Criteria for Determination of Maximal Oxygen Uptake

Abstract

Although the concept of maximal oxygen uptake (V-dotO(2max)) was conceived as early as 1923, the criteria used to establish whether a true V-dotO(2max) has been attained have been heavily criticised. Consequently, an improvement in the methodology of the existing criteria, or development of new criteria, is required. In order to be valid across experimental studies, new or improved criteria need to be independent of exercise modality, test protocol and subject characteristics. One procedure that has shown potential for yielding valid V-dotO(2max) criteria is the verification phase, which consists of a supramaximal constant speed run to exhaustion performed after the incremental phase of a V-dotO(2max) test. A peak oxygen uptake (V-dotO(2peak)) in the verification phase that is similar (within the tolerance of measurement error, e.g. within 2%) to the V-dotO(2max) value attained in the incremental phase would indicate that a true V-dotO(2max) has been elicited. Verification of the maximal heart rate would also indicate that a subject has given a maximum effort. Although the validity of the present methodology for identifying an oxygen uptake (V-dotO(2)) plateau is questionable, a V-dotO(2) plateau criterion based on the individual slope of the V-dotO(2)-work-rate relationship should improve its validity. This approach also allows determination of the 'total V-dotO(2) plateau', which is in contrast to currently used V-dotO(2) plateau criteria that are based on the difference in V-dotO(2) between only two test stages or V-dotO(2) data points. The ratings of perceived exertion scale has been criticised for being a one-dimensional measure of physical effort and V-dotO(2max) criteria based on a multidimensional psychophysiological approach should increase validity. Visual analogue scales can be used to assess aspects such as muscular pain, determination and overall perceived effort. Furthermore, they are easy to complete and have demonstrated good reliability and validity in clinical and health settings. Future research should explore these and other potential approaches to developing new or improved V-dotO(2max) criteria, so that, ultimately, a standardised set of V-dotO(2max) criteria can be established. At present, however, the greatest challenge is identifying V-dotO(2max) criteria that remain valid across studies.

The effect of caffeine ingestion on functional performance in older adults

“…Pre and 60mins post substance ingestion participants also completed measures of readiness to invest physical effort (RTIPE) and readiness to invest mental effort (RTIME) on visual analogue scales ranging from 0-10. This measure was based on recommendations for assessing perceived readiness to invest effort in exercise testing (18,19,20) and asked participants to rate how physically and mentally ready they were to invest effort using visual analogue scales incorporating a range of 0-10 with higher scores reflecting greater readiness to invest effort …”

“…The use of RPE in prior studies is also worthy of further consideration. Although RPE is well established as a measure of perceived exertion in the literature its use as a sole measure of effort has been questioned (18). The use of RPE is commonly employed to assess perceived exertion during or post exercise (18).…”

“…Although RPE is well established as a measure of perceived exertion in the literature its use as a sole measure of effort has been questioned (18). The use of RPE is commonly employed to assess perceived exertion during or post exercise (18). However, there are instances where psychophysiological changes occur prior to performance of physical and/or cognitive tasks (19,20).…”

Analysing visual pattern of skin temperature during submaximal and maximal exercises

“…_ VO 2max termination quality were examined as follow criteria; (a) a plateau in _ VO 2 defined as the O 2 requirement difference less than 150 mL min À1 , (b) HR responses greater than 90% of age-predicted maximum (220-age) beats/min, (c) respiratory exchange ratio (RER) of 1.10 or above [24]. In addition, rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was also checked by Borg's 15-point scale [25]. _ VO 2max was determined as the highest 30-s average _ VO 2 during the test.…”

Vagal activity and oxygen saturation response to hypoxia: Effects of aerobic fitness and rating of hypoxia tolerance

“…Ventilation and gas exchange were recorded continuously (breath by breath) with 30 second averaging and analysed by Blue Cherry 1.2 software (Geratherm Respiratory, Bad Kissingen, Germany). The criteria for attaining VO 2 max was defined as reaching one of the following criteria: a) respiratory exchange ratio of > 1.11 (Howley, Bassett, & Welch, 1995); b) VO 2 plateau (defined as no increase in VO 2 in response to an increase in work rate; Midgley, McNaughton, Polman, & Marchant, 2007). VO 2 max was considered the highest VO 2 value in the final 30 seconds of the test (Millet et al, 2003).…”