The validity of predicting maximal oxygen uptake from perceptually regulated graded exercise tests of different durations

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of predicting maximal oxygen uptake [V(.-)((O)(2)(max))] from sub-maximal V(.-)((O)(2)) values elicited during perceptually regulated exercise tests of 2- and 4-min duration. Nineteen physically active men and women (age range 19-23 years) volunteered to participate in two graded exercise tests to volitional exhaustion to measure V(.-)((O)(2)(max)) [V(.-)((O)(2)(max))(GXT)], at the beginning and end of a 2-week period, and four incremental, perceptually regulated tests to predict [V(.-)((O)(2)(max))] in the intervening period. Effort production tests comprised 2 x 2-min and 2 x 4-min bouts on a cycle ergometer, perceptually regulated at intensities of 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 on the Borg 6-20 rating of perceived (RPE) scale, in that order. Individual linear relationships between RPE and V(.-)((O)(2) for RPE ranges of 9-17, 11-17 and 9-15 were extrapolated to RPE 20 to predict [V(.-)((O)(2)(max))]. The prediction of [V(.-)((O)(2)(max))] was not moderated by gender. Although, [V(.-)((O)(2)(max))] estimated from RPE 9-17 of trial 1 of the 2-min protocol was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than [V(.-)((O)(2)(max))(GXT)], and V(.-)((O)(2)(max)) predicted from the 4-min trials, the V(.-)((O)(2)(max)) predicted from trial 2 of the 2-min protocol was a more accurate prediction of [V(.-)((O)(2)(max))(GXT)], across all trials. The intraclass correlation coefficient (R) was also higher between [V(.-)((O)(2)(max))(GXT)], and [V(.-)((O)(2)(max))] predicted from trial 2 of the 2-min protocol compared to both trials in the 4-min protocol (R = 0.95, 0.88 and 0.79, respectively). Similar results were observed for RPE ranges 9-15 and 11-17. Results suggest that a sub-maximal, perceptually guided, graded exercise protocol, particularly of a 2-min duration, provides acceptable estimates of maximal aerobic power, which are not moderated by gender.

The validity of predicting peak oxygen uptake from a perceptually guided graded exercise test during arm exercise in paraplegic individuals

“…These findings are in agreement with previous research by Eston et al 7,9 The current study shows that the high RPE range (that is, RPE 9-17) may be excluded from the second perceptually guided test without loss of accuracy in predicting .…”

“…VO 2 max in healthy, able-bodied individuals during leg cycling. [7][8][9] There were no significant differences between measured and predicted .…”

Physiological and Psychophysical Aspects of Shallow Water Exercise

“…This RPE-guided effort model is in contrast to the paradigm where investigators preset workloads on a laboratory treadmill or cycle ergometer, as described earlier. Studies employing land-based exercise have confirmed the usefulness of employing such an RPE-guided approach to systematically self-modulate exercise intensity during a graded exercise protocol (Eston, Faulkner, Mason, & Parfitt, 2006;Eston, Lamb, Parfitt, & King, 2005;Eston, Lambrick, Sheppard, & Parfitt, 2008;Faulkner et al, 2007). Eston et al (2005Eston et al ( , 2006 and Faulkner et al (2007) found a strong, positive correlation between VO 2 and RPE.…”

“…Studies employing land-based exercise have confirmed the usefulness of employing such an RPE-guided approach to systematically self-modulate exercise intensity during a graded exercise protocol (Eston, Faulkner, Mason, & Parfitt, 2006;Eston, Lamb, Parfitt, & King, 2005;Eston, Lambrick, Sheppard, & Parfitt, 2008;Faulkner et al, 2007). Eston et al (2005Eston et al ( , 2006 and Faulkner et al (2007) found a strong, positive correlation between VO 2 and RPE. In addition, the above studies predicted maximal aerobic power (VO 2 max) by extrapolating the relationship between submaximal VO 2 (y-axis) regressed on preset RPE (x-axis; RPE = 9, "very light"; 11, "light"; 13, "somewhat hard"; 15, "hard"; 17, "very hard") out to a theoretical maximum of RPE 20.…”

“…Employing RPEs ranging from 9 to 17 has been shown to result in a systematic step-up response in metabolic load with land-based exercise protocols (Eston et al, 2006;Faulkner & Eston, 2008;Faulkner et al, 2007;Morris et al, 2009). After participants performed their fifth SWE bout (RPE 17) they rested for 1 min and then performed a final 5-min perceptually regulated maximal SWE bout (described below).…”