PREDICTION OF MAXIMAL OXYGEN UPTAKE BY THE 20 m SHUTTLE RUN TEST IS COURSE-DEPENDENT

BACKGROUND: The multistage 20 m shuttle run test with 1 min stages (Léger et al. 1988) is a popular field test to predict maximal oxygen uptake (Tomkinson et al. 2000). In this test, subjects run back and forth between 2 parallel lines, marked 20 m apart, in time to sounds from a compact disc (20 m shuttle run test, Australian Sports Commission). It has been suggested, however, that the changes of speed and direction at each line may negatively influence the out-come of the test (O´Gorman et al. 2000). PURPOSE: We examined the prediction of maximal oxygen uptake by the 20 m shuttle run test by comparing the line to line 20 m shuttle run test (20MST-LL) with running the 20 m shuttle run test in a figure of 8 (20MST-Fo8). METHODS: A ran-dom crossover design was used with all tests run indoors on a non-slip vinyl floor. Peak velocity, total running time