Abstract
It is unknown how the estimation of aerobic fitness in children and adolescents compares among physical working capacity (PWC) protocols with different stage lengths. The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) compare PWC tests with 2-, 3-, and 6-min stage lengths in youth, and (2) examine the relationship between PWC at a heart rate (HR) of 170 beats min−1 (PWC170) and peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak). Fifty youth (31 m, 19 f), aged 11–16 years participated. Each participant visited the laboratory twice and performed three PWC tests (2-, 3-, 6-min stages) on a cycle ergometer. Tests usually consisted of three stages of increasing loads with the goal of reaching HR ≥ 165 beats min−1. Individual regression lines were created to predict workload at HR = 170 beats∙min−1 for each test. Participants completed two VO2peak tests, both running and cycling. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare PWC170 values. Pearson correlation was used to assess the relationships between VO2peak and power output for different PWC170 stage lengths. The three PWC170 protocols differ significantly; therefore, it is not advisable to directly compare results from different protocols. Furthermore, PWC170 showed moderate associations with VO2peak, with the 2-min protocol showing the best correlation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderssen SA, Cooper AR, Riddoch C, Sardinha LB, Harro M, Brage S, Andersen LB (2007) Low cardiorespiratory fitness is a strong predictor for clustering of cardiovascular disease risk factors in children independent of country, age and sex. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil 14(4):526–531. doi:10.1097/HJR.0b013e328011efc100149831-200708000-00008[pii]
Armstrong N, Barker AR (2009) Oxygen uptake kinetics in children and adolescents: a review. Pediatr Exerc Sci 21(2):130–147
Armstrong N, Kirby BJ, McManus AM, Welsman JR (1995) Aerobic fitness of prepubescent children. Ann Hum Biol 22(5):427–441
Astrand P, Rodahl K, Dahl H, Stomme S (2003) Textbook of work physiology, vol 4th. Human Kinetics, Champaign
Bar-Or O, Rowland T (2004) Pediatric exercise medicine. Human Kinetics, Champaign
Bengtsson E (1956) The working capacity in normal children, evaluated by submaximal exercise on the bicycle ergometer and compared with adults. Acta Med Scand 154(2):91–109
Boreham CA, Paliczka VJ, Nichols AK (1990) A comparison of the PWC170 and 20-MST tests of aerobic fitness in adolescent schoolchildren. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 30(1):19–23
Carnethon MR, Gidding SS, Nehgme R, Sidney S, Jacobs DR Jr, Liu K (2003) Cardiorespiratory fitness in young adulthood and the development of cardiovascular disease risk factors. JAMA 290(23):3092–3100
Cooper DM, Berry C, Lamarra N, Wasserman K (1985) Kinetics of oxygen uptake and heart rate at onset of exercise in children. J Appl Physiol 59(1):211–217
Fawkner SG, Armstrong N, Potter CR, Welsman JR (2002) Oxygen uptake kinetics in children and adults after the onset of moderate-intensity exercise. J Sports Sci 20(4):319–326
Heyman E, Briard D, Dekerdanet M, Gratas-Delamarche A, Delamarche P (2006) Accuracy of physical working capacity 170 to estimate aerobic fitness in prepubertal diabetic boys and in 2 insulin dose conditions. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 46(2):315–321
Lohman T, Ring K, Pfeiffer K, Camhi S, Arredondo E, Pratt C, Pate R, Webber LS (2008) Relationships among fitness, body composition, and physical activity. Med Sci Sports Exerc 40:1163–1170
Mahoney C (1992) 20-MST and PWC170 validity in non-Caucasian children in the UK. Br J Sports Med 26(1):45–47
Malina RM (2001) Physical activity and fitness: pathways from childhood to adulthood. Am J Hum Biol 13(2):162–172. doi:10.1002/1520-6300(200102/03)13:2<162:AID-AJHB1025>3.0.CO;2-T
McMurray RG, Guion WK, Ainsworth BE, Harrell JS (1998) Predicting aerobic power in children. A comparison of two methods. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 38(3):227–233
Mirwald RL, Baxter-Jones AD, Bailey DA, Beunen GP (2002) An assessment of maturity from anthropometric measurements. Med Sci Sports Exerc 34(4):689–694
Mocellin R, Rutenfranz J, Singer R (1971) Normal values of physical performance capacity (W170) in children and adolescents. Z Kinderheilkd 110(2):140–165
Pate RR, Wang CY, Dowda M, Farrell SW, O’Neill JR (2006) Cardiorespiratory fitness levels among US youth 12 to 19 years of age: findings from the 1999–2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 160(10):1005–1012. doi:160/10/1005[pii]10.1001/archpedi.160.10.1005
Pfeiffer KA, Dowda M, Dishman RK, Sirard JR, Pate RR (2007) Physical fitness and performance. Cardiorespiratory fitness in girls-change from middle to high school. Med Sci Sports Exerc 39(12):2234–2241. doi:10.1249/mss.0b013e318156aa6000005768-200712000-00018[pii]
Rowland T (2005) Children’s exercise physiology, vol 2nd. Human Kinetics, Champaign
Rowland TW, Rambusch JM, Staab JS, Unnithan VB, Siconolfi SF (1993) Accuracy of physical working capacity (PWC170) in estimating aerobic fitness in children. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 33(2):184–188
Stevens J, Murray DM, Catellier DJ, Hannan PJ, Lytle LA, Elder JP, Young DR, Simons-Morton DG, Webber LS (2005) Design of the trial of activity in adolescent girls (TAAG). Contemp Clin Trials 26(2):223–233
Strong WB, Spencer D, Miller MD, Salehbhai M (1978) The physical working capacity of healthy black children. Am J Dis Child 132(3):244–248
Turley KR, Wilmore JH (1997) Cardiovascular responses to treadmill and cycle ergometer exercise in children and adults. J Appl Physiol 83(3):948–957
Wideman L, Baker CF, Brown PK, Consitt LA, Ambrosius WT, Schechter MS (2009) Substrate utilization during and after exercise in mild cystic fibrosis. Med Sci Sports Exerc 41(2):270–278
Wilmore J, Costil D (2004) Physiology of sport and exercise, vol 3rd. Human Kinetics, Champaign
Zafeiridis A, Dalamitros A, Dipla K, Manou V, Galanis N, Kellis S (2005) Recovery during high-intensity intermittent anaerobic exercise in boys, teens, and men. Med Sci Sports Exerc 37(3):505–512
Acknowledgments
This study was funded by the Spencer Foundation. The authors thank Sam Carter, Rachel Bell, and Jasmine Holmes for their assistance with data collection.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Communicated by David C. Poole.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bland, J., Pfeiffer, K. & Eisenmann, J.C. The PWC170: comparison of different stage lengths in 11–16 year olds. Eur J Appl Physiol 112, 1955–1961 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-2157-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-2157-z