The effect of school intervention programs on the body mass index of adolescents: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Effective obesity interventions in adolescent populations have been identified as an immediate priority action to stem the increasing prevalence of adult obesity. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to make a quantitative analysis of the impact of school-based interventions on body mass index during adolescence. Studies were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct and Web of Science databases. Results were pooled using a random-effects model with 95% confidence interval considered statistically significant. Of the 18 798 possible relevant articles identified, 12 articles were included in this meta-analysis. The global result showed a low magnitude effect, though it was statistically significant (N = 14 428), global e.s. = -0.055, P = 0.004 (95% CI = -0.092, -0.017). Heterogeneity was low among the studies (I2 = 9.017%). The funnel plot showed no evidence of publication bias. The rank-correlation test of Begg (P = 0.45641) and Egger's regression (P = 0.19459) confirmed the absence of bias. This meta-analysis reported a significant effect favoring the interventions; however, future research are needed since the reported the evidence was of low magnitude, with the studies following a substantial range of approaches and mostly had a modest methodological quality.

Training strategy of explosive strength in young female volleyball players.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of an 8-week combined jump and ball throwing training program in the performance of upper and lower extremities among young female volleyball players of the high school. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 20 young female volleyball players playing at Scholar Sport in High School at the district level were divided in two groups: the experimental group (n=10; 14.0±0.0 years; 1.6±0.1 m; 52.0±7.0 kg and 20.7±2.4% body mass) and the control group (n=10; 13.8±0.4 years, 1.6±0.1 m; 53.5±4.7 kg and 20.3±1.7% body mass). The experimental group received additional plyometric and ball throwing exercises besides their normal volleyball practice. The control group underwent only their regular session of training. RESULTS: Strength performance in the experimental group significantly improved (medicine ball and volleyball ball throwing: P=0.00; and counter movement jump: P=0.05), with the improvement ranging from 5.3% to 20.1%. No significant changes in strength performance were observed in the control group (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The 8-week combined jump and ball throwing training can significantly improve muscular performance in young female volleyball players. These findings may be useful for all physical education teachers and volleyball coaches.

Physical Activity, Quality of Live and Well-Being in Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disability.

The practice of physical activity, exercise and sport has many benefits for the general population, but studies on the population with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are scarce and inconclusive. The aim of this systematic review is to analyze the state of the art on the role of physical activity, exercise and sport in the quality of life and well-being of people with IDD, seeking to understand the current panorama in this area and provide answers to these questions. The research was carried out between July and October 2023 using three databases: PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus. Fifteen articles met the eligibility criteria for this study, and these were methodologically assessed using the Downs and Black scale (1998). Higher values were identified in the total quality of life score and some domains of this variable (e.g., personal development, physical well-being and emotional well-being), in satisfaction with life and in the perception of well-being in individuals with IDD who have enjoyed or are involved in physical activity, physical exercise and/or sports programs. Thus, according to the studies included in this systematic review, we can conclude that the practice of physical activity, physical exercise and sport seems to contribute to improving the quality of life and well-being of people with IDD. Despite the growing research interest in this area, there is still a notable lack of studies exploring the impact of these programs, especially sports-based programs, on quality of life and well-being variables in the population under study.

An Evaluation of the Reliability of the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Water Competence and Its Relationship With Actual Water Competence.

In its recent development, the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Water Competence (PSPWC) showed good face and construct validity. However, additional reliability and validity research is needed, including test-retest reliability and a demonstration of the relationship between PSPWEC test scores and actual water competence. Toward that aim, we administered the PSPWC to 124 children, aged 5-8 years. We repeated this test administration after one week for a subset of 55 children to determine its test-retest reliability, and the remaining 69 children also performed the fully aligned Actual Aquatic Skills Test (AAST) in an indoor swimming pool to provide data for our investigation of the relationship between PSPWC scores and actual water competence. We found good test-retest reliability, both at the global level (ICC = 0.81, n = 55) and at the level of individual skills (Weighted kappa coefficients from 0.58 to 0.90), with no significant differences between these two test scores. We also found a moderate positive relationship between PSPWC and AAST total scores (r = .64, n = 69), with no significant difference between total scores of actual and perceived water competencies. Children overestimated their competence in three specific skills: the back star, swimming on the front, and diving in deep water. While these results underline specific situations in which children's higher self-perceptions of their water competence are a risk factor for their water safety, these data confirm that the PSPWC is reliable for measuring children's perceived competencies in aquatic education and drowning prevention, and there is further support for its validity through a moderate correlation with actual water competencies.

