ABSTRACT   Background: Health and ill-health are multifaceted concepts. Previous research has shown that physical activity and the level of cardio respiratory are important parts of leading a healthy lifestyle. Possibly, it’s so important that the Occupational Health Service should focus even more on this. Aim: The aim was to investigate if there was a relationship between the level of cardio respiratory fitness and self-rated health, and between the level of cardio respiratory fitness and physical and mental ill-health. Method: The study was conducted using a quantitative method in the form of a cross sectional study. Data was collected from an Occupational Health Service, containing answers to a questionnaire on work environment and health and test values ​​from completed cycle fitness tests. The study population consisted of 1191 individuals, n = 1191. Only male officials in the construction sector were included in the study. A total of 16 questions from the survey were selected, one question was about self-rated health and 15 questions were about perceived ill health during the past year. The 15 questions were divided into groups of physical and mental ill-health. Data were analyzed in SPSS using the chi square test to examine whether a relationship existed between variables.   Results: Data analysis shows strong evidence of a relationship between self-rated health and the level of cardio respiratory fitness, p= 0.000. Three of the questions regarding physical and mental ill-health were also shown to be associated with the level of cardio respiratory fitness: headache, p= 0.005, snoring p=0.000, and fatigue p=0.009. This indicates that individuals with higher levels of cardio respiratory fitness experience fewer symptoms of headaches, fatigue, snoring and better self-perceived health. Conclusion: The level of cardio respiratory fitness seems to be important when it comes to being healthy and preventing illness. People should therefore be encouraged to be cardio respiratory fit. Although there is evidence that these relationships exist, more research is needed to see if there is a relationship of causality and how strong the relationships are.   Keywords:  cardiorespiratory fitness, cardiorespiratory fitness-test, health, ill-health, self-rated health.

Sammanfattning Syfte och frågeställningar. Syftet med studien var att undersöka resultat vid och korrelationen mellan fem-minuters pyramidtest (5MPT) och maximalt syreupptagningstest (VO2max) på löpband på yngre friska individer. Vi ville även studera om det förelåg någon skillnad, inlärningseffekt, för de två testmetoderna vid en upprepad testomgång. Metod. I studien deltog 32 personer, 18 män och 14 kvinnor, i åldrarna 15–28 år. Deltagarna var inskrivna på utbildningar med inriktning mot fysisk aktivitet på antingen Värmdö gymnasium eller Gymnastik- och idrottshögskolan i Stockholm. Testpersonerna utförde två 5MPT och två VO2max-test på löpband. Således utfördes totalt fyra tester, alla vid olika tillfällen med minst 48 timmar mellan. VO2max-testet på löpband är en direkt metod för bestämning av syreupptagningsförmågan med en given stegring av belastning enligt ett, för studien, utformat protokoll för hastighet och lutning. Utandningsluften analyseras via en on-line-utrustning, Oxycon Pro, vilket är en tillförlitlig metod för att mäta VO2max. 5MPT är ett test där individen under fem minuter från golvnivå så snabbt som möjligt förflyttar sig fram och tillbaka på en uppmätt sträcka på 5,50 meter med en centralt placerad pyramidformad trappramp, där högsta centrala höjd är 0,62 meter. Power (W) vid 5MPT räknas ut enligt en formel utifrån bland annat antal vändor och kroppsvikt. Resultat. En stark signifikant korrelation (r = 0,91) framkom mellan power vid 5MPT och VO2max på löpband. Vidare sågs en signifikant inlärningseffekt vid 5MPT med en förbättring på 2 procent, och vid VO2max-test på löpband med 1 procent, mellan första och andra testtillfället. I arbetet återfinns två framtagna ekvationer som är baserade på sambandet mellan uppmätt VO2max-värde på löpband och powervärdet vid 5MPT. Den ena ekvationen är beräknad på data från första testomgången och den andra ekvationen på data från den andra testomgången. Slutsats. Studiens resultat på yngre vuxna indikerar att 5MPT kan användas för att uppskatta en individs VO2max-värde, samt att en förbättring skedde mellan första och andra testtillfället i 5MPT och VO2max-test på löpband. Detta motiverar till att den framtagna ekvationen tillämpas för första testtillfället när endast ett 5MPT genomförs, samt att vid upprepad testning används ekvationen baserad på andra testtillfället. Resultaten är av stort värde då de visar att det, genom enklare medel och mindre kostsamma metoder, går att få ett mått på konditionsnivå som är av betydelse i olika hälsosammanhang. / Abstract Aim. The purpose of this study was to investigate the results in and the correlation between the five-minute pyramid test (5MPT) and a maximal oxygen uptake test (VO2max) on a treadmill in young adults. We also wanted to investigate whether there was any difference in the two test methods when each test session was repeated. Method. The study enrolled 32 individuals, 18 men and 14 women, aged 15-28 years. The participants were students at Värmdö gymnasium or at the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, both schools with a focus on physical activity. The participants performed two 5MPT and two VO2max test on a