Citation

Pennathur A, Lopes A, Rene Contreras L. Int. J. Ind. Ergonomics 2005; 35(1): 91-103.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This research's main objective was to determine aerobic capacity in Mexican American young adults. Aerobic capacity was measured using a submaximal treadmill exercise using the Bruce protocol. Sixteen male and five female healthy student volunteers aged 22-30 participated in the experiment. Volumetric oxygen consumption was measured using the breath-by-breath VMaxST oxygen consumption monitor. Results indicate that Mexican American men had a VO2max of 4.8 l/min (SD=1.75) and a weight adjusted VO2max of 56.32 ml/kg/min (SD=12.2), while Mexican American women had a VO2max of 2.8 l/min (SD=0.73), and a weight-adjusted VO2max of 44.69 ml/kg/min (SD=6.72). Results also indicated that the heart rate was nearly 10 times the rating of perceived exertion at each workload.Relevance to industryGiven the changing demographics of the US population, and the work force becoming predominantly Hispanic, it is important to quantify the aerobic capacity of Mexican American young adults for work design.