The influence of ACE ID and ACTN3 R577X polymorphisms on lower-extremity function in older women in response to high-speed power training.

BACKGROUND: We studied the influence of the ACE I/D and ACTN3 R577X polymorphisms (single or combined) on lower-extremity function in older women in response to high-speed power training. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-nine healthy older Caucasian women participated in this study (age: 65.5 ± 8.2 years, body mass: 67.0 ± 10.0 kg and height: 1.57 ± 0.06 m). Walking speed (S10) performance and functional capacity assessed by the "get-up and go" (GUG) mobility test were measured at baseline (T1) and after a consecutive 12-week period of high-speed power training (40-75% of one repetition maximum in arm and leg extensor exercises; 3 sets 4-12 reps, and two power exercises for upper and lower extremity). Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples, and genotyping analyses were performed by PCR methods. Genotype distributions between groups were compared by Chi-Square test and the gains in physical performance were analyzed by two-way, repeated-measures ANOVA. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between genotype groups in men or women for adjusted baseline phenotypes (P > 0.05). ACE I/D and ACTN3 polymorphisms showed a significant interaction genotype-training only in S10 (P = 0.012 and P = 0.044, respectively) and not in the GUG test (P = 0.311 and P = 0.477, respectively). Analyses of the combined effects between genotypes showed no other significant differences in all phenotypes (P < 0.05) at baseline. However, in response to high-speed power training, a significant interaction on walking speed (P = 0.048) was observed between the "power" (ACTN3 RR + RX & ACE DD) versus "non-power" muscularity-oriented genotypes (ACTN3 XX & ACE II + ID)]. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, ACE I/D and ACTN3 R577X polymorphisms are likely candidates in the modulation of exercise-related gait speed phenotype in older women but not a significant influence in mobility traits.

Exploring the relationship between social support, resilience, and subjective well-being in athletes of adapted sport.

Introduction: Sports participation of people with disabilities provide an improvement in their skills, especially on access to social support, which could improve resilience and well-being. This study aims to analyze the association between types of social support (parents, coach, friend, and best friend), resilience and positive and negative affect, in 105 Portuguese athletes with disabilities aged between 13 and 61 years (32 ± 12.35 years). Methods: Participants answered a short sociodemographic questionnaire, the Portuguese version of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and the Brief Resilience Scale, and a scale for assessing social support from parents, coach, friend, and best friend. Results: Social support provided by the best friend, coach, friends, and parents had a direct effect on resilience and positive and negative affect. Results showed a positive and significant association between resilience and positive affect (r = 0.28; p = 0.004) and a negative association between resilience and negative affect (r = -0.37; p ≤ 0.001). A strong relationship was found between resilience and affect, with no relationship being verified between the sources of social support and resilience or affect, as hypothesized. Discussion: For this group of athletes with disability, more than the social support they may have or may feel, resilience proved to be very important for the consequence of sports practice in terms of subjective well-being.

Well-Being, Resilience and Social Support of Athletes with Disabilities: A Systematic Review.

Sport for people with disabilities appears to play a positive role in the well-being, resilience and social support of athletes with disabilities. Thus, this systematic review aims to evaluate the effect of adapted sport on the well-being, resilience and social support in a population with disabilities. The Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus and SportDiscus databases were used, with several descriptors and Boolean operators. A total of 287 studies were identified through searching the databases. After the data extraction process, twenty-seven studies were included for analysis. In general, these studies show that adapted sport has a positive impact on the levels of well-being, resilience and social support resources for people with disabilities, contributing to their personal development, quality of life and integration into society. Considering the impact on the variables studied, these results are important to support and encourage the development of adapted sport.

