A Submaximal Field Test of Aerobic Capacity does not Accurately Reflect VO 2max in Career Firefighters.

Adequate aerobic capacity is crucial to maintaining firefighter safety. The purpose of this study was to compare predicted VO scores from a submaximal and maximal step test. Eighteen career male firefighters from a medium sized urban municipality completed both a submaximal Forestry step test and a maximal laboratory WFI step test. A lack of association ( = .017) and low level of agreement ( = .015) was determined between step test protocols producing a mean bias of ± 5.61 mL.kg-1/min-1 with most scores being overestimated. Use of the Forestry step test to predict true VO in firefighters should be used with caution when classifying firefighter fitness.