The maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) is the maximal quantity of energy that can be produced by the aerobic metabolism in certain time unity. It can be determined direct or indirectly by predictive equations. The objective of this study was to make a specific predictive equation to determine the VO2max from boys aged 10-16 years-old. Forty-two boys underwent a treadmill running ergospirometric test, with the initial velocity set at 9 km/h, until voluntary exhaustion. By the multiple linear regression was possible to develop the following equation for the indirect determination of the VO2max: VO2max (ml/min) = -1574.06 + (141.38 x Vpeak) + (48.34 * Body mass), with standard error of estimate = 191.5 ml/min (4.10 ml/kg/min) and coefficient of determination = 0.934. We suggest that this formula is appropriate to predict VO2max for this population.
Predictive equation; Indirect method; Aerobic fitness
