Normative Data of VO2 max Using 20m Shuttle Run Test in Amateur Female Cricket Players Between Age Group of 18 to 25 Years

BACKGROUND:Physical fitness refers to a set of attributes that influence an individual's ability to perform physical activity.Aerobic fitness, an important component of physical fitness, reflects the body's ability to transport and utilize oxygen during exercise and is commonly measured using VO max.VO max represents the maximum rate at which oxygen can be consumed and utilized by the body during intense physical activity and is also known as maximal aerobic capacity or maximal oxygen uptake.Physical fitness can also be defined as the ability to perform daily tasks with vigor and alertness, without undue fatigue, and with sufficient energy to enjoy leisure activities and respond to emergencies.Evidence suggests that cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis begin developing early in life, although their clinical manifestations appear in adulthood.Studies have shown a strong association between cardiorespiratory fitness and health outcomes in youth, highlighting the importance of monitoring aerobic fitness from an early age.Cardiorespiratory fitness is best assessed through aerobic capacity, most accurately measured by VO max.Laboratory methods are considered the gold standard but are often expensive and require specialized equipment.Therefore, field-based tests are widely used as practical alternatives.Field tests provide exercise assessment based on activities that individuals commonly perform.Since running is a frequently performed activity, running-based field tests are appropriate for estimating aerobic capacity.Among the various field tests, the 20 Meter Shuttle Run Test (20m SRT) is one of the most commonly used methods to estimate VO max.It is simple, cost-effective, and reliable for evaluating cardiorespiratory fitness in athletes and active individuals.Establishing normative VO max values can help in assessing the current fitness levels of specific populations and assist in designing targeted aerobic training programs. OBJECTIVE:To estimate normative VO max values in amateur female cricket players aged 18-25 years using the 20 Meter Shuttle Run Test. METHODOLOGY:This observational cross-sectional study was conducted over six months after approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee.A total of 40 amateur female cricket players aged 18-25 years were recruited according to the selection criteria after obtaining informed consent.Participants performed the 20 m shuttle run test to estimate their VO max.Individuals with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases, neurological or musculoskeletal impairments affecting running, abnormal vital signs before testing, or those unwilling to participate were excluded from the study. RESULT:The normative VO max values obtained for the 40 participants ranged from 32.03 to 49.78 ml/kg/min.VO max showed a statistically significant association with age and BMI (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION:The study included 40 amateur female cricket players with a mean age of 20.5 2.14 years and a mean BMI of 22.6 3.9 kg/m.A significant association was found between VO max, age, and BMI.The findings indicate that VO max tends to decrease with increasing age and BMI.