The effects of concurrent resistance and endurance training follow a detraining period in elementary school students.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of an 8-week training period of resistance training alone (GR), or combined resistance and endurance training (GCOM), followed by 12 weeks of detraining (DT) on body composition, explosive strength, and ·VO2max adaptations in a large sample of adolescent school boys. Forty-two healthy boys recruited from a Portuguese public high school (age: 13.3 ± 1.04 years) were assigned to 2 experimental groups to train twice a week for 8 weeks: GR (n = 15), GCOM (n = 15), and a control group (GC: n = 12; no training program). Significant training-induced differences were observed in 1- and 3-kg medicine ball throw gains (GR: +10.3 and +9.8%, respectively; GCOM: +14.4 and +7%, respectively), whereas no significant changes were observed after a DT period in both the experimental groups. Significant training-induced gains in the height and length of the countermovement (vertical-and-horizontal) jumps were observed in both the experimental groups. No differences were perceived after a DT period in lower limb power. Time at 20 m decreased significantly for both intervention programs (GR: -11.5% and GCOM: -12.4%, <0.00), but either GR or GCOM groups kept the running speed after a DT period of 12 weeks. After training, the ·VO2max increased only significantly for GCOM (4.6%, p = 0.01). A significant loss was observed after a DT period in GR but not in GCOM. Performing resistance and endurance training in the same workout does not impair strength development in young school boys. As expected, strength training by itself does not improve aerobic capacity. Our results also suggest that training program effects even persist at the end of the DT period.

Effects of two different training programs with same workload on throwing velocity by experienced water polo players.

To investigate the effects of two different strength-training programs with the same workload (impulse) on throwing velocity in water polo, 30 water polo players (M age = 17.1 yr., SD = 4.9; M mass = 71.2 kg, SD = 14.7; M height = 1.75 m, SD = 0.09 m) were randomly divided in two groups based upon throwing performance with water polo ball. The medicine-ball training group performed 3 x 6 reps with a 3-kg medicine ball, while the combination training group completed 1 x 9 repetitions with the 3-kg medicine ball, followed by 3 x 14 repetitions with a water polo ball. Both groups trained eight weeks twice per week in addition to their regular water polo training. Throwing velocity was measured with a Doppler radar gun before and after the training period. Testing included throws with a water polo ball on land and in water, as well as with 1-kg and 3-kg medicine balls on land. Statistically significant increases were found in mean peak throwing velocity with the water polo, 1-kg, and 3-kg medicine balls after training. No differences between the groups were found, except in throwing velocity with water polo on land, with a statistically significantly larger increase for the combination training group (+7.6%) than the medicine-ball training group (+3.4%). These findings indicate that after training with the same workload (impulse), increases in throwing velocity in water polo are similar and suggesting workload may be a critical variable for training results.

High level swimming performance and its relation to non-specific parameters: a cross-sectional study on maximum handgrip isometric strength.

The relationship between handgrip isometric strength and swimming performance was assessed in the four competitive swimming strokes in swimmers of different age groups and of both sexes. 78 national-level Portuguese swimmers (39 males, 39 females) were selected for this study. Grip strength, previously used as a marker of overall strength to predict future swimming performance, was measured using a hand dynamometer. The best competitive time at 100 and 200 m in all four swimming strokes were converted into 2010 FINA points. Non-parametric tests were used to evaluate differences between groups. Pearson product-moment correlations were computed to verify the association between variables. Handgrip maximum isometric strength was significantly correlated with swimming performance, particularly among female swimmers. Among female age group swimmers, the relationship between handgrip and 100-m freestyle was significant. Handgrip isometric strength seems to be related to swimming performance, especially to 100-m freestyle and in female swimmers. For all other distances and strokes, technique and training probably are more influential than semi-hereditary strength markers such as grip strength.

Tokyo 2020: A Sociodemographic and Psychosocial Characterization of the Portuguese Paralympic Team.

The importance of practicing sports and its impact on the quality of life of people with disabilities is fundamental. Characterizing subjective well-being, resilience, and social influence in the practice of adapted sports, namely in those who participate in elite sport in Portugal, is truly important to support a set of initiatives to promote higher levels of practice. Thus, this study describes the Portuguese delegation at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games through sociodemographic and psychosocial (positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, resilience, and social support) variables. The study involved 31 of the 33 athletes of the Portuguese Paralympic team aged between 15 and 58 years (34.45 ± 11.7 years), with 21 men and 10 women. Individual-level sociodemographic data gave us a clear insight into the reality of adapted sport in Portugal. The high values of life satisfaction, high positive affect and low negative affect, as well as high levels of resilience and social support seem to be important variables for these athletes. The data from the present study highlighted the importance of understanding the characteristics of Paralympic athletes, in order to better understand the reality of Paralympic sport in Portugal.

