R J Blancq | PubMed Health

PubMed1995

Estimation of aerobic capacity from submaximal cycle ergometry in women.

Simple, valid, and reliable methods of estimating maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) are needed for epidemiologic studies of physical activity, to evaluate fitness for job performance, and to assist in prescription of exercise. Such estimations in women have not received due research attention. Heart rate responses to submaximal cycle ergometry and VO2max during maximal treadmill and cycle ergometer testing were measured in 37 healthy women aged 19-47 yr (X = 31.7 +/- 7.9). The submaximal test was very reliable on retest (r = 0.92), but overestimated measured treadmill VO2max (X = 2.42 vs 2.23 l.min-1; r = 0.76, SEE = 0.229). The submaximal test also greatly overestimated maximal cycle ergometer VO2max (X = 2.42 vs 2.06 l.min-1; r = 0.70, SEE = 0.340). Similar 8.5% (treadmill) and 18.5% (cycle ergometer) overestimation by the submaximal test were found for VO2max relative to body weight. A simple submaximal exercise test is highly reliable as an estimate of VO2max when used for women. It also provides a reasonably good estimate of treadmill measured VO2max.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Comparison of treadmill exercise testing protocols for wheelchair users.

The reduced early mortality and the increased life span of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) and other chronically disabling conditions which result in loss of use of the legs places them at increased risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. Exercise testing in this population is becoming more common, but there is a need for assessment of protocols in order to determine the best method to elicit a maximal response in a reasonable time without endangering the patient. Three wheelchair treadmill protocols were compared in seven men with paraplegia aged 21-44 years (five SCI, two post-polio). Subjects repeated each protocol to estimate reliability. Protocol G consisted of increasing treadmill grade at a constant speed (4.8 km.h-1); in protocol S, the speed was increased at a constant grade (0%), and in protocol C, speed and grade were increased. Two-minute stages were used in all protocols. Peak oxygen uptake [VO2max; mean (SD): 23.6 (5.8) ml.kg-1 x min-1; 1.66 (0.37) l.min-1], VCO2 production [1.98 (0.46) l.min-1], ventilation volume [83.0 (25.6) l.min-1], respiratory exchange ratio [1.2 (0.12)], and heart rate [173 (18)] were determined. Over all trials none of the variables was significantly different among the three protocols, but all were highest in C and lowest in S. Reliability coefficients for absolute and relative VO2max ranged from 0.76 and 0.81 in G to 0.95 and 0.98 in C (all P < 0.05). These data suggest that an incremental treadmill test similar to the C protocol may be the optimal method to use when evaluating the exercise capacity of wheelchair users.

Adult↗