Aerobic Capacity and Grade-Walking Economy of Children 5–9 Years Old: A Longitudinal Study

Maximal oxygen uptake (VO 2 max), submaximal grade-walking oxygen uptake, and anthropometric measures were measured in a group of 19 children in 1988 and in 1992. The children were 5.2 ± .9 years old in 1988 and 9.2 ± 1.0 in 1992. The VO 2 max did not change relative to body weight over the 4 years (44.6 ml·kg −1 ·min −1 in 1988 versus 43.3 ml·kg −1 ·min −1 in 1992). Lower specific weight-relative oxygen uptakes were seen at the submaximal work levels in 1992 than in 1988, indicating an improvement in grade-walking economy.