Face and Content Validity of the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Water Competence in Young Children.

An international group of experts have developed a pictorial tool to measure perceived water competence for children aged from 5 to 8 years old: the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Water Competence (PSPWC). The aim of the present study was to verify the validity of this tool. In the first part of the study, 120 children were interviewed to investigate face validity of the PSPWC to ensure that all pictorial items were understandable. In the second part of the study, 13 scientific and/or pedagogical international experts were invited to assess the tool's content validity via an online survey. Face validity results revealed that children were able to understand and sequence correctly the aquatic situations in 92% of the cases. The average Content Validity Index (CVI) of the PSPWC ranged from 0.88 to 0.95, showing acceptable content validity. Feedback from experts and children resulted in a major improvement of the "exit water" situation and minor improvements concerning some other items. Experts confirmed that the PSPWC was globally appropriate for different countries and cultures, except for the situation "water entry by slide" which was not considered usual practice in some countries. The PSPWC opens up to new fields of research; useful both for the prevention of drowning and for the support of children's aquatic education.

The Coaches' Perceptions and Experience Implementing a Long-Term Athletic Development Model in Competitive Swimming.

The aim of this study was to analyze the association between coaches' experience and their perceptions on the implementation of a long-term athletic development (LTAD) model created in 2016 by the Portuguese Swimming Federation. Eighty-six swimming coaches were assembled in groups according to their experience level: "novice" (n = 24), "intermediate" (n = 26), and "experienced" (n = 36), and they answered a questionnaire with the following items: (i) awareness of the existing model (ii) acceptance (iii) usefulness for practice, and (iv) implementation of this model by their peers. Regardless of experience, ~67% of the coaches were aware of the model. Among those, a large number showed acceptance (~95%) and confidence in its usefulness (~83%) for their daily practice. Most coaches (92%) showed concerns about the fact that their peers do not respect the model frameworks, declaring the search for their swimmers' immediate success (~58%) as the main cause for such behavior. The results also showed an association between experience and knowledge about the model's existence [χ 2 (2) = 10.223, p < 0.01, V = 0.345], and experienced coaches exhibited better knowledge than their intermediate [χ 2 (2) = 9.555, p < 0.01, V = 0.393] or novice [χ 2 (2) = 5.926, p = 0.02, V = 0.314] counterparts. While there was an association between the coaches' experience and knowledge about the LTAD model's existence, this situation does not seem to influence the way coaches accept and understand the usefulness of the model for their daily practice.

Differences between Young Children's Actual, Self-perceived and Parent-perceived Aquatic Skills.

As drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury/death in children worldwide, perceptions of their actual aquatic skills are of critical importance. Children's self-perceptions may influence the risks they take, and parental perceptions may influence the degree of supervision deemed to be necessary for children in and around water. Accordingly, we examined the differences between young children's actual, self-perceived and parent-perceived aquatic skills. Using a three-way repeated measures ANCOVA, we analyzed data from 134 child-parent dyads (56.0% boys; M age = 7.1, SD = 1.1 years; and 71.6% mothers). We measured self and parental perceptions of the child's aquatic skills with the 'Pictorial Scale of Perceived Water Competence' (PSPWC), and we applied the exact same 17 test items of the PSPWC to assess the child's actual aquatic skill level in the water. Controlling for years of swimming school experience, within-subject differences between the total scores on the 'Actual Aquatic Skills Test' (AAST) and both the child- and parent-completed PSPWC indicated lower than actual estimates of the children's aquatic skill level. The degree of disagreement against the AAST was more pronounced in parents than in 6-7 year-old children but was similar between parents and 8-9 year-old children, with these patterns being evident regardless of the children's sex. Our study contributes to an ongoing validation of the PSPWC and represents a key advance in assessing and comparing children's actual and perceived aquatic skill competence, using perfectly aligned instruments. Future research and practice might explore children's actual aquatic skills in different contexts (e.g., open water), include perspectives of non-parent caregivers and assess perceived and actual water competence across development.

Does combined dry land strength and aerobic training inhibit performance of young competitive swimmers?

