Determining the Validity of a New Cycle Ergometer Protocol for Estimating VO(2) Max

The current American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) submaximal cycle ergometer protocol has been evaluated by several researchers for its validity in estimating maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). It has been found that the ACSM protocol overestimates VO2max by 28% on average (Swain and Wright, 1997). It is felt that the short stage duration, only 3 minutes, of the ACSM protocol is largely responsible for this overestimation. The new submaximal cycle ergometer protocol evaluated here utilizes a 6-minute stage in an attempt to reduce the overestimation of VO2max while increasing the overall test validity. A regression performed on actual VO2max vs. the VO2 Reserve method of VO2max estimation showed an r-value of 0.89, and an SEE of 3.97 ml·min−1.kg−1. The mean value of actual VO2max was 36.9 ± 8.8 ml·min−1. kg−1, while that for the VO2R estimated VO2max was 36.7 ± 8.4 ml·min−1.kg −1. A regression performed on actual VO2max vs. the Astrand estimate of VO2max showed an r-value of 0.82, and an SEE of 5.09 ml·min−1.kg−1. The mean value for the Astrand estimate of VO2max was 39.8 ± 11.1 ml·min−1.kg−1