The Astrand Treadmill Test
The purpose of this test is to measure a client's aerobic fitness (the ability of the body to use oxygen to produce energy while running)
To complete this test you will require:
- A Treadmill with adjustable speed and gradient.
- A Stopwatch/clock.
- An assistant.
For this test your client starts walking on the treadmill and builds their speed up to 8.05km/hr (5 mph), with a grade (incline) of 0%. Once they are at this speed start the stopwatch and complete 3 minutes. After 3 minutes set the grade to 2.5% and complete another 2 minutes. Increase the grade by 2.5% every 2 minutes thereafter until the client is unable to continue the test.
Results: From the total running time an estimate of your clients VO2 max can be calculated by using the following formula;
VO2 max = (Time × 1.444) + 14.99
("Time" is the total time of the test expressed in minutes and fractions of a minute.)
E.G. You stopped the test after 13 minutes 15 seconds of running (13.25 minutes).
VO2 max = (13.25 × 1.444) + 14.99
VO2 max = 34.123 mls/kg/min
Once you have established your clients result you can compare it to ‘normative data’ on the following tables:
Female (values in ml/kg/min)
Age |
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Excellent |
Superior |
13-19 |
<25.0 |
25.0 - 30.9 |
31.0 - 34.9 |
35.0 - 38.9 |
39.0 - 41.9 |
>41.9 |
20-29 |
<23.6 |
23.6 - 28.9 |
29.0 - 32.9 |
33.0 - 36.9 |
37.0 - 41.0 |
>41.0 |
30-39 |
<22.8 |
22.8 - 26.9 |
27.0 - 31.4 |
31.5 - 35.6 |
35.7 - 40.0 |
>40.0 |
40-49 |
<21.0 |
21.0 - 24.4 |
24.5 - 28.9 |
29.0 - 32.8 |
32.9 - 36.9 |
>36.9 |
50-59 |
<20.2 |
20.2 - 22.7 |
22.8 - 26.9 |
27.0 - 31.4 |
31.5 - 35.7 |
>35.7 |
60+ |
<17.5 |
17.5 - 20.1 |
20.2 - 24.4 |
24.5 - 30.2 |
30.3 - 31.4 |
>31.4 |
Male (values in ml/kg/min)
Age |
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Excellent |
Superior |
13-19 |
<35.0 |
35.0 - 38.3 |
38.4 - 45.1 |
45.2 - 50.9 |
51.0 - 55.9 |
>55.9 |
20-29 |
<33.0 |
33.0 - 36.4 |
36.5 - 42.4 |
42.5 - 46.4 |
46.5 - 52.4 |
>52.4 |
30-39 |
<31.5 |
31.5 - 35.4 |
35.5 - 40.9 |
41.0 - 44.9 |
45.0 - 49.4 |
>49.4 |
40-49 |
<30.2 |
30.2 - 33.5 |
33.6 - 38.9 |
39.0 - 43.7 |
43.8 - 48.0 |
>48.0 |
50-59 |
<26.1 |
26.1 - 30.9 |
31.0 - 35.7 |
35.8 - 40.9 |
41.0 - 45.3 |
>45.3 |
60+ |
<20.5 |
20.5 - 26.0 |
26.1 - 32.2 |
32.3 - 36.4 |
36.5 - 44.2 |
>44.2 |