THE AIM OF THE CURRENT STUDY WAS TWOFOLD: (i) to examine the effects of eight weeks of combined dry land strength and aerobic swimming training for increasing upper and lower body strength, power and swimming performance in young competitive swimmers and, (ii) to assess the effects of a detraining period (strength training cessation) on strength and swimming performance. The participants were divided into two groups: an experimental group (eight boys and four girls) and a control group (six boys and five girls). Apart from normal practice sessions (six training units per week of 1 h and 30 min per day), the experimental group underwent eight weeks (two sessions per week) of strength training. The principal strength exercises were the bench press, the leg extension, and two power exercises such as countermovement jump and medicine ball throwing. Immediately following this strength training program, all the swimmers undertook a 6 week detraining period, maintaining the normal swimming program, without any strength training. Swimming (25 m and 50 m performances, and hydrodynamic drag values), and strength (bench press and leg extension) and power (throwing medicine ball and countermovement jump) performances were tested in three moments: (i) before the experimental period, (ii) after eight weeks of combined strength and swimming training, and (iii) after the six weeks of detraining period. Both experimental and control groups were evaluated. A combined strength and aerobic swimming training allow dry land strength developments in young swimmers. The main data can not clearly state that strength training allowed an enhancement in swimming performance, although a tendency to improve sprint performance due to strength training was noticed. The detraining period showed that, although strength parameters remained stable, swimming performance still improved. Key pointsThis study investigated the effect of dry land strength training on sprint performance in young competitive swimmers.A combined strength and aerobic swimming training allow dry land strength developments in young swimmers.The main data can not clearly state that strength training allowed an enhancement in swimming performance, although a tendency to improve sprint performance due to strength training was noticed.The detraining period showed that, although strength parameters remained stable, swimming performance still improved.

Occlusion technique in swimming: a training method to improve exchange block time in swimming relays.

BACKGROUND: Swimming relay events have the concern regarding a good start is shared between the incoming and outgoing swimmers. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in exchange block time (EBT) for swimming relay events as a result of a four-week training program using the occlusion technique. METHODS: Twenty-eight national swimmers, 12 males (age: 17±1.83 years) and 16 females (age: 19.94±5.65 years) participated in this study. Subjects were required to undergo a training program on visual perception in relay swimming over the course of four weeks; they watched videos corresponding to the last movements of a swimmer during a 4×100m freestyle relay event. The videos were presented with temporal occlusion corresponding to predetermined approaching distances (7.5 m, 5.0 m, and 2.5 m). Swimmers were required to simulate a typical position for exiting the block and to estimate the time-to-contact of the incoming swimmer. The EBT was collected during a real 4×100-m freestyle competition before and after the application of the training program. RESULTS: Female swimmers showed a decreased in EBT, with an improvement of 1.42%, despite there not being a significant difference (P=0.68). The male swimmers had a higher improvement in EBT after the training, with a decrease of 13.34% (P=0.68). CONCLUSIONS: Visual perception practice using video occlusion techniques seems to have a positive effect. On EBT in swimming relay events, particularly in female swimmers.

Estimating time-to-contact with temporal occlusion in relay swimming: a pilot study.

The purpose of this study was to analyse swimmers' perceptual judgements of a simulated time-to-contact task in freestyle swimming relays. The study sample consisted of 31 national-level swimmers of both genders (n = 18 males, 17.22 ± 1.95 yrs.; n = 13 females, 14.61 ± .76 yrs.). Participants were asked to watch two videos corresponding to the last course of a given swimmer during a competition of 4 × 100 m and 4 × 200 m freestyle events. These videos were presented with temporal occlusion correspondent to predetermined approaching distances (7.5, 5.0, and 2.5 m). Participants were required to simulate a typical position in standby for exiting the block and estimate the time-to-contact of the incoming swimmer by pressing a switch. A Wilcoxon test was performed to determine differences between time-to-contact and real contact time. The results showed that estimation of time-to-contact was generally lower than real contact time at all approaching distances (with occlusion) and for both genders (p < .05), except at a 7.5-m distance in the men's 4 × 200 m (p = .744; r = .09) and at 5.0 m in both the 4 × 100 m and 4 × 200 m for the female group (p = .279, r = .22 for 4 × 100 m; p = .2453, r = .17 for 4 × 200 m). The larger variation (Δ) between estimation and real contact time was found at a 7.5 m occlusion distance in the female 4 × 100 m (p < .001; r = .82). Swimmers tend to underestimate the time-to-contact of the incoming swimmer, in the context of a simulated relay race. Taken together, these results highlight the importance of perceptual abilities development in swimmers to optimize their technique and effectiveness during relay starts.

