Comparison of VO2peak from the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) and treadmill in children

Corey Selland; Matthew D Vukovich; Jessica R Meendering

doi:10.1016/j.jesf.2022.01.002

Comparison of VO₂peak from the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) and treadmill in children

J Exerc Sci Fit. 2022 Apr;20(2):84-89. doi: 10.1016/j.jesf.2022.01.002. Epub 2022 Jan 12.

Authors

Corey Selland¹, Matthew D Vukovich², Jessica R Meendering²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Human Performance, Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN, USA.
² Department of Health and Nutritional Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA.

Abstract

Background/objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference in peak oxygen consumption (VO₂peak) during a graded treadmill test and the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) in a sample of 7-14 year old children.

Methods: Forty-four participants (25 boys, 19 girls) had VO₂ assessed during a peak treadmill test and the PACER by a portable indirect calorimeter on non-consecutive days. Exercise parameters were compared between exercise tests by paired t-tests.

Results: The PACER elicited a greater measured VO₂peak (49.4 ± 9.4 vs. 46.7 ± 7.5 ml. kg^-1·min^-1) and maximum respiratory exchange ratio (1.14 ± 0.08 vs. 1.07 ± 0.08) than the treadmill test (p < 0.05). Rating of perceived exertion was higher (8.1 ± 3.5 vs 7.6 ± 3.8) during the treadmill test compared to the PACER test (p < 0.05). There was no difference in maximum heart rate between treadmill test and PACER test (196.9 ± 9.3 vs. 198.6 ± 8.8, p > 0.05).

Conclusions: The PACER provides an acceptable measure of cardiorespiratory fitness in children but the finding that children elicit a higher measured VO₂peak during the PACER compared to a graded treadmill test warrants continual refinement in future aerobic fitness prediction equations from the PACER.

Keywords: Adolescent; Cardiorespiratory fitness; Child; Exercise test; Physical fitness.