the different ethnic origins of our subjects
(15 Chinese, three Malay and two Indian).
It was interesting to find that 75% of the subjects
had a lower than predicted VO2max compared with
their directly determined Vo2ma, when the predicted
VO2max is based on performance in the 20-MST using
the results reported by Ramsbottom et a13.
Mahoney'1 suggests that the 20-MST provides a
valid and reliable field test of cardiorespiratory fitness
for large-scale testing of 12-year-old mixed race
populations in the UK (r = 0.83, boys; r = 0.76, girls;
P < 0.03). The norm tables used in Mahoney's
study" were originally devised by Leger and
Lambert' and modified according to Eurofit'2.
The findings of this present study suggest that the
norm tables3 may need to be modified for the active
adult Singaporean population, if they are performing
the 20-MST in Singapore. There is no apparent
specific reason for the lower predicted 20-MST
aerobic fitness results. The different racial backgrounds of the subjects may have influenced the
results. Also, it is well documented that during
exercise in the heat the combined circulatory demands of muscle and skin can impair oxygen
transport capacity to the working muscles and may
adversely affect performance'3 14.
References
1
Discussion
Relative humidity (%)
2
3
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SPORT INJURIES
IN HONOUR OF DR. ROBERT T. ROSENFELD
March 8-10, 1994.
Kibbutz Ma'ale Hachamisha,
Jerusalem, Israel
Organaizing Committee
G.Mann - Chairman
M. Bachmeyer
M. Eichenblatt
U. Frankl
A. Finsterbush
S. Samueloff
D. Segal
A. Soran
H. Weinberg
204 Br J Sp Med 1993; 27(3)
Scientific Committee
G. Mann - Chairman
M. Eichenblatt
Z. Reichart
S. Samueloff
D. Segal
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Validity of 20-MST for predicting VO2max of
adult Singaporean athletes.
J Sproule, C Kunalan, M McNeill and H Wright
Br J Sports Med 1993 27: 202-204
doi: 10.1136/bjsm.27.3.202
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