Perceived and Real Aquatic Competence in Children from 6 to 10 Years Old.

This study aimed to analyze the relationship between perceived aquatic competence (PAC) and real aquatic competence (RAC) in 6 to 10 year old children in skills identified as relevant for surviving an aquatic accident. The study sample consisted of 105 children (8.2 + 1.3 years old). Two age groups were examined separately [G1, 6 to 7 years (n = 53); G2, 8 to 10 years (n = 52)]. Children's aquatic competence was evaluated twice for skills linked to the risk of drowning: Firstly, using a common swimsuit (simple condition) and secondly wearing a t-shirt (complex condition). The PAC was assessed by questionnaire interview. Pearson correlation coefficients, pairwise, and independent t-test comparisons were performed with a significance level of 5%. Similar levels of PAC were found among both age groups for all measured skills, excepted for breath control during swimming (p < 0.05). However, PAC differs significantly (p < 0.001) from RAC (in simple and complex conditions) only in G1. Correlations between PAC and RAC were modest for all measured skills in both age-groups. Significant differences were found between RAC in simple and complex conditions in both groups (p < 0.01). Age contributes to a higher perceived aquatic competence in skills related to the risk of drowning.

Can the curriculum be used to estimate critical velocity in young competitive swimmers?

The aims of the present study were to assess critical velocity using the swimmer curriculum in front crawl events and to compare critical velocity to the velocity corresponding to a 4 mmol·l(-1) of blood lactate concentration and to the velocity of a 30 min test. The sample included 24 high level male swimmers ranged between 14 and 16 years old. For each subject the critical velocity, the velocity corresponding to a 4 mmol·l(-1) of blood lactate concentration and the mean velocity of a 30 min test were determined. The critical velocity was also estimated by considering the best performance of a swimmer over several distances based on the swimmer curriculum. Critical velocity including 100, 200 and 400 m events was not different from the velocity of 4 mmol·l(-1) of blood lactate concentration. Critical velocity including all the swimmer events was not different from the velocity of a 30 min test. The assessment of critical velocity based upon the swimmer curriculum would therefore seem to be a good approach to determine the aerobic ability of a swimmer. The selection of the events to be included in critical velocity assessment must be a main concern in the evaluation of the swimmer. Key pointsCritical velocity using 100, 200 and 400 m events was not different from the velocity of 4 mmol·l(-1) of blood lactate concentration.Critical velocity using all the swimmer events was not different from the velocity of a 30 min test.The assessment of critical velocity based upon the swimmer curriculum seemed to be a good approach to determine the aerobic capacity of a swimmer.The decision on the events to be analysed must be a main concern in the evaluation of the swimmer critical velocity.

Determination of Aerobic Power Through a Specific Test for Taekwondo - A Predictive Equation Model.

Our aim was to verify the concurrent validity of a maximal taekwondo specific test (TST) to predict VO2max through an explanatory model. Seventeen elite male taekwondo athletes (age: 17.59 ± 4.34 years; body height: 1.72 ± 6.5 m; body mass: 61.3 ± 8.7 kg) performed two graded maximal exercise tests on different days: a 20 m multistage shuttle run test (SRT) and an incremental TST. We recorded test time, VO2max, ventilation, a heart rate and time to exhaustion. Significant differences were found between observed and estimated VO2max values [F (2, 16) = 5.77, p < 0.01]; post-hoc subgroup analysis revealed the existence of significant differences (p = 0.04) between the estimated VO2max value in the SRT and the observed value recorded in the TST (58.4 ± 6.4 ml/kg/min and 52.6 ± 5.2 ml/kg/min, respectively). Our analysis also revealed a moderate correlation between both testing protocols regarding VO2max (r = 0.70; p = 0.005), test time (r = 0.77; p = 0.02) and ventilation (r = 0.69; p = 0.03). There was no proportional bias in the mean difference (t = -1.04; p = 0.313), and there was a level of agreement between both tests. An equation/model was used to estimate VO2max during the TST based on the mean heart rate, test time, body height and mass, which explained 74.3% of the observed VO2max variability. A moderate correlation was found between the observed and predicted VO2max values in the taekwondo TST (r = 0.74, p = 0.001). Our results suggest that an incremental specific test estimates VO2max of elite taekwondo athletes with acceptable concurrent validity.