Is the SPARTACUS 15-15 test an accurate proxy for the assessment and tracking of maximal aerobic capacities in adolescents with obesity?

Alicia Fillon; Maud Miguet; Grace O'Malley; Marie-Eve Mathieu; Julie Masurier; Valérie Julian; Charlotte Cardenoux; Bruno Pereira; Olivier Rey; Martine Duclos; Yves Boirie; David Thivel

doi:10.1589/jpts.32.281

Is the SPARTACUS 15-15 test an accurate proxy for the assessment and tracking of maximal aerobic capacities in adolescents with obesity?

J Phys Ther Sci. 2020 Apr;32(4):281-287. doi: 10.1589/jpts.32.281. Epub 2020 Apr 2.

Authors

Alicia Fillon^{1

2

3}, Maud Miguet¹, Grace O'Malley⁴, Marie-Eve Mathieu^{5

6}, Julie Masurier³, Valérie Julian^{2

7

8}, Charlotte Cardenoux⁹, Bruno Pereira¹⁰, Olivier Rey^{1

1}, Martine Duclos^{2

7

8

11}, Yves Boirie^{2

8

11

12}, David Thivel^{1

11}

Affiliations

¹ Clermont Auvergne University: EA 3533, Laboratory of the Metabolic Adaptations to Exercise under Physiological and Pathological Conditions (AME2P), Clermont-Ferrand, France.
² INRA, France.
³ UGECAM Nutrition Obesity Ambulatory Hospital, France.
⁴ School of Physiotherapy, Division of Population Health Sciences, The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Ireland.
⁵ School of Kinesiology, University of Montreal, Canada.
⁶ Sainte-Justine UHC Research Center, Canada.
⁷ Department of Sport Medicine and Functional Explorations, Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital, G. Montpied Hospital, France.
⁸ UFR Medicine, University Clermont Auvergne, France.
⁹ Pediatric Obesity Department, Children Medical Center, France.
¹⁰ Biostatistics unit (DRCI), Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital, France.
¹¹ CRNH-Auvergne, France.
¹² Department of Human Nutrition, Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital, G. Montpied Hospital, France.

Abstract

[Purpose] While there is a need for reliable field tests for the evaluation of physical fitness in pediatric obesity, the present work i) evaluates the validity of the Spartacus 15-15 test in indirectly assessing maximal aerobic capacity in adolescents with obesity and ii) evaluates its sensibility to weight loss. [Participants and Methods] Fifty-five 11-16 year-old adolescents with obesity (Tanner 3-4) were enrolled in a 12-week weight-management intervention. Maximal Aerobic fitness (VO_2peak test + Spartacus test) and body composition (Dual X-ray absorptiometry) were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks. [Results] Moderate correlations were found at baseline between VO_2peak (2,231.90 ± 465.6 mL/min) and Spartacus stage (6.83 ± 1.8 stage, r=0.52; p≤0.05), speed (12.85 ± 1.8 km/h, r=0.52 ; p≤0.05) and time (20.6 ± 5.4 min; r=0.50; p≤0.05). The intervention favored significant improvements for VO_2peak, Spartacus Rate of Perceived Exertion final stage, maximal speed and time. Change over time in VO_2peak and Spartacus variables were not correlated. [Conclusion] The Spartacus test can be used as a proxy for VO_2peak at baseline and can be used to estimate VO_2peak using the proposed equation. The Spartacus 15-15 test might be a better indicator for changes in functional capacity than an indicator of VO_2peak changes in youth with obesity.

Keywords: Aerobic fitness; Field test; Obese adolescents.