Comparison between Different Prescription Methods for Aerobic Training in Young Adults

Abstract

Anaerobic threshold and respiratory compensation are used to determine the intensity of aerobic exercise. This study aims to compare heart rate values relative to the percentages of 50%, 60%, 70%, and 80%, a comparison calculated through the reserve heart rate (HRR) and reserve oxygen consumption (VO2R) equations corresponding to the oxygen consumption obtained by the direct method. The sample was composed of 11 men and 10 women: mean age, 21.4 ± 2.8 years. Volunteers performed a maximal treadmill test in which oxygen uptake was measured using the VO2000® metabolic analyzer. The mean body fat percentage was 15.68 ± 8.02% corresponding to a lean body mass of 54.8 ± 13.0 kg and a maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) of 56.0 ± 8.4 mL/Kg·min−1. The measured intensities (50%, 60%, 70% and 80% of VO2max) presented significant differences (p < 0.05) for each reference value. Mean values calculated by the HRR equation demonstrated a tendency to underestimate the intensities, while the values calculated by the VO2R equation showed a tendency to overestimate the intensities. As the main conclusion, it is pointed out that both methods were effective for determining the intensity of aerobic training. However, they presented significant differences, and the equations should be adjusted to increase precision. Thus, the use of HRR is recommended for the determination of training intensities.

Cardiorespiratory Responses to 10 Weeks of Exoskeleton-Assisted Overground Walking Training in Chronic Nonambulatory Patients with Spinal Cord Injury

“…Second, these results may be attributed to the innate characteristics of these measurement methods. The %HRR has been reported to have a tendency to underestimate exercise intensities, whereas the VO 2 reserve tends to be overestimated in young healthy adults [ 31 ]. For these reasons, the exercise intensity calculated by %HRR may be underestimated compared to METs.…”

The Influence of Body Position on Determining Aerobic Exercise Intensity for Healthy Individuals

“…The relevant point of the present study is in the direct application of the results at the time of prescription of aerobic training intensities, since there is no difference in the measurement of resting heart rate in the sitting or paddle positions. At the same time, the results allow us to question previous studies that did not take into account the adjustments induced by the nervous system both in oxygen consumption and in heart rate [1,3,12].…”

“…As can be seen in Figure 2, the use of basal HR and HR at rest (lying down) resulted in lower values in the determination of intensities, especially in the intervals of 50 and 60% of peak VO 2 , tending to underestimate the training loads, as reported in previous studies [2,16]. In practical terms, it is important that when prescribing aerobic training using the oxygen consumption reserve equation (VO 2 R), the professional observes the measurement of heart rate in one of the sitting or standing positions, this may mitigate the VO 2 R error in overestimation, as well as, of the HRR in underestimating the intensities Policarpo et al [1].…”

“…After the test, the second ventilatory threshold was determined, considering it a point to determine an abrupt increase in expiratory volume greater than 8 L/min. The following parameters were adopted as tie-breaks: (a) an exponential increase in ventilatory equivalent for oxygen-VE/VO 2 , with stabilization or increase in the ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide-VE/VCO 2 [18] and (b) a drop in the expired carbon dioxide fraction-FeCO 2 [1].…”

“…The determination of the intensities of the percentage of maximal oxygen consumption (VO 2max ), oxygen consumption reserve (VO 2 R) and heart rate reserve (HRR) for aerobic training has been called into question, i.e., the relation of linearity between heart rate (HR) and oxygen consumption during effort tends to under-or overestimate the intensity of aerobic exercise [1,2]. However, there are other physiological factors related to heart rate monitoring which may clarify some of the issues [3][4][5][6].…”