treadmill. Thus, a total of four tests were conducted, all at different occasions. VO2max test on a treadmill is a direct method for the determination of oxygen uptake. A designed protocol for increased speed and angle was produced. An on-line equipment, Oxycon Pro, was used for analyzing the exhaled air. This is a reliable method to measure VO2max. 5MPT is a test where the subject during five minutes as quickly as possible moves back and forth from floor level at a measured distance of 5.50 meters with a central pyramid-shaped stair ramp, with maximum central height 0.62 meters. Power (W) at 5MPT is calculated according to a formula based on, among other things, the number of laps and body weight. Results. A strong significant correlation (r = 0.91) was found between the power at 5MPT and maximal oxygen uptake on a treadmill, both at the first and the second test occasion. A significant improvement was seen at 5MPT by 2 percent, and maximum oxygen uptake test on a treadmill, by 1 percent, between the first and second test occasion. In the study we developed two equations that are based on the correlation between measured VO2max value on the treadmill and the power value at 5MPT. The first formula is based on data from the first test and the second equation on data from the second test. Conclusion. The results on younger adults indicate that 5MPT can be used to estimate the VO2max value for individuals. Due to the improvement, between the first and second test in 5MPT and in VO2max test on a treadmill, one can utilize the developed equation for the first time of testing when only one 5MPT test is performed, whereas during a repeat of the test one may use the formula based on the second test. The results are of great value because they show that you can measure the level of aerobic fitness with easy and less costly and time-consuming methods, which is of importance in various health contexts.

<p>During the past few years there has been an observed decrease in physical fitness within different patient groups. As a part of the rehabilitating physiotherapy treatment it is important to acknowledge the physical condition of the patient. Physical fitness testing might be difficult due to physical limitations within different patient groups. A broad range of exercise tests is therefore of importance in clinical practice. The aim of this overview was to describe exercise tests used in rehabilitation contexts, and to define areas of use and restrictions. The method was a systematic literature overview and data was gathered through medical and healthcare databases. Scientific articles were selected and put together to answer the questions in the overview. The result showed that exercise tests mainly described in the literature were tests performed on a bicycle ergometer, treadmill tests and walking tests. The tests were in several cases combined with rating scales. The tests were performed as submaximal or maximal tests to estimate VO₂max or VO₂Peak. Exercise testing was commonly used in rehabilitation of cardiac- and vascular diseases, pulmonary diseases and spinal cord injuries. Evaluation of an exercise program was the most common reason for using an exercise test. The question concerning restrictions of the tests could not be answered. The conclusion was that the most common exercise test was performed on a bicycle ergometer. Maximal VO₂Peak or VO₂max testing were mainly performed. The most common area for exercise testing was cardiac- and vascular rehabilitation. The most common purpose for performing an exercise test was evaluation of an exercise program. Further research is required in order to describe restrictions and implementations of the tests.</p>

During the past few years there has been an observed decrease in physical fitness within different patient groups. As a part of the rehabilitating physiotherapy treatment it is important to acknowledge the physical condition of the patient. Physical fitness testing might be difficult due to physical limitations within different patient groups. A broad range of exercise tests is therefore of importance in clinical practice. The aim of this overview was to describe exercise tests used in rehabilitation contexts, and to define areas of use and restrictions. The method was a systematic literature overview and data was gathered through medical and healthcare databases. Scientific articles were selected and put together to answer the questions in the overview. The result showed that exercise tests mainly described in the literature were tests performed on a bicycle ergometer, treadmill tests and walking tests. The tests were in several cases combined with rating scales. The tests were performed as submaximal or maximal tests to estimate VO2max or VO2Peak. Exercise testing was commonly used in rehabilitation of cardiac- and vascular diseases, pulmonary diseases and spinal cord injuries. Evaluation of an exercise program was the most common reason for using an exercise test. The question concerning restrictions of the tests could not be answered. The conclusion was that the most common exercise test was performed on a bicycle ergometer. Maximal VO2Peak or VO2max testing were mainly performed. The most common area for exercise testing was cardiac- and vascular rehabilitation. The most common purpose for performing an exercise test was evaluation of an exercise program. Further research is required in order to describe restrictions and implementations of the tests.

