Comparison of VO(2)peak from the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) and treadmill in children

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference in peak oxygen consumption (VO(2)peak) 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 VO(2) 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 VO(2)peak (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 VO(2)peak during the PACER compared to a graded treadmill test warrants continual refinement in future aerobic fitness prediction equations from the PACER.