Real Assessment of Maximum Oxygen Uptake as a Verification After an Incremental Test Versus Without a Test

Abstract

The study was conducted to compare peak oxygen uptake (VO_2peak) measured with the incremental graded test (GXT) (VO_{2 peak}) and two tests to verify maximum oxygen uptake, performed 15 min after the incremental test (VO_{2 peak 1}) and on a separate day (VO_{2 peak 2}). The aim was to determine which of the verification tests is more accurate and, more generally, to validate the VO_{2 max} obtained in the incremental graded test on cycle ergometer. The study involved 23 participants with varying levels of physical activity. Analysis of variance showed no statistically significant differences for repeated measurements (F = 2.28, p = 0.118, η² = 0.12). Bland-Altman analysis revealed a small bias of the VO_{2 peak 1} results compared to the VO_{2 peak} (0.4 ml⋅min^-1⋅kg^-1) and VO_{2 peak 2} results compared to the VO_{2 peak} (-0.76 ml⋅min^-1⋅kg^-1). In isolated cases, it was observed that VO_{2 peak 1} and VO_{2 peak 2} differed by more than 5% from VO_{2 peak}. Considering the above, it can be stated that among young people, there are no statistically significant differences between the values of VO_2peak measured in the following tests. However, in individual cases, the need to verify the maximum oxygen uptake is stated, but performing a second verification test on a separate day has no additional benefit.

Keywords: VO2 plateau; cycle ergometer; incremental test; maximum oxygen uptake; physical fitness; verification phase.

FIGURE 1

Scheme of visit in laboratory.

FIGURE 2

Bland-Altman plot showing: (A) Individual differences between the VO_2peak values attained in the incremental and VO_2peak1 from T_ver–1 (B) individual differences between the VO_2peak values attained in the incremental and VO_2peak2 from T_ver–2. Solid line show bias and dashed lines represent a 1.96 SD (standard deviation) for difference between peak oxygen uptakes. (C) Pearson correlation between VO_2peak and VO_2peak1. (D) Pearson correlation between VO_2peak and VO_2peak2. In (C,D) the dashed lines indicate the 5% threshold difference from VO_2peak.