Abstract

JANSE VAN RENSBURG, Dina Christina et al. The FitTrack Index as fitness indicator: A pilot study. Health SA Gesondheid (Online) [online]. 2016, vol.21, n.1, pp.431-436. ISSN 2071-9736.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hsag.2016.07.005.

BACKGROUND: The FitTrack Index is a web-based programme developed in South Africa and widely used by athletes to indicate their fitness. A need exists for a self-managed, non-invasive tool to evaluate and categorise health-related fitness in different population groups. The aim of this study was to compare the FitTrack Index with a reliable measure of cardio-respiratory fitness as indicated by maximal oxygen uptake (direct VO_2max Methods & results: During a 12-week cross-sectional, descriptive pilot study the direct laboratory tested VO_2max indicated a moderate to strong correlation with the FitTrack Index (Spearman's rho = 0.439, p = 0.089 at baseline; Spearman's rho = 0.853, p < 0.001 after 12 weeks). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the web-based FitTrack Index may be considered an appropriate tool to evaluate exercise capacity and cardiovascular fitness in healthy individuals following an aerobic training programme

Keywords : Aerobic fitness; Exercise ability; Recreational fitness; Cardiovascular fitness; Fitness indication; VO_2max.

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