Comparison of non-maximal tests for exercise prescription and outcome assessment

This study examined the accuracy of non-maximal tests: the Talk Test (TT), Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) extrapolation, Rockport Walking Test (RWT) and non-exercise VO2max prediction equation for predicting exercise capacity (VO2max and VT). Subjects (N=20) were 18-50 yrs. of low to moderate fitness level. Subjects performed three exercise sessions. Test 1 was a maximal incremental test to measure VO2max and VT. Test 2 was a submaximal incremental exercise test without respiratory gas exchange measurements, using the TT and RPE. Test 3 was the RWT. Also, VO2max was calculated using the non-exercise prediction equation of Matthews et al. (1997). The results showed that there was no significant difference between measured VO2max and predicted VO2max using the non-exercise equation, extrapolation to RPE19 and the RWT. However, measured VO2max was significantly less than predicted VO2max using extrapolation to RPE 20 (p≤0.05). There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the VO2 at VT, the LP, and EQ stages of the TT, and at RPE13 and RPE14. However, the VO2 at RPE 15 was significantly higher than VO2 at VT (p≤0.05). In conclusion, the results showed that the non-maximal methods could be used as primary methods for exercise prescription and outcome assessment