Modified Balke test data?

The other day, for my 69th birthday, In decided to try the Balke treadmill test, in which one walks on a treadmill at 3.2 mph (5km/h). The first minute is at level, the second at 2% grade, and you increase the grade by 1% every minute thereafter. I made it through the 18th minute, and now I would like to see some data on how good (or bad!) that result is. Can anyone direct me to that type of info? Thanks!

My resource is 'Advanced Fitness Assessment & Exercise Prescription' 2nd Ed by Vivian Heyward I am unfamiliar with a 'modified' Balke - I find only Balke and Ware (1959) which is as you describe. There is a 'modified' Bruce I find a difference - the protocol I have says that the constant speed is 3.4 mph (which is 5.44 kph) The calculation (for Active & Sedentary men) to find the results from your time is: VO2max = 1.444 (TIME) + 14.99 = 40.98 ml/kg/min According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM): in ACSM's Guideline for Exercise Testing and Prescription 6th Ed (2000): Table 4.5 Page 77: Men 60+ with VO2max > 38.1 are in the 80th percentile, and > 42.5 are in the 90th percentile So (tada!) you are in the 88th percentile BUT (there always is a But), you were at too low a speed, so the results are suspect. My advice: do it again at 3.4 MPH (and just for laughs record your heart rate at each slope increase) I have given you the formula, so now you are independent and can figure your own VO2max

To paraphrase a Usenet signature: Give a man an answer to a metabolic calculation, and he'll need another one tomorrow. Hit a man with a book of metabolic equations and he'll leave you alone! (just kidding).

You are one fit dude - I would like to hear what the new result is.

Chuck Kaplan ACSM Health & Fitness Instructor East Bay Ambassador 50+ Fitness Association