PHYSIOLOGICAL METHODS FOR ESTIMATING THE PHYSICAL WORK CAPACITY IN WORKERS ESPECIALLY OF THE OLDER AGE GROUPS

Abstract

A submaximal test for estimating the physical work capacity has been developed and compared with a more complicated bicycle test. The testing procedure is a modified Harvard step test which in its original form is a maximal test The pulse rate was counted during work. The step height was 40 cm for young males and 27 cm for the older ones and for the females 33 cm; the stepping rate was 22·5 steps per min. The average values for ‘ step test 40 cm ’, and ‘ bicycle test 900 kgm/min ’ for male subjects were: oxygen intake 2·11 ±0·04 and 2·15±0·02 l./min ; pulse rate during work 130±1·5 and 132± 1·9 beats/mm respectively. The average values for ‘ step test 33 cm ’ and ‘ bicycle test 600 kgm/min ’ for female subjects were : oxygen intake 1·56±0·03 and 1·48±0·02 l./min ; pulse rate during work 140±1·6 and 138 ±2·2 beats/min respectively. The mechanical efficiency did not vary with the body height or weight. As the aerobic capacity for trained individuals without excessive fat is closely correlated to the body weight the light ones will be tested at a relatively higher intensity than the heavy ones, when the bicycle test is used with a fixed load. In the step test the load varies with the body weight but the oxygen intake per kilogram body weight is constant.