Maximum consumption of oxygen in step test: a longitudinal study in students of the Preparatory Nucleus of Reservation Offi cials

Introduction: The aim of this study is to measure the VO 2max in ascent and descent step test, in three moments, dur- ing the preparatory course for offi cials of the reservation. Materials and Methods: It's an applied, longitudinal, analytical, and probabilistic research. The sample consisted of 15 active men, average of age 18.7±0.5 years old. The stature, body mass, heart frequency (HF) of effort were measured and the phases, increment of the bench's height, number of touches per minute, ascent and descent rhythm of the ergometric bench and time of execution were controlled. The individuals used a cardiofrequencimeter of the brand Polar A5 in the gauging of HF and the Table of Borg in the subjective control of effort. The ergometric test applied was Cirilo's Electronic Bench Test, in three different moments. The used statistics was descriptive of average, standard deviation, maximum and minimum and inferential, using the Friedman's test for repeated measures. The signifi cance level was p<0.05 and the used software was the SPSS version 16. Results: In the fi rst moment, a mean of VO 2max of 38.34±1.68ml.kg -1 .min -1 was obtained, in the second 38.60±0.68ml.kg -1 .min -1 and in the third 39.96±1.74ml.kg -1 .min -1 , with signifi cant differences (p=0.004). Discussion: The level of cardiorespiratory capacity was classifi ed as reasonable, in the three moments of the test, by the index of VO 2max . This situation was not characterized in a satisfactory way for the specifi c needs of the troop during the investigated period, in comparison with the levels of this capacity in other studies with military.