Determination of Best Criteria to Determine Final and Initial Speeds within Ramp Exercise Testing Protocols

Abstract

This study compared strategies to define final and initial speeds for designing ramp protocols. V O2max was directly assessed in 117 subjects (29 ± 8 yrs) and estimated by three nonexercise models: (1) Veterans Specific Activity Questionnaire (VSAQ); (2) Rating of Perceived Capacity (RPC); (3) Questionnaire of Cardiorespiratory Fitness (CRF). Thirty seven subjects (30 ± 9 yrs) performed three additional tests with initial speeds corresponding to 50% of estimated V O2max and 50% and 60% of measured V O2max . Significant differences (P < 0.001) were found between V O2max measured (41.5 ± 6.6 mL·kg−1 ·min−1) and estimated by VSAQ (36.6 ± 6.6 mL·kg−1 ·min−1) and CRF (45.0 ± 5.3 mL·kg−1 ·min−1), but not RPC (41.3 ± 6.2 mL·kg−1 ·min−1). The CRF had the highest ICC, the lowest SEE, and better limits of agreement with V O2max compared to the other instruments. Initial speeds from 50%–60% V O2max estimated by CRF or measured produced similar V O2max (40.7 ± 5.9; 40.0 ± 5.6; 40.3 ± 5.5 mL·kg−1 ·min−1 resp., P = 0.14). The closest relationship to identity line was found in tests beginning at 50% V O2max estimated by CRF. In conclusion, CRF was the best option to estimate V O2max and therefore to define the final speed for ramp protocols. The measured V O2max was independent of initial speeds, but speeds higher than 50% V O2max produced poorer submaximal relationships between workload and V O2.

Utility of a Non-Exercise VO2max Prediction Model for Designing Ramp Test Protocols

“…However, the accuracy of VO 2max assessment depends on the characteristics of the test protocol employed [5,13]. Previous studies [5,7,23] have shown that a ramp exercise protocol seems to be a better approach to assessing VO 2max than traditional step-incremented protocols. This is because the ramp protocol incorporates small constant work rate increments that induce more uniform hemodynamic and respiratory responses, and can be individualized to elicit a test duration that is conducive to accurate VO 2max determination [23].…”

“…In a later study, these investigators [22] validated the VSAQ by directly assessing VO 2max in a larger sample (n = 337). Nevertheless, findings of previous studies show only a moderate relationship between measured and predicted VO 2max using the VSAQ to determine the final work rate within ramp protocols in healthy (r = 0.33 to 0.50) [7,12] and well-conditioned populations (r = 0.47) [13]. Another non-exercise model for estimating VO 2max is the Questionnaire of Cardiorespiratory Fitness -CRF [16].…”

Personalized community-based prehabilitation for a high-risk surgical patient opting for pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy: a case report

“…1−3 The VSAQ has a good intra-(ICC of 0.88; 95% CI of 0.76 to 0.94) and inter-rater reliability (ICC of 0.90; 95% CI of 0.80 to 0.95). 4 Both VSAQ (VO 2peak, ICC of 0.57, standard errors of estimate 7.63 mL/kg/min, P < .0001) and the DASI (VO 2peak , spearman correlation coefficient of 0.81) correlate moderate to good with aerobic capacity. 1,5 Functional Mobility Functional mobility was measured using the timed upand-go (TUG) test (in s), two-minute walk test (2MWT, in m), and the five times sit-to-stand (FTSTS) test (in s).…”

Re-Evaluation of Old Findings on Stroke Volume Responses to Exercise and Recovery by Nitrous-Oxide Rebreathin

“…In case the ventilatory threshold was not reached within the submaximal test, the procedure continued with increments of ~25-30 watts. The data to estimate the initial load of maximal graded exercise tests (GXTs) was planned to be completed within 8-12 min (da Silva et al, 2012; Myers et al, 1991). Maximal GXTs were then performed to determine VO 2peak of the participants.…”