Modified Isoinertial-Based Ruffier Test in Healthy Individuals: A Feasibility Study

Abstract

Cardiorespiratory fitness is an essential indicator in sports science and sports medicine that can be assessed with several tests. The Ruffier test is a submaximal test valid to estimate maximum oxygen uptake; it consists of 30 squats in 45 s, which may be challenging for inexperienced individuals. This study aims to verify the feasibility of a modified inertial-based version of the Ruffier test to assess cardiorespiratory fitness with 10 squats in 15 s. Both classic and isoinertial Ruffier tests were administered to thirty-five healthy young adults (20 men and 15 women), age 22.06 ± 2.13 years, BMI 23.87 ± 2.74. The two one-sided test confirmed the comparability of the isoinertial Ruffier test with its classic version within equivalence bounds of ±3.726. Furthermore, gender, age, body weight, the difference between peak heart rate after isoinertial squatting and resting heart rate, and the isoinertial Ruffier index are the coefficients of our best VO2max prediction model with an adjusted R2 of 0.937, sensitivity of 0.89, and specificity of 0.81. The study evidenced the feasibility of the isoinertial Ruffier test to measure cardiorespiratory fitness through a quick, safe, and short squat test easy to perform in fitness centers and primary care clinics.

Efficacy and safety of physical therapy in patients with stage III COPD during ambulatory rehabilitation

“…The anthropometric parameters were measured using standard techniques: body mass index (BMI) was calculated using the Quetelet formula [ 9 ], Pignet's body-built index [ 10 ], and vital capacity index [ 11 ]. Respiratory rate, measured as the number of breaths per minute, and the functional capabilities of the cardiorespiratory system were assessed using the Ruffier and Ruffier-Dickson tests [ 12 ], along with the Shtange test (breath-holding at inhalation) and the Genchi test (breath-holding at exhalation) [ 13 ]. To evaluate patients' exercise tolerance and the functional class (FC) of circulatory insufficiency, the six-minute walk test [ 14 ] and the Harvard step test were employed.…”