Syfte och frågeställningar. Syftet med studien är att, hos äldre personer, över 65 år, samt hos yngre vuxna, mellan 20-30 år, jämföra syreupptagningsförmågan med två olika metoder, fem-minuterspyramidtest (5MPT) samt VO2max-test på löpband. Vid båda mätmetoderna används direkt syrgasmätning. Metod. Totalt deltog 36 personer i studien, varav 17 äldre personer 65 till 85 år (9 kvinnor och 8 män) samt 19 yngre med en ålder mellan 20 till 35 år (10 kvinnor och 9 män). Deltagarnas syreupptagningsförmåga mättes under 5MPT vid två tillfällen som sedan jämfördes med VO2max mätt via ett maximalt test på löpband vid ett tillfälle. Således utfördes sammanlagt tre mätningar med direkt syrgasmätning, via andningsmask, under ett maximalt löpbandstest samt under två separata tester av 5MPT med minst 48 timmar mellan varje testtillfälle. Utandningsluften analyserades sedan, vid 5MPT för alla, via det trådlösa portabla systemet Jaeger Oxycon Mobile och vid test på löpband för testgruppen med yngre deltagare. För den testgrupp med äldre deltagare användes, vid testet på löpband, den fasta on-line-utrustningen Jaeger Oxycon Pro som är en liknande mätmetod för syreupptag. 5MPT är ett fem minuter långt test där individen från golvnivå, med högsta möjliga tempo, förflyttar sig fram och tillbaka på en 5,50 meter lång sträcka med en centralt placerad trappramp som är pyramidformad och med en högsta central höjd på 0,62 meter. Resultat. Det primära fyndet i studien var att en stark signifikant korrelation (r = 0,99) visade sig mellan direkt uppmätt VO2max under maximalt test på löpband gentemot syreupptagningsförmågan vid 5MPT då båda åldersgrupperna var sammanslagna, uppmätt i l·min–1. Slutsats. Då det i undersökningen visades en stark signifikant korrelation mellan direkt uppmätt VO2max vid 5MPT och ett maximalt test på löpband i l·min–1 för äldre och yngre vuxna ger det indikationer på att 5MPT kan används som en tillförlitlig metod vid undersökning och uppföljning av en persons aeroba förmåga. Fyndet kan vara av värde då det genom mindre kostsamma och enklare metoder går att få ett mått på en persons hälsa i form av aerob kapacitet, vilket är betydelsefullt ur flera hälsoaspekter på individ- och samhällsnivå. / Aim. The purpose of the study was to investigate the results and correlation between oxygen uptake levels (VO2max) at five-minute pyramid test (5MPT) against maximal oxygen uptake test (VO2max) on a treadmill test, both measured by direct oxygen measurement, in elderly people over 65 years and younger adults aged 20-30 years. Method. A total of 36 people participated in the study, 17 elderly people aged between 65 to 85 years (9 women and 8 men) and 19 younger adults aged between 20 to 35 years (10 women and 9 men). The participants' oxygen uptake was measured twice during 5MPT and then compared with VO2max measured by a maximal treadmill test at one occasion. Thus a total of three measurements with direct oxygen measurement, via the breathing mask, during a maximum treadmill test and two separate tests of 5MPT with at least 48 hours between each test. The exhaled air was analyzed at 5MPT for all, through the wireless portable system Jaeger Oxycon Mobile and also during the test on treadmill for the test group with younger participants. The test group of older participants, got their exhaled air analyzed through a stationary on-line equipment Jaeger Oxycon Pro instead of the portable system which is a similar reliable method to measure VO2max. 5MPT is a five minute test where the subjects from floor level, with the highest possible speed, moves back and forth at a measured distance of 5.50 meter with a central staircase ramp, which is pyramid-shaped, with a maximum center height of 0.62 meters. Results. The main finding of the study was that there was a strong significant correlation (r = 0.99) between directly measured VO2max during a maximum treadmill test compared to oxygen uptake at 5MPT when both the elderly people and the younger adults were combined, measured in l·min–1. Conclusion. The study showed a strong significant correlation between directly measured VO2max at 5MPT and a maximal treadmill testing l·min–1 for older and younger adults. This indicates that 5MPT can be used as a reliable method for investigation and monitoring a person’s aerobic capacity. This finding may be of value because it shows that less expensive and easier methods can be used to measure a person's health in terms of aerobic capacity, which is important from several aspects of health at both the individual and society level.