Introduction: Cardiorespiratory endurance is an important indicator of physical health. It refers to the ability of the heart and lungs to deliver oxygen to working muscles during physical activity. It is measured with maximum oxygen uptake using maximal and submaximal aerobic tests. The latter include the 6-minute walk test and the Queen's College step test. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess whether an agreement exists between VO2max estimated from six-minute walk test and Queen's College step test in healthy young adults. Methods: The participants were healthy young adults of both sexes, aged between 20 and 25 years. Prior to testing, the Health and physical activity questionnaire was used to check for possible contraindications to participation in the study, and then both tests were performed on the same day. From the results of the tests, linear equations were used to approximate the maximum oxygen uptake for the 6-minute walk test and the Queen's College step test, and a 15-point Borg rating of perceived exertion scale was used to estimate the perceived exertion during each test. The tests were compared according to the calculated approximation of the value of the maximum oxygen uptake and according to the estimation of the perceived exertion at the time of the test. Results: The study included 32 subjects, 16 men and 16 women (mean age 22.4 (1.5 years)). The mean maximum oxygen uptake in the 6-minute walk test was 44,15 (4,84 ml/kg/min) and in the Queen's College step test was 42,15 (8,34 ml/kg/min). The mean difference maximum oxygen uptake between tests (2.01 (6.74 ml/kg/min)) did not exceed maximum acceptable difference of 3,00 ml/kg/min decided a priori. The mean difference in perceived exertion score between the 6-minute walk test and the Queen's College step test was 2.19 (0.69). The two tests are statistically significantly different in terms of perceived exertion rating. Discussion and conclusion: Although the approximated calculation showed comparability in the values of maximum oxygen uptake between the two tests, it was observed that the tests are interchangeable for determining maximum oxygen uptake values only for men, but the same cannot be said for women. In future studies, it would be useful to increase the sample size and include subjects of different age groups and check whether the two tests are really interchangeable in determining maximum oxygen uptake values for men only.
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