The Validity of a One-Mile Walk Test for High School Age Individuals

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to validate a one-mile walk (1-MW) test for high school age individuals. Twenty-one students completed the 1-MW on two separate occasions. Forty-four students completed one 1-MW and a modified Balke walking treadmill test to volitional fatigue; the mean (M) of maximal oxygen comsumption (VO₂max) = 45.39, standard deviation (SD) = 8.26 mL · kg^-1 · min^-1. VO₂max values were predicted from the 1-MW results using the Kline, Porcari, Hintermeister, et al. (1987) Rockport Fitness Walking Test (RFWT) equation (M = 46.91, SD = 6.38 mL · kg^-1 · min^-1) and the Dolgener, Hensley, Marsh, and Fjelstul equation (1994; M = 39.88, SD = 5.87 mL · kg^-1 · min^-1). Intraclass stability reliability coefficients were .91 for the Kline, Porcari, Hintermeister, et al. equation and .97 for the Dolgener et al. equation. The validity coefficient was r =.84, standard errors of the estimate (SEE) = 4.50, Error = 7.16, and 38.6% of the measured VO₂max values fell within ±4.5 mL · kg^-1 · min^-1 of the estimated VO₂max values for the Dolgener et al. equation. Comparable values for the Kline, Porcari, Hintermeister, et al. equation were r = .80, SEE = 4.99, Error = 5.17, and % = 65.9. The difference between the measured VO₂max and the values estimated from the Dolgener et al. and Kline, Porcari, Hintermeister, et al. equations, respectively, were t(43) = -7.91, p < .0001 and t(43) = 2.02, p = .05. Using the FITNESSGRAM® (Cooper Institute of Aerobics Research, 1992) standards and the two estimated VO₂max values from Kline, Porcari, Hintermeister, et al. (1987), a 100% proportion of agreement was achieved for criterion-referenced reliability. Similarly, a 91% proportion of correct classification decisions with a phi coefficient of .76 was determined for criterion-referenced validity between the measured and RFWT estimated VO₂max values. It was concluded that the 1-MW is an acceptable test of cardiorespiratory fitness for high school aged individuals, if VO₂max is estimated from the RFWT equation.