Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing with Elastic Resistance: A New Reproducible Proposal for Determination of Ventilatory Thresholds and Maximum Oxygen Consumption

Abstract

To propose a new Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test with Elastic Resistance (CPxEL) and compare the physiological responses to conventional cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPx) performed on a treadmill. In addition, we tested the reproducibility of the CPxEL. Twenty-four physically active participants completed the CPx (first session) and CPxEL twice (second and third sessions) interspersed by seven days. A treadmill protocol with increments of 1km·h-1 every minute until exhaustion was used in CPx. The CPxEL consisted of performing alternating steps back-and-forth against an elastic resistance attached to a belt and an incremental protocol with 1 stage (S) per minute following a cadence of 200 bpm controlled by a metronome in an 8-stage rubber mat. First analysis: first ventilatory threshold (VT1) occurred at 69.7% and 75.3% of maximal heart rate (HRmax) and 53.5% and 65.7% of maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O2max). Second VT (VT2) occurred at 93.3% and 96.8% of the HRmax and 87.0% and 96.9% of V̇O2max for CPx and CPxEL, respectively. At exhaustion, V̇O2max, perceived exertion (BORG-CR10 and OMNI-RES EB), and test duration presented lower values for CPxEL (P < 0.05). Second analysis: VT1 occurred at warm-up (S0) (P = 0.731), VT2 occurred at S5 (P = 0.912), and the exhaustion occurred at S6 and S7 (P = 0.271) for CPxEL and retest, respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for V̇O2max was 0.921 and for HRmax was 0.930. The CPxEL has good test-retest reproducibility and represents a possible and interesting add-on to determine maximal oxygen consumption, maximal heart rate, and second ventilatory threshold without using traditional ergometers.

Hipotensão pós-exercício intervalado de alta intensidade com resistência elástica: um estudo piloto

“…Stavres et al [18] reported that concentric exercise provided greater PEH in healthy young men and women, compared to eccentric exercise, probably due to metabolic stress combined with work. Therefore, it is speculated that the type of effort generated running back and forth performed in EL-HIIT may cause greater vascular shear stress due to increased blood flow toward the active muscle after EL-HIIT vs. HIIT, which has been associated with better vascular adaptations [13,15] and consequently strength-related benefits [16]. More studies should objectively explore the strength component after the different protocols.…”

“…Ventilatory variables and oxygen consumption (VO 2 ) were measured as described in CPET. This test was proposed by Gasparini-Neto et al [16].…”

“…HIIT has been a highly acclaimed method to promote physiological adaptations beneficial to health, but incremental tests that used elastic resistance indicate a change in the characteristic of muscle contraction, as it requires a strength component and even a more exacerbated eccentric phase of contraction [16]. This more intense request of the muscular system by the elastic resistance can interfere with the hemodynamic responses to the exercise [17], causing a more exacerbated PEH by adding the mechanical and metabolic effects of the exercise [18].…”

Acute Cardiopulmonary Response of High-Intensity Interval Training with Elastic Resistance vs. High-Intensity Interval Training on a Treadmill in Healthy Adults

“…CPx and HIIT were performed on a motorized treadmill (Inbrasport Super ATL, Porto Alegre, Brazil) with a fixed 1% slope. CPxEL and EL-HIIT were performed on a rubberized mat with an adjustable belt attached to a 2 m elastic tube (Thera Band ® , Akron, OH, USA) [ 20 ]. All participants were instructed to have a light meal at least 2 h before the test and avoid strenuous exercise, caffeinated products, and alcoholic beverages 24 h before the tests and exercise sessions.…”

“…However, the exercise prescription proposed by Gasparini-Neto and collaborators was monitored only by the subjective perception of the effort scale [ 17 ]. Considering the need for movement specificity to prescribe exercise with elastic resistance, these same authors proposed an incremental test with reproducible elastic resistance (CPxEL) to determine maximal oxygen consumption and ventilatory thresholds in healthy young individuals [ 20 ]. Based on the CPxEL, it will be possible to prescribe the intensity more accurately for this